I doubted whether the cloth corpse, the darkness, or my newfound situation was the reason for me taking small steps. But I was, really, just being careful.

To the Halls of the Departed. I blinked, willing the words to fade after confirming it was yet again a framed passage.

Clad in darkness, I felt for the smooth, wooden-like door in front, then sneaking a look at the doorlights just a few more leaps behind me.

It was near.

More than near that if I just ran straight from it then into the darkness with false bravery like I initially thought, then I'd be out cold on the ground. The door wasn't metal but wood, yet a simple knock on it provided me enough idea. It felt awfully hard and solid.

But because I didn't, therefore I am here.

I wouldn't have done that, anyway. With things considered, I was in an unknown place, the words Catacomb was already an imprint to me that unwise courageousness was basically... unwise. And knowing there might be holes, spikes, rotten woods, and of the likes just waiting for me to be found, being careful and looking like a thief traipsing the edges of windowsills was barely of a concern to me.

The cold touch of metal brought me in another series of rumination. With the cloth corpse just beyond the doorlights, it wouldn't be wrong to assume there'd be one ahead too. So I had my hand ready to cast my spell, my left foot backing a step behind. In best case, any abomination ahead would hear the clap of the door closing before they even notice me. Better be prepared.

I calmed my nerves again with a quick heave. Then I pressed down the handle and pushed. Pushed hard. Then pulled. Pulled with a little more strength. Then pushed again, then pulled again.

It didn't budge. And after a couple more tries, I started to widen my eyes in realization about something far scary than the cloth corpse by itself. I was trapped here.

You can't mean—oh, it slides.

Which was quickly dismissed when yanking it sidewards proved easier. But I didn't slide it further, of course. The gap was more than enough for me to know that, finally, there was some decent light ahead. I sighed with relief at that.

A torch, specifically, if that lined balls of fire was really fire. It could be fire corpse too, a part of my mind believed. Thankfully enough, trying to identify it with narrowed eyes did tell that it was just a normal torch—a Lit Torch. But that didn't mean there was no other danger beyond, so I had to carefully slide the door open and regard the corners of the passageway with utmost importance. I knew just exactly how devious an unseemingly safe room could be. At least, however, the hallway had a visible ceiling that helped me proceed with less caution.

I ambled inside the lit passageway with nigh whispered steps. With the torch blinding me to a wake, the silence instilling same lucid quietness, I let myself, once and again, breath a sigh of relief. Why shouldn't I? It's better to conclude I was safe than have the pre-conceived notion that I was always in danger. And a breath of relief would be best to represent that. A reminder I repeated long and after again after confirming the place held nothing suspicious.

With that, my rigid and tense body also let go of any semblance like I'd run back at the door at any moment. Because compared to this lit room, that small room that housed darkness and dim lights proved safer.

No abominations, no cloth so no corpse. Safe. Though...

Halls of the Departed.

It would be hard to discredit the oddness of the lit passageway ahead. Or halls like the words had referred to. But the needed warmth my body was suddenly encased with absconded such thoughts. Weird things there, weird things everywhere. It was just an addition to the recent things I've encountered.

But still. No clothes in sight. I mumbled moving along. The straight, lit passage in front of me seemingly endless. Or not if that dots of fire far ahead is actually an image of the fire itself dimming. I stopped to my tracks.

Yup, it's dimming. My narrowed eyes confirmed.

Again, it was the darkness further. Plodding through it wouldn't have been an issue with the amount of torches around, yet trying to dislodge the wooden sticks halted my thoughts of that.

It can't be undone from the unblemished walls.

I wanted to sigh at that. At everything. But would that help? Some of my fellow brothers and sisters liked to do that, whispering away their grumbles. But the situation right now does not call for it.

So I remained steady, took a deep breath in and exhaled the building pressure in me. Such was the promise of meditation I burned to my mind. And truly, it helps.

I began to put strength on the torch's lower shaft. Pulling. It would seem indelible, but it was better trying than easily looking for another method to get fire. Or of anything, really.

But like same thoughts, indelible would be indelible if you don't have the necessary strength to prove it otherwise. So after a couple more of pulls, and expectations, and boring holes to the wall that held the torch with my fervent gaze—I surrendered.

Yup, unremovable. I nodded as I scratched the back of my head—which was better than to sigh at the futility of my stubbornness.

But thinking about it now, what if I could perhaps control the fire with my Redirection spell? Or better yet, use mana to make the fire work for me? I imagined.

The former seemed absurd, but the latter didn't fall behind the definition as well. Still, that was a possibility. What is the purpose of chances if I don't tackle it?

I went for the door backpedaling, with my eyes observing the darkness beyond. And with not a shred of change seen, I closed my eyes as Mana Manipulation worked.

Like how I started with it, I began feeling for the unseen yet felt mana. Mostly focusing my perception and the workings of the spell on the fire itself. Which, to my surprise, did give me something in return.

Ancient Fire [Everlasting] • Untouched

Fire Essence detected.

Two lines appeared in my mind, and it was as vivid like when I had my eyes peeled. As much as Ancient Fire was read nice and amazing, as if it being called ancient meant special, I regarded the next line more. Fire Essence. Was that what was needed? It looked as if it had something to do with creating a spell, or of casting it.

I immediately tried to pull it with Mana Manipulation, which worked, then pulled it closer to me before letting it linger just above my hand. I couldn't see what it was, if it had the same color as the fire itself—ruddy. Absorbing it would perhaps allow me to know, but the heat I felt coming from it halted me. The burning sensation made me somewhat remember how I was wrecked with pain in my death. It made me shudder again on how offensive and horrifying magic can be. Even with its wondrous nature.

Would it work? I wondered.

For now, I let my mind focus on how to create what I wanted.

Fireball. Three meters wide.

No. I slightly frowned at that. Quickly realizing that it would burn much more mana if it was that big. And the one I was holding may not be enough to conjure that. Or was essence different?

Fireball. A foot wide.

I settled for that, beginning to fall in the cycle of shifting and moving the essence. Finding how similar and easy it was to move. Like mana.

As I let the essence on my hand pour on the imaginary small ball of fire, the sudden appearance of the magical words in my mind jolted me away from my concentration.

'Spell: Ember' has been created.

Bring a small flicker of orange fire to life. Nurture it for in time it may be the glorious fire you'd need. Provides small damage when touched except for the caster.

Would you like to add it to your Book of Spells?

So it works! Mine!

I was about to say yes to it. Yet I felt my head go numb when the magical words in front of me disappeared. But I didn't say no to i—

I blinked. Stopped biting the insides of my cheek. And realized what happened.

There were torches of fire, stronger and brighter that reflected from my now opened eyes. Yet the residual mist-like and faded velvet color atop my hand shone brighter.

A reminder of what I should do. I brought the magical words and there it was.

Book of Spells:

Mana Manipulation • Lvl 2

Ember• Can not be leveled

Ah! A different word this time. I smiled to myself yet couldn't help but break it free to a wider grin. Hah! Finally.

I gazed back at the unchanged darkness with sharpened scrutiny. In a way, I could almost imagine how I'd be wading through it with my fire. With ease.

The faded red hovering by my hand coalesced to a fist-size ball of fire. Something I never jerked a surprise this time. But it was a confirmation on which I allowed myself a reassured smile. Tugged-up not with the ubiquitous curve found in joyous occasions but was of my own. Just pure relief, and a bit of hope. My third magic. Or fourth.

But that didn't mean I'd quickly brave myself through that darkness, of course. Again, that was unwise. Some enlightenment on how I'd proceed with this spell was needed first.

So Fire Essence could create a spell. I mused.

I wanted to quickly check how much mana it'd spend compared with Redirection, but there then came an issue. Checking the Book of Spells, further information pertained about the spell made me ponder a single thing I might have missed before I rejoice over the creation of the spell.

Book of Spells:

Mana Manipulation • Lvl 2

Ember • Can not be leveled

[Temporary Spell - Requires Fire Mana]

Bring a small ball of orange fire to life. Nurture it for in time it may be the glorious fire you'd need. Provides minimal damage when touched except for the caster.

It requires Fire Mana. I realized. As if not completely believing it, I quickly tried to cast it with the mana I have. It didn't work. Looking back at the torch, there was an immediate impression to me that I needed it again. So when I tried to manipulate the essence to cast the spell, it did work. I blinked at that, barely in relief that I still could cast the spell. It would have been merry and all, I first hoped. But for once again, it was not.

How was Fire Mana even different to that of mana? Or that of Essence? And how was Essence not just Fire Mana since it worked on casting the spell? I slapped an itch on my back again, beginning to be confused as to how everything was beginning to turn off-course from my understanding. And more importantly—clothes, I thought as I peeked at the darkness before concentrating back to the problem at hand.

Checking the same torch, it made me certain that it still had Fire Essence in it. And not just it still had—there were lots. Lots of it on this single torch alone. So it means there's a lot more to be used for casting the spell a hundred times or even thousands. A surmised thought that was useless to my aim. If I have to manipulate it just to make the spell work, then the distance would be an issue if that stretch of darkness was farther than what was behind me.

Thinking a viable solution, an option that might be plausible quickly came to mind. Absorb the Fire Essence. Which I think would be probable since I could work my way with it just by using Mana Manipulation. So Mana Manipulation could—should work like how meditation did it for that spell. I mean I'm taking mana around and that was how meditation work to which Mana Manipulation work.

I paused and hummed. Then continued that thought. So since this essence can create spell. It should be absorbed too, right?

I stared briefly at the torch before closing my eyes.

Letting not the discomfort or thoughts of the fire burning me, I tested pulling a handful of the Fire Essence towards me. It trickled past my chest with not the least bit of the expected extreme torridity. It was almost the same with how mana felt, but much hotter. Still, tolerable that I could only describe it as warmth and not heat.

When it reached my core, it was indeed red like how I thought it'd be. And I instantly began to realize the conjecture that it could be absorbed too, so I reservedly pulled more. Then increased the amount bit by bit after finding no immediate negative effects on me.

For a few minutes, I could sense no change to what I was doing. But I knew that the essence was slowly being minutely absorbed to my core—not with the senses I know nor with my mental view, but was more akin as if there's something being embedded within me. Then a few more moments later, the sudden appearance of the magical words in my mind showed that, indeed, it was plausible.

Fire Mana Detected.

Type: Ancient Fire • Essence

It is detected that the Fire Mana is convertible to Mana. Would you like to proceed to conversion?

Oh. So it wasn't entirely reliant on Fire Mana. I quickly confirmed it as I realized its implications. It might seem better if I could just etch the Fire Mana along with the general mana, but I don't think it could be replenished easily with meditation as it would require Fire Mana. Or it having Mana augmented to its name meant it possibly could?

Well, probably? I don't know. I don't even know how to start along with that idea. And I won't, now that there's an easier magical words given to me.

It took quite a long moment as I pulled more Fire Essence into me. And between doing that, I seated myself against the dirt-free door and floor. The Fire Essence still reachable with my spell.

By the time the torch ran dry of essence, there was only a simple change I could see amidst the circular, white color in the darkness of my mind. A drop of ruby shade. Its size small enough that it would need fifty to sixty more drops to splash the whiteness of mana to a scarlet hue. And then as it was a drop, existing, it vanished. Gone by the time I wanted to make sense of it again.

Mana Manipulation • Lvl 2

Core[71%]

Fire Mana Conversion [2%]

Two percent... So was that drop the embodiment of this number? I wondered as I tried to remember how big the drop was. And five? ten? fifteen minutes? I supposed as I massaged my legs that felt somewhat stiff now. 10, I guessed.

Looking at the remaining mana on my core made me ponder some things as well.

It was... 73 before. So it finally took 2 for casting Mana Manipulation? I felt that it was quite impossible. Although Redirection seemed special since it was not listed within the Book of Spells, I doubted that doing the conversion wouldn't be any less than casting a spell that only lingered for a minute. And there was that issue where I was able to cast Mana Manipulation even without mana.

I thought for a bit and guessed that this conversion didn't require mana or even the spell did. For now, I need to get fire, some clothes, and to get out of here. The wonders of magic was for later.

—–·–—

I must have made a mistake... I huffed and slid down the closed door, no longer feeling the overbearing heat that I had caused.

Yep, it must be so. Reaffirming the thought, I looked at the etched lights that now looked comforting than the torches just behind the slab I was reclined unto. I swiped the sweat that almost stung my left eye before I smiled.

"At least I managed to finish it," I murmured before casting Ember. A fist-wide orange ball coming to life. The light it produced quickly illuminating my sweat-drenched body that looked a still bit red.

Not a dust here too. I finally confirmed looking at the same polished surfaces around me. I made no further musings to how this occurred, the point is that it made everything less uncomfortable for me. Less sticky. I had no problem looking so dirty, but that was in the premise that I had some clothes that wouldn't make me too uncomfortable. And thinking there might be some people I needed help from, a presentable appearance would at least dissuade them to look down on me. Especially me being naked.

Well, a corpse wouldn't. I smiled at that before shaking my head, banishing the creativity I kept on rekindling. What I need was the fruits of my labor. I gazed at the blinding orb of fire before casting the magical words alive again. Another spell. I smiled, thinking that willing magical words must be a spell, too. Or maybe it was a hidden spell only I can cast? I felt excited at that thought before I let out a whispered arid laugh—hoarse. Too pensive.

Mana Manipulation • Lvl 6

Core[31%]

Fire Mana Conversion [100%]

Upped by four? I was surprised at the sudden increase, before attributing the result for probably using an ancient fire. It must be. The word sounded... expensive. No no no no, it sounded special. If not that, maybe the conversion did. That took me more than three hours to finish. Luckily, continuous use of it allowed me some insights to lessen it up to that number, else, buckets of sweats and dehydration would be my nemesis now.

I didn't bother solving on how the core dropped to the thirties and not less given that I almost used the spell for hours. For now I let myself try different things with this hard-earned spell.

Fanning myself with my left hand, I let the orb fade away after a minute passed, casting it again with my other. So same with Redirection.

Mana Manipulation • Lvl 6

Core[26%]

Fire Mana Conversion [100%]

5. I immediately surmised, less of about two and a half compared to Redirection.

Can I cast both spells at the same time? An idea that was quickly confirmed as another seven and a half of my mana coalesced above my left palm.

Staring at both spheres hovering, I felt my excitement and satisfaction bubble within me, before it overflowed into a smile. I kept on thinking how I should proceed at the darkness with this, and how I'd be able to fare if I went for the corpse at the door beyond. It would burn. I smiled before letting that thought fade away. The fear wouldn't burn, though. I concluded.

But how about fusing this? I thought as I remembered I had this something called Spell... uhhh.

Codex:

Spell Amalgamation • Tier 1

Allows spell to be combined with one another.

Mmn... Amalgamation. The words appeared upon my intent. Before I attempted using the... codex? Or spell? Hmmm... I'll stick with codex. But before I used it, I thought first of what could be the result of combining both of my spells.

Ember • Lvl 0

Bring a small flicker of orange fire to life. Nurture it for in time it may be the glorious fire you'd need. Provides small damage when touched except for the caster.

Redirection • Lvl 0

Imbue mana to form a transparent, one-feet wide sphere to redirect light physical objects.

Redirect and fire... Fire Manipulation. I easily thought. Which means—I hummed in interest at what it entails—I could create and will fire to where I want it and how I want it. Then maybe I could even move things just by using fire! Though, things would burn upon touch, which was a downside.

I was a little hesitant to merge Redirection with Ember at first, thinking that since it was a very special spell like the origin magic, I might not be able create it again. Did it form through mana essence and not some other? I suspected it might be so. And perhaps the trigger it needed was looking back at that corpse again. Something I wouldn't want to relive.

There were those doubts circling my mind. But in the end, my curiosity to try to merge it prevailed. If anything, fusing Ember with it would give me better fire to traverse the darkness beyond. A real Fireball now, perhaps. Redirection might live up to something special, but if I can burn monsters better, the loss would be worth it. More light, too.

Quickly, I had both my hand clasped together as I seated myself to a meditative position. I immediately mentally focused on the codex of amalgama—codex, darkness usurping the space around me.

⟨Spell Amalgamation⟩ • Tier 1

Available Spells within and under Tier 1:

—• Redirection

—• Ember

—• Mana Manipulation

I disregarded the third spell on the list, focusing my intent to merge the two spells before it. As quickly as I did, I immediately knew I had to delve into my mental sight again to work with fusing the spells.

And there it was.

The small sphere of red and something transparent yet blackish color—black enough that the darkness around my mind felt dull when I knew it was not. Still, it felt that it must be darker this time. But yes, they were there, separated by a stretch of darkness.

Do I just ram them together? That sounded wrong. In a way that if I do exactly just that, there's a chance it would fail. Fail?

Fail. I was quickly reminded of something I might have missed again, tending to think that things would always work in the brighter side.

What would happen if I fail? Now that was a question that really mattered. Again, I could just use the Fire Essence outside if the worse that could happen for the Ember spell is to vanish. The only problem that mattered was, again, Redirection. If it fails, I'd be gaining losses. Do I have to face that cloth again? I doubt I'd want that, not if I have no choice left but to do so. But for now? No.

Should I still try? I was hesitant about it, not wanting to risk losing both the spell. I took hours for that Ember. I further reasoned even though the heat and sweat wasn't enough to make me parch, tired, and dizzy. Thus, the amount of time I spent having that also dissuaded my want to use the codex. Yet when I focused on the spheres, my attempt to fan out my curiosity on the codex was instead thrown at the side.

Dual Amalgamation:

—• Redirection [Primal] «3 attempts left»

—• Ember «1 attempt left»

Oh. Should have read first. I noted to myself as I sighed in relief. Shouldn't have made it complicated and read first. I reiterated.

No longer dabbling further on its adverse implications, my curiosity of using the codex prevailed.

If not rammed together, then try... mixing? Mixing what? Solid? Powder? No. Fluid. In the darkness of my mental sight, I quickly allowed my mind to manipulate both the sphere to mix with each other, treating it as if it was some liquid that needed to be stirred to be completely mixed.

And I did just that. I imagined them in a way as if I was playing with a bucket of water. My hand at the bottom of the bucket as I stirred it slow. As seconds trickled to minutes, the water gradually moved to the sides of the bucket. Moving circular. And I could see how the first movement was the hue of red and what was on its tail was the transparent, blackish color. Then I stirred more, letting the color of Redirection flow along the Ember's—side by side. When I felt that they were moving along together, I stirred faster as if hoping they'd at least show some visual change of getting merged.

They did. But then as I stirred more and more, I slowly felt that it was turning faster that made me gradually lose my grasp. As if it would spill out of the imaginary bucket I had it subjected into. So I began to swirl it slowly and felt my control flow back to me. At the same time, I could see both the colors starting to merge together. But they didn't create a new color. It was still abstract, yet they were viscous to my sight as if they were no longer oil and water like earlier. This time, they were like two paints brushed atop each other. The brush swerving left to right, then sometimes circular. And that meant that they were slowly getting harmonized. Closing to a new color. The codex was nearing to its completion, I felt.

I almost felt reassured at that. However, as seconds passed by, what I didn't know was that it required something else to generate the codex. So that reassurance quickly turned to my disbelief. Then at a stupid realization that made me stop just for a moment.

Mana Depleted.

That burned my eyes.

⟨Spell Amalgamation⟩ unsuccessful.

Due to the failure of combining spells:

• Spell 'Ember' is reduced to a derived spell: Candlelight.

I sighed as I continued to gaze at the mixture of color of what I could think of as the spells' mana dissipate into the darkness of my mind.

Well, that's part of the progress. I smiled. At least there's something interesting I'd learn about sooner. And, more at least, the spells didn't vanish like I thought would've happened. Perks of pessimism.

By the time I got out of my mental sight, the magical words were already in front of me. Giving the summary of what I had just done.

Mana Manipulation • Lvl 6

Core [0%]

Fire Mana Conversion [100%]

Candlelight [Derived Spell] • Lvl 0

Bring a small flicker of orange fire to life. Nurture it for when the end of time comes, you'd be host the beacon to which rest is found. Provides warmth to that which is touched, allowing fluid to gradually vaporize under the barest of touch.

A candlelight? The description entailing seemed interesting. Although the comfort of the word 'damage' was removed, it had something that might be useful for me. For an instance, drying. Or wiping. Well, that meant I wouldn't need a towel anymore. I smiled at my attempts to dissuade my disappointment. Not that bad. Again I didn't sigh. This just goes that I could fail at magic just as I learn it. And that makes it more worthwhile to venture.

I reclined at the door for a minute and allowed the coldness of the room permeate my body. Letting my mind rest for thinking too much given the situation I'm still in. Even then, after this, more magic.

As I let the words fade out my view, excited to begin the outline of my temporary goal with a rest, only then did I realize that the door with the dim lights was actually opened. The white cloth staring right at me.