An opened door with the cloth just floating above greeted me in my most vulnerable state: weak, without mana, without anything to confront it with.

But that didn't mean I wasn't ready to fight it and hold my fist high. I was. And I jerked up to my feet at the mere sight of it, not letting the wrongness building up stagger me.

Yet, my mind halted my attempts of courageousness when I saw the reason for its levitation. It might have been magic, I immediately reasoned. But not forgetting to will words out of it brought my whole body to freeze. Not from the realization that I was just hallucinating—when I was not, nor that the corpse was still just a corpse. I froze to what held it steady.

[Spirit Courier]

The cold air numbed and tingled my head. Making the unwanted reverberation thud my chest anew, not from the words but where I had gotten it from. The name held no importance for me.

No. Don't move. Don't run. Stay still. The darkness will protect you. I tried reassuring myself, even willing the darkness to my side. To shroud me from whatever the monster uses that could sense me. When I felt it wasn't enough, I stared at it, wanting to petrify any of its now visible appendages to a halt. Or have the whole thing burn into ashes—to nothingness.

Like a Fireball again. But this time, not of hope. Just my desperation.

Still, when one of its legs stepped forward, I didn't bother letting the drums of my heart freeze the blood on my body. So I bit my tongue. And as much as I didn't want to, as much as I quickly regretted biting it so hard, and as much as I believed I couldn't possibly clutch away from the abomination—

I moved.

I instantaneously slid open the door and swiveled to my heel inside and closed it. Letting the sweat flow down from my head as I felt the comfort of the still hot room. Then I ran, further and further away from the door and into the darkness beyond.

But then—

Then it ended.

My mind brought me back to my feet, to the still dark room, and to the reality that I had not bitten my tongue. Because for all the courage I thought I had—I remained nailed on my track.

And now? Now the opened door ahead no longer housed the spider and the cloth corpse. Only the darkness remained.

It moved. They moved.

Gone. Not to my direction, not to tackle me. Nor to drag me. It was just gone into the darkness.

Above.

As if struck with delayed realization, I finally stood to my wobbling feet with a spurt of strength. Letting my initial imagination comb into reality.

I slithered through the door and closed it with a loud bang in a matter of breath. The heat I caused here not as suffocating anymore but made my numb head slowly gain reason.

Not here. Not here. Not he—never go here. I chanted, waiting with taut nerves. My hand pushed the handle sidewards till the grip began to hurt, hoping the creature wouldn't scuttle back to crash open the door with not a care of my wishes then just drag me onto its nest. It would then watch me for all its glory with its hundreds of eyes, or thousands of eyes—

No. Not that. I paled and couldn't help but feel a lump form in my throat, hoping my thoughts wouldn't come back to haunt for me.

But as that moment stretched into minutes, my knees weakened with the loss of momentary strength I had, plopping down the floor with just a wince.

No spider came. No cloth came. And it did no more than just stare at me—pass by me.

Another perk of pessimism. I stared at my shaking hands, gulping breaths in to calm my nerves with a quivering smile. A wriggled happy curve slipping between my evening breathing while I looked for comfort at the visible ceiling. Then I peeled my eyes at the uncertain stretch of darkness beyond.

Does it contain same spiders? I worried for that. Then shivered a degree lower upon the single question that worsened it: What if there were hundreds of them?

That made my heart seize a beat, erasing the forced curve on my lips, mind racing for any semblance of hope to escape here. Or just be done with everything and die.

No! A part of my mind didn't allow for that. And suddenly, I found myself quickly forcing my being to a comfortable position, falling directly into meditation.

—–·–—

Mana Manipulation • Lvl 6

Core[100%]

Fire Mana Conversion [100%]

I had intended spending just a few minutes to gather some mana, but thinking of how the darkness beyond held further uncertainties, I deemed it necessary to fully fill it while shedding my eyes open every minute or so. Which made me completely forget how far I was in my mana absorption. Thus, contracting the time where filling my mana core took less than it has been intially. But I didn't bother how long and anymore of such.

I calmed down, that was my purpose. Now I move to another.

Create a spell, move, and find an exit. With finality, I set my mind to do exactly just that. Anymore ponderings were reserved for later.

I swiftly got to my feet and for the Lit Torch further ahead, swiping the sweat that rolled down the side of my face. The new spell I had would provide useful for drying that, but I reserved every ounce of mana I can in case something appears. But most importantly, for the spell I'd be soon creating. It would take lots. And even if that wasn't the reason, the heat was still tolerable for me.

It was in the middle of the lit passageway where I found a blazing torch that still had Fire Essence. With imagination gearing in, I quickly willed for the spell I wanted and needed.

Blue fire. Elongated. Arm's length. Can be mentally manipulated.

A lot of things had not been fully considered out when I thought of remarkable spells that includes efficiency and invincibility. And, I doubted if the last part can be done. Or even everything. I'm nothing but a novice in this craft, so the scope I had thought of might not even be appropriate. What I wanted, after all, was no ordinary fire or as simple as that of my Ember-turned-Candlelight spell. I wanted something that could damage, injure, slice, burn, and kill. And something my mana could definitely afford. A very, very huge fireball would be better. But not now.

'Spell: Blue-embered Sword' has been created.

Conjure a blue-colored flame. One of the famed fires that could burn even the scales of the Herrandezza's curse. Nurture it for in time, an Elemental might as well wake upon the return of its lost matchstick. Provides intense searing to what is touched and melt what can be cut. Can only be wielded by hands. Provides no damage to caster.

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

Of course I confirmed.

"Yes!" Balling my fist hard, I couldn't help but whisper my rejoice. And as quickly as I did, I glanced at the door behind and the darkness in front. Staring for a moment before focusing on slowly willing the words back to life, if it even slowed. Which I believed was just me engrossed to my surroundings that stretched the time. Still, I was relieved that no spiders nor cloths were alerted. But even if there were, I already had something to fend them off.

A smile bloomed in my face with that, and then to the spell that began to emerge directly from the hole in my curled fist. Extending to life with no haste.

Despite the name pertaining it was a sword, the fire that formed appeared in no way solid like I had thought. It wasn't in t-shape, no pointed tip, and it didn't have that edge where it looked and felt sharp at the same time. But more akin to the fire when a pile of wood or a mound of dried leaves were burned: soft and easily swayed. Except that mine was blue; a pillar of fire compressed to fit an arm's length.

But that was only how I initially described it. There might be no sharpness that could cut steel as if it was water, nor was there pointed tip that could skewer a diamond.

But it raged.

As if it was powered by an endless combustible materials. Beating like a heart. Breathing life as long as I allow it. And that was enough for me to believe its sharpness cannot be judged by mere sight. It must be felt.

Though, I had nothing to prove that statement. Trying to slice open the walls didn't even scorch it, and neither the metal fixtures did. The wooden door would surely be the best object to test the spell, but I'd dare not touch it even by the hair of the fire.

... Well, I did. Just a very, very shallow touch, which was enough to conclude it couldn't be marred as well. I just hope that it warrants the necessary pressure when that spider or cloth ever comes back.

Manipulating it with just a hover looked impossible, never leaving my arms when I wanted to let go of it. It had to be clutched as stated. Even the temperature was becoming a worrying issue. I felt no heat from it. But that's fine for now, the color itself an assurance to me already. I hope.

I wanted to try to cast it and find out how much mana it'd cost, but I've already wasted enough time filling my mana core, and I wouldn't want to fill it again and wake up to find I was already getting dragged by the spider. And comparing it with the other spells, it was enough to have a conjecture that this would take a huge chunk of mana. So I saved it for dire times where it would be badly needed.

Herrandezza and Elemental? Another pair of new words stashed for laters. The fire dagger faded with nothing but a simple will before I continued what I intended to do next: create a spell again.

Since creating another spell was confirmed, I immediately set out to my reserve spells that immediately came to mind. I debated for a moment before choosing a spell that seemed impossible even to myself.

Healing fire. Touch. Spread. Yellow. Hand.

Quite hard to think having heard none of such ways fire could be handled. But I'd really need it if I get injured or if I get paralyzed by the spider. Furthermore, I looked at the scars left on my body. It wasn't horrendous, but I'd really be troubled if wounds would impede my ability to run and think clearly like these had done to me. Especially now. I paused for a moment before proceeding with the spell. If it fails, a bunch still was left to work on with.

'Spell: Healing Fire' can not be created.

Oh. A shame, but nothing I could do. At least that chopped more than a half of the spells I intended to bring up. Mainly because they worked on similar lines... though perhaps it'd work if I try?

For now I settled for a spell that seemed plausible and needed. With the sweat that keeps rolling down on me, I wouldn't want to be dehydrated so fast. And I needed water on my body if running is my only option left. Maybe I can drink fire too? Or even eat it!

'Spell: Adaptive Flame' has been created.

Create an orb of fire that slightly regulates heat. Oftentimes, a spell that has been used to adjust fires that might be highly damaging. It is often used to acclimatize body to temperature changes. Nurture it for in time, perhaps even the coldest of places will warm upon your presence. Provides the ability to slightly change warmth of oneself and that of fire upon absorption. Can not deflect damage that would otherwise damage the user.

So no touching fire, still. I thought as I remembered the fire that killed me. If I see that again, I had thought it would help me survive better. Hmm.

The spell itself was the size of Ember, but instead of having a raging color, this was more reserved. Sheened with a very dim ruby luster that looked almost faded. Its form was between that of a soap's bubble and that of a lamp orb with how it felt solid to my eyes.

Pushing it towards my chest made it feel as if it was air, or something similar with how bouncy it was when I pressed it harder. My thoughts of reducing the heat my body was submerged into was quickly applied without any complexities. Then I immediately felt the heat within me halt its attempt on trickling down more sweat on my now sweltered body as the orb faded into my chest. But not too much, just enough to make the heat further tolerable for me.

With an attack spell in my arsenal, the next thing I wanted was what I thought. Drinking Fire! Eatable fire!

But any tries to conjure even a spark was no longer feasible. Though there was no indication why, but this could easily be reasoned that it must be the limit.

Here I was hoping I'd have something I'd be able to eat freely. I should've prioritized it. I attempted to power my way on the Essence, but to my dismay, it no longer heeded my spell nor my call. Neither confirmation that it was the limit formed into words like it did when I created a spell out of thin air too.

It was disappointing, but again, I didn't dwell further into it. It was already good I managed to acquire another spell when my initial goal was just to have an attack spell. Having limitations was good thing too, especially as knowing that I don't even have the capacity to cast all of them if it indeed worked. Sure, I had the assurance of them within my pockets, but sitting ducks weren't useful. Still, a shame.

With a heat-regulating spell, I really wanted to stay here and gain some numbers on some of my spells knowing that it could make some of them work better. Probably consumption-wise, which was a product of my thought that the better the number, their must be better changes coming along. But I was hesitant to use my only attack spell thinking it'd cost a lot of mana, and I doubt if the derived ember would level up with the lit torches around. Furthermore, I was sure upping Redirection with nothing light around to move except for my hair was impossible. Though the heat control could use some increase in numbers, it was enough for now.

So having thought of things, I deemed it better to risk it and move further away from the door. If that stretch of darkness was indeed long, I just hope there'd be unlit torches beyond. That'd be helpful for gaining ground since I had fire to light them.

Fire.

I looked at the torches, my left foot halting midair.

Fire Mana. It dawned to me that I initially cast Ember out of the torches's essence, not from my mana.

Blue. Dagger. Arm.

Blue fire bloomed atop my outstretched hand. With a thought I pulled Essence from the torch, another fire dagger appeared on the other.

Relief washed over me as I held both of them harder. Spiders and their mental attacks. Both daggers disappeared as I lightly slapped myself on both cheeks. I needed to re-orient myself if I even get forgetful of the resource around me. Meditation had been, indeed, useful, but it wasn't absolute.

⟨Spell Amalgamation⟩ • Tier 1

Available Spells within and under Tier 1:

—• Redirection

—• Candlelight [Derived Spell]

—• Blue-embered Dagger

—• Adaptive Flame

—• Mana Manipulation

Now that the torches had the assurance I needed, I sat down, reclined on the wall in the middle of the lit hallways and immediately opened up my Spell Ama—codex! Codex. Not to try it, of course! I would be wasting spells if I did. I just find it easier to look at with this concrete words rather than list them in my mind. And the line and dots looked nice to look at as well.

Redirection. No light object. Skip.

Candlelight. Probably hard to improve since no darkness. Or just casting it could level it? Find Mana cost.

Blue-embered Dagger. Probably costly and there's nothing to cut. Just try it to assess its mana cost.

Adaptive Flame. Still active. Check mana cost too.

Mana Manipulation. Lots of spells to use, should I go and meditate to level it? Must do.

Mana was continuously splurged as I checked each spells' cost. It was a good thing that the derivation of Ember did not cost astronomical amount of mana like I had imagined. A fair thought considering it had derived. Candlelight actually took less mana to use now. 3. And beside serving as a beacon despite its meager and easily puffed-out form, it could even be used as a dryer. I nodded approvingly at it as I no longer hesitated dabbing it all over my body with the remaining slathered perspiration sticking my skin together. It was quite an odd experience to go through, but the magical machination the flicker of fire eclipsed my thoughts as if I was roasting myself. Amazing and very convenient were the better words to describe it.

The dagger came next which wasn't anything suspenseful at all. It made me relieved that I had the numbers to work on with and not just carry an impromptu plan when uncertain situations arise. 25. Now that's four attempts to fare with an enemy.

What made me bulge my eyes was actually Adaptive Flame which cost me a staggering amount of 35 mana. I had to stop myself from re-casting it to confirm whether it was a kind of lie. Which didn't occur, of course. I really had to cast it again because I couldn't believe it was more expensive than an attack spell. Then my remaining mana confirmed it.

Mana Manipulation • Lvl 6

Core [1%]

Oh.. kay. Empty again. There's no need for computation. It was quite obvious. 35 plus 35 is... 70! And 70 plus 25 is 95. Then 98, thus... 2?

What's with the missing number? Although I wasn't confident at fast-paced computation, I'm quite sure myself I wouldn't get such basic arithmetic wrong. And double-checking it did prove I wasn't mistaken.

A number was missing.

I cast a dubious look at it and remembered how the core did reduce earlier too when I was converting. With what's going on, I widened my eyes with the sudden thought I had.

Someone's taking my mana.

Which was not, of course. There was no one around to have done that. Nor would I be willing to believe any lurking spiders or cloths I couldn't perceive could do that. Waiting a few minutes later did prove my other more reasonable conjecture: Mana Core was expelling mana. I don't know why or how, but that meant my thoughts of regenerating mana while traversing that darkness was no longer an option.

It really was a good thing I remembered those torches can be a substitute to cast my fire spells. Two things were already thwarting my plans right now and would be really problematic had I not known of it.

Thinking about it now, maybe I could use the Essence here to increase their number?

I did. Twenty fire-swords appeared consecutively, nineteen small burning balls, and eighteen faded ruby balls. But no numbers changed.

I scratched my head in thought. Nothing was working. Hmm.

Since I was left nothing to ponder about, I focused on trying to fill in my mana while I remained conscious on my surroundings. Which was again, useless. The need to delve into meditation while imagining the mana pulled into me was still a must.

So I opted filling in mana while glancing around after estimating a minute passing by. Then went on for two minutes as no problem arose and with the assurance of the torches around me.

When I was back at a hundred, I decided to move this time. Go for the darkness rather than wait in here. Planning to restock my mana core to hundred everytime it dropped to fifty. It would take some time, but at least, I'd have two fire-swords to fend what is needed to be burned.

I made way to the stretch of darkness while my left hand cast the Candlelight spell. Even with its altered state, it still could light up enough space that I wouldn't need to be too careful along my walk. In any case, there had been no sightings of walls, woods, floors, or anything aged by time. So now, I walked with haste. Each hushed as quiet as I can.

The steps accumulated more and more until it became a long walk. To my heart's relief, no spiders nor cloths were within the passageway by the time the lit torches were as small as pebbles and dots.

But I didn't let myself relax with that. While adding further haste to my steps, I hoped that there'd be another room where I could find some shelter soon. One that would provide me with fire. Lights. But more importantly, an exit. Preferably with some people.

Core [91%]

Well, I've got enough to fare by.

—–·–—

A tenth of an hour passed by, and my feet were already walking the fastest it could. Yet, no doors nor rooms nor diverged path presented itself to me. Just a long passageway which was a stark contrast to the room where I had slept.

To my further concern, another mana was gone into nothingness. The good thing was, the Heat Control lasted for five minutes with the earlier expenditure. But since I no longer was in the range where the heat was problematic, I settled enduring the coldness of the room.

I had hoped that the unlit torches that accompanied me along the way could be lit up as I moved further, but my spell wasn't effective at all. Was it because the spell changed? I don't know. Still. No lights, no doors, no rooms, no clothes.

No exit.

And that remained true until five more cast of my Ember. With one more mana fading to nothingness. The least it did was it finally confirmed that it needed five minutes before my mana core needed to erase one for some reason. So by the time my mana was already dipping below sixties, my hopes to find some light and clothes were already gone out of my mind. All that was left was the hope no nests of spiders would be within this endless path. So that in case my mana dropped below fifties, I had the assurance that I could run back with no worries.

Still, if there was something, the darkness spilling over the edges of my spell proved unabated.

And dread it I did. No matter how much I was willing to brave it, images of something I didn't want imagined kept flashing to mind. Frowning, I found myself some reason on why I had chosen to traverse this instead of stay with the torches. Which all boiled down to a single thought: staying there meant doing nothing. Even if every step I took was accompanied with apprehension, I wanted to persist with this choice.

Candlelight [Derived Spell] • Lvl 3!

A sound reverberated in my mind. The fourth. It was a company I found comforting in my walk. In my mind, that was all I had so I wouldn't back away or stop to my tracks. So I continued to fill my mind counting numbers—expecting, rather, hoping the fifth sound will come along.

I cast the spell anew in my other hand just in the nick of time. 3, the words confirmed for me that it still wasn't reduced. Pausing my steps, I willed the words and did a quick check of my remaining mana.

Mana Manipulation • Lvl 7

Core [52%]

It's already the number I had set, but with how far I've come across, I changed my mind to risk it down until thirties—or where I still have some spare left to cast my attack spell. Better than trying to go back and forth and wait some numbers to go up and tire myself needlessly. I doubt I have enough time, anyway. Who knows whether I'd just need but five more Candlelight to reach a door or diverged path.

Fifth. A voice within me took my focus back, not letting the majority of my mind and the situation I was in discourage me. I looked back at the torchlights behind me. Seemingly far away yet it held the same assurance I had gotten from it. A breath in and I continued forward.

—–·–—

So this is it.

I stood alone, puffing and gulping airs despite the small walk.

There had been no lights, no rooms, no spiders, and no odd cloths within the next seven minutes. Me, the darkness, the ceiling, the walls, the floor, and my light alone. But my halted steps and unnerved mind was enough to garner myself some calming breath of where I was. Still safe.

I didn't have to narrow my eyes to see that the end of the path was just a wall. But craning my neck upwards was enough to notice the difference I had been looking for.

There was a door, on the ceiling. Or if that carved gaps forming two rectangular shapes would be one. If I had no light with me, I would have mistaken it as the wall itself. Only the gaps made it different than the rest.

I stared at it, wondering how I'd reach it. Remembering how I had gotten out of the first room, I considered the wall in front. So I jumped towards it and quickly confirmed that it was of the same machination. Now, my feet was on the wall and the door right in front of me.

Mana Manipulation • Lvl 7

Core [30%]

Luckily, the risk was rewarding. Still have a dagger left for what's beyond. Though, I wouldn't attempt to understand how this walldoor could be fully opened. Nudging it and putting in little pushes on it made it appear sturdy and hard to open. I hope. Craning my neck hard, I had the choice to run back to the torches above and fill in my mana to a hundred before coming back here and work on this walldoor—or, I felt for the crevices and felt no air breezing through, do the meditation here.

Risky. Piles of questions on why took most of my attempts to stay here, dissuading such thoughts. But on another hand, why not extend the risk further?

I stretched my arm and held it steady on the wall, feeling its coldness and unscratched surface, I fell into meditation and allowed Mana Manipulation do its work. And it did. A few seconds later, it was a right call to do that that as I was still able to get the spell working. Which basically spooned my dissuasion of this risk off my mind.

This could be a bad idea all throughout, but I reminded myself that risking is part of success. My brothers and I might not have done such things, but a few years more and we'd really be risking ourselves away from the orphanage. Taking a breath, I refocused my thoughts.

I wasn't beyond parched, tired, hungry, or exhausted just yet. But that didn't mean I couldn't even judge how far my body fares. Settling for the better choice would further make me realize my body would soon see what I don't need right now. So going to and fro would be better but was a bad idea all the same.

Although my hopes to use Mana Manipulation through meditation while the Ember spell is active was dashed as well, I immediately came into terms that meditating in this dark area was possible given that no spider had been sighted yet. Moreover, it wouldn't be an issue, anyway. Darkness would be filling in my mind upon meditating too.

Still, with both my hands on the walldoor I coalesced the last cast of my Ember spell as I closed my eyes. The comfort of the light and that no abominations was around the last thing in my mind before meditation kicked in.