It didn't take a lot of time when mister Orden waved another goodbye and vanished inside the small... townwalldoor? Hmm. But that wasn't important now. With the bearded mister going my way, it only took a couple of grins and nods for a greeting between him and I. Nez, it seemed, was the mister's name. And just like the other misters, all I needed was short of a few words before I was given another surprise.

"Week-long meals? Three a day? For... free... sir?"

"Yep, refugees are coming soon with the wave of herndezza gushing them out of their homes. Part of the reason why these good old woodhouses are built! But yeah, bout that refugee. You'd be considered one, I guess. Ah, no. The more likely one. Lemme check. Hey, Bryce! You with the logi..."

I considered his words with pleasing thoughts swirling in my mind, whomever he was yelling with and what his words were about had swiftly left my considerations.

Free food. I couldn't wrap my head at what that meant except for plates of rice, fried potatoes, and with a good amount of bowls of soup along three strips of meat. How scrumptious! Imagine if there's more!

There's no denying to me that eating such delicacy is more than just getting stuffed. Fed to liken the bodies of the three misters I've met—which could very much mirror the same as those people atop. Rather, it enlightened me that I would be able to save the huge amount of gold mister Virel had gifted me. Then perhaps I could use these golds to buy magic!

A smile imperceptibly snaked its way to my lips at that, which immediately faded as I gulped the brown, reddish meat that I had safely stored somewhere in my mind—something more realistic to think about. I thought back to his words, finding a particular word quite familiar with that buzzing sound when spoken. How did he say that? Hern...deza? Something nearly spilled from my thoughts as I wondered, having seen it somewhere. But I quickly spiraled away from that when mister Nez was back with a confirmation. To which I eagerly nodded at him with a voice of thanks for. Ah, I'll get to that word later on. For now, food!

"Anyway, don't know bout the specifics of your case. You might be given help more than that, supposedly," he spread out his arms as shrugged, "the lad would help you with that. But enough of that now. Picked a room yet?"

With a quick shake of my head, he added, "Oh, you haven't? Hmm, guess I can still suggest some. Since you're the first refugee to come, let me show you the best of the best around. In case you'd be spending your days here later, better have the best ones. " Winking at me, I found myself nodding at him again in response. Still, a part of me wanted nothing more than to add a word that anywhere is fine. However, with mister Nez stalking each houses in concentration, I pulled my tongue back. Then thought again. Not to mention his narrowed eyes and a sneer going back and fro from the different houses a dissuading expression, I shouldn't say no for something better, right? What more of best? Let's go for best. I convinced myself.

"Heh, not even perfectly twisted. That. Perfect. Come on."

Mister Nez, who was now with a happy smile as he looked at the houses uphill, lead me further up, passing by the houses where the rest of the silhouettes gestured in greeting at us.

I bowed in response to their waved hands as we went further up. Glimpsing lastly at the odd, glowing orb lodged in the tip of the wooden stick a long-haired miss was bobbing on her thighs. Quite sure it was what I thought of it to be. A magical wood! Staff! It must be.

I felt my heart swell in further excitement as we went our way. Only calming down as I followed along listening at mister Nez' story. About how he created the house he's leading me into by himself. From logs to piecing it together, he narrated a very nice story that took me to an imagination. Or rather, a confirmation. Another thing that made my heart skip another beat to swell bigger. Surely, he too was similar to mister Orden and mister Virel. They possess the magic!

To build houses? To command vines? To control earth? Roots? Soil?

Those were the immediate questions that lingered by, stacked from one after another experience. And that wonder was finally made true this time when we reached a particularly huge house nearest to the flower walls.

Trees and bushes adorned its surroundings expensively, something I failed to see was between the walls and the houses. It appeared like how a mansion should be built. Yet its simple design that smelled of sawed wood along the moonlit shade of the light brown walls was something that canceled out that thought.

It was a simple wooden house. No intricate designs. No shiny things. Still, although it wasn't grandiose like those I've glimpsed, the simplicity had a twang of something about it. Not expensive, but something closer to it. Perhaps because it was new? Beautifully simple? I don't know. But peering at the similarly wooden roofs that I had to crane my neck for, my question whether it was magic seemed to have been answered. Only for him to finally confirm it for me with a question.

"Any chance you know of wood magic?"

He asked as I took my eyes from the human-like, wooden statues fringing the roof. I considered his question. A question I would have wanted warped to something: how could I learn of wood magic, sir?

But that was just that. Shaking my head in response, I saw mister Nez recreate how a thickly-sealed vine door parted away with a mere handwave. Turning it to something more concrete and more familiar. Becoming easily opened with just a push as we went inside.

That brought the tip of my tongue almost flicking my curiosity to the question I wanted to ask, something I hadn't asked mister Orden and mister Virel. But just almost.

Dim lights spilled through the glass window as we passed by a spacious living room that was only adorned with piles of cleanly stacked wood, with mister Nez's continued...

conquest narration, I'd say. We then climbed three steps of a stair as we entered a hallway where no more lights managed to pierce through. Empty as well.

At least, the window at the end of the hallway brought bits of light to know that there wasn't anything to stumble us. Just wooden. Two doors were on both sides of the hallway that I think where the bedrooms are. Or maybe where the foods are kept? That was... far too deep of an imagination. As we reached the farthest door, the trod was continually filled by mister Nez with details I couldn't get ahold of. But he seemed happy talking about it. With his smiles and laughs, I could tell. So I couldn't ask my question yet.

And besides from that, from the barrage of laughters and words I nodded along, I couldn't even decide whether I should still ask of all his words' implications and of his casts of magic, or just wait to find it for myself. But I don't know anything here, this must count as me needing... some help, right? I debated to myself. Mister Nez looked like he wouldn't mind a question.

That, however, still ended up as a muse after he made another vinedoor turn into something I could easily open. Mister Nez had already left to fetch something important when I busied myself gathering courage. I stared at his receding back and kept the question to myself. At least, his addition to the people who could use such magic meant I could learn it too!

I put my hand out and tried to make the door warp, similar to how they did it. With the darkness around, I couldn't see if it even moved minutely. But I didn't need to inspect and try it over and over again.

It didn't heed, that much I understood. But sooner. And this time, I decided I should ask about it after he returns, like how I just did with mister Virel and mister Orden. Be direct, show respect.

I sighed. Relieved and contented. For now, I took it to myself to wander around and find something to brighten the place. Which required no further than bring the magical words alive, because I needed no woods nor candles to have one!

I glanced at my mana core and immediately dove for a meditation. This time, I finally managed to understand what mister Virel meant by Mana Touched being of something good.

Mana Manipulation • Lvl 7

Core [18%] • Mana Touched

30? 40? 50? My body at least told me it had not been minutes that I already meditated a lot of mana back. And that meant many things I could ponder so much about. But that's for later. The stale cold air latched onto me in dire need to be removed. And I could do that now. I grinned to myself, plastered it away as I hooked my head at the hallway then smiled again.

With a simple cast of a spell, the dark room was lit up with warmth, merely chipping the number a bit. But I was sure that it would be more than enough to cast sufficient fires until mister Nez comes back.

Furthermore, I looked at the small ball of red. It was small, hardly able to ignite anything accidentally. No. It won't ignite anything at all. It does something much more magical than that.

Candlelight [Derived Spell] • Lvl 5

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

I nodded at the magical words. The ab - so - loot one's wonder summoned at my mere thoughts. That person is awesome to have done this. Now for the fire, I just have to near it to my shoulders and—nice! I smiled in appreciation at the fire, hummed in comfort for effect well done. Even if it was largely smaller than its previous size, the spells at least now had a more convenient use. And I didn't have to move it around this very burnable place with worry. It shone enough to light all the corners of the room, sending more than the fire-licked wooden walls and floorboards.

A sense of fulfillment arose within me with that. In a way as if I felt full, much, much fuller than when I had eaten the banana. This is something of my own. Something I could use over and over again with just but a meditation. I grinned at it one last time before finally inspecting the room. Which ended shortly as I began, not when my sight instantly transfixed at the sight of the pure white color laying gently on the the huge bed capable of fitting five me. But that wasn't the point now.

Rubbing my right arm that still felt the coldness of the night, I peeked outside the door and tried to discern steps, hardly able to accomplish something notable as I didn't even remember hearing mister Nez creak the wooden floor earlier. Something I subjected to either magic or a cool trick of his given his large build. Still, I didn't notice him coming back.

Tucking the ragbag beside the wall, I quickly ran for the mattress and pressed my hand on it, carefully moving my left hand away as to not burn it. Oh, it won't burn. But who knows? Still. How soft! I groped and pressed further, finding the bed coverings so smooth and cold as my palm dug deep. It smelled so sweet, so new, so... sleepy. I almost dove straight on it knowing how I'd be laying in such comfort sooner. However, not now.

Making sure that I had smoothened all the creases I could find, I reined in my growing excitement as I got back to the door and stood still to where I originally was. I carefully peeled a banana with a hand to busy and mask what I had done. The first bite came and—mm! Delicious. With every bite, it looked almost as if nothing occurred if not for my head craning back and forth from the hallways and the bed. Only stopping when I shook my head and replaced my contained exuberance with a smile. I downed the remaining bites of the banana and looked forward tonight. I paused and stared at the banana peel. Tomorrow too.

For now, I cast my spell anew and regarded the room again. Finding that besides the bed, there were also a table, a chair, cabinets, a pile of cleanly cut woods stacked together, and a rolled-up paper that showed tearings at the edges upon closer inspection. The paper being the only thing that looked old in the room, almost the color of the walls itself. I didn't know what purpose it held, but upon seeing that there's a hearth at the left corner of the room, I quickly snapped my eyes back towards the piled woods—the firewoods. Hmm, even firewoods looked like it could create chairs and table. I mused.

I sneaked another glance at the hallway and still found none of mister Nez before thinking whether I should begin the fire. Then I shook my head again. Who knows whether there's something important in here. Maybe even those woods are for really for chairs! Better not burn any.

With that, I gathered another spell on my other palm and slather-dabbed it on my shoulders and arms. A better substitute than the hearth. Thinking about it now, maybe I should do this always. Then the numbers would increase further!

Now, I just have to remember mister Virel's warning. No overcharging, huh?

Redirection • Lvl 0

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

Or maybe I could. I remembered how I managed something amazing. How it managed to help me. Like I hoped magic would. Certainly, there are other reasons why mister Virel warned me of it. But if it's just a couple of headaches and fainting, why shouldn't I? I'll definitely find out about it and then hopefully do the overcharging again. I grinned at the words.

"Hey, kid. I've got the—oh crap."

The magical words faded as I jerked in surprise, with mister Nez's figure coming to view. Then I saw him peering wide-eyed at the corner of the room.

"Tell me you didn't set fire some paper."

I felt my heart race and quickly blurted, "I didn't, sir." Warily honing my sight on the old paper he was looking at, I tried to think of other things I might have done. I haven't touched anything here except for the bed.

Looking back at him, It didn't escape my eye how his shoulders slightly slumped. For what reason, I could guess. But I wouldn't want it of something bad, so I immediately added, "this fire can't burn, sir."

"Oh, don't worry too much, kid. Something just slipped out of my mind," he chuckled while scratching his head. "Just don't burn anything here if you've got something that can, ok? Anyway, here, let me show you what I got."

Heading for the table, he gently laid a clothed round object on it. I waited at him to lift the cloth before I noticed him stop and looked my way.

"Guess what it is?" he asked with a smile that almost looked playful.

"Umm..." I muttered, lightly nodded in response to him, then considered what I found familiar of it and immediately answered, "a... magical, crystal orb that shines white light...sir?"

"Shines white light? Haha, you've seen all that was worth a copper. This, young lady," he lifted the cloth. "is something more fantastic!"

A grey orb that looked no different than marble was underneath. Something that looked unworthy to steal. Yet the lines of squiggles drawn below the circle in three succession must be something that made the difference.

"Anyway. Nuff of mine talks. I'll just show how it's done."

I nodded once again at mister Nez as I watched how his casual touch on the orb produced a very dim yellow light. Something that wasn't blinding. Like a lantern but much, much softer to look at compared to any lights I've seen. With that, I also began to feel heat on my nose before it zapped my whole body to a blast of heat. Easing away the cold night so fast that a hummed moan escaped me.

I tensed then un-tensed as I looked at mister Nez before I slowly gave a nod of apology to him. Only for him to return a smile at. "See, I told you it's better than those."

It is. I bobbed nods at him in affirmation this time and waited till he stepped away from the orb, knowing full well now that he was using a spell. Hmm. Now I would want to have this spell too. I slightly felt nervous at the limited number of spells I could have before casting away those thoughts upon noticing mister Nez finish his magic.

"Ok, that's enough for the whole night. Come here, I'll show you how to adjust it's temperature to your liking."

I immediately scooted over. Teaching spells! Now I get to learn it! Gazing intently at mister Nez's outstretched hand, I copied him and felt the warm orb for myself. And then waited his instructions on what to do.

"See the line with the dot there? Pick the red one and choose what number you want. Feel which is comfortable and settle for it."

Huh? I blinked at the orb before narrowing my eyes at the squiggles. There weren't any red lines at all. I looked at him again, back to the squiggles with another narrowed eyes and stirred the remaining mana inside me to form a red line. Then I saw it. A huge and sharp redline appeared in front of me. Exuding danger like I had imagined it would contain. Lasting for a moment as the image in my mind was exchanged by the same grey color that I was boring holes at. Of course, as I had already known, no new spell had come. It didn't work. I hummed to myself. Or was it because I only have few mana left that's why?

"Something wrong?" mister Nez voiced my concern.

I peeked at him. Considered for a moment and remembered again. I resolved myself and said. "I... don't think I know of the Redline Dot spell sir. I can't seem to create it, sir."

I looked at him and he to me. Before his eyes questioningly shifted his brows into confusion.

"Redline... dot spell? Wh—" he paused before he smiled away the guffaw that escaped from him. "No, no, no. It's not a spell. Sorry, it's on me. Should've explained."

He cleared his throat. "You know of how mana stirs when you want to, right? Like when you want to cast a spell? Or when you gather some mana to your body?"

I nodded.

"Yeah, that. You only have to focus on the mana outside or use what's inside your core and shift it towards the ball. It won't take much at all. You just have to make a connection with the orb for it to work. Then those red lines and dots would appear by themselves. No spells needed at all."

I blinked at his smile and nodded. No spell needed at all. I mused to myself. Then does that mean the door warping is not of spell too? Then I can also ca—no, no, no. He asked me if I know of wood magic so it certainly is a spell. Then this—

Heeding his words, I pulled what remained of my mana. Thinking I had enough, I used my mana manipulation and hovered it towards the orb, and then it appeared.

•—

•—

•—

Red, blue, and green. The lines donned those colors respectively. And I had to try and touch it with my other hand to find that it couldn't be touched too. Similar to the magical words.

"Easy, right? Now, slide the red dot towards the line beside it. You'd see numbers after. Then just tap which number you see fit later on," mister Nez commented.

I wanted to immediately see beyond those lines but tucked in my curiosity, heeding mister Nez's words.

"The blue one is for cold, but I don't think you'd find use for it. The green one is something more personal to the owner," he thinly smiled as he spread his arms. "Just borrowed it, so I don't know much. But that's all about it. You can try it sometime soon, just be careful with it, okay?"

I bobbed nods.

"Okay. Tomorrow the lad would pick you up before the sun rise, so better be up early, you good with that?"

With another nod, mister Nez began speaking to himself, and I remembered whether I should as my question now. "Hmm, what else I forgot. The food? Ah, the lad would help you with that. Well, now that I see it."

Mister Nez took away his hand from his chin and pointed at the banana protruding out of the ragbag.

"I suggest you finish that before you sleep. You look like you'd need it. No, don't give that doubting look, kid. Remember the meal I told you? Fruits are included there. So don't hesitate."

Ah. Fruits! My heart didn't need no reminder. "Thank you, sir. Very much." I expressed my gratitude. This time, I decided to ask my question.