The man who started the announcement is here for personnel; "Is there anybody here with enchantment skills?"

I turn to Moon but I don't want to call him out. Its his decision after all. He remains unmoved.

"Any enchanters, magic-casters or martial artists with useful skills will be rewarded with extra food. Of course, you'll have to do some minor tasks for us but it is what it is. Our main objective right now is to find any enchanters. You will be compensated for your work!"

There is a disparity of status for people with strength, knowledge or useful skills. This isn't unique to this world, it was the same back home. It stokes the flames of desire in my heart. I want to learn these things as well. Not for just my curiosity but also a sense of freedom. To pursue a life of my ideals. A life at the end of which I'll be useful.

Long story short, I feel pretty weak right now and the only way to fix it is strength. Starving to an inch within death has exacerbated this problem.

Ake and Moon decide to head over to the registration booth. I ask Shera, "Don't you want to register as well?"

"No, I shouldn't. I'm the trump card." The prideful look on her face is cute.

Status

I open the skills tab and see:

[Create Will]

LvL-0

Uninitiated

[Mana Sense]

LvL-0

Initiated

[Meditation]

LvL-0

Initiated

What does initiated mean? Do I have to perform a skill in order to become initiated? Or is it some form of minimum requirement?

Point is, how do I use magic now? I should ask Moon. He should have a skill or two he can teach me. Its a different matter of whether or not he wants to teach it to me.

The main point is to activate that [Create Will] skill. It seems like a trump card and its a special reward. Special rewards have to be powerful, right?

"Shera, when I'm done learning [Mana Sense], what should I learn afterwards?"

"Mana Intake and Mana Storage. Something along those lines. These two skills are complimentary. Though, you shouldn't get ahead of yourself yet."

"I know, I was just asking. How long does it take for a person to learn [Mana Sense] and [Meditation]?"

"It can take anywhere from an hour to years. It just depends on the person. I did it the fastest out of us three with 6 months."

I wonder what kind of expression she'll have, if I tell her that I did it so soon. I don't think I should tell her in any case though. It'll be real pain in the ass.

Ake and Moon come back and tell us, "They've asked Moon to help them with enchanting some arrows. for every 50 arrows he'll get an extra bowl of porridge."

It seems like a good deal as long as that porridge isn't made of grass or leaves.

"What about you?" I ask Ake.

"They just recorded my name down. I think they intend to have me participate in the city-defense."

"Brother!" It's Shera. It makes sense, if they wanted to do battle they would've done so in the other city. I still don't know its name. I should know its name though since I was reincarnated there.

I don't ask for the name though, it would be very suspicious and would just result in more questions from these guys.

Ake replies with a shrug, "We need more food and we'll see about me fighting when it comes down to it."

"I have a shift too." It's Kogo. I didn't realize that she'd gone over to register as well.

"Are you a magic-caster as well?" I ask with an kindle of hope in my heart.

"No, but I know some basic martial arts."

"So, they do they intend for you to fight as well?"

"No, they want me to cook some food." Everybody just takes it in stride and moves on. What is it with this chauvinism? Her being stationed in the kitchen is the best. She can sneak us some extra food. It does grind my gears a little bit though.

A crate of beautiful well-crafted arrows is hauled over on a donkey's back. The enchanters are instructed to sit around in a circle and begin work.

Moon is around the outer edges of the circle since he isn't as skilled. The other enchanters seem be much more skilled. You can tell by how they carry themselves and move.

Each arrow-head is dipped in vats of potions. . They arrows are retrieved and the enchanters cast certain magical spells. You can tell by how the arrows glow for a moment and dim down. I engrave every single little step they perform in my heart

I have no idea what kind of effect these arrows will have but it seems formidable. Once I've seen the same things being repeated over and over again, I decide to fall back and focus on my skills.

I close my eyes and start meditating. It is very heard and after quite a few interruptions and distractions I flow into that state.

I see the hundreds of floating orbs. They're like puffy clouds. Clouds with great power. I focus on one singular cloud, it is pure white and tiny.

I focus on it and try to bring it towards myself. Except, I have no idea how. I try to somehow will it closer but it just won't work.

I reach out to it for what feels like hours but it remains still. I manage to pull it a little bit close, again. I pull it a little bit closer.

I proceed for what feels like ages until this little orb is near me and I open my mouth. It seems to be the appropriate things to do and I eat it.

That was a big mistake. I start to feel the effects right away. A burning sensation of my innards being burnt travels through my body. I am out of my trance and quite aware of everything happening right now.

Am I going to explode?