Skill acquired: Dense Rock Lv. 1

That was terrifying. It made a small earthquake when it landed!

After I formed the rock out of mana and let it go it just turned into a solid rock the same size as the mana rock and fell really quickly to the ground. Once it landed there was what felt like a small earthquake. I learned that there was an earthquake spell from the knowledge Cyrus gave me but what do I need that spell for if I can make the same effect with a rock?

Although, I feel kind of dizzy from making that rock. I don’t think I should make any more for now but what exactly does the skill do?

Skill: Dense Rock Lv. 1

Description: An Earth magic spell that forms mana into a very dense rock. The rock can be used as a normal rock but will eventually dissipate into mana. If more Earth magic spells are acquired, the skills [Earth Magic] and [Earth Mana Manipulation] will be acquired.

Use: Quickly forms mana into a dense rock when activated. Higher levels increase the efficiency of turning mana into rock. Strength of the effect changes depending on how much of the user’s mana is consumed.

Oh, so it took a bit of mana? I don’t think it should’ve taken enough to weaken me a lot and make me dizzy though.

Lemme just check… oh, that’s a bit.

Mana Points: 215/500

I’m not sure how much exactly I spent but I know I had more than 300. Hm, this isn’t very useful is it? If I need to spend so much mana then I’ll be really weak after making one meaning I’ll need to recover meaning I won’t be able to learn as much knowledge about the rock after I make one.

“You could just make a less dense one you know. I’d assume you spent around half of your mana to make that rock. Had you already had the skill and leveled it up a bit you probably would’ve knocked down a few trees from spending half your mana.” Something which I recognized as Cyrus said to me.

Where did he go for a while? Will he go away again in the future? Can I get more knowledge from him before he leaves again?

“Stop thinking about those useless things. I can tell you some things but I need you to do some things for me first. I need you to get better at magic and acquire at least two mana manipulation skills and at least three elemental magic skills. It should take three different spells of one elemental type for you to get the elemental magic skill but it will take five to earn the mana manipulation skill. Now get to work, I can’t watch you all the time.” Cyrus said very quickly as if he was trying to make the world move faster with his words.

I think he vanished again. So do I just use spells now? I’m pretty sure that’s what he wanted and he did give me more knowledge. Alright, I’ll use some more spells since I do want to learn about the different manipulations and magics.

I need to form and cast the spell to earn the skill but how do I form a specific spell? I made the rock but I wasn’t trying to make a rock, it just turned out to be one.

In Cyrus’ knowledge it states you have to exert your will on mana which now I know involves spending your own mana but all I did before was form the mana into a shape using [Physical Mana Manipulation] and when I let it go it turned into a rock. Sure it looked like a rock but does it need to look like a rock to turn into a rock?

What if there’s a rock that looks like a tree? If I try and make that rock wouldn’t it become a tree? Hm, this is an issue, I know the shape helps but it shouldn’t directly decide what spell is cast.

Wait, if my will decides what it will be then doesn’t it just mean that whatever I want it to be it will be? If I make it look like a rock then I’ll think it’s a rock and it will be a rock. If I make it look like a rock but think it’s fire then would it become fire?

This is worth testing, start by remaking the shape from before but this time think about it as fire.

Alright, here we go, a rock shaped fire.

Skill acquired: Lava Ball Lv. 1

Well, that’s kind of a rock shaped fire but why isn’t it fire and is instead lava? What is lava? It seems to be a really hot, liquid form of rock but why did that appear when I wanted a rock shaped fire?

Could lava be a mix of fire and rock? I know I wanted to believe that it was completely made of fire but could my idea that it’s rock shaped have caused some rock characteristics to be added in? Does magic need to be that specific?

Also, what do I do with this lava ball? I think it will turn back into mana eventually but until then it could start fires. I suppose I can just cover it up with some dirt and rocks. I’m sure everything will be fine.

I also need to take a rest after covering it up, casting two spells in such a short amount of time takes a lot of mana it seems. I’d assume I’m around 80 mana points now.

*****

Ahh, much better now that I have most of my mana back. I suppose I should ask Cyrus for some knowledge about time. I know that time involves how long it takes to do something but why can’t it just be determined how long something took by how far the sun moved? I assume seconds are used in time since I gained one mana repeatedly in a small amount of time and the mana regeneration stat states that I would gain 0.27 mana per second.

Oh well, that’s not important right now, right now I need to continue with magic and discover its knowledge. I suppose I should also check the [Lava Ball] skill as well.

Skill: Lava Ball Lv. 1

Description: A Lava magic spell that forms mana into a ball of lava. The lava ball will act as normal lava but will eventually dissipate into mana. If more Lava magic spells are acquired, the skills [Lava Magic] and [Lava Mana Manipulation] will be acquired.

Use: Quickly forms mana into a lava ball when activated. Higher levels increase the efficiency of turning mana into lava. Strength of the effect changes depending on how much of the user’s mana is consumed.

It seems very similar to [Dense Rock] except all of the mentions of Earth turned into Lava and the mentions of rock also turned into lava or lava ball. I can earn the two mana manipulation skills from these but I still need a third magic type for the final elemental magic skill.

According to the knowledge I have, focusing on one type of magic isn’t a bad idea but it makes me very limited in my options. If I focus on Earth, Fire, and Lava spells then I’ll be good at defense and offense but everything else will be weaker. I also want to be more diverse since I’ll be able to get more knowledge that way.

So, with this knowledge, what do I choose for my third magic? I don’t have any knowledge about magics besides the ones described as elemental except for some mentions of magics that are more specialized. The magics I know of are Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Light, and Dark.

They can also be mixed as I learned from the Fire and Earth turning into Lava. So which magic could give me the most knowledge? Earth is specialized in defense, Fire is specialized in offense, Water is specialized in endurance and wearing down an opponent, Wind is specialized in speed, Light is specialized for healing and supporting allies, and Dark is specialized in weakening opponents and stealth.

Since Cyrus’ knowledge told me about the normal elemental magics, why don’t I choose a mixed one for my third? I would be able to learn more that way and it might be more useful.

So what do I mix? Lava seemed to take a bit of characteristics from both Fire and Earth to make something that can do a lot of damage but also stays around so it could be used for defense. Hmm, Water and Earth might make something that is good at wearing down an opponent and perhaps slowing them down making it much safer. Fire and Water might make something that’s good at doing bits of sustained damage which is higher than water but lower than fire. What about Light and Dark? I can make a general guess of what the rest will do but what would the magic that’s supposed to support allies and the magic that’s supposed to weaken enemies do?

Would it weaken allies? No, that would go against the Light magic characteristics directly. Could it support enemies? No, again, that would go against the Dark magic characteristics directly.

Well, what if it took the characteristic of stealth and the side characteristic of Light that makes it bright? That would go against both characteristics at once, unless…

It’s worth a try right? There isn’t any harm even if it fails.

So I started to make an image of me. At least, what I think I look like. While making it I thought about how it was supposed to hide me like stealth while also being extremely noticeable like the brightness of Light.

Slowly the image took form, first the claws, then the legs, then the fur on the legs and so on until it existed. Well, until I existed.

I might’ve missed some details but if I don’t know those details then I can only guess. Now all that’s left is to let it go and react with the surrounding mana.

Here we go!

Sniff.

Oh, it worked, it just sniffed, well, I just sniffed but not me, the other me. This is kind of confusing but at least it worked. Can I have my skill now?

Skill acquired: Imperfect Mana Clone Lv. 1

Well the imperfect is obvious, if it means what I think it means, but the mana clone bit is interesting. I used mana to make it so that should make sense but does clone mean that it’s a copy of me? So it’s a copy of me made out of mana with some mistakes.

What is the description? Am I right?

Skill: Imperfect Mana Clone

Description: An Illusion magic spell that forms mana into an imperfect mana clone of the caster. The imperfect clone is incapable of casting spells but has a physical form and can use objects. The clone can either be controlled directly by the caster or left to its own decisions and will eventually dissipate if not supplied mana regularly. If more Illusion spells are acquired, the skills [Illusion Magic] and [Illusion Mana Manipulation] will be acquired. This is a Unique Skill of an unnamed monster.

Use: Forms mana into an imperfect mana clone when activated. Higher levels make the process quicker and allow for some mistakes made in the creation process to be automatically fixed. More mana consumed causes the clone to be more lifelike and less likely to be discovered as a fake.

A Unique Skill? I think that means that only I have access to it. Hooray, some knowledge that belongs to no one else. So it seems like the combination of Light and Dark magic turns into Illusion magic which seems to be good at tricking people. Wait, didn’t that butterfly make an illusion? Did it also have Illusion magic? Hm, if that butterfly could make an illusion, why is this a Unique Skill?

Oh well, no point to question it too much for now. I still need to get at least ten more skills that pertain to spells.

Hm, according to my knowledge there’s a simpler form of [Dense Rock] called [Rock]. The shape seems the same but the way of making it is all different. Instead of making layers, I’m supposed to just make an empty shape and then fill the inside with mana.

Well, let’s try this. So make the shape and then fill the center with mana. All good, now I just let it go and a normal rock should appear.

Sniff.

Oh right, my mana clone. Hm, you can remain for the time being.

Now let’s look at this rock. It didn’t make an earthquake when it landed and it seems kind of weak.

Skill acquired: Rock Lv. 1

Well, that was simple. Is this what Cyrus meant by making a less dense rock? I don’t feel nearly as dizzy as when I used [Dense Rock].

Hmmm, what other spells are there that are simple? There’s the spell that causes an earthquake but it requires me to spread my mana out a lot and let it react with a specific timing. That seems complicated and I’m not good at spreading my mana.

Ooh, what about [Earthen Spear], it just creates a long sharp rock that can be somewhat controlled by me. All I have to do is make the shape and then fill it with mana just like [Rock].

Annnnnd, done. That was really easy.

It was similar to rock but was long and sharp while also slightly floating above the ground. I could raise it higher by giving it more mana while also being able to move it around with a bit of effort.

Skill acquired: Earthen Spear Lv. 1

Skill acquired: Earth Magic Lv. 1

Hooray, one elemental magic skill acquired, only two more to go and two elemental mana manipulation skills.

Now it’s time to cast two more Earth magic spells. I can look at descriptions later.

How about [Wall of Earth] and [Dense Earthen Spear]? The first is just doing what I did before but as a big solid block and the second should just be making the [Earthen Spear] but layering it instead of just filling it with mana.

The first should be easy but the second might take a lot of mana which means I’ll need to rest. Oh well, I can deal with that issue later.

So, a big block of rock. Easy enough, just make a bottom here, a side here, another one here, and repeat until finished.

Skill acquired: Wall of Earth Lv. 1

There we go now I just need to cast [Dense Earthen Spear] which might take a lot of mana.

Well, make a tip here, extend it, make a flat surface, make a layer, make a layer, make a layer, and continue until finished.

*****

Phew, that took a lot more mana than I expected. I’m… I’m going to sleep. Just a short nap… I swear.

Skill acquired: Dense Earthen Spear Lv. 1

Skill acquired: Earth Mana Manipulation Lv. 1

*****

Oh, so the system messages don’t go away if I don’t read them. Good to know but, where exactly am I? I don’t think I fell asleep in a cave. These rocks also look a bit too smooth.

“Sigh, this is why I wanted you to acquire the elemental skills. If you had them you might not have been captured and could’ve been free to grow. Now, you’re probably being taken to a town or village and going to be sold as a pet. If you’re a pet then your growth will be limited and my goal will be much more difficult to achieve.” The sound of Cyrus told me.

Cyrus doesn’t seem happy, he actually seems quite sad, but I don’t see what’s so bad. I was going to go to a village anyway so this just accelerated my wish. I wonder what knowledge a village has.

So I waited, not like I could do anything anyways.

*****

After uh, hm, let’s say three passes of the sun, the smooth cave I was in was opened. Well, it was more like the outer shell of the cave had been removed. The smooth parts were still there but now light was coming in from past these smooth parts.

I looked around and saw a place very different from the forest. There were weirdly shaped trees that had their bark and leaves removed. I was on a weird tree myself but this one was large, flat, and was circular shaped while the other trees went below it.

There was a strange creature sitting on one of the trees. It had no fur, or claws, or hide, instead it had skin like what was underneath my fur. It was also wearing the hide of another creature. Very strange but I did wonder what its Profile looked like.

As I was curious, I used [Identify].

Name: Simon Krol

Level: ???

Race: Human

Title: Officer of Talvisota

Hmm, it’s similar to the spider but it has a name and it’s a different species. I wonder what level it is. It should be at least 20 since the spider was at least twenty and I couldn’t see its level.

The strange creature suddenly started moving its mouth for some reason. It went from a slight curl downwards to curling upwards.

“Hello there my little friend. I felt you use [Identify] on me so you have some sentience which isn’t surprising considering your stats but you’re still very interesting. I’m currently using [Telepathy] to talk with you but I doubt you know how to talk back.” The creature spoke like how Cyrus spoke.

Can I talk back to it in the same way I talk to Cyrus?

“What are you? You don’t seem like any creature in the forest and you speak like how Cyrus talks. Your name isn’t Cyrus though, so can you please explain?” I told it like how I would tell Cyrus.

The creature’s eyes widened and its upwards curled mouth fell a small bit.

“Oh, well, um, I didn’t expect you to have so much intelligence. I suppose I should be a bit friendlier then. My name is Simon and I have brought you to the city of Talvisota as we are currently at war and I felt that you would be of great help to me and the city. Normally I wouldn’t need a pet, familiar, or companion in any form but you seem to be a bit more than that. I see that you don’t have a name so would you like one?” The creature seemed a bit more friendly now, a bit more like Cyrus. However, I wonder what a name is supposed to do.

“What’s a name? It’s in my Profile and yours but it doesn’t seem to do anything.” I said to the creature since it probably knew.

The creature didn’t have a change in facial expression as it answered my question, “A name doesn’t have much physical influence but it is used to distinguish one person from another. Usually monsters don’t have names due to not having enough sentience and intelligence but the few that do are usually quite powerful. Monsters can also gain names from other people but these monsters are usually tamed as pets or are strictly controlled to make sure they cause no problems. So, do you want one?”

A name distinguishes one person from another? Like how Cyrus is called Cyrus? Are there more people like this Simon? Are there more people like me? If there are more people like me then other people should know that I have more knowledge than the others.

“Yes, I want a name. How do you give a name?” I asked.

“It’s very simple. All I have to do is this, I, Simon Krol, name my companion Salem. They shall be recognized by name and by title of being my companion.” I heard Simon make some noises with his mouth but I didn’t know what they were.

After he was finished however, a light shine covered my body for a short amount of time while nothing else happened.

I checked my Profile to determine if my name had changed and it had.

Name: Salem

Well, now I have a name. I wonder what knowledge Simon has that I can learn.

“Simon, may I have some knowledge?” I asked.