I opened my eyes slowly, my mind racing with possibilities.
"Well?" Emma asked, watching me carefully. "What did you see?"
I chose my words carefully.
"The pathways are... complex. More intricate than I expected. I think I understand a bit better why the mana won’t stabilize."
It wasn’t a lie. Just not the whole truth.
"That’s good," Emma said, making a note. "Understanding the problem is the first step. If you can visualize your pathways better, you might be able to consciously guide the mana flow more effectively."
"Maybe."
She looked at me for a moment and said, "We should practice the circulation drills a few more times. Even if we can’t fix the underlying issue, we can at least improve your conscious control."
"Right."
We went through the exercises again. Each time, I held the sphere a bit longer, pushed a bit harder. Emma gradually reduced her stabilization, forcing my pathways to adapt.
By the end of the hour, I could maintain for nearly fifteen seconds independently.
I stood, feeling the exhaustion settle over me. My head throbbed dully.
"I should go now."
Emma nodded reluctantly, gathering her materials. "Be careful and keep practicing."
"I’ll."
She left, her footsteps fading down the library halls.
I waited until I was certain she was gone, then closed my eyes again.
Time to test this properly.
I focused inward, reaching for that same awareness I’d touched earlier. And there it was, clearer now, more defined.
I activated Debug Vision, but turned it inward for the first time.
The sensation was disorienting. Information overlaid my awareness, not of the world around me, but of my own body. My own internal structure.
[Entity Analysis]
entity_id: "jin_raith"type: "human"scan_target: "left_arm"
status: { physical_integrity: 78/100 mana_pathway_stability: 34/100 (fluctuating) primary_pathways: 12 secondary_channels: 47 flow_rate: "variable (18–43_units_per_sec)" blockage_points: 3}
Three blockage points in the pathways that were choking mana flow.
I focused on the nearest blockage point.
Carefully, tentatively, I reached out mentally the same way I would when editing an object.
[EDIT: Clear Blockage?]
I accepted.
Pain exploded through my arm, like someone had shoved a red-hot wire through the pathway. I bit down hard on my lip to keep from crying out, tasting blood, my vision blurring.
Fuck—!
The pain lasted only seconds but felt like hours. When it finally faded to a dull throb, I was gasping, sweat beading on my forehead.
But my arm felt... different.
I flexed my left hand experimentally. The fingers moved more smoothly. The stiffness that had plagued me since the injury was noticeably reduced.
I examined the data again. Two more blockages in this arm alone. And that was just one limb, I probably had dozens throughout my entire body.
I can’t fix everything right now. The mana cost alone would drain me completely.
But selective editing...
That might work.
I deactivated Debug Vision, letting the overlay fade. My headache had intensified, throbbing behind my eyes.
This ability was powerful.
But it came with serious costs.
I’d have to be careful.
And then I left the library.
----
The equipment hall was a cavernous space on the ground floor of the administrative building, lined with shelves and storage racks holding everything from practice weapons to camping gear.
A grizzled older man with a spectacular mustache, barely looked up when I entered.
"Name?" he asked, his voice gravelly.
"Jin Raith. Instructor Aldwin said I can have my equipment from here."
He grunted, standing from his desk. "This way."
He led me to a section near the back, where a collection of gear had already been set aside on a work table.
"Two healing potions. One antidote. Basic rations for two days. Water skin. Fifty feet of rope. Flint and tinder. And this,"
He held up an oil lantern, the kind with an adjustable wick and a protective cage around the flame.
"Your requested item," he said. "Plus three flasks of oil. Should last you twelve hours of continuous burn, longer if you’re conservative."
"Everything meet your standards?" He asked dryly.
"It’s adequate," I said.
He snorted. "Adequate is what you get for a practical exam. This isn’t a commissioned mission with premium equipment. Make do."
Then he turned away, returning to his desk to fill out paperwork. "Get it signed out and packed up."
I waited until his attention was fully on his forms.
Then, working quickly and quietly, I made subtle edits.
The chest armor first, reinforcing the most critical weak point at the left side panel.
The leather shimmered faintly for a split second.
Durability: 67/100 → 72/100
The bracers next.
Then the rope.
Finally, the healing potions, boosting their effectiveness without making them look different.
By the time I finished, my head was pounding viciously and my mana was depleted.
I pressed my fingers against my temples, riding out the headache.
"You alright, kid?" The man’s voice made me look up.
"Yeah. Just... nervous."
He studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly. "That’s smart. Nervous keeps you alive. Overconfident gets you killed." He pushed a form across the desk. "Sign here. Gear is your responsibility now. Lose it, you pay for it."
I signed, my handwriting shakier than usual from the mana drain and headache.
The man stamped the form with finality. "Good luck, Raith. Try not to die. Paperwork’s a pain when students die."
"I’ll do my best," I said, gathering the gear.
Evening was settling over the Academy as I walked back toward the dormitories, the sky painted in shades of orange and purple. Most students were heading to the dining hall for dinner, their conversations creating a pleasant buzz of background noise.
The dormitory room was quiet when I returned. Kyle wasn’t back yet, probably still at the training halls.
I set down my equipment bag and sat on my bed, exhaustion settling over me.
I opened my status window mentally:
[STATUS]
Name: Jin Raith
Age: 17
Class: Debugger
Level: 11
EXP: 320/1200
Rank: F
MC (Mana Capacity): 38/50
HP: 245/245
MP: 41/82
STR: 15
VIT: 12
AGI: 13
INT: 62
WIS: 39
LUK: 16
Allocation Points: 10
Skills:
Poison Resistance (65%), Social Engineering, Alchemy (Basic),Debug Vision
Combat:
Unorthodox Fang (Proficiency: 31%)
Level 11.
Yeah, I hadn’t gained any experience since the goblin nest.
I closed the status window and lay back on the bed.