The procedure wasn't as easy as I thought it'd be.
"So first, let's get things set up." [Elcrid]
With another clap of his hands, the cozy room shifted into a white room with a tilted bed plus a small standing table next to it. The walls were lined with silver tools and incredibly bright crystal lights overhead. Thinking about it now, it was a relatively small room.
"...This looks like an operation room." [Solace]
"I took inspiration from a planet called Earth." [Elcrid]
Do my ears deceive me?
"Wait, you know Earth?" [Solace]
"Of course. I've traveled to many universes. A world isn't something worth mentioning." [Elcrid]
"There's multiple universes?" [Solace]
"Countless. Don't worry your little head about it. Nothing's special. Now, please lay on the bed." [Elcrid]
I climbed into the bed, feeling a transparent and plastic-like sheet covering it.
"You're… going to cut me open aren't you?" [Solace]
Elcrid grabbed a silver knife off the wall.
"To put it bluntly, yes." [Elcrid]
"Will there be anesthetic?" [Solace]
"No. There will be magic though." [Elcrid]
"...What kind?" [Solace]
"The "You shouldn't worry about it" kind." [Elcrid]
As Elcrid brought over a tray to the standing tray, he hovered a hand over me.
"|Cleanse|. |Numbness|. |Sleep|." [Elcrid]
Once I heard that, everything went dark.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I awoke to find my stomach cut open, Elcrid prodding at my insides.
"Um… Am I supposed to be awake for this?" [Solace]
Elcrid looked at me with surprise.
"Oops. Didn't expect you to wake up so early. |Sleep|." [Elcrid]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I awoke again to find myself in a new room, laying on a bed with my stomach stitched together. It was a very empty room, as if it was something made to quarantine something. As I gathered my thoughts, Elcrid magically appeared.
"You're awake." [Elcrid]
"I'm assuming that my surgery was a success?" [Solace]
Elcrid snapped his fingers, summoning a rolling chair while somehow putting on a doctor's coat. He then took a seat and rolled over to me.
"First, let's go over the procedure." [Elcrid]
He then whipped out a clipboard with nothing on it.
"...Are you cosplaying right now?" [Solace]
Elcrid scratched his chin.
"Technically I'm not. I was a registered doctor at some point." [Elcrid]
"So you know all the procedures and stuff?" [Solace]
"Procedures?" [Elcrid]
Oh, I might be cooked. Let's hope he didn't do any permanent damage during the surgery.
"How long ago was it since you've done anything… doctor-like?" [Solace]
"Mmm, several millennia ago give or take." [Elcrid]
Things weren't looking too bright.
"Okay, okay… I can see your concerns. No need to worry though, I cast a spell I perfected that maintains a patient's healthy body. I can't seem to recall exactly what it does, but I can assure you it's the pinnacle of biological magic." [Elcrid]
That didn't relieve me one bit.
"Ah, we're getting a bit off topic. I wanted to tell you we'll need to do this procedure a few more times." [Elcrid]
"...Why?" [Solace]
"Your case is a little different. Rather than having a broken mana core, you're quite literally missing it in its entirety. So, I made a sort of embryo or vessel of one and placed it in you. We have to let it form before I can add the necessary elements that make up a mana core." [Elcrid]
"How long will it take?" [Solace]
"A few months at best." [Elcrid]
I nodded.
"Not too bad. So, do I just lie down and recover for those months or something?" [Solace]
"After a week you should be able to move around. If you'd like, you could browse my library and broaden your horizons." [Elcrid]
I wasn't a big fan of reading, but what else could I do?
"...You got novels?" [Solace]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
As I strolled and filtered through Elcrid's library, I found that he didn't have novels. Instead, he had educational material or research notes.
("A dictionary… The study of poisonous plants and its effects on different species… A biography on the First Hero… Really, he doesn't even have a romance novel?") [Solace]
Out of boredom, I picked the biography on the First Hero since he was someone I kind of knew. It was a little discouraging to read it though since it was relatively thick. Like, pretty much a dictionary thick. …Maybe even bigger.
("Damn, this guy has a lot of titles.") [Solace]
The first page had a list of names he was known as.
("Humanity's shining light. Demonic bane. The eternal and undying. The man who never falls. The one who silenced the seven sins. The one above the calamities. The pantheon's chosen. The beacon of righteousness. Tamer of nature's fury. The vanguard. Wait, is this entire page dedicated to glazing this man?") [Solace]
I flipped through it to find three more pages of titles.
("Talk about overachieving.") [Solace]
"I see you've found quite the relic." [Elcrid]
Intruding on my reading time, Elcrid peered over my shoulder.
"You know, contrary to common belief, the gods actually hated the First Hero." [Elcrid]
I raised a brow.
"...They did?" [Solace]
"He was only a hero in name, really. The gods made a trial for a chosen one, but alas… none could complete it." [Elcrid]
"And I'm guessing the First Hero passed?" [Solace]
Elcrid laughed.
"Goodness no! He destroyed the entrance to the trials before stating: "Both gods and mortals alike are waiting for the chosen one. What use is a trial to find greatness when it will be revealed in time?" Ah, good times." [Elcrid]
"Did he get cursed like me?" [Solace]
Elcrid shook his head.
"No. The gods were more active back then. They directly intervened and smited the First Hero with lightning, only to find that the boy could withstand their fury. Hah! The mortals who witnessed the scene believed that the gods were acknowledging him instead of trying to kill him!" [Elcrid]
"And then he went on to bring peace to the world?" [Solace]
"That about sums it up. Lucky boy, that one. Almost every step of his journey he'd find some kind of world shattering artifact, or make one himself. It was as if Fate themself was guiding him." [Elcrid]
"Uh-huh…" [Solace]
I skimmed through the biography to find what he was talking about.
("A necklace of immortality… A shield that can bear any weight. Twin swords of darkness and light. Oh, I think that's what Raon has.") [Solace]
It wasn't until I found a certain page that I paused.
"...The status page didn't exist back then?" [Solace]
"Ah… Yes. |Skills| were a thing, yes. However, it wasn't until I believe… one-no two thousand years ago |Appraisal| was invented. Unlike today, only a select few mortals back then possessed mana to use it." [Elcrid]
"Oh, so the First Hero was literally the chosen one." [Solace]
Elcrid shook his head.
"Incorrect. The First Hero possessed zero mana. Much like that mage killer Jukhan." [Elcrid]
I froze for a moment.
"Wait, Jukhan doesn't possess mana? You've met him?" [Solace]
"No, but I saw him destroy a Lord-dom once. Poor country turned into a floating wasteland." [Elcrid]
"Wait, you need to explain this to me. If he has no mana then how can he cast |Skills|?" [Solace]
"It's very simple really. Both Jukhan and the First Hero hold so much physical strength that it manifests itself into a supernatural phenomenon. Interesting isn't it? It took me a few centuries to figure it out." [Elcrid]
I had no words for that kind of logic.
"...That sounds like a load of bullshit." [Solace]
"I understand if it's too much for you. As I've said, it took me a few centuries to get it. I don't expect much from you." [Elcrid]
I couldn't tell if he was trying to gaslight me into believing this shit or just calling me stupid.
"Though the First Hero did use his immense strength to manipulate the natural order, that wasn't the only thing he did. He found how to cast |Skills| without the use of internal mana. It's a technique you might have to use." [Elcrid]
"I might have to use it?" [Solace]
"Yes. With your lack of a mana core, you can't use mana. Even if you fully recover, it would never be able to bear the burden of a real mana core." [Elcrid]
Things were starting to get confusing. You're telling me that he made me a new mana core, but I can't use it?
"You look distraught. Are you alright?" [Elcrid]
"I'm… I… So what use is this new mana core then?" [Solace]
Elcrid sighed.
"Perhaps I should have determined your priorities and explained things to you first. I initially invented this cure for manaless syndrome in an effort to restore a person's lifespan, not for combat. If combat is your calling, then you will have to use something else." [Elcrid]
In other words, I won't die. I just can't fight. …Actually, maybe I can? I'm pretty tough so perhaps I can just hit my opponents really hard.
("Aw fuck, am I thinking like Jukhan?") [Solace]
Man, screw it.
"Okay, teach me the technique." [Solace]
"Pardon?" [Elcrid]
He stared at me blankly.
"You know, the technique. The one you mentioned? The technique that can use |Skills| without internal mana?" [Solace]
"What technique? I never mentioned something like that." [Elcrid]
This motherfucker was playing with me. He spoke with the most devious grin on his face like it wasn't his business.
"Oh so you're just going to get my hopes up and leave me hanging?" [Solace]
"Leave you hanging…? Wow, I haven't heard that line in ages." [Elcrid]
I think he meant that literally.
"Okay, why are you acting like this?" [Solace]
Elcrid scratched his chin.
"Because it's entertaining?" [Elcrid]
Chat, is this ragebait?
"Okay, what do I have to do to get you to teach me that technique?" [Solace]
"I don't need anything from you. I'll just tell you now." [Elcrid]
Thank goodness.
"First, you must look deep within yourself…" [Elcrid]
Nevermind. He's toying with me again.
"Elcrid…!" [Solace]
"I jest, I jest… Just read through the biography. It's probably in there somewhere. The experience is a little different based on each individual so nothing I say will be any better than what's written inside that book." [Elcrid]
I immediately started skimming through the book.
"Is there a name for it or something?" [Solace]
I waited for a reply, but heard nothing.
"Elcrid?" [Solace]
I looked up from the book, finding that Elcrid was gone.
"Son of a…" [Solace]