I opened the book carefully, as if it might disintegrate at the slightest careless gesture. The cover was thick, made of leather dyed a dull black, with tiny fibers that resembled dried roots stitched into the edges. The smell that escaped it was thick—something between old mold and dried blood.
The first pages contained direct, almost clinical text, as if explaining sacred anatomy:
|Fundament: Mana. The magical system is based on the manipulation of Mana , an omnipresent arcane energy that can be:
– Absorbed from the environment or specific sources.
– Molded into distinct styles of magic that can be used internally or externally.
– Evolved as the user advances on their Magical Path, be it physical, mental, magical or spiritual.
I mentally nodded. This was surprisingly familiar. I remembered the rules of magic systems in fantasy books, games or webnovels from my old world. The base was bright, uncluttered—almost too modern for where I was. But still, it made sense. The cult may be rotten, but it is not stupid.
I turned the page.
|Magic Styles (Magical Paths). Each mage follows a magical path, which defines how he uses mana . It is possible to have multiple paths, although this brings risks — internal conflicts, distortion, corruption.
– Natural Mana – Raw control of essence. Basis for physical or mental strengthening. The simplest way to use mana.
– Arcana – Theoretical and symbolic manipulation of pure mana. Basis for alchemy, seals and rituals.
– Dark Magic – Use of dark mana. Source for necromancy, curses, sacrifices and forbidden rituals.
– Contracts – Pacts with entities. Invocations, spiritual servitude, exchange of essences.
– Bestialization – Fusion with beasts, entities or concepts. Transforms body, mind or soul.
– Magical Engineering – Mixing magic with technology. Golems, living prosthetics, mechanical runes.
My eyes stopped the longest on two of these styles.
Bestialization seemed... close. Very close to what the Node did to me. That thing of merging with something alive. Of feeling roots within the blood. To become something that grows, regenerates, devours.
And then came Magical Engineering . The most dissonant—and therefore the most curious. How could something like this exist in this medieval, archaic world? Runic technology? Golems? That could be useful. It was dangerous. It seemed like something that, if someone mastered it, could be very powerful.
I turned the next page carefully. The contents there seemed denser—and more revealing.
RANK 0 – The Initiate
At this stage, the person simply absorbs mana naturally. The body gradually becomes stronger with this energy, but there is still no conscious control or magical manifestations.
RANK 1 – Awakened
The person forms a core of mana and the flow begins to circulate more fluidly through the body. Small external manifestations become possible, such as flashes, impulses or instinctive reactions.
RANK 2 – Conductor
Mana pathways are formed throughout the body, which improves control and conduction. It is now possible to learn the basics of techniques, cast simple spells and use magical artifacts.
RANK 3 – Channeler
The mana core expands significantly. The mage can now perform complex spells and rituals. His Magical Path begins to form more deeply — and may even show initial signs of corruption.
RANK 4 – Practitioner
Mana and the body begin to operate in a stable and integrated manner. There are physical and mental gains, increased life expectancy, and strengthening of the soul. This rank forms the basis of the Magical Path: be it warrior, mage, necromancer, swordsman, or something unique. (It is possible to follow more than one path, but this is extremely dangerous.)
RANK 5 – Master
The Magical Path begins to stabilize. Body, mind, soul, and mana grow stronger. This rank marks the true first step toward transcendence.
RANK 6 – Grand Master
Your path is completely formed. This is the pinnacle of mortal strength. Few can surpass this point, for beyond it one enters divine territory.
RANK 7 – Transcendente
RANK 8 – The Demi-God
RANK 9 – The God
The last lines from rank 7 to 9 were more faded, almost scratched by the humidity of decades and only said the name of each rank.
...Every three ranks, a qualitative change occurs. From 1 to 3: formation of the core and mana channels giving you more control over mana. From 4 to 6: the formation and solidification of the Path, whether physical or magical. From 7 to 9: it seemed to be the Ascension to godhood since this part was erased in the book and it was impossible to read or see the names of these ranks.
Closing the book for a moment, I let the weight of those words settle on my chest.
With this information, I could begin to seek power in this world.
If I want to survive, I need to learn to use the node's powers to my advantage and build a strong magical path.
I opened the book again with renewed determination. My eyes still stung from the previous reading, but now there was something more in me—a raw need to understand. To protect myself.
Flipping through a few more pages, I found a section marked by curved symbols and darker ink. The letters seemed slightly distorted, as if the paper itself had resisted the knowledge written there.
Advanced Concepts
– Corrupted Paths: when the magical path is deformed by excess power, trauma or pacts.
– Afflictions of the Path: physical, mental or spiritual deformations caused by impure advancement.
– Mystical Marks : seals, scars or mutations that symbolize advancement.
My eyes narrowed. The memory came unbidden. The children in the Node chamber. Those who screamed until blood mixed with the air. The ones that exploded. Or worse... they survived as something else.
I felt a chill run up the back of my neck. A bitter heat in the pit of my stomach.
This could happen to me.
I shook my head slowly, trying to push the thought away. Fear doesn't help. Focus does. Focus saves.
I went back to reading.
The day passed unhurriedly, as if the very light filtering through the fungi knew I needed time. I read about everything I could. Mana , its properties, methods of absorption, the limits of the human body. I learned more about the sect itself—its structure, rigid as ancient roots, is as blind as a buried worm.
The stories of the Node emerged as delirious prayers. Always with exaggerations. Always with glory. To them, it was more than a creature... it was the Moist God, the Heart of the Seed, the Womb of Perfection.
But among the myths and delusions, some facts began to repeat themselves:
— The Nodule could speed regeneration. — It increased physical strength. — It gave control over roots, plants, fungi. — It altered metabolism. — It merged with bodies, sometimes... with the mind.
Yes, it is a living entity. But not a god. It would be more appropriate to call it a parasite.
I closed one of the volumes, massaging my temples. My head was throbbing. But I didn't stop.
After hours of being stuck in mana theory, something pulled me toward another kind of truth — geography.
So I kept leafing through until I found a newer book, with ink still fresh and a cover marked with the double spiral symbol of the Node. It was a map.
The title read — "Geography of Midgard and the Seeded Territories"
I opened it cautiously. The pages were slightly oily, as if covered in a thin organic varnish. Inside, I saw rough, hand-drawn maps with crooked indications of names and regions.
That's how I discovered I was in the world called Midgard .
The sect was located on the continent of Caelvaron , specifically in the north, in a region known as Gelmark — a frozen territory, covered in humid forests, deep caves and eternal swamps. A place of damp cold and dark skies. It made sense.
The map indicated seven more regions besides the Gelmark region :
Hanlir , to the east — known for its fertile plains saturated with latent magical energy, which manifests especially during arcane-electric storms. Magical crystals emerge after precipitation, transfiguring the physical and magical landscape.
Great Mistville Jungle , to the west — a sentient forest formation with intertwined roots and putrid mana flowing in living underground channels. Hallucinatory mists, lakes of magical decay, and mutant flora sensitive to moonlight.
Sarnahra , in the center and east-central — a desert formation with vast deposits of ancient obsidian and inscriptions revealing extinct arcane cultures. Wind currents carrying memories and soils that reverberate forgotten events.
White Land of the Myriads , to the south — made up of white limestone formations imbued with spiritual resonance. Mirages intensified by mana flows and spiritual heat that affect perception.
Bitterwind Islands , between the south and west coasts — an archipelago composed of resonant cliffs and seas carrying historical echoes. Conscious mists, algae with rudimentary intelligence and sensory seas.
Austregalia and Veltrunia , two large islands to the southeast—suspended volcanic islands with accumulations of unstabilized interdimensional energy. Hallucinogenic gases and soils in continuous geographic and magical mutation.
Aldrúm Mountains , an ancient mountain range with rivers of pure mana flowing between its tectonic cracks. Constant seismic activity and precipitation of concentrated arcane crystals.
Each name seemed to have its own interesting story. Each place... a promise. Or a threat.
I leaned back against the damp headboard, my eyes fixed on the ceiling as if I could see beyond the stone.
Midgard... Caelvaron...
This world was real. It seemed so complex.
I didn't choose to be born again in this place... but since I'm here, I'm going to learn everything. Every rule. Every weakness. So I can take advantage and survive in this world.