CH510 Thera’s Perspective

“You really came!” Insia cheered the second she saw Thera at the base of the volcano where they’d agreed to meet up the day prior, with Rocky hovering by the fairy’s side as the two rushed to fly around her. “And right on time! We just got here too.”

“Incorrect. We have been here for approximately two hours.”

“No, we definitely just got here,” The fairy said, lightly hitting her friend while looking bashful, bringing a small smile to Thera’s lips seeing it.

Cute.

“I am, aren’t I?” The fairy said proudly, puffing out her chest.

“You’re what?”

“Cute. Mom and dad say so all of the time, you have a good eye.”

“Uh, did you just read my mind?”

“Hmm? No, you just said I was.”

Did I accidentally say that out loud? Embarrassing.

Thera cleared her throat, trying to keep the little slip from her thoughts as she spoke up.

“So, what did you have in mind for the day?”

After saving Rocky the day prior the two had approached her after, asking to see her again and with no other solid plans, Thera had agreed. She couldn’t deny herself the chance to learn a little more about the two other mana-based races in the world and it was a chance to practice her socializing, something she was sorely lacking. With her charm no longer being an issue she wanted more experience interacting with others, why not start with two who seemed to want her time?

Insia looked frazzled by the question though, not actually having thought that far ahead, leaving Rocky to take over.

“Allow us to show you around the area as thanks for your assistance. It would be our pleasure.”

“Yes, that! Let’s do that!”

“Ha, sure, that sounds lovely.”

With the plan made they started walking, Thera content to be led wherever the two thought was interesting enough while being peppered with questions as they went from the small fairy buzzing around her.

“So what happened yesterday, when you lit up so much, I asked my dad and he said you probably awakened a skill, did you?”

“I did, the one that helped me heal Rocky.”

There was no point in hiding such a thing when the two had seen as much already and she was still feeling good about it, with the little fairy looking at her in open awe.

“So cool! What does it feel like when that happens?”

“Mostly it feels like getting stronger. Getting the boost to all of my attributes just creates a feeling of power unlike anything else. I’m more used to it now that I’ve slept, but I still feel stronger and probably will for a while until I get used to this as my new normal.”

“That sounds great, I wish I knew what that was like.”

One of the things that all of the mana-based had in common was their inability to grow. The mana that made up their bodies was fixed and while they could use it for some incredible things, beyond what any mortal could hope when using their own power, they’d never be able to grow beyond it, at least not normally. With Thera’s awakened skill though, there was a chance they could see what it was like to be buffed.

“Want to see what it’s like to get a little stronger?” She asked, holding out her hand to let Insia land in it, giving her palm a subtle warmth as the fairy looked at her with curiosity and excitement.

“Okay, what do I have to do?”

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

“Just let me know if you feel at all uncomfortable. If you do, you should be able to fix it by spending some of your mana.”

From there, all that was left was to try as Thera opened up a path, empowering the young fairy with her mana as the name of the skill implied she could.

She was a little worried that it might be unpleasant, Ben always complained about having his soul overfilled when he used his own skill, but either because of the difference between mana empowering and deep connection or because of the difference between mana-based beings and the more common forms of mortal life, Insia felt no pain, only power as her little form grew brighter, the fire that made her up becoming all the more radiant as Thera transferred over tens of thousands of points of power.

“Okay, how are you feeling?”

“Incredible!” She practically buzzed, leaving Thera’s hand to dart around faster than the other could see. “Is this what being buffed is like? Why don’t people get buffed all of the time?”

“Ha, it kills growth rates so it’s important to know when it’s an appropriate time to get a buff, that’s all.”

She doubted the fairy heard her explanation, too enraptured by the experience as she enjoyed playing with her new level of power, leaving her with Rocky.

“Apologies, she is still young. Gets easily distracted.”

“That’s okay, I assumed as much. How old is she?”