Spectral Regalia Resurgence

Placing Forson's methods and notes on the side, Avrin sat cross-legged on his bed. He tried the soft breathing technique Forson told him to calm his mind quicker, and soon, Avrin's consciousness entered his body. He moved his mind to his heart, seeing it beat like a normal heart would, but he also saw odd fine hair-like veins in all directions from it that only stretched a few centimeters.

He gritted his teeth, remembering the information from the book in his mind, and implemented the method he learned from it. His heart suddenly pulsed, emitting an invisible wave that caused the mana in the air to freeze, then draw inwards towards it. Avrin could see that every speck of mana that neared his heart would suddenly break apart into finer specks that would eventually turn either purple or black and amass above his heart, not touching but not too far above it.

"Is this breaking mana down into its very basic building blocks?" he thought. The text that he read said that no matter how big or small something was, it would always be of another form of energy.

Several hours of Avrin using this, yet it wasn't boring in the least. The longer he spent, the more he enjoyed it, eventually until what looked like a small droplet of black and purple liquid appeared. When Avrin gazed at it, he could feel an almost endlessness; it reminded him of what he used in his desperate state against the magic beast.

"Why does it feel like it's impure?" He pushed the thought aside and pondered. He didn't know what to do with this droplet. "Pathless..." he wondered about him and the words. "My method of power. Building blocks. Particles and matter..." Suddenly Avrin's mind buzzed; he had an odd idea.

He slowly began to will the droplet towards his heart, more so towards one of the fine veins. He willed it closer and tried to combine it, feeding it to his heart and vein, hoping and trying for the result he wanted.

When he attempted this, he felt a slight comforting feeling, like a shoulder massage but for his heart; it was amazing. The droplet vanished as if it were drawn away instantly. He then felt another sensation, all while watching for change. He realized that the fine vein had suddenly grown a little thicker and longer.

"Success!" he excitedly spoke. Avrin had a feeling, or more so confidence, that these were spirit veins; this droplet of what seemed like matter actually could grow it. "I've found a direction. I need to get more droplets and grow spirit veins!"

Avrin spent some more time, and eventually, his mind left his inner world. He tried to better control his heart and body, finding it was nearly impossible, but at the very least, he found a method that felt instinctual and automatic. If he focused enough, he could control the frequency or energy his body naturally emitted and then use it as a sort of siphon to capture any specks of mana that got too close, like tendrils that expanded. They would then be drawn to his heart where they would be broken down and converted to this strange purple and black matter. "To manipulate energies one has never cultivated and discover and attune everything everywhere to a fractal-like theory is terrifying." Avrin couldn't imagine the strength such a person had, but it must be something that the being who reincarnated him respected.

Over time, Avrin's routine in the village had changed. Avrin would spend any free time he had experimenting in secret or improving himself. Avrin spent as much time as he could with his mother, dad, and Forson, and he was repeatedly contemplating about the outside world. He knew he had to be careful, based not on his own experience but Forson's.

He also doubted that the being who reincarnated him would help him and wasn't even sure of his intentions. He looked up at the sky as he sat under a tree, sitting in a meditation pose. Avrin could see the celestial bodies beyond the sky. Avrin wondered if he was being watched even now. He let out a soft sigh of irritation because of his uncertainty.

Suddenly though, he felt his body quiver. He quickly shut his eyes and entered to look at his heart. Excitement followed soon after; he watched as a purple and blackish spirit vein had grown and melded with his body. He knew it was completed. It differed from the veins of a normal body; it seemed almost artificial. "The first spirit vein is done." Avrin wasn't satisfied though; he wanted more. But his latest testing and discovery had made him a little giddy.

He opened his eyes and picked up a leaf from the ground. After days of testing and looking at the information he had available in his mind and also using the pulse of his heart to try and mimic how it broke down the mana, he understood he could do something with objects.

Focusing on the leaf he held in his hand, he willed his energy towards it. Almost like a slow shredder, the leaf disintegrated into dark specks that also vanished until nothing was left. Though, only Avrin knew that this wasn't the case.

He could feel the remnants of these specks; it was matter that he could use. His energy-like aura grabbed them and moved them to his heart. He watched and felt his heart break them down further until minute-like specks were left, much less than those that made up mana.

"It's possible, but it would take time. It's also slower than just absorbing mana. But what if it's something with more energy inside it, or maybe something made of magic?" He considered things and thought.

Regardless, his improvement since awakening had been fast. He adapted to his new ability and understood that he had to take things into consideration. He sighed quietly, though; today was his last day in the village before he would head off.

He had already made preparations and packed up some travel rations and clothes, as well as other things. He stood up and soon headed home. After arriving, he saw his mum at the table, holding up baby clothes. He knew they were his; he could see his mum's face was red from having cried.

"Mum..." he sighed, walking over and hugging her, kissing atop her head. "Before long, I'll bring you a grandchild!" he sheepishly said. His mother, hearing this, smiled widely and hugged back. Avrin sighed quietly, unsure if he was to laugh or cry. He knew his mum too well; she already spoke about grandkids. He was just too damn young, though!

Later that day, his father arrived, and Forson too, as well as some friends of the family and their wives. They had a little going-away celebration for Avrin. He had more than shown he was one of them in the village, from helping them to saving their children and proving his worth, no longer seen as an outsider.

"Haha, Avrin, if it doesn't work out, you can always come back here. My daughter's hand is yours!" one of his father's friends spoke as he drank some alcohol. Another man scoffed. "What the hell do you mean? Weren't you eyeing a kid from another village to marry her to? Forget your daughter. My sweet Ana always talks about Avrin. They are meant to be!"

Some curses and phrases, such as fighting to the death, were thrown around until things calmed down. Avrin kept quiet, but was happy. He had grown up with these people even if he kept to himself. He was happy to be part of something; this truly felt like home. But he had to leave it and spread his wings.

When the celebration ended, and everyone went home, the night would end smoothly on a high note. When daybreak arrived, Avrin was already up, packing and double-checking everything. He wore a fur-like leather tunic, made for him, and a cloak to cover himself. He headed downstairs to see the large breakfast his mum had prepared; she had woken up even earlier to do so.

His father was also sitting there, having helped her. "You guys..." Avrin smiled, then went to join them. They talked and discussed memories and happy moments for a couple of hours until the sun was up. Eventually, though, it was time to say goodbye.

They went with Avrin to the village exit; Forson had also joined them, along with some others. Avrin could see in the distance the boys gazing with a bit of complex emotions, and the girls, too. He even saw the one that wanted to marry him, peek from behind a tree; she seemed annoyed.

"Remember, each shot has to have a target. Don't waste arrows and focus," his father reminded him, regarding hunting. He looked like he was holding back tears, too.

Forson even chimed in. "Don't forget what I taught you! Don't touch any random herb you don't know! It could be poisonous!"

His mother, though, was oddly silent. But he knew she was crying inwardly. He hugged her again tightly, then his father. He then even hugged Forson, who was stunned but patted his back. "It's not like I'll be gone for good," Avrin spoke with a smile.

Minutes later, he bid a last farewell, and with his things, he stepped out of the village he grew up in. His death and birth, being tossed around like a hot potato after being born until he ended up here, taken in by his parents and raised like their own child.

Walking some distance away from the village, Avrin stopped as he held his things, gazing up into the sky again. "I'm going to reach as high as I can."