Chapter 10: Shrine of Kaena
Suddenly Daniel could see again, he was standing next to a massive tree. "This, is amazing," he said, he spun around there were plants and flowers and animals everywhere. Trees more than 100 ft tall were all around him. He hadn't realized what it meant to be starting in the middle of a forest, there was no clear path. He couldn't believe this scene, there was animal frolicking around, together as butterflies floated on the breeze. He watched as a small baby bear was playing with the baby deers, there was even a small tiger playing along. He walked forward, he noticed a small pond, there were animals drinking and playing around it. The area was so peaceful, he couldn't believe it, animals that would typically fight were simply playing with one another. He could hear the birds singing from the trees as they fluttered around from the treetops. Sunlight pierced through the trees coverings casting large shadows. This was a picture perfect piece of peace.
"We were not expecting visitors, a beastkin, what brings you here," he heard a beautiful woman's voice call out from the forest.
He turned to face a tall beautiful woman, he didn't expect to see an elven woman with crimson hair. even from a far distance, he could see her perfect complexion "Do all elves look this beautiful," he thought he didn't recall them looking like this in the character creation. She wore tight green clothing that accentuated her extremely well-toned body. Beside her were a massive majestic white wolf and black bear. As he looked towards her he was trying to inspect her a window popped up. He couldn't see any of their information, he instinctively knew they were way more powerful than him.
<???>
(Level: ???)
HP: ???/???
Condition: ???
"I just arrived, I'm a traveler my name is Daniel," he replied.
"It would appear so, why have you chosen to come to this shrine," she replied.
"I wanted to get to Shalee to meet a friend there, I decided that I should come here since as a beastkin it was the closest option," he replied.
"It is quite far from here traveling through dangerous woods, why did you choose to mana-bind to this shrine when you could have chosen another location," she replied.
It didn't really occur to him that he was not gonna be traveling on a road, or path, but straight through the wilderness. "I should have asked what kind of travel did Ialdir mean," he thought. "I have friends that I wish to protect, they are in Shalee, this was the closest location for me," he replied honestly.
"So you did not come here to offer your service or to assist us, to think beastkin had abandoned and forgotten their mother," she replied as she began turning around to re-enter the forest.
"What do you need help with, I'll try my best to help with anything, if you can help me get to Shalee," he asked.
"I do not require your help, I was simply interested if a beastkin came to serve. If you truly wish for my assistance then come, I have tasks for you," she said.
"Thank you, I'm afraid I did not hear your name," he replied, he knew he had to be careful with his words when dealing with A.I each one was unique and free thinking, they could easily turn on him if he offends them.
"My name is Atia, that is all you must know for now," she said as she began to walk off.
He quickly chased after her, he had to watch out for all the little animals that were running around freely, none of them were bothered by him.
"Hello, where'd you come from Daniel," he heard a little voice come from behind him.
He quickly turned around to look for the voice that was talking to him, he saw no one. He looked down to see a small brown bear cub following him.
"Can you not hear me?" he heard the small high pitched voice say.
"Is it you," he said as he pointed towards the little bear that was waiting patiently for a response.
"Are you really a beastkin, are you here to play," it asked.
He couldn't believe it, he could actually hear and talk to animals with bestial understanding. "I'm sorry I can not right now I must help Atia so that I can help my friend," he said.
"Really, can I come along," it said the little bear hopped up and down as it followed him excitedly.
"I don't know, it might be dangerous," he replied turning to see Atia was waiting for him. "Is he allowed to come, I don't want him to get hurt though," he called to Atia.
"Yes Ko is allowed to follow, your first task shall be simple," she replied.
"Your name is Ko," he asked looking down at the little bear.
"Yeah, that's my name, here let me go tell my friends," Ko said.
Before he knew it there was a whole group of little baby animals around him. They were in there own little world asking him questions many of them repeated the same questions. He was following Atia with a whole herd of interested young animals. This was completely different then what he imagined his adventure to be like. How was he suppose to level now, I don't think I can even kill an animal anymore. They past by small little streams, Daniel couldn't keep his bearings in the large forest. "This place is really amazing Atia," he said as he looked around. Every time he tried to inspect anything it always appeared as question marks. He currently had no knowledge of things in this world, to base the information on.
"Of course, Maeve herself blessed this place, we are almost there," she replied.
"Isn't this a shrine of Kaena though," he asked.
"That is correct, why wouldn't a mother bless her daughter though?" she replied.
He didn't know too much about the lore of the deities he didn't really plan on being apart of that. As they walked Daniel noticed they came across a dried up creek he looked around and was confused. He noticed the vegetation wilting along the sides "What happened," he asked.
"I will show you," she replied she began leading him up the large dried stream. He came across large rocks and walls built there, "Why was a dam built here like that with no water flowing at all," he asked.
"It wasn't built someone made a hazardous bridge across the stream with earth magic, you will destroy it for me," she said as she pointed at it.
~ Ding ~ Journal Update ~ Ding ~
You have been requested and tasked with the clearing of the streams obstruction
~ No Reward was specified ~
No Time Limit
"Really? how, exactly am I going to do that, look at me," he said, he currently was in just a regular basic tunic and pants with no weapon. There wasn't even a prompt for the journal it just appeared, there was no option to accept or decline via the system he would have to confront Atia to decline.
"I'm sure you will find a way if you need me I'll be over there," she said as she pointed to a small open grassy area.
"Good luck Daniel I really hope you can help the animals that live downstream," Ko yelled with the rest of the little animals as they followed Atia to go sit on the side.
He walked closer to take a better look at it, whoever made this wasn't very skilled, he made like three different bridges before he made a perfectly straight rocky hill that sloped across in the stream. What's worst was it was made with a mix of stone, dirt, and sand. He climbed around and across the rocks to get up the hill, he could see the water on the other side. I don't think I'm gonna make it to Shalee today he sighed to himself. there just was no helping it anyway, he couldn't abandon the animals that call this place their home now, he knew they had other streams, and water but still they asked him. He turned around, he decided that first, he was gonna have to break down these rocks. "I don't have any tools," he thought to himself. "Maybe if I shoot dirt orbs or try and make a stone orb and throw those at the rocks," he said to himself. He walked down the hill and went back onto the dried upside to look back at all the rocks and dirt.
There were some rocks the size of small boulders he thought it was crazy "who would make a boulder for crossing a stream." he cast Mana orb rather than dirt he added the stone property like Ialdir said he could from Earth magic. A rock the size of a baseball appeared in his hand, without stopping his concentration he tried shooting it towards the other rocks. A loud crashing bang he heard as his rock slammed into another rock, his rock completely shattered. He walked closer to see if any damage was dealt. "A small scratch for half my mana pool, this is not gonna work," he said. This was not very effective, he opened his skill screen to look at mana manipulation. There was barely a change he gained 3% experience.
"What are you fooling around for, do you plan to create more work for yourself, why not use earth magic to directly break the boulders down," he heard Atia call out to him.
He turned back to look at her leaning on the large bear that was laying on the ground. That thing was pretty terrifying looking, he noticed something was off with it every time he looked at it, he was glad it was friendly he never heard it talk though. 'Thank you, I hadn't learned to do that, how would I go about doing that," he called back.
"Don't try to break them just focus on molding and sculpting them with your mana it is a lot easier when it is already solidified," she replied.
"Thank you," he called back, at least he would learn something out of this. He turned back towards the larger rock, "if I can manipulate these rocks couldn't I just try and shape them into better spheres and roll them," he thought. He got so close that he began to hug the boulder, he knew he looked goofy, he began to surround the boulder with his mana. He was completely focused on just trying to change the shape slightly, he knew he wasn't gonna be able to alter these things much with his measly mana. Whenever he got low on mana he began to meditate while still hugging the boulder. He noticed a new notification informing him he learned the new spell mold & shape, he had gotten one earlier informing him of Rock Orb to when he cast it.
He kept repeatedly casting and manipulating his mana. He lost track of time, he felt it getting easier the more he did it but, it was extremely repetitive. "This is a giant grind," he thought while sighing, he knew that in an RPG setting he would have to actually train and practice. When he felt like the boulder was finally shaped like a beautiful globe he checked his system menu.
An hour had passed, he didn't even notice it was that long. He had countless notifications that popped up. A lot of his skills had increased and improved.
|~Meditation (Sub-Skill)~|
-Meditation a skill mostly used by those who draw and wield mana, elves are born with the skill. Humans tend to learn the skill early on, it is rarer to be seen used by the other races.
-One who willfully focuses on drawing in the free mana of the environment around them to themselves with a purpose.
Effect - Increases Mana regeneration by 25-180% depending on the focus of the user.
Current Level: Beginner Rank 7
|~Mana Manipulation~|
Everything in Evotania has mana some are able to manipulate it, congratulations on learning how to manipulate the mana around you.
- Effect -
76% increased consumption of mana when used,
mana increased by 5%, Mana range: minor
Current Level ~ Novice ~ Rank 4
Current XP (3.7%)
|~Earth Mana~|
Earth the second most commonly found element.
One who has an affinity with this mana, can manipulate the surrounding Earth mana or convert elementless mana.
~ Effect ~
Increased Elemental Strength 5%
Current Level ~ Beginner ~ Rank 6
Congratulations Your Wisdom has Increased.
Through continuous concentration and practice.
~Repeated Message ~
He was surprised that his attributes had increased he quickly opened his status screen. He needed to lock some attributes that he didn't want to grow. He chose to quickly lock his charisma, wisdom, and intellect. He couldn't afford to spend all fifty growth points on those attributes. He was surprised to actually see that he had gained experience from all this. "I guess even crafters can level up from just their trades," he thought.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone