Magic and Sorcery

I quickly wanted to learn a better way to replenish my mana. The syringes don't work all that well.

"Query! How do I replenish my mana quicker?"

[Query Received!]

[Required FP: 150 {Total FP Remaining: 110}]

[Answer To Query: Mages can replenish mana quicker by absorbing the mana of slain enemies. However, Mages who do so in this world, are no longer 'Mages', they become 'Sorcerers'. 'Sorcerers' are magic users who specialize in combat and other high level destruction magic. Thier lifespan also increases in respect with their power. The limits of a sorcerer are the same as a mage, 9 circles, although for an Arch-Human, such as yourself, that limit is 10 circles. Sorcerers are mostly considered 'Evil' and they are looked at with scorn in society. This is because, Most sorcerers are Power fanatics and would do anything to achieve more power. Spell casting and magic formula is the same for both mages and sorcerers, but 'Sorcery' is a field of magic specializing in combat and destruction. To learn how to become a sorcerer, say "Learn Technique: Mana Absorbtion."]

"What... So, I'll become evil if I become a sorcerer...? That makes no sense, and why should I care how people look at me, I'll keep living my own life and make my own rules. And right now, the rule is to survive at any cost."

"Learn Technique: Mana Absorbtion!"

An extremely sharp pain arose in my head. It felt like my head was actually about to explode. The pain was gone within 3-4 minutes.

I now knew how to absorb 'Dark Mana' from slain enemies. I slowly got up and trudged over to the ant corpses.

"Mana Absorbtion...", for some reason, my deep voice sounded even deeper and darker while saying this.

[Title Removed: Mage (1st Circle)]

[Title Acquired: Sorcerer (1st Circle): Can use 1st circle magic. Casting speed for combat related spells reduced. Damage for combat related spells increased. Skill: 'Mana Absorbtion' acquired. Resistance to dark mana and dark magic increased.]

Tiny dark purple particles started to ooze out of the ant corpses. They slowly made their way to me. And then, I absorbed the dark mana through my arms, in the same way I absorbed regular mana. Making syringes and injecting the mana into my veins. Except this time, the process was much, much quicker.

Within a few minutes, I was feeling refreshed. Once it was over, I felt greedy. I wanted more. More dark mana to absorb. The feeling of absorbing dark mana was intoxicating. It was like I was doing drugs. I unconsciously started smiling. "No wonder the sorcerers are power hungry... if they get to feel this good, why wouldn't they? haha..."

I understood why the Sorcerers are considered evil and why they can do anything if it means attaining power. They are basically addicts, addicted to dark mana.

But I was different. Since I was 13 years old, my f*cking disease has made me go through so many operations and surgeries, its unreal. I've had to take drugs which were worse than this 'Dark mana' since childhood, and I still didn't get addicted. I simply viewed the drugs as a curse and medicine at the same time. I can just view 'Dark Mana' the same way. I haven't gotten addicted to drugs my whole life even when I have been having them since childhood, I'm not gonna start now...

After steeling my mental resolve, I decided to learn some more magic.

"Query! How do I use fire magic?"

[Query Received!]

[Required FP: 50]

[Answer: For a 1st circle Sorcerer to use Fire Magic, learn the spell 'Ignition', 'Fire ball'.]

"Query! How do I use water magic?"

[Answer: For a 1st circle Sorcerer to use Water Magic, learn the spell 'Water Wall', 'Water ball'.]

I quickly learnt the spells. These spells were all quite easy to understand. Fire magic basically just used Mana as the fuel, the Oxygen in the atmosphere, and a short circuit of magic as ignition temperature. Water magic just condensed water vapor in the air at an extremely fast rate to produce water. The spell 'Fire Ball' also needed something for the fire to latch onto, otherwise, I couldn't shoot the fire. It used a lump of mana as both the fuel and the actual 'Ball' that catches the fire and carries it in the air towards the target. 'Ignition' was just like a flamethrower.

Also, I had been so focused on gaining new spells and fighting for my life, that I completely forgot to check my stats. "Status!"

[Status Screen]

[Name: Xavier]

[Race: Arch-Human(Variant) {->}]

[STR: 8]

[STM: 10]

[CON: 7]

[INT: 254]

[WIS: 12]

[MAG: 10]

[FP(Fame Points):10]

[Title(s): Otherworlder{Total Immunity to soul-type magic}; Sorcerer (1st Circle)]

"Nice. All of my Stats increased. My STR and STM probably increased due to breaking those branches. I had to do so many pull-ups after all... And CON increased because of the 'Sorcerer' title's effects."

I was satisfied with my growth. But I still hadn't found a good place to sleep yet...