Mana Slap

"All right, I'll see you guys at school." Tobin waved goodbye after talking for a couple of minutes.

Lux was still looking though, "You're being way too obvious." I smirked at her, and her face turned a shade of tomato.

-Chuckle

The mall was wide; there were two parallel pathways like a road--people were going opposite directions on each side. It is laden with pinkish-brown bricks, and in the middle are palm trees and a variety of fragrant flowers.

On the sides, there were shops and displays, and you can see a bunch of salesmen trying to get some customers to come in. It's pretty busy here since this is one of the biggest malls out there.

We went to a clothing store nearby, and there we saw many discounted items.

"Ouuu! Yes! I can save some money. You know I'm planning on going back to Korea for like a month, right? I kinda need to save up a bit."

"You are? How come I didn't know this? Did you know?" I looked at Lux, and she shook her head.

"Oh, I probably forgot to tell! Teehee~"

I gave her a wry smile, "Can we come?"

"If you pay for your own flights and stuff, then sure!"

"Don't even worry about it, I'll pay for Lux's as well."

"N-no need! I know you're rich, but it's fine" She looked at me bashfully,

'Oh she's cute, alright?!'

"Stop it, you're even richer than I."

Really. Aside from Seung Jee, I would say Lux and I were born quite privileged as we grew up with rather 'Rich' parents; and I admit, I kinda am spoiled—mainly because of my brother, who gives me a bunch of and stuff.

"I'll take that offer any day, Bev. Kidding!" Seung Jee jested.

"You haven't bought one?"

"I already did, economic flights are not that expensive, so I bought it myself."

"Hmmm... I'll upgrade yours to first class then."

She was flustered, "Y-you… it's fine! I was joking!"

"Well, I don't like the cramped economic seats, you know?" I remarked sarcastically.

"Tch! Why are you always like this?" She looked helpless.

After that rather noisy discussion, we shopped for clothes and other 'unnecessary necessities'.

…

"Aren't this way too much?" Choccy said as we struggled to lift all the bags.

"It kind of is…" I heard Lux say with a soft voice.

"Bevie's fault."

"Ah! Dang, it! Let's leave it here for now."

I approached the staff and asked if they could keep it here for while and they readily agreed.

And just like that, we continued to buy more 'necessities'.

***

--'You sure this would work, human?'

"We can only try. Grahhh!" I grunted as I pulled apart the piece of osmium bar I forged myself.

Osmium is an element that would usually break if struck hard enough as it is too brittle, but this one wouldn't easily do so since I reinforced it with mana.

--'Then take the mana out, idiot.'

'I can't, it stuck to it.'

And I need it that way, anyway.

It would go back to its original, mana less state if left, so I am coming up with a solution to make the mana field constantly active even without my presence.

The theory I came up with is that only living beings can activate a mana field, but I don't really have any idea where to get a living being who has even a little bit of mana.

--'Why don't you make one?'

"And how would I do that?"

--'Uhhhh… procreate?'

Disgarsting, "What? And use the child for an experiment? It's not even guaranteed that the child would have the rule over mana."

--'I'm just offering some options. TSK TSK TSK'

-Tch

"Wait, Hold on! That's right! Create one!"

-Gasp

I heard a gasp in my head and instantly thought over what I said.

"NO! I don't mean a human! A plant! A plant is a living being!"

'That's ridiculous, how would you birth a plant?'

What?

"You're hopeless…" I sighed.

"Anyways, no, I'm saying that we can grow a plant that inhibits mana and keeps the field active constantly. A plant with a high enough survivability… I think."

--'Oh, how though?'

"Grown one in a lab, I guess? We can incorporate mana into the cell and see if it multiplies with it, if not, then we'll incorporate mana into every single cell one by one."

--'Sounds taxing.'

"Sure is."

-Sigh

If this thing can somehow create a gate or even a tear, it would be possible to go back.

--'And what? Kill another deity?'

"Oh, shut up, you're livelier than a bison."

--'That doesn't mean I am living!'

The voice sounded frustrated. Because of that, however, my thoughts ran wild, and memories about my past life resurfaced.

I shook my head as the memory of myself being decapitated resurfaced.

--'You think it's over?'

"We're not even sure how my years has passed there since I was reincarnated, or if the war ever ended."

I pushed away all those thoughts and continued building the portal machination. Using mana, I melted the osmium and molded it into the shape I desire—over and over to achieve the perfect fit.

The whole garage was like a dry sauna as the temperature I used was many times hotter than a normal forge.

Using the oxygen particles to boost the heat, I tempered the lampshade-looking shell that would inhibit the 'mana generator'—as I decided to call it, and it will condense the atmosphere with much mana so I can generate a force strong enough to pierce the fabric of space.

I tried condensing the natural field around me by staying in one place, but after a couple of months, it stagnated.

The condensation became unbearably slow, and I think it is because I am not powerful enough to attract such a large amount of mana.

According to researches in my past world, mana cannot be consumed, but they end up in a different place—or a different dimension—after it was used.

So, with that in mind, what I am trying to create—or more appropriately, find—is the pathways of mana. It should end up in my past world unless there are more worlds where mana is actively used.

But I could very well vanish off the face of the earth if I am wrong.

Well, who cares?

--'Your mom, maybe.'

I felt a sting in my chest at the mention of my mother, but chose to ignore it.

I looked at my left wrist--that has no watch--and noticed the time.

"It should be time.." I changed clothes and took my car to pick up Beverly.

…

I stopped by the front of the mall and noticed some stares. "I shouldn't have brought the Buga'ee."

--'It's one way to get a girlfriend, you know?'

"Lol." I chuckled.

It should be fine if I wait here, a privilege of having such an expensive car.

--'That kinda sounds--Oh, there they are!'

While I was scrolling through my phone, the voice pointed them out, and I saw them with someone else carrying their shopping bags.

"A guy?" A vein popped on my forehead.

--'Chill out, probably a staff or something… look at him carrying all those bags.'

It indeed looks like a worker since he's also wearing a uniform and an ID.

The mountain of shopping bags almost looked comical, and the sight of a lanky teenager carrying all of it is kind of funny.

"Those bags though." I looked at the back of my car.

--'It won't fit, huh.'

"Yeah, I'll just have it delivered then."

"Hey Kolin!"

"Hello, Bevies' brother..."

Choccy, and Lux—Beverly's friends—greeted me.

"Sup, Jee. Hello Lux…" I greeted them back and eyed the lanky teenager who was carrying their bags.

"…and Hello, random kid." And of course, I can't forget the lanky dude.

"Oh right, this is Tobin, he helped us carry the shopping bags—it won't fit there." Beverly suddenly facepalmed.

--'So it wasn't a staff.'

"It's fine, I'll have it delivered." I gave her a smile and eyed the lanky dude again.

"…alright, let's go. You two going with us?" I asked Lux and Jee.

"No, my dad will pick me up~"

"Can I.." Lux's eyes widen, "You ever ridden one of these before?"

"No." She shook her head, and her fluffy, black hair followed.

"Let's go, let's drop your stuff off first though." I gave the scrawny-lookin' ahh dude a look.

"O-oh, I'll help." He fumbled a bit.

--'Isn't this bullying?'

'Naaahhhh….' I gave him a mental wolfish grin.

"Thank you." I gave the dude a tight-lipped smile.

After we—mostly, Tobey, or whatever his name was—dropped the bags off for delivery, we prepared to go.

Suddenly, however, we saw the lank dude waving at us, in his hands are what looks to be like coupons.

"Huff… Huff…. Huff… I thought you might want some coupons...Huff.. for my family restaurant, you can do whatever...Huff... you want with it, honestly." He said in between bated breaths

'This smelly dude…' My brow twitched.

I saw Lux turn red as she took the coupons.

"Th-t-thank you…?"

--'Oh my.'

'Woah. Woah. Woah. What is this?!'

I glanced at the lanky dude, 'This guy??? seriously???'

Well, time to be the protective brother.

--She's not your sister though'

'She's my sister's friend. Same thing.'

"You're welcome! Come stop by if you get the chance." He waved as he walked away.

"Bevie, watch this," I smirked a wolfish grin.

"Watch what?"

I gestured to the lanky dude and gave him a 'mana slap'.

--'Gahaha! Oldest trick in the bo—woah w-what?'

He ducked.

--'Did he just dodge?'

'Might've just been a coincidence.'

I waved my hand again, and this time, gave a wider slap.

I was more bewildered ,however, for he parried. He looked around, seemingly confused.

'No fucking way…'

I did it again, and this time, I tried to sweep him off his feet.

He jumped.

--'Y-yoo... w-w-wh--how?!'

The voice stuttered, I don't know how, but he did.

Lux looked at me weird, maybe because of my expression.

I couldn't care less about my expression at the moment, however, as this is maddening.

"Why is he jumping around like an idiot?" Bevie looked confused, and Lux even more so.

I couldn't even explain as I am too shocked.

"What's that guy's name again?" I curiously asked; he was glancing around--looking for whatever he dodged--confused.

"You mean Tobin?"

"Tobin. Tobin. Tobin. I see…" I repeated the name multiple times to not forget.

--'You're honestly creeping me out'

'Well, let's go check him out.'

--'Gay.'

'I meant--Goddamnit you!