Mana stones!

Walking out of the forest filled with wounds and bruises, he was quite calm. With thoughts full of money, he walked, looking around for a store to sell his goods.

Finally, after walking for a bit he sees a signboard.

"Sivera general store"

Walking towards it, he entered the building. Luckily it wasn't crowded so he went to one of the counters. Arriving there, he saw a blonde man sitting with a bored expression on his face.

"What?" the blond man said, as he looked at the wounded person, who walked up to him.

"I'm here to sell" Evan replied calmly,

"What you got?" the blond replied again,

"Oh, just some teeth, claws, and fur" Evan said, as he took out the materials he took from the dead forest wolves.

"Oh, forest wolves nice" the blond man smiled as he started counting the materials.

"How much do you want for it?" the man said,

"What are you offering?" Evan replied,

"15 silver coins" the man replied

"You have mana stones?" Evan asked,

"Hmm, yes we do have some left in stock" the man took a moment to reply,

"How much can I get for 10 silver coins?" - Evan

"Hmm, 5" - the blond man

"Could I have a discount for more?" - Evan

"No" A flat reply from the man

"Give it then." - Evan

The man smiled as he left the counter. After a moment he came back holding five small, blue crystal rocks. Handing them over to Evan with 5 small and silvery coins. Taking the items, Evan turned to leave the store.

As he walked out with pain coursing through his body he went to a medicine shop. Entering it he purchased 1 healing potion. Though costing a lot, it had an amazing effect to heal him overnight

In this world, there are people known as alchemists who delve into the world of medicine. They often use herbs to concoct medicine. Most herbs in this world grow with mana though there are ordinary herbs that don't grow with the use of mana at all. That's why they're differentiated by the term magic. Herbs that grow with the use of mana are called magic herbs while herbs that don't are called herbs. The reason why it's expensive is that herbs need time to grow and with everyone buying it like random cabbages on the street the herbs would've gone extinct. So the high price is reasonable.

Getting the potion and stuffing it in his bag, he left the shop heading to a nearby inn. Walking to the only counter.

"Welc-" the male innkeeper said as he was cut off by Evan

"I'd like a room for 2 nights, here's 20b" Evan said as he gave the innkeeper 20 bronze coins.

"Uh, alright" the innkeeper said as he took the money, giving him a key.

Evan took the key and walked to his room, feeling the pain in his body he hurried a bit, finding his room he entered it. Immediately he grabbed the potion and drank it heading to the bed to sleep.

-The next day-

Evan woke up, feeling his body fully healed.

"Damn that potion is good, had 4 broken ribs with wounds everywhere" Evan thought, he then went downstairs for breakfast, leaving the inn and going to a restaurant he could see nearby.

Paying 5b he got a piece of bread, some meat, and milk from the restaurant.

-After 10 mins-

Walking out satisfied, he went back to his room. Entering, he closed the door.

"Time to reap my rewards" Evan said,

Taking out the mana stones with an excited face, he went to his bed and sat with crossed legs.

"Now feel the mana," Evan said out loud

Mana stones were a way to advance. In the lower levels, it was very important in the lower levels of ranks, because practicing with mana from the surrounding area was difficult since mana was extremely hard to will, and it is very very violent. This is why most people do not use mana from the environment to train. But that's where mana stones come in, they are formed from natural mana condensing in an area creating a lot of them. And the mana in these rocks is very tamed making them wanted in the lower levels. Practicing with the mana to gain basic control of it would allow the person to be able to use mana more to strengthen their body further advancing their battle power. After a period of strengthing the body until the body can't take anymore, only then will you form a core and achieve D-rank. Though after D-rank it becomes useless.

Grabbing a stone, Evan closed his eyes as he tried to learn how to control mana more. Feeling with his will, he felt a cold yet warm energy within the stone. He tried to control it, he controlled a bit of it, a small marble size. He tried to control more and succeeded in a slightly large marble showing his control of mana was getting to a basic level.

Feeling courageous he went for more. Trying to control a small tennis ball of mana, he failed as soon as the size had become half of a tennis ball, the mana couldn't stay in shape and just fell apart releasing to the surroundings as the mana stone bluishness became a bit dimmer.

Not surprised by the outcome, Evan kept practicing with the stone after an hour, it turned to ashes. He took a small break and went down to buy some water, relaxing as he came back and started again. Grabbing another rock, he kept at it trying to control more, bit by bit. Moving on from stone to stone, though the stones kept decreasing he felt his control getting better, as he got used to how mana felt and the right ways to actually wield it.

Reaching the fourth stone Evans's control had already gotten to the point where he had gained part of basic control of it.

After an hour as Evan's fourth mana stone decayed. He had become a D-rank adventurer. Wielding the surrounding mana to strengthen himself he felt a boost in strength, like never before. He grabbed his katana and quickdraw it.

"Swoosh"

At a speed faster than before Evan had sheathed and unsheathed his katana. Smiling to himself he was a step closer to his goal of becoming a C-rank adventurer. His lazy life had never seemed so clearer.