Totem of Wellness

I woke up gasping my breath as I patted my head. There was no abnormality whatsoever. Then I noticed a sudden pang of pain in my hand.

When I turned my head to see what is happening. The book that I was holding was sizzling and burning away at a fast rate. I placed it down and let it become dust as the wind blew it away.

Remembering the imprint in my brain, I tried accessing it. And with just my thought I can see an immaterial paper popping out of my hand. It can't be moved or flapped as normal paper does. It just stuck on my hands unmoving.

When I place my consciousness inside of it I can also feel its uses. The paper is giving me information whenever I interact with it.

Now that I'm still building my foundation, the paper shared information on what is available among the entities that I can choose. The available entities listed are Curse, Healing, and Transformation.

I can also access a map of the Order realm. And all I can say is that it's huge. How can men travel this wide realm?

Well, for now, I can't rescue this someone. First I need to get stronger before I can save who.

Looking back at the immaterial paper, I can see the magic circle that was inside the book on this paper's surface. This magic circle was also the one that the voice imprinted inside my brain. When I interacted with it a while ago, it was called Primal Command.

The Primal Command is an indisputable command. Any entities, elements, or concepts that deal with mortals using the Arcane text can't refuse the Primal Command's request.

They will unknowingly use their abilities and also they can't track the user's location. It is a contract-free use of someone else ability at the expense of your own ether energy.

Holding the immaterial paper, I scanned the available entities that have abilities I can freely use. I took an interest in the two entities which are Curse and Healing.

I decided to pick the Healing entity. As we three now deal considerable damage, what we need is something to heal our wounds. As I picked the Healing entity, the text changed and another new text was written on the paper.

-

<Cure magic circle>

-An instant cure for any wounds inflicted.

<Detox magic circle>

-Removal of toxins inside one's body. Also curing the damage made by the toxins.

<Totem of Wellness magic circle>

-erects a totem inside the magic circle that enhances the recovery of stamina, strength, a slight increase in healing, and detoxification. It is also mobile and can follow the summoner around.

-

Without much pondering, I choose the Totem of Wellness. Although it does slight healing and detoxification the recovery of stamina and strength is the top effects it had. This will help us recover from our fatigue and push ourselves further.

The sun now has risen. Again time inside that dreamy thing is really quick. Marco and Sheen were already up too.

"Good morning you two." I greeted.

"Yooow", "Too early." They both replied.

"Something happened to me you see. I can summon a magic circle with just a wave of my hand, look." I waved my hand and chanted, "Totem of Wellness."

A magic circle materializes on the ground, and a totem with a square head on top with wings on its back appeared. It radiated a green glow on a radius of 5 meters. I went and explained to them how it works. 10 seconds later the totem vanished out of thin air.

The two were dumbfounded. "Where is the book right now?" Sheen asked.

"Sadly it burned away to dust," I replied.

"You selfish one, give it to me," Sheen said as he searched my backpack and my pockets.

"It's true Sheen, what he received is an inheritance. This cheeky bastard is secretly eating delicacies while we're asleep" Marco said.

"Tsk. How lucky can you be? You just bought a book and magically you can now do this without reaching the 1st step." Sheen complained.

I looked at both of them grinning. "Don't be like that guys. You're much ahead of me. Next year with the help of the Sunflower Breathing technique you'll have the golden foundation in no time."

When the two heard what I said they blushed and thanked me once again. They can't believe how useful our technique is.

"Oh right. Lorenzo you don't need to take the next task along with us. We want you to build your foundation as well. Don't worry we will give you some ether stone. But it will be lower than what you get when you join us. I hope you don't mind." Marco informed.

"But. . . I can't just accept ether without doing anything." I negotiated.

"You can cook our dinner. Be a maid for now. Ha ha ha ha ha" Marco suggested.

"Ah yes. Give me the money I'll buy you some premium poison." I teased as I extend my hands.

Marco gave me 50 gold coins to spend for today. They then set out to take on another task in the adventurer guild. Meanwhile, I am left out to cultivate on my own.

Every day the two would set out and take on certain tasks. All I do was meditate and meditate to try and reach the green foundation but I don't seem to improve on it. Every morning I would offer food for Nullus before I proceed with my usual meditation.

I wanted to not feel in a hurry but I can't remove it inside my thoughts. My pace is so slow that I'm starting to get frustrated.

Marco and Sheen looked concerned at my stressed face. They cheered me up as they offered me some sweets they bought in the bakery.

They also talked something about someone they beat up because it was trying to take their loots. Fortunately, they did not kill that man.

How unfortunate can you be to mess with these two weirdos?

Another morning came being left alone here. I'm still trying to reach the green foundation. But today is a different one.

As I was meditating I can feel a sudden change of quality. A sudden lightness came inside me. I know that I starting to build my white foundation to the next tier.

Whoosh

.

.

.

Lorenzo who was silently meditating and trying to rapidly improve was caught off guard.

A blazing fireball whizzed right at his back. This sudden interruption hindered Lorenzo's chance of reaching the green foundation useless.

The force was so strong, it threw him away. His body rolled off the sand. He was gripping his chest as he vomited blood. He is arching his body experiencing burning pain from his back and inside his body. Lorenzo is experiencing the backlash of the sudden interruption of his breakthrough.

"Are you sure this is the guy?" A slim guy with a mohawk said.

"Definitely, yes. I track them down yesterday. And the two went back here every night." The man in a cloak replied.

"Then what are we waiting for? What they did to Glen we'll do to him." the mohawk guy said.

With that, the mohawk guy kicked Lorenzo's stomach. A man with a massive build pulled Lorenzo by his collar and punched his face. The massive man then holds him high as his comrades took turns and beat Lorenzo up.

These people were friends of the man Marco and Sheen beat up. And here they were getting revenge and ganging up on Lorenzo.

His vision went blurry but he can't fight back. Lorenzo could only focus his vision on two people, the mohawk guy, and the massive man. After a couple of beatings, he passed out.

When they saw him flopping and not showing signs of resistance they throw him down. The mohawk guy burned their belongings and also stole some ether stones and gold that Lorenzo kept. The gang then went their way leaving him behind hardly breathing.

His face was beaten senseless that both his eyes were swollen, his nose broken, and his lips busted. Now his breathing is slowly losing strength as his ribs were broken. Lorenzo is now near death's door.

Clang Clang Clang

A bell rang inside Lorenzo's pocket. It was the bell that Nullus gave him. After the ringing, mysterious energy enveloped the ground beside him. The energy then summoned a magic circle. A winged square face head appeared as the totem was slowly erected near Lorenzo. It was the Totem of Wellness that appeared at the center of the magic circle.

An intense gentle aura encapsulated Lorenzo. This aura is different than when he summoned the totem.

His swollen face slowly, but surely return back to normal. The teeth that fell off regrown, his broken ribs healed, and his breathing now became normal. When his body returned back to normal, the unknown energy that summoned the totem vanished.

Lorenzo lay there comfortably on the sand. When the night came Marco and Sheen saw him lying in a fetal position. On their spot, their blankets, pots, and Lorenzo's things were reduced to ash.

This totally angered Marco. He clenched his fist ready to fight it out against the people who did this.

When Marco was about to advance, Lorenzo hold him down.

"Chill Marco I'm fine. You're no match to them right now. They are already in the 1st step." Lorenzo said.

Marco turned to look at Lorenzo's eyes. On his calm expression, are eyes that were burning in rage. He settled his emotions down respecting Lorenzo's statement and not dumbly serving his head there.

Marco looked at the both of them and proposed, "Okay. For now, let's eat."