So This Is Mana?

I still have no clue what this is but I am loving every second of it!

Looking over to my right I can see a pile of water, different stuffed objects, glass figures, and wooden carvings.

So it looks like I just went to a normal thrift store but watch! I pick up a piece of fluff from the already torn-apart couch and close my eyes.

What do you want?

…

You're so indecisive today.

Instead of listening, I imagine a cloud in my head: how it's shaped, the color and how soft it would be.

My eyes open to me holding a perfect sculpture of the cloud in my head.

Now I have this theory, ok? I have the power to make anything I want anytime I want. The evidence of this is right in front of you.

And I've also been able to just pick up new friends just like that. This new journey has been so easy. Well physically anyway.

I've been thinking, what if the reason I can't leave this world is because it's, my, world!

I stand up from my place on the couch and start pacing, I mean, something must have happened in the real world and now this is my world that my consciousness made for me! I don't know why Akari is here but the little things don't matter.

"Ren?"

I told you to shut up and listen but when I turn towards the voice instead of nothing like usual, Marissa and Sara are standing there.

"Oh hey guys!" I stop pacing and go back to sit down. I don't want them to think I'm crazy. Marissa has this tired look on her face but smiling anyways and if Sara's eyes could turn into stars, they probably would.

"When did you get so chipper?" Marissa gives me a look but I ignore it, I have amazing news for them!

"When did you buy all of this?" Sara walks to the pile of experiments and picks up a heart charm made out of glass.

"I made it!" Sara looks surprised but not as surprised as I was.

"So you picked up some hobbies and made junk?" Marissa kicks a wooden unicorn that rolled over to the exit and closed the front door.

"Not exactly, just look!" I picked up the cloud plush from earlier and close my eyes. What else can I make out of plush? Oh! My mind follows through and I imagine my dog plushie from my childhood.

"Woah"

My eyes open to Sara's mouth agape and Marissa looking more relieved than ever. I smile and I think it's finally time to come clean.

"I've been thinking right, how could it be possible that I can make an item out of thin air. The only logical thing I could come up with is that this is my world! My counsiness came up with a heaven-type place while I'm dead!" Personally, I think this is the best explanation and it's obviously correct.

"How self-centered are you?" Marissa deadpans at me. Sara looks torn but obviously a bit mad at Marissa.

"Marissa y-" Sara tries but Marissa interrupts her.

"No. That's stupid, stop being stupid."

Marissa stands with a sour look on her face and arms crossed.

"Oh, sorry"

Hey, forget everything I just said. I slump down in my seat not daring to look at Sara or Marissa. Ugh, I have bad butterflies.

"Now, wanna continue telling us about your powers?" Marissa has a smile on her face, I guess I've been kinda a dick.

"Yeah," I straighten my posture and clear my throat. "What happens is that I pick something up like glass and close my eyes and concentrate on what I want to create and boom! I open my eyes and there it is!" I point to the glass heart charm in Sara's hands.

A nod is all Marissa gives.

"So can you make everything?"

I should have explained this earlier. "Not exactly?"

Marissa raises her eyebrow at me.

"Well, say I try to make a gold coin out of a wooden plank. It wouldn't be a gold coin but a wooden coin. I also tried separating materials but it took a lot out of me."

I look up to Marissa and she closes her notebook? Personally, I think it's her diary.

"I need to talk to Akari then we're going to do some experiments." Marissa starts down the hallway.

Ugh I don't want to go over to the hideout. It's dirty over there. I don't wanna get dirty!

"I don't wanna go to the training grounds!" I whine and slump in my seat.

"We're going to my house idiot," Marissa opens Akari's door and shouts to me before going in.

Huh, I haven't been to Marissa's place in a while.

I look over to Sara who's been sorting through all the stuff who is still holding the glass heart charm. Maybe I should be a bit nicer.

"You can keep it if you want," I say to Sara.

Sara looks startled, almost, and looks at me.

"Really?"

"Of course! If you can find anything in that junk that you like, you can take it."

"Thanks!" Sara looks happier and more content, good, it sounds like I've been a dick.

Sara continues to go through the pile while I comment and laugh at some of the experiments. But our session doesn't last long as a door slams closed and Marissa walks out muttering to herself.

"Alright, we're heading out, Akari's not coming like usual." She huffed and quickly walks over to the exit.

Me and Sara look at each other, Sara looks worried but honestly, I don't know why Marissa thought she could get Akari to come with, he never does anyway.

So me and Sara follow Marrissa without questioning it.

It's around dusk right now and there are guards everywhere you look. It almost feels like there's more and more of them each day.

That's why we started taking the alleyways instead of the main road to get to Marissa's place. Once we get there we enter through a back door and start taking tests.

Honestly, I was expecting the same old tests but this time it's me taking things that are like 50% one thing and 50% a different thing and being asked to separate them or make it 100% one of the materials.

It's so goddamn boring I was having more fun messing around in my living room. She even made me try that magic stuff but nothing came from that like usual.

But when we were done I felt exhausted. Like to the point where I can barely think. I can see why Akari wouldn't want to come here.

But thankfully Marissa sees my execution and lets me leave. Though I do have to go home alone as it's already dark out. It sucks that this town is so invasive. Maybe next time I can use my newfound power to remove that 'thing' from them so they aren't monitored so much.

Thinking about this I jump scare myself when I notice someone else in the always. I can't really make it out but it seems to be just some weird guy. No armor or anything.

I want to forget he was even there but before I'm able to walk away from him he stops mr and looks at something next to him then at me and repeats it.

"Do you need something?" I'm too tired to do this. I just wanna lay down.

He looks surprised and jumps a bit.

"Well have you seen a girl about your height with black hair and black eyes?"

I blink, what a stupid question.

"Yeah? My names Ren?" Can this guy go?"

"Ok, that's great! Um, well can you like sneak past me real quick so I can go?"

Is this some type of joke? I walk past him and turn the corner.

I decide to wait at the corner for a sec to see what he does but all he does is sigh and continue down the alley.

I hate crazy people.

"Oh, sup Ren" I hear from behind me.

I turn around startled to see Akari.

Speaking of.