Mana Fusion

{A/N: sooooo I made a booboo, I used their last names when addressing characters as brother/sister i.e. Brother Lin for Lin Sha and Sister Wang for Wang Yoyo. So I'm just going to move on and pretend that never happened lolz I'll fix it when I go to publish the full book (btw it will have illustrations so let me know what scenes you'd like to see)}

Time to get down to business. Wu Liang Hui shook his arms like a boxer anxiously preparing to face his opponent in the ring. The usual calm and stillness of the log cabin doing nothing to calm his nerves. He was standing before the back wall of the cabin in front of him on the counter were all of the materials that he had gathered with Brother Sha's help. Brother Sha had also helped him to select the easiest to make pill out of all the handouts from class. 

The pill he was going to make was a grey level pill called Sunshine's Blessing which was used by warriors when out on missions or hunts for instant mana restoration. It was considered grey level because it was just the sublimation of two ingredients. The more steps in the process the more mana one needs to expend over a longer length of time and hence the higher the level of mage needed to complete it. Speaking of ingredients, his past self really had some good stuff tucked away in this cabin and they were all still usable despite sitting on the shelves for hundreds of years. All he had to do now was to grind them and boil them in the cauldron until it changed to a gas and then a solid. 

He grabbed the jars containing the Wyvern teeth and Stardew seeds and measured out the amount needed of each into dishes next to the mortar. The time had come for him to see whether or not he was a complete failure in life. He kissed new favorite possession, a small palm sized bronze mirror that he got from sister Yoyo. It contained a five second recording of senior Choi that was so beautiful and majestic that it instantly boosted his confidence. He could still hear the melodious bells of karma echoing in his heart and soul bringing him much needed inner peace. 

Taking a deep breath Liang Hui focused all his mana into his hands. His pale white hands were soon consumed by a dark muddy brown glow. Unlike warriors, mages have the ability to manipulate mana freely so concentrating his mana to his hands was the easiest part. Before he began to crash the teeth in the mortar he concentrated on the rhythm of the qi circulating through it. It was important to match his mana flow with it to prevent the qi from colliding or escaping during the process. After completely covering the Wyvern teeth with his mana he began to crush them in the mortar and then added the seeds slowly. As the rhythm of the qi flowing through the seeds was moving at a faster pace it was necessary to slowly adjust its qi to match that of the teeth to prevent them colliding. 

He then carefully poured the white powder into the giant black cauldron that was seated between the two long counters that spanned the width of the back wall of the cabin. Typically this was the time when he would make his first mistake, he would treat this like a regular sublimation of chemicals and cover the caldron to prevent any of the fumes from escaping, however this did nothing to prevent the qi from dissipating and it also obscured his vision into the cauldron. So now he correctly used his mana as a bridge to connect to air particles at the top of the cauldron effectively sealing everything in. However, the muddy aura of his mana still somewhat blocked his vision. He could see into the cauldron but could barely distinguish any of the color changes that occurred as the cauldron heated up. 

As the white powder started glowing due to the heat, it had a golden shade of yellow like that of molten gold. Then it turned to gas, and finally the gas condensed as it collected along the sides of the cauldron which dropped to the bottom of the cauldron. The newly formed liquid solidified into a thick gelatinous substance. Had he been able to see clearly he would've noted that the golden color inside the cauldron was slowly dimming and by the time it solidified it was a pale sickly grey color. Using his mana he divided the gelatinous block that formed at the bottom of the cauldron into five. The sweat that had accumulated on the sides of his face, one part due to standing in front of a boiling hot pot and another part due to expending almost all of the mana in his body, dripped down his back. The five pieces were rolled into balls and roasted in the pot until they shrunk to 1⁄3 of their original size.

Excited to see the results he quickly undid the seal to reveal the contents of the cauldron. The pills were puke green and smelled of rotted fish. This…. this was not the ideal result, pill Ssunshine's blessing got its name from its glowing golden yellow coloring meaning that anything outside of that was a failure. Liang Hui wanted to bang his head on the counter top. His shoulders sagged under the heavy weight of depression. He didn't know what to do from here. He had followed all of the instructions on the dumb, stupid f--ing printout, he followed all the advice that he had gotten from Brother Lin, all those tips and tricks he had read about in scrolls and books and still...… 

Sinking to his knees he signed heavily. This was it, he might as well just sit here and wait for everything to end. He grabbed his hair in frustration. It wasn't like he could just forget about everything and just live as "Chi Bai Cai the healer class mage". This body was going to break down eventually, at least that's what the translated quest said. Just thinking about his ridiculous quest made him want to once again throw hands with that annoying system screen. What would have happened if he had not gotten the language skill Hermes's Blessing. The horrifying image of his body falling apart flashed through his mind motivating Wu Liang Hui to jump to his feet. This was no time to be moping about! He transported himself out of the demi-plane and into his room.

"Oh."

Wu Liang Hui and Bai Huya both paused at the doorway. Bai had just returned from who knows where to most likely wash up and rest. He could swear that every time he saw him something had changed. First it was his clothes, then he came back with a grand sword and now he had somehow managed to hide his ears and tail. Despite them living together he felt as though he knew the least about the beastman before him. Looking past Bai with a sigh, Liang Hui could see that the sun had already set. It was too late to go to the library or visit Brother Lin, but he was still reluctant to spend even a second more near Bai. He could feel his determination fading under the beastman's piercing blue stare. Huya thought differently however, as he grabbed hold of Liang Hui's wrist when he attempted to brush by him.

"It's late."

"I can see!" He shook his hand off and tried to walk out of the room. Bai's calm, condescending tone serving as kindling for his rage. The memories of being humiliated by him flashing in his mind once more. When Bai stepped into his way his eyes snapped fire at him. However when their eyes connected, Bai's face morphed into concern.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Something's bothering you."

"Yea, you!"

"Tell me I just want to help."

"It's nothing you can help me with."

"We'll see, just tell me," Bai managed to catch his eyes once more. 

"It's just dumb mage stuff," Liang Hui looked down at his feet in embarrassment. Bai gave him another reassuring look and took a step closer, his body heat comforting for some reason. By the time he was wrapped up in Bai Huya's arms he had completely broken down and without holding back he spilled everything out. He told Bai all about how his pills and potions became poisonous no matter what he did and he told him about the pills he just made and how much of a failure he was. By the time he was done, Bai's white robes were soaked in tears and snot. 

Bai Huya sighed as he pat Wu Liang Hui's back. A smile etching onto his face, it had been too. He subtly breathed in the light scent of herbs that lingered on the mage. He only pulled back when the urge to take a bite out of the mage started to take over his senses. With his hands safely tucked behind his back he seriously addressed Liang Hui.

"Show me."

"Show you?" 

"Yes, I spent many years watching over a Grandmaster of Alchemy," he took Liang Hui's hand as if to lead him to the cabin, "I'm sure I can spot where the problem lies."

Liang Hui's eyes caught sight of the gleaming silver tug that was now dangling from Huya' human right ear. That's right if there was anyone that could help it would be the one who spent time with the legendary mage himself.

Bai silently stood behind Liang Hui at an angle so as to get an unobstructed view of the alchemic process. His presence somehow serving to calm and reassure the mage. Wu Liang Hui took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts before starting. He meticulously went through all of the steps, his hands stopping only once the pills were formed. Sighing at the foul scent coming from the pills he turned to ask Bai's opinion on the matter. When he caught the complicated expression on his face he paused mid step. It appeared as if the beastman wanted to say something but he would shut his mouth before the words could escape.

"Just tell me," he grit his teeth bracing for the bad news, "I can take it." 

"It's your mana,"

"What about it?"

"That muddy color," he bit his lip trying to measure his words, "it indicates improper mana fusion."

"Huh, what?"

"Improper mana fusion," Bai stared at him unsure of how to broach the topic as he was aware that the little mage wanted to keep it a secret.

"Does fusion mean what I think it does?" Wu Liang Hui asked warily.

Bai Huya nodded.

Liang Hui, "…"

"You have two different types of mana, fire and wood," Bai Huya noticed the confused look on Liang Hui's face and corrected himself, "Healer and …. well there isn't a modern equivalent for wood mages as they no longer exist…." 

The words settled heavily in the air. It was a statement not a question. He knew. From the look on his face he always knew. Wu Liang Hui felt his heart thump heavily as if it wanted to escape his chest. In his head he figured that if the beastman wanted to betray him he would have done so by now but betrayal had been a common thread in all of his past lives. One wrong slip and this precious second chance could easily come to an end. After all his enemy is the current king and that silver tag dangling from Bai Huya's ear could be the symbol of the king and not a mark of the previous king. Is that why he never tried to get closer to him and always just observing him? Was he just here to spy on him? Is that why he always looked down on him, because it was funny to see him struggle?

"Look at me!"

The beastman grabbed his shoulders when he saw the little mage started to wobble, his feet becoming unstable. Wu Liang Hui's felt like the room was spinning. Everything felt out of his control. The memory of him being shot replaying in his head. He was back in those sterile halls running for his life. The air in his lungs suffocating him. The phrase "I don't want to die!" echoing in his head.

"Look at me!" Bai Huya shook him. Their eyes finally met, brown to blue. Hot tears, threatening to melt his skin, fell like boulders. The beastman sighed and pulled the mage into his embrace. He cradled his head, his hand tangling in the mage's long inky hair, his heart breaking when softly asked if he was going to kill him.

"…never," the beastman softly whispered, tears forming in his eyes but not yet falling. The mage's frail body was trembling terribly. 

Bai tilted Wu Liang Hui's head up, "Look at me Xiao Bai," he breathed.

The mage's dazed eyes finally snapped to him. Finally he saw the beastman standing before him with brows creased with concern. He breathed in the familiar scent of fresh rain and pine trees. Steely tan muscles wrapped his tight, radiating a comforting warmth.

"S-stop calling me that…"

He sheepishly averted his eyes causing the beastman to chuckle heartily before leaning down to kiss his forehead.

"Can we continue now?"

Liang Hui awkwardly cleared his throat and broke away from Bai's warm arms. He felt like an idiot making a scene after asking for help. "W-what do you think I should do," he looked away, still unnerved by the topic at hand but willing to open up a little, "about my mana I-i mean?"

"Well…"

Bai leaned back on the desk and gave the mage a once over. Liang Hui's cheeks heated, tainted red as he blushed. He could tell by the mischievous glint in his eyes that the beastman was up to no good. Before he could move out of reach Bai caught him and pulled him back into his arms. Their lips clashed and tongues tangled, by the time he pulled back Wu Liang Hui's legs were jelly and his brain mush. Bai carried the dazed mage back to the work counter and spun him around.

"W-what are you doing?"

The beastman smirked into the crook of his neck, "It's simple really," he trailed kisses along his neck with each word, "The mana in your body and that of your soul are clashing so we just need to distract your body and temporary disrupt it's mana flow."

Wu Liang Hui rolled his eyes, this Beast always found a reason to have sex! He was already beginning to regret asking this ass for his help. Liang Hui tried to elbow the beastman in his stomach but he moved away swiftly. Bai Huya chuckled as he pinned the mage's shoulder down with a heavy palm so he couldn't turn around or move away. He then transformed one of his nails into a sharp claw, with a swift flick of his wrist he sliced a six inch slit into the back of Liang Hui's robes exposing two sparkling jade mounts. 

 "We don't want you getting hurt now do we," he nudged his chin in the direction of the cauldron that was sitting on an open fire.

"Hmph, you're buying me new robes!" the mage blushed scarlet, turning his head away from Bai Huya's face.

"Just focus on working," he chuckled, his tone scintillating, the deep sound vibrating in the mage's ear, a shiver ran laps down his spine and back again. Wu Liang Hui's lips parted in a breathy moan, his eyes fluttering shut as Bai's long, calloused fingers brushed against the split of his supple mounts. His entrance twitched anxiously awaiting something bigger. The mage's body heated more than a bonfire as he felt his front stiffen inside his robes.

"You need to focus," he fluttered kisses along Wu Liang Hui's neck, "feel the different streams of mana flowing through you"

Wu Liang Hui slowed his breathing trying to do as he was told, concentrating on his hands. Bai Huya buried his nose into the crook of the mage's neck. He breathed in the mage's scent, underneath the floral scent drifting off the mage's body, the nostalgic spiced honey blooms. The more the mage focuses his mana the stronger the scent the beast had been waiting hundreds of years to smell once again. When Liang Hui's hands were completely consumed by a brilliant, pure lime-green light he heard a low growl echo through the silent room. It was so primal and domineering that a shiver ran laps down Wu Liang Hui's spine. It took all of the little mage's will power to remain standing. He felt like a powerless hare entrapped by a mighty beast. 

His hands moved quickly as he went through the familiar steps, carefully noting the subtle changes from the first time he tried making the Sunshine's Blessing pills. Throughout the process Bai Huya's fingers teased and prodded the little mage. It was just enough to set his nerve endings dancing but stopping short of letting him find release. 

When the very last pill was formed a brilliant 1ft tall golden light beam shot out of the cauldron. In his glee of finally being successful Wu Liang Hui didn't notice when the beastman slipped his fingers out. The golden light instantly transformed into stars dancing before his eyes as Bai slammed into him. Liang Hui's back arched before collapsing onto Bai's chest as his seed shot out of him with such force that some droplets seeped past his robes, spilling onto the newly formed pills. When his seed made contact with the pills it was greedily absorbed and boosted the golden light beam by 3ft. 

Bai smiled proudly as he watched on, as he would expect from his master. His first pills were not only first class but the mage was so brilliant that he knew that releasing his seed onto the pills would result in the rare phenomenon known as the Mage's blessing. Bai Huya at first was shocked as even he had no idea that spilling a mage's essence onto the finished product was how one achieved the Mage's Blessing, but this was His king after all. Thinking about it more it seemed rather obvious that a mage's power originates from the lower dantian and what is one's seed if not a direct product of the lower dantian. This made a mage's seed just as valuable as their nectar, which seeps out of them when aroused.

Bai Huya was pulled out of his thoughts as he felt all of his mana being sucked out of his body and was rapidly pouring into the mage who was resting limply in his arms. Wu Liang Hui had collapsed into the beastman's arms due to depleted mana. He had somehow used up all of his mana just completing a grey level pill despite being a blue level mage. However after draining Bai of his mana he peaked right back up. 

Bai Huya sighed as he sprawled out on the office chair completely exhausted. The chair was turned to face Liang Hui as he was fussing with the various jars and vials. He was organizing all of the pills that he had made and taking note of all of the ingredients that he needed to restock. The beastman sat mid break silently catching his breath and circulating his mana restoring his depleted mana stores. The corner of lips lifted slightly as he gazed at the little mage happily buzzing around. 

He couldn't help but chuckle at Wu Liang Hui's complete 180. When the mage heard his soft laugh though, his eyes sharpened. He dragged Bai to his feet, officially ending his short break. The beastman's smile grew wider. He just sighed, it was time to get back to work. Bai chuckled when the little mage rejected his kiss clearly in a mood for some reason. Bai shook his head at him as he dived back into Liang Hui, humans are so temperamental. He decided to get him something to cheer him up. He thought back to the time he spent with the king and how happy he was when the beastman brought half of his hunt to share with him. Maybe he should go out and hunt some birds….. wait even better fish. He seems to be fond of fish lately. A sinister smile crawled onto his face as he thrusted forward.