The adrenaline was finally fading, replaced by the profound, unsettling symptoms of mana poisoning. Adam slumped against the smoldering earth, the vibrant world around him now a dizzying, sickly kaleidoscope. The notion of trekking a kilometer for a potion felt like an impossible feat.
"A Mana Stabilizer Potion… is it the only way, Lyra?" he rasped, his voice thin.
Lyra's response was immediate. "It is the most efficient and rapid solution for acute mana poisoning. However, there are alternative methods of mana regulation. They are far more complex and require a high degree of innate talent and understanding of mana flow."
As Lyra spoke, a faint memory, a flicker from his old life, ignited in Adam's mind. He'd been researching ancient spiritual practices before his transmigration, a desperate grasp at anything to bring meaning back to his fractured world.
"Chi," he muttered, the word a whisper. "In my old world… some ancient traditions spoke of Chi, a life force, a way to connect the body with the surrounding energy. Could mana be similar? Could I… could I regulate it myself?"
A pause. This time, Lyra's silence wasn't due to computational speed, but perhaps to the unexpected nature of his question. "An intriguing hypothesis, Adam. While 'Chi' is not a term recognized in this world's magical lexicon, the principles you describe resonate with extremely advanced and often esoteric mana control techniques. Such knowledge is usually guarded by ancient orders or lost to time. However, as I possess a comprehensive database, I can cross-reference the concepts."
Unlocking Ancient Knowledge
Lyra's virtual mind began to whir, sifting through millions of data points, ancient texts, forgotten scrolls, and whispered legends. "I have found parallels," she finally announced, her voice filled with a newfound academic enthusiasm. "Certain isolated sects practiced what they termed 'Aura Harmonization' or 'Elemental Weaving' – techniques that involve consciously drawing in external mana and expelling excess, or even binding it within the body. These are not 'skills' as this world defines them, but a deeper physiological and spiritual mastery."
"The core principle involves mindful breathing and visualizing the mana as a flowing current within and around you," Lyra instructed, her voice softening, guiding him.
"Focus on your inhales, Adam. Draw in the fresh, ambient mana of this world. Feel it entering your lungs, permeating your bloodstream. Now, on the exhale, visualize the excess, the harmful mana, being expelled from your body, like a dark mist leaving you."
Adam closed his eyes, forcing himself to ignore the throbbing in his head and the nausea. He focused on Lyra's calm voice, on the simple rhythm of his breathing. He imagined the vibrant, clean mana flowing in, like cool water washing through him. And then, as he exhaled, he pictured the sickly, overwhelming mana, tainted by the Gloomfang's power, being pushed out.
At first, nothing. Just the burning in his lungs and the frantic beat of his heart. But he persisted, desperate. After several minutes, a subtle shift occurred. The intense throbbing in his head lessened. The nauseous churn in his stomach subsided. The overwhelming colors of the mana-rich environment began to recede, replaced by a clarity he hadn't experienced since arriving.
The Gift of Mana Vision
As he continued the focused breathing, something profound happened. He felt a click in his mind, a new sense awakening. He opened his eyes, and the world had transformed again.
He could see it. Not just the physical forms of trees and rocks, but the shimmering, ethereal currents of mana that permeated everything. The very air around him pulsed with faint, vibrant threads. The ground beneath his hands hummed with energy. He could see the residual, toxic mana clinging to the Gloomfang's corpse, a dark, sickly aura that slowly dissipated. He could even see the faint, healthy mana signatures of the nearby flora, a soft green glow emanating from the leaves.
"Incredible, Adam!" Lyra exclaimed, a rare note of genuine awe in her usually analytical voice. "You didn't just regulate the mana; you've unlocked a basic form of Mana Vision! This is an extremely rare innate talent, one that even many seasoned mages never fully develop. It suggests an extraordinary natural attunement to mana, despite your initial un-attuned state."
Adam stared, mesmerized. He could see the faint, swirling eddies of mana, like invisible currents in a vast ocean. The mana poisoning was receding, the symptoms easing, replaced by a strange clarity and a heightened awareness of his new reality. He was still in danger, still alone, but now he had a new sense, a profound understanding of the very energy that shaped this world. He was no longer just a struggling student; he was something more.