The morning sun rose over the dusty plains, glinting off the ruins of last night's battle.
Rowan sat on the back of their wagon, tightening the strap on his revolver while Lynx—now in her smaller fox form—slept curled beside him.
Cass stood up front, reins in one hand, the other flipping through a tattered bounty poster. "Let's see… the guild's offering a thousand gold pieces for a Howler Beast head. Big fella, lives out by the canyon."
Rowan groaned. "Last time you said that, it was a flock of them."
"Yeah, but this time I'm confident."
"You said that too."
Cass ignored him, flicking the reins. "Come on, partner. Gold's not gonna hunt itself. And Lynx's gotta eat."
From the back, Lynx's tail twitched. "I heard that."
---
They reached the canyon by noon. Cracked rocks, broken bones, and scorch marks painted the landscape.
Rowan could feel it—thick mana in the air, the kind that made his veins tingle.
"This place reeks of it," he muttered.
"Yup," Cass said, loading his gun. "Beasts like the Howler feed on wild mana. Their hearts grow crystals full of it. Good money if you don't die getting one."
Rowan checked his revolver. "And you think I'm ready?"
Cass smirked. "That's what we're here to find out. Lesson five, kid: channeling."
He picked up a random rock and tossed it to Rowan. "Focus your mana into that."
Rowan stared. "…A rock?"
"Yeah, it's the safest thing you won't blow up. Now listen: beginners can't shape mana directly—it's too unstable. So we channel it through objects. Think of the rock as a container. Breathe your mana in… let it flow."
Rowan focused, the glow starting in his hand. The rock shimmered faintly—then cracked apart with a small pop.
Cass winced. "Close enough."
"Close enough?"
"You didn't explode this time, that's progress!"
Before Rowan could retort, a low growl echoed across the canyon.
The ground trembled.
Lynx's ears perked. "It's coming."
From the shadows emerged a Howler Beast—a massive wolf-like creature with bone armor and glowing orange eyes. Mana bled from its fangs like mist.
Cass whistled. "There's our payday."
The beast roared, shattering rocks.
"Alright," Cass said, drawing his guns. "Time to put theory into practice."
He fired first—silver bullets flaring with Bound Mana. The shots pierced the creature's armor but didn't slow it down much.
Rowan took aim beside him, trying to focus his mana into the revolver like Cass taught. "Guide it, don't force it," he muttered.
The chamber glowed blue, his pulse syncing—
Then he fired.
The bullet whistled through the air and hit the beast's leg, bursting into a wave of blue sparks. The Howler stumbled, howling in rage.
Lynx darted forward, shifting into her humanoid form mid-run. Her tails flared as she slashed, drawing a line of silver flame across the creature's chest.
"Rowan! Its core!" Cass shouted.
Rowan steadied his breath, aimed again, and fired straight into the beast's open maw.
The explosion sent a shockwave through the canyon. When the dust cleared, the Howler lay still—its body steaming.
Rowan collapsed onto one knee, breathing hard. "That… felt different."
Cass grinned. "You didn't just shoot mana this time—you channeled it. That's how it's done."
He knelt beside the corpse, pulling a glowing crystal from its chest. "And that's our rent for the week."
Rowan smirked faintly. "Rent, huh? You mean food."
Cass shrugged. "Same thing."
Lynx walked past them, tail flicking. "At least you're improving. Maybe you'll stop smelling like burnt mana soon."
Rowan groaned. "Thanks for the encouragement."
Cass patted his shoulder. "Lesson six, kid—mana can be your best weapon or your funeral pyre. You learn to respect it, or it'll bury you."
---
⚙️ Power System Update:
Channeling: Beginners guide mana through an object (weapons, stones, charms) to stabilize it before release.
Shaping: Advanced users can control and form mana directly—creating blades, shields, or raw energy constructs. Extremely rare and dangerous.
Mana Crystals: Formed in beasts that absorb too much ambient mana. Harvested and refined for Bound Mana rounds or enchantments.