The world exploded into kaleidoscope madness barely thirty seconds after the pill hit my stomach.

  My mana pathways blazed turquoise—then died completely. The Bravery rune vanished like someone had ripped it from my soul. Even thinking about magic sent molten agony through my veins.

  "Doesn't your family make these?" I gasped, accepting Erik's hand up. The tavern spun like a carnival ride. "This one feels like liquid fire."

  "That's the ginseng." Erik's voice sounded distant, echoing. "I'm told it's hard to digest."

  Hard to digest? I felt like I'd swallowed a nuclear reactor.

  "Are you sure this was a healing pill?" My thoughts turned to sludge. The walls breathed. Colors bled into each other like watercolors in rain.

  "It's from my family's stores," Erik snapped. "Without a doubt."

  We hit the spiral stairs to Doreen's, and reality broke.

  The steps twisted into impossible geometries—Escher nightmares that folded in on themselves. Up became sideways. Down became through. I grabbed the railing as the world tilted forty-five degrees.

  "Ben?" Erik's voice came from everywhere and nowhere. "You alright?"

  I blinked. Erik loomed above me like a mountain. His neck tattoos writhed like living magma, pulsing with their own heartbeat.

  "Whoa. Your ink is insane up close," I slurred, then gravity reversed, and I pitched backward down the stairs.

  Erik caught me, slung me over his shoulder like a sack of grain, and took the steps six at a time. Or maybe sixty. Numbers had stopped meaning anything.

  "Put me down!" I laughed, the sound echoing strangely. "You're mixing me up like a cocktail!"

  My voice sounded like it was coming from underwater.

  Erik burst into Doreen's common room, me still draped over his shoulder like a trophy kill. Tables swam in and out of focus. Mismatched furniture danced a waltz.

  And there—standing on a table like an adorable general—was a tiny mouse woman.

  I needed to hug her. Right now. This was the most important thing that had ever happened.

  "Erik? Ben? What the fuck happened?" The blonde woman—Valkyrie? No, that was hard to say. Call her Pal. Much easier.

  "We sparred. I gave him a healing pill," Erik said, setting me down. "Then... this."

  "Hi Pal!" I waved enthusiastically. "You're very large!"

  The mouse woman bounded into my lap, tiny hands gripping my chin with surprising strength. Her eyes were fierce, worried, beautiful.

  "Is that fuckin' mana poisonin'?" She snarled, but her voice carried the warmth of an angry aunt.

  She was so soft. I had to hug her. HAD to.

  "Where'd you get the pill, Erik?" Pal demanded.

  "From our stores."

  "From home stores, not city stores, right, Erik?" Pal's voice carried a sharp edge.

  Erik hesitated. Both women's mouths gaped.

  Doreen threw her hands in the air. "Graceful fuckin' Gods, Erik, you gave him a Class-D healing pill. We need to—hrk!"

  I squeezed the mouse woman in the best hug ever. So soft! So warm and perfect!

  "You better not be fuckin' huggin' me, Ben," she hissed, voice razor-sharp.

  Huggin'? I was the Hugger! Who was this Ben person?

  Pain exploded through my skull. The chair tipped backward. I hit the floor hard enough to see stars.

  The mouse had kicked me. Apparently, she didn't appreciate being soft.

  "Someone get to the tower," Pal—no, Cass—was saying. "Post a bulletin. We need a healer if anyone's available."

  Oh right. Names. Cass. That was her name. The chair righted itself, and the mouse woman—Doreen—jumped back into my lap.

  "No fuckin' huggin', asshole," she jabbed a finger at my chest. "You've got mana seeping from your pores."

  I looked down. Sparkling multi-colored dust rose from my skin like glitter smoke.

  My stomach cramped. I doubled over, and what came out wasn't vomit—it was yellow slime mixed with that same multi-colored dust.

  "Are you fuckin'

  right now?!" Doreen shrieked, covered in magical bile. She ripped my wash kit free from my vest, squeezed the pink cleaning disc, and glared murder at me while the gunk slowly vanished. "You better make me something eye-watering for dessert tonight, ."

  The word hit like a slap. She threw my kit at my head.

  But the fog was lifting. Colors stopped bleeding. The world found its edges again.

  "What the hell is going on?" I asked.

  Everyone stared like I'd risen from the dead.

  "Ben?" Cass approached cautiously. "You're... good?"

  I rubbed my temples. Felt like someone had used my brain as a punching bag. "I wouldn't say good. I can't remember the last time I felt this sick. What was that thing?"

  Erik looked stricken. The stoic mask had cracked, revealing something raw underneath.

  "My dumbass brother gave you a Class-D healing pill," Cass said, shooting Erik a glare that could melt steel. "Those are designed for someone like Chas or Elena. It can damage your mana pathways—maybe even kill you. You should still be completely out of it."

  The door burst open. A bald, angular Carmintree man in hunter's gear rushed in, wearing a red cross insignia and one of those runic bracers. His French accent was thick as honey.

  "I was doing rounds when someone grabbed me. How long ago did he take the pill?"

  "Not long," Cass said, moving aside.

  The man's amber eyes locked onto mine with laser focus. "You are conscious? Magnifique! This is fascinating."

  His bracer erupted in light. Glyphs spun into formation as he placed his hand on my head. Coolness spread through my body, shifting my mana pathways back to their familiar blue.

  I sensed the rune beneath his palm. Not as potent as Diana’s healing magic I'd seen before, but... warmer. More personal.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "Compassion?" I asked.

  His amber eyes widened. "You have a good eye. Désolé, my name is Parloux. You are very lucky, Breaker. Very lucky indeed. This pill was just on the edge of what your body could handle, and it absorbed most of the excess. Your mana will be sluggish for a few days, but that's because your pathways need to catch up to what's in them."

  I could feel it—mana flowing like thick honey—but there was so much more of it. My reserves had more than doubled.

  Cass shook her head. "You're telling me he actually absorbed it? That can’t be a Terran thing?"

  "Truly fascinating!"

  The entire room turned. A small white mouse woman stood in the common area—Lana, but dressed in an adorable red and blue hanfu robe instead of her usual gear. With her goggles still perched on her eyes as she approached, scribbling furiously.

  Doreen burst out laughing. "What the fuck are you wearing?"

  "Diana insists I wear formal attire to show my sincerity," Lana replied icily. "She really enjoys dressing people up. We can discuss my clothes later." Her tone shifted to pure science mode. "Ben, you survived? Faster than expected, residual mana being expressed, cognition restored. Excellent work, Parloux."

  "He was already doing it when I arrived. I simply helped him along."

  Lana stopped scribbling, flipped a page. "Natural mana expression? Tell me, Ben. Did you feel disconnected from reality? Out of character?"

  "He fuckin' hugged me," Doreen spat.

  "And barfed on her," Cass added.

  That broke Lana's scientific composure. She dissolved into schoolgirl giggles—a sound so unexpected it made her seem almost human.

  "I think so," I said. "I couldn't remember who anyone was, or even where I was."

  "Fascinating," Lana managed between giggles. "It seems your body can withstand quite a lot of life-aspected mana with minimal side effects."

  "Aspected mana?" I frowned.

  "Mana that has been put to purpose," Doreen explained. "A healing pill contains mana from different compounds, all focused on healing. But since there was way too much of it, there was nowhere for it to go. Normally that means shoving as much into your reserves as your body can take, with... adverse effects."

  "Like my mind going foggy?"

  "Like becoming a monster," Lana said casually.

  I choked on my breath. "Monster?"

  "The lack of memories, the disconnection," she continued matter-of-factly. "Classic signs of a mana beast metamorphosis."

  A monster? I'd felt drunk, not monstrous. Even in that haze, I'd recognized friends from enemies.

  "It's complicated," Cass said, helping me stand. "Mana beasts consume aspected mana, become monsters, and we hunt them."

  "And healing pills can do that?"

  "Non, but the effects of mana poisoning are similar," Parloux explained. "People don’t become monsters, but at such levels it is a deadly poison for a body that cannot process it. You either somehow absorbed the aspected mana or cleansed it."

  "It doesn't feel any different," I said, reaching for the Bravery rune.

  The aura exploded outward.

  But this time, it was intense. I sensed everything—Erik's wounded shoulder; the bruise forming on his chest—I knew I got him. A hunter at a plate of breakfast had a cleanly cut forearm, nearly healed. Cass favored a sprained ankle.

  And underneath it all, a new concept bloomed in my mind.

  Compassion

  Rescuing injured animals. Volunteering in disaster zones. Forgiving those who'd hurt you. My mom's comfort when I was rejected from university.

  The runic concept slotted into Bravery like a missing puzzle piece, forming something that felt incredibly familiar.

  "That's a new spell," I murmured.

  Royal blue energy—almost purple—flooded my pathways. Mana vaporized in massive quantities. A tugging sensation filled my chest, and pockets of azure energy flashed around me before fading.

  I slumped back into my chair, suddenly aware everyone was staring. Erik looked genuinely worried.

  "An affinity?" Came a familiar voice from the doorway. "Seriously impressive, man. In just a few days, too."

  Felix stood there in simple green robes, a wide belt at his waist, bracer gleaming. But something had changed. Where he'd once been laid back, now he carried himself with quiet authority—like a sword barely sheathed.

  "Congrats on the Seal," I said.

  "Congrats on finding an affinity; you’ll be in the Academy in no time." He grinned, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I wanted to catch you before I head out. The boat's waiting."

  Hunters greeted him with backslaps and calls of "Good man!" and "Knew you'd make it!" He pulled me into a quick hug.

  "I have to go—the boat leaves in just a few minutes. Pass the exam, Ben. I'll see you in a couple of months."

  "What if I fail?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.

  "Then I'll see you in five months when you pass the next one." That knowing smile again. "I hear you've been hanging out at a bakery instead of training. At least take a job—get a taste of what you're in for. If it's not for you, well, you know where Katie's is. I'll come visit."

  His words hit harder than Erik's punch. Was I avoiding my new life? Hiding in the familiar comfort of baking while this world offered adventures beyond imagination?

  It had really only been a few days.

  "You're right," I nodded. "See you in two months."

  Felix gave quick farewells, though he seemed to avoid looking at Cass. "I'm not gone for good, guys. I'll be back before you know it."

  Had he really stopped by just to see me? Maybe I'd actually made a friend.

  After he left, silence fell over our group. Even Doreen had excused herself to change clothes. Lana scribbled notes frantically, whiskers twitching with scientific excitement.

  "Fascinating, fascinating!" she muttered. "Four days and a Seal Candidate. A true anomaly. So many tests—I need to develop more tests! But—oh! I'll miss my boat!"

  She spun and dashed out, Parloux following with professional farewells.

  I glanced at Cass and Erik, their expressions unreadable. Something heavy hung in the air between us.

  "You two look like you have things to say. Come on, let's head to the kitchen—I'm starving."

  Despite everything, I felt oddly energized. My mana reserves were practically drained, yet I moved with newfound lightness. Maybe it was Felix's visit, the healing pill, or the compassion rune—whatever it was, I felt ready for anything.

  I grabbed buns, sausages, and cheese scraps, tossing some to Cass. "We have that reading appointment, right? Let's talk on the way."

  In the alley, I set down a water bowl for Red and any other mana beasts who might visit. We headed toward Cyrus's shop, and I could feel the weight of unspoken words.

  "Ben, I..."

  "Ben..."

  They both spoke at once. I laughed. "It's been a weird morning. Erik, you first."

  He hesitated, then pulled his shirt over his head, revealing bandages beneath intricate tattoos.

  "Yeah, yeah, we get it—you're ripped," I smirked. Cass chuckled.

  Erik unwrapped the bandages, exposing a small scar where the Brine Tyrant had broken through his armor. His gaze was deadly serious.

  "You... healed me," he said slowly, testing the words. "You saved my life the other night and now healed my wounds. For all my experience, I don't know if I can pay you back. Instead..." His deep voice almost cracked. “My actions almost led to your death.”

  "I healed you?" I stared at my hands. "Don't ask me how."

  "And my ankle," Cass added softly. "Twisted it this morning."

  I reached for Bravery—still there. But the Compassion rune? Gone.

  "Someone want to explain what an affinity is?"

  "It means your Bravery spell is compatible with Compassion as a Seal," Erik said. "Though, don’t ask me to even speculate on what kind of magic that would be…"

  Whatever had happened at Doreen's, I couldn't feel it anymore—like a fading dream. And I wasn't eager to test it with another pill.

  "Well, whatever it was, it's gone now. And look, clearly not dead, Erik. I learned a lot from you today." I gestured at him. "You're an Adept, right?"

  "I'm not as far along as you think," Erik admitted, his stoic mask slipping.

  Cass's voice went tight. "Neither of us are. Erik's barely an Adept. He was at Felix's level just last month, before the attack. And you—you're advancing so fast, Ben. You're even going to leave me behind."

  Her voice quieted on the last words. For the first time, I saw genuine vulnerability in her eyes. It made my stomach twist.

  "Cass, come on, that's impossible. I was on Earth last week. Mana was just a story until I got here. I don't even know what this city fully looks like yet."

  "You fight like the Vildar do," Erik said, studying me with quiet intensity. "Your Bravery rune... it reminds me of Chas, but it's different. Like it... wants to be seen. Did you train like that back on Terra?"

  I threw up my hands. "Not like what we just did! I just practiced twice a week. You're a Monster Hunter, Erik. You grew up with mana, magic, and monsters."

  "No one I know can turn a lantern orb into a bomb," he said. "They hold only light."

  "Yes!" I groaned. "Like the sun!"

  Cass looked bewildered. "You can harness the power of the sun?"

  "Not the sun—the light, the heat. Heat is light. I learned that at school as a kid. It's... science. Like starting a fire with a magnifying glass."

  Erik looked puzzled, but something clicked in Cass's expression.

  "You mentioned science before. You learned that from… schools? Like the Academy?"

  "Yeah. I spent more than half my life in school, including college—books, teachers, experiments. It's how we learn things on Earth."

  Erik's eyebrows shot up. "Like Sylvarus? I studied there for a year. You've been learning at that level for half your life?" He shook his head. "That would drive me insane."

  Only a year? The culture shock hit me hard. Here, they wielded power beyond Earth's wildest dreams, yet lacked the structured education I'd taken for granted.

  "Do you not have... schools?" I asked carefully.

  Cass flushed as passersby gave us curious looks. "We do. But we don't start as kids. That's... strange. Maybe that's why you recognize so many runes—Felix was right; you'd make a great Arcanist."

  At Cyrus's shop, Erik excused himself to browse while Cyrus led us through bookshelves and upstairs to a level lined with small, cozy rooms. Marble tables, plush seating, the scent of old books and expensive herbs.

  Our room was at the end of the hall. As the door opened, I saw Diana inside, flipping through a massive tome. Stanley perched beside her like a feathered sentinel.

  Diana looked up with a predatory smile that meant trouble.

  "Oh good, you're early." Her grin widened. "I've already spent all your money."

  Stanley let out a cheerful chirp, hopping onto her head like a self-satisfied crown.

  I didn't know which was more terrifying—Diana's smirk or the smug little bird staring me down like he knew exactly what financial doom awaited me.