Modak rushed back into the workshop, where Silvia was waiting. She was drawing henna onto her hand as well, just having fun with it and drawing some cute patterns.

  "So... why did you run out just now?" she asked, and Modak just grinned broadly as he sat back down on his stool.

  "Okay, basically, I heard Runar talk about the nature of runes, and apparently there's some kind of inherent language or pattern within all mana. We already knew that to an extent, but Runar apparently never published his dissertation on the actual language that's hidden in mana."

  "... And how does that help you? I mean, if we know that spells happen if you place mana into specific patterns, then why are the runes something so special?"

  Modak laughed a bit, "Well, this isn't something like a breakthrough, it just helps me a lot. A while ago, to help me out with my engineering, Runar gave me a list of all the runes that he knows exist and what the modification of strokes changes about them. If this is due to something inherent within mana, rather than a meaning that we place into the runes, then there is a pattern behind it. And if there is a pattern behind it, you can read that pattern. My guess is that these runes just so happened to fit well into that pattern, not necessarily that this is a true language the way that we understand it. However if we use this as a base and can run some algorithms to not just draw these runes but also figure out their effect, then we have hundreds of samples to help us figure out all these hidden patterns in mana."

  Silvia listened closely to the orc in front of her, smiling as she did. She still didn't quite get it, but she had a slight guess about what he meant, "So... you can make things more efficient?"

  "Yes! Much, much more efficient! Runes are also a great way to just keep testing out my mana writer. It can only write small lines so far, but I should be able to power it up enough so that it can write some of the simpler runes."

  "Neat! But before then, don't forget what we've been doing with..." Silvia vaguely gestured at Modak as a whole, "All of that."

  "Hm?" the orc looked down at himself, "Oh shit, yeah you're totally right, sorry! Where were we?"

  "You were about to explain to me why you wanted me to draw the henna like that."

  "Right, of course," Modak looked down at his chest, starting to follow the lines with his finger. Of course, without touching the paint itself, "So, I asked you to draw the henna to pull in mana and push it to these specific points. These are central places within my aura network."

  "And you aura network is..?"

  "Oh shit, did I forget to explain it to you? I was able to reorder my aura channels into circuit-like patterns, with each of the concentrated focal points being where I can slightly alter the aura flowing through it. Either I can change a small variable, or I can add a process into the larger concentration points, like a function in a program. Last night, I basically created a program in me to copy the effect of any magic that I ingest, which is how I was able to detoxify my blood and sober up a little."

  Silvia stared at the orc in disbelief, "Excuse me? You did... what? What, did you change yourself into some kind of robot?"

  "Not robot, I still have the same body as before. I'm more like a bio-computer," Modak said with a smug grin. Silvia thought for a moment, before she seemed to realise what was going on.

  "Oh! And you wanted me to make these so that you can use this... aura network to funnel mana through your body? So that you can use magic after all?"

  Modak slowly shook his head, though it was an uncertain shake, "No? Not directly? I was definitely considering that, and I still might, but right now I'm just trying to use the mana to further manipulate my aura. In their basic state, aura and mana reject each other, like two magnets. So, by forcing some mana into my body in specific points, I'm able to make mana accelerate or simply circumvent certain channels that I want to use in other ways," he explained, "I'm probably going to give what you just said a try, but for that I need to understand spellcasting without intent a bit better. Because what I'll be doing is basically that. It's not going to be my mana, so I can't imbue my intent into it."

  "Right, of course. Because you don't want to..."

  "... blow myself up, exactly." The two nodded in agreement, and Modak continued. "Anyway, right now, I'm using the mana to block specific channels and stop my aura from 'leaking' over into areas where I don't want it."

  "Okay... and... what exactly are you doing with that aura network right now?"

  "Hm?"

  "You said you have different functions and processes in there, so what are you actually doing right now?"

  Modak continued smiling, "I'm working on a basic 'physical boost' right now. One of the most basic aura techniques."

  "And is it working?"

  The orc stood up and walked over to the corner of the room, where Gregor's materials were sitting. There was one large metal box that the robot had made from salvaged materials so that he could just take what he needed from it. Modak grabbed at the grooves on the side, trying to pick the box up, but he couldn't do more than slightly lift it off the ground.

  "Right now... it's off..." he explained, but then manipulated his aura to flip a 'switch' in his heart. The moment he did, aura started flowing through his body and Modak could feel himself grow stronger almost instantly. It was like the box just suddenly became far lighter, and he was carrying it with ease now. "And now it's on."

  Silvia stood up, smiling broadly, "Whoa, that's really cool! And it's just passive now?"

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "I guess? I don't have to actively manipulate my aura. I'm basically simulating skills right now," the orc grinned smugly, "It's sick, right?"

  "That's one way to say it," in the doorway of the workshop stood Runar, staring at the orc, "I was just about to leave, when I overhear you say something crazy like that."

  Modak turned toward him, startled, "Hm?"

  "Now it's my turn to ask you to explain. In extreme detail, please."

  Ryan slashed through the air with the dagger in his hand. This was finally the last of the weapons.

  He spent more than two weeks on this crap. Sure, he managed to get through one a day, but it was still sixteen days of nothing but... this.

  It wasn't even like time had stopped for his body. Sure, he managed to get himself cleaned up in the river every day, but that was still without any proper soap or shampoo. He usually shaved fairly often to get rid of the stubble, but right now, he had grown a proper beard. Ryan had never seen himself with this much facial hair, so he was actually pretty curious. He didn't have a mirror here, though.

  [9.951 / 10.000 - Dagger]

  "So close," Ryan groaned loudly, continuing on and on. Seriously, he was lucky that he had Tiar, because without a symbiote, he would have the worst sore muscles in the world right around now. Doing this for so long every day was fucking insane.

  "It's been... sixteen days in here, so... one and a half days for the spirits, and... maybe more than half a day for the others... I might get out of here before midnight, hah," Ryan scoffed slightly, continuing to slash through the air with the dagger.

  It didn't take that much longer until Ryan, despite his shaking arms and legs, finally managed to finish it.

  [10.000 / 10.000 - Dagger]

  [You have completed the Trial of Martial Knowledge!]

  [Your understanding of Maximus the Knight has increased considerably]

  [Your understanding of the -Knight's Martial Knowledge- Skill has increased considerably]

  [You can now use a portion of the effects of the -Knight's Martial Knowledge- Skill]

  Ryan stared at the message in disbelief. What? He could use the skill now? What the hell was that supposed to-

  Before Ryan could finish the thought, he felt that same deep disorientation that he experienced two weeks ago, finding himself back in front of the small campfire and tent setup. The smooth white ground with some blades of grass intruding toward were he was standing. That calming silence, soon filled with the sound of footsteps.

  Ryan turned around, seeing a certain harlequin jumping at him. With a smile, Ryan accepted the hug, more than just happy. It had been a while since he was without these guys, "I've missed you all, too."

  The other spirits beside Jester soon came to his side as well, happily greeting him. Ryan quickly filled them in on what the trial was, and then turned toward Maximus, "You saw that message as well, right? All the notifications were the colour of your mana, so you must have."

  The knight slowly nodded his head, walking over to the tent. Ryan's clothes and everything he had on him when he came here was neatly folded inside. Maximus picked up the horn of shapeless water and handed it to Ryan.

  He didn't even have to ask what the knight meant, and quickly formed a simple sword out of ice. Almost immediately, Ryan felt a sort of confidence in what to do that he hadn't felt before. It wasn't exactly 'knowledge', but more of an instinct. And at this point, Ryan was used to following his instincts. He cut through the air in front of him, moving forward step by step as if fighting an imaginary opponent.

  Of course, Ryan had plenty of experience training with Maximus so far, but this was at a completely different level. He was being allowed to take on part of the spirits' abilities himself.

  "Fuck, are you serious? Is this what was supposed to happen for Spirit Keepers?" he asked with a wry, crooked smile on his face, "And because the Administrator was killed, that just never happened?"

  With a loud groan, Ryan let the sword of ice crumble away. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to figure out what he should do next, when a few new messages popped up.

  [As you have completed a trial, you are free to leave]

  [If you do not return to attempt another trial within -7 Days- the Administrator's Trials will permanently close their doors to you]

  That was a relief. Sure, that he had to do this once a week was a bit annoying, but it should be fine. He should be fine. It meant that he could just chill for a while.

  A door appeared toward the edge of this white space. It was the same door that he came here through.

  "Okay guys, let's go, I really want to sleep in my bed," Ryan stretched a bit, though before he left, he was stopped by the spirits. Morgana specifically held forward a small coin that she was holding in her hand, and then pointed at the tree of blessing.

  With a slight frown, Ryan looked over, "What? What do you want me to do with this?"

  Morgana immediately shook her head, floating over to the tree. She placed her hand onto it and seemed to pour her mana inside. A few moments later, she pointed upward at the leaves. Something was changing there. Something was... growing.

  Soon, a small coin dropped from the branches, and Ryan understood what this was.

  "Is this the currency to buy things in the shop? How much MP did you have to use for this?"

  Morgana held forward her hand with splayed fingers.

  "Five MP? Does it work with AP as well?" he asked, looking at Violette. She quickly nodded her head, showing her own handful of coins.

  Ryan climbed over the path of stones toward the tree, putting his own hand onto it. Her poured some mana inside, around five MP worth, and... five coins rained from the tree.

  "It drops more for me," he pointed out, leaning down to grab the coins. Though, they looked a bit... weird. The one that dropped from morgana's mana had different symbols on each side, seeming pretty 'witchy' in vibe. A magic circle on one side, and a witch's broom on the other.

  It seemed like the coins from the others were similarly fashioned for them.

  Again, Ryan groaned, "Okay, I think I get it. You guys have your own currencies to buy stuff, but I don't. Because my mana is... blank. So my coins are also blank. I'm going to guess that I can use them to supplement your guys' purchases."

  Morgana looked at him surprised, and Ryan just shrugged, "I've had a lot of time to think about how the shop was going to work, okay? Listen, can we try this out later? This will probably work the same way in my head as it does here, so please... I just want to sleep."

  The exhausted Ryan grabbed his things and walked toward the door. Though, before he left, he realised something important.

  The clothes that he was wearing in the trial weren't brought back with him. He was completely and utterly naked right now.

  "... Whatever."

  He put on his trousers and stepped toward the door.

  "Are you guys ready? I'll summon you once I'm upstairs again, yeah?"

  The spirits quickly agreed, and Ryan walked out of the door. It was once again disorienting, but soon, he calmed himself down a bit and realised that the spirits were back in their domains inside of Ryan's head.

  "Nice, okay."

  He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and walked out of the titan's skull, making his way toward the elevator.

  It rode up into his bedroom, where he put down his stuff and, as promised, summoned the spirits. He quickly changed into some joggers, because his regular trousers were too uncomfortable to sleep in, and then walked out of his room and headed downstairs into the living room. With a yawn, he went to the kitchen and grabbed himself a glass of water, then stepped into the living room, where everyone else was sitting, eating take-out dinner on the couch.

  "Yo." Ryan waved at them, taking a sip of water, "I'm back."