Bloom

Time really blurs together into a long stream down here in the mid-levels. The only reason I know we are in the mid-level of the dungeon is the three Adventuring parties that made it down this deep.

Well…two now, but they really shouldn’t have tried to eat me. I didn’t even really do anything, the White Flameshield I had up reacted badly with the corrosive fog their meanest mage summoned. There was a sharp crack, a boom, a flash, and one less party to hunt innocent red floating tree.

However, now I’m in a bit of a dilemma.

See the party was mostly dead. That’s a long way from all the way dead.

A single female mage, the one that was recommending not to attack me, is partially dead at my feet at the moment.

I’m on the cusp here of a difficult decision.

I know I’m not human anymore.

I’m not.

Yet, I find it incredibly hard to just kill another humanoid like I would, say…a Giant Spider.

There’s just something that feels…off about it.

Well, what the hell.

I mean, maybe it will be good to have a second person to talk to around here.

-328 Mana. White Mana Flame has been casted.

If I had a forehead I’d be wiping the sweat from it right now.

See, it’s tricky healing with fire.

-5 Mana. Cost of maintaining White Mana Flame reduced by 1.

Inherent Mana Manipulation allows me to cheat reality in really interesting ways.

-4 Mana. Cost of maintaining White Mana Flame reduced by 1.

Currently, the mana flames are purifying the wounded body, while the pure mana is being used to regenerate cells. The mana provides energy for the body, similar to what food would, allowing rapid regeneration.

-3 Mana. Cost of maintaining White Mana Flame reduced by 1.

I admit, the effects are working much better than I thought they would. Although, the resulting scars will definitely make the young lady stand out. Tissue, veins, bones, or really anything that the pure mana I’m using touches glows radioactive green.

-2 Mana. Cost of maintaining White Mana Flame reduced by 1.

A good 35% of this young lady will quite possibly glow for the rest of her life.

-1 Mana. Cost of maintaining White Mana Flame reduced by 1.

At least she’ll save on lighting expenses.

White Mana Flames have mutated into Truefire Domain. Cost of using Domain is 0 Mana within 1 ft.

Whew. Done, finally.

That felt like forever!

According to my recent Experiment #24 though it was only two years?!Perhaps this clock is wrong?

Rustle.

What the hell! Why didn’t you bother to mention anything to me about the time?

The heck is Truefire Domain, let's experim-

OH GOD PUT IT OUT, PUT IT OUT NOW.

Ruustle.

That is NOT true, I wasn’t yelling at you for interrupting me during the last experiment. I was yelling at you for distracting me so badly I lit half our branches on fire. And where were you on stopping me from almost incinerating us a second ago huh? Nowhere!

Rustle.

I damn well was concentrating, it is not my fault you were screaming ‘NAKED WOMEN GET THEM WHILE THEY’RE HOT’ loud enough to wake the dead last time.

This time was even worse, you can't undress a woman right in front of me with air manipulation when I'm trying out something lethally named 'Truefire Domain'.

Rustlee.

Just because it worked, does NOT mean it was ok. I can barely control it now, sheesh.

“[email protected]^^!$#^%@?”

Great, she doesn’t speak Aboreal. What idiot goes into a dungeon with something nicknamed the Flaming Red Tree of Death inside without bothering to learn Aboreal?

Rustle.

…seriously? Our mother tongue is so ancient only Elves speak it?

Tsk.

Alright, we’ll start Experiment #25 then now.

Teaching a Beast-Kin Mage the language of the Forest.