Rowen's eyes drifted from the newly built shed to the pale scroll hovering before him. Unlike the construction blueprint, this one gleamed with a soft white light, almost pure, almost sacred. He instinctively knew it was different.
Fern's gaze followed his. "That one isn't for building. That is the foundation of your strength. The Mana Absorption Technique."
Rowen reached out, the scroll floating into his palm with a weightless touch. His heartbeat quickened.
The blueprints and fertile land were valuable, but this—this was the chance to step onto the path that others had already begun. Knights, mages, tamers… all of them were awakened through methods he had never possessed. Yet now, in this hidden space, Rowen held something even better than what the outside world could offer.
Rowen held the white scroll carefully, its soft glow reflecting in his eyes. After a moment, he glanced at Fern. "How do I use this one?" he asked, his voice low but steady.
Fern floated closer, his expression calm. "Unlike the construction scroll, this isn't tied to the space. This is knowledge meant for you alone. You don't place it on the ground—you activate it by accepting it into your mind."
Rowen frowned. "Into my mind?"
Fern nodded. "Yes. Simply hold it in your hands and will it to open. The scroll will dissolve, and the technique will etch itself into your consciousness. But be warned—the pain can be sharp. Your body is not used to channeling mana yet."
Rowen tightened his grip on the glowing parchment. A technique better than anything the outside world could offer, one that could make even a farmer like him into someone strong… He swallowed, his heart pounding faster.
Rowen drew in a steady breath and held the white scroll tightly in both hands. "Alright… Let's do this."
He willed it to activate. The scroll shimmered once, then dissolved into a burst of faint light that rushed straight into his forehead.
Rowen staggered back a step, clutching at his chest as a flood of information imprinted itself into his mind—an intricate pattern of breathing, circulation routes, and how to draw mana from the world into the body.
He sat cross-legged on the ground and tried to follow the method. At first, nothing happened. Then, faint threads of mana from the surrounding air began to gather toward him.
The moment they entered his body, pain exploded through his veins. "Gh—!" Rowen bit down hard, sweat breaking across his forehead. It felt like knives scraping through narrow tunnels inside him. His body's natural channels were clogged, blocked, and refusing to let mana flow freely.
But the technique kept pulling, forcing the energy to push deeper. The mana acted like water trying to break a dam, grinding against the obstructions, clearing them bit by bit.
Rowen's teeth clenched so hard his jaw ached, but he didn't stop. He could feel the truth of it—the technique was working. Even though he had no natural talent, with this method he could still draw mana into his body.
For the first time, the impossible was within reach.
Rowen clenched his fists tighter, forcing the mana to continue its path. The pain intensified, and for a moment, he thought he might collapse. Then, slowly, faint threads of energy began to circulate smoothly through his arms, legs, and torso.
A wet, sticky black substance oozed from his skin, tracing along the veins and disappearing into the soil beneath him. It was the residue of the blocked channels, the body's impurities being forced out by the mana flow.
Rowen gasped, sweat mixing with the dark streaks across his face and arms. The pain lessened, replaced by a warm, vibrant energy coursing through him. He opened his eyes and flexed his fingers, astonished at the feeling. His body was lighter, faster, and strangely stronger than before. He could feel the energy of the world—not just in the space around him, but inside him, ready to be drawn on.
Fern hovered nearby, observing with a faint grin. "You did it," he said. "Your body accepted the flow. The substance… it's the residue of what was blocking your channels. That's normal for someone without natural talent."
Rowen nodded slowly, still panting, the sticky black streaks drying into the soil beneath him. "So… now I can absorb mana whenever I want?" he asked, flexing his arms experimentally.
"Yes," Fern replied. "And with practice, you'll be able to convert it into spells, strengthen your body, and even form contracts with creatures if needed. This is only the beginning."
A fierce spark lit Rowen's eyes. For the first time, he truly felt that he was no longer just a farmer, no longer powerless. The world's mana was within reach—and he would master it.
After catching his breath, Rowen let his hands hover in front of him and summoned the familiar translucent screen. A new panel flickered into existence; this time it was his status panel.
[Status – Personal]
Name: Rowen
Race: Human
Path: Farmer – Pick Apprentice (Independent Space Level 2)
Skills Unlocked: Mana Absorption (Beginner)
Additional Paths Available: Mage, Knight, Tamer
soul link : active
Contracted Sprite: fern sprite of growth.
He could see his current path, his progress as a farmer, and even the potential to branch into mage, knight, or tamer in the future.
The additional lines hinted at possibilities he hadn't dared to imagine before. With the independent space upgraded, his crops would grow faster, their quality improved beyond what the outside world could offer. And now, with the Mana Absorption Technique, he could finally cultivate power like others, using mana to strengthen himself, learn new techniques, or even form contracts with creatures.
Rowen clenched his fists, feeling the pulse of energy inside him. "So… I can now grow stronger, not just through farming, but by training myself. And I can explore these other paths too…"
The screen shimmered softly as he studied it, each line a promise of the future, each number a challenge waiting to be met. The path ahead was no longer just about vegetables or mana stones—it was about power, control, and shaping his own destiny.
Rowen blinked at the fading panel until it vanished from view. He exhaled slowly, his body still buzzing with the faint hum of mana.
But then his stomach growled loudly.
He glanced up, realizing the light in the space had shifted. Though the portal realm didn't follow the outside sun exactly, it had been hours since he'd come in—outside, it would already be past 7:30 p.m.
"…I forgot about dinner," Rowen muttered, rubbing his stomach.
A small chirp sounded beside him. Fern floated in a lazy circle, arms folded over his round belly. "I was about to say it myself. I'm starving."
Rowen gave a tired laugh. "Fine. Let's call it a day."
Before leaving, he walked over to the rows of crops. The vegetables had already ripened under the accelerated growth of the upgraded space. He carefully picked the mature ones and stacked them inside the new shed, the wooden walls glowing faintly with stored mana. Only after making sure everything was in order did he step toward the exit.
The shimmering portal rippled, and in the next breath, Rowen was back from the portal.
He slipped into his shop through the back door.
A sleek black cat with bright yellow eyes stretched near the back door. Shade, the newest addition to his odd little family, flicked her tail before brushing against his leg.
"You too, huh?" Rowen bent to scratch behind her ears. Fern floated out of the portal after him, landing lightly beside Shade. The sprite gave her a sharp look, but the cat only yawned, clearly unbothered.
Rowen chuckled. "Alright, alright. Let's eat first."
He ordered himself a simple dinner from the small food service he often used.
By the time the warm meal arrived, Fern was already sprawled lazily on the counter. Rowen ate quickly, hunger dulling his thoughts, and Fern nibbled happily on scraps set aside for him.
When the plates were cleared, Rowen climbed the narrow staircase to the second floor. His small room welcomed him with the faint scent of old wood and the soft comfort of his bed. He didn't even bother changing out of his clothes.
As sleep crept in, his last thoughts circled around the portal space—what he should try planting next. and which next additional path he was going to choose.
Meanwhile, in the upper district, a different kind of discussion was taking place.
Inside a well-established restaurant, four figures sat around a polished table. Their uniforms and posture gave them away immediately—they were teachers from the two local schools.
Alric leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his expression carrying the weight of authority. Beside him, Cedric and Marn compared notes quietly. Across from them sat Talia, calm as ever, sipping her tea.
"The results this year were… unusual," Alric began, his voice measured. "That Darian boy in particular. Twenty-five cat-type monsters on his own. Remarkable."
Cedric gave a thin smile. "Indeed. A feat worth commending." He tapped his pen against his notebook, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "Still… slaying that many alone isn't something even seasoned trainees manage easily."
Marn frowned. "And it wasn't just him. Lyra, Aria, and Calen performed beyond expectations as well. Their skills sharpened too suddenly."
The teachers shared a brief silence. Pride lingered in their words, but suspicion crept beneath the surface. They all knew the true difficulty of Darian's achievement—it was almost too clean, too quick.
Finally, all three turned their attention toward Talia.
She set her cup down with a faint clink. "Yes, I noticed that too. Lyra's group in particular did very well."
Her tone was even, giving nothing away. She knew the reason for their sudden improvement, but it wasn't something she intended to reveal. Not yet.
Talia recalled the faint surge of clarity she herself had felt after eating the vegetables from Rowen's shop.
The others didn't know. And for now, she would make sure it stayed that way.
The morning sun slipped through the cracks of the shutters, pulling Rowen from sleep earlier than usual. He lay still for a moment, listening to the quiet hum of the town outside, then sat up with a sharp breath.
At the foot of the bed, Shade stirred and gave a lazy meow before climbing up to paw at his shoulder.
"Morning, Shade," Rowen said
Excitement stirred in his chest.