Noah was laying in the swaying long grass some metres from the house.
It was vast and nothing beyond for miles apart from more grass that reached his knees and the silhouette of hills that he knew crossed to the neighbouring town.
To an onlooker or passerby it would appear as if the boy was staring into the cloudless blue sky.
But in real sense Noah was looking at his status window.
●|System Status Window|●
○Name: Noah Ashbourne
[✟Constellation: The God of Elements]
[■Quests Available: 0]
Noah, your stats are so low they're practically subterranean. No class, no skills—just an endless sea of one-star ratings. Even your potential in ice and lightning magic couldn't chill a warm soda. The God of Elements must have picked you for comedic relief. The Constellation of Swords sees something in you, but it's probably just a typo. You're slightly above average—congratulations!
At least you can say you're the best at being mediocre. Why not save us all the trouble and take up knitting?]
"It's as if this system was made by the game developer to directly target my self esteem..."
"Tch...your cocky for just lines of embedded code."
Noah said directing the message to the system.
The system snapped back with a biting response.
[Look who's talking. Your talent levels are so low, they'd need a map to find rock bottom. But don't worry, I'm sure your knack for spectacularly average will take you places—like the couch!]
The words hit Noah like a perfectly aimed zinger, leaving him feeling like he'd just lost an argument with his own reflection.
The system flickered once more.
Noah almost instantly wanted to lash out but he'd just punch nothing but the air.
But deep down he knew the system was right.
He was just above average and he needed to do something about it.
But for now he would wait till taking the affinity process in the church then acquire the rune stone.
"Now that I think about it...I haven't really used magic since arriving here," Noah said.
He stretched his arm upward since he was still laying in the grass.
He tried to visualise it, an icicle forming on his hand.
Noah or rather Kim Hajun didn't know how it worked, he only knew casting spells and using magic in the game by clicking buttons on his keyboard and mouse.
But luckily, the basic information about magic casting was embedded in the original Noah's memories.
"Okay...so just feel it, draw out mana from the mana pool located at the centre of the chest and visualise it..."
Noah tried to convince himself.
He winced, sweat trickling from his forehead as his arm grew tired and he dropped it instantly plopping on the grassy ground.
Then he received a message from the system.
[■You cannot cast ice magic as your mana levels are low]
[■Conclusion: Hopeless!]
'Does it have to add a comment to every assessment?'
The system responded.
Noah didn't want to get his esteem shattered again so he just remained quiet.
He sat up looking into the far distance.
"If I remember correctly, mana is located all around and those who can actually use it also known as the 'Talented' can intake this energy into their bodies..."
"Okay...so I just cross my legs and meditate..."
Noah did so even bringing his fists together.
But after a while of trying to draw mana into his body he couldn't do it until he felt a strange sensation in his skin almost like small needles being drived in.
[■Warning: If mana depletion reaches 2 or lower, the player will be in a state of Mana deficiency and won't be able to use magic until a specific period of time!]
"Ohhh...so that's how it is..."
[■Though Player-Noah won't have to worry about this. The system encourages it after all!]
He concentrated more in the same pose but found it strange.
"How come one has to take up that specific position to intake mana?..."
"Isn't it as long as you're in a comfortable and calm state able to feel your surroundings that it will work?..."
He thought then stood.
Noah looked up closed his eyes and took in breaths at intervals.
The sun rays dancing on his facial features.
Though his eyes were closed he was able to see something.
Small floating specks in his dark field of vision.
Though they were only in two colours.
"The blue must be ice mana particles and the purple must be lightning..."
"But how do I draw them in?"
He pondered and just chose to go with the flow and imagine the particles actually coming towards him.
And just like that some of them were drawn to him, through his skin as he felt the pinching sensation.
Noah then tried to feel the same particles making sure he didn't lose that feeling. Because if he did, he would have to start all over again.
He could feel it directing them to the centre.
"Almost there...just a bit further..."
Almost instantly he felt his chest warm up, a certain feeling that couldn't be described.
He knew it. The sensation was familiar, atleast to the original Noah.
Noah moved his arms and stretched hands forward, eyes still closed.
He tried imagining an icicle form on his palm as the same sensation washed over him.
Though this time he was directing the mana from his core or mana pool to his fingertips as they tingled.
He felt wind all around him or rather a slight breeze.
Noah opened his eyes slowly and he saw it.
[■Successfully used ice magic]
The wind swirled around him, carrying light blue and white energy that wrapped around his arm.
He watched as the icicle spun violently in front of him, shimmering with power.
Though he had successfully formed the icicle, Noah suddenly realized he didn't know how to release it.
Panic started to set in as he struggled to figure out what to do next.
"How the hell do I hurl it towards something?...."
The spinning icicle began to freeze his fingers, the cold creeping slowly across his hand as he felt trapped by his own creation.