Morena leaned back on the couch and shifted her gaze towards the tinted window, the faint shifting hue of the sun just barely reaching through. It was already evening, how time had flown, but she ignored it.
She still had too much to think about.
"Keep running through Corin’s notes, but change focus. Don’t waste more time trying to brute-force a meditation method that doesn’t exist. Instead, cross-reference my own body. Run simulations on my current circulation method—the letters carved into me."
She paused for a moment, her mind drifted to many thoughts. As of right now, it seemed that taking the path of a Wizard wasn’t possible, at least not properly.
Not until she could get a meditation method, but she didn’t even know where to begin looking into that.
So for now, she had to instead shift her focus from long-term strength to short-term strength.
"I want to know if I can force something closer to mana without a proper matrix. Even a pseudo-version. Show me."
[Processing request...]
The displays shifted, and countless lines of data were processed. It took a few minutes for all the fragments of information and diagrams to be broken down and analyzed, and finally it was replaced by fresher outlines—her own recorded body scans, energy flows, and the symbols the AI had long since mapped beneath her skin.
[Simulation parameters set.]
[Comparison: Warrior Path vs. Pseudo-Mana Refinement.]
Lines began to trace themselves before her eyes. The warrior path was simple—raw elemental energy pulled in, circulated through flesh and core, condensed crudely into fuel for the body.
It was a method that was crude but effective, the method every warrior used. The reason it was popular was that they were easy to use, at least compared to the path of a wizard.
But the new projections added something else: the carved letters acting not just as conduits, but as filters. The AI layered models of symbolic checkpoints along her veins and nerves, grinding the unrefined energy in stages instead of letting it rush through unchecked.
[Projection result: Partial refinement achieved. Pseudo-refinement.]
Her lips pressed thin as she read the line.
The AI was able to show her a possible solution; it was refining the elemental energy in such a way that they weren’t as raw as usual, but also didn’t reach the level of mana.
It wasn’t the best, but it was something that could theoretically aid her.
"Show me the output."
[Draft - Current: minor gust, unstable.
Draft - With pseudo-refinement: stronger airflow, direction consistent, effective up to two meters. Risk: numbness spreads past the wrist into the elbow within twenty seconds.]
[Ember - Current: spark or warmth, irregular.
Ember - With pseudo-refinement: sparks consistent, weak flame possible on the contact surface. Risk: internal heating of vessels, micro-burns. Pain threshold exceeded if repeated more than three times per hour.]
[Pin - Current: tether lasts ~30 breaths.
Pin - With pseudo-refinement: tether extended up to 60 breaths. Stable under mild strain. Risk: muscle fatigue, delayed spasm on release.]
Morena leaned forward, studying the new numbers and details about each trick. If she were to use the new form of refined energy, they would all be stronger, more stable—but still held that level of danger.
The tricks weren’t suddenly on the level of spells; they were just less pathetic than before.
"Run simulations of combination use again. Add pseudo-refinement as a variable."
[Draft + Ember - With pseudo-refinement: Still conflict. Air warps flame’s seam. Small ignition bursts are possible, but unstable. Risk: backlash in forearm veins, rupture.]
[Draft + Pin - Stable. Projection: tethered airflow, usable as a push or drag. Duration is reduced if strain increases. Risk: acute strain in the shoulder.]
[Ember + Pin - Slight synergy. Projection: spark fixed in place, short-lived anchor of heat. Risk: minor blister on skin contact.]
Her brow narrowed, and she sighed. They weren’t nearly as good as she had hoped they would be; in fact, they had only a slight increase in use.
But that made sense; they weren’t completely refined either, and she might be able to improve them or make her own, eventually.
[Conclusion: Without mana, limits remain severe. Pseudo-refinement improves stability but cannot make them significantly better.]
She tapped her finger against the table, thoughtful. Corin had been right—without a meditation method, without the matrix, true refinement was impossible.
But still, she had reached farther in a single morning than he had in decades.
’I can have it run passive background research to try and make new tricks. It’ll take some time, but I have that for now.’
The AI wasn’t done, though, it finally prompted about her previous question.
[Additional simulation: Adapting warrior circulation pattern into pseudo-matrix.]
[Success rate: 22%. Risk: Core instability. Projection: Long-term stress on already damaged core. Recommendation: Do not attempt until a stabilization method is found.]
Morena exhaled through her nose, the faintest trace of annoyance curling in her chest. Of course, her damaged core again. Even with every advantage, every trick, that wound in her foundation kept her from pushing further.
Still, 22% was better than nothing. Enough to tempt her, enough to make her consider trying eventually.
She began to make notes in the empty book before her, careful handwriting filling the page: adjustments to ratios, outlines to test on surfaces, and ideas for possible experiments she could attempt in the future.
She made sure to write in code, a language no one in this world would understand, to avoid someone finding the notebook. Furthermore, she never revealed or wrote anything too important down, just notes.
The scratching of her pen was the only sound in the study until a soft, hesitant knock came against the door.
She didn’t answer at first. No one should even know she was here.
When the knock came again, lighter, almost nervous, she finally stood and cracked the door open.
A maid bowed low on the other side, her face a little flushed, hair askew as if she had been running.
"My Lady... forgive me, I... it took me a while to find you."
Morena raised a brow.
"Why were you looking for me?"
The girl fumbled with her apron before drawing out a sealed letter, the wax pressed with her family’s crest.
"A message from Master Adolf, he told me to deliver it to you. He said it was urgent."
Morena took it, broke the seal, and unfolded the parchment. Adolf’s precise hand filled the page.
The church has called a private gathering this evening—several noble houses have been summoned. Officially, it is to discuss security concerns after the death of one of their men. In truth, I believe there is more to the matter. They seek to measure loyalty and to find faults. I advise caution, however, with many other houses going, attendance is not optional.
At the bottom, his final line was underlined once.
Please do not go alone.
Morena folded the parchment slowly, her eyes narrowing.
The timing was inconvenient, but she supposed it was inevitable. The church had been very active recently; they had been making many moves, doing many things. The church was bound to start pressing harder.
She waved the maid off and closed the door. Walking back to her seat, she slid the letter on the table and leaned back into the couch.
’I suppose this can wait. Tonight will matter more.’
Her hand brushed lightly against the notebook she had filled, closing the cover and slipping it into her coat.
She didn’t have the luxury of time. Not for meditation methods, not for searching sub-realms, not for idle experiments. At least not right now, there were a lot of things she had to do.
For now, she would prepare for the meeting.