Surviving The Myriad Worlds (A Multiplanar LitRPG)

It was with no little apprehension that Dante returned to his mind's eye. The memory of that earlier uncontrollable life drain was still fresh in his mind and he had no desire for a second serving. However, it was making it difficult to fall into the meditative frame of mind required. Another quick application of [Hyper Focus] quickly rectified that problem.

Already, a fair amount of mana had drained away from his mana pool since he had left. More than he expected. Dante ran some quick mental calculations.

It looks like Vaso's hex works better when I have full mana. Maybe because there is more to drain? No way of knowing for sure … Well, nothing else but to get to it. I have wasted enough time already.

Cautiously, Dante opened the connection to his vitality as gently as possible. At first, he was convinced that it hadn't worked. There was no change and his mana continued to fall. He was about to open the gates a little more when he sensed a single droplet of mana forming at the mouth of the connection. It was about the tiniest manifestation of mana he had seen yet, but he was thrilled nonetheless.

Great. At least it looks like this skill is not going to try and kill me again. Though this is far too slow to combat the drain.

Loathed as he was to experience more pain, Dante slowly ratcheted up the conversion until he was gaining more than he was losing. Partway through the process, an uncomfortable tingling in his extremities began. It intensified to an intense aching in all of his muscles, as if he had a especially bad case of the flu.

It wasn't pleasant by any means, but this level of pain was manageable. Dante thought he could sustain this for about an hour. Better yet, it seemed like it didn't need his active focus to maintain. Which, he realized, might not be a good thing.

Who knew what would happen if he went unconscious while it was active? Death was likely.

That seemed to be the end of what Dante could do here, so he prepared himself to return to the waking world. Before that however, he scanned his current condition and made another pleasant discovery. His buffer from [Mana Body Fortification] was full and it hadn't been before he had attempted this. Which meant that it had taken some of the damage for him.

A small synergy, but a welcome one. Especially given some of the upgrades on offer.

Dante deactivated [Hyper Focus] and returned to awareness — an experience not unlike coming out of a shallow nap. He was still resting against Siluv's, but she had exchanged the potion bottle for a rag, which she used to dab some of the gunk away from his face. He felt world's better then before.

"Done?" Siluv asked with a faint smile on her face.

"I think so?" Dante could feel a connection in the back of his mind holding firm. Almost as if to confirm this, he received a notification.

[Mana Body Fortification] has advanced to Level 2

The difference was immediately noticeable, with the regeneration clearly greater than the drain. Dante dialed back the conversion rate until it was even again and the background pain lessened. It was now distracting, but manageable.

"Good. Now, stand and hold still. It's high time we were freed from this mess."

Dante complied and was startled when Siluv began casting a spell with several circles. It had been something he had picked up; more powerful spells always had more circles in the formula. A small storm manifested before him, complete with fluffy clouds and small flashes of lightning. With a flick from the noblewoman's hands, it billowed towards him and Dante fought his instinct to dodge.

To his surprise, the storm's vapors were pleasant. Lukewarm showers of rain washed over him and carried away the red stains of his efforts. Far more than regular water should have done, but anything was possible with magic, it seemed. Summer breezes dried him soon after and he was left perfectly clean but slightly damp. Siluv's garb was similarly affected.

It was perhaps the most whimsical usage of magic he had witnessed yet.

What a wonderful spell! The amount of time it could save me! You know, there is probably an entire world of such wonders out there somewhere that I have yet to experience. Away from here, where the chief concern is to cause as much death and destruction as possible. Maybe one day.

"I have got to acquire a spell like that," Dante breathed out while looking longing at the last few fading, cloudy wisps.

"You very well might. I've read your file." Siluv's appraising gaze made him shift uncomfortably. "Such interesting affinities you have, though perhaps it would be better to say that you have a slight affinity towards all of magic. Such a thing is unheard of."

Of course she knows about that. Ren was there at the ritual, though I am sure there were other eyes on us at the time. Without Pauwna's active intervention, it's impossible to keep a secret here.

"I would love to explore that more deeply." Siluv sighed heavily. "Alas, our limited time does not allow it. Especially when Moeris and his little experiment has stolen much of the day away."

Thank the heavens for that.

"My humblest apologies, Attendant Siluv." Dante realized with a start that he had not been addressing her with honorifics. Her manner and the method of their meeting had unbalanced him. Much like her master, it seemed like she was not one to get stuck on such things. Still, it was better to be careful.

"It was of no consequence. Besides, mana is necessary for our work. I expect you to maintain [Vitality to Mana] at all times during our training sessions. It has an awful exchange rate, especially for the early levels, and we will need substantial amounts of mana for your training. A level which you clearly do not have. With that in mind, let's begin our lesson."

With a flourish, Siluv summoned two simple chairs that faced one another and sat in one. Dante carefully sat in the other. Despite the situation, he was tentatively excited. Magic had been something that had fascinated him ever since he had come to this world and it seemed like he would finally be learning some of its secrets today.

"Can you tell me, Dante, what exactly is aura?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Dante froze, not expecting a pop quiz, and felt a surge of irritation.

Damn it woman, I've only existed in this world for a few months. I hardly know how to count in your language, much less something like this.

He took a few deep breaths and decided to give Siluv a chance. There were a few things Dante knew about aura. He hadn't possessed it until the system gave it to him, so they were likely related. Though given that he didn't know much about the system, that line of thought probably wasn't helpful. It was part of him now, as much as an arm or leg, that much was certain. Dante had grown so used to it that he could control it with a flicker of thought. Even now, Dante had a constant but limited sense of things around him when his eyes were closed. Even behind him. Besides those things, Dante didn't know much about aura.

… Though that wasn't quite right, was it? Hadn't he had a rather recent experience which confirmed where it came from?

"Mana," Dante said hesitantly. "Aura is composed of mana."

"And what is mana?"

Dante wanted to throw his hands up. "I haven't the faintest clue."

Siluv chuckled and Dante was instantly reminded of Pauwna, which was highlighted by how similar they looked. It was so striking that he had to wonder if this vixen-like attitude was a feature of the entire race.

"Forgive me, but I had to check. That is one of the most hotly debated questions in wizardry. Theories range from it being a creation of the dead gods to simply being one of the fundamental forces in the universe, like gravity. There are only two commonly agreed-upon points. Mana is attracted to sentient beings and that it is pure, raw potential."

"Potential?" Dante said slowly, sounding it out. "That's a rather vague definition."

"How else would you define something that can become anything? Wood has the same potential as mana for fire, but only mana can turn a dead log into a sapling. The possibilities are endless. Your answer that aura is mana is technically correct, but it is like saying a castle is made of stone. Technically correct, but missing the broader picture."

"Then what is the 'diagram' for the castle? The system?"

"Exactly!" Siluv smiled at him approvingly. "So, have you been paying attention to the intricacies of your aura. Yes, the system shapes mana into aura for us."

An idea struck Dante like a lightning bolt. "If all aura is is shaped mana, then why do you need the system to do it? Why not create the 'blueprint' yourself?"

Siluv hesitated, clearly finding a flaw with his vision. "Perhaps my earlier analogy was inadequate. Rather than a 'diagram' for a castle, it is more like a city map. The scale is simply impractical for any Sūnsian to attempt. Though I suppose it is not strictly impossible. A few archmages can cast trivial spells without system assistance. Nothing that could compare to even the simplest aura. It's just not worth the effort."

Damn. That's disappointing to hear, though not unexpected. There would be no need for the system if everyone could cast spells unaided. Which begs the question, just what is the system?

"Now that you understand that, can you tell me why it was so important for you to use mana?"

"So that I can unlock spell casting?"

"Wrong, for once. It's so that you can gain greater control over your aura by choosing how to feed your mana into its formula. But, you will learn more about this tomorrow. We are short of time, and there are more important things to teach."

"Oh?" Dante said, intrigued. "Do tell?"

What could possibly be more important than learning magic?

"Etiquette. You didn't think that you were ready to appear before a queen as you are, did you? You may know enough not to offend the common citizenry, but you offend noble sensibilities and First Princess Ahzi has enough problems as it is without you offending another heir."

Oh, for … That's the last thing I want to learn. Shit, there is no way way I am getting out of this, is there? Though, it probably is a good idea. Arguably, I am in this situation because I didn't know how to keep my head down. Doesn't mean I have to like it.

"First lesson. While you have done well in paying proper attention to your betters, the location of your gaze leaves something to be desired. The face is proper, not the bosom or derriere. Noblewomen are not people you can court, Dante."

He shifted in his chair, coloring under her meaningful look. Dante thought he had been subtle. It wasn't like he had been staring, but he supposed that everyone in this society had super senses. Dante couldn't help it. He was a man and the system made everyone supernaturally attractive. If that was not allowed, it was going to be a difficult habit to break.

"If even I was able to notice, then so shall the First Princess or the Empress. You do not want to gain their ire. Also, when in a room of important individuals, you must acknowledge each in order of rank before dedicating your gaze to the most important."

And on Siluve went. Explaining a hundred facets of noble etiquette that just about left his head as soon as she said it. When she realized that, Siluv had him practice for what must have been hours. She was a gentle but utterly unrelenting teacher. Over and over again until the effects of the energy potion expired and his eyelids drooped.

"That's enough. Any more would be useless and harmful to our studies on the morrow."

It took a few moments for that statement to register, but Dante nodded enthusiastically when it did. Despite his very life relying on this information, he could not bring himself to care anymore. The only thing that he desired was a warm meal and to see the faces of the few that he was close to in this world. Well, one in particular, anyway. That, and a soft pillow.

A hope that was dashed as Siluv summoned a bedroll, which she placed on the cold, hard floor. An unappetizing meal of bread, mysterious blue-speckled cheese, and water joined it. Dante sighed as he realized that this was likely going to be the week's schedule.

"You have six hours of rest before Moeris will arrive." Add Siluv as she stood up. Dante stood up and she disappeared both chairs. She began heading to the door, adding: "I will warn you that he is always early and despises tardiness. Though he has warmed up to you more than I thought. You must have made a better impression on him than most of his students."

"He has other students?"

"None that lasted very long. Oh, and one last thing." Siluv turned from opening the door and plucked another potion from her inventory. Though Dante was unsure if that was the right word for the liquid inside. It was near black, thick as syrup, and almost seemed … chunky. Yeah, there were definitely solid masses floating in that thing.

That's revolting. Would it hurt for them to make potions appetizing? Someone must have died rather than drink these.

"What is that?" Dante asked, suddenly wary.

"The first of three traits that will elevate your physical potential. We simply call it the 'Viscera Fortification Potion.' It boosts the resiliency of your organs by distributing their functions across the others. It will allow you to live, at least for a time, if your guts are spilled. Hopefully, long enough to reach a healer. Either that or allow your revenge. This process is not done for just anyone, only the most promising candidates in the Empire. The value of this potion alone far outstrips your lifetime salary. Treasure this care that the First Princess is showing you."

She really is as loyal as Moeris, isn't she? Even though she is a Naula. I wonder what the story is there.

Dante took the proffered potion and stared into its inky depths as Siluv muttered a command, darkening the room and then left. It reminded him of some abilities he had been offered in death. The ones that offered iron bones and extra limbs. Dante had turned them down at the time for much the same reason that he hesitated now.

I don't like where this could lead. I've already done things I never thought myself capable of. I have killed. More than once. It hasn't even been half a year and I've already fallen that far. This transformation alone is only the first of three. If I go down this path, where will the changes end? Could I even be called human after all of that? Is more power worth it?

After brief contemplation, Dante downed the potion.