A soft beeping pulled me from sleep.

  The smell of moldy straw filled my nose as I stirred, slowly becoming aware of my surroundings.

  I opened my eyes.

  The now-familiar silver screen flickered into view.

  

  

  I groaned, rolling onto my side.

  The rotting mattress was still damp, but at least it was warm from my body heat.

  "What would I even eat?"

  My voice came out rough, scratchy.

  "This place is old and musty. There's nothing here but bones."

  A sharp beep.

  The screen shifted into my vision.

  

  

  

  I sat up quickly.

  Someone else? Here?

  The screen would have woken me if they were a threat... right?

  It said it would.

  A sharp pain ripped through my stomach.

  I gritted my teeth.

  "How would I even fight them? I haven't found a weapon yet."

  I glanced around the room again, hoping I'd missed something.

  

  

  I turned to the ragged frame.

  Old wood, barely holding together.

  I grabbed a loose board at the head of the bed... then stopped.

  The wood crumbled away at my touch.

  Useless.

  I searched through the chest again.

  Nothing but the robe.

  Then, my gaze drifted to the pile of bones.

  Maybe...

  Maybe they'd been carrying a weapon before they died.

  I knelt beside the remains, sifting through them.

  A few dull metal circles-coins, maybe?

  Nothing big enough to swing.

  Then, I saw something that might work.

  Well-two things.

  But I only needed one.

  A large bone, nearly the length of my arm.

  Caked in grime and age.

  I wrapped my fingers around it.

  Solid.

  Heavy.

  It felt right.

  Somehow.

  

  

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  I stiffened, feeling like I was caught doing something I shouldn't.

  

  

  QUEST COMPLETE.

  YOU'VE BEEN AWARDED THE SKILL: MANA SENSE.

  MAX HP [5]

  MAX STAMINA [20]

  STAMINA REGENERATION [0.1]

  MAX MANA [50]

  MANA REGENERATION [0.5]

  STRENGTH [5]

  AGILITY [5]

  ENDURANCE [10]

  INTELLIGENCE [5]

  WILLPOWER [10]

  PERCEPTION [5]

  LUCK [1]

  ACTIVE SKILLS [2/10]

  TIER 1

  MANA SURGE [2/100]

  CAUSES A MAGICAL EXPLOSION USING PURE MANA.

  DAMAGE: 1 per MANA USED × SKILL LEVEL [2-100]

  RANGE: 1ft × SKILL LEVEL [2ft]

  COST: 100% CURRENT MANA

  MANA SENSE [1/100]

  ALLOWS THE USER TO SENSE ALL SOURCES OF MANA WITHIN RANGE.

  EFFECT: SENSE MANA UP TO 10FT [10×SKILL LEVEL] AWAY.

  COST: UP TO 1 [1×10ft] MANA PER SECOND.

  PASSIVE SKILLS [1/10]

  TIER 1

  MANA VAULT [1/100]: MULTIPLIES MAX MANA BY 1 × SKILL LEVEL.

  MANA CONVERSION [3/100] WHEN MANA POOL IS FULL COVERTS 3% MANA REGENERATION INTO HP.

  I scan the skill description, nodding in approval.

  This would make it significantly harder for anything to sneak up on me.

  I flick my finger across the screen, pulling up the quest menu.

  QUEST ISSUED.

  GROW YOUR STRENGTH:

  OBJECTIVES:

  INCREASE ALL SKILLS TO LEVEL 10 [0/4]

  REACH LEVEL 10 [0/1]

  REWARDS: BLESSING

  "How am I supposed to do that?"

  My stomach growled loudly.

  

  

  

  

  I frowned, my brows tightening.

  "What did you mean by 'Unethical'? You want me to eat a person-why isn't that 'unethical'?"

  A short pause.

  Then the text flickered back.

  

  

  

  I stiffened.

  If you do not wish to eat them, you could attempt to hunt a monster instead.

  It would be significantly harder to accomplish.

  Would it really be okay to eat someone?

  I grimaced.

  Hunting a monster sounded dangerous, especially with how Mana Geyser worked.

  If I misused it, I might blow myself up before even seeing my target.

  "We could try talking to them. Maybe they'll help me."

  

  

  

  I exhaled slowly.

  Starving.

  Fighting.

  Eating a corpse.

  No good options.

  I sighed, stepping through the rotting doorframe and back into the fog.

  "Which building are they in?"

  

  

  I nodded and activated the skill.

  "Mana Sense."

  The fog shimmered softly.

  But...

  Nothing.

  No silhouettes, no movement.

  "What now?"

  

  

  

  I winced, heat creeping into my face.

  Right.

  I began circling the stone building.

  A low hum settled at the back of my mind-Mana Sense running in the background.

  After a minute of searching, the range expanded.

  Then, at the very edge of my perception-

  A dense ball of mana.

  I froze.

  "Is that them?"

  

  My fingers tightened around the bone.

  I moved closer.

  The mana flickered-a small silver flame.

  Like a candle held in the dark.

  Suddenly-

  A wave of dizziness.

  The sensation snapped away.

  Mana Sense cut out.

  I stumbled.

  Must've run out of mana.

  But now...

  I could see the building ahead.

  I kept moving.

  

  I nodded, slowing my pace.

  Better to be quiet.

  Inside, I could hear fire crackling.

  A faint, rhythmic sound.

  Scraping metal.

  I peered through the doorframe.

  A man clad in rusted, worn armor sat in a wooden chair.

  A sword in his grip, a whetstone gliding across its edge.

  His hair drifted upward, as if suspended in water.

  It parted over sharp features, revealing pointed ears.

  "Atan. Mana carily? sinom??"

  His voice was flat, emotionless.

  I froze, pulling back from the doorway.

  

  

  

  I hesitated.

  Then, exhaling slowly, I stepped into the doorway fully.

  "I was looking for food."

  The man paused, turning his head toward me.

  His gaze lingered.

  "Umin quete lamlya. Na lerya."

  His hand lifted slightly, motioning me inside.

  

  I gingerly stepped forward, shuffling inside.

  Keeping close to the wall, I lowered myself near the door.

  The man resumed sharpening his sword.

  Occasionally, he adjusted something above the fire.

  A piece of meat.

  My stomach growled, loud in the silence.

  The man stopped.

  Mid-motion, blade poised against the whetstone.

  For a moment, he seemed thoughtful.

  Then, he pulled the meat from the fire.

  He examined it.

  Tore off roughly half.

  And tossed it to me.

  I wasn't expecting it.

  Didn't catch it.

  It hit the floor.

  I snatched it up anyway.

  Shoved it into my mouth.

  It tasted like mud and fire.

  Didn't matter.

  It's better than the hunger pains.

  I looked up.

  The man was staring at me.

  His sword, at least, was now sheathed.

  The fire crackled softly.

  Neither of us spoke.

  We just stared.

  After a moment, the elf leaned back, crossing his arms.

  "Mana esselya?"

  The words came calm, steady.

  Not quite a question.

  More like a demand.

  

  I opened my mouth-then hesitated.

  My name is...

  Nothing.

  I searched my thoughts.

  Blank.

  I glanced down at my hands.

  At the bone.

  An idea formed.

  I grinned, holding it up triumphantly.

  "My name is Bone!"

  The man stared at me.

  Just for a moment.

  Then, a hint of sadness flickered across his face.

  Faint.

  But undeniable.

  He pointed at me.

  "Essenya már ná Narmo."

  Then at himself.

  "Nany? Vorondil."

  

  

  I let the words settle.

  A smile crept onto my face.

  "Narmo..."

  I repeated it, testing the sound.

  "That sounds a lot better than Bone."

  Vorondil nodded.

  Expression blank, unreadable.

  He turned back to the fire.

  We sat in silence.