It's been about a month, according to a calendar I found. I don't remember the exact date, but I've been marking off the squares to keep track. Anyway, this month has been a month of learning for me. I mostly spent it exploring the areas to hunt, figuring out what types of magic I can use, and coming to terms with how utterly weak this body is compared to my old one at its prime.
That said, this body does have its advantages. The shoulders, arms, back, chest, and core are pretty well-built—expected for an archer. I spent some time assessing the differences between this body and my old one, and oh boy... his mana core is massive. I've never seen one so big.
In the past, I had always hoped to incorporate magic into my swordsmanship. But back then, my mana core was barely the size of a pill—just enough to start a spark that lasted maybe half a second. That was all I had to work with. This body, though? Not only is the core enormous, but it also holds every type of magic I know of, including some I've never even read about.
Back in my original body, the types of magic available to humans were limited to the basics: water, air, fire, earth, thunder, shadow, and taming. But now, I also have access to holy magic—which is strange. Holy magic is supposed to be granted by a god to a believer, and not only do I not believe in any god, but I feel as though I can use all types of holy magic effortlessly.
The elves had additional forms of magic, as did the dwarves and other races, but I never bothered learning much about them. After all, I was human.
Lately, I've been testing and learning how to use the magic I now possess—well, except taming. That one still weirds me out. The bond between a tamer and their companion feels unnatural to me. But beyond that, I've discovered something remarkable: this mana core can use all the types of magic I know of and even more, including ones tainted with forbidden magic.
Blood magic, necromancy, slave magic, demonic magic—these are all supposed to come with immense drawbacks, even just for owning them. Yet, I feel none of the side effects or penalties. It's as though this mana core was designed to wield such powers effortlessly, and honestly? I'm excited to see what I can do.
Along with experimenting with magic, I've started training my body to be more well-rounded. It was built for archery, but I want it to be capable of other forms of combat. Still, I've noticed something strange—when I wield a stick like a sword, my body feels awkward and clumsy. Yet, when I pick up a bow, it feels entirely natural, as if it's a part of me.
The way the bow feels in my hand, especially the riser, is unlike anything I've experienced. I've always held the hilt of a sword, rarely a bow, so this newfound connection is almost unsettling. Despite the awkwardness, I can shoot the bow without any issues. It's as if I've been doing it my entire life.
When I spend hours shooting, something clicks. My eye becomes the sight; my arm, the span. My bow hand serves as the arrow rest, and my draw hand becomes both the loading mechanism and the trigger. The entire process feels smooth and organic, requiring no conscious thought. All I have to do is focus on where I want the arrow to go—and it goes.
Anyway, apart from all of that, I tried remembering other things, but I couldn't recall much—just the name of this world: Lainsfall. That's all I managed to piece together. It seems like there are some rules to this possession.
When I woke up in that bear trap, all I could remember were the things necessary for survival. Strangely enough, I also knew this body could use magic. That was odd, to say the least. It's like some information was planted into my mind intentionally, while everything else was blocked or erased.
Unfortunately, there weren't any maps of the world in the cabin—just a rough map of the nearby area. It had a few marks and notes explaining some key details. For instance, the bunny beasts I hunted are called Voidleverets. They control a patch of territory to the north of the cabin.
To the south, there are wolf-like beasts known as Flashmanes. They're called that because of the lightning-like streaks on their fur. Their territory extends to the south as well, making them a major presence in the area.
Then, to the west and northwest, there's a massive spider nest. The creatures there are called Nightlaces, and they control a significant portion of the region. I imagine they're as dangerous as they sound, though I've yet to encounter them.
And lastly, to the east, just outside the forest, there seems to be a human town. From the boy's diaries, I gathered that this is a somewhat recent discovery—something he only found out about about a week before his death and my possession. He had never been there before, which means no one in the town would recognize him. That works in my favor since I can walk in acting however I want without raising suspicion.
For now, though, I've decided to stay in the forest for another year or two unless the town faces some kind of danger. This will give me time to get my body into better shape, make sturdier clothes, and craft a crude sword I can use for practice.
I've also been thinking about how to enhance my training. I can likely use earth magic along with a magic circle to adjust the weight of the sword while I practice. This way, I can gradually increase the difficulty and improve faster. It's a plan that should prepare me both physically and mentally for what lies ahead.
I also set up a few alarm traps in the forest near the eastern paths—places where it seems people tend to walk. If any of these traps get triggered, I'll know. I want to observe whoever enters this forest, to see who they are and what they're doing, while also getting a chance to see other humans for the first time in a long while.