If you skipped reading the top author note, you should go back and read it.

  Wake up, mortal.

  I open my eyes and am blinded by a bright blue sun hanging in the purple sky. I can feel an immense amount of aether in the air. It feels far more dense than even when Lucien cast his Resurrection.

  Where the fuck am I?

  “You are in my domain, little mortal.” A voice says behind me.

  I am lying down in a large field of grass. I sit up and turn to look for the source of the voice and my eyes find a woman. She looks quite young, and dare I say beautiful. Her long brown hair seems perfectly well kept, as if it has never seen any wear or tear. Where her eyes should be, are instead blazing blue spheres. She is not human.

  “Who are you?” As I try to speak, I feel weird, almost as if I am merely projecting sounds rather than speaking. I take a look at myself, and I am still fully solid. So this isn’t like when I spoke to Vixelos.

  Her voice is like birdsong as it fills the air. “I have gone by many names. Some have taken to calling me a spirit, god, demon or other such things.”

  “Are you a nature like Vixelos?”

  “tsk, you mean that boy? He is an embarrassment to us all. But one could say that I am a nature. Though I much prefer Lowe. Do you like tea? It has been quite a while since I have had a visitor you see…” She sounds sad, can godlike entities get lonely?

  “I don’t know what tea is, but that sounds lovely.” I say, standing up. The air is really fresh and has a nice lavender scent to it and the temperature is perfect. A far cry from Vixelos’s domain. Given the aether in the air, and my recent activities, I would have to guess that she is the Nature of Magic. It makes the most logical sense.

  Lowe waves her hand and a cute table and two chairs appear. It even has one of those old fashioned umbrellas that you see in media imitating times before weather control. A pitcher and two cups appear on the table. “Please sit, I promise I won’t poison you.”

  I take a seat and she sits down across from me and pours us both a cup with a smile on her face. I take a sip and my face lights up. “This is delicious!” I exclaim, we are in a realm belonging to a piece of reality, so that isn't really that surprising.

  Her smile is practically radiant. “Would you like a cookie?” A large chocolate chip cookie manifests right in front of me. I accept the cookie, which is also delicious of course.

  “As much as I would like to sit here drinking tea and eating cookies all day. I expect you have called me for some other reason, right?”

  “I have. But it is not often I get visitors, you see, my nature makes it so that very few are ever able to perceive me. But you, mortal, are something quite interesting.” she pauses as if in thought. “Let me ask you something. What do you think magic is?”

  I ponder the question. Most people would probably just say power or something. But I have learned a few things during my training to handle the pure mana. “Magic is a wish fueled by mana or aether.”

  Lowe smiles. “That is exactly it! I knew there was a reason why I was able to drag you here.”

  “What do you mean drag me here? Can’t you do that whenever you wish?”

  “No no, if I were to just grab any odd soul, they would likely die in contact with me. Either by the system trying to prevent the connection or being overwhelmed by the energy. You not only circumvented the system’s control over your magic, but also have an unusual connection to it.” That makes sense I guess, though not really. Either way, I simply must pretend that it does and figure out what it means later.

  “Ah, that must be because I am part dragon or something.”

  “Of course, one of the dragonyms.” The term she uses is strange, but I guess it is the equivalent to dragonkin. “Quite a rare soul indeed. Now, as for the reason I dragged you here, I wish to offer you something.”

  I take a sip of tea as I narrow my eyes, suspiciously. These natures don’t just give away things for free after all. “If it comes at the cost of a limb, I would rather not have it. I think my friends would be mad if I somehow lost another limb.”

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  “Oh gods no! I wouldn’t do something that gruesome! You must have only met Vixelos, that boy is very strange. I sometimes question whether he is not corrupted…”

  “Corrupted?” I ask.

  A panicked look appears on Lowe’s face. “Oh, whoops, that is nothing you ever need to be concerned with.”

  “So, uh, if it won't cost me an arm, what is it that you were going to offer me?”

  She snorts. “Knowledge of course, what else? Nothing is more valuable than knowledge, don’t you mortals know that?” I have to agree with her, knowledge is very important. I wonder what sorts of knowledge she can bestow upon me. “Anyways, take this.”

  A small crystal tablet appears in the air. After a moment of hesitation, I reach out and take it. A jolt of energy rushes up my arm and I feel it settle inside my brain. A system message appears.

  [Special Skill Evolution Conditions Met]

  [Skills Will Now Evolve Into Special Skill]

  [Spell Book & Magic Fundamentals -> Essence of Magic]

  [Essence of Magic]: You have somehow acquired an insight into the concept of magic itself. However you have done this is irrelevant as you now possess the ability to shape magical energy to your every whim. Do be aware that toying with such power can be detrimental to one’s life.

  All Magical Stats Increased greatly. Manipulation of Pure Mana is now possible.

  Lowe’s Blessing: You have been granted a greater insight into the concept of magic. The prior effect is further increased. In addition, you may also manipulate aether in its purest form. However, your vessel is not fully suited towards such actions and manipulation of aether may damage your vessel.

  “You now possess the Essence of Magic, mortal. Normally one would only get the Essence of Mana, but I have decided to enhance it a little bit as your vessel should be able to handle it. Though do be careful, I would like to invite you for tea again some other time.” She smiles at me as I read the descriptions.

  “Wait, Isn’t it supposed to be possible for humans to manipulate aether directly?”

  “Ha, well mortal, you are no mere human. Also it is not technically impossible to do so normally, merely that it will destroy a weak vessel such as a human. You should be capable of doing it, though not for as long as a full dragon would be.”

  “I guess that does make sense. I probably won’t accidentally destroy my ‘vessel’.” I say sarcastically.

  She smiles at me. “Great to hear. Now, how would you like to go for a walk in my garden? It is quite lovely, or so people say.”

  “I think I would enjoy that a lot.”

  The world shifts around us and the table disappears and my jaw drops. Strange and beautiful plants of all colors and varieties surround us. The wonderful floral scent that was in the air intensifies. I can feel the aether thickly in the air, and even some mana. Perhaps some of the plants naturally convert it somehow.

  Lowe takes a step towards a large blue tree with star shaped leaves, she rests her hand upon it. “This is one of my favourites, a Lowecedemia. It is said that the sap grants one visions of the past and future. Which is not true of course, it is merely a poison that induces hallucinations.”

  I place my hand against the bark of the tree and it is surprisingly soft and squishy. It is unlike any tree I have ever seen. “Woah, this is one interesting tree. The universe sure is a large place. I bet there are all sorts of lifeforms like this scattered about.”

  “I think we are going to be very good friends, little mortal.” Her smile is radiant, in fact, I think it literally gives off light.

  We spend who knows how long wandering the garden as Lowe tells me about many different plants. As I expected, some of the ones from the aether have actually adapted to collecting it, similar to the dragons. Though those plants are kept in separate areas as the mana they release can be toxic to other plants.

  “...And this is the world tree.” Lowe says as we walk through a veil of vines.

  My jaw drops as I gaze at what is easily the largest tree I have ever seen. It is made of a silver wood and rises high up into the sky, easily a kilometer tall. Its branches seem to spread out in all directions in the sky, carrying out beyond the horizon. In place of leaves, it is almost as though there are large rivers of aether flowing in the sky.

  A hole opens up in the base of the tree, and out steps another woman. She looks almost identical to Lowe, aside from her hair being green. “Lowe! You know you aren’t allowed to bring mortals to this place!” I can feel a lot of anger in her voice. But a playful sort, they must be siblings. Twins if I had to bet.

  “Oh shush Liuane, he is one of them, I don’t think fate will mind.” Lowe replies, which seems to calm Liuane down.

  “Wait, Liuane, like the nature of life?” I blurt out.

  The two sisters look at me and at the same time they respond. “Of course, who else?”

  “Jinx!” Lowe says instantly.

  “I told you I am too old to play such games, sister.” Liuane says and then seems to come to a realization. “Ohmygosh, I didn’t do any cleaning! Quick, send that mortal back right now! We can't possibly let them see the world tree in this state…”

  Lowe turns to me. “Oh, well then mortal. I fear this is where we must say goodbye, for today at least. I hope to have tea with you again soon, and maybe Liuane can stop being a lazy bum and actually do her chores for once.”

  “Hey! I am not a lazy bum! I was going to get around to it some time this eon!” Liuane protests.

  “Yeah, whatever you say, you lazy bum.” Lowe replies and places her hand on my forehead. “Have a nice trip back, mortal. Oh, and if you could, perhaps don’t speak about this with anyone else?” She seems to add the last part quite quickly when it seems like a very important thing to say…

  Before I can thank her, my vision fades and I fall into a deep sleep.

  Next Chapter: Not a Dream

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