I woke up feeling sore from yesterday's meditation, my muscles were tense and almost inflexible, it took a lot of effort just to sit up. My core flared with pain even when i propped myself up using pillows.
I glanced outside, it was still dark, not even the servants would be awake yet, it was the perfect time to meditate.
I crossed my legs, my knees aching and my calves feeling like someone had stabbed them with a thousand needles, i straightemed my back, grimancing with effort. I took a deep breath and began absorbing mana, the pathways i had opened up the previous day sprung to life, i felt all the vessels slowly filling.
It wasnt anywhere near as painful as yesterday, it ached and made my body feel like lead but that was it. No burning or melting sensation, my blood didnt feel as if it was boiling. It was like my body had adapted after just opening the channels yesterday, maybe my body was more gifted than i had originally thought. Considering how easy this was compared to the first time i presumed that forming at least one mini proto core would be possible without too much issues.
I took deeper breaths, forcing my body to increase the quantity and quality of mana being processed through my cells, my cores started to be filled. I continued absorbing, taking deeper and more focused breaths. I felt my cells overloading, my mana pathways expanding painfully, interwining themselves with my muscle fibres. And my vessels slowly breaking and repairing itself as all three vessels started to condense and expand rhythmically the quality improving rapidly.
My blood boiled worse than yesterday. How could this hurt more? It was less like i was melting and more like i was evaporating, sublimation.
My body was wracked with pain but i was too far into the process, i couldnt stop without causing my body serious harm. My vision swam, black spots danced in my vision.
After what felt like hours of agony, i felt my mini proto cores form, all three vessels had been successfully transformed. I breathed a sigh of relief, dark red spots fell onto my blanket, my nose had started to bleed again. The thick, warm liquid pooled around my lips falling down and dripping off of my chin.
I felt light headed, my already aching and sore body felt even worse. I collapsed against my pillows, my conciousness was lost as soon as my head hit the pillow.
"Raya! Raya! Raya?" i was shook awake, the kind pugdey maid, that had acted as my mothers midwife when me and my siblings were born, stood over me gripping my shoulders in an almost crushing grip.
My body ached, it hurt way too much. My blood felt like it was moving slugishly, my muscles felt like they were being torn apart."H h hi," i said awkwardly, my voice soft and hesitiant, its usual submissive self. The maid wiped my face fussily, panic evident in her voice.
"What were you doing? Youre covered in blood. How could you be this stupid?" She pinches her nose in frustration as she chastizes me.
She started fussing over me more, wiping away the copious amounts of blood from my face angrilly; an almost maternal rage, as if i was her son.
To be fair, thats often how i felt since my mother favoured my sisters and my father was pushy and often annoyed at me.
"Its your special day and youre covered in your own blood, are you sick?" She asked her already aged face wrinkling further with worry. I shake my head with small shy movement. You must be submissive; my father's motto echoed in my head.
The maid huffed and got me a spare set of clothes.
A frilly and loose cotton shirt that was almost long enough to be a dress, and baggy skirt like shorts that only cover the upper thigh. It wouldve been a steryotypical girly attire in my home world but here, it was the normal male attire. It made me look small and fragile, hanging loosely on my frame.
"You look so pretty young master," the maid said her earlier anger almost dissapated. "How did you get in that state little one?" She asked, her eyes giving me no way of avoiding the question. "I was reading a book that my sisters gave me and i did what the book told me to," i say quietly, looking downwards. I pointed to the book of basic magic.
The maid's eyes widened in disbelief, "you understood that book without being taught?" Her voice was an octave higher than usual. "But youre a grey blessed young master, how did you learn magic or at least understand it?" The maid went into interrigation mode.