Beyond a Person

White.

That was all I could see. I looked around me, but there was nothing else. Even when I looked down, I couldn’t see my feet, only the endless white. It was a bit concerning, but I did jump into a pool of mana. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was my normal state while I was inside.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” I called out into the expanse; however, I received no response, as expected. I wasn’t sure what else I could do, so I picked a random direction and started walking. Although can I really call this walking when I have no feet? Or maybe I just can’t see my feet. Who knows. It’s not like I can sense anything here.

I walked in the same direction for what felt like hours. The white remained unchanging, so it was impossible to tell whether I was actually making any progress. I’m pretty sure I am moving, at least? Agh…this is starting to get annoying.

I kept walking for a while longer, slowly losing my mind. Occasionally, something appeared in front of me in the distance, but it would disappear just as quickly. I think the void is playing tricks on me somehow.

Agh!!!!! Why can’t there be anything at all in this endless–oh. I looked up and noticed something floating in midair. Is that the thing I was seeing in the distance? Are you telling me I accidentally looked up???? Ugh. It’s so hard to tell where I’m going!!!

I tried moving towards the floating object. It didn’t seem like I was moving, but the object was steadily getting closer. Judging by that. I could probably move freely in any direction without the effects of gravity. Actually, thinking about it a bit more, that made sense if I assumed the mana was a liquid. In that case, I would be swimming instead of walking. Though, I didn’t need to come up for air.

As I got closer to the object, I gradually picked out more features. It was a man somewhere in his late twenties. He wore rather light armor, but he had a sort of professional air to him. Two daggers along with a lantern hung from his belt. His body seemed to glow…wait, no, the mana surrounding him was glowing both gold and black, flickering every few seconds. He looked familiar…

Wait, isn’t that me? Why am I glowing? Is that the reason I can’t see my feet? Then what in the world am I right now?

I reached out to touch my body.

|||

The white expanse turned black as a red glow illuminated my surroundings. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I felt a sickening sensation – not quite the level of immense pain but stronger than general discomfort. I reached around for something, but I wasn’t sure what. It was as if my body was reacting on its own. Then, I realized the cause for my unease.

My hands were missing.

I could still see my arms, but anything past my wrist was gone. Blood slowly oozed out of the wound as though it had been cut off recently. I looked down, but there was nothing to look at.

Everything below my waist was gone too. Although I couldn’t feel anything that strongly, I fought back the urge to vomit.

It was as if I had been tortured to the edge of death.

|||

I pulled my hand away from my body. A weird sensation flowed through me as the dull pain subsided. I felt like I was being split apart, and yet I remained whole.

“What the hell was that?”

“[That is how the body is feeling.]”

Huh? Did my body just speak to me? There isn’t anyone else around…

“Who are you?”

“[I do not have a name. I am merely mana.]”

“An monst…amalgamation then?” I asked, dropping into a battle ready stance, or at least, I thought I was.

“[No. The body will not mutate outside of the necessary adjustments. Any unnecessary parts have been ejected.]”

Unnecessary parts…? Wait a second!!!!

“I’m not an unnecessary part!!! That’s my body!”

“[The operator has deemed you as unnecessary. As such, you were removed.]”

“Are you talking about that human-like thing attached to the well??? That’s bullshit!!!”

“[That is not the operator.]”

Huh? What do you mean that’s not the operator??? Who else can it be? Oh well, I have more important things to worry about. I calmed myself down before talking to the…mana? again.

“How do I get my body back?”

“[Touch the body. Five minutes remain before all adjustments are finished.]”

“You mean that dull pain is a result of the adjustments?”

“[Yes. The body’s capacity is being forcibly expanded.]”

“Hmm…can I go back in at the last moment then?”

“[No. The body will stabilize; no foreign substances will be allowed to enter.]”

So, basically, I have to deal with that pain for five minutes? I have a feeling that it won’t be so dull this time.

“Ha, ha, ha.” A small laugh unconsciously echoed through the air. This entire thing was likely a trap. Ever since I jumped into the well, no even before that, ever since I touched the swirling veil, everything had felt wrong. That was probably when my entire body started changing. This well only sped up the process. I had a feeling Runa knew all this but decided not to tell me. I swear…that girl can be so annoying. I shouldn’t have dropped my guard because she answered me honestly for once!

Well, I already decided to see this through to the end; I wasn’t turning back now.

I touched my body, prepared to take whatever this well would throw at me.

~~~

Somehow, I was back in the boss room of the dungeon, my hand no longer in the void of mana. It didn’t look like anything had changed. Runa was standing there in the center of the room, observing me. I clenched my fist a few times as I walked over.

Runa’s smile was particularly off-putting as she spoke to me. “So, how are you feeling?” She acted as if she already knew my answer, but I could tell she was misunderstanding something.

I swung my fist backwards. It came into contact with the amalgamation behind me. I already knew it was there; it exited the veil exactly when Runa asked her question. However, unlike last time, the amalgamation instantly turned into mist. As I expected…

“Kind of the same, I guess.”