Jack was laying down in a field of flowers. It was peaceful. The sky was blue, the sun was shining, and there was a giant rabbit heading straight for him. A rabbit? He action-rolled away from the incoming, oversized mammal. His caution proved to be pointless, as it simply leaped over him and continued on its merry way.

A hearty chuckle came from behind him. His eyes tracked the sound to his new familial relation. Apparently, he thought jumping death bunnies were funny. What is so funny? If that thing had landed on me… He actually didn’t know what but he had no intention of finding out.

The polychromatic giant wiped a tear from his eye. This one seemed to be made from actual water, though it seemed to reflect the light a little too much to seem natural. There was no chance of that happening. I commanded all of my beasts to do no harm to my guests long ago. You were never in any danger from Romper.

Jack grimaced at the rabbit's name. Is this your Soulscape? He looked over the surrounding terrain. It looked familiar somehow.

Yes! Welcome to my home, Sentinels Landing. This is the center of my power and also the same place that master first came to this world. He pointed to a series of connected lines and swooshes. It gave the impression of an immovable mountain with elements of wind and water mixed in. That is my foundation, the Land. Jack stared silently at the sigil before going closer to examine it. He felt a slight connection to this sigil. As if a part of him was also attuned to the same… Frequency? Channel? Whatever you call it, there it was.

Is this what you meant earlier when you said we have a connection? Jack asked.

Yes, it will allow us to combine our power to create effects that are impossible to do alone. Our connection is that which grows from the soil. I have control over all flora and fauna that grows on my land, to an extent. You use the same power to turn mana into Fuel. It resembles firewood because you are evoking the nature of wood during the refining process. Thus, we have overlap.

There is something more though. Jack replied. This place is so familiar. It’s like I was here just recently and forgot about it. He lifted a finger to his lip in thought.

You have a good eye. This is familiar because it is where we are in reality. My Soulscape revolves around making a connection to the land that I reside in. This is what Eternity looked like before humans ever came to this place. My land.

Sit down. It is time to learn. Moonlight is burning. Your first lesson today is going to be drawing mana from the environment.

Time passed as Felix stepped Jack through a series of complicated magical exercises. Now he knew how to draw both mana and taint from his immediate environment. He also knew how to use his mana channels to perform half a dozen different things, including empowering himself, Mana Forging, fighting off hostile mana, and much more. Most importantly, he could condense his mana. Before, he was just throwing more mana to expand the flames. This led to unconcentrated power that left just as easily as it came, diffuse. When he began to refine them, the edges turned back to orange and the Fire shrunk a little. Felix assured him that this was a good thing and was the only way to advance in a balanced fashion. Whatever that means. Eyes were rolled.

Normally this is the point where I teach you how to enhance yourself permanently but that vessel master Soul Forged for you is so far beyond me that you will have to figure that part out for yourself. When I asked master about it, they said that it was based on something called cybernetic engineering. He scratched his head in confusion. Those words must have seemed like gibberish to him but confirmed Jack’s current hypothesis. He was a cyborg. A magical cyborg.

While they were lying down and chatting on the grass, a form materialized in Sentinels landing.

Jack! Felix! There is an emergency!

Both men bolted up at the sound of their master's voice. Jack was completely startled to see the Sentinel, whereas Felix bore an expression of dread. Is it already happening? He asked.

Return to reality and find out. The Sentinel paused and seemed to weigh their next response. It does not look good. Take Jack with you. He has a certain kinship with them that should prove useful.

Felix appeared thoughtful for a second, though the dread had not left his craggy face. Will it be enough? It will be quite dangerous.

His signature magic, if properly utilized, will be the difference between freedom and tragedy. NOW GO!

…

Jack opened his eyes with a flutter. It took a second to adjust to the dimmer light of the study and his head was fuzzy, which is the only reason he did not immediately notice Arthur jumping around the room. He was screaming at Felix at the top of his lungs at his father to wake up.

A large hand shot out and landed on the hysterical boy's shoulder. “I am awake!” The older man assured him.

“Take a deep breath and use your calming exercise apprentice.” This feminine came from off to Jack's side. He turned to see Lillian had taken off her mischievous grin and put on a deep frown. Which Mr. Potato head did she get that expression from? Her dress was in tatters on the ground and she was back in her warrior garb from last night.

Arthur closed his eyes and Jack felt a pulse of mana flow through the room. He extended his awareness and found that Arthur had sent out a porous wave of mana. A second later the wave returned to the point of origin, only it had constricted enough to grab some golden-colored mana particles. Did he just create a mana net? Can I do that? How did he only collect that golden mana? Endless questions cycled through Jack’s mind.

As Arthur opened his eyes they flashed a regal gold, majestic. He lifted his chin to stare his father in the eye and spoke the words that would change this world forever. “A ghoul has taken Aster!”