During the training Ausas and Llanfil showed me various way to improve one's body, from the more slow and normal way to the fast and magic based ones. There were different demerits in both, but objectively some results could only be accomplished by magic means. Enhanced senses for example, but the difference between changing single organ and overhauling a whole body was the sheer complexity of it.

Even with the kind of memory I had obtained, and the experiences I accumulated, I wasn't able to be precise and fast at the same time with such a big project. So I did try to find another way than being the one doing the actual work, and actually found a solution. My first magic experiment showed me I wasn't able to create organic matter, but I found out later it was possible.

Only that the way of doing it was so counterintuitive that I believed it was no coincidence. Not only the image of the wanted result had to be perfect, but the visualization had to stay unwavering for all the time mana flowed into it. So the mp feeding was the contrary of any other magic.

Anyway, what was going to help me obtain a whole body enhancement, and leave me free enough to stay alert, was a construct similar to a retrovirus. If I was a programmer maybe I should've used the term macro, but the function was the same. The key was being subtle with the changes. If I used such method for the whole body structure surely many defect in the smallest detail were bound to happen. So the safest way was to create and launch a virus programmed to change only a specific set of cells.

In that case I was aiming to create a construct programmed to change my human skin into something more resistant. With the cuffs on I couldn't build outwards so the change was going to be literally under my skin.

The goal was to modify a set of cell in the dermis to make them a natural barrier generator. The inspiration for that kind of enhancement came to me when I was observing the deep sea fish outside Ausas home. At that time I thought the photophores, that made the fish emit their own light, were really interesting.

The first step was to create such a cell manually, to have a sample, and then have the virus copy the change in the rest of my body. The final product was going to be a full, skin tight, encasing defensive barrier. So I concentrated to create the sample and after a second I ended a small hexagonal bump, like a reptilian scale, appeared on my inner wrist. At the end of the process no evident changes was going to make other people suspicious, but at the beginning a careful observer was going to notice the growing scale.

In fact such an observer was already diligently at work. When I had launched the construct, and I was sure it started working correctly, I noticed the woman in the corner was still watching me intently. When our eyes met she spoke for the second time of the day.

- You did it again... With the mana sapping chain on... How are you able to do whatever you're doing? Who are you?

- ... So that's what surprised you? I'm Average by the way, regarding the magic chains I think you can now imagine the way to around they, don't you?

- So your kind consider your level of skill average?

- Geez not this again... Average it's my name, free laugh included in the package, so what's yours?

She abruptly changed expression, with her split lips, due to the scar, I couldn't tell if she was trying not to laugh or a more grim look, but she surely started staring at me even harder than before.