Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri)-Chapter 38: Mana sense

Eris won't spill the beans about her magic, which makes me pout a little, but no matter! It's time for me to dive into the world of magic myself! The book already has instructions on how to begin, so I just need to follow along and give it my all.

Step one: sensing mana.

To use and manipulate mana, the first step is to feel it. But apparently, that's easier said than done. Each person can only perceive mana by "awakening" their senses, and once awakened, everyone's mana perception is unique.

For some, mana appears as colorful wisps or a smoky veil hovering around mana-rich things. For others, it's a scent, a distinct sound, or even a flavor!

Usually, only one sense awakens per person. When an ordinary sense becomes attuned to mana, it's called a "mana sense."

Interestingly, race plays a role in which sense awakens. Most cat Furrens develop visual mana perception, seeing it as floating lights or glowing waves. Dog, wolf, and mouse Furrens often develop a keen smell for mana, like sniffing out a storm before it hits. Lizard Furrens? They can taste it with their tongues, which is weird but kinda cool. And for non-Furren humans, it's completely random—like rolling a dice to see which sense gets upgraded.

Now, how to awaken the mana sense?

There are three popular methods:

Method One: Meditative Focus

This one's all about getting zen with it. Deep meditation, sensory isolation, and breathing exercises help tune in to mana's subtle vibe. Sitting in a dark, quiet room with a mana-rich object nearby can speed up the process.

Method Two: Elemental Exposure

This involves surrounding yourself with the element your mana core might resonate with. The problem? Most people can predict their mana attribute based on what their parents had. But I have no idea what mine is. So unless I want to soak myself in every element and see which one clicks, this option is out.

Method Three: Using Powerful Drugs

Fast, potent, and… kind of risky. The upper class loves this one. Special potions can either heighten all senses or forcefully kickstart the mana sense directly. The catch? These drugs are rare, expensive, and have some wild side effects. Basically, the spicier the potion, the higher the risk.

Some people even combine all three methods, going full intensity to speed things up.

Alright, which one should I try?

Since I have no clue about my elemental attribute and no magic booster juice, meditation is my best bet.

"Alright, meditation time!" I declare, settling into a comfortable position and closing my eyes.

"Hehe, good luck!" Eris says, watching me with amusement. She dims the lights, leaving only a single candle flickering between us. Darkness surrounds us, thick and quiet.

"Ready?" she whispers, her voice barely above a breath.

"Nn!" I nod.

Fuu~!

Eris blows out the candle, plunging us into complete darkness.

All my senses feel heightened now—the lingering scent of melted wax, the rhythmic thump-thump of my heart, the soft rise and fall of Eris's breathing… and the comforting warmth of her fingers intertwined with mine.

——————-

The book states that it usually takes around 500 hours of deep meditation for someone to awaken their mana sense. With sensory-enhancing drugs, that number drops to 200 hours. Geniuses, however, sometimes achieve it in under 50 hours, with the record being a staggering 10 hours.

Hearing that, my competitive spirit flares.

"Eris, how long did it take you to awaken your mana sense?" I whisper.

"Hmm… I don't remember exactly, but it was around 100 hours. And—" she smirks, "no drugs, by the way."

I gasp. That's twice as fast as the average person!

"Alright!" I declare, brimming with determination. "I'm going to beat your record!"

Eris chuckles, squeezing my hand encouragingly. "Hehe, go, Felicia! You can do it!"

We go quiet again, and I try to focus.

… … …

A few minutes pass, and…

My eyelids start to droop.

Before I know it, my body begins to relax, my mind drifting into that sweet, warm abyss of—

"Hey…"

A soft voice nudges at the edge of my awareness.

"Hey, wake up! You're supposed to meditate, not nap!"

"R-right!" I jolt awake, quickly slapping my own cheeks to shake off the sleepiness.

Okay, no dozing off!

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

Alright, let's try again!

This time, I focus properly.

I follow the instructions carefully: inhale deeply for four seconds, hold for two, then exhale slowly. Rinse and repeat.

My breath steadies.

My mind quiets.

This time, I will stay awake.

This time, I will focus.

This time, I will awaken my mana sense!

—————————

After about ten minutes…

In the darkness…

Huh?

Tiny, glowing particles start to pop up around me, like delicate flecks of glitter suspended in the air. They're faint at first, shimmering softly, but as I focus, more and more begin to appear, sparkling like stardust. Most of them glow a gentle white, but here and there, I catch glimpses of red, blue, and yellow drifting like lazy embers caught in a breeze.

Is this… ambient mana? The natural mana floating around in the atmosphere?

But then, my eyes widen in pure awe.

Right where Eris is sitting, a swirling, mesmerizing cloud of deep purple glitter outlines her entire body. The tiny flecks dance and twirl gracefully around her, pulsing softly, as if responding to the rhythm of her breath. And right at her chest, I see it—a concentrated vivid point of dark light, about the size of a tennis ball, radiating waves of pure energy.

Whoa!

The book mentioned that a mana core resides in the heart… so that must be Eris's mana core!

"I… I think I did it!" I whisper, unable to contain my excitement.

"Huh? No way!" Eris gasps, clearly stunned. "Are you serious? It's only been ten minutes!"

"Nu! I'm serious! I'm seeing glitter—sparkly, magic glitter!" I babble excitedly. "Ah—oh no… it's gone!"

The tiny lights flicker and fade the moment I lose focus.

Dang it! Maybe I got too excited and broke my concentration?

Eris chuckles, shaking her head in disbelief. "Hmmm… alright, try again?"

"Nn!" I nod, determination flaring.

Alright, Felicia—second try. Let's make this work!

I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and steady myself.

Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out.

Slowly, surely, the glittering particles begin to reappear, this time brighter and clearer than before. They twinkle around me like a miniature galaxy, filling the air with a quiet, enchanting glow.

HECK YEAH!!!

This is seriously the coolest thing ever!