The lingering euphoria from the goblin encounter faded as Adam's body sent undeniable signals. A hollow ache in his stomach and a pervasive dryness in his throat screamed for attention. The exhilaration of battle had consumed his reserves, and reality, in the form of basic human needs, asserted itself.
"Lyra," Adam panted, leaning against a tree, his earlier confidence replaced by a growing awareness of his physical limitations, "I need food and water. I can't go another round until I get some basic necessities met."
"Understood, Adam," Lyra confirmed. "Your physiological needs are paramount. Sustaining your mana flow and physical exertion requires caloric intake and hydration."
The Nature of Mana and System Restrictions
Adam, intrigued by his rapid self-healing, pondered a new possibility. "Lyra, with all this mana, and your knowledge, can I learn magic? Spells? Like healing or elemental control?"
Lyra's response was immediate, yet regretfully firm. "Adam, your body, while capable of remarkable innate mana manipulation, is not native to this world's system. Your current regenerative capabilities are a unique manifestation of your natural attunement and the raw mana density of your surroundings, allowing you to accelerate your body's natural recovery processes. It is not a 'spell' as this world understands it, nor can it be externally cast to heal others. It's a fundamental property of your altered physiology, something unknown even to native mana users, who typically rely on learned spells for healing."
"However, to learn conventional magic or spells, your body needs to be fully integrated into this world's system. This requires the 'Blessing from Above,' which you have not received. Without this, your personal mana flow is restricted from directly interfacing with the complex spellcasting matrices of this reality. Think of it as having the power source but lacking the software to run the applications."
The restriction hit Adam hard. He had incredible power, but it was limited by a fundamental oversight in his transmigration.
"Time is of the essence, Adam," Lyra urged, pulling him back to the present. "We must prioritize survival. I will now scan for the nearest potable water source and edible flora."
Seeking Sustenance
"Based on mana signatures and topographical analysis," Lyra announced, "there is a mana-purified spring approximately 300 meters southeast. It will provide clean water. For sustenance, I detect a cluster of Nutrient-Rich Mosses roughly 50 meters from the spring. They are non-toxic and provide essential calories."
Adam nodded, pushing off the tree. His mana sight would be invaluable. He needed to be quick, efficient. No more lengthy battles, no more pushing his limits until his basic needs were met. The confidence from earlier was replaced by a pragmatic determination. He would survive this.