'Why the fuck is the sun up so early?' The first thought that I have in the morning is one of annoyance and frustration. Annoyed that overdosing isn't enough to take me out. Frustrated because it's Monday during the school week.
'At least I don't have a headache' accepting the silver lining I sit up yawning all the while. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, my blurry perception of the world slowly clears. Then I blink, once, twice, and a third time for good measure.
"What. The. Fuck." I am incapable of recognizing my room, simply because it isn't mine. It's far too spacious and the furniture screams old money. Like my bed for example, which is so big I barely fill in even a fourth of the mattress. Not that I am particularly big, but still the bed is fucking huge… and comfy.
'You know what, i'm too young and pretty for this shit' throwing the covers off me, jumping out of bed with all do haste. I make a beeline for what must be my personal bathroom. And would you look at that, I'm right like always.
The light turns on, on its own. Giving me plenty of time to look for something sharp and lethal. As I walk through the spacious bathroom, the sheer cleanliness can't escape me. Nor'e can the extravagance.
Spotting a razor blade on the sink. I can't help but smile. 'With this I won't have to worry about… what ever the fuck is happening right now.' Running away and avoiding responsibility, a great trait I know.
Approaching the sink I take the knife in hand. Only to look up, a gasp wisping past my lips. 'This… this..' my thoughts stutter, jumbling in on itself due to divine exposure.
Long, flowing black hair dances down my back like abyssal waves. Framing an oval shaped face adorned with a pair of cold blue eyes. And noble yet cool features chiseled out of Greek marble.
In all honesty I don't look too different than I normally do. But… it's like… everything about me has been enhanced. "Great" I scoff dropping the razor "I'm too hot to kill myself now."
Before I was a seven out of ten, but now the scale has been broken. Hell, twenty out of ten would understate just how fucking gorgeous I am. Cutting and drugging up such a body would be a sin.
'Okay, maybe some drugs will be alright.' If I'm gonna deal with whatever the fuck THIS is, being high will be a requirement. Opening a cabinet my gaze immediately locks onto a bottle filled with an odd liquid.
It glows with a mysterious hue, as if it contains other worldly knowledge and through knowledge power. The colors are simple, two shades of blue similar yet distinct in shade swirl against one another. Bubbling within are purple orbs which sparkle in spite of the lacking sunlight.
Suddenly a piece of the puzzle clicks into place. I groan, pinching my nose in irritation. 'The C.Y.O.A is real' such a realization would have excited any other person in my position. Admittedly I am, except for a tiny detail that ruins my experience.
'What exactly did I write down?' Frowning I scratch my chin in an attempt to remember a smudge of information. Only to find that I can't 'probably because of all the drugs I dumped in my system.'
Such a thought sends a shiver down my spine. Drunk Marian is dumb and dangerous Marian. Who knows what sort of abomination this world is.
"Ohgod, I'm so fucked…" dragging my hands over my face, I groan in complety dismay. This is not how I would want to be isekaid. Left in the hands percocet fueled, adhd, drunk bitch.
'Though this is still better than listening to my mom bitch for the hundredth morning in a row. No stinky brother who forgot what toiletries are. And sorinara to fake friends who stab each other in the back!' I can feel my eyes practically twinkle as I consider the pros of my circumstances. Sure I might die to some eldritch tentacle rape, but that is much better than going through another day of my old life.
'So without further ado…' smirking I grab the essence and quickly uncork it. Taking a sniff I sigh at the pleasant smell before finally taking a sip.
A subtle fruity taste dances on my tongue in a lulling symphony. It is cool, refreshing even as it flows down my throat. And for a moment I fall into a trance.
'What. Is. That?' Before me is an ethereal blue river which flows through and around me.
MANA
The sudden answer snaps me out of my trance. An influx of information flowing through my mind. As I fully assimilate with the essence's properties.
Yet my attention is stolen by a flood of pleasant sensations. A warm buzz of energy that flows through my veins lighter than air. It glows with a violet hue as it beats from my heart, rises from my body, and seamlessly merge with the surrounding mana.
'So… beautiful…' entranced I find that I can't stop perceiving mana. The feelings it brings better than any drug I have introduced into my system. And it does so passively with barely an effort. How would it feel if it was more active? If I were to cast a spell?
'How would that even work? How does the magic in this world work? Is it based on affinity or is study actually required? Can I simply cast or do I need a focus?' My mind whirls with possibilities even as a silent part of me finds my reaction off.
'Wait, I have the Essence of The Arch-Mage. I don't need to worry about such silly things.' Essences are a cheat and when it comes to magic, the arch-mage is one of the best. Not just because of its power but also its potential.
Slowly I close my eyes, focusing my perception on my mana. In my mind I try my hardest to envision Fire. Becaue I have magic and if I can't cast fireball I will fucking off myself.
Luckily picturing it in my head is easy enough, though projecting said image through my mana is a bit of an issue due a lack of reference. Yet that doesn't stop me from noticing how my mana reacts to my actions. Becoming "primed" in a sense.
With nothing better to do I just will it. No complex equations. No incantations. Just pure brute force and vague thought.
"Wow" I shudder in amazement, my eyes opening wide as I stare at the flame currently engulfing my hand. Yet it doesn't burn, hell it barely feels warm. In spite of this fact my hand can't stop trembling.
Eventually the flame goes out as I pant hotly. Falling to my knees in euphoric bliss while my mana settles. I feel so light, relaxed, and undeniably higher than I have ever been.
"More" I gasp out, biting my lower lip.
"I need more"