"I actually got a quest!" Ilmadia exclaimed after Eldrian shared his plans, and their mission, with them.
"Really?" He asked, sad that it might truly confirm that quests would no longer be something for him to gain. Or if they are, then they would be truly rare.
"Yeah, and you're the quest giver!" Nikki jumped in, the revelation that players could hand out quests was massive. It would certainly make huge waves on the forums, however, upon thinking of that the group quickly calmed down as they remembered what Elizabeth had told them.
They didn't know all the details, but they did know that they shouldn't go about sharing details surrounding Eldrian.
Of course, with the change in the city, there was no way Miracle would have lost sight of it. They were sure to know that Eldrian was here, back in the game and thriving.
Eldrian was actually still waiting to be approached, he expected that Constantin might be sent to talk with him. To try and negotiate. Why it was taking so long he did not know.
"Sucks that I can't get one myself..." Eldrian chuckled, not too bothered. While levels and the free attributes they gave were nice. He understood that they no longer made as big an impact as before.
"When are we setting out?" Elizabeth asked.
"I want to try and reach Tier 5 first, and I also want you guys to try a new type of casting method I discovered." Taking out a manual he had asked Brazan to put together, Eldrian handed it to Elizabeth.
It was mostly relating fire runes and fire spells, something which Brazan has been studying up on every second of his free time.? The manual only contained Tier 1 runes, mostly because Eldrian wanted to start simple and also because Brazan hadn't gotten far into everything. Unlike Two, it took him a day or two to finish a single book.
"Please try to memorize the runes and also understand their meaning. And try to focus on your connection with your mana, this might just be a shortcut to Tier 5."
Hearing the last part, everyone turned serious and stared at the book as if it was the holy grail. Thus far, not a single player had managed to break the Tier 5 barrier.
Eldrian going to attempt it was not all that shocking, it was almost expected. But this-- something allowing them to do the same. That was massive.
Leaving them with their thoughts, Eldrian headed to the magic association. Wanting to be careful with his breakthrough, thus hoping to use Sofiera's training room for privacy and security might something go wrong.
...
"Are you sure about this?" Sofiera asked after Eldrian gave her a quick breakdown of what his plans were.
"Yeah, things seem stable. Nothing happened when I was gone for two days, I am sure I can disappear for two more without much trouble."
The centaurette frowned as a smile crept in on her. Giving her quite a weird look, frown smiling. "You actually remind me a lot of Pelaros in how you are handling everything. Casually handing it down to those around you and then forgetting about it."
"Well, I need to focus on what I feel is most important." Eldrian countered, unsure if her words were praise or criticism.
"You even have the same response, though his important thing was being able to enjoy a book. Yours is... What should I do if you don't come out after two days?"
"Then I likely died, and if I am still not back then something went massively wrong. You'll need to take over then, Elizabeth should be a big help with the Chosen. Were busy arranging for more Chosen to come to Taurus, though the cost will be massive, estimations are around fifty to a hundred gold per Chosen."
"Which is why you handed them the cleanup mission? To prove they're worth it?"
Nodding, Eldrian continued, "Yes, and if this new type of casting can truly be a shortcut to reaching Tier 5, then they are sure to become even more useful."
"I also need to give it a try, you said you simply drew the rune while navigating some mana into it?"
"Let me show you," Heading into the training room, Eldrian wanted a simple showcase and as always fire was the easiest to see and the flashiest.
He didn't pick an advanced fire rune, instead, using one of the simplest ones he knew. One that could only handle around 50MP.
"This is the first stage, if you can manage to do this then you should be able to cast the spell," Eldrian said, showcasing the translucent rune made of near-invisible flames staying in place where Eldrian had traced it. Almost as if it had been engraved into the very air itself.
"Next, I normally send the plan I have for the spell, envisioning its progress. For example," Wanting the spell to slowly twirl to the ground, Eldrian released his control over the rune.
As if it was some sort of gel, the fire slowly started forming and twirling to the ground. The speed at which it moved made it appear like it was struggling to move through the air. Like it was sticking to it, and slowly moving down along the path of least resistance.
"I'm not sure if anyone can superimpose what they want it to do so easily, if you fail to do so." Repeating the rune drawing, Eldrian this time did not superimpose a vision for the spell.
Upon releasing the spell, flames simply sprang forth. Almost twice as much as with Volida, which comparing mana usage seemed right; if a little less effective.
"Fascinating. Why have I never heard of something like this?"
"I have the same question, I suspect something has changed within magic and especially considering mana. When Solvi tried it she first attempted forming a rune in her mind space, as was my first attempt. In doing so she reported that her mana seemed afraid."
"That's impossible."
"Agreed, but we do know that mana reacts to emotions. So it might have been reflecting her doubts, or at least that's my theory."
"But, I've never heard of something like that either."
"Which is why I think something changed, making mana more sensitive to our thoughts and emotions."
Sofiera looked at Eldrian as her eyes slowly grew larger and larger. Finally, she was left stunned as she realized what this could mean, both the good and the bad.
"Yeah, that's kind of the same thing I went through." Eldrian chuckled, "It means reaching Tier 5 should be easier for everyone, and with this method, it might be exponentially easier. However, mana might also be less stable."
"Meaning the rate at which Chaotic Energy forms might also increase," Sofiera said, connecting the dots. "Does it also mean that learning to dynamic cast will be easier?"
"I think so, I can't really tell the difference. Can you ask Myropsis when she comes back?"
"I will..."
Poor Myropsis had been running around, acting as the emissary of the city trying to negotiated deals with the other cities of Taurus. Unable to do what was important -learning magic-, as was her plan with securing Eldrian as the mayor. In a strange turn of events, he had more free time than her.
This wasn't because Eldrian wanted to keep her busy but because she was a part of the royal family, and as such, she had far more influence than most nobles. Even if she had never particularly developed connections, no one would outright refuse her.
And with her running around they had learned that the kingdom was simply under too much pressure. Just focusing on slowing the loss of villages, towns, and cities was nearly all that it was capable of.
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