Lassim pushed open the door to his small room in the initiate-ranked disciples’ residence, his thoughts of annoyance slightly lingered on the meeting with the sect’s War Council. The wooden door creaked slightly as it closed behind him, sealing away the outside world.
He took a moment to let out a long breath, allowing the tension to defend himself, but also not give away his full secrets, that had built up during the meeting to drain away.
As he sat on the edge of his bed, Lassim reached into his magic pouch and pulled out his communication disc.
The small, smooth object glowed faintly in his hand, its surface swirling with tiny motes of light.
He had noticed in the meeting that there were several missed messages waiting for him, each marked by a tiny rune symbol hovering above the disc next to their contact’s names.
Lassim’s eyes softened as he looked at the symbols of those who had sent him messages.
Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m freewebnøvel.com.
After his experience with the future vision and seeing the dead bodies of his family as the cost of that future battle, there was something comforting about hearing from people who cared about him. He knew he was bad at checking the disc, but he couldn’t help that he was too busy getting teleported into other dimensional planes of existence so frequently.
He decided to start with the messages from Sanvra, the drow priestess who had moved with the rest of the drow to his family’s estate lands to integrate into Nexaria.
He smiled slightly as he recalled her calm demeanor and the way she carried herself with grace, even in the face of the many challenges they had encountered together. All in hope of one day leaving their prison.
Lassim focused on the disc, and the first message unraveled itself, the words appearing in a delicate script across the surface.
~///~
Sanvra: Hello my Star. I hope this message finds you well. Hallen has done well to show me how this communication disc works as it seems to be a newer model than the one I observed in your memories all those years ago.
The transition to life in Nexaria has been smoother than we anticipated. The drow community as a whole are adjusting well to the new environment, and there’s a sense of excitement among those who have shown proficiency in space elemental techniques. It seems we’ve all been given additional blessings once we stepped through the portal that day.
Those that have shown the most promise tell me they’ve been receiving divine inspiration for new spells and practices that align with their affinities. It’s fascinating to watch them grow in a place so different from the cold Underdark.
As for myself, I’ve been spending more time with Hallen. He’s a kind soul, and we often take walks through the woods surrounding Swallowtail Mountain City. It’s a peaceful place, and I find comfort in his company as we explore the place you grew up. He speaks highly of you, my star, and often shares stories of your time together, though as short as he repeatedly says it was.
I also had the pleasure of meeting Cirra and Gregor from your adventure in the Spider Kingdom. They’re an intriguing pair, and I’ve been helping Cirra with her dream of enabling spirit sense to carry words between individuals. Progress has been slow, but I find the work fulfilling. It’s a challenge I’m happy to assist with during my free time.
Lastly, I heard from Khaalseru in my daily prayers that you’ve advanced to the Spirit Ascension stage. Congratulations, my star. I knew you’d achieve great things, but this is a significant step forward.
I hope you are well, and I must admit, I miss having you around. All of us hope to see you again, but please focus on getting stronger like you wish.
Take care of yourself, and may the Goddess Khaalseru’s marks guide your attempts at molding the spatial weave. Call upon her if you need someone to guide you. She will answer.
~///~
Lassim’s smile grew as he read her words. He was worried about how the drow would face many challenges in their transition to the surface world, but it was reassuring to know that they were adapting well.
Sanvra’s mention of her walks with Hallen brought a warmth to his heart; and a bit of a cheeky smile. It seemed like his "uncle" had a unique type, so no wonder he was single. But he was glad to see her finding companionship and peace in Nexaria. Hallen was a good man, and he hoped things would go smoothly based on his assumptions of how things were currently going between them.
He also couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of Cirra and Gregor. The Spider Kingdom couple had been fiercely determined to find a way to communicate using spirit sense, and it didn’t surprise him that Sanvra had offered her help after making them both swear a heavenly oath to protect his secrets.
The progress might have been slow so far, but he had no doubt that if anyone could help them, it was Sanvra.
Her congratulations on his advancement brought a sense of pride, though tinged with a bit of melancholy.
He missed their quiet moments of managing the protective barriers and seeing the new Drow children play in the snow together. He missed the way she had always managed to calm his mind with just a few words after the fact that they had literally mind-melded with each other to understand each other’s languages.
Those 5 years spent together were difficult, but something he looked back on fondly now. He wondered when he might see her again, but for now, a reply would have to suffice.
Lassim tapped the disc, and his response flowed from his thoughts onto the screen.
~///~
Lassim: Sanvra, it’s good to hear from you and know that you’re doing well. I’m glad the drow are finding their place in Nexaria and I hope you find comfort in leading them to greater heights. I wish for them all to become strong as Nexaria will need everyone’s help to fight against the abyss.
There’s something I saw in a vision of the future that I cannot discuss casually, but please encourage everyone to grow stronger… for all our sake’s.
Please give my regards to Hallen—I’m happy to hear that you’ve found a good friend in him.
As for Cirra and Gregor, tell them I’m rooting for them. Spirit sense communication is still a wild dream, but I’m sure they’ll figure it out with your help.
Thank you for the congratulations on my advancement! I haven’t told anyone else except my Sect, so feel free to let the others know. The Spirit Ascension stage was difficult to reach, but I’m ready to face what comes next.
I miss our talks and hope that I can visit you all soon. Until then, take care of yourself, Sanvra. I’ll keep you updated on my progress. May Khaalseru keep you and the others safe.
~///~
Satisfied with his reply, Lassim sent the message and then moved on to the next set of missed communications.
His mother’s rune hovered near the top of the list, and his heart tightened slightly at the sight of it. It had been a while since he’d heard directly from his family instead of through Hallen, and he was eager to know how they were faring.
With a focused thought, the message unraveled before his eyes.
~///~
Elisa Rohese Vanthar: Lassim, my dear baby boy, how we miss you! Your father and I think of you every day and wonder how you are doing in the Lightning Sect. Are you eating well? Training hard? I hope you’re staying safe and taking care of yourself.
Your father likes to boast that he could still beat you in a duel, but I have a feeling you’ve grown even stronger since you left. Maybe when you visit, you can prove him wrong!
The estate is as lively as ever, and the fields that were adapted to start growing additional food for the Drow in the forest are looking beautiful. The workers have been harvesting the first round of new crops, and the fruits from the seeds the Drow brought with them are the sweetest I’ve ever had. I plan to make a new pastry with them in the coming days.
Your father and I wish you could be here to taste them.
Lassim, we’re so proud of you. Keep pushing forward, but remember to take care of yourself. We love you dearly. Please write back when you can.
~///~
Lassim felt a wave of warmth and longing wash over him as he read his mother’s words.
He could picture her in their family home, bustling about with her usual energy, while his father probably kept a watchful eye over the fields. The mention of his father’s boast brought a grin to his face.
He could almost hear the rugged man’s voice, full of pride and challenge.
He couldn’t wait to spar with him again—only this time, he had no doubt he’d win. As far as he was aware, his father was Spirit Transcendent, so he’d surely give him quite the shock if they faced off today; let alone on a year or two from now when he could freely leave the sect.
He quickly composed a reply, his fingers moving swiftly over the disc.
~///~
Lassim: Mother, it’s so good to hear from you. I miss you both more than I can say.
Tell Father that I’m certain I could beat him in a duel now—I’ve grown a lot since I left, and I’d love to finally be able to test my skills against him when I come back.
I’m doing well here, training hard and learning a lot. The sect is… challenging, and I’ve run into a few issues that I can’t control, but I’m making progress.
I’m eating just fine, so don’t worry about that. I wish I could be there to taste those fruits and see the fields for myself, but for now, I’ll have to make do with it being something to look forward to.
I’ll keep pushing forward, and I promise to take care of myself. Please stay healthy and happy, both of you. I love you dearly. I’ll write again soon.
~///~
He sent the message and then paused for a moment, letting the connection with his family linger in his mind. The distance between them felt vast, but knowing they were proud of him gave him a sudden burst of strength to keep moving forward, even if he kept having issues with the sect.
With another breath, he turned his attention to the last unread message—a new rune contact labeled—Sirium Giffard.
Lassim’s heart lifted once more at the sight of the name. Sirium had been his best friend during their time at the Myriad Spirit Academy, and though they had taken different paths after graduation, he still felt that their friendship remained strong.
He opened the message, eager to hear from his old friend.
~///~
Sirium: Lassim! It’s been too long, my friend. I hope this message finds you well. I’ve been busy since leaving the academy, but I’ve got some exciting news to share.
I’ve reached Spirit Growth stage, level 4, and I’m currently studying at the Aurora Kingdom’s Office Academy! You reached Spirit Growth stage over 5 years ago now, so you much have advanced well into Spirit Transformation by now right? I’ve been focusing on tactics and battle strategy, and you know what? It’s actually really more fascinating than I had thought it would be.
I never thought logistics could be this easy to plan, but it turns out all those lessons from my family about logistics for transporting goods across kingdoms have given me a knack for organizing troops and resources in battle.
I’m at the top of my class, and I’ve even caught the attention of one of the Aurora Kingdom’s Generals. He’s taken me on as his personal assistant, and I’ve been learning a lot from him. It’s challenging work, but I’m enjoying every moment of it.
But enough about me—how are you doing? Have you heard anything from Lustria? Ever since she left for the Shadow Sect in the northern continent, it’s like she completely disappeared.
I’ve tried sending her messages, even physical letters, but she hasn’t replied to anything. I’m starting to get a little worried.
Anyway, I hope you’re kicking ass over there in the Lightning Sect. Let me know how you’re doing, and maybe we can find some time to catch up properly. Take care, Lassim.
~///~
Lassim’s brows furrowed slightly as he read Sirium’s message.
It was great to hear that his friend was doing well, advancing in his cultivation and finding an even greater passion for tactics and strategy. It didn’t surprise Lassim at all that he was excelling at the Aurora Kingdom’s Office Academy and even being taken under the wing of one of the kingdom’s generals. That’s just how great he knew someone he called his friend would be.
However, the news about Lustria was concerning. Lassim hadn’t heard from her since she left for the Shadow Sect either, and the fact that Sirium’s messages and letters had gone unanswered was troubling.
Lustria had always been the most independent and mysterious with what her upbringing was like, not really sharing much in their trio, but she wasn’t the type to simply disappear without a trace. Especially after that moment they shared and she asked for him to wait for her to catch up. He hoped that whatever was keeping her silent was nothing serious.
He decided to focus on the positive first before addressing their shared worry about Lustria. He tapped the disc, and his thoughts flowed into his reply.
~///~
Lassim: Sirium! It’s great to hear from you, and congratulations on reaching Spirit Growth stage, level 4! I always knew you’d do well, but it sounds like you’ve really found your calling. I’m not surprised you’re at the top of your class, and getting noticed by a general is great! I’m proud of you bro!
As for me, I’ve been busy with the Lightning Sect, and you’re right about having broken through to the Spirit Transformation stage, hehe… I’ve actually just recently advanced to the Spirit Ascension stage! Cool right?
It’d be nice to have you here with me though as things have been intense since my breakthrough. The sect is in the middle of a war with a rival sect here in the Southern Continent called the Endless Sun Sect. So, it seems I’ve been thrown into the thick of it. Having some advice on strategies more than just, "explode them to smithereens with sheer power" would be more sophisticated and appreciated.
About Lustria… I haven’t heard from her either, and that does worry me. I hope she’s okay, but there’s not much I can do from here, or you in the Veridian Continent. Let’s just hope for the best, but I’ll keep an ear out for any news. I’ll see if my family has any connections in the Northern Continent to try and get a hold of her after I finish this Sect War.
Oh, and if you hear anything in the meantime, please let me know!
We should definitely catch up in person when things settle down. I’d love to see how much you’ve grown, and maybe we can spar a bit—just like back at the academy. Stay sharp, Sirium, and don’t forget to keep working on your cultivation level too. Strategy is important, but so is being able to hold your own in a fight.
Trust me, the power gap between us and the Abyss is massive and I want my future "Strategy General" bro to be able to not be too far behind.
Take care of yourself, and I’ll talk to you soon.
~///~
Lassim sent the message, feeling a mix of pride and concern.
It was comforting to know that his old friend was doing well, but the uncertainty surrounding Lustria left a knot of worry in his chest.
He knew Lustria was strong but the northern continent and the Shadow Sect were harsh places, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.
But for now, all he could do was focus on the tasks at hand. The Lightning Sect needed him, and he had his own responsibilities to uphold if he wanted to be more free within the sect.
With all the messages read and replied to, Lassim took a deep breath and centered himself.
The weight of the sudden responsibility given to him in the sect war pressed down on him, but the words from his friends and family had reminded him of what he was fighting for. It reminded him of why he needed to be stronger and grow even faster if he wanted to protect them.
He would do anything to not witness that future vision in real life. Even though he felt disconnected from the sect itself, it was a great tool of resources to use if he could someday get access to some of them. There were people who mattered to him, and he would do whatever it took to fight to protect them; even if it meant dealing with a shitty Sect Master.
He activated the war council’s rune that Elder Yan had given him, sending a brief message to inform them that he was ready for the first special mission.
Almost immediately, a response came back.
~///~
War Council: Meet your team at the southern gate entrance in 5 minutes. They’ve been briefed and are ready to depart on your command. Listen to the suggestions of your team and do well. The sect’s chance to fight back depends on the success of these missions. Good luck, initiate disciple Lassim.
~///~
Lassim pocketed the communication disc and stood up, his expression hardening. It was time to meet his special assault team and begin the next phase of the war.