n

n

n

"True... It is far better than Observe.

" Zamia nodded and smiled. When she smiled she was naturally a sight to behold, yet somehow her beauty did not influence Eldrian much. Other than reminding him of when she had visited him while he was still naked after bathing.

nHe blushed as he thought of her words. 'Are we really as incompatible as you said?' He wondered, causing even his ears to turn red as he recalled the weird thoughts that had entered his mind when she had said it.

nShaking his head to clear it of these strange thoughts, Eldrian asked,

"What else should I do then? If I want to not be tricked?

"

n

"A good question, and not one with a simple solution. Becoming stronger is the most straightforward solution to never be kept in the dark.

"

n

"Of course, but that is easier said than done.

" Eldrian countered.

n

"As is all things in life.

" She replied before taking another sip, Eldrian suddenly remembering the tea and quickly mirroring her. The tea helping him calm down and think clearer again.

nInstead of pressing to move things along, Eldrian enjoyed the tea and the beauty of the surroundings, and company. The glade, illuminated by the moonlight was quite a sight to behold. The spring and waterfalls at the far side reflected the light in a spectacular, beautiful way.

n

"Why did you come back?

" Zamia asked after a few minutes passed.

nEldrian paused on hearing the question, ashamed at his true purpose.

"At first, I just came hoping to still bond with Cephaphyr and then return to the war.

"

n

"And now?

"

n

"Now...

" Eldrian took a sip to help him keep calm and give him time to think through his response.

"Now I am unsure if you still wish for that. My becoming a candidate has placed a massive target on my back and if Ceph joins me... I can't guarantee his survival.

"

n

"Indeed,

" Zamia nodded, not giving Eldrian the answer he desperately craved. He cared little for if it was a yes or no, he just wanted the answer.

n

"Do you know what being a candidate actually means?

" Zamia asked after a moment of silence and Eldrian truthfully shared what he did know.

n

"I see. Yes, it is an indication of a unique perception of magic and an indication of having a strong internal drive. Regardless if this is one of kindness or heartlessness.

"

n

"But that is just it, and it is also the key to it all. What drives you will be the thing that defines you and the type of candidate you are.

"

nEldrian nodded and didn't interrupt, but it seemed that Zamia was done speaking. Leaving him wondering what his drive was. His strongest conjecture was that it should be linked to his hidden class. 'Protector... Is it because I do not wish to have those close to me be hurt and die?'

nIt was indeed one of the things that he used to push himself beyond his limits time and time again. What kept him focused and never slacking. What had allowed him to survive Milgoroth's ambushes.

n

"It seems you found your drive, your path. That is good...

" As Eldrian wanted to share she shook her head and said,

"No need to share. It is your aspiration, and yours only. Never let anyone change this, always stay true to it.

"

nEldrian nodded and asked,

"What else did you want to ask me?

"

n

"Not much,

" Zamia smiled and took a sip,

"I am curious about the path you chose for magic. I see that you discarded the elements in your mana.

"

n

"Discarded? That is a rather harsh word.

"

n

"But it is true. Why did you do it?

"

nEldrian took a moment again to gather his thoughts,

"I had thought that having my mana be of certain elements would slow down my ability to use other types. That it would limit what I can do.

"

nZamia nodded and asked,

"Then, what did you hope for?

"

n

"That I will be able to alter it at will. To be in control...

" Eldrian paused as he realized something, something he had overlooked after his last breakthrough.

"But, I don't need to be in control... It is already me, it is part of me...

"

nZamia smiled as she saw Eldrian entering contemplation. 'He has changed a great deal, I wonder if he realized the limitation of his approach to magic?'

nEldrian took his time, diving into meditation and looking at the mana moving along the pathways he had designated for them. 'Not now, I first need her answer.' Eldrian stopped himself from changing them for now, though he knew that it wouldn't be as hard as before.

n

"You once said that I would find my way of using magic limiting myself.

" Eldrian said, nearly causing Zamia to choke on her tea. The timing was just too much for her to keep her composure.

n

"Yes, I recall. You had this unique method of combining mana control and spell modules to learn spells at an extreme speed.

"

n

"Yes, I have a few questions regarding this. I do not understand what you meant. However, I am stuck on a few things and they might be what you meant.

"

nZamia nodded and indicated for him to explain further. To demonstrate what he was getting at, Eldrian cast Frost Needle and kept the icicle floating above the table.

"Why is there mana in raw form behind this? I know it is what moves the spell through the air, but why and how. Why is it not the air element?

"

nSeeing his near-perfect cast and control over the spell, Zamia took her time first admiring both. All magical creatures had a unique way of using magic, a way that humans couldn't copy. They also couldn't use magic as humans. They simply weren't made to do it.

nSeeing Eldrian's spell, however, Zamia wondered if maybe this wasn't really true. 'He surely deserves his candidacy.' She thought, extremely aware that he had made this much progress in just 4 months. That he had only been in this world for 5.

n

"What else are you curious about?

" Zamia asked, wanting to first gauge how much Eldrian had figured out by himself.

n

"My other questions are on spell modules, but-

"

n

"While we don't use them, I am aware of how they are used. You should recall.

"

n

"Of course,

" Eldrian nodded, how could he not recall her help.

"My first question is why spell modules are fixed. I have already discovered that spells become unstable if you change them, but they can still cast and exist even if incorrect.

"

n

"My question is, why instead of having the spell module of Tier 5 shift from one version to the other. Why must one instead replace the envisioned spell module completely?

"

n

"Oh my,

" Zamia looked at Eldrian in slight surprise and took a sip of tea to calm herself down.

"You are already looking at Tier 5 spells?

"

n

"I've only seen one, and after learning how you are supposed to cast it. I was left with this question a few days later.

"

n

"I see... As you said, a spell will become unstable if the spell module isn't perfect. How would you have it morph without entering an unstable state? The known method uses only the perfect modules, to keep the spell under control.

"

nEldrian thought on this and cast Floga while still keeping the icicle floating above the table. Expanding and shrinking the ball of flame while considering how he would form the spell module for the spell.

n