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n(This is chapter 506, mess up with the volume which I can't fix myself.)

n(Please read 'Sofiera's Gift' first before returning to this one. Did not even know this was something that could happen.)

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"Then, what are you talking about?

" Sofiera questioned but quickly linked it to Myropsis's training and what she knew of Eldrian.

"You already seemed to know this, why did it seem like you realized something larger then?

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"Because I did. I truly suspected that all aspects of magic are linked to willpower and emotions. However, I do not really know of any aspects outside of elemental.

"

nEldrian didn't know if he should lump auras into an aspect or if they transcended them.

"What finally clicked is that it seems emotions and willpower can't be separated.

"

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"But spells?

" Sofiera still felt emotions had no place in spells, it would just make envisioning the spell module all the harder.

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"Right, we might not call being focused an emotion. But, that doesn't exactly mean that it isn't an emotion... Maybe, rather... It is a certain state of being...

" Eldrian mumbled and paused, knowing that he couldn't express himself correctly through words.

nWhat he needed was a telepathic connection to share the concepts he was thinking of.

"You said they needed extreme emotions to become undead, can you explain?

"

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"Of course,

" Sofiera smiled,

"To revive as an undead which is conscious, and, for the discussion can be considered sentient and thus alive; to revive as such an undead you need more than just the correct ritual to call upon the aspect of death. You also need to survive.

"

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"Is it dangerous?

" Eldrian asked and as he did he immediately thought of his battle against the revenant heart.

"I think I understand, you need to have an anchor to not drown.

"

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"Yes, that is how I understand it.

"

n'And when controlling my auras the anchors are a limited few emotions. No, rather, I need to control the emotions while not drowning in them... It isn't the same... But... When I succeeded in willing that wind spell to dodge Zamia's attack... Was it emotionally driven?'

nEldrian paused and tried to recall what exactly had happened back then. He had been through hell, constantly tired and aching, even IRL. He truly had wanted to succeed. To have the training come to an end. And as he had seen Zamia's attack approach him. He had focused on that one wish.

n'I would say a wish is emotionally driven, but not by a specific emotion. Wanting something, we don't call it an emotion but it certainly is one...'

n'Right, separating thoughts and emotions might be the wrong way of approaching things. If I consider conventional thoughts calm emotions, and agitated thoughts what we call emotions... Maybe I should rather consider states of being?'

n'Yes, that might work. Being in a state of calmness, being in a state of focus, a state of anger, of killing. Yes, that does work better.'

nEldrian's thoughts continued to spiral and Sofiera realizing what was going on decided to return to her desk.

nAfter nearly half an hour, Eldrian finally moved again. He immediately turned to the training room, closed the doors, and looked at his hands.

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"Again the question is what magic really is... I know mana is free energy,

" Eldrian mumbled, waving his hand and letting flames appear briefly behind it. Like a sweeping falling star in the dark night of the closed room.

nAll it took to summon these basic flames was sending a bit of mana in the form of the fire element outside.

nTo the current Eldrian; this was child's play.

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"Yes, I see. I don't need to really think about the mana, but I can.

" Eldrian smiled as he waved his hand again. This time what appeared behind his hand was bright blue flames, the heat of which quickly filled the room.

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"And if I agitate this,

" Waving his hand again, the flames this time was no longer peaceful. Instead, it raged and tried to eat at even Eldrian's own clothes. Yet, it was not Eldrian controlling them to be rageful.

nEldrian then extended his hand and summoned Floga, a spell with a specific mana requirement that he knew so well he didn't even need to think of it.

"And I can control you through controlling the mana, but what about if I simply...

"

nEldrian concentrated on the ball of flame around the size of his fist with a myriad of thoughts, the foremost being: anger, hate, and; kill!

nHe forgot about his mana and instead had these emotions fill his mind. Pushing this state of desiring annihilation into this small ball of fire.

nIt happened slowly at first, but soon the tipping point was reached and the ball of flame became a raging inferno. Sending out licks of flame high and wide searching for something, anything, to turn into ash.

nYet, this all happened without Eldrian altering the mana. He simply allowed his mana to flow freely as he concentrated on this desire for destruction.

nTurning to one of the walls, Eldrian narrowed his eyes while increasing the desire even more. He recalled all the times he had been helpless, all the times he had failed. He focused on this and filled the spell with those emotions.

nHe recalled the feeling he had had when they had been cornered by the orcs, he recalled when he had lost himself to rage against the vampire. How he had had to rely on it to survive and also stop that monster, yet how he nearly lost himself!

nHe recalled all those moments of fear and despair throughout his time in ANW.

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"Incinerate!

" Eldrian shouted, his shout echoing in the room as the ball of flame sprang from his hand like a hungry beast.

nIt rushed forward like a crazed beast, searching for prey.

nAs it flew, all the fire elements in the room were quickly drawn to it while it itself condensed in on itself. Drawing in even the light element after a certain point.

nThe ball of fire turned from a bright clear red to a clear orange, and quickly the core of the ball, the size of a fist again, even turned a bright white as it reached the wall.

nWhat followed was a massive ear-bursting bang as the spell exploded against the wall and sent shockwaves through the air, causing Eldrian to lose his footing as the formation of the room activated in full. Visibly fighting to contain the explosion.

nThe damage was quickly contained and no damage was left to be seen. Yet, the air of the room did not recover as quickly as the walls and arrays.

nEldrian was left breathless as the heatwave made breathing a mammoth task. Each breath scorched his throat and lungs. He could easily tell that if he had been closer to the wall, his skin would even start to melt or burn.

nWhile struggling to breathe, Eldrian couldn't accurately feel his own mana as he had to start using it to heal himself. Instead, he turned his sights to the interface for data.

nLooking at his MP which was just about half, Eldrian chuckled. 'That... Is indeed not a normal spell. Heck, most people who are Tier 4 don't even have half my mana.'

nDespite this ridiculous cost of 590MP, Eldrian was not upset or disappointed. Instead, feeling the still scorching air enter his lungs, he felt elated. This, this was a spell that could turn the tides of battle. And he felt confident he could cast it!

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"It really worked...

" He croaked with a raspy voice and wide smile. Wishing to see if he could replicate this with other elements.

nAN: Remember to vote to show your support and comment to share your insights!

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