n

n

nAfter having rested and settled his thoughts, Eldrian focused back on his training. Remembering what he had felt before, Eldrian cast Nidia again, this time trying to take control of the spell as soon as the mana left his body.

nHe managed, in a way. Some of the drops stared floating over his palm as soon as he cast the spell, most of them stayed on his hand though. Shifting his focus to the leftovers, Eldrian willed them to also start floating.

n

"Well done, you have been progressing really nicely,

" Dave commented, causing Eldrian to lose control and let the water ball fall.

nI really need to get better at keeping control. Eldrian sighed as he looked at the puddle he just formed.

nDave had come down for their session in the dungeon, Eldrian having asked him if they could shift it after he started feeling the effect of magic fatigue. Dave had no problem with this and actually liked that he could use his mornings for himself again.

nAfter confirming what he had learned Eldrian turned to Dave,

"Thanks, but it is really hard.

"

n

"Of course it is hard. I can barely keep a Tier 5 spell controlled for 10 seconds. Placed into perspective, that means you doing it with a Tier 0 spell for that long is really great.

"

n

"I don't think they are quite so linear.

"

n

"True, but it was just an attempt to tell you that it will take time.

"

n

"But I don't have much time.

"

n

"True, you do not. Unless you skip the mission or join much later.

" Seeing Eldrian's determination Dave sighed,

"I guess that is not really an option. Too worried, hey?

"

nEldrian did not respond, shifting his thoughts back to his training.

n

"Are you ready for the Magic Crystal?

" Dave asked, seeing that Eldrian was finished with talking. This had been happening more often, Eldrian would simply zone out and go into focus mode every so often.

n

"I think I am,

" Eldrian replied, casting Anthos on himself. He had no idea if it actually helped with fatigue, but it did help him feel better. Clearing his mind of tiredness and his body of stiffness he had gained from blacksmithing and weapon training.

nDave looked at Eldrian in surprise after he had cast Anthos,

"You have really made great progress.

" Seeing Eldrian able to cast it without needing to speak the word of power had shocked Dave a great deal. It had taken him a few months after reaching Tier 5 to be able to do the same with Tier 0 spells.

n'Is it due to him being a High Elf, too dedicated? Or that he trained correctly from the start?' Dave wondered, believing that he had likely spent over 80% of his time on unlearning the crutches he had used before reaching Tier 5.

nAs he was contemplating this Dave teleported them to the dungeon.

nEldrian immediately focused his attention on his heart and looked at the Magic Crystal. Taking in the strange abyss like look the crystal seemed to be. Slowly losing himself in this purple-black abyss, floating between the twinkling stars.

nAs he lost himself he felt his mana being stirred, moving towards his heart. Following it Eldrian took note of the changes, wondering why some feelings were more common than others. Keeping this wandering thought in check, Eldrian kept most of his focus on his mana.

nEldrian found that mana could even seemingly turn from one type to another, without reverting to 'normal' mana. He had no idea if this was just because it was in him, or maybe to do with the Magic Crystal.

nI wonder if there are terms for the mana forms? Eldrian questioned as he felt his heart beating, each beat causing the mana to feel stronger, weakening back to normal soon after.

nWish I could control my mana like this. Eldrian felt it would allow him so much more control and strength. Certainly, speed too, yet he had no idea how to make his mana flow as it did now.

nCurious of what would happen if he cast a spell, Eldrian cast Nidia as he was following his mana. Finding that the mana in his outward mana pathways, specifically towards his hand, sped up and joined together. Soon turning into the cool vapor feeling which he related to water magic.

nAfter which the mana pulse back as a dried hot feeling, going towards his heart.

nWhat is this? Eldrian wondered, finding that the mana soon joined the rest again. Refreshed. His mana was also continuously feeding into the spell, keeping it active. While used mana returned and got refreshed.

nDue to this constant feed of mana needed to control a spell, a person normally lost their mana regen at the least. More advanced spells draining mana actively to be kept active.

nBut now, with each pulse, some of his mana returned and seemed to be converted into normal mana again. Turning to his stats Eldrian saw that he was actually slowly regenerating mana now.

nWell, this seems really helpful. Eldrian thought, wondering how it worked differently from his normal casting method.

nAfter a few more minutes of following his mana and experimenting with Nidia, Eldrian could feel himself becoming dizzy, looking away from the Crystal he told Dave that he reached his limit.

n

"What happened with the spell?

" Dave asked after teleporting them back.

n

"Not too sure. But I received some of my mana back while controlling it.

"

nDave stayed silent, wondering how this worked while being astonished that something like that was possible. It was one of the largest flaws of all magic users. Keeping any type of magic active before Tier 4 cost a small mana drain, with more complex spells having more of a drain. Due to this it is really hard to keep Tier 5 spells active and totally controlled.

nGenerally, people would send a spell out, only keeping enough control to adjust it if needed. But they would not be able to turn the spell around in seconds. Nor would they be able to stop the spell they had cast. But if what Eldrian just achieved was made possible, then people could keep the spell under total control while sending it towards a target.

nDave really hoped to be able to crack the High Elves' way of using magic. It seemed stronger and stronger as he continued to observe Eldrian at action. Every time Eldrian managed something new, he was left astonished or impressed.

nAfter the dungeon visit Eldrian continued to practice, trying to swirl the water ball summoned by Nidia around him. After a few hours he managed to keep the ball floating for almost ten minutes. Moving it slowly brought this down to a few minutes, if he tried to move it quickly then it would be just a few seconds.

nNearing his logout time Eldrian finished with a few more rash attempts. Trying to throw the water at a wall. After a few tries he found that it was actually easier than making the water dance. He simply needed to propel it once, then it would continue and hit the target. It did take him a few tries to get accurate, but it was not too difficult.

nBy Wednesday's gaming time Eldrian finally managed to really play with the Nidia water ball. He managed to throw it around like it was ball attached to a string. After a few fancy moves he smiled widely as he canceled the spell. Letting the water return to the air.

nDuring this week he had been doing his blacksmithing task every morning. The daily task having been made a bit harder, with two great quality and three good ingots needed. But Eldrian had also learned that he could continue to purify an already made ingot, which saved him a great deal of time on this.

nFinally feeling ready to learn a Tier 1 spell, Eldrian took out Anthizo's spell module. He chosen this one since it was actually the easiest spell of the bunch he bought. The ice needle spell being the second easiest. Eldrian planned to learn that one second.

nThe only addition to Anthizo, from Anthos, was the addition of four veins. Two on both sides. While this was a small difference in the look of the module, it massively changed how things worked. The module now consisting of 9 nodes and 8 pathways, instead of 3 and 4.

nThere were also short instructions on how to focus mana into the spell when casting it. But this seemed to have been added as a courtesy and not for completeness, it simply stating that the leaf's stem and midrib were forward pathways, the leaf blade (Outline of a leaf) was omnidirectional and the veins bi-directional.

nEldrian had no idea what this meant to him. Luckily he had someone he could ask, as such he started climbing the stairs.

n

"Oh that, I guess it is actually important to you.

" After saying this Dave chuckled for a bit,

"Sorry... You got ripped off.

"

n

"What?

" Eldrian asked in confused anger.

n

"For you not knowing how to make the mana flow would mean you can't cast the spell. Since you are a High Elf.

" Dave said after calming down, while realizing himself that most of the spell modules would then be lackluster for Eldrian.

n

"That...

" Eldrian wanted to argue, but gave up immediately. Another **ing hurdle! He cursed as he waited for Dave to explain.

nLuckily he did have Dave, else he would need to find someone else who would be willing to help. Which he doubted he would be able to do easily. Or he might even need to go through all the books in the library to find explanations.

nScrew that! I am going to protest!

n