Chapter 101 - 101
We ran into a few more Murwogs before we finally came across our first true challenge, or Sandra's first challenge as Zirani had said it would be good practice and a learning experience to face beasts that held the same affinity as us.
The beast was a bat-like creature, though it had no wings, and walked on four legs. It was only around the size of a dog, but its mouth was full of more teeth than were probable, in fact, its teeth seemed to bend outwards in a sickening display.
"It's all yours," I said as I turned to Sandra who had her eyes closed in focus. As they shot open a moment later, her cloak formed upon her as dark smoke rose from her body.
She stood from our vantage behind a giant mushroom and slowly walked over to the beast, giving it ample time to see her and let out a hiss. She could have most likely killed it in a sneak attack, but then she wouldn't learn anything from the encounter, which was the main purpose of her fighting this foe and not Misty or I.
The bat's ears spread forth from the sides of its head as spittle flew from its mouth with each hiss. Not a growl, but a hiss that revealed a forked tongue. The aether beasts on this floor really were far odder than any I'd ever seen, though compared to that thing from yesterday, this creature was as terrifying as a rabbit.
"You've got this Sandra," Misty shouted.
I shot her a look to which she shrugged. "It got its eyes on her, I doubt it's going to head for us now."
"Fair enough."
We turned back to Sandra just in time to see her step out of the way of lunging bite, and counter with a quick swipe of a dark dagger, however unlike most times, the blade of darkness did gouge a wound, or cause any damage to the creature, in fact, it looked like her strike had bounced off.
Sandra didn't let that get to her though, and she dodged the next several attacks, her eyes moving as she struck at different parts of its body, eventually bloody sprayed and the creature cried out in pain as one of her daggers scored a long gash on its neck, which on close inspection looked to be paler than the rest of the creature's skin which was a dark grey color.
It was only a matter of time, and when the creature was next open Sandra vanished as she stepped into its shadow. For a split second, she was nowhere to be seen and in the next she was onto the beast, her daggers falling down and stabbing into its neck.
I got up to walk over, but Misty stopped me and we both gasped as the beast turned around and slashed at Sandra who barely managed to dodge.
"What the hell?" I asked aloud. "How is it not dead?"
This chapter upload first at NovelBin.comAlmost as if in response, a dark sticky substance, like liquid shadow poured from the creature's mouth and wrapped around its neck.
"Well that's new," Sandra remarked. "I guess it's the head then."
The next minute was a dance of blade and claw as Sandra and the beast fought. Unlike before, the beast was now incorporating ranged attacks. Its mouth would open and slimy blobs of darkness would fly towards Sandra who was easily able to dodge then thanks to her cloak. It was during one of these attacks that she was finally able to finish it off, by quite literally shoving a dagger down its throat and ripping it out. It was a risky thing to do, and if she had been a few seconds late or too early then she would have either been hit by the liquid darkness or had her hand bitten by its numerous teeth.
Sandra let out a breath as she dismissed her bloodline and technique. "That was harder than I thought."
"Tough skin it seems," I noted as I walked over and pressed a hand to the now-dead beast. Just as I'd thought the beast's skin was rubbery.
"Gets its core and let's move on," I said.
Sandra extracted the core, and we headed out.
The area we were in was essentially a swamp of sorts, though not like any I'd heard of. The water was clear and reflected the light of the glowing tree and plants alongside the blue light from above. It was beautiful, and not ugly like you think when you heard the word swamp.
The beast that Misty decided to fight alone was probably the least dangerous-looking that we'd come across which was ironic since it was of the death affinity. It looked like a furry black bear with abnormally large eyes and small spikes around its head.
It was sleeping so Misty let out a whistle as she approached to wake it up.
The beast didn't spring to its feet as I expected, instead, it lazily rose and turned its head to Misty. It blinked slowly in a rather cute manner which was ruined as it opened its mouth.
"What's with the beasts in this swamp and teeth," I muttered as I gazed at the bear.
Its mouth stretched wide, up and up, and its teeth seemed to lengthen in its mouth as it did. By the time it was done, its mouth was large enough to swallow a standing child and tear them apart with its teeth that to my horror were moving up and down, like some sort of machine.
"Not so cure anymore." Sandra grimaced. "The death affinity suddenly makes a lot more sense."
I nodded in agreement and looked over to Misty whose eyes were wide open, though not in fear, in surprise and shock at the one reight this beast had just pulled.
"You ok to do this alone Misty?" I called out.
She nodded. "Im fine, just a littel shaken."
The beasts lumbered closer to Misty who formed her death claws in preparation. For a moment I thought this fight was going to be ridiculously easy as the bear seemed extremely slow, but that's when the grass around it began to rot as a putrid yellow glow began to shine from its eyes. The grass and plants withered and rotten in the span of a few seconds.
"Oh fuck."
The beast's fur stood on end as though electrified and began to stretch over its body as it stood upon two legs. An odd cracking sound echoed and my eyes widened as muscle replaced fat, and its height shot up.
Where there had been a fuzzy and fat bear, now stood a pillar of muscle with an elongated mouth of sharp teeth and a glow that brought death to whatever was around it.
"Aiden." Sandra tugged at my arm.
"What?"
"Its cores," Sandra hissed.
I frowned as I tried to process her words, and then it hit me. I focused my senses and let out a shaky breath as I realized this beast had two cores at a higher level and larger size than the minotaur or any beasts we'd come across.
Misty eyes who had been full of surprise now held a note of fear, though only a note, as her mouth was open. She was barring her fangs and her eyes blazed with a crimson glow. Her body posture had changed to a far more beastlike form. Her upper body was hunched slightly and her knees bent, not to mention her claws had lengthened even further.
I felt at our bond and quickly realized what had happened. I could still feel Misty, but it was like she was fighting herself, or more accurately trying to surpress the beast within, but the presence of this other beast had set her inner vampiric instincts off. The predator inside her would not be quelled and instead of trying to help her surpress it, I tried to help her get a handle on it, to use it, as she would we surely need it in this fight.
"Do we help her?" Sandra asked worriedly.
I shook my head. "We wait and see what happens, and if things look bad then we jump in."
I felt a questioning feeling from my bond with Zirani in response to my worry, and I sent her a quick explanation of what was happening. She was surprised but agreed with my decision to let her fight, and join if it looked like she couldn't win.
"She needs to learn to control it," Zirani said in a faint voice, most likely due to our distance apart.
The changed death beast let out an earth-shaking roar and the glow around ti body intensified as Misty hissed in challenge, her eyes glowing even brighter along with her claws.
Vampire against beast. This was surely going to be quite the battle. A battle I hoped Misty would win, and not at the cost of giving in to the beast, but that's why we'd made the bond. I would be here to anchor her, to make sure she remained as Misty.
"Good luck, Misty."
Chapter 102 - 102
The area around Misty and the beast was utterly and completely silent as though the land itself had quieted down to spectate the fight that was about to occur.
"You think she's got this?" Sandra asked her eyes focused on Misty.
"She's the fastest and physically strongest of us," I replied. "She has a good chance, not to mention she can take a lot more damage than we can, just imagine getting hit by the claws."
I winced. The beast's muscular hands had sprouted claw gleaming claws that shone with the same putrid glow as its eyes. There were long, though nowhere near as long as Misty's whose now looked like curved swords rather than nails.
We waited as the two eyes on another, the beast mouth open in a snarl while Miyt barred her long fangs.
It was the beast who made the first move, moving forwards and taking a swipe at Misty at a far faster speed than I expected something of its size to possess, but Misty was too fast, even faster than normal, which I guessed was most likely due to the inner beasts, and the fact she wasn't holding back. It was clear from the way her eyes shone and her body was tensed. This was Misty the vampire. I hoped she could keep it under control, and I was going to continue to help her.
The beast followed up its first attack with another, but Misty twisted out of the way in mid-air and slashed at its face, though her claws struck its large teeth and bounced off.
As they fought I noticed that a thin layer of aether had formed and was coating Misty skin, like a shell. The death aether around the beats was hitting it, but it wasn't able to get through, and as I looked closer, I marveled at the pattern of the technique I'd never seen her use before. I wasn't sure, but I thought perhaps it might have been an instinctual reaction to the death aura surrounding the beast as the pattern was crude in some remarks while brilliant in others.
Misty hissed and finally managed to get off a lasting hit onto the beast. Blackish blood sprayed and the beast let out a pained roar as it swung wildly at Misty who unfortunately had been too close. One of its claws slashed across her chest and I felt my heart rate increase as blood sprayed from her.
There was no scream from the vampire though, in fact, she didn't even glance down at the wound, and it became apparent why a moment later as her wound began to slowly close. It was a shock to see the flesh regenerating that fast, but Zirani had said vampires have amazing regeneration even at lower levels.
"Urg." Sandra winced. "That had to hurt."
I nodded. "Probably, but I think she's too focused to care or really feel it."
I watched as the beast raised both claws and the glow around it seemed to shrink until only its claws were glowing. They shone brighter than ever before, and eyes began to water and sting just from looking at it.
I turned away, but not before it raised its hands and swiped at the air, sending forth to long blades of death at Misty, who managed to dodge the first, but the second twisted in mid-air, and stuck her shoulder, tearing it open.
"Damn!" I cursed.
"Should we help her?" Sandra questioned quickly.
This chapter upload first at NovelBin.comBefore I could respond, Misty flung her head back and let out an ear-piercing wail that reverberated through my body and my very bones. I pressed my hands against my ears and grit my teeth as my body shook.
Sandra looked no better with wide eyes and a bit of blood dripping from her ears.
When the sound finally ceased and I removed my hands from my ear, all I could hear was a ringing. I turned to Sandra who opened her mouth, but I simply shook my head.
"I can't hear you," I said, though I couldn't hear my own words.
Sandra just pointed and I followed her finger to Misty who looked beyond pissed.
I hurriedly checked our bond and cursed. She was on the knifes edge of losing control and all I could feel was anger, rage, and bloodlust so powerful I had to limit what was coming in from her side of the bond.
"Shit!"
Misty's shoulder was healing, though blood still seeped from the wound not that she seemed to care. A reddish mist poured from her mouth with every breath and aether was wildly surging around her body.
"Oh, fu—"
Sandra's words were cut off as Misty sprung forward, her step shattering the ground. She moved so fast all I saw was a blur then the next moment the beast was wildly flailing its arms and body around as Misty ripped a hole open near its throat and just as she'd done with the moss troll, she latched her mouth to the open wound and began to drink, not just blood, but aether and essence as well.
By now the ringing had died down and I could just barely hear the sounds of her devouring its blood alongside the beast's weak whimpers and roars. Its teeth moved up and down rapidly as it tried to twist its head to get at the vampire, but no matter what it did it wasn't able to reach her. Its claws tore at her, but with the flow of blood, essence, and aether entering her, it did little, not to mention every second it grew weaker and weaker.
"I definitely like the Misty better when she's calm." Sandra gulped. "This is just—"
"Brutal?"
Sandra nodded. "That's the word, brutal. Should we stop her? I mean will the core still be there after she's done?"
I shook my head. "She's draining its essence, and well I think it's best if we let her finish and calm down a bit."
Through our bond, I could still feel that she hadn't succumbed to the beast, but it had been very close. The moment her shoulder had been torn, the surge of emotion had been too great and like a fool, I hadn't been paying close attention. If I had I might have been able to help her, although at least she'd killed it.
After a few minutes, the beast fell quiet and limp and Misty tore her fangs from it.
I casually walked over. "Misty, you ok?"
The blonde snapped her head in my direction and for a second my eyes met her glowing orbs and I felt a shiver of fear run through followed by an instinctive tensing of my muscles and pulling aether from my core.
A second later though her eyes lost their glow and I realized what I was doing. My bark armor had been about to form around me. I dismissed it and offered a hand to misty who took it with a worried look on her face. "I'm sor—"
I shook my head to stop her. "It's fine. I mean I was about to get ready for a fight so I can't get too angry. You… you ok now?"
The anger and bloodlust was all gone, replaced by worry and shock, most likely at what had just happened.
"I-I am," She said shaikly. "I just… I just lost control for a second and then—"
She sighed. "This is a lot harder than I thought it would be."
"Imagine it without the bond," I said and Misty winced.
"I don't want to."
"Is it safe now!" Sandra shouted.
"Yes!" I called back. "She's calm now."
Sandra walked over and whistled as she looked down at the beast's body. "Looks larger up close."
"I think we should take a quick break and then continue on," I suggested.
Thye both nodded and we headed over to the giant mushroom we'd been hiding behind before. Staying next to the corpse was not a good idea as nearby beasts sensitive enough to have felt what had happened might be on their way to the location, and well we couldn't really take a break if beasts kept interrupting us.
"So the ear-piercing wail," Sandra questioned. "Did you know you could do that?"
"No clue," Misty replied. "It was instinct and just sort of happened. I don't even know if it was a technique or just something I can do."
I tried to remember if I'd sense any aether at the time, but I had been too preoccupied with trying not to become deaf. I'd never heard of any abilities like that, though I suppose someone with the right affinities could do it.
"Do you think you could do that again?" I asked.
Misty frowned and I quickly added, "Not now! Later if I asked could you do it?"
"I think so." Misty shrugged. "I won't be sure until a try."
"Well don't try here," Sandra said as she took a bite of some bread.. "I'd like to keep my hearing please."
Chapter 103 - 103
The rest of our hunting trip was not as eventful as Misty's battle with the death beast had been. In the end, we'd come across a few beasts of the nature affinity and dark affinity along with more murwogs, a ton more murwogs. They truly were the most common beast on this floor, and we'd gotten to see just how deadly there were again when we came across the largest group of them yet, tearing into the same type of beast Misty had fought. Dozens had fallen, but they'd kept on attacking, and with their fleet wood spears, they'd eventually brought it down. We hadn't stayed to watch them devour it though on our way back we had taken the core that had been left behind.
The murwogs couldn't take the essence from the death beast's core because they were of the water affinity, so they'd left it and we'd picked it up on your way back to the treehouse. It would be very beneficial to Misty who had said draining the bear had topped her up quite a bit.
Misty remained silent for the most part during the rest of the trip, and I didn't even need to look at her or check my bond to know that she was thinking over what had happened, over how she had almost lost control. I couldn't imagine how it must have felt since it was such a contrast. That beastial like Misty was nowhere to be seen now, just the Misty I knew, the blonde who always had a look of curiosity on her face and an interest in anything that caught her eye. I knew the beast wasn't a separate entity, it was just another side of her that had come and developed with the change from human to vampire, but sometimes it was hard to believe. I wondered how she'd been when she had it fully in control when the beast and Misty were whole and now two parts fighting for dominance.
When we arrived back at the treehouse, it was not to a pleasant sight.
Zirani was waiting for us in the dining room with new and improved elixirs.
"Please tell me that's not what I think it is," Sandra groaned as she glanced over at the vial that held a crimson liquid, similar to the old strengthing liquid but darker.
"It's the new and improved body strengthing elixir," Zirani replied with a smile. "I expect to use these from now on, two a day like before."
I sighed. "Let's get it over with."
Zirani shot me a sympathetic look. "You'll get used to it just like you did the last one."
"I don't want to get used to it." Sandra grimaced. "I use to look forwards to baths, now I dread them."
I had to agree with that, but just like before, I took my vial and headed to my room where I filled my tub with water before pouring the liquid in. The water turned a dark red color somehow even more disturbing looking than the bright blood red from before. I hesitated for a long moment before i took a deep breath and began to enter the tub,
This chapter upload first at NovelBin.comI felt my whole body shudder the moment my foot touched the water and it took all my willpower to force myself in as my body began to heat up from the inside while my flesh felt like it was tearing and being pricked by thousands of needles.
It was then the longest ten minutes of my life, and when the water was finally clear again, I stayed still for a long moment just breathing heavily, full of relief that it was over. I knew I needed to do this to become stronger, but damn I really hated it. It's not like I'd never felt pain, but this was just the worst. I'd always preferred cooler temperatures rather than heat, and the burning of my insides combined with the pricking made it truly feel like a form of torture.
"You ok." Zirani was stood in my doorway. "I know it's not comfortable, trust me when I first used something like this I screamed the entire time."
"I find that hard to believe," I replied. I couldn't imagine someone as strong as her screaming in such a way.
"I was young at the time," Zirani explained. "Still a dryad under my mother's care. Even before I'd taken the path to becoming as I am now, I'd always wanted to learn to fight even if just to defend myself."
I pulled a towel from my ring and began to dry myself. "And how long before you got used to it?"
A thoughtful look appeared on her face. "It was a few weeks before I stopped screaming altogether. You have to understand that dryads fear fire, more than you can know, and the burning within was… unbearable."
I winced as I imagined it. It was bad for me, but a being of nature burning from the inside? That must have been hell.
"Do you still have a fear of fire?" I asked.
Zirani smiled and shook her head. "No, not anymore. Now, when you're done changing meet me in the dining room with the others, I need to over a few things for tomorrow."
With that, she left and I quickly dressed in a set of steel heart combat robes. They were all I wore nowadays since they were the only clothing I possessed that was self-cleaning, although I did still have a few pairs of clothing that my aunt had packed for me all those weeks ago, I wasn't about to wear jeans and a shirt when hunting or training.
Misty and Sandra were already in the dining room when I arrived, the latter looking like she'd just come out of a fight. Her body was slumped and she looked both tired and pissed. Misty looked completely fine, which was due to her vampire constitution. Lucky her.
"You look…awful," I said as I took a seat next to Sandra.
"I fell awful." Sandra glanced at me. "I didn't think it could be that much worse than the first time."
"Well you got through it," Zirani said with a smile. "That's all that counts."
Sandra shrugged. "I guess so, please tell me none of the other elixirs are as bad."
There were a few new types of elixirs on the tale along with a blee pill with white streaks. I recognized the blue elixir as the aether gathering elixir, but the others were all unfamiliar.
"No, none of these will cause you any pain," Zirani promised as she motions to the pill.
"The pill is a simple condensation pill, that you will drop into your aether gathering elixir. It will dissolve and then you will you drink it." She plucked up a pill and one of the aether gathering elixirs. "Together these two will help you not only gather more aether when meditating but also help the process of condensing your essence."
She placed them down and picked up one from each of the two new elixirs. One was a dark green while the other was pinkish. "This pink liquid you see is for healing. One drink and even serious wounds will be healed. Use it sparingly as it takes a lot of resources to make even just this small account. As for the green, well that is only for Aiden I'm afraid. I couldn't find the right sources to create variants for you two."
Sandra frowned. "What is it?"
"It's like the pill, but only for those of the nature affinity," Zirani explained. "Aiden is going from Iron to steel which will not be easy at all. Simple mediation will only take him so far and if we don't want to wait years then were going to need elixirs like this one. When the time comes we shall do the same for you two."
Sandra and Misty looked only slightly annoyed but both nodded in understanding.
"Is that it?" I asked with a yawn. I felt extremely tired after all the fighting and running we'd done today, not to mention the bath of pain I'd just taken.
Zirani nodded. "Get some sleep, training begins early tomorrow. Our goal is to get all of you to the third level of infusion and ready for your second cores, by the way, Misty have you decided if you wish to change your core at all?"
Misty shook her head. "Not yet, I'm still thinking about it."
"Well try to make up your mind before you get your core to the iron stage." Zirani pointed at her. "It will be a lot harder then if you want to change it."
I walked away as they continued to speak, heading to my room. I pushed open my door and yawned loudly as I flopped onto my bedroll. I let out a sigh as my body relaxed, and soon I fell into a deep sleep.. No dreams haunted me that night.
Chapter 104 - 104
Morning meditation followed by a pain bath was a terrible start to the day, though from the look Sandra had on her face when we met Zirani outside the treehouse, it had been worse for her. I finished off my breakfast of bread, cheese, and dry meat just as we stopped in front of Zirani who had a serious look on her face, the look she held when she was in teacher mode, determination in her calculating eyes as she looked over the three of us, stopping at Sandra to raise an eyebrow.
The dark-haired arcanist shot Zirani a slight glare. "Fuck those baths."
"There weren't that—"
I hushed Misty before she could finish her sentence and annoy Sandra ever further. I understood where she was coming from. The bath was unpleasant, far worse than even some of the worse pains I'd gotten during fights, which was saying something since I'd been electrocuted and beaten pretty badly. I just wasn't the type to complain that much, though Sandra was probably just venting out her frustration. I knew she continue to do the baths because she had just as much of a desire to make it across the great scar as I did.
"Ok, good to see you're all awake and ready," Zirani said. "I'm just going to do a quick recap of what we've gone over so far, and then we can move onto the actual training. We'll be using the elixirs and pills when needed."
Zirani quickly went over everything we'd learned in our previous lessons, and unsurprisingly I'd forgotten nothing. Back at the academy when I'd been a student, I'd always had a good memory, and usually, it only took one time for me to remember something, at least when it had to do with the arcane. Back then, and even now, I was obsessed with the arcane. It was always going to be a core part of my life. I just couldn't imagine myself not in a state of progression, and now it was even more prevalent. Before the goal had just been to get stronger and learn more of the arcane, but now? Now I wanted to cross the great scar, learn about my parents, master my affinity and the mutation and see what else the world of the arcane had to offer.
The first new thing Zirani went into was patterns, specifically origin patterns and how they were usually taught.
This chapter upload first at NovelBin.com"Orirign patterns usually come in sets," Zirani explained. "Base sets, Advanced sets, Affinity sets. These are the three most common types, but there are also custom sets of course, and path sets, which are only used by those on a path, but that is for another time. We're going to start with the base sets which are exactly as they sound, there are the sets taught to arcanists before most even have their first core."
That would have shocked me before I'd met Zirani, but knowing the type of things that lay beyond the great scar, I wasn't surprised that arcanists on the other side learned so much so early. Their arcane arts were just greater than those in the plains. It was like we held a book with most of the pages ripped out, while those beyond the scar held a full copy, though at that thought I felt a reprimand from Ziranithrough our bond.
"If you think that everything about the arcane has been discovered," Zirani said with a slight glare. "Then you are dead wrong. Only those few who are at the top know the full truth or are closer to it. Most do not and will never know. The arcane is a wide and deep pit, or a mountain so tall you cannot see its peak. Many will take attempt the climb, but most will never even catch a glimpse at the peak, at the top, and even those who do will, from what I've heard, usually find themselves unable to reach it."
"Who are these people at the top you keep talking about?" Sandra asked. "I know you spoke about them before, but are they really that big of a deal."
Zirani look at Sandra and for a moment seemed to be deciding something. "Orion of the deep, king of the roaring sea. Meraxsis the damned, undead queen of the northern hive. Faradin of Altia, first blade of the tempest. These are just a few that lie at the top. The only reason I'm even risking uttering these names is because we're in a tower in the plains."
"And if we weren't?" Misty asked.
"Then no doubt we'd have trouble coming our way." Zirani shook her head. "Trust me. It's best if we don't talk about them. They are arcanists so powerful they might as well be gods from the old world myths, lets's just leave it at that."
I wanted to ask something, but the look in Zirnai eyes warned me not to. It was clear this topic had shaken her slightly and that she didn't really want to talk about it anymore. Those names, however, they'd carried a physical weight to them and I was sure the others had noticed. It had faint but the air had stilled along with the ambient colorless aether. I couldn't even begin to imagine how powerful you had to be that the mention of your name made the very air and aether come to a standstill, in fact, the world around us had also come to a standstill as if it had sensed something.
"Another time then," Sandra muttered as she glanced around nervously.
After that little tangent, we moved back to training, and the pattern sets. Zirani's plan was to teach us a few base sets first and have us get used to them over the course of a few days before we moved on to the advanced and affinity sets, which would lead into the advanced techniques she wanted to teach us. As she spoke it became clear that we were going to be staying here for longer than we had on the first floor, which was probably for training, but I also thought it was because of how comfortable Zirani felt here, not that I blamed her. This place was full of nature, no man-made structures apart from our treehouse, and even that was attached to a tree with nature aether.
I wondered how odd it was going to be when we got out of this place. How would the steel heart sect react to our jump from first core arcanists at the first elve to second core arcanists at the third level? We'd been only a level down from the elders themselves, and that would probably be a good thing, not that I thought they'd stop us when we left. I'd read the contract and the clause for leaving wasn't that bad. A bid of money and a good reason is all it would take. There was also the fact that with our knowledge, everything we were learning, the elixirs, and improved cores, we might very well leave the tower stronger than the elders, which was a shocking idea to think about. Not even twenty and soon to be stronger than elders who'd lived for years.
What a life.
The base sets weren't that complicated which made sense I guessed since they were taught to kids. The set was made up of origin patterns, and there was a ton of them, which were definitely used in most patterns. Some of the sets made it clear what it was leaning towards, technique-wise. One set was obviously for more solid and construct-type techniques, which meant things like armor and weapons forged from an element like Sandra's dark weapons and cloak or my bark armor. Zirani said she'd changed some of the sets because many held the same patterns, and some were just too low quality as she'd said, not the patterns since an origin pattern couldn't be low quality, just what patterns had been chosen for a set.
I would go through each set by forming the patterns of the set one after the others, some at the same time. I would do it over and over again, and at one point I asked why she just didn't teach us all the origin patterns we would need to know.
"Do you know how many origin patterns there are?"
I shook my head.
"Too many to count," Zirani said. "These sets are created for a reason. These origin patterns were grouped together for a reason and you're learning them together for a reason. If I tried to teach you all the patterns I think you ought to know, it would take a ridiculous amount of time not to mention the fact that you're still at the second level of infusion. Your mind could not handle that much information. When you learn a pattern it's stored in a special part of your mind, your psyche, similar to your memories but different. There is a reason arcanists at the lower levels aren't taught too many techniques or patterns and another reason as to why we have these sets."
"So if I tried to learn too many patterns my brain would what, die?"
"No," She said. "Your mind just wouldn't take it in the same way. You try to learn it but and maybe you could form it, but it won't be like normal. It won't slowly become instinct or feel as natural."
"That seems… stupid?" Sandra said. "I mean, I don't think memory works like that?"
"This is the arcane we're talking bout," Zirani said. "I'm not going to spend time explaining this right now, but do not think rules of the arcane are the same as the rules that govern the non-arcane aspects of reality. You have not yet climbed high enough to realize this, but you will in time. Now, back to training."
Those words weighed on my mind as I continued forming patterns from the sets. She was right I knew that I shouldn't think of the arcane as I did normal aspects of life. There was a reason it was called the arcane after all.. There was still so much to learn, and discover, and despite feeling small at times, I sought that knowledge, to climb higher and who knew maybe one day I'd see the peak of the mountain, or hell even reach it, as minuscule a chance as that happening was, but even so, there was nothing wrong with a fools hope.
Chapter 105 - 105
The next week was filled with nothing but training, and when we weren't doing that, we were hunting for more cores, and even when we took breaks it was usually to meditate, and none of us forgot the two baths we took a day, especially not Sandra and I, since we dreaded them, though Zirani had spoken truly when she said it would get easier. The pain was still bad, but it wasn't as awful as it had been the first time, and I knew after a time I could get used to it, not that I wanted to, but I didn't really have much of a choice, though that thought wasn't as bad as the possibility of there being another version. Zirani hadn't said anything about such a thing, and I didn't really want to ask.
The base patterns were easier and easier to form with each passing day, and whereas I would have to pause and truly consider the first few times as I formed the patterns again and again it became not just easier, but more fluid and natural like a muscle I hadn't known was there was being exercised. I hadn't really noticed it or cared to notice it until Zirani had told me, but it seemed her words about patterns sticking in one's mind were true. I mean the pattern for my bark armor was basically instinct at this point, and I remembered how it had formed around me so easily when I'd been facing Misty the other day. I hadn't even known it was happening. It had simply formed in response to danger and a potential fight.
The new elixirs and the pill were working their charms and the boosts I was seeing to my core and infusion rate was greater than I'd ever expected to experience, and I knew that people in the plains would kill for this type of growth not just the elixirs, but the training, the knowledge. Perhaps one day I'd return to the plains and teach them about the arcane, but only when I was strong enough to make sure nothing like the twin horn sect ever happened again.
It was so crazy to think that at one point I would be that strong, maybe even stronger, maybe as strong as them. I didn't dare to speak or even think their names because what had happened last time had shaken me, even if I hadn't admitted it to any of the others. I still thought about it though, about how it would feel like to have that much power that you were essentially a god or the old world depictions of mythical gods. I didn't really know much about that, although I'd read a few of the history books my aunt had. More like skimmed through actually since I hadn't been interested in reading about a world without aether. How had things functioned before? What had the people used to power things? I'd talked to my aunt about it and she'd spoken of lightning and fire, but how exactly would they make those in great aunties? Could they capture lightning? I knew that the machines back then had been complex, but it was hard to believe that people could harness lightning and flame without aether.
I was glad I'd been born after the calamity.
"All right that's it for the day." Zirani looked down at us with a smile.
I took a breath and rose from my meditative position followed by Sandra and Misty who both looked as tired as I did. Zirani had pushed us further today than ever before, wanting to make sure we had the base pattern sets down since after today we would be moving onto advanced and affinity sets which would allow Zirnai to teach us advanced techniques and I would finally get to tap into the well of power and potential that was the warp seed mutation.
"I feel like my brain is about to explode," Sandra murmured as she shook her head.
"That's normal," Zirani replied. "You all did great today, and I'm happy to say that we can move onto the advanced and affinity sets tomorrow. After that then techniques and by that point, you should all be very close to the third level and forming your second core."
Sandra looked conflicted at that.
"What's wrong?"
She sighed. "I'm not sure what I want my second affinity to be. I was always certain it would be wind, but now I'm second-guessing myself."
Zirani placed a comforting hand on Sandra's shoulder. "I can help you with that, and we can go over the affinity and see which would suit you best. You are right in wondering if wind suits you. I've seen many make promises that they will choose a certain affinity but when the time comes, a lot will choose differently. It's always good to explore your options. We can examine your fighting style, preferred techniques, mobility among other things."
This chapter upload first at NovelBin.comSandra shot Zirnai a greatul look. "Thanks, Zirani… for everything."
"Your welcome." Zirani smiled. "Now let's get some food. We finally have fresh meat and fruit, and Aiden promised he'd cook something up."
"I said I'd try," I protested. "It might not turn out the way I want."
I was going to give it my all because I was sick and tired of rations. I didn't think I could handle tasteless bread and cheese, not to mention the dry meat. I missed my aunts cooking so much and even the steel heart food they always had.
"You'll do fine," Misty assured me. "Now let's go, I may drink blood, but even I'm looking forward to this."
Sandra quirked an eyebrow. "How exactly does blood taste to you? It is sweet, or does it depend on the person?"
"It's hard to explain," Sandra answered. "It does have a flavor in the way food does, but that's not the main thing that attracts my kind I think.. It's like drinking does something to me. It's like sleeping or breathing or eating food. Whenever I drink I get this euphoric feeling that"
Misty shuddered. "Amazing, and it… hard, hard to stop. Especially when it comes to you, Aiden. I don't know if it's because of our bond, but a bit of your blood feels more filling and satisfying than all of the bear's blood."
"It is," Zirani interjected. "The bond is something on a deep, deep level. The fact your close to him sensually also helps a great deal."
Misty blushed while Sandra grinned. "You can just say sex you know."
"I know," Zirani replied as she lifted her chin. "Buts that crude, although a few of my sisters love that type of talk."
"The dryads," I asked as we headed up the ladder to the treehouse.
Zirani nodded with a sigh. "You should have seen how the fawned over any visiting male"
She rolled her eyes. "Especially the Satyrs."
"Satyrs?" Sandra asked as we made it to the treehouse and towards the dining room. "Are they like you?"
Zirani nodded. "If you mean intelligent aether beasts with a human-like shape then yes. Imagine a ridiculously handsome and well-built human male but with furry goat-like legs that end in hooves."
"That's a funny image," Misty said.
"They are of the nature affinity like us." Zirani shook her head. "I could never stand them, too much postering although it was funny to see their reactions every time I refused them. My only love at the time was for nature. Thank goodness my mother never allowed any to live in with us or near us."
They took a seat at the table and couture talking while I headed over to the makeshift kitchen I'd made. It wasn't anything fancy, basically an indoor firepit with some pots, pans, and the ingredients I would need. Meat that I'd taken from a beast after skinning in, and various fruits I was going to try and make into a salad. I was very thankful for some of the things we'd found in the twin camps we'd seen on the first floor. It was also a good thing that this floor had herbs and spices that could be sued in cooking. It would be a gamble, but even a half-good meal would be better than what we were currently eating.
It took me a little over an hour to finish everything. It was a simple dish, or fried meat seasoned with some of the herbs and spices, alongside juice from one of the fruits that had seemed like a lemon. The salad was a lot more basic but I tasted the fruit and tried to get a good balance so that it wasn't too sweet, sour, or tangy. That wasn't something I would need to normally worry about, but the fruit on this floor was anything but normal.
I slowly took the food out to the dining room in plates and served each of the ladies with a plate of fried chicken and a bowl of salad which had also been seasoned. I served myself last and waited with bated breath and they each took a bite of the food.
Sandra actually moaned at her bite while Zirani and Misty sighed in joy.
"I take that to mean you like?" I asked.
Sandra gave me a heated look. "Fuck yes. You so getting lucky tonight."
I blushed as Misty and Zirani nodded their agreements.
"This is better than I expected," Misty said. "I didn't even know you could cook."
"My aunt taught me a bit," I replied as I took a bite of the chicken.
It wasn't as good as my aunty's but still tasty as hell. A hundred times better than plain old dry meat. The seasoning and fruit juice gave it a nice kick and the skin was crispy while the inside was tender and juicy, just as fired chicken should be. I probably could have used less oil as it was a bit too greasy, but it wasn't too bad, and there was always next time. I would definitely be making this again since it hadn't taken that long and there were plenty of beasts to hunt and fruit to pick.
We devoured the food quickly and headed off to our separate rooms to take our baths. It was worse this time due to my full stomach, and at one point during the pain, I thought I would vomit, but I managed to keep it in.
Once the water was back to its clear color I quickly jumped out then dried up.
Zirani entered my room just as I was preparing to head to sleep and to my surprise Sandra and Misty were with her. All three were dressed in nothing but a robe tied at the waist with a loose-looking knot.
"Uhm, is something wrong?" I asked as I tried to keep my eyes on their faces.
"You tell me," Zirani replied as all three women untied their robes and let them fall to the ground. "Is something wrong?"
Sandra giggled at my dumbstruck expression.. "I said you were getting lucky tonight."
Chapter 106 - 106(18+)
"I think we broke him," Misty said.
My mouth was dry and my eyes moved over their now bare bodies as I remembered what Sandra had said during dinner. I hadn't actually thought she was being serious, especially not the others since I'd never slept with two of them at the same time let alone three.
"Are you sure about this?" I asked, trying and failing to meet their eyes as I was too focused on their chests. "None of you have ever even suggested anything like this."
Zirani looked as beautiful as ever with that curvy yet athletic figure. Her exotic skin was a contrast to Sandra's fairer skin and Misty paler skin. Her small tusks poked out from her lips as she smiled at me.
Sandra's green eyes and flowing black hair never failed to leave me in awe as did her sleek curves and breasts which I was eager to my hands and mouth on, and lastly was Misty with that drop-dead gorgeous body of hers.
"We've all come to terms with the fact that we're going to be sharing you," Zirani said as she turned to the others. "So we decided why not have some fun together."
Sandra smirked while Misty blushed.
"You don't have any problem with that do you." Sandra arched her back, pushing her breasts out as if my eyes weren't already locked onto them.
I shook my head. "Definitely not."
Zirani smiled. "Then get undressed."
I didn't wait for a second and quickly tore my pants and shirt off as the three ladies moved closer to me.
Sandra got down in between my legs while Zirani and Misty took up positions behind me, their breasts pressing into my shoulders while Sandra's hand trailed up my leg towards my erection. Her touch was electric, and I groaned as her hand wrapped around me, but I wasn't able to watch as she took me into her mouth as Zirani turned me to her and pressed her lips to mine. I opened and our tongue met in a dance of passion.
Just like all the times she'd done this, Sandra pushed herself all the way down my manhood until my tip was at the back of her throat. She swallowed and I convulsed at the sensation, breaking my kiss with Zirani.
This chapter upload first at NovelBin.comAs Sandra began bobbing up and down my shaft, Misty turned my head to her and offered me one of her breasts with a pretty smile. I eagerly latched my mouth to the nipple and began to suck even though I knew there would be no milk. I lathered her chest in attention, licking, biting, and sucking.
She moaned and I joined her as Sandra enthusiastically worked my manhood in and out of her mouth, taking me to the base each time then back up until only the tip remained.
"I think that's enough of that, Misty," ZIrani purred, tuning to Sandra. "Make room."
The dark-haired arcanist's eyes crinkled in a smile and I spread my legs further as my heart rate picked up, Misty and Zirani took up positions besides Sandra on all fours, and they both smiled as they leaned down and took my balls into their mouth, each taking one and lathering it in attention.
I was pretty sure my heart stopped for a second and my brain malfunctioned because I could not believe what was happening.
They took turns taking me into their mouths, each demonstrating their own techniques. Zirani was slower and worked me with sensual grace while Misty tongue was by far the most talented in smothering my shaft in attention alongside her fast bobs. Sandra was the only one who could continuously deep throat me.
"Oh fuck, I'm gonna, ooooh."
Sandra pulled me out of her mouth and the others left my balls. All three leaned forward and opened their mouths which was an extremely erotic sight and sent me over the edge. My cum burst from me and coated all three, wads landing on their faces and in their mouths. My body shook with overwhelming pleasure and I let out an explosive sigh when I was done, but my manhood did not falter or grow soft as the ladies turned to each other and began liking my seed of one another's faces.
"I must be in heaven."
Misty giggled. "We're not done yet."
My cock twitched and Zirani moved forward on her knees to push me down. I spotted Sandra helping by holding my cock in place so the blonde could move down. THat sight was blocked as Zirani placed her legs around my head and lowered her slit to my face.
"Here's your favorite treat,' Zirani said before she moaned as my tongue began working its way up and down her slick folds.
I felt Misty's flower touch my tip and I groaned into Zirani as she slowly lowered herself down until I was fully sheathed in her. I grabbed Zirnai's legs and began to wildly lick at her, alternating between her folds and pushing my tongue into her and every few seconds licking her pearl. She moaned and shook atop me, and I savored her sleek juices, so sweet just like always.
"Of fuck, Aiden," Misty groaned as she began to ride me.
"You don't mind if I give these a taste do you?" Sandra asked.
Misty gasped then moaned as the image of Sandra paying with Misty's breasts came into mind. I increased the pace of ministration on Zirnai as I began to thrust up in time with Misty movements.
Soon I felt my second orgasm rising.
"Aiden, oh fuck!"
A wave of her nectar flooded my mouth as Misty screamed, her tunnel tightening around me, sending me into my orgasm. My seed burst into her, filling her up and coating her inner walls.
Zirani moved off me then leaned down to give me a quick but heated kiss. "As amazing as always my love."
Those two words set my passion ablaze once again and to my surprise, I was still hard and ready to go.
"I'll go last," Sandra said to Zirani. "I had him yesterday after all."
Zirani switched places with Sandra who took up a position above my head just as ZIrai had.
"Damn your tongue is fucking magical," Sandra moaned as I began to work at her while Zirani pushed herself down onto me, her tight and wet walls squeezing me pleasurably. I moaned into Sandra as Zirani rose up until only tip was left inside her, then she let gravity take her down and we both gasped as I hit what must have been the entrance to her womb.
Up and down she went, again and again as I ate Sandra out, enjoying the sound of her sweet moans as though it was music to my ears. A melody of pleasure and passion no doubt.
"Aiden I'm going to cum," Sandra moaned.
In response, I dug my tongue into her while leaning forward to nibble at her pearl. That was the final straw and a wave of her juices hit my mouth. A moment later Zirani was screaming in pleasure as her walls squeezed at me, as though they were trying to milk me, and milk me they did as I buried myself deep into her and burst, filling her up to the brim.
I don't know what it was, but I was ready for another round, much to Sandra's joy, and after Sandra cleaned her up, Misty took her place over my mouth as Zirani helped Sandra down onto me. The dark-haired arcanist rode me as though I was a stallion and she a mare, her ass smacking down onto me with loud clapping sounds that only increased my pleasure. Misty tasted as good as usual and after ten minutes of my tongue working her, she exploded, coating my tongue and mouth in her juices. She shook stop as I savored her sweet juices, my hands rubbing up and down her thighs as she pressed herself onto my mouth.
Sandra and I weren't far behind and I felt another orgasm incoming as she round me faster and faster, her tight channel wet and hot around my hard shaft. I thrust up into her as hard as I could and soon, just like I had for the others, I filled her up with my cum.
She collapsed atop me when she was done and her lips found mine. Our tongues dueled for a few seconds before she pulled back and shot Misty a smirk. "You taste good blondy."
Misty blushed while Zirani chuckled.
"Fuck that was amazing," I said as I slowly moved my gaze across all over them. "This has without a doubt, so far, been the best night of my life."
"And apparently it's not over," Zirani mused and I frowned in confusion but then quickly realized what she mean a moment later as I looked down at myself.
I was still hard and one glance at their bodies and eager looks told me that there was still plenty more passion and pleasure to be had this night.
Chapter 107 - 107
I was flying high the next day from the previous night's events. We'd spent the better part of the entire night enjoying one another, and by the end, I felt like a dry husk as the four of us slept in a pile.
We didn't let our passions cloud our minds from the goal though and the next day we were up and ready for training early, despite the lack of sleep. We were all at the second level of infusion which meant we didn't need as much sleep as a normal human, and that would only increase as we got stronger. I knew Zirani was looking forward to the day we hit the third level as our bodies would change drastically, far more than they had for the first two. We would get a large boost in all physical aspects and mental as well, but the biggest bonus would be the fact that we would no longer need food or water to survive. Our bodies would be able to live on aether and aether alone, although I would still be eating food since I wasn't about to give that up.
To get to that point we needed to finish our training which was currently focused on advanced and affinity sets.
"I'm going to teach you one at a time," Zirani said as she paced in front of us. "You all have different affinities and different fighting styles so while you may be learning some of the same sets you will also be learning sets I think are best suited to you. Aiden you'll be last as our training will be more in-depth. I want to make full use of the environment and teach you more about nature as you learn the sets."
"Should we continue the meditation as usual?" Sandra asked.
Zirani nodded. "Always. You need it if you want to reach the third level by the end of this week and be ready to form your second core, speaking of which, while I'll be gone with Aiden for the majority of the day, when I return if you have any questions about affinities or want to discuss things then please ask. It's crucial we get you the right affinity for your second core."
I knelt and meditated while Zirani focused on Misty and Sandra. I took slow deep breaths and just let myself relax, which was very easy since after yesterday a lot of the stress I'd been feeling had vanished, and not just because of the pleasure but also because the three had come together.
I'd always been worried that things might not work out and that they wouldn't be able to share me, which was a shocking thing in and of itself, and that one of them might end up remaining just a friend, which stung more than I expected. I hadn't known them for long, but we'd been through so much together in such a short span of time. I was glad to know that I wouldn't have to give any of them up. My aunt was probably going to freak out when I visited her, which I would before I headed to the border cities because I imagined that once I crossed the great scar I wouldn't be able to return for a few years or until I was strong enough that I could go it without an expedition.
"Aiden get up."
This chapter upload first at NovelBin.comI snapped my eyes open after what must have been an hour or two to find Zirani looking down at me. "Come on, it's time we began the second half of your foundation."
Misty and Sandra seemed to be deep in their own training, forming patterns far more complex than the origin patterns we'd been practicing from the base sets.
"I'm going to teach you the advanced sets first," Zirani explained as we jogged through the floor. "You can practice those as we move, and after I've taught you I think you need to know then I'll teach you the affinity sets. I'd rather you have a deeper knowledge of nature before you begin with the affinity set as it should help."
The advanced patterns were a lot more complex than the origin patterns, though their use was similar. They were patterns that were very commonly used and the best for certain types of techniques. Just like Zirani had said before, arcanists beyond the great scar had figured out long ago which patterns were best used, though there were those who used unconventional patterns, they were the minority, and most times it was for noncombat, though not always.
The advanced sets she was teaching me were very varied as unlike Misty or Sandra, my fighting style was a mix of everything. I'd gotten used to the variety of my techniques and having a lot of options, which Zirani had planned for as it was the way she fought. She didn't stick to one form of combat or possess a specialty for skirmishing, defense, or offense. She wanted it all, and while it would take longer and more effort, the payoff was great.
"Fighting me when I was at full power was a nightmare for anyone at my level or below," Zirani said. "I had a counter to everything, and such a wide array of techniques along with my freeform control, that I was near impossible to defined against me. It's different at the highest levels as one seeks ascension but that's a topic for when you've at least passed the sixth level."
She turned to me with a feral smile. "That was just with my nature affinity, by the time you hit the seventh level you will have three cores and three affinities, which will make you a monster on the battlefield. It took me many years to perfect my arcane arts, but that only means that I can teach you the best of what I know and that you won't make the same mistakes I did."
"I'm not sure what my second affinity will be," I replied. "I've always wanted wind or storm, mainly for the speed and versatility, but what do you think?"
"Both could work." A thoughtful look appeared on her face. "And you are correct in that they are versatile, but don't cross out the others just yet. I doubt we'll come across a time or gravity core, but you never know."
"What exactly can be done with gravity?" I asked, not fully understanding it. I knew what gravity was, but I failed to see what can be done with it. I'd paid close attention in class when it came to the arcane, but I tended to care less about the other topics which were coming back to bite me. "I mean I know what it is."
"Gravity is a powerful force." Her eyes grew distant for a moment as though she was remembering something or reliving it. "I've seen arcanists pull down rocks the size of mountains from the sky, and that's not even a complex use of gravity. It's a terrifyingly dangerous power and very rare."
"So I'm unlikely to get my hands on one by the time my second core is formed?" I asked. "Not to mention I want a bond like yours for my next beast."
"It's very unlikely," Zirani replied. "There are no gravity beasts on this floor, although this tower isn't exactly normal so who knows, maybe on the next floor, we'll run into some. It's definitely something to consider as it is the affinity of time, which would be amazing alongside the space mutation we have. Almost every arcanist I've met that has a space of time affinity will always get the other. I've heard it said by many great arcane scholars that they were meant for each other, something about spacetime."
Perhaps wind and storm weren't the way to go, and time and gravity were what I needed, although as Zirani had just said it was unlikely that I'd get my hands on a time or gravity core. I'd have to think about it.
"How about life or death?"
Zirani's face became ridged at the word death.
"Not death?"
She sighed. "I have a history with the death affinity."
"You seem fine around Misty?" I questioned.
"That's different." She shook her head. "I'm sorry, it's your decision at the end of the day."
I frowned and stepped closer to her. "Zirani we are partners, lover, you are not my slave or servant. If you think it's a bad choice or will feel uncomfortable then I won't do it. Plus, it's not like I really want a death affinity, I'm just asking out of cursory. It seems very… deadly."
She snorted. "It's the death affinity. If we're talking about the affinity which can cause the most harm to life then it's the death affinity."
That should have been obvious, and I could only imagine what a higher-level arcanist could do with a death affinity. Zirani had talked about destroying mountains and bringing down meteors, and she'd spoken as though it was at her level which it probably was since she had been at the seventh level. Could a death arcanist just wave a hand and kill a town of people.
"Yes they could," ZIrani said, having read my thought. "Though that's the least of it. You're thinking too narrowmindedly again, which is another reason this type of training is important. Believe it or not but those who focus on healing will often take both the life and death affinity as will those who use death for combat"
"Life for combat? Isn't it just for healing?"
She shot me an exasperated look.. "Still so much to learn. We can talk about it later, for now, let's continue on our way,"
Chapter 108 - 108
Zirani and I continued on our trek through the floor, stopping every once in a while so that I could meditate as I was constantly expending aether, trying to form the patterns from the advanced sets, which while harder than the base sets, still got easier the more I formed them, and I could already see multiple ways I could use some of them in tandem with origin patterns, though there were key things missing. I could guess at what patterns would work for my affinity, but Zirani had said it would be best if I left that until after this training, and since she'd not led me astray so far, I had no reason to disobey her.
We eventually stopped in an area surrounded by dense foliage that glowed, adding to the blue, light coming from above to create an odd mix. Sometimes traveling through this place felt like a fever dream with all the vibrant colors that popped out, not to mention the sheer variety of plant life, a lot of which seemed straight out of a child's dream. I mean a glass-like plant that whistled was not something I'd ever thought I'd come across.
"Why does it do that?" I asked, leaning down to touch it. To my surprise, the plant seemed to lean away from me and the whistling grew louder.
"Don't do that," Zirani said, pulling me away. "That's a purifying plant, a chime flower as it's called. It cleanses the air around itself. It's actually one of the ingredients for the improved aether gathering elixir and pill. A side effect of its purifying nature is that it also purifies the aether in the air. Some people have a room or garden full of plants like this for meditation, though it's mostly used by the green court."
"Is this where you're going to train me?" I asked. "Around these plants?"
She shook her head. "No, there's not enough here for it to make much of a difference. The real reason is that this area has the highest concentration of plant life. It is the densest part of the floor."
I hadn't noticed that before, but looking now, I realized that she was right. They were plants from all over the floor here, including fleet trees, and the giant mushrooms, along with a few other types I hadn't seen or noticed, which made more sense. After the initial first days, I'd turned my full focus to training again.
Zirani walked over and leaned against a tree, crossing her arms. "Now as you know the reason we're doing this is to increase your knowledge of nature, or the green, which is more of an accurate term. In the green court, we don't call it the nature affinity since nature doesn't simply encompass plant life. Nature encompasses everything from the earth to the ocean to the winds and the metal beneath the earth. We call it the green, for obvious reasons."
She turned and pressed a hand to the tree. "The green is a versatile and powerful affinity, more so than any of the others. From healing to positions, to solid forms like wood, to the losers forms like vine and sap. The uses for the green are many. As I've said before, herbs and plants are absolutely crucial when it comes to alchemy, the combination of different ingredients to create something new."
This chapter upload first at NovelBin.comShe turned back to me with a distant look in her eyes. "That's where our true strength lies Aiden, our versatility, but also our ability to change our aether to create these different forms that the green takes. You saw me do it with the poison cloud I performed for you back near the first steel hear camp. You saw me change the aether. I changed it to produce the effect that a plant I knew would do when disturbed. That plant releases a paralytic pollen, and all I did was copy that, and that's just the simplest of what can be done. When I was at the seventh level the things I could do with my aether made me a force to be reckoned with. There was no task I could take on. Fire, water, earth, wind, compared to the green, the forms they take are limited, strong yes, but limited.
Just like before, her words sent my brain in a spiral of thoughts, and tons of possibilities and ideas came to my mind as I thought about what she was saying. The ability to produce any type of plant life using your aether, or even just a part of it or an effect. Mixing them to create new things, and well, alchemy was a wide subject, and like she'd said it went from healing to harming, and on and on.
"Don't be mistaken though," Zirani said. "There are limitations, mainly depending on how powerful you are. Certain plant life will be out of your league, and learning how to change your aether is already hard, but with the sheer variety the green offers, it's ten times harder for us. Another path may be more simple, not easier, but more simple. Our path is not simple, your path is not simple, not if you want to utilize all aspects of the green."
I felt my excitement building. "You know I'm willing to do it."
For that type of power and what it would allow me to do, I would be willing to do almost anything.
"That's good." Zirani smiled. "When you're done with your advanced sets and we move onto your affinity sets, I'm going to start to teach you the basics of changing your aether, which leads us back to why we're here. Our bond has grown to the point where I could send information into your head along with memories, and mental images which I've already done before, but I want you to gain some experience firsthand rather than me just shoving all the information into your head."
"So could you send patterns to me?" I asked.
She nodded. "Like I said I can send information across our bond, but I'm not going to do that just yet."
She motioned to our surroundings. "I want you to examine these plants, what they do, their properties, their effects on the environment, etc."
"Just look at them?" I asked, not really knowing what she meant. Did she want me to use a technique?
She shot me a slight glare. "I was getting to that. I'm going to teach you a technique very similar to green pulse, but instead of gaining information from the green you will gain information about the green."
She pressed a hand to the tree behind her. "Just pay attention to what I do."
A pattern began to form around her hand and then the technique was formed. It looked almost identical to green pulse at first glance, but then I noticed the difference and changes. The aether pulsed through the tree and remained there for a moment before returning back to Zirani's hand, presumably with the information on the tree.
"It will be confusing at first, but I will be there to guide you and explain anything you don't understand. Once you got a handle on it and gain a basic understanding, then I will feel more comfortable with sending information directly into your mind."
I gave Zirani a skeptical look as walked over to a nearby fleet tree. "I'm going to be able to understand what goes into my head?"
"You'll be fine. It's not like the tree's going to be speaking to you."
I pressed my plan against the bark of the tree and pulled aether from my core to began forming the same pattern she'd used. "That's not what I'm saying. Will, I understand the… information? The information that the technique brings to me."
"For the most part, yes, though they will be aspects which confuse you, especially when it comes to plants that you've never come across before like the chime plant. If you were to examine it before I'd told you what it did, it might take you longer to realize what it was doing, but now that you know, it'd make more sense and click faster."
Once the pattern was formed I let it run its course, and the technique shot from my palm into the tree. It felt very similar to green pulse, and I took a deep breath as I prepared myself for what was about to happen. I'm not sure why I was so nervous.
After a long moment the aether that had entered the tree returned to me, and with it came a wave of information about the tree, from its density to its weight, to natural pattern it seemed to possess, and more, some of which was very confusing. There was information of something deeper that I couldn't understand, small things that seemed to connect together to create larger things which then themselves came together to create the wood and the other parts of the tree. Layers upon layer of information, and for a long moment I could think of nothing but the tree.
Then Zirani's hands were on my shoulder and my mind began to settle.
"Wow." My voice was breathless, and with a start, I realized I was laying on the ground, my head in ZIrnai's lap.
"It's a lot isn't it." She smiled and slowly stroked a hand through my hair.
That was an understatement, It had been everything.
"Take some time to relax," Zirani said with a soothing voice.. "Then I shall explain further and we begin the process once again."
Chapter 109 - 109(18+)
The effects of the technique slowly wore off after a few minutes, and my mind was once again peaceful, or as peaceful as it could be. It was basically back to its usual state, though with a whole lot of new information.
Zirani's lap was quite comfortable and I would've stayed there for longer if she hadn't noticed my recovery.
"Come on, we can rest later."
I let out a sigh and got back to my feet. "Can you blame me?"
She chuckled and gave me a playful smack on the arm. "No, but we're training now, fun later, I promise."
I stretched. "Deal. So, wanna explain what happened? I mean I've got a good guess, but that was… a lot more potent and in-depth than I imagined it would be."
"A lot of the information you received isn't going to be useful immediately," Zirani said. "Especially since it goes into the genetic makeup of the tree."
I raised an eyebrow. "The genetic what?"
She spread her arms out. "Like I said, a lot of information. That's a topic for another time. What you have to focus on is specific parts of information, the most important being the pattern, remember how I said there is a pattern for everything?"
"Oh." It suddenly dawned on me, and all it took was a moment to bring up the information on the tree's pattern. It was complex, but it was there.
"That pattern is the tree," Zirani explained. "That's the main way you'll change the aether. Certain patterns affect aether differently and change it. If you formed a pattern like this then your aether would attempt to create a fleet tree in exactly the same shape, size, and weight as the one you used the technique on. Patterns like this affect the shell of your aether directly as it's a far more complex pattern than simply creating some wood or a vine. It's something all arcanists beyond the great scar are expected to learn, but it's harder for us due to the complexity of plant life and the sheer variety when it comes to the green, you with me so far?"
I nodded. It was a bit confusing but thanks to everything she'd already taught me and my excellent memory when it came to the arcane I was able to keep up.
"Good, now I want you to repeat what you did with the tree to a few more of the plants."
I opened my mouth to protest but she cut me off. "I know it's not a pleasant experience, but I need you to do this. It's just for this one time and then I can send the information through our bond. I want you to experience this fully."
The honesty and sincerity in her eyes so I turned as I pulled aether from my core, readying myself for another bombardment of information.
This chapter upload first at NovelBin.comI fell almost every single time, I used the technique, and for some reason, I'd expected the smaller plants to be easier, but no, they held just as much if not more information. It was only on the last two plants that I managed to remain standing and not topple like a sack of cores. For some of the plants, I managed to understand what they did right away, but for others, I was left baffled as I tried to figure them out. Luckily I had Zirani and with her help, I was able to sort through the information and she helped explain certain aspects of what I was getting, though the talk of atoms and particles went completely over my head, not that she expected me to understand any of that.
"Let me get this straight, all things are made up of smaller things called atoms and particles."
She sighed and shook her head. "This is a conversation for another time, Aiden let's just continue with the training. I want you to use the technique on one more thing."
She held up a hand before I could protest. "Just one more thing."
"What?"
She smiled and it was then that I noticed she had one hand behind her back. She revealed the hand and more importantly, what was inside it. A dark green seed.
"You want me to scan it?" I asked.
"I do, but hold on." She moved up until she was behind me. "Just in case you fall. Here."
She dropped the seed into my open right hand and I moved it up to my eye. It looked like the impact seeds, but a bit smaller, and its color was such a dark green to almost be black. I wondered why she wanted me to scan it, but one look over my shoulders at her face told me she wasn't going to tell me until I'd actually scanned it so I formed the technique and shot it into the seed.
Almost immediately my brain stopped for what was probably a second but felt a lot longer. The flood of information that hit my mind was like a tidal wave crashing against a cliff, but instead of washing against it, it chased through, breaking and shattering the cliff. I lost sense of my body and everything else, but my thoughts and bit after bit of information entered my mind, so quickly I couldn't make sense of any of it. It was an endless wave, or it seemed to be, and what was worse was the fact I couldn't really think or panic, since any such thoughts were drowned out the moment I thought them up.
"Calm, Aiden, calm."
Zirani voice broke through the haze of my mind as the flood turned into a trickle. Feeling returned as did the knowledge that I was shaking. My hands felt sticky and Zirani was gently stroking my head while she whispered calming words into my ear.
"What. The. Fuck." That was about all I could say, and even that was hard to get out as my mind was still processing the information that had hit me, as though it was trying to catch up as to what had happened. Damn, that had been bad, not in a painful way, but in a claustrophobic way, like I'd been trapped in my own head unable to think or do anything, but watch. I was pretty sure a lot of the information hadn't stuck and I could feel some of it fading.
"I know, I know." She continued to calm me. "I didn't want to do this, I truly didn't, but it had to be done."
"You could have warned me," I replied, a tinge of anger in my voice.
"Would you have gone through with it so easily if I had?"
I opened my mouth then shut it as I considered her words. "Probably not. Why exactly did this need to happen? It feels like someone tried to shove an orange through a hole the size of a grape, my mind being the hole and the orange being whatever the hell that was."
"That was to get you accustomed to the feeling of having large amounts of information sent into your mind," Zirani explained.
"Please, please don't tell me it's going to be like that every time." The experience had somehow felt just as bad as the bath did, which was sayings something since that was ten minutes of constant physical pain.
She shook her head. "No, it won't even be as bad as any of the plants. This was just to strengthen your mind, and help it get used to the feeling. It will be a lot more receptive when I do it and our bond will help greatly as we are connected so your mind will welcome me, as it does when we communicate telepathically or send emotional and mental images over. All of that Is technically sending information over."
"Are we done for the day?" I asked, feeling mentally exhausted.
"We are." A slow smile crept over her face. "Though I promised you a bit of fun, and well I'm feeling rather bad for having sprung that on you. Why don't you lean back and relax while I give you some much-needed relief."
I felt my member begin to rise as Zirani walked around until she was in front of me, and spreading my legs open. I moved up until my back was against a tree.
Her hand worked at the string to my pants and she quickly had them down along with my underclothes to reveal my hard and ready manhood, eager for her touch.
"Such a lovely treat." She warped a gentle hand around it and I immediately felt some of the stress and pressure leave my body, replaced by pleasure at her warm touch.
"Damn Zirani." I smiled as I stared down at her. "You really know how to make me feel better, huh?"
She didn't reply and leaned forward to take my tip into her wet and warm mouth.
"Fuck," I groaned as her tongue worked at my tip while one of her hands stroked the shaft. It felt amazing and I let out another loud moan as she began to push herself down, her tongue working as my erection entered deeper and deeper.
She gagged as my tip hit the entrance to her throat, but unlike the previous times, she didn't pull back and instead force herself onwards, gagging all the while.
"Yes, Zirani." I resisted pressing a hand to the back of her head to force her down, but I didn't know if she'd like that, and she seemed to be doing fine.
Her eyes rolled back up into her head as my tip finally entered her throat, and soon after more of my manhood followed, until her nose was at the edge of my stomach. I stared down into her wary eyes and even with my erection deep in her throat, she still managed to wink.
I moaned as she walled and worked my tip and part of my shaft with the ridges of her throat, something that only Sandra had done before.
I don't know if it was the stress or just the fact that I badly needed release, but my orgasm rose quicker than normal and my seed burst into her mouth and directly down her throat and into her stomach, filling her up with my hot cum.
She kept her eyes on me the entire time, occasionally moaning as my seed filled her.
"Damn I needed that," I said with a sigh of relief as Zirani moved up, cleaning me until just my tip was left. I shook as she sucked at the sensitive flesh, draining the last drops out before letting me fall from her mouth.
"Feel better?"
I nodded.. "Much."
Chapter 110 - 110
After our little tryst, Zirani and I headed back to the treehouse, though Zirani did not let me off, and had me forming the advanced sets the entire way back, which while tiring, made sense. I needed to get stronger and though I complained at times, I would always get it done in the end. My ambitions were great and as such my desire to train and ability to push on needed to also be great, if not greater.
It was hard though, forming the patterns, harder than it had been, and the reason was the new information in my head. I kept getting distracted, and sometimes random bits and pieces of information would just pop up in my head, unbidden. Zirani had reassured me that I was just a side effect and would ear, thank the heavens. I did not random information popping in my head at crucial points in time. In a fight, such a thing could lead to severe injury or death and I had no intentions of dying anything soon, or ever if I gained enough strength. I clung to that fool's hope, letting it drive me ever forward, though never letting it blind me.
I wanted power, but I didn't want to lose myself in the process, not like the twin horn had. they had wanted power, influence, and more, and had been willing to go to extreme lengths and commit deplorable acts such as slavery and whatever the hell they were doing in this tower. Even days later the sight of that thing still lingered and whenever my mind wandered to thoughts of the twin horn, it would pop up, reminding me just why they needed to be put down.
Misty and Sandra were training when we made it back to the treehouse, thought Misty seemed to be having an easier time of it than Sandra.
"I can't get it to form." Sandra stamped her foot then her eyes caught Zirnai and me staring. She sighed and bolted over to Zirani, a pleading look in her eyes. "You need to help me? I can't get this pattern to form."
I walked over to misty while Sandra explained her problem to Zirani. The blonde was sat in a meditative position, aether within her grasp as she tried to form a pattern. An affinity pattern from the looks of it as it didn't have the same complexity as the advanced patterns. The base and affinity patterns were single whole origin patterns, unlike the advanced patterns which were made up of pieces of more than one origin pattern.
"Traning coming along?"
She shrugged. "For the most part. It's harder than the base sets, but I haven't run into any walls yet."
"Unlike Sandra, it seems," I replied. "Though I haven't had the best of times, at least for the most part."
The ending had been very enjoyable.
"Oh?" Misty must have caught the look in my eyes because she raised an eyebrow. "Dare I ask? Were you even training?"
"Yes," I said with a cough. "I just got stressed and Zirani helped me."
Misty chuckled. "I bet she did. What sort of train was it?"
I explained everything that had happened minus the blowjob at the end. A thoughtful look appeared on Misty's face.
"Do you think you could do that with me, send information over?"
This chapter upload first at NovelBin.com"I don't see why not," I answered. "Although I think it's best to wait until our bond is stronger. We can't even speak telepathically yet."
"Cant we?" Misty's eyes narrowed and I was about to ask what she doing when her voice rang in my mind.
"Aiden, can you hear me?"
It was faint, but it was definitely there.
"I can," I replied mentally.
She smiled, and a burst of excitement and curiosity passed through our bond. Clearly, she was thinking of what she could do with this.
"It's a shame Sandra doesn't have one," I remarked, thinking of how we could communicate telepathically in battle and just how useful it would be, not to mention everything else that came with it.
"Is it not possible to make a bond with her?" Misty asked curiously, her eyes wandering over to Sandra who sat opposite Zirani, and listening eagerly while the nature beasts spoke.
"I." I paused. "I don't actually know. Zirani probably does though, I'll have to ask later."
If it was possible then I saw no reason why we shouldn't do it. The perks would be well worth it. Sandra and I were already close so she wouldn't refuse, and if Zirnai could send information over to me, could I then send that information to those two? It was something I definitely needed to ask Zirani about, but in the meantime, it was back to training.
I sat with Misty while I continued to from the advanced patterns, succeeding more than I had an hour ago as the side effects of the information transfer wore off.
Zirani remained by Sandra's side, helping her form the patterns from her advanced and affinity sets. I caught her eye and gave her a smile which she returned with a wink and playful grin. Zirani chuckled beside her and I got the distinct feeling that she blabbed about our little session earlier, not that I really cared. It wasn't as if Sandra hadn't done the same to me, just yesterday.
"Focus, Aiden," Misty scolded.
"Huh." I shook my head to clear my thoughts. "I am."
"Really?" She pointed to my crouch and my rising erection. "It doesn't look like it."
I blushed and pushed away all of the erotic images in my mind. It really was hard at times, being around three beautiful women, who you were in a relationship with, though it was well worth it.
I managed to remain mostly focused for the next few hours until we finished for the day, mostly thanks to Misty who kept my mind on the training, and we headed up the treehouse, tired and exhausted.
"Zirani can I make a bond with Sandra?" I asked mentally as I headed to the kitchen. Ever since the first time I'd made the chicken, all three had been pestering to continue it every day, and I saw no reason not to. It didn't take long and was not only far better than ratios but also very good for morale.
"Like the type you have with Misty and me?"
I mentally nodded.
There was a long moment of silence as she thought on it. "It's possible, but it's not done in the same way. Unlike Misty or I, she doesn't have a natural medium like the core that contains me and my essence or the aether and blood Misty drank in the process of her bonding. We'd have to make one."
"So it's possible then?" I questioned.
"Yes, it is. We'd have to form a large array and I'd have to teach the both of you a bonding technique and method, but we could do it. Is."
She paused. "Is this for her? Does she feel left out?'
"Oh no, I just think it would be useful for fights and eternal use," I replied. "I mean there's no downsides or drawbacks, it would just be perks, wouldn't it."
"Correct, but I recommended we don't do it until we've finished our training. We'll add a day, the day before we leave this floor, to get the two of you bonded."
After a hearty meal of fried chicken, I went through the usual bath of pain, which was easier this time, something I was very thankful for, but instead of heading to bed immediately, I called Sandra to my room and not just to sleep with her, though that's what she probably thought.
She started to undress with a smirk, but I stopped her. "We can get to that soon, but first I want to talk to you."
She frowned. "About what?"
I went through a quick recap of what id talked about with Misty and Zinrai, and how I wanted to form a bond with her.
"Sure." She shrugged. "I can already see a ton of benefits it would have, and I won't lie… I was going to ask soon anyways. I just felt a bit left out."
She sighed. "I know I shouldn't, but I… I just did."
I walked over and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her in close. I placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "You are just as important to me as Misty and ZIrani are, which I know sounds hard to believe since we haven't known each other that long, but we've been through so much together. I feel like we already have a bond."
She leaned into me. "I feel the same. I never thought I'd end up like this, but I'm glad. So when are we going to do it, tomorrow?"
"The day before we leave the floor," I explained as my hands moved down to her firm backside. "Now, how about you continue what you were doing a few minutes ago."
Sandra was twice as eager that night, and she rode me in a blissful oblivion before she snuggled up next to me with a smile and sigh, both of us falling asleep soon after.