ACT V
THE GLORY WARS
Hierarchy of mana resources
Mana stones high grade
Sunstone has no subcategories
“That’s enough bad news,” Hans asked Vanir to go back and headed towards Agrilands, using the pretext of completing his remaining tasks. The SpaceDoor manager, who had grown familiar with him over the past year, allowed him access without much scrutiny.
"Let's see what you've got," Hans murmured, gazing down at his pendant as he began infusing it with nature's mana. "I was right, this is acting like a mage's heart, filtering the wind mana. Come on, my treasure... any moment now." He straightened his back and assumed a squatting position. Just as he was about to give up, the pendant suddenly propelled him high into the sky.
"What's with everyone wanting to see me fly? Are you in on it too?" Hans taunted his pendant as though it were a living being, and instead of calling the bean sprout as usual, he started regulating the amount of mana and soon reached a balance, perfectly levitating. "Now, that's what you call flying. I'm a hundred per cent sure that elves don't know this. Well, they can't even use... I'm probably the only one.” He shouted, excited, “Thank you, Clandor.”
He accelerated higher into the sky. "I can fly! I can..." His jubilation was interrupted by a swarm of insects. "Ugh, of all the places. Kh-ka," he coughed as he descended. Just before touching the ground, he curled up and skillfully skimmed through the air, launching himself back into the skies. "It's tough, I can't use it in a fight, but who cares? I can fly! Hahaha!" He laughed with a villainous glee until his throat gave out, finally returning to his dorm.
“That was eventful but what about money? Should I rob someone? But I can’t leave Concordia. Who knows which bastard is going crazy over me outside? DO I REALLY HAVE TO SELL THINGS.”
He checked once more; his book, "Limitless," was still displaying a blank page. "Oh, come on, give me something, please," he pleaded, reverently eyeing the book, but it remained frustratingly blank, its pages a monotonous off-white. He looked, quickly skimming through his objects, “No, I can’t sell anything without causing any chaos.” he decided firmly.
He leapt out of his bed, checking the time. "It's pretty late, but who cares?" He stormed out of his dormitory to Professor Walter's office, hoping to catch him. As luck would have it, Walter was occupied with his duties. "Good evening, Professor—"
"What do you need, farm boy?"
"I want to talk to someone. Can I borrow your Orb—"
"Here," Walter handed it over without questioning. "You have ten minutes."
"Thanks." Snatching the Orb, Hans hurried out of the office and connected to one of the two patterns he knew. "Bling, bling. Hutch." The person on the other end answered quickly, wondering who was missing him this late in the night.
“How are you doing, Mr Hodges.”
“Oh! Young Lord, don’t tell me you are kidnapped again. You hurt anywhere, where should I sen—”
“Wait, Mr Hodges. I’m fine. It's just that I need some money —”
“Young Lord, young…your v…voice ..is ..breaking. kkk…”
“Drop it, Mr Hodges, it's not convincing.”
“Money for what young Lord, we are already running low on funds,” Hodges complained.
“Haa.. this miser, cough something up.” Hans wore the most polite smile he could find inside him, “it's not like I’m asking a lot, just to buy a few mana stones.”
“What... mana stones now? Can't your hobbies be less expensive?" Sighing, Hodges responded from the other side, "If you need funds, you should ask the Count." But Hans was determined to see this through. "If that were possible, don't you think I would have done it already? So, how much money can chug… I mean spare without informing Gramps?”
“Even if the Count isn't aware, do you think I can spend money without him knowing—“
"Oh, please, Gramps doesn't even know how much money he has in his pocket," Hans retorted sharply, leaving Hodges momentarily speechless, mainly because it was so accurate. Despite this, he remained the household butler. "That would be considered embezzlement.”
"Embezzlement is a nice word, I like it. So, how much are you willing to send?" Hans was like an unstoppable train, and he wasn't prepared to accept a "no" for an answer.
"Why do you need so many mana stones?" Hodges couldn't help but ask, and Hans decided to share his reasons. "I'm learning golem making—"
"Then wouldn't it be better to use Wood-type stones—"
"Their output is too low; I need Ground-type and some others," Hans added, considering the matter carefully. He was about to press Hodges further, but Hodges surprised him with an unexpected response. "How about I send you Wood-type mana stones, starting with the highest grade? You can practice with them to perfect your technique, so we don't waste any more precious resources.”
"In that case, I'll need a lot of them—"
"Yes, you'll receive them tomorrow morning, no problem," Hodges replied confidently. His willingness to provide the stones without hesitation raised Hans's suspicions. He wondered why Hodges was being so accommodating, unaware of the fact that Wood mana stones were significantly cheaper than others. They were so cost-effective that even farmers used them to rejuvenate their lands, but that was not something Hodges intended to disclose to Hans.
“But young lord, why are you not asking your rich friend?” Hodges asked, slyly hinting at Delimira, knowing there was some tension between them, mostly to rub on him. To his surprise, Hans responded with a statement that left him taken aback.
“If I borrow money,” Hans said grinning, “then I have to return that back, Mr Hodges.”
Hodges began to sweat bullets, “You mean you won’t be returning this money.” he asked, a hint of panic in his voice. He continued, "This can't be hidden in the accounts, young Lord.
“What do you mean return, I’m just a kid —”
“What goddamn kid needs thousands of gold, YOUNG LORD,” Hodges almost raised his voice, his agitation apparent.
“A very intelligent and clever kid, Mr. Hodges. Take care of your accounts, aren’t you a veteran in things like this?”
“But —”
“No 'buts.' Just send it as you promised by tomorrow. My time is running out. Farewell.”
Hanging up, Hans returned the orb to its owner and continued on his way. "There's no way he's going to do this behind Gramps, but whatever," he muttered. "He said he would, so I'll receive it anyway.”
Hans climbed into bed with these thoughts on his mind, but the sleep fairy seemed to have abandoned him that night. He couldn't stop wondering why Hodges had agreed so readily. He began to doubt if his own words had manipulated the butler into compliance or if there was something else he wasn’t aware of.
"Ugh," he grumbled, tossing and turning. "This isn't working." He searched for something to occupy his restless mind. "Where did I put it? I'm sure I bought it…” he searched, throwing his stuff here and there. “Ah, there it is—the Book of Manoeuvring Tactics for a Flying Mage.”
Throughout the night, he devoured the book's contents. It turned out to be a wise decision, as he had only just learned how to fly. The book illustrated many techniques to utilize flight more effectively, including the concept of aerodynamics, which was typically reserved for senior mages.
"Aren't I the smartest? I bought so many of these, and they call me a spendthrift. Well, look at me now!” He muttered
With heavy bags under his eyes, weighing them down like burdens, Hans left for the day after finishing his breakfast. Thanks to the separate dining facilities of the houses, this place provided him with some much-needed peace. No onlookers were casting contemptuous glances his way, mainly because they were all engrossed in their work or simply didn't regard him as a high-born noble. So, they left him alone. He was accustomed to sitting near Walter's table, but today he couldn't spot him.
"The preparations for the Glory Wars must have completely occupied Him.” Hans thought tearing his favourite bread. “Days are passing like a flash and he is determined to secure a victory. Just what is fuelling him to this degree.” Hans glanced at the empty seat, muttering, “I even heard that he already narrowed down the students for the remaining nine places, and is going above and beyond to prepare them. From supplying growth potions to enhance their strength to equipping them with high-quality weapons and armour… that man is bleeding his wallet”
Hans gulped down his food, and patting his chest down, he commented, “He is gone mad.”
After finishing his breakfast, Hans went to receive his package. As he examined its contents, he exclaimed, "A set of 20 mana stones... wow, he even sent two low-grade wood mana gems. And he said he didn't have money."
While Walter was preoccupied with preliminary selections for the Glory Wars team, Hans delved into the intricacies of Golem-making with Vanir. When they finally succeeded in creating a golem that lasted for a minute or so, Hans eagerly reached for the book tied behind his waist, whispering, "Sweet god Yudwin... Damn it, it's not here, come on?" To his surprise, something else appeared, almost indecipherable, much like what he had seen in the Solar Mage book. But unlike the second book, some words began to make sense. "El... Eld... Elder form, what the heck is this? It's only half complete. Do I lack something... Please, give me a golem on the next page, next page... Yes, here it is, wood golems. FINALLY.” He shouted out loud
He kissed the book repeatedly until Vanir asked him, what he was so happy about, reading an empty book. But Hans shrugged off the question and sent Vanir on an errand to bring back the preliminary selection results.
Page 23
Wood Golems
"To create Wood Golems, you must first understand how golem circuits function. This knowledge can be acquired through books or alchemists. However, constructing a Golem is a task not easily accomplished, as it relies heavily on the precision of mana control—a skill you should have developed by now. The lifespan of your Golem depends on the efficiency of your Golem formula and your ability to realize it.
If you were contemplating a distributive method, let me assure you that it is a waste of time. Mastering the Wood Golem spell with Elder form (found somewhere in the book) will render the inherent weakness of Golems, their central core, insignificant. You will possess an unending supply of Golems.
Now, let's get started. For goodness' sake, use a wood gem; they are affordable even for peasants….”
“So I was really duped, my butler is an old fox, whatever. Where was I?”
Let's get started… affordable even by peasants, so don’t be miser and spend some money. The process involves three steps: understanding, construction, and realization. You must first grasp the concept of the golem circuit and how mana flows within it. For the second step, imagine the wood gem as the Golem's heart, with vines serving as veins connecting the entire Golem. This method is faster than aerial conductance because mana can flow through living things." since mana can flow through the living things.
To complete the third step, command your vines to uproot rocks and boulders. These materials will serve as the exoskeleton of your golem. If you can create this structure perfectly, you will have a powerful golem that is faster than traditional ones and capable of regeneration, provided the core remains intact. You can even move the core inside since you will have control over the internals.
Here's a valuable piece of advice: golems are not limited to humanoid structures. , you can mimic other beasts, and remember, huge ones will need more cores.”
“Well, it's all good but what the heck is elder form.” He turned back, recalling the same patterns in the solar mage book. “An unending supply of Golems. Sounds intriguing.”
***
AnnouncementYeah, they do have trains in this world, mostly used for goods or used by commoners as the means of transport
NEXT : THE JUNIOR TEAM
ACT V
THE GLORY WARS
Hierarchy of mana resources
Mana stones high grade
Sunstone has no subcategories
“That’s enough bad news,” Hans asked Vanir to go back and headed towards Agrilands, using the pretext of completing his remaining tasks. The SpaceDoor manager, who had grown familiar with him over the past year, allowed him access without much scrutiny.
"Let's see what you've got," Hans murmured, gazing down at his pendant as he began infusing it with nature's mana. "I was right, this is acting like a mage's heart, filtering the wind mana. Come on, my treasure... any moment now." He straightened his back and assumed a squatting position. Just as he was about to give up, the pendant suddenly propelled him high into the sky.
"What's with everyone wanting to see me fly? Are you in on it too?" Hans taunted his pendant as though it were a living being, and instead of calling the bean sprout as usual, he started regulating the amount of mana and soon reached a balance, perfectly levitating. "Now, that's what you call flying. I'm a hundred per cent sure that elves don't know this. Well, they can't even use... I'm probably the only one.” He shouted, excited, “Thank you, Clandor.”
He accelerated higher into the sky. "I can fly! I can..." His jubilation was interrupted by a swarm of insects. "Ugh, of all the places. Kh-ka," he coughed as he descended. Just before touching the ground, he curled up and skillfully skimmed through the air, launching himself back into the skies. "It's tough, I can't use it in a fight, but who cares? I can fly! Hahaha!" He laughed with a villainous glee until his throat gave out, finally returning to his dorm.
“That was eventful but what about money? Should I rob someone? But I can’t leave Concordia. Who knows which bastard is going crazy over me outside? DO I REALLY HAVE TO SELL THINGS.”
He checked once more; his book, "Limitless," was still displaying a blank page. "Oh, come on, give me something, please," he pleaded, reverently eyeing the book, but it remained frustratingly blank, its pages a monotonous off-white. He looked, quickly skimming through his objects, “No, I can’t sell anything without causing any chaos.” he decided firmly.
He leapt out of his bed, checking the time. "It's pretty late, but who cares?" He stormed out of his dormitory to Professor Walter's office, hoping to catch him. As luck would have it, Walter was occupied with his duties. "Good evening, Professor—"
"What do you need, farm boy?"
"I want to talk to someone. Can I borrow your Orb—"
"Here," Walter handed it over without questioning. "You have ten minutes."
"Thanks." Snatching the Orb, Hans hurried out of the office and connected to one of the two patterns he knew. "Bling, bling. Hutch." The person on the other end answered quickly, wondering who was missing him this late in the night.
“How are you doing, Mr Hodges.”
“Oh! Young Lord, don’t tell me you are kidnapped again. You hurt anywhere, where should I sen—”
“Wait, Mr Hodges. I’m fine. It's just that I need some money —”
“Young Lord, young…your v…voice ..is ..breaking. kkk…”
“Drop it, Mr Hodges, it's not convincing.”
“Money for what young Lord, we are already running low on funds,” Hodges complained.
“Haa.. this miser, cough something up.” Hans wore the most polite smile he could find inside him, “it's not like I’m asking a lot, just to buy a few mana stones.”
“What... mana stones now? Can't your hobbies be less expensive?" Sighing, Hodges responded from the other side, "If you need funds, you should ask the Count." But Hans was determined to see this through. "If that were possible, don't you think I would have done it already? So, how much money can chug… I mean spare without informing Gramps?”
“Even if the Count isn't aware, do you think I can spend money without him knowing—“
"Oh, please, Gramps doesn't even know how much money he has in his pocket," Hans retorted sharply, leaving Hodges momentarily speechless, mainly because it was so accurate. Despite this, he remained the household butler. "That would be considered embezzlement.”
"Embezzlement is a nice word, I like it. So, how much are you willing to send?" Hans was like an unstoppable train, and he wasn't prepared to accept a "no" for an answer.
"Why do you need so many mana stones?" Hodges couldn't help but ask, and Hans decided to share his reasons. "I'm learning golem making—"
"Then wouldn't it be better to use Wood-type stones—"
"Their output is too low; I need Ground-type and some others," Hans added, considering the matter carefully. He was about to press Hodges further, but Hodges surprised him with an unexpected response. "How about I send you Wood-type mana stones, starting with the highest grade? You can practice with them to perfect your technique, so we don't waste any more precious resources.”
"In that case, I'll need a lot of them—"
"Yes, you'll receive them tomorrow morning, no problem," Hodges replied confidently. His willingness to provide the stones without hesitation raised Hans's suspicions. He wondered why Hodges was being so accommodating, unaware of the fact that Wood mana stones were significantly cheaper than others. They were so cost-effective that even farmers used them to rejuvenate their lands, but that was not something Hodges intended to disclose to Hans.
“But young lord, why are you not asking your rich friend?” Hodges asked, slyly hinting at Delimira, knowing there was some tension between them, mostly to rub on him. To his surprise, Hans responded with a statement that left him taken aback.
“If I borrow money,” Hans said grinning, “then I have to return that back, Mr Hodges.”
Hodges began to sweat bullets, “You mean you won’t be returning this money.” he asked, a hint of panic in his voice. He continued, "This can't be hidden in the accounts, young Lord.
“What do you mean return, I’m just a kid —”
“What goddamn kid needs thousands of gold, YOUNG LORD,” Hodges almost raised his voice, his agitation apparent.
“A very intelligent and clever kid, Mr. Hodges. Take care of your accounts, aren’t you a veteran in things like this?”
“But —”
“No 'buts.' Just send it as you promised by tomorrow. My time is running out. Farewell.”
Hanging up, Hans returned the orb to its owner and continued on his way. "There's no way he's going to do this behind Gramps, but whatever," he muttered. "He said he would, so I'll receive it anyway.”
Hans climbed into bed with these thoughts on his mind, but the sleep fairy seemed to have abandoned him that night. He couldn't stop wondering why Hodges had agreed so readily. He began to doubt if his own words had manipulated the butler into compliance or if there was something else he wasn’t aware of.
"Ugh," he grumbled, tossing and turning. "This isn't working." He searched for something to occupy his restless mind. "Where did I put it? I'm sure I bought it…” he searched, throwing his stuff here and there. “Ah, there it is—the Book of Manoeuvring Tactics for a Flying Mage.”
Throughout the night, he devoured the book's contents. It turned out to be a wise decision, as he had only just learned how to fly. The book illustrated many techniques to utilize flight more effectively, including the concept of aerodynamics, which was typically reserved for senior mages.
"Aren't I the smartest? I bought so many of these, and they call me a spendthrift. Well, look at me now!” He muttered
With heavy bags under his eyes, weighing them down like burdens, Hans left for the day after finishing his breakfast. Thanks to the separate dining facilities of the houses, this place provided him with some much-needed peace. No onlookers were casting contemptuous glances his way, mainly because they were all engrossed in their work or simply didn't regard him as a high-born noble. So, they left him alone. He was accustomed to sitting near Walter's table, but today he couldn't spot him.
"The preparations for the Glory Wars must have completely occupied Him.” Hans thought tearing his favourite bread. “Days are passing like a flash and he is determined to secure a victory. Just what is fuelling him to this degree.” Hans glanced at the empty seat, muttering, “I even heard that he already narrowed down the students for the remaining nine places, and is going above and beyond to prepare them. From supplying growth potions to enhance their strength to equipping them with high-quality weapons and armour… that man is bleeding his wallet”
Hans gulped down his food, and patting his chest down, he commented, “He is gone mad.”
After finishing his breakfast, Hans went to receive his package. As he examined its contents, he exclaimed, "A set of 20 mana stones... wow, he even sent two low-grade wood mana gems. And he said he didn't have money."
While Walter was preoccupied with preliminary selections for the Glory Wars team, Hans delved into the intricacies of Golem-making with Vanir. When they finally succeeded in creating a golem that lasted for a minute or so, Hans eagerly reached for the book tied behind his waist, whispering, "Sweet god Yudwin... Damn it, it's not here, come on?" To his surprise, something else appeared, almost indecipherable, much like what he had seen in the Solar Mage book. But unlike the second book, some words began to make sense. "El... Eld... Elder form, what the heck is this? It's only half complete. Do I lack something... Please, give me a golem on the next page, next page... Yes, here it is, wood golems. FINALLY.” He shouted out loud
He kissed the book repeatedly until Vanir asked him, what he was so happy about, reading an empty book. But Hans shrugged off the question and sent Vanir on an errand to bring back the preliminary selection results.
Page 23
Wood Golems
"To create Wood Golems, you must first understand how golem circuits function. This knowledge can be acquired through books or alchemists. However, constructing a Golem is a task not easily accomplished, as it relies heavily on the precision of mana control—a skill you should have developed by now. The lifespan of your Golem depends on the efficiency of your Golem formula and your ability to realize it.
If you were contemplating a distributive method, let me assure you that it is a waste of time. Mastering the Wood Golem spell with Elder form (found somewhere in the book) will render the inherent weakness of Golems, their central core, insignificant. You will possess an unending supply of Golems.
Now, let's get started. For goodness' sake, use a wood gem; they are affordable even for peasants….”
“So I was really duped, my butler is an old fox, whatever. Where was I?”
Let's get started… affordable even by peasants, so don’t be miser and spend some money. The process involves three steps: understanding, construction, and realization. You must first grasp the concept of the golem circuit and how mana flows within it. For the second step, imagine the wood gem as the Golem's heart, with vines serving as veins connecting the entire Golem. This method is faster than aerial conductance because mana can flow through living things." since mana can flow through the living things.
To complete the third step, command your vines to uproot rocks and boulders. These materials will serve as the exoskeleton of your golem. If you can create this structure perfectly, you will have a powerful golem that is faster than traditional ones and capable of regeneration, provided the core remains intact. You can even move the core inside since you will have control over the internals.
Here's a valuable piece of advice: golems are not limited to humanoid structures. , you can mimic other beasts, and remember, huge ones will need more cores.”
“Well, it's all good but what the heck is elder form.” He turned back, recalling the same patterns in the solar mage book. “An unending supply of Golems. Sounds intriguing.”
***
AnnouncementYeah, they do have trains in this world, mostly used for goods or used by commoners as the means of transport
NEXT : THE JUNIOR TEAM
