The journey to Valis had been relatively easy for the group. Well, most of them. While Tyrus, Grant, and Reo could walk nonstop for hours, Fiona needed a break every few hours. The constant breaks didn't bother her friends at all. Almost as if it was a daily routine for them. As for Tyrus, he didn’t care all that much. He took advantage of her rest time to do some training.
Rather than breaking his word to Fiona and using spells that depleted him, he settled with augmentation and meditation. Tyrus had to conserve mana until they reached Valis. In the event of encountering a pack of beasts, what would happen if he trained too hard and had a lot of missing mana? He had to fight with his dagger during mana deprivation. Fighting while sick sounded like a pain to experience.
Before resting, Tyrus would activate augmentation and continue walking until they stopped. Then he would meditate and replenish his mana reservoir–or more specifically, mana heart. It was a cycle Tyrus had undergone until sunset arrived. On their journey, they used the same path as the coachman, hoping to come across a passing carriage. Sadly, they encountered none on the way.
With a displeased member of the team calling the shots, everyone stopped and made camp in the forest once again. To avoid ambush by bandits and beasts, it was unwise to rest by the side of the dirt path. Living in the forest provided more chances to detect ambushes because of the abundance of vegetation. The snapping of a stray branch or the rustling of bushes were common sounds. They were especially louder to Tyrus, making it almost impossible to get snuck up on.
The same routine happened from yesterday, with Grant taking overnight watches and the others sleeping. Tyrus would lean against a tree and train his lightning element and augmentation. After that, some more meditation. What may seem like a tedious routine to others, it was quite the opposite for Tyrus. Every time he made progress, he felt more determined to continue. Sorcery became his burning passion.
While meditating deeply in his mindscape, Tyrus stumbled upon a fascinating revelation. He realized he had the power to alternate between fire and lightning manifestations. It was as if he were manipulating the very essence of the elements within his mind.
In his introspective exploration, he visualized the representation of the elements. A tiny fire burned steadily, emitting warmth and flickering flames, while nearby, arcs of lightning crackled and slithered with energy. Connecting both manifestations was a network of white mana, resembling the intricate roots of a tree. The mana spread outwards, fading into the dark backdrop of his mental canvas, with the intensity of light diminishing as it extended further.
As Tyrus focused his attention on either the fire or the lightning, he experienced a tingling sensation throughout his entire being, as if the element was resonating within him. Shifting his focus to the other element elicited the same response, demonstrating his ability to switch between the two at will. When Tyrus finally opened his eyes, the vivid images of his mindscape faded, and he returned to the physical world.
He glanced around and found Fiona and Reo slumbering. Then, he turned his attention to Grant, who was busy with his usual duties. Tyrus stood up and walked toward the man. He looked up and smiled.
“Is something the matter, Tyrus?”
“When I was meditating, I saw something weird inside my mind. Fire and lightning stood side-by-side, and connected to the elements was a white light. Like roots, it stretched on into the darkness.”
Grant nodded and set his shield to the side. “It sounds like you've made your way into the Sorcerer Plane. In the mind of a sorcerer, there exists a mental plane. Once trained enough, it can be accessed.”
“What is it exactly?”
He pondered the question for a few seconds. “My knowledge about it is limited as it’s mostly used by the other two specializations, but I learned at the academy that it’s akin to having a clear visual of your thoughts. It's not just a clear visual, you can also engage with them. Did you experience a tingling sensation while focusing on one of the elements?”
“Now that you mention it, yes. It was a weird feeling.”
“Then you definitely entered the Sorcerer Plane. The progression of your element is reflected in its shape. Relating to fire, if the flames take the appearance of a candle, then it’s weak. If it’s as big as the campfire in front of us, then it’s stronger. Do you understand?”
Tyrus nodded at the simple explanation. Thinking back, the strength and size of the lightning element was much bigger than the other. If he wanted to have a real-time assessment of his progress and understand the extent of his abilities, relying on the Sorcerer Plane would be crucial. It would serve as a guide, offering him a tangible measure of his growth and an avenue to monitor his increasing strength.
“Thank you very much for the information. If I stayed back, I really wouldn’t have known about it.”
“It is my pleasure to be of assistance. Don’t be afraid to ask any more questions from now on.”
Tyrus gave him a quick smile and grunted as he stood up. His heart racing, he found a spot on the hard soil and lay down. The endless thoughts and pulsing in his ears kept him awake, but after a while, he began to feel drowsy. Soon, darkness was the only thing in sight.
****
As the sun ascended and bathed the surroundings in its warm light, the group ventured off the beaten path, finding themselves standing on a small cliff. It was at this moment that something captivating in the distance caught their attention. All eyes were drawn to the awe-inspiring sight before them.
There, in the backdrop of scattered clouds, stood a towering white structure, reaching high into the heavens. Overwhelmed by the sight, Tyrus couldn’t contain his astonishment as he stepped closer. His gaze fell downward, and he involuntarily let out an audible gasp.
Positioned grandiosely on a projecting cliff, a castle manifested with an enchanting attraction, its immaculate exterior reflecting like polished marble under the delicate embrace of sunlight. Its grandeur as a sentinel was matched only by the expansiveness of the glistening sea it overlooked. The radiant castle above was competing for attention with the cascade of same-colored buildings tumbling down the cliff side.
From his elevated vantage point, Tyrus beheld a bustling tapestry unfolding below—a mosaic of tiny figures, carriages, and birds, each traversing the wide streets that wove through the landscape. The entire place was enclosed by a sturdy wall, and the stone bridges extending from the gate entrances were packed. The neighboring landscape exhibited rolling green hills, embellished with patches of verdant grass that swayed like emerald waves in a gentle breeze. Amidst the expanse, one could observe solitary trees scattered, punctuating the scenery, with their gnarled branches extending towards the heavens in a quest to touch the firmament.
It was in this embrace of nature’s abundance that Valis found its place, nestled harmoniously within the bountiful embrace of a luscious valley. The valley bestowed upon the castle and its environs a sense of profound stillness and respect for the thriving land that lay beneath it, creating a tranquil and nurturing sanctuary.
While taking in the beauty, he was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder. When he looked up, he saw Fiona smiling at him. A breeze was approaching and her chestnut hair elegantly swayed. “Welcome to the royal capital of Lethos: Valis. It’s also the place where I, Grant, and Reo were born and raised.”
Over her shoulder, Grant and Reo nodded simultaneously. Tyrus averted his gaze back to the beauty, unable to keep his mouth closed. Thoughts of finally making it consumed him. Tales of towering structures of marble and architecture that would blow a commoner’s mind came to mind. To think he would step foot into such an esteemed city so soon…
“Don’t start tearing up yet,” Reo said with a snicker. “You haven’t even seen it up close.”
Fiona giggled and let go of her hand. “Then what are we waiting for? Tyrus must be dying to get a closer look. We can’t have him waiting.”
As if they had planned it, everyone turned and made a beeline for the path to Valis. Tyrus followed them so as not to be left behind.
The journey to Valis had been relatively easy for the group. Well, most of them. While Tyrus, Grant, and Reo could walk nonstop for hours, Fiona needed a break every few hours. The constant breaks didn't bother her friends at all. Almost as if it was a daily routine for them. As for Tyrus, he didn’t care all that much. He took advantage of her rest time to do some training.
Rather than breaking his word to Fiona and using spells that depleted him, he settled with augmentation and meditation. Tyrus had to conserve mana until they reached Valis. In the event of encountering a pack of beasts, what would happen if he trained too hard and had a lot of missing mana? He had to fight with his dagger during mana deprivation. Fighting while sick sounded like a pain to experience.
Before resting, Tyrus would activate augmentation and continue walking until they stopped. Then he would meditate and replenish his mana reservoir–or more specifically, mana heart. It was a cycle Tyrus had undergone until sunset arrived. On their journey, they used the same path as the coachman, hoping to come across a passing carriage. Sadly, they encountered none on the way.
With a displeased member of the team calling the shots, everyone stopped and made camp in the forest once again. To avoid ambush by bandits and beasts, it was unwise to rest by the side of the dirt path. Living in the forest provided more chances to detect ambushes because of the abundance of vegetation. The snapping of a stray branch or the rustling of bushes were common sounds. They were especially louder to Tyrus, making it almost impossible to get snuck up on.
The same routine happened from yesterday, with Grant taking overnight watches and the others sleeping. Tyrus would lean against a tree and train his lightning element and augmentation. After that, some more meditation. What may seem like a tedious routine to others, it was quite the opposite for Tyrus. Every time he made progress, he felt more determined to continue. Sorcery became his burning passion.
While meditating deeply in his mindscape, Tyrus stumbled upon a fascinating revelation. He realized he had the power to alternate between fire and lightning manifestations. It was as if he were manipulating the very essence of the elements within his mind.
In his introspective exploration, he visualized the representation of the elements. A tiny fire burned steadily, emitting warmth and flickering flames, while nearby, arcs of lightning crackled and slithered with energy. Connecting both manifestations was a network of white mana, resembling the intricate roots of a tree. The mana spread outwards, fading into the dark backdrop of his mental canvas, with the intensity of light diminishing as it extended further.
As Tyrus focused his attention on either the fire or the lightning, he experienced a tingling sensation throughout his entire being, as if the element was resonating within him. Shifting his focus to the other element elicited the same response, demonstrating his ability to switch between the two at will. When Tyrus finally opened his eyes, the vivid images of his mindscape faded, and he returned to the physical world.
He glanced around and found Fiona and Reo slumbering. Then, he turned his attention to Grant, who was busy with his usual duties. Tyrus stood up and walked toward the man. He looked up and smiled.
“Is something the matter, Tyrus?”
“When I was meditating, I saw something weird inside my mind. Fire and lightning stood side-by-side, and connected to the elements was a white light. Like roots, it stretched on into the darkness.”
Grant nodded and set his shield to the side. “It sounds like you've made your way into the Sorcerer Plane. In the mind of a sorcerer, there exists a mental plane. Once trained enough, it can be accessed.”
“What is it exactly?”
He pondered the question for a few seconds. “My knowledge about it is limited as it’s mostly used by the other two specializations, but I learned at the academy that it’s akin to having a clear visual of your thoughts. It's not just a clear visual, you can also engage with them. Did you experience a tingling sensation while focusing on one of the elements?”
“Now that you mention it, yes. It was a weird feeling.”
“Then you definitely entered the Sorcerer Plane. The progression of your element is reflected in its shape. Relating to fire, if the flames take the appearance of a candle, then it’s weak. If it’s as big as the campfire in front of us, then it’s stronger. Do you understand?”
Tyrus nodded at the simple explanation. Thinking back, the strength and size of the lightning element was much bigger than the other. If he wanted to have a real-time assessment of his progress and understand the extent of his abilities, relying on the Sorcerer Plane would be crucial. It would serve as a guide, offering him a tangible measure of his growth and an avenue to monitor his increasing strength.
“Thank you very much for the information. If I stayed back, I really wouldn’t have known about it.”
“It is my pleasure to be of assistance. Don’t be afraid to ask any more questions from now on.”
Tyrus gave him a quick smile and grunted as he stood up. His heart racing, he found a spot on the hard soil and lay down. The endless thoughts and pulsing in his ears kept him awake, but after a while, he began to feel drowsy. Soon, darkness was the only thing in sight.
****
As the sun ascended and bathed the surroundings in its warm light, the group ventured off the beaten path, finding themselves standing on a small cliff. It was at this moment that something captivating in the distance caught their attention. All eyes were drawn to the awe-inspiring sight before them.
There, in the backdrop of scattered clouds, stood a towering white structure, reaching high into the heavens. Overwhelmed by the sight, Tyrus couldn’t contain his astonishment as he stepped closer. His gaze fell downward, and he involuntarily let out an audible gasp.
Positioned grandiosely on a projecting cliff, a castle manifested with an enchanting attraction, its immaculate exterior reflecting like polished marble under the delicate embrace of sunlight. Its grandeur as a sentinel was matched only by the expansiveness of the glistening sea it overlooked. The radiant castle above was competing for attention with the cascade of same-colored buildings tumbling down the cliff side.
From his elevated vantage point, Tyrus beheld a bustling tapestry unfolding below—a mosaic of tiny figures, carriages, and birds, each traversing the wide streets that wove through the landscape. The entire place was enclosed by a sturdy wall, and the stone bridges extending from the gate entrances were packed. The neighboring landscape exhibited rolling green hills, embellished with patches of verdant grass that swayed like emerald waves in a gentle breeze. Amidst the expanse, one could observe solitary trees scattered, punctuating the scenery, with their gnarled branches extending towards the heavens in a quest to touch the firmament.
It was in this embrace of nature’s abundance that Valis found its place, nestled harmoniously within the bountiful embrace of a luscious valley. The valley bestowed upon the castle and its environs a sense of profound stillness and respect for the thriving land that lay beneath it, creating a tranquil and nurturing sanctuary.
While taking in the beauty, he was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder. When he looked up, he saw Fiona smiling at him. A breeze was approaching and her chestnut hair elegantly swayed. “Welcome to the royal capital of Lethos: Valis. It’s also the place where I, Grant, and Reo were born and raised.”
Over her shoulder, Grant and Reo nodded simultaneously. Tyrus averted his gaze back to the beauty, unable to keep his mouth closed. Thoughts of finally making it consumed him. Tales of towering structures of marble and architecture that would blow a commoner’s mind came to mind. To think he would step foot into such an esteemed city so soon…
“Don’t start tearing up yet,” Reo said with a snicker. “You haven’t even seen it up close.”
Fiona giggled and let go of her hand. “Then what are we waiting for? Tyrus must be dying to get a closer look. We can’t have him waiting.”
As if they had planned it, everyone turned and made a beeline for the path to Valis. Tyrus followed them so as not to be left behind.
