Chapter 6 Part 1 of 2 (Patreon)

Chapter: Development

Xun Liang strolled through the training area. Erik was facing three golems while Rugrat was facing two. They kept getting hit from time to time but they were at least dodging half of the incoming attacks.

Neither used spells or released their elements, they could only rely on their bodies. They were forced to use their domains to keep track of all the moving golems to anticipate their attacks.

“Remember, you do not need to turn and face your attacker every time. Use your motion if possible!” Xun Liang growled but internally he was pleased with their development. Over the last two months they had some of the basics down.

Still reliant on full elemental enhancement though.

“Hold,” Xun Liang said. The golems slowed to a stop while Erik and Rugrat slowed down. The golems stepped back, creating a triangle around them.

“You are pushing the elements into your body, enhancing it, but you are not utilizing them to the best effect. Let the mana and elements flow through you like blood or air. Assimilate the elements-which you have already mastered and integrate them. You’re drawing them all into your body. Sure it enhances you, but do you need every element?

“Cultivating your elements so quickly means you haven’t had time to work with them in detail, to learn and understand them. Your homework is to study them and to use only one element at a time to enhance your body. Instead of just enhancing, I want you to let it run through you, use the element’s abilities with your own.”

He started pacing and whistled. The golems glowed, activating once again. Erik’s golems conjured flames, earth, and metal, and charged at him. Rugrat had one with fire and the other with earth.

“Dammit,” Erik grunted as a fiery fit hit him in the shoulder, sending him spinning as the golems moved to rain attacks down on him.

He threw himself back on his feet, dodging blocks of earth kicked up from the ground.

***

Delilah sat at Alva’s council table, turning her eyes to Storbon, the latest addition to the staff to join the room, standing behind commander Glosil,.

“Erik and Rugrat have been working with a combat trainer since they arrived in Avegaaren, they spend most of their time training.” Storbon said. “They have two days off every three that they spend attending lectures and going to the libraries. They’re not allowed to remove the books from the library so they read them and make notes that are delivered to our own library.”

“So have we learned more about this mysterious Tenth Imperium?” Blaze asked.

“They’re the governing body of the Associations, originally the nation created by the Elves and the Gnomes when they made the Ten Realms. They now have a large number of humans in their ranks. The Academy is supposed to be open to anyone, but from Erik and Rugrat’s experience with the teachers and staff, they tolerate them but it is very much an Association facility. The Ninth Realm serves as the academy for only fighters, if one does not fight then they will not get to the Ninth Realm. Most of the administration related to the Association is run from the Seventh realm, but the Academy clearly controls the Association.”

“It seems there’s an ongoing conflict in the Tenth Realm if our information is correct,” Elan interjected. “It seems to be at a steady state with the Imperium’s Avegaaren graduates going to the Tenth Realm to fight back the Ravagers and Devourers and close these tears. This isn’t verified because we don’t have anyone in the Tenth Realm.”

“So, getting into the Ninth Realm, you can be level seventy if you pass the trial the first time, if you don’t then you need to be level eighty. You have to answer the ‘Why’ quest which is only unlocked going to the Eighth and to join the academy you should be an Association fighter?” Blaze asked.

“Don’t forget it costs a Celestial mana stone to get up there if you don’t make it in the first trial.”

“Can we go to the Eighth Realm, do the test and get into the Ninth that way, a second time?” Blaze asked.

Delilah looked to the others.

“Haven’t tested that out,” Glosil said.

“Worth it if we can save a few mana stones!” Delilah said, getting grins around the table. “So the information we are getting back, how useful is it, Egbert?”

“I gave them a list of questions that we are running into down here that are hindering us. They have found some answers and noted down everything they learned to get there. From what I have read, I think it will help out those in the Academy immensely. It has also led me to see a flaw in our current training and cultivation.” He looked over to Jia Feng, but continued,

“Right now everyone is training to increase their cultivation as fast as possible. This means that they have little time to understand what they’ve gained before they start increasing their cultivation again. I propose that we have a program where people learn about the elements they’ve just cultivated and the changes that happen to them as they increase level and mana cultivation.”

Jia Feng bit her lip in thought.

“I can see how that might be a problem. I agree, having classes on the different stages of cultivation would be greatly beneficial to our people.”

“Anything else, Egbert?”

“Not at this time, I am compiling the information and passing it off to anyone that requests it or who I think would benefit from it.”

Delilah nodded and turned to Momma Rodriguez and Aditya. “Anything new on your side of things?”

“The Empire still stands. The rolling elections through the various towns and cities has created a stir, but people have gotten into it. We reduced the number of officials in most places, focusing on defenses, access to houses, clean water, healthcare, and the academy. The whole First Realm would run to do what we asked them. We have non-aggression pacts with nearly every nation, allowing for the widespread creation of Sky Reaching Restaurants, academies and healing houses. There may be issues in the future with nations and kingdoms fighting one another to gain a position closer to us.”

“Used to be a time that nations avoided the Beast Mountain Range.” Delilah smiled.

“Good work, Momma?”

“Alva continues her development. We have increased the dungeon core’s reach and their speed of growth with new formations. This should mean we can create more dungeon cores for other projects.” She looked at Glosil.

“That sounds good, then Commander Glosil?”

“We have several ship building programs underway. The resources of the Sha contingent and spoils of the Willful Institute’s corvette shipyard accelerated things. After Kushan, most of the Sha warships have gone to ground and are undergoing their upgrades and alterations. Edmond Dujardin has been named Admiral of the fleet with Esther as his second in command. The first Crow companies have finished their training and are running exercises with airship crews to gel them together under Chonglu. All of our forces from Kushan have returned. They’re still undergoing repair efforts, their crafters were hit hard in the attacks.”

“We have become the head of one of the largest alliances in the Ten Realms. We must maintain our position and power, now more than ever. People are hoping and watching for us to fail. We must move slowly and steadily forward together.” Delilah took in the faces around the table.

At the end of the meeting Storbon waited for the rest of the council to clear.

Delilah could feel he wanted to talk to her. She hadn’t been nearly as nervous in a meeting that decided the direction of millions.

He stepped up, opening his mouth and closing it.

“Would you like to get dinner with me, a date?” He coughed.

Delilah’s heart did a double take.

“Uhh.”

“Its no worry if you’re busy or you don’t want to. I just…” Storbon’s words failed him as the venerated Special team leader looked at the desk awkwardly.

Delilah smiled. “I’d like that.”

Her heart jumped again seeing the smile on his face.

***