Roselia began her chanting, and her Mana burst forth, even stronger this time. Prince Olivert and Aurelia even had to plug their ears. Last time, it didn't create any noise at all, but this time, it was almost ear-curdling. She was doing two incantations at once. Isn't this called concurrent casting? You know, layering spells on top of one another? In some stories, you'd see this, while in others you don't. I guess it's a possibility here in Zemuria!
An easy way to explain it is you chant a Fire Spell first, then a Water Spell second, then layer them on top of each other to create a brand new effect entirely. It looks like there was a lot more to Magic than I had previously known.
It didn't take long for me to feel two stinging sensations strike against my back at the same time. One on the left, and one on the right side. Her two crests slowly began to form.
"To think Master would create both at the same time...", Aurelia uttered, seeing two streams of Mana being cast from the crimson staff. The two streams were twisting around each other as the engraving continued. Prince Olivert also appeared worried.
"...Will Naoto be alright?", Prince Olivert asked.
"Naoto might still be young, but if Master's words hold true, then he should easily overcome this. Far easier than me.", Aurelia said, revealing a rare praise. "I am not sure if he has that iron-clad will of that Father of his, but he did not back down a single time during this entire visit."
"That is true. I just can't help but worry, you know? Now that our friendship is beginning to sprout."
"Well, if something does happen, it's your butt that's on the line, prince. What do you think would happen if word came out that a prince of our neighboring nation were to perish here?", Aurelia uttered, cracking a playful smile.
"Hahaha! That is very true. It would only spell disaster. To avoid that, let us pray to the one who dwells above that this goes well."
"Indeed. Though I wonder...", Aurelia began to say, drawing Prince Olivert's attention.
"Hmm?", Prince Olivert replied, looking at her. Aurelia didn't respond. She raised her hand, and her eyes flashed purple. He quickly realized that this was the same purple lightning from earlier.
Aurelia gently blew some of her mana, letting it streak across the room. She aimed it right at my back, to where the spell was currently happening. It happened very quickly since it was pure lightning. At the same time, the purple aura inside her eyes turned into a glint of light. Roselia caught a whiff of this while she was casting, but she remained focused. She didn't stop Aurelia.
While my eyes remained closed and my meditation session continued, I was greeted with another Gamer Notification. Not the notifications that I was constantly receiving because of Meditate. No, this notification belonged to something else entirely. It was as if my entire body was wrapped with a calming sensation, which lessened the growing pain. I did not anticipate this to happen.
[Ding! Roselia has begun the construction of Gamer Naoto's Mana Core. Now at 10% completion...]
[Ding! The sole daughter of one of Erebonia's nobles belonging to the Le Guin House, Aurelia Le Guin, has grown interested in Gamer Naoto and his interest in Magic. Favorability has been unlocked with Aurelia Le Guin.]
[Ding! After being assisted with the development of her own Mana Core, Aurelia yearns to see something that she won't complete, even in her lifetime. Seeing Gamer Naoto attempt to develop an even more complex Magic Core than her own, Aurelia's interest in Gamer Naoto has risen to its peak. Aurelia has reached 100% Favorability with Gamer Naoto.]
[Ding! Effect 1 has triggered. Gamer Naoto has been awarded with Aurelia's Blessing. It is now available for viewing.]
[Ding! Due to reaching max Favorability with Aurelia, Gamer Naoto has received +500 HP, +100 STR, +10 SPD. This is factored in separately from Aurelia's Blessing.]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has received a Blessing for the first time. All stats have been increased by 10%.]
[Aurelia's Blessing]
Effect 1: Increases HP, STR, and SPD by 20%. Permanent.
Effect 2: The following Quartz have been deposited into Gamer Naoto's Inventory: Emerald Shield. Fury.]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto's Status has been adjusted.]
'Woah...', I inwardly thought, not expecting to be blasted by these Gamer Notifications all of a sudden. I felt a renewal of energy sweep all around my body. Not the soothing sensation you'd feel with Mana. No, it was as if I had recovered from a full night's rest. Is this what it feels like when I grow stronger by a margin? And unsurprisingly, this didn't go noticed. A subtle change swept around the room while Roselia continued her spell.
Aurelia was quick to raise her eyebrows, and her observation of the ongoing scene only intensified. Her eyes were now all on me.
"Is it me or did this boy just grow stronger?"
'Now this isn't something I'd expect. So this is what happens when I reach max Favorability with someone. And I get this Blessing no matter who it is...?', I mused, wondering if that was indeed the case. Every time Favorability is maxed, I receive a one-time boost thanks to Harem Seeker. And that triggers even without me having to equip it. In addition to that, the Blessing itself provides a permanent boost. Talk about overpowered...
It was then I heard another connection establish with my mind.
"It sounds like something happened with you Naoto, but I would advise diverting any more attention to whatever it is that took place. The incantation is now underway, and it cannot be stopped. It will only get more painful from here.", Roselia's voice spoke out to me, as if it splashed a bucket of water over my soul directly. I immediately calmed down.
"That is likely for the best.", I decided.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto's Mana Core has reached 30%...]
Seeing it already reach 30%, I really do think this is doable!
I will just go into one more detail about the Gamer System. Normally, it gives you two extremely powerful skills right at the very beginning. The Gamer's Body, and the Gamer's Mind. It looks like I received neither of these Skills. Instead, I was given more Titles and such, and the ability to receive Blessings, depending on how I interact with people. I'm sure down the line, that alone will cover the gap that these two Skills hold.
The Gamer's Body grants you the ability to recover all health after a good night's rest. My health recovery does trigger passively, so that was why I've seen those messages in the past, it is not tied to the Gamer's Body skill. It just happens on its own. And the second, the Gamer's Mind, makes you a systematic robot. While you can still feel emotion and all of that, the end result would come about logically, about every single damn thing. If I wanted to develop a Jaeger's battle instinct, or something like bloodlust, having the Gamer's Mind is the last thing I want.
So it looks like this version of the Gamer System will supplement these Skills with other effects, and it's already starting to show!
[Ding! Gamer Naoto's Mana Core has reached 50%...]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto's Mana Core has reached 70%...]
Sure enough, Roselia's incantation is going rather smoothly isn't it? It's not like this progress didn't go unnoticed, however. I've been feeling this constant buzzing around my mindscape, like an annoying fly that you couldn't swat away, and it would always come back. I wanted to groan, but I kept steady, and continued my breathing. This quest was going to give me a new breathing technique, and I was very much looking forward to it.
Just like Aurelia, I could only grit my teeth together. Seeing me grit my teeth, Aurelia smiled.
"It looks like he is feeling it after all. And here I thought you would come out unscathed.", Aurelia mused.
"I doubt any right-minded fellow will come out of this unscathed...", Prince Olivert retorted, as Aurelia spoke this loud enough for him to hear it. They could see two symbols engraved on my small back. It wasn't complete, but it was quite visible.
Once the incantation crossed the 70% mark, I felt this pain was much more bearable than unlocking the Gamer System when I first crossed over into Zemuria. The 70% became 80%. It was then Roselia's Mana covered me, and swept over my entire body, just like how it did with Aurelia. Seeing, this Aurelia raised her eyes.
"So it's begun.", Aurelia mused. "Now, give me a show."
"Even I'm curious as to what will spawn from this.", Prince Olivert also uttered, keeping his voice quiet.
Wooosh!
The color of the aura surrounding my body began to flicker. It did not turn purple like Aurelia's did. Far from it. It turned fiery red!
"A crimson aura...", Prince Olivert said, being the first to respond. Seeing this, he couldn't help but chuckle. "If this isn't fate, then twist me sideways."
And yet, the crimson-like aura didn't end there. Their surprise only grew. The aura suddenly changed. Hommm!
This time, the red vanished, and it was replaced by an azure blue!
[Ding! Gamer Naoto's Mana Core has reached 90%...]
"An azure-colored aura this time. Two elements...?", Aurelia uttered, feeling amazed at this sight. It didn't stop there.
The Mana covering my body soon began to swap between the crimson red and azure blue!
Seeing this, Aurelia smiled.
"Looks like we were right. This boy really does have two elements.", Aurelia said.
As if responding to Aurelia's statement, I heard one final notification sound off inside my mind.
It was then a thunderous boom crashed deep within, and the dull pain striking against my entire body came to a sudden halt.
[Ding! The formation of Gamer Naoto's Mana Core has reached 100%. Gamer Naoto has successfully formed a two-type Mana Core!]