"W-What do you need me to do, Lord?" he asked nervously, realizing the Warden's other hand was being placed near his core.
"It's a technique an old… friend taught me. I hope it will work for you, too," Erumon said nostalgically, as he began to pour mana that ran through Neko's head, and met the other flow near his core. "Stay still, it's going to feel strange at first, but you're going to have to trust me," Erumon said, closing his eyes for a moment to precisely control the flow of mana.
Within a few moments, Neko's eyes shone brightly, as if he, too, had reached a new height in his mana manipulation. The others, who regarded whatever Erumon was doing curiously, felt almost drawn to this strange method.
"W-What's happening to him?" Marte whispered to Leona, who could only shrug and shake her head, but quickly returned to observe them, as an aura of mana began to envelop Neko. Just as suddenly as it appeared, it raced back into his body, and his eyes ceased their bright glow.
"Whoa," Neko said, taking a near-stumbling step back, flexing his hands once or twice as if to touch a tangible level of power in his palms. "What was that?" Anwill asked, taking a few steps toward the young half-elf to inspect him and make sure he was alright.
"Where I'm from, we have a way of sharing insight, much like the hegraphenes do. However, since our methods aren't bound by blood, we can share information freely if we choose to. I couldn't share much, given his current stage of mana manipulation, but I hope it will help. Go on then, fire off a spell for us," Erumon gestured to the training yard behind them.
"W-Which one do you want me to use, Lord?" Neko asked, his voice a mixture of nervousness and excitement. "Whichever you feel you know how to use best," Erumon replied with a single nod. Neko turned around excitedly, flexing his fingers once more as he looked at them with newfound interest.
He approached the firing line and began to draw Ethereal mana, though this time, it was evident that he was able to draw much more than before. A small orb of ice appeared in his hand, though when he raised it above his head, it moved away and began to grow, going into a spin that gradually increased its speed.
"Careful, now, Neko. You've only just learned that one," Anwill warned, tilting his head to the side. Neko gave him a single nod and returned to focusing on his spell. As the orb rotated more quickly, spikes of ice came out and began to form along the outer wall of it. With a grunt of exertion, he used his other hand to start firing off the spikes of ice, each one reaching its target with incredible speed and accuracy, shattering them and the earth beneath them with ease.
Sharing insight wasn't the only thing he did, was it? Bernar sent Anwill with raised eyebrows. Perhaps not, though I wonder how it's even possible for him to share insight to begin with, Anwill replied with a curled eyebrow, still observing Neko's spell until all the targets were defeated.
"Consider me impressed, Neko. Even I've never learned to do that spell with such accuracy and power," Thorsen said, clapping his large hands together. "With time, your spells will begin to grow even stronger, so I would recommend you continue training hard to reach new heights. Now, it's your turn," Erumon said, looking at Marte.
The process was much the same for her, though she chose to use an array of flaming spears that arced over her head. The renewed targets were quickly transformed into little more than steam, but now, it was Leona's turn.
Erumon placed his hand atop her head and the other near her core, but as he began to pour mana into her, he forcibly stopped himself and took a step back to look at her intently, just as Thorn and Ren made their approach.
"I-Is something the matter, Lord?" Leona asked with a slight tone of worry, but he shook his head. "N-No, nothing's wrong," he said, deflecting her question lightly. I've just realized something vitally important, though it is beyond my skill to use for your situation, Erumon sent her, placing a barrier on their thoughts so that it remained private.
Ah. It's because of that, isn't it? I understand, she said with gracious dejection. I'm sorry, but that's beyond my skills to use that technique with confidence. If I mismatched the output, even by a little, it could cause you significant harm, he cautioned her with a silent, solemn nod as Bernar looked on in confusion.
I'm sure there's a good reason he didn't say it aloud, Bernar realized, not wanting to pry any further.
"Lord Erumon, we heard you'd arrived and came to greet you," Thorn said with a humble greeting. "Greetings, Thorn and Rennyr. How are our friends in the Gramm Isles?" he asked, turning to face them.
"I've been keeping in contact with Thoma and the others, though it seems they've run into more of those Thran creatures over there, as well as the presence of a Leech mana sphere that nearly wiped them out. They're on their way back to Narin as we speak, but I hope we'll have more information soon," Ren said, offering him a formal greeting.
"I see. What of Ardrin and Taegin?" Erumon asked. "They should be arriving shortly, though I haven't heard much about their progress in the north," Thorn replied with a light shrug. Just as he did so, a violet portal opened up a short distance away from the growing group, and out of it came the subjects in question.
With them were two others they hadn't expected.
"I.. hurrok…I hate portals," Trina stumbled, covering her mouth. "I can't say I… hurrok… disagree with you, Commander," Wien said, doing his best to stay out of Taegin and Ardin's way as they remained unfazed by the portal's effects.
As Trina and Wien gathered information about their surroundings, they were met with a score of eyes regarding them curiously, and even more confusion at the tall forest that surrounded them. Their biggest surprise, however, was the fact that Erumon stood well over a head taller than even Ardrin.
"Whaaaat the fuck?" Wien muttered, getting a slight smack on the head from Trina when she noticed Taegin and Ardrin bowing to the giant. "Lord Erumon, we apologize for our tardiness," Taegin said, glancing at the other two from beneath his bow to make sure they were doing the same.
"Greetings, Taegin. I take it you've gone on quite the journey if you've had to use that portal," Erumon noted, having recognized the mana signature of the portal that originated in Pyrdredd. "We have, indeed, but we found something there we need your assistance with," he said, producing the book from within a small waist pouch and handing it to him.
Erumon's eyes widened the moment he read the first page, shifting his attention between it and Taegin rapidly. "W-Where did you get this?" he asked. It was the first time anyone had seen him have any expression that wasn't minimal, let alone the two newcomers, who had no idea who he was.
"It was in Nexis' room in Pyrdredd. I can't read the writing, but I assume it's of your people," Taegin replied with a solemn nod. "I-I see. I'll have to bring this up with my master to determine whether it can still be translated, but from the little I can read, it will prove to be crucial in the days to come," Erumon said, offering him a gesture of gratitude.
As he rose from his short bow, a surge of Leech mana permeated the air, causing everyone nearby to flinch in response to it.
Trina seems more affected by whatever this is than I am. Is that because she can use mana? Wien thought, noticing her worried expression.
"That's Leech mana," Ardrin noted, staring off in the same direction. "It's not just Leech mana. I sense Tyrant mana as well," Erumon said to the others as he stared off in its direction. "You there," he said, casting his gaze toward Wien, who flinched in surprise. "Y-Y-Yes, L-Lord?" he stammered under the weight of the Warden's gaze.
"You can't use mana, can you? I suggest you stay here with the others until we return. Leona, stay behind with Thorsen, Marte, Neko, and the other newcomer. I'll go with the others to investigate this source of mana," Erumon commanded sternly, as Trina finally realized Thorsen was standing right beside him with a stunned look on his face.
"O-Of course, Lord Erumon. We'll be here awaiting your return," Leona replied with a bow, leading the others back toward the palace.
What new devilry is he conjuring now? Erumon thought as he, Taegin, Ardrin, Thorn, Ren, and Anwill began to move toward the forest at an astounding speed.