Sun had risen as a new morning came, and I had just finished dressing in a black dress.

I started to plan for a day, 'Hmm, sacrifices are being collected, so that is only about waiting now. For other things, there is nothing important to do... I have enough CE to evolve, but there would be too many risks in the current situation.

'Last time, two of my targets escaped, and that is unacceptable. I need to finally create my single-target spell. I have been putting it away for a long time.'

So I seated myself comfortably into my favourite armchair, closed my eyes and entered my mind space.

I browsed through the library of my spells, realizing something horrible, 'All of my patterns are either weak or caused too much collateral damage. How can I even concentrate damage into a small area without a gravity element?' So I kept thinking, 'Maybe I am looking at it the wrong way. Perhaps I do not have to use a spell with a limited area of destruction but create another one that will protect the surroundings... That's it. I will develop some form of barrier in the bubble's shape to isolate a specific area. Yes, that is the correct way. It will also work in reducing enemies movement range.

'I already have [Stone Wall] and [Water Shield] spells. I can use them as a base, only changing their scope and shape. I will also have to change their elements, strength and so on.'

Both of the circuits showed before my eyes next to each other, and I started to analyze their differences.

The base of the circuits was the same for both of them. The only notable differences were in parts determining the location of an effect, its shape and some optimizations for their respective elements.

After a while of thinking, I decided upon a spell that I would use as a base, 'I will use [Water Shield] as an earth element is lame. Like seriously, it's just throwing rocks... It isn't flashy enough for me. My magic has already reached a level of flashiness that blinds even me, a caster. I will not destroy that image with stupid rocks. When you can choose between a ball of energy and rock, no one will choose a plain ugly rock.'

Then I started to rewrite parts for marking a location. I removed an ability to choose a location and fixed it to centre at a caster location, decreasing its mana consumption and casting difficulty. That was an easier part because I needed to modify its shape into a dome in the next part. I started to calculate formulas in my head to define the shape in my head. It wasn't just about defining that shape but also about calculating formulas to distribute magical energy evenly without creating any weak points. After an unknown amount of time, I finished it.

'Now, I need to implement this formula into a circuit.'

Its shape and location definition was done, but it was still made out of water. So I started to think about an element optimal to create a barrier from.

'It must be a tangible physical element that can create a physically present barrier so that rules out a fire... at least as the main medium.'

When combining multiple elements, one had to be chosen as a medium, and the rest of them would be used to add effects to that medium. For example, one could use a lightning element as a medium and combine it with an ice element to create an arc of electricity capable of freezing anything it hits. Some of the more abstract elements like death, for example, couldn't even be used without any medium in the form of other elements carrying it or a physical object like a corpse. There were also exceptions like time and space attributes that are nonphysical but do not require a medium for usage.

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'Maybe earth? Nah, I hate earth elements, and on top of that, it is too mana consuming to shape it in big amounts... Maybe plasma or solar elements? Nah, that would turn its surroundings into a burning inferno destroying its purpose. Maybe a space to isolate the whole region? That sound like a nice choice. Let's try it.'

So I started to change all parts of a spell circuit that were using the water elements. Changing elements wasn't simple as it sounds. One had to change all of its references in a whole circuit and even change some element-unique parts. It was my first time creating a spell with a space attribute, so I didn't know what to expect.

Hours passed, and I opened my eyes. I moved my hand and removed sweat from my forehead. Something was missing. After a few seconds, I realized that I didn't get any notification from the system.

I immediately started to grin as my expectation ran wild, 'Did I just created one of these out of a system spells that Bifrons used?'

I couldn't wait to test it, so I jumped out of the window, landing in the castle courtyard. The courtyard was empty without anyone present, so I started to cast. Magical energy in the air began to swirl around me, creating a vortex of colour invisible to regular sight. Space started to warp, creating gaps in the shape of a dome. The light around a warped space behaved weirdly, creating weird optical illusions.

"Kacha", a loud tearing sound resonated through my whole body and warped space cracked like a mirror. A whirl of magical energy imploded towards me. My HP started to drop rapidly as my body started to smoke. It kept going for a few seconds.

Then next moment, it stopped as suddenly as it came.

"Ahhhh", burning pain surged out of my whole body. Veins under my skin started to glow in bright blue light.

Ding!

System Annoucement

The negative status effect [Mana Burns - Permament] was reduced by [Fast HP Regeneration VI] and [Magic Resistance III] to the [Light Mana Burns] inflicted for 12 hours

[Light Mana Burns] - Maximal HP and MP reduced by 25%.

Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to read it, and I couldn't believe how lucky I was that I had skills that protected me from crippling my body.

'How foolish I was. The system didn't register spell because it was non-working. It collapsed into itself almost instantly. How could I think that I can so easily use an element as complex as a space element...'

I looked at my hands, and the surface burns had already healed, but from the slowly subsiding pain, I could tell that the damage inside of my body was still significant.

"What happened?" one of the darks that were guarding the gate rushed towards me to find out what happened.

I was embarrassed by my mistake, "Nothing, just a small spell failure. Go away! There is nothing to see."

Then I spread my wings, suppressed my pain and flew towards my room. With great pain, I lay on my bed. I tried to regain my focus and continue my spell development, but a head-splitting pain prevented me.

So I started to think about an element that I would use to replace a space element. After minutes of suffering in pain, I came to a conclusion, 'That wind user I fought before was using it to hinder movement and even to repel my attacks. It is solid enough and, at the same time, easy to mould and shape. I will use wind as a medium.'

In the meantime, the pain subsided a little but was still strong, so I decided to do the best thing to do in pain: go to sleep.