Chapter 103

Flying In Style

“So, double wings?” Mallory asks.

“Yes.” I reply, focusing on not one but two sets of wings that I now have growing on my back. Honestly, they feel a little itchier than I thought they would.

“That was your solution to creating a flying spell. You just created wings?” Mallory asks again, still somewhat incredulous at the idea.

“What? I already had the floating spell, which makes it so I can get to any height. But then I thought about it, and the intricacies and nuances of learning a flight spell were far more intricate than that, so I went with wings.” I respond.

“What is so intricate about flight?”

“Lots of things, first of all, there is acceleration, deceleration, pivoting points, all types of things to consider that wings naturally take care of, particularly if you already weight nothing.” I responded.

“So you intend to both use the wings and continue to float?”

“The spell is Spirit Drift, and yes, I will float with Spirit Drift, and use the two sets of wings to propel myself forward and avoid getting slammed into walls via rope swings.” I state.

At that Mallory at least has the decency to look somewhat chagrined, that or she is desperately trying to hide back the laugh that is bubbling up within her. Finally she just can’t help herself as a slight smile begins to crest on her lips, “oh come on, it wasn’t that bad. Besides if we are roped together again, we can fly together.”

“It wasn’t that bad for you. Also, both your wings and the rope cost mana, meaning that once one or either stop for you, you will drop like a rock.”

“Oh, come on, you could catch me.”

“How? I would just float.”

At that Mallory just pauses, then after a second, she just drops that subject. “Okay, fine. I get it, and you are right. Wings would help you to move about on your own. But my question is why two sets of wings? One set I can understand, but two?”

“Oh, that was mainly my mind thinking that the one set would be used for speed, while the second set would be used to help turn, pivot and slow down inertia and the like.” I state.

“You sure have put a lot of thought into this.”

“Doesn’t everyone?” I retort.

Mallory looks like she is about to say something, but then shrugs her shoulders. “Touché, I would be lying if the thought of wings was not at least a small portion of why I chose this class. But I do have to ask, how long will these wings last?”

“Forever, well that or until I Polymorph them back.”

“Polymorph?”

“Yeah, apparently this was part of the Polymorph segment of magic, though I did get a new spell listing for the Divine Double Wings (Pearl).” I admit, then I pause as I realize they might look odd. “They don’t look weird or anything? I have a hard time with coloring and just went with an ultra-light pearl on the outside and a silvery blend on the inside.”

“What? No, they look amazing actually. Just like real angel wings. Even when they are down like this, I like the way they all hide under the much larger top pair. It’s just odd seeing them in action.” Mallory states.

That was another part of the process, creating the wings so that when I was on land, they looked like just one set of wings, while in the air, the second set could come out and help me.

“Honestly, I think part of it is just the shock. I don’t know whether to pet you, or pray to you honestly.” Mallory states, as she holds out her hand.

I was about to say something along the lines of bow down before me, but before I could, Mallory held out her hand and asked, “can I touch them?”

“Sure?” I state, a good thing as her hand was already in the process of molesting my new feathers before I even got my acquiescence out.

Shiver.

You ever have that phantom limb thing where you feel like you are being tickled or someone is walking on your grave. Well imagine that but make it real, and that was what I was currently feeling. A slightly tickling, relaxing feeling.

“Oh my, that is nice. So soft and smooth.” She states, as she begins massaging my wing and I instantly feel some of the lingering tension from my stretching out my new skin and bone relax as I inadvertently lean into the caress.

Then she said the thing that made me question why I hang out with the woman.

“You better be careful, or else someone might try to capture you and mount you to their wall of trophies.”

Teleportation.

I am a good thirty feet away from her in an instant. What was worse, I didn’t mean to, but it was a survival instinct.

“Good, you can escape from certain situations if needed.” Mallory states loudly, though I don’t need her to speak much louder given my already absurdly high Perception Attribute.

Awkward silence.

There is an awkward silence that settles between the two of us, but Mallory’s forceful personality quickly takes control of the situation.

“Oh, come on. You can’t be like that from one warning, can you.” Mallory states.

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Finally, after a moment, I let out a sigh and then float-fly over to her. I already have my Spirit Drift spell activated, and now using my new wings I practice just using my wings to push myself forward. At an inch off the ground, I could stop if I stuck my toes out, but I just use my smaller under wings to flap once to stop my momentum once I get right next to Mallory.

After seeing the concept in action Mallory pauses, “all right, after seeing it in action, I have to agree. That does look pretty cool.”

“See!” I say excitedly as I do a quick pirouette on my toe and once again stop by using my wing.

New Skill Gained: Aerial Dancing has reached level 1. Skill Aerial Dancing is a Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, Personality, Sociability, and Attractiveness skill.

“Oh, wow,” I say, looking at my new skill and not really paying too much attention to my surroundings.

“Did you pull something?” Mallory asks.

I pause, then look at her, then realizing she is mocking me I state, “no, I got the new skill Aerial Dancing, if you must know.”

“Wait, just now? From that little spin thing?” Mallory asks.

“It is called a pirouette, and apparently I did it well.” I comment.

“No, well you did, but that is not the point. Do you have something that would aid that?” Mallory asks.

“Maybe?” I respond, not wanting to lie, but also not wanting to give away my whole gambit of amazingness.

At that Mallory just shook her head, “figures. You are too good at maxing out your skills otherwise.”

“Wait, do you not have Aerial Dancing?” I ask.

“No, never even heard of such a skill, though to be fair, I don’t think many people could do what you just did. As most would be flapping their wings, but you are able to bypass that with the fact that you’re mainly floating. So dancing in addition to that would be a lot easier.” Then she pauses before continuing. “Honestly, I am surprised you didn’t pick it up earlier while you were gliding around in the infected root tunnels below.”

With that her meaning is clear, she is talking about the time when I was using my floating skill to clear out the infection in apparently just one of the root sections of Yggdraspirit. Then I remember why I didn’t get it at that point.

“You know it is kind of hard to look graceful when your best friend is slamming you about into cell walls like you are an overgrown flail.” I state.

At that Mallory looks chagrined, then pauses as she instantly seems to perk up. “Wait, you mean it? That I too am your best friend?” She asks.

“That is what you took from my comment?” I asked, but then shaking my head I answered her. “Yeah, its not like I’m rolling in friends around here. I’m just the creepy girl who you go to get healed, and then leave.”

At that, there is a moment of silence that covers both of us. Then before it gets too awkward, I continue, “but now I sky dance!”

And with that, I point upwards and using my upper wings I glide upwards, while using my lower wings to spin me about like a top. After the fifth spin I stop, and realize I am about to puke. It is not so much that the world spins, but my perception of the world constantly also spins so three kilometers of space around me shifts violently around, and that is just too many details to take in and have pressing in on your mind while spinning. Looking at it, I will need to get used to this, especially if I want to get my Aerial Dancing skill up. And honestly, who doesn’t want to be a master of the lost art of Aerial Dancing.

So yeah, that was my reward to myself, a new spell so Mallory and I could begin climbing quickly up to floor 200, while not having to get caught up in all the armed conflict down below.

New Spell Created: Polymorph: Divine Double Wings (Pearl) [Tier X] (C): This spell was created by Sabrina Spiritlight and allows the caster the ability to permanently grow two sets of elegant wings. Mana: 10,000 (total) to cast, Reserve: 5%.

With the wings and the floating, I have an additional 30% of my mana reserves being used for these spells, but that is so worth it, as I am flying. Not just regular flying but stylized flying, where you look good while doing so. At least the system seems to think so.

***

Flap, flap.

“Is there a corrupted branch we can land on, and rest, while you cleanse it?” Mallory asks, apparently this is a lot more taxing for her than it is for someone like me.

“Yeah, there is a branch right there.” I point up ahead at the branch in question and then slowly glide twirl my way there.

“You know, I thought your constant casting to get those Quick Casting skills were the worst, but I was wrong, this,” panting, “is the worst.” Mallory states, while clearly being very fatigued by the whole flight upward process.

“Why?” I ask, somewhat hurt by the statement, as I gracefully land on the branch in question, while looking down at Mallory.

“Because you look so good doing it, and here I am, having been able to fly for years, and I know I will likely never look that graceful doing so.” Mallory states, getting up to the branch I am lightly resting on.

Creak.

“Not one word about my big butt.” Mallory states, as she braces herself back against the tree trunk. I might have made the offhanded comment that the tree branch she was sitting on might protest her arrival due to how big a part of her anatomy might have been. Apparently, even eight floors later, that might have left her in a bit of a tizzy. That and the fact that she is expelling a lot of mana to keep her wings activated and her relatively slow speed compared to my own and it is no wonder that she is a bit flustered. Then again, I don’t think her class was designed with the idea of being constantly in flight. That or not flying ever upwards, again, my idea of being weightless first and then guiding myself seems to be the better option. But rather than state any of that, I focus on clearing out the Blight from this branch.

We are only clearing out a portion of the world tree, and at this rate, we will likely get to the top and then must work our way down slowly to truly cure all of Yggdraspirit, but it is a good experience grind, and it does give Mallory the chance to rest, while looking like she is saving the world. Well, the spirit world’s version of the world tree, so there is a world being saved in there.

Thinking about it, I realize that we, and by we, I of course mean me. I am doing this backwards, or maybe just the most painful way possible.

“It’s almost like I am being the worst doctor ever.” I say out loud, letting my thoughts carry on in the air.

Scoff.

“If you are the worst doctor, then man are there some amazing doctors out there that I have never seen.” Mallory states, a note of derision to her words as it is clear she thinks I am fishing for a compliment.

“No, well, I am a good doctor, which is why this is so frustrating. I am only clearing out sections, which is what I think this whole area is meant to teach.” I state.

“What? How else would you do this?” Mallory asks.

“With an immune system, create antibodies within Yggdraspirit that would cycle through the natural processes and heal the tree.” I state.

“Do trees even have a circulatory system?”

At that I pause, and then want to answer no, but there clearly are ways for nutrients to cycle through, I have just been too lost in my own understandings to fully understand the process. “Part of the problem I think is that this Blight, it has no real enemy.”

“Well you.”

I wave my hand in a dismissive gesture, while I wrangle the last bits of the Blight out from the different corners of the branch and then wait for the inevitable jump.

Swhoosh!

A blur of Blighted Miasma jumps past me, where I quickly reach out with my Legendary Trick Shot and capture the remaining Blight before it can get away.

“Well, fine. But seriously, there are no creatures that are immune to this disease, it even kills off plants. I know Octavia came up with a means to eventually remove the remains from a barren patch of Blighted lands, but even looking at that spell now, I realize the spell was incomplete. The spell just makes it so the remnants of the Blight will eventually be removed, not that it will combat actual Blighted creatures. Those still will need to be hunted down and cleansed.”

“So what is it that you think we should do. I mean, kudos for the Blighted anti-bodies, but that has been tried and failed numerous times. That said, if someone could do it, that would be you…” Mallory states, and with that I wince slightly as I realize this is likely a sore subject for Mallory to cover.

“Yeah, sorry. I just can’t help but feel that I am doing something completely wrong with this, but I don’t know what it is.” I state, resting for a second to make sure my mana reserves are back to full again. I don’t really need to do this, but I give Mallory the time to go on ahead.

“Don’t worry about it, but let me know how much further you can make it before we call it a night.” Mallory states.

I pause, and then mentally searching the area above us, realize that there are no safe landing spots up ahead for a while. Mainly due to the fact that elves and orcs are fighting each other constantly. This is odd, as there only seems to be a slight problem down below, but now up as we are getting higher there seems to be a problem.

“What is it?” Mallory asks, apparently, I was making a face.

“Nothing, just more people fighting up ahead.” I state, somewhat angrily. I want to go and heal them all, but with them fighting all the time it just feels pointless. Also, I know I can’t go and be an independent healer without Mallory’s help to keep the peace and to watch my back, so I decide to wait.

“What are they fighting about now?” Mallory asks.

She has been doing this a lot more, apparently, she might want to set me up as her guild’s spymaster. Honestly, it is a nice sign as it means I might have a job I will be halfway decent at on the outside, but that would also mean an end to climbing the tower and getting more and more rewards. But she is at least with me now until the end. This is another reason why I want to think of alternate methods to solve this curing Yggdraspirit quest chain. I want that extra Trait! I also want to do it with Mallory, as it would be kind of cool to have a secret power that makes it so we have a special secret bond.

Focusing on the question, I mentally scan the area and realize that for whatever reason the floors above us are odd, as there are almost always two paths to travel the elves on the left, and the orcs on the right. This pattern obviously alternates between floors, but for now, this is the case on this floor.

Fortunately, we have been able to bypass this by flying independently, one of us flying in style, while the other is Mallory, but hey no one’s perfect. Still, this is odd as there is clearly a second path leading up to the right, the side that the orcs normally travel, but this time that pathway is completely empty. Worse, that means that the paths on the left side, where the elves normally go up and down is twice as crowded, forcing those who are close to the edge to often be pushed off or too close to the edge for comfort, which is why there is so much hostility, at least on this floor.

“Let’s go up and see.” I state, and like that I take off in a pirouette, followed by a wide looping upward lunge ending with an arabesque pose.

"You know, I really hate you sometimes." Mallory hisses as she stands up and visibly focuses to conjure her wings.

"Suck it up grandma. Eat my sparkles."