Azrael looked down at James, who had claimed his bed.

“Get out of my bed, James.”

James had propped himself up on one arm, looking at Azrael.

“Is that a fight you’re asking for?”

Azrael looked at the massive man in disbelief. Sometimes he could be so childish!

“Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

James sighed.

“Spoil sport”

He rose though, vacating Azrael’s bed, without breaking it.

Satisfied, he herded James out of the house stoppered the door with a bit of earth manipulation. James could probably force his way in, but not without breaking down the door.

Satisfied at having secured his domain, he allowed Alena to continue her tour of the house and surrounds. Much had stayed the same, but there were some notable differences.

The moss and the white and purple flowers outside were one such change and one that he much appreciated. The moss provided a very pleasant springy carpet, along with the grass that made up most of the clearing. He was especially fond of the way the moss grew between the stones pathway to his front door. It truly added to the aesthetic sense he’d been aiming for. Curiously enough, both the moss and the flowers only grew within the confines of his accumulator array. Something to do with mana or mana density, he was sure, but he didn’t know what or why exactly.

The other change, though just as small as the moss and flowers were the small purple crystals that were growing on the stone inside his accumulator array. This included both the stone ring, as well as the lower parts of his house wall, where the moss grew. Hidden amongst the purple blooming flowers the crystals were difficult to spot at first, but he quickly fond more after he first discovered them.

The other new addition to the clearing were small broad leaved plants that looked like a mix between sage and baby spinach. What made the plant stand out from everything else though was its bright-teal-coloured leaves. It also grew within the same confines as the crystals.

[Mana Sight], showed him something truly extraordinary. His ‘garden’ hadn’t only just come alive, while he had been gone. It had come alive. The sheer amount of mana that circulated in the mana dome that enclosed his clearing was blinding with the skill. Azrael had to dial down the skill a bit, in order to not be overwhelmed by the sheer vibrancy of mana.

Everything in his garden, his house included was glowing from mana saturation. Neutral mana was funnelled in via the accumulator array, some of it powering the mana dome, while much of it dispersed into the air, both inside and outside the dome. What was lost to the outside was reabsorbed, while what was inside was trapped, building and growing in density. It had functioned the entire time he’d been gone, accumulating a truly horrific amount of mana.

With nowhere else to go the compressed mana began to seep into the surrounds, the rocks, the plants, the air, the soil, the house and walls. Mana poured through everything, changing as it saturated everything in the domes. The ground and plants readily accepted the neutral mana, converting it, while plants greedily absorbed the surrounding mana. Light, air, wind and earth mana all nurtured the plants, which converted the mana into vibrant life mana. The stones too grudgingly accepted the mana until they were saturated. His entire clearing was saturated with pure mana.

Amongst the metaphorical aurora of light were bright stars, where mana gathered in far greater concentration. These were the crystals and the teal plants.

He cut off [Mana Sight], instead casting [Craftman’s Eye] on them.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Pure Mana Crystal

A crystal made from the natural compression of ambient mana in high mana environments.

Unknown Herb

An unknown herb with teal-coloured leaves that is naturally saturated with mana.

Huh.

He cast the skill on the plant again.

Unknown Herb

An unknown herb with teal-coloured leaves that is naturally saturated with mana.

That was the first time he hadn’t been able to identify something while using the skill. He cast his skill on one of the stone lanterns at the entrance of the clearing.

Mana Saturated Stone Lantern

A simple ornamental stone lantern that was enchanted by a beginner craftsman to illuminate a path. Due to being saturated with mana its enchantment will always burn mana to produce light.

The skill still worked. Was it because the plant wasn’t related to crafting? Afterall, the skill was called [Craftmans Eye]. Or maybe it simply didn’t recognise a plant as something ‘craftable.’ Would that change if he got an [Alchemy] related Skill? He tested the hypothesis by targeting the moss on the ground.

Mana Saturated Moss

Natural moss that has been supersaturated with mana.

A no go then. Did the skill description change base off of his understanding? Afterall, he knew that the moss was mana saturated. The Skill didn’t really tell him anything he didn’t know. What about-?

A hand tapped him on the shoulder and he turned to look at Alena. Her fingers flashed.

‘Time to go’

Azrael looked up at the sky, realising that several hours had passed since he had arrived home. The sun now was well on its way down, almost touching the tips of the mountains. He frowned. It hadn’t been that long, right? It couldn’t have been. He’d just gotten home! Almost reluctantly he left the clearing. Alena walked beside him, while James roused himself from where he’d been napping by the front door to join them.

Heading to the village Azrael simply enjoyed the forest. Mentally he was already home again though, planning out the next few days. There was lazing around to do, a little bit of hunting. Perhaps a bit of crafting. He really wanted to update his attire. He’d changed clothes at home to a spare pair, but it was still relatively simple villager attire. Maybe some light armour? Oh, and he wanted to see the extent of Alena’s improvement. From a glance he could see that she’d gotten stronger, surer and more skilled. There was something about the way she carried herself, even the way she projected herself through the soul link. It was a quiet sort of confidence. He glanced at her.

Alena walked to his right, while James trudged along slightly behind them. The once shy village girl was as silent as one of the forest’s early-twilight shadows, her footing sure and her gaze instinctively roaming to scan the trees around them. Were it not for the soul link he could have been completely unaware that she was there. On the other hand, he was painfully aware of James’ presence, the man’s footsteps crunching loudly through the twilight forest.

He glanced at the man behind them, the ever-present Zwei hander strapped onto his back. Though the man was a one-man army he was also about as silent as one, and had just about the same amount of tact. Azrael thought back to when they’d arrived back at his house.

Yeah, he wasn’t going to let the man back in. Ever.

A few cheers rose, causing to Azrael looked up. They’d arrived at the village and the villagers were waiting.

Easily forty villagers were gathered to greet him, with Cairn their head. Cairn bowed deeply, with all others following his lead.

“Welcome, Lord Azrael. The feast awaits.”

Azrael smiled, deciding to play along. Once he’d thought of Cairn as irritating and clingy. Now, he could only look at the man fondly. After dealing with more people than he was comfortable with, while often on the back foot it was good to see a familiar face in a familiar place.

“Rise, Cairn, Proxy of the Lord, Chief of the Village. Rise villagers, both old and new. Despite my absence the village stands proudly, and so should you.”

Cairn rose hesitantly, as did the villagers. Many of them had never met him yet and were unsure whether he was someone that they should bow to. Azrael decided to dispel their doubt.

With the briefest of thoughts, Azrael twisted a ring of mana around his brow, letting it feed into itself, before igniting it. An instant later a circlet of golden flames flickered and danced above his head, drawing gasps of awe and appreciation. He felt Alena straighten proudly beside him.

Azrael raised his voice – like a king returning to his people – for all to hear.

“Lead the way Cairn, for there is a feast to be held!”