"And once again, I'm told to do nothing."

To be frank, Tyrus was growing slightly frustrated with Fiona's desire for him to stay. He understood why­­­­–don't let a kid fight a bunch of grown adults.

Nevertheless, he needed some combat experience. What Tyrus wanted most was to use his magic on moving targets. He had to gauge his magic's strength against humans, who are more intelligent than beasts. There was also the new spell he learned. If he were back in the forest, he would already be starting his training and hunting. Inactivity was unfamiliar to him.

Tyrus watched the scene unfurling in front of his eyes. While the bandits outnumbered the explorers twelve-to-three, they weren't making any headway. Three of them stayed behind and aimed their arrows at the explorers, but missed all three times. It was no challenge for Grant to block the projectiles. If one were heading toward Fiona, he'd deflect it too.

The bandits tried to strike him with their swords, but came out unscathed. For the other, Reo was way too fast, similar to a hurricane. His agility was so impressive that Tyrus suspected him of being an Augmentation Sorcerer.

"Wait a minute…"

He remembered Fiona's comment from earlier, when she spoke of conversing with Tyrus among only Elemental Sorcerers. Following that logic, and with Reo's fast movements and Grant's strength, the only conclusion was that they're Augmentation Sorcerers. If he was wrong­–which was unlikely–then he would reveal his ears to them. That last part was a joke, but he made his point.

Fiona was casting the Dual Shot spell at the throng of enemies. Their fear of the sorcerer's magic made them pay more attention to the Fireball. Because of that, Grant and Reo dispatched the inattentive bandits easily. It took only three minutes for all of them to be defeated. Grant withdrew his sword from the chest of a bandit, causing Tyrus to wince.

"If you can defeat a group of goblins and a hobgoblin, then bandits are easy," Tyrus mumbled.

While Tyrus frowned, Fiona walked up to the carriage with a glistening face. "Okay, we got good news and bad news. The good news is that the bandits have been handled. The bad news is that we'll have to travel by foot and hope to find other carriages along the way."

Traveling by foot was not a problem for Tyrus. This gives him a perfect reason to do some physical exercise. He couldn't say the same to Fiona. She seemed to have less endurance than her friends. In addition to her commanding tone, she was the opposite of Tyrus. Progress towards Valis would slow down.

Stepping out of the carriage, he inspected the scene further. A ring of bodies surrounded Grant and Reo as they glanced around.

"Are they all dead? I don't see them moving," Tyrus asked.

Fiona blinked. "You're not freaking out?"

I could say the same to you guys, he thought, but he reserved to keep quiet about it. "Well, I do feel uncomfortable right now. But this isn't the first time I've seen a dead body. I'm also used to seeing blood."

"…Hearing that from you is deeply concerning. I would like to say more, but we shouldn't linger. Grant, Reo!"

The two men emerged from the front of the carriage. While Tyrus and Fiona were talking, they went to check on the coachman and the horse. Standing over Tyrus, Grant spoke first with a somber expression.

"I'm afraid they have perished. Their wounds were fatal; we will have to continue on foot."

"Great… more walking," Fiona muttered. "It might be cruel to say, but we will have to leave the bodies alone. Let the beasts and crows do their job. We'll have to find a suitable spot to make camp before sundown. Any objections?"

Everyone shook their heads, eager to get moving. With a nod, Fiona stepped up and started the trek. Tyrus glanced at the destruction left behind by the explorers one final time. A shiver ran down his spine, and he averted his gaze as he jogged to catch up.

****

The group walked a reasonable amount of distance from their carnage and decided it was a great time to make camp. The slanting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky, and the icy chill of night encompassed the land.

Twigs crunched, echoing in the quiet Valier Forest as Tyrus sprinted across the sparse underbrush. His breathing grew shallower the longer he ran. It was a bit challenging to find prey that could feed four people. Hunting in an unfamiliar area further increased the difficulty. Tyrus had to move slowly and take note of his location to avoid getting lost.

Actually, there wasn't really a need to hunt. Fiona stored provisions in her ring that would've lasted the entire trip to Valis. Tyrus had the option of remaining still and eat up the bread and cheese by the campfire.

Yet he refused to do so.

Tyrus had been idle for too long. All he could think about was improving his body and magic skills. When the chance came, he embraced it. Thankfully, the three explorers didn't refuse and left him to be. He suspected they were aware of his plans and didn't mind, as long as he came back unharmed. So really, his real reason to 'hunt' wasn't for food, but for training. The moment Fiona told him that Elemental Sorcerers could control multiple, he became restless to break free.

He felt more alive than ever now that he distanced himself from the group. The unfamiliar location in Valier Forest didn't bother him due to the calming scenery. He located a patch of grass free of shrubs and sat. After scanning the place using his eyesight and ears, he knew no danger would come to him. Taking in a deep breath, he assumed a meditation pose and accessed his mind.

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Tyrus had never seen mental images clearly, only shimmering into view, whenever he used this method to delve deep into his mindscape. Nothingness surrounded him, but soon flickers of blue light illuminated the darkness. It would crackle, mimicking the sound of his lightning element. No, it was the lightning element, but it was taking a while to form a concrete image. What was once hazy was now crystal clear to him. A power he had used multiple times before during training. The relationship was deepening, reminiscent of a trainer's bond with their pets.

This time around, he opted for a different action. This time, he wanted to manifest a different element. Just like before–when he used thoughts alone to access his primary affinity–he imagined a candle wick that had been lit. Tyrus believed that attempting to manifest something beyond his capabilities would result in minimal or no outcomes. Starting small was necessary for him to grasp the concept.

A slight constriction in his chest was felt as the image came into view. The mana inside quickened, causing a stabbing pain to engulf his mind. His mana reservoir was also dwindling. Ignoring it and gritting his teeth was all he could do to focus on the task. The seconds ticked by, but he continued to redirect the energy flow to his hands as usual.

Just as the mana appeared, he opened his eyes and stared at the tip of his index finger. A spark briefly caught his sight, and it disappeared immediately. Instead of feeling glum, Tyrus clenched his fist and grinned.

"So it is true! Elemental Sorcerers can manifest more than one element…"

Despite its abrupt appearance, he successfully summoned the fire element for the first time. Standing up, he felt a surge of joy as he looked up at the sky. He paused to let his accomplishment sink in before moving on to the next phase. Of course, he wouldn't let it stop there. Who in their right mind takes a break after a breakthrough? The thought of continuing tomorrow would keep him up all night.

He wondered what more he could do.

Excited, Tyrus sat right back down and entered the mindscape once more. He repeated the known steps he had taken with the other elements, bracing himself for what was to come. Unfortunately, when he tried to call forth the water element, things went awry.

Suddenly, Tyrus's eyes snapped open as his heart was consumed by a searing pain. The pain was so intense that tears welled up in his eyes. He felt like his head was on fire, and his thoughts were swirling around in a maelstrom. Agony gripped Tyrus, and he clawed frantically at the earth beneath him, hoping for any relief from the torment. The sensation was reminiscent of the jolting awakening he had experienced before, amplifying his distress.

Curled into a ball, Tyrus endured the torment with a quivering body. Minutes stretched on, each one feeling like an eternity as tears streamed down his face. But then, as if a threshold had been reached, the pain gradually receded. It was a slow and arduous process, but after about five long minutes, Tyrus found some respite.

Another five minutes passed, and the agony that had consumed him dissipated further. The sharp edges of pain dulled, allowing him to regain control of his trembling body. Slowly, he uncurled himself and wiped away the remnants of tears and snot from his face, his breathing returning to normal. Tyrus gathered the strength to rise from his huddled position. He sought the support of a nearby tree as he gathered his thoughts.

"Never again please…"

Only after he tried to summon a third element did his body give out on him and cruelly experience unparalleled pain. Back then, he felt as if his mana was a raging fire, burning him from the inside out. What made this time stand out from the others? Manifesting the fire element was fine, but water was entirely different. What was the cause?

"I'll have to ask Fiona," he mumbled. Unconvinced he was truly fine, Tyrus waited some more. When he felt no more pain, he cautiously rose to his feet. His legs wobbled, but he stood up. The sore throat lingered even after the headache and nausea had disappeared. As for his mana reservoir, a portion of it was missing.

"No­–It's fine. I can refill it later. While my body is still okay, I'll train my magic. Figuring out what the heck happened on my own will be a waste of time."

He looked over at his left hand and tried to summon the fire element again. A tiny spark appeared just like the last time, but it was quickly extinguished. He tried it repeatedly, and the same results followed. On his right hand, he summoned lightning. While it was still activated, he summoned fire on the left.

"It's possible to use two elements at the same time? That's amazing!"

It was sad he couldn't use the other elements, but at least he learned something new. For now, he'll give his attention to the two he has available.

When he thought of commanding two elements, an obscure thought wormed its way in. What should he focus on specifically? He can't do much with fire since it's as weak as a candle in a storm. More time and effort are required to match the potency of lightning. There was also the issue with his mana reservoir. He'd be neglecting his primary element while wasting time and mana on a weaker one.

"Yeah, I'll focus most of my attention on lightning. I'll still train fire, but not as much. Maybe one or two days each week." It was a flimsy plan, but it was better than nothing. Tyrus would craft a better one later. The fire problem was no longer a concern, and he could focus on one of the main parts of his journey to become a sorcerer: spells. The Dual Shot spell was burning a hole in his pocket, and he wanted to recreate the spectacle at the Wasteful Wetlands.

Tyrus wasted no time and extended his arm above. With a clear mind, he summoned the power of lightning by uttering the incantation.

Two blue spheres of light appeared at the tip of his palm, leaving him feeling drained of his energy. The magical ball crackled with lightning as Tyrus aimed it at a patch of grass. With a burst of magic, the emerald blades were enveloped in a cloud of dirt as they blackened and fizzled. His breathing increased rapidly as he watched his handiwork.

The price of using Dual Shot was no laughing matter. Fatigue was already settling in from just one spell. If Tyrus had to guess, he could probably cast one more until his heart pondered to end it all. Comparing it to his previous experiences with elemental manifestations, Tyrus sensed a distinct disparity. While summoning lightning and fire in his hands required little mana, the act of casting spells demanded more of him. Uttering the spell and casting it depleted his mana reserves significantly.

He leaned on the tree, concentrating on replenishing his energy, letting the mana slowly refill. A single purpose consumed his mind: to engrave the essence of spellcasting deep within his being.

For Tyrus, mastering the art of spellcasting required an understanding of the behavior of the mana inside him. He yearned for it to become as natural as his Beast Transformation ability, an innate skill that required only a thought to activate. Just as effortlessly as he could transform, he believed that sorcery could become an extension of himself.

In his mind, there was a connection between the two—a similarity that felt like flipping a lever. If he could grasp the intricacies of Beast Transformation so instinctively, he believed the same could be achieved with sorcery. The key lay in the level of dedication and effort he was willing to invest.

And effort wasn't a problem for Tyrus.