-Hm. A bit better than I expected.

Better?

-Yeah, I thought that the damage would be worse after what happened here… well, not so recently.

-It’s been pretty recent, to be honest… - I said, realizing what he was alluding to.

-If you don’t include the time bullshit.

-Time bullshit.

-Time dilation with teleports. While I am a bit better at it, I am not sure about… others that you might have been involved with.

Hm.

He knew a lot.

And more importantly, he was better at it? That was intriguing. I’d have to get a better look at that spell if I ever get a chance.

-So… how long?

-I can’t really tell you… - he shrugged. - Besides myself being a bit out of it, if you know what I mean…

-Yeah…

-...I also never kept track of time… After living for a long time, time gets sort of subjective and distorted if you know what I mean…

I could imagine.

-Okay… so why are we here?

-It’s the only place I had an anchor to at hand.

He had anchors?

Didn’t he just appear out of thin air? How the hell would he have anchors?

-I didn’t mean physical anchor… You know, never mind.

-Oh, I do mind. Explain.

-Eh… It is the last place I’ve used rather large amounts of magic. It still had a lot of it hanging around, you know, so I could just hook onto that instead of some physical object. Is that enough of an explanation?

I wasn’t certain if he was bullshiting me or not, but that could be possible.

After all, what is an anchor if not just a familiar piece of mana?

That kind of technique could be useful… to teleport to any place you’ve been? You could’ve cut down on a lot of preparation time…

-You’re quick on the uptake, as usual… - he muttered. - Yeah, but that’s not something that convenient - he quickly added. - You still need to prepare the place beforehand… And it’s one time only. I already used the mana from this place, so I’d have to infuse it again…

Of course there had to be some kind of drawback.

But hey, it had potential. I am sure with enough time, someone could figure it out and make it better.

-Hm. Well, theoretical magic aside, let's get on dealing with a bit more pressing matters.

-Right… And that is?

-ILMA of course.

-I know, but maybe a little bit more description than that…? She had already fled, and we had lost contact. What’s your plan?

-Oh, it’s quite easy. I’ll make you open the portal.

Of course it had to be something like that.

But…

-Me? And how exactly do you want to do that?

As far as I was aware, the blood connection would be needed to attempt something like that.

The fact of problematic bodies aside, he should be enough, right? Wasn’t he also related to ILMA?

-Simple. You have a contract with her, right?

Oh. That’s what he was interested in.

True, that was the case… and since after all that bullshit of “absorbing” went down, it was even more effective.

I think.

-Okay… I can try.

-Not only try. You will do it.

-Hm. Don’t you think she’s got some kind of protection, though? I think it’s a bit too simple, isn’t it?

-Simple? Sure. Effective? I don’t think so. We’re still gambling with time.

-Gambling with time?

-What, you think you’re going to be avoiding the time dilation? Heh. That would be something for sure.

OH.

So we were worried about that, too?

-How much are we talking?

-Depends on a person. I don’t use this thing, only in emergencies.

-Didn’t you just use it now?

-It was marked beforehand on purpose, so no. And even if I fucked up, the difference would be minimal, up to hour or something along those lines.

-Hm.

-With you being… sorry to say, but inexperienced in this kind of magic…

-Yeah, I guess…

-...we are looking on either days or weeks. And that’s if you don’t fuck up.

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That was a lot less than I expected.

Wasn’t our last teleportation a lot worse?

Was she so bad at it?

-I am not sure - he shrugged. - In any case, you better prepare. I still need to make some preparations of my own.

-Sure…

And how I was supposed to do that?

Sure, I could try concentrating and shit, but that wouldn’t help much. I had the incantation engraved in my memory already: after seeing it that many times I was sure that in this I wouldn’t fail.

Besides that, the connection, maybe…?

I guess, but without actually attempting the spell, or at least invoking the contract, there was nothing to do. And I was not going to do that: she would get a clear warning.

Okay, if the time difference would be real, it wouldn’t matter, but better safe than sorry, I guess?

I don’t think he cared, though.

He nodded and stepped away, towards the center of the clearing.

I was wondering what he meant by his own preparations, but soon I got to see.

The moment he was away from me, he started releasing massive amounts of mana. He tried redirecting it as far away from me as possible.

Granted, that was a good thought on his part: if he was any closer, the stream would’ve just been pulled towards me.

He targeted a seemingly random spot somewhere on the clearing and was pouring his magic towards it constantly, until it started glowing in my enhanced sight.

It also made me realize that he was, again, using this “neutral” mana, or rather hiding the aspects of it, making me unable to read them.

Intriguing.

Few minutes later, apparently content, he finally interrupted the stream and started moving back, visibly drained.

-That bad…? - I mumbled, looking closer at him.

-Egh…

Now, when I had an occasion, I actually could see how his body was… different.

Or did it change recently…?

I couldn’t really tell, but his crystal had something akin to sand trapped within it.

It was strange. The Origin Crystal wass supposed to be pristine and be able to purge any impurities. Did that mean that those particles were there on purpose?

Who knows. He was definitely not going to tell me.

As I was waiting for him to read my mind once again and reply to me…

…but that did not happen.

Unusual. So far he’s been on point with that.

Was he really that drained?

-We… we need to move… - he said, barely audible, having a hard time catching a breath.

Wait, we didn’t even need to breathe. What the hell?

-Yeah, no - I replied, coming closer and trying to give him a hand so he won’t slam his head against the ground. - You’re in no shape to move, not to mention cast spells.

-I… I will manage. Just get…

He pushed my hand away, and just as predicted, fell face first into the ground.

-See? Come on, don’t be stubborn.

I grabbed him and wrapped his hand on my neck, helping him stand up.

-Come on.

-Get me… the sun…

-Sun? All right…

Easier said than done.

The trees were tall enough to give shade to the whole clearing, even this size.

The easiest probably would be…

-Vsipdo.

I swiped my hand towards the canopy above us and the one word was enough to cut straight through all the branches.

-Gus.

Before those managed to fall on top of us, though, I pushed them away towards the trees.

-You… you’re better than expected… he mumbled, sprawled out in the sun.

-Wha…? This little thing? - I asked, slightly confused. - That’s nothing.

-Yea… besides using direct spells… I thought you would be a lot more drained after regeneration.

-Eh. I guess you gave me more than you should.

-No kidding… But even then… If it was me who was this damaged I’d not be even able to cast anything at all…

-And how many times was that?

-Multiple. You think all of my fights ended in victory. Of course you only have seen some of those.

-And against not the best opponent - I nodded. - Il is not the most powerful…

-Oh, she’s got plenty of power… she is just not the best at putting it to use… Or… I guess it’s “was” now…

-Let’s not be so pessimistic - I interrupted him. - Who knows in what shape she is.

-Don’t be stupid - he sighed heavily. - Even if we think of the best scenario, you definitely made us skip some time. And ILMA was definitely not idling, waiting for us. No, she already consumed all of them.

I didn’t say anything.

Sadly, it was a very possible scenario.

While I believed in her resilience, there was only so much she could do…

But then again, she wasn’t alone. There was still For and Kon… and Il! They also were definitely resisting. While maybe not working together, but still, that had to count for something!

-We will check that sooner or later - I simply said. - When I’m going to attempt to portal us, I’ll know for sure.

-You think? And how are you going to be sure if that’s not just some remains that just are lingering, like in Melle’s case.

Ouch.

Yeah, that was also possible.

-We’ll cross the bridge when we get there.

-Just a minute… I’m almost there…

-Almost? Stop rushing! - I wanted to stop him, but he was already standing up.

Honestly, he was looking better than I expected. Maybe not fully regenerated, but definitely a lot better than before.

Strangely, he apparently had a different idea about that.

-Yeah… you’re right. I am barely able to even hold myself together, not to mention using good magic.

-What do you mean?

He looked at me, confused.

-What?

-What “what”?

He shook his head.

-I am saying I can’t hold my body together. I still need more magic to be effectively mobile…

-What the fuck are you talking about!?

He looked directly at me.

-I can’t handle biotic infusion perpetually yet - he said, giving me a sideways look. - Why do I need to tell you that? You can see it clearly, don’t you?

I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.

For a second, I wanted to fake being knowledgeable, but decided against it.

After all, it was only a matter of time before he would realize that I was lying.

-Nope. Can’t see shit.

He just stared at me.

-What?! I never was good with detecting different types of mana! What’s that “biotic infusion”?

-You… you’re not lying - he said, genuinely surprised. - How…?

-Er…?

-How are you holding together, then?!

-I dunno?! I just am…?

-I can’t… You are serious. Did you really… how…

With every broken sentence he was inching ever closer towards me.

For some reason, that was giving me a very ominous feeling.

-Calm down - I said, raising my hands. - Maybe I am just doing that unconsciously! You know how magic is, you often do more than you speak and so on. Just explain to me so I can properly understand.

He stopped and nodded.

-Right… that wouldn't make sense… something like us can’t exist otherwise… it would… Never mind. Yes.

He regained his composure and started explaining to the best of his ability.