I smiled at Shauriana and then to Zakia. “I am glad to see you both. I hope things have been well?”

Shauriana nodded. “We are doing well, from what Zakia has told me. You have grown since we last saw each other. If my eyes don’t deceive me, you have grown more pleasing to look at as well.”

I laughed at that before nodding my head. “I am thankful for the kind words.” I was about to say something else, but an idea came to me. I looked around at the other guards standing with us and realized I had a pretty nice-sized audience. This would be a great opportunity. I offered as dramatic a bow as I could. “I have also come bearing gifts.”

I waved my hand and willed a stack of gold bars to land in a pile in front of me. I wasn’t sure how many would be ideal and we had made a lot of them over the weeks, so I decided to go with eighteen. Forming them into a pyramid of seven, five, and three. Once I placed all the bars, I then took out three 'Potions of Well-Being' and placed them on top, completing the pyramid. Only once I finished my monument did I look up. The matriarch had shifted her facial expression into a calm and blank stare. The rest of her people weren’t as good at hiding their shock. I could hear several of them muttering to themselves. A blinking light on the right of my vision told me that I had accomplished my goal.

“These are very impressive gifts. Are they given as a friend to another or one ruler to another?” The Matriarch still hadn’t moved toward the pyramid. The tone of her voice made me think that her question was more serious than playful, so I decided to choose my words as carefully as I could.

“They are a gift from me to you, from Radiance to the Burning Chasm, as an offer of peace and of friendship.” I kept my eyes on her before taking a step back. She hesitated for a moment before nodding and stepping forward. I let her examine her gift and took the chance to go over the prompts I had just received.

Congratulations! Your skill Statecraft has leveled up. Statecraft has reached levels 2 and 3. You gain +3% to negotiation power and +3% to the likelihood of other settlements taking your threats and offers seriously.

Congratulations! You have gained 200 Relationship Points with Matriarch Shauriana! Your relationship has improved from happy(+800) to friendly+1000).

Congratulations! You have gained 200 Relationship Points with the Ifrit of the Burning Chasm! Your relationship has improved from happy(+800) to happy(+1000). Your relationship status has changed from neutral to happy.

Congratulations! You have gained 2,00 Relationship Points with Zakia! Your relationship has improved from Admired (+10,500) to Admired (+12,700).

I read the prompts twice to make sure nothing new had come up and there was nothing. It was a bit of a letdown to see that giving people a lot of gold had only boosted the numbers by two hundred, but it made a lot of sense. If a person could just throw gold at people, then rich people would all have hundreds of thousands of points and would probably rule the world. I returned to the world around me in time to see several guards come forward and start gathering the gold.

“I had not intended to do this originally, but I believe I should return a gift in kind.” I turned toward Shauriana and found her gesturing for me to kneel. I raised an eyebrow but decided to do it. I didn’t think she was going to attack me or anything like that. When I was on my knees, she placed a hand above my heart and another on my forehead. She spoke in the same language as last time, and a familiar pulse of heat spread through me before settling in the pit of my stomach. I welcome the surge of heat like an old friend as excitement builds inside me. All too soon, the feeling dispersed, and I slowly got to my feet. My vision swam and my head throbbed, though nowhere near as bad as it did the first time. Once I was ready, I turned my attention to the new prompts I had gained.

Attention! You have learned the spell: Lesser Pyrobolt. You hurl a mote of fire at a target within range. Has a chance to cause the burned condition. 15-20 damage. This is a Pyro spell of the ninth level. Tier: Amateur Cost: 45 mp Duration: N/A Range: 120ft. Cast Time: 1 second. Cool down: 2 minutes.

Attention! You have learned the spell: Lesser Flame Barrier. Creates a sphere of flame around the caster. The shield has 150hps. The shield has a defense value of +3(+6 vs Pyro). It is ineffective against Pyro attacks. Only pyro attacks may pass through the boundaries of the shield. The shield may be removed by touching it or the caster ending the effect. This is a Pyro spell of the ninth level. Tier: Amateur Cost: 130 mp Duration: 5 minutes Range: Self. Cast Time: 2 seconds. Cool down: 30 minutes.

Attention! You have learned the spell: Summon Minor Aurelion Summons a level 10 Aurelion to serve you. This is a Lumos spell of the 12th level. Tier: Student Cost: 150mp Duration: 10 minutes Range: 15ft. Cast Time: 5 seconds Cool down: 2 hours.

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Holy shit! I read the prompts twice to make sure that I understood everything. Each of the spells was amazing, but my favorite had to be Summon Minor Aurelion. I wasn’t sure, but it sounded like it would summon a lion! As far as I was concerned, all three spells were worth all the gold I traded and then some.

“Based on your reaction, you are pleased with your reward?” She smiled as I nodded bit a too eagerly but I was beyond worrying about what people would think. Hell, with my dual-casting bonus, the creature would be at a much higher level than me. That thought made me pause. “Would it be a problem if I summoned a creature that was too high a level?”

Shauriana gestured for me to follow her, and we headed into the Burning Chasm. “Yes, and no. The spell I have just shared with you will summon a powerful creature, but not a sentient one. It won’t resist your commands unless you attempt to make it do something that goes against its nature. Based on our experiences, I assume that you have not received any kind of formal magician’s training. The level and strength of your creatures will become a problem for you once you start summoning higher-level beings. Specifically, those that are sentient and sapient.”

“Do you have spells that can summon something like that?” I asked, a bit more eagerly than I intended.

“Of course, I can, but you won’t be able to for quite some time. I would recommend you not pursue those spells until after you gain your class. There are some perks that will help you control the creatures you summon. It will also depend on who you are. A cruel, chaotic person will have an easier time controlling a chaotic evil creature, for example.”

I nodded as she explained everything. It all boiled down to the fact that I needed to get my class ASAP and that I should probably not summon a demon or something. “So the Aurelion is a neutral good creature?”

She nodded. “It is an uncommon spell but something that many lumomancers learn how to do with time. As long as you keep to your current course, you shouldn’t have any problems with it.”

“Is there anything else you can tell me?”

“Just continue what you are doing. Your growth has been startling, so I would suggest you find a more formal teacher sooner rather than later. I imagine there are a few skills you don’t have access to just yet.” She stopped in the doorway of the dining chamber we ate in last time. “I don’t believe there is anything more I can tell you. We also have more pressing concerns.”

She gestured for me to take a seat at the table before moving forward and taking her place. “Have you been keeping up to date with reports on the Hytal?”

I took a seat across from her and shook my head. Before we could continue, Zakia and Kita entered the room and took a seat at the table. She flashed me a smile before looking at her matriarch.

“Unfortunately, the news isn’t great. Hytal attacks have only grown more ferocious. We have managed to repel them from the canyon, but they have formed a bulwark in the desert. I am worried that they will attempt to attack in mass soon.”

I nodded, the levity of the previous conversation quickly fading away. “What makes you think that? Also, have the free cities started dealing with the problem?”

Shauriana shook her head. “No, thanks to mercenaries and adventurers the Hytal haven’t been able to harm any of those. Unfortunately, none of the Free Cities are interested in helping us. I have sent a messenger to some of the further away cities, but for now, we are on our own.”

I sighed but understood their likely reasoning. There was no reason to send their people marching across the desert to fight an enemy that wasn’t a threat. “What about adventurers? We might be able to offer enough money to them.”

She shook her head. “We have already sent a request to their guild and I am sure that upping the reward would help to get a sizable force would be beyond us. Not to mention we would still run into the logistics of getting them out here.”

“So how are the hytal managing it? Surely they don’t have water mages or something?”

“Not that I know of, though they do have capable spell casters. We aren’t sure how they are keeping it up for so long. Ordinarily, they would have pulled back to their territories by now.”

“What do you mean? Is this normal?”

She nodded. “For the most part, yes, the hytal tend to act as mercenaries with a variety of different groups. Typically, they don’t fight to hold land outside of their ancestral homelands. The fact that they have spread into the desert, let alone for them to come as far as the canyon.”

“Alright, do we know how large a force they have? I can’t promise that my people will be fighting ready, but I can pledge my support in whatever way you need.” I made a mental note to try to form an army of some kind. I didn’t want to conquer anything, but situations like this proved that sometimes I would need a force of people who could be counted on to leave my territory and go do stuff.

“That is greatly appreciated, Darterrius. For now, though, we are handling the situation. I would suggest you get your people ready. There is no guarantee that they haven’t found a different way into the canyon. Zakia tells me your Place of Power has light protecting it?”

I looked over at her before nodding. “It’s a warning system. I will know when people enter my territory. It isn’t exactly a defense, but it should make it difficult for anyone to surprise us.”

She nodded and looked like she wanted to ask more questions, but thought better of it. “I have made arrangements for dinner to be provided, as well as fresh water. You are also welcome to stay here with us for as long as you need.”

I smiled. “Your hospitality pleases me greatly. Please allow me to offer the same to you. I admit that I do not know much about the details, but my people tell me that we are about to do something special. I have found an Arbor Heart during my travels.” The matriarch’s eyes widen with interest for a fraction of a second. If I hadn’t been looking for it, I would have missed it.

“How exactly did you come across such an artifact?” She leaned forward onto the table with her hand under her chin.

“I found a large tree. I had to avoid a fight with a pair of dangerous creatures, but I managed to reach its center. Upon doing so, I found a way to enter its heart where I met a dryad. The dryad could tell that I was suzerain. It made me agree to plant its core in my territory, so I agreed. It wasn’t until recently that I inquired about how to do it. A gnuvin who joined me mentioned that they could do it.”

She nodded. “You are a very fortunate young man. I have been able to find a tree like that. It is one of the few ways to get a plant that could thrive underground. Let alone a plant that could handle the intense heat of my Place of Power. If your tree produces a seed, will you give it to me?”

I hesitated for a moment before nodding my head. I would need to check in to find it how that worked, but I didn’t think I would need two trees and if I could get some bonus points with the Ifrit I would be a food to turn my back on it. “I can’t promise when or if that will happen but if it is in my power I will give you one.” She leaned back and laughed my face got hot with embarrassment as I tried to figure out what I had done I turned toward Zakia who shrugged.

“I apologize. You are a very fascinating person. Most would not agree to such a thing, especially before even knowing if you could do it. From what I have read, Arbor Hearts are rather rare and could catapult a civilization with its benefits. Yet you freely agree to give one to me?”

I chuckled and shrugged in response. “I like to give what I receive. So far, you and your people have been nothing but kind to me. We have been helping each other so far, so as far as I am concerned, the stronger you grow, the stronger I grow.” I half expected to receive a notification and relationship point boost, but nothing came. I kept the slight disappointment from my face as I focused on our conversation.

“There is something I would like to ask of you. I am told that using magic to boost the potency of the heart would be a good idea. It was suggested that I cast a spell from all the types associated with my Place of Power. Would you know of any fire, light, or earth spells?”

She nodded. “I do have a Pyro spell and I believe one of my mages can do earth. I assume you intend to plant it soon?”

I nodded. “That was why I decided to come and visit. I want you all to be there and to see whatever happens once the heart is planted.”

“I will gather up my people. It may take us a couple of hours. I am afraid I don’t leave here without a sizeable entourage.”

“I will admit that we are still growing, so the extent of the hospitality we can offer is limited. You are, of course, welcome to all we can offer.”

She laughed at that. “I thank you, but we can take care of our lodging. I have a few spells that are very good for that.”

I had to push down the urge to ask for more details when she mentioned more spells, but I had already received several new toys. Not to mention she had already agreed to help with the tree. It was better to be patient than greedy, after all.

“Now, unless you have another bombshell to drop on me, I believe dinner is due.” She raised an eyebrow at me and I hesitated to reply. We stared at each other for a long beat before I shook my head. She waved a hand and other Ifrit began to spill into the room. They were all carrying dishes of delicious-smelling food. I couldn’t help but be impressed by the smells which reminded me to practice my cooking skill. They left the food on the table and we were each picked and chose what we wanted. We were eating a creature that looked a bit like a crab, only its meat was the color of stone and its shell was curved like a conch. It was strangely beautiful in a weird way. There was also a vegetable that was a green and blue color that reminded me of rock candy. Only it was slightly bitter to the taste. We fell into conversation about our trip to afrium as we ate until Shauriana had to excuse herself. I decided to take the opportunity to head back outside and give Sanaa and Tenebris some time to spread their wings.

We played around for nearly two hours before the matriarch and her escort filed out of the cavern. It was ten people in total, including Zakia, Kita, and Angalia. They all grabbed mounts similar to Rex's, though the Matriarch’s was almost twice as big and had a scorpion-like tail. I decided to cast Lesser Revelation.

Apex Sand Salamander: Level 15

Apex Sand Salamanders are larger, stronger, and faster than their kin. They are dangerous hunters and make even more dangerous mounts. They are capable of poisoning their prey before dragging them to their deaths.

Well, that didn’t sound pleasant at all. I waved the prompt away and mounted Rex. A few minutes later we were making our way back through the desert.