"Well, that turned out to be a disappointing endeavor," Alex mused, his expectations have taken a blow. He hadn't been naive enough to anticipate that the guy would be capable of building a generator, but he had nurtured a hopeful spark that they might have constructed one right there on the floor. Now, that spark was extinguished, and he was left staring at the cold reality. To bring his aspirations to life, he needed to amass a larger sum of money for the mana stones, intending to use them as a battery. The price tag was astronomical - a staggering figure that amounted to thousands of Tower Points for both the construction and the acquisition of mana stones.
And what would he get in return for that exorbitant expenditure? A couple of lightning bolts, maybe three if he was lucky. It was a frustrating realization that made his heart sink. Such an investment was not feasible; not only would he quickly exhaust his energy, unable to sustain long battles with his lightning, but he would also deplete his resources at a frightening pace.
He contemplated the option of collecting items on the second floor to slow down the hemorrhage of points, but the bleak truth stared back at him. There seemed to be no path that would allow him to wield his lightning magic offensively without plunging himself into a daunting abyss of debt.
A rueful chuckle escaped his lips as he acknowledged the irony of his situation. "Look at me, fretting about excessive expenditure when I'm sitting on a stash of Tower Points larger than I've ever possessed," Alex mused, his tone laced with self-deprecation. With his current financial standing, he could afford almost any individual item on this floor, a fact that he found mildly amusing.
Alex checked his Tower Points. <<< Tower Points: 2240 >>>
“I’ve still got over 2000 Tower Points just burning a hole in my pocket,” thought Alex. “I was supposed to enter a mage training soon after entering the second floor. At this point I am pretty much ready. The last thing I was going to do was find information about crafting the battery and generator and buy my knives and I just did that. Now the question is whether I should go for mage training now or wait until the next floor. It will be cheaper to go now and more expensive there. However, I will be earning more Tower Points by the nature of scaling the Tower. I can also pay for a second mage training on the next floor if I feel that what I got was insufficient.”
He recalled how his friends, Taylor, and Kai, had visibly honed their skills after their training. With that in mind, he felt his decision solidifying. "Perhaps it's time to part with the money," he concluded, determination creeping into his voice. "The second floor can hold its breath for one more day."
Alex turned directions and headed toward the local mage guild. There he would be able to find an expert in lightning mages that might be able to improve his situation. He was able to identify the mage guild easily. Its stone walls carved from stones recovered from the Gavros mines were covered in enchantments and markings of magical runes. Its effects caused the eye to be subtly drawn to the building by any who happened to walk by.
As he stepped through the arched portal of the mage's guild, the first thing that struck Alex was the pulsating aura of arcane energy that suffused the air. It thrummed beneath his feet, resonating against the stone floor, and permeated his senses with a scent redolent of old parchment and bubbling potions. The guild's interior was a captivating blend of the ancient and the esoteric - a rich tapestry of magic that was both daunting and inviting.
The expansive hall was illuminated by floating orbs of magical light, casting an ethereal glow on the high ceilings etched with complex, swirling glyphs. Awe-inspiring murals adorned the walls, depicting mythical creatures and mages in the throes of casting potent spells, their faces radiating with sheer focus and power. The very stones seemed imbued with a pearl of ageless wisdom, a silent testament to the generations of mages who had honed their skills within these hallowed walls.
Alex's gaze was inexorably drawn to the sight of countless shelves crammed with ancient tomes, shimmering crystal balls, and myriad magical implements. Each item is both haphazardly placed and carefully considered in its location at the same time.
After a quick inquiry with a robbed acolyte, Alex was directed to a secluded corner of the guild, away from the bustling activity. Here, he was introduced to a wizened mage named Eryndor, who bore the title of Master of the Storm - the guild's resident expert in lightning magic.
Eryndor's study was a stark contrast to the grandeur of the guild's main hall. It was a small, cozy space, filled with the hum of contained energy and the scent of ozone, a reminder of the stormy element the mage commanded. Shelves were packed with scrolls and books on elemental magic, and the walls were adorned with diagrams of complex magical formations and patterns.
"Well, what brings you to my storm-filled corner?" Eryndor asked, his voice crackling with an energy that mirrored his magic. Eryndor was a middle-aged elf who had a beard well-kept and long braided hair tied back.
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Alex took a deep breath and began to explain his predicament. "I am here for advice and to learn. Of the spells I've learned there are only three. Echolocation has helped me delve into the Gavros mines and hunt at night. An Alter Senses spell allows me to change what senses in my mind are the most focused. And finally, Disruption which draws electricity from the air and monsters causing their bodies to stiffen or shake uncontrollably. But the lightning bolt eludes me," Alex admitted, his voice filled with a mixture of frustration and determination. "In the end, I can manipulate electricity, but I cannot generate it. Eryndor's eyes twinkled with a blend of curiosity and challenge as he listened, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, a silent echo of the brewing storm.
"So, you seek to harness the fury of the storm itself, yet you are restrained by your lack of resources," Eryndor mused, his eyes gleaming with the reflection of the magical orbs illuminating the room. He sighed, a sound akin to distant thunder, and glanced at Alex, his gaze as sharp as a lightning bolt.
Eryndor, his eyes twinkling with an inquisitive light, leaned back in his chair, stroking his silver beard thoughtfully. "The magic of lightning is a force of nature, my young friend," he began his voice a soothing timbre against the quiet hum of the room. "It is raw, wild, capricious - and that is where its true power lies. To understand it, to truly master it, you must learn to become one with it."
He glanced out of a small window, where the first stars of the evening were starting to twinkle in the darkening sky. "You cannot create a storm within these stone walls. Your magic is born of the world itself, of the thunderous clouds and the surging winds. Your spells are but echoes of the storm’s voice."
The room was quiet for a moment, the silence punctuated by the distant sounds of the bustling guild outside their secluded study. "You need to touch the storm," Eryndor finally said, turning back to face Alex. "You need to feel its power, see its patterns, understand its rhythms. Then, and only then, will you be able to conjure a lightning bolt that matches its intensity."
Alex considered his words trying to understand the simple meaning behind them.
"And how do I do that?" Alex asked, leaning forward in his chair, his eyes locked onto Eryndor's.
Eryndor smiled, his eyes twinkling with wisdom. "You must seek out the storm, Alex. Seek it in its natural habitat. Go to a place where the storms are born, where the skies are alive with the dance of lightning. Immerse yourself in its wild energy. Feel the surge of mana in the air, the pulse of the storm in your veins."
Alex nodded, understanding dawning on him. He had been trying to force magic into existence, to command it to obey him. But perhaps, as Eryndor suggested, he needed to become a part of it instead. To understand it from within, to respect its unpredictable power.
"Take your spells with you," Eryndor added, his gaze intense. "Use them as you would in any other situation. Let them guide you, let them adapt to the storm. Echolocation will help you navigate the chaos, Alter Senses will allow you to feel the storm on a different level, and Disruption… well, disruption is the chaotic essence of a storm. Use it to draw in the power of the storm. With time and patience, you may find that the storm will guide your magic, rather than the other way around. Use it's natural energies to practice the spells normally unavailable to you."
"Where can I find the nearest storm?" asked Alex eager to try his full magic once more. If he had access to a storm he realized he would be able to recreate the power shown in the alleyway and more but this time he would not be limited by the Tower's current restrictions on Earth. He would finally see his full power.
"Gavros does not storm often. It is a bad place to train," said Eryndor. He paused for a moment considering something. "You at the peak of the first floor correct?"
"If you mean I am ready to enter the second floor then that would be yes."
"Good. That is very good. For I can tell you something about the second floor. It is very rainy there. Almost half of the time it will rain. And where there is rain true storms will often follow. Go there and search for a good storm to practice in. Use your senses to guide you closer to the center of one. It seems are time is up as well. I hope this time has been informative. May you continue well on your journey as a mage."
Alex absorbed Eryndor's words, a spark of understanding igniting in his eyes. A nod of gratitude followed as he rose from his chair. "Thank you, Master Eryndor. You've opened my eyes and given me a path forward. I will seek the storm and try to become one with it. I will take your guidance to heart."
A knowing smile crossed the elder mage's face as he watched his pupil stand. "Remember, Alex. The storm is your ally, not your enemy. Use it, and become one with it. You have the potential to be a great mage."
The energy in the room seemed to hum with anticipation, mirroring the eagerness mirrored in Alex's eyes. With a final respectful bow, Alex turned and left the study.
Once outside, the world seemed to have changed. The evening had deepened, stars sprinkling the sky with their soft glow. The city's stone buildings stood tall and silent, casting long, stretching shadows on the cobblestone streets. The excitement that had been building within him began to bubble over as he considered his next steps. Alex knew as soon as he had stood up in the study that he had made the right decision. He felt a shiver of anticipation run down his spine. The path was laid out before him, and his purpose was clear. He needed to face the storms, to train within them. He was excited to take the steps needed to enter the second floor, to finally embrace the fury of the storm, and to let it guide him on his path as a mage.
With hurried steps, Alex headed toward the town center where the portal to the second floor lay. It was later at night and fewer people walked the street. His anticipation grew as he entered the city call. He entered the portal room and put his hand on the device. Thornhold popped up in his vision as an option for teleportation. Alex selected it immediately not wanting to wait another second. He was gone in a flash of light.