Sirius went directly to Elders' hall. He wanted to ask permission to build a hut on the edge of the Plain Veins. A place where he was alone gave him the ability to research freely without prying eyes. Especially since druids could see through walls...

The hall was surprisingly empty. No one met him in the reception, since Eyes was at the hospital, and he just came in. He knocked at the door of the hall itself. No response came back his way, but the door opened on its own, startling him. Sirius peeked inside.

"Hello?..." Sirius asked into the darkness of the hall. After a second of thinking he repeated his greeting, "The World Blesses your Path."

"Just as the Path you thread is blessed," suddenly responded Calmness of Storm from his seat. The fire in the middle lit up, illuminating the hall. He brushed his long grey beard with his hand, and asked with a sly smile, "Come in. What brings you here, Friend of a Snake?"

"Sorry for intrusion," Sirius bowed and came inside, closing the door behind. He looked at the empty seats and asked, "Are you here alone?"

"Others have matters to attend. I used this opportunity to meditate in quiet," he replied with a smile. "Something is bothering you."

"Me? I guess... I wanted to ask permission to build a hut on the edge of the town. My hands are itching to do some research," he added with a tinge of shame.

"Did you manage to open your Eyes?"

"Of course," answered Sirius and his irises flashed with golden power. He saw a young version of Calmness of Storm, slightly translucent, as if made of clouds. His eyes, filled with flashing lightning, were observing Sirius, measuring up and down.

"Interesting choice," he said and narrowed his eyes with a smile, once again giving Sirius shivers. "But that is not what bothers you."

"I mean, there are things to worry about, but they are minor..."

"How is Daughter of Whisper faring?" he suddenly asked, making Sirius stop. He tilted his head, "So it IS related to her. You are friends after all."

"Acquaintances at best..."

"The crystal in your pocket contains a lot of mana. Very unusual for our lands."

Sirius looked down with his eyes open and saw a glowing shadow of a gem besides him. He took a breath, trying to be a blank slate in front of this powerful mage, who read him like an open book.

"It is from her illness. I wanted to find a cure."

"A very noble goal indeed. And for that you need to go to the edge of a settlement?"

"My research had... explosive results before. I don't want to endanger anyone."

"That is understandable. Consider your request granted," Calmness of Storm nodded. "Any ideas on the cure yet?"

Sirius thought for a moment, trying his hardest not to spill any worry into the world, lest he would be seen through once again. "I have a few hypotheses, but I need to study mana crystals at first. There was no access to them where I came from."

"Can you share your thoughts? I am really interested in what you could assess in a mere week," he tilted his head to other side, his face still wearing that unnerving smile.

"Uhmm, sure... I think her training method is unsuitable for her."

"That is a very harsh thing to say, young man," he said with a frown, "Training techniques are passed down in a family from past ages."

"I... Erm... I am deeply sorry! I did not know!" Sirius bowed hastily.

"Heh-heh, no need to worry," Calmness of Storm laughed lightly, "I am glad someone else also noticed that. Most of us are so loyal to a tradition, we are led to our demise by them."

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"Really?..."

"Oh, yes. Ask the Deepest Lake yourself, when you get to her."

Sirius remembered her story and nodded. He thought for a couple of seconds and asked, "Is there someone or something that stops her from changing her training?"

"Sharp. Very sharp," Calmness of Storm smiled even wider.

"Is there a traditional order of getting mana organs in her family?"

"First Eyes, like everyone else. Then the Mind. After that - preparations for a second circle."

Sirius frowned and nodded, "Understood."

"So you DO have a cure!"

"That requires to go against the tradition."

"Well, it is in plain druids' culture to follow your roots," shrugged the elder. "Only a strong shake-up can uproot the poisonous grass from a field. Now, hide behind my chair for a moment."

"Wha?..." Sirius wanted to say in surprise, but was interrupted by a knock to the door behind. He pulled all his mana inside and closed his Eyes, while soundlessly dashing behind the elder's high chair. He heard the door open on its own, like before.

"The World blesses your Path, elders," said the familiar voice of a man.

"Just as your Path is blessed, Whisper of Nature. Come in."

The door closed and Whisper of Nature began, "I see you are the only elder in a hall, Calmness of Storm. I was expecting more of a council to discuss with," his voice was stiff and rough.

"Matters need attending. I will pass your message. What brought you here?"

"That outsider. My daughter learned his foreign ways and is questioning about the source of nature's forces. No one in Plain Veins believes in such atrocity."

"What do you want to say, Whisper of Nature? People are the source. Their life force turns into mana that fuels the veins of this plane," said Calmness of Storm, making Sirius' eyes widen in shock.

"I didn't mean that. She says that he can heal her lungs."

"Isn't it great? Don't you want your daughter to be healthy?"

"I do, but..." Whisper of Nature stammered.

"So what is the matter?" Calmness of Storm pressured. "The community depends on our cooperation."

"Sure thing. But he is different. He wants her to betray our sacred roots. Our ancestors established the Path of Nature and it is our duty to sustain its power!"

"That is unfortunate..." Calmness of Storm feigned concern. "Let me deal with it."

"And if she will be led astray anyways? She is convinced in that foreigner's knowledge."

"What would you do?"

"I?..." he didn't seem to think about it that deeply, so he took a moment to decide, "I would disown her. Our family followed your lead under the condition that our Path would be protected, and this outcome is unacceptable."

"So you want to leave the community?"

"No, I did not..."

"If the condition you stated would be broken. Does it mean that your following is also ceases to exist?" Calmness of Storm pressured Whisper of Nature, but his Astral Body exuded no force to suppress the adult man. His voice and authority was enough.

"That... I am sorry for the insult, Calmness of Storm," Sirius heard rustling of cloth, as if he bowed. "I did not mean to. The honour of my family pushed me towards anger and I lost composure."

"Apologies accepted. So I will ask again. What did bring you here?"

"I want you to consider exiling the foreigner. He is a danger to our community."

"I will pass onto your request, Whisper of Nature. Now, if you have no more matters, you should go."

"Of course, elder. Thank you for your audience," the voice quieted down, the door opened and closed once again.

Calmness of Storm waited for the outside door to shut and said into the empty hall, "And so you know the situation, young one. What will you do?"

"A strong shake up, you say?..." whispered Sirius from behind the high chair and wiped the cold sweat.

"That's what I said, yes," answered Calmness of Storm with a smile.

"But I am weak."

"You? I guess you can't measure the power you wield, but let's say you gather a hundred of people from our settlement."

"Yes?" Sirius imagined a hundred of villagers.

"Around thirty of them would be Nulls, with no perception of mana. Others would be able to condense their Eyes and be a contributing part of our society."

"Got it."

"Out of the rest, twenty five would be stuck at the Eyes, with no intention or ambition to progress. The rest will deepen their control of the Eyes or condense the second organ."

"So, fifty-five out of a hundred are at the limit of a first circle?"

"Yes, roughly like that. Can you guess how much will get to condensing the Material Chains?"

"The second circle organ?... Like, twenty? Maybe thirty?" Sirius guessed.

"Five." Calmness of storm could feel the shock resonate over the room. He waited for information to sink in and reiterated, "Only five out of a hundred get to the second circle."

"And what comes next?..."

"Roughly the same. In a hundred of second-circle mages, five might reach the World Shaper title and become one with the World itself. But for most it is unnecessary. Some are satisfied with what they have, most don't want to spend their lives polishing their craft. But the main reason... Can you guess it?"

"The reason to stop developing?... No, I con't know."

"I see..." smiled Calmness of Storm with a tinge of sadness escaping his control. "One day you will get it."

Sirius thought for a bit longer and asked what was bothering him from the beginning, "If you say that at best people will condense two first- circle organs, where does it put me?"

"I don't know," said Calmness of Storm and laughed. "Maybe on par with second-circle, maybe weaker than the initiate. It is only up to you. Now, go, build your hut."