It's now been six months since I started studying the apotheosis seed, and today is the eve of my fifteenth birthday. I'll be attending my adulthood ceremony at today's Lojyo, which still doesn't feel real. I've been on this world for six thousand days which, when translated to Earth years from my past life, would make me sixteen and a half.

I have made a lot of progress over the last half a year, both on my [Sense Magic] and my Bond and Class. With a minimum of three clones in the Dungeon, grinding levels and challenging myself in fighting only with my Bond, I managed to earn about forty levels a month, or about one level a day.

Ting! Your Bond has obtained level 886!

Ting! Your Class, Distant Summoner, has obtained level 297! 15 status points awarded.

The fights have taught me much about my Bond… or rather, strengthened my bond with my Bond, I suppose. I can now fully hide my Bond presence, and my Bond is much more willing to do what I ask of it.

With a sword of dancing aurora in the hand of my clone, I am currently staring at a Grass Mantis boss.

It is one of my new Bond skills: [Aurora Blade], evolved from [Beauty Weapon], which was evolved from [Beauty Spear]. I am not that proficient with martial weapons, but learning new Bond skills helps my Bond grow, so here I am.

I block a swing from the Mantis, my sword burning into its scythe arm, making it reel back with pained clicks of its mandibles. [Aurora Blade] is pretty much a lightsaber, just way prettier.

I slow the boss down with [Serene Moment], a skill that slows down time in an area, and I shoot a beam of [Aurora Prism], an upgrade to my Bond laser skills. I blast a hole through the Mantis and launch a [Star Cannon] bullet into the hole, which then detonates and blows the Mantis in two, the explosion slowed down a little due to [Serene Moment's] effect.

My Bond demands that I fight beautifully, it's no longer enough to just use lasers or spears of concentrated mana. That is one part of why I am also trying to use martial weapons: I can also add in graceful movements – not the skill – and dance-like movements aided by [Graceful Movements]. I've only just started doing this, so I am still learning a lot, but so far it feels like I am doing the right thing to increase my connection with my Bond.

Moving onto the other thing I've been doing for the last half a year, I've studied more about magic. Magic is an intrinsic part of the fabric of existence but needs some sort of catalyst to properly act; as to why it needs a catalyst, I can only guess that it’s to prevent completely random fluctuations, but that is just speculation. I need to observe miasma in more detail.

If magic needs a catalyst, then does that mean that divinity does too? If that's the case, then how do cursed beings use magic? There shouldn't be anything to spark it. Magic seems to react to the mind in some way, but I have no way to study minds right now, other than the vague functions of my own. I need something to detect minds for that.

In any case, my leveling for [Sense Magic] has slowed down a lot. I can study the random fluctuations of magic, but it's random: there is seemingly no pattern to it, so nothing can be learned. I seem to have learned most of what there is back when I first discovered the apotheosis seed, so I have to see it in action to learn more… and I probably need to see other types of apotheosis seeds, like one for legendary Classes or something like that.

With my study of magic limited until I can get better insight into the growth of a new Class, I have diverted my efforts to other breakthroughs that don't directly relate to magic, like passive sensing, sensing others’ perception, and manipulation of perceptive pressure.

Ting! Sense Magic has obtained levels 748-766!

I have less than eighty levels to go to max out my Skill, but it seems that any further levels are dependent on new breakthroughs, and I have no idea what I am missing. Is this what it feels like for everyone else trying to learn [Sense Mana]?

I'll figure it out eventually. I still need to figure out how my perception gets tracked, and that may reveal new things, but I also need to practice it, which means finding someone who's more friendly to help me train.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Archmage Holuna Ruluna stares intently at the Fire Focusing Orb and the Blade of Flame, both gifts from Alysara. Whether or not she knew, Alysara also gifted her with an opportunity to study mana in even more depth, earning a new breakthrough in [Sense Mana] after so long!

The headmasters are very pleased with her new growth in the Skill and are hoping to make a deal with Alysara once she gets back. However, what's starting to worry the governors and Order headmasters is that no trade ships have arrived yet.

"They must have a long journey; how far away did you say they were, Ruluna?" Headmaster Vulpun says, pacing impatiently around her like a buzzing fly.

"I don't know just how far away they are, just that they are super far away," Ruluna replies, trying to figure out how Alysara made the enchantments so perfectly melded into the rest of the mana.

"Then their ships must just be slow; maybe that's how they navigate around the Leviathans," Vulpun says. "Alysara does have that flying skill which makes her fast; that must be the case."

"Don't you have a meeting to go to?" Ruluna asks, annoyed by the bothering Headmaster.

"Nope, the whole week is clear," Vulpun says, still pacing.

Great, that means he'll be buzzing around her all week. With the other Archmages and Paladins allocated to Kineto City and the nearby fort, Ruluna is the only high-ranking member of the Order of Flame available to keep Vulpun company. Governor Borala's son was successfully rescued; however, that has sparked tensions with the Forren Kingdom... Well, more than there already were, anyway.

Forren is conscripting a worrying amount of soldiers and training them rapidly, while their knights will be outfitted with Leviathan armor.

On Vacana's side, the army is building fortifications and new soldiers are being recruited and trained, while the Ash Guard is being outfitted with Alysara's Power-Armor. The mana crystallizers has been working overtime to make batteries for the armors; Alysara confirmed that any form of mana will suffice as a battery, but the denser, the better, which of course makes her batteries much more valuable.

"Well," Vulpun says. "Tomorrow, Alysara will be delivering a new shipment of armor; I guess I can ask her what's taking so long. We'll also want you in the meeting; we want to establish a trade of knowledge."

Of course they do. Ruluna drew the short straw with being relegated to studying mana, and now she has to deal with trades and other boring stuff.

The next day Ruluna dresses in her formal attire and waits in the meeting room with the other headmasters, Vulpun, Shalar, and Kolona.

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Both Shalar, the Headmaster of the Order's warriors, and Kolona, the Headmaster of the Order's mages, had to come from Kineto City to attend this important meeting, and, with Ruluna's direct superior here, she has to be on her best behavior.

"How go the studies, Ruluna?" Kolona asks.

"Both fruitful and not, Headmaster. I am training the new breakthrough, but I have no idea how she made the items," Ruluna refrains from sighing frustratedly.

"So you are lacking the knowledge levels; chances are it's a more advanced breakthrough or, more likely, requires another to understand fully. In times like these, we have to think outside the box and into theoretical territory," Kolona says in his best 'teacher' tone.

"If all goes well, she can just tell us," Shalar says. "That's the whole reason why we were dragged here, is it not?" Shalar gives Vulpun a raised eyebrow.

"That is the case," Vulpun replies.

The banter continues, but Ruluna doesn't have to wait long before Alysara arrives.

"Alysara, we welcome you once again!" Vulpun says, greeting Alysara like an old friend.

Ruluna can't help but notice the difference in Alysara, her movements are somehow even more refined, more beautiful. She must have gained a lot of levels in her Bond since the last time she saw her… or rather, saw her clone.

How has she gained so many levels? Ruluna wonders for a few moments, but realization suddenly dawns on her. They have a Dungeon!

Very little is actually known about Dungeons, and the only known one is in the healer country, Helikan, where it is strictly guarded and only permitted for use by the healers, to train and quickly gain power and reach level four hundred.

Ruluna keeps quiet for now, as the materials and armor are exchanged.

"I streamlined the design and added more inscriptions with their own batteries," Alysara says. "This means that each inscription needs its own battery, but it gives you more choices in which inscription you have active."

Each armor comes with its own storage belt to conjure it around the wearer.

"Does it have to be a belt?" Shalar asks. "Can't you make a storage ring for it?"

"Not unless it's a magic item, and I am not so good as to make magic items whenever I want," Alysara replies. "A shirt, boots, arm guards, or anything that can support enough enchantments will suffice, but a belt is the most beneficial form as one can sleep in it without discomfort, among other things."

"I see… you seem to have put a lot of thought into the practical uses, so I'll leave it to your judgment," Shalar says, content in the answer.

"Now, before you go, we'd like to discuss something else," Vulpun says. "Two things, actually. First, we'd like to know how long until your trade vessels arrive, some of us are getting anxious."

Ruluna gives Vulpun a dirty look but doesn't say anything.

"Oh, yeah, I probably should have mentioned that earlier; forgive me, I am not experienced in this," Alysara says. "They are still being built; we expect it to be done in... maybe five more months?"

The room falls silent.

"You... don't have trading ships yet?" Vulpun says, dumbfounded.

"Well, we had three until someone burnt them down, then some stuff happened, and now we are focusing on making our flagship again, but getting... material for it is taking a long time."

"Then let's get to the next thing." Vulpun doesn't ask for more details. If Alysara wanted to share it she would have, and it's not that important anyway; the fact is that they won't be trading for another half year. "We want to trade for some knowledge of [Sense Mana]. What's your price?"

Alysara thinks about it for several long seconds with a hand to her chin.

"First, I'll need to know what you already know about it.” Before anyone can speak, she hurriedly continues. “Don't worry, I probably know any breakthrough you already have. As for the price… I can teach you one breakthrough if you have anyone that can track my perception; I need it to train a breakthrough, or possibly get another."

"Another? For [Sense Mana]? Haven't you already completed it?" Kolona asks.

"Yes and no," Alysara says after a few moments of contemplation. "Even if you do reach ‘unparalleled knowledge’ in it, there's still more to gain. It just gets just vastly harder, and it's technically not for [Sense Mana], but I won't go into any further detail."

She must have upgraded it. Skills are often upgraded when evolving a Race or Class, but [Sense Mana] is one of those that just doesn't seem to do so. What would it upgrade into, anyway? It's already the culmination of all ‘mana sense’ type skills.

However, in Ruluna's musings, she doesn’t notice all the Headmasters looking at her until Shalar clears her throat.

"Ruluna, don't you have a skill like that?" she says sweetly… too sweetly.

"Hmm, that does make sense," Alysara mutters. "I can't see you tracking me right now?"

"How can I track you when you are hiding your scrying?" Ruluna asks, confused, only to realize immediately that that might have been a mistake.

"You don't know? Then you'll be getting a lot more from this deal." Alysara turns toward Vulpun. "You'll be learning two breakthroughs then, so it will cost you more: a favor that I can call upon later."

"You'll have it," Vulpun says, before listing the breakthrough the Order has learned so far, without going into detail about how they work. Alysara shows no hint of surprise at any of the breakthroughs… as if she already knows them, which isn’t much of a surprise.

"Alright, what do you want to know?" Alysara asks.

"Is there a breakthrough related to how solid mana is formed?" Kolona asks.

"Yes, but it's one of the most advanced ones. Even if I do tell you, you may not have the levels required to actually see it."

"But we can see the solid mana," Shalar says. "It can't be that advanced, right?"

Alysara sighs lightly. "It can, and it is. In fact, you probably already have some sort of theory around it, but the actual difficulty of seeing it is just that great. It's my twenty-eighth breakthrough, if that gives you an idea of how much else I had to learn first."

"I see…” Kolona mutters. “Then perhaps something simpler for now, maybe something related to enchantments?"

"Surprisingly, there's actually no breakthrough directly related to enchantments themselves, just about enchanted items. The closest one would be how spells are formed, but to get that one, you are missing another key breakthrough."

"Alright..." Vulpun says. "Let's take off the ones we are unable to get and ones that require other breakthroughs. How many breakthroughs can we learn?"

"Three," Alysara says. “One is required for learning about spells, the second is related to enchanted and magic items and the last is [Analyzing] with [Sense Mana]."

"We already have that breakthrough, though?" Shalar questions. "A breakthrough of [Analyze] is that it can be used through scrying."

"She's not talking about that," Kolona shakes her head. "She's saying being able to replace [Analyze] with [Sense Mana], basically freeing up a general skill slot."

Ruluna nods to reinforce Kolona's argument.

"Wait, that's actually really good then!" Shalar says.

"I guess that's the one then?" Alysara asks Vulpun, to which he nods. "Very well, I will send a written piece on that breakthrough the next time I deliver armor."

With the deal now agreed upon, Alysara curtsies and leaves.

"That went better than expected," Vulpun says.

"We at least know she's willing to trade knowledge, but what concerns me is that favor: she can pretty much ask for anything, so long as it's as valuable as what we learn. Why did you agree to it, Vulpun?" Kolona asks.

"Because she didn't yet know what to trade for it, and if she has nothing to trade for it then we wouldn't have been able to make a deal. We need to secure deals, as that builds rapport and trust, making her more willing to trade in the future."

"I see," Kolona says and stands up to leave. "We'll be counting on you, Ruluna, to make it worth Alysara's effort and time."

Ruluna can't help but despair at that, feeling like the weight of the world is on her shoulders.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I am not ready for tracking training just yet, I first need to find some way to use the proxy through my clones so Ruluna will track the proxy and not my location. However, that's the hard part. I wonder if I can somehow send my perceptive 'touch' through my clone's link?

"Alysara!" Mom calls for me as my clone flies back home with more materials. "Come, it's time to prepare for your adulthood ceremony!"

It's still a few hours before the Lojyo, but Mom has been happily spending all day making sure everything will be perfect.