Lily shifted slightly in her seat, her tone becoming more serious. "Elara, do you have any Class or Racial skills related to spell weaving?"
Elara shook her head, thinking over her abilities. "No, I don’t. But I do have [Weaver Insight]." With a thought, she brought up the skill’s description in her mind, the information box appearing before her eyes.
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Weaver's Insight (Rare): Enhances the user's ability to perceive and manipulate the threads of magic in their environment. The user can detect subtle magical currents, identify enchantments, and weave complex spells more precisely. This skill also allows the user to unravel hostile spells and curses.
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Lily’s eyes lit up with recognition as she read the description. “Ah, [Weaver Insight]. I have that skill in my Racial category. It’s a good foundation, especially since you haven’t chosen a more specialized skill related to spell weaving yet.”
Elara raised an eyebrow, curious. “Why do you think I should focus on that now?”
Lily leaned forward slightly, her expression thoughtful. “Because, Elara, you’re at a crucial point in your development. You’re at a high level, yet your core isn’t fully formed or affiliated with a specific element. If you choose a skill related to spell weaving now, there’s a chance it could influence the formation of your core, making it more attuned to a specific type of magic. It could help you develop a more powerful and specialized version of the skill, rather than just a general one.”
Elara frowned, considering this. “How do you know my core isn’t affiliated yet?”
Lily smiled, a touch of mischief in her eyes. “Why don’t you use your spirit sight and take a look? Focus on my core and see what you find.”
Intrigued, Elara nodded and activated her spirit sight, focusing on Lily. The world around her seemed to shift slightly, the physical forms of everything fading as she concentrated on the spiritual essence within her friend. As her vision sharpened, she saw Lily’s core, a sight to behold.
At the center of Lily’s being was a core that pulsed with a profound, resonant energy. It was a swirl of Black, Silver, and White, the colors intertwining in a complex dance, each one vibrant and distinct. Wrapping around this core was a fierce, red flame that burned brightly, but as it extended outward, it transitioned into a cool blue flame at the edges, the two colors blending seamlessly where they met.
Elara stared in awe, taking in the intricate beauty of Lily’s core. The contrast between the intense red and the calming blue, the way the flames seemed to protect and enhance the core’s essence, was mesmerizing. It was a clear indication of Lily’s power and the balance she had achieved between her Oni heritage and her Kitsune abilities.
Lily’s voice cut through her reverie. “You see? My core is fully developed and affiliated with fire and spiritual energy. But yours isn’t yet. That’s why now is the perfect time for you to choose a path that could define your magical abilities more clearly.”
Elara pulled back her spirit sight, returning to the physical world. She nodded slowly, understanding the significance of what Lily had shown her. “I see what you mean. If I focus on developing my core now, I might be able to steer it in a direction that suits my strengths.”
Lily nodded, her expression serious and contemplative. "Exactly. But first, we must determine what affinities are best for your core. This isn’t something to rush; it’s about understanding your strengths and where you want to go with your magic."
Elara furrowed her brow, considering the idea. "But why should I even bother creating a core? Right now, I can cast spells without any major issues. It seems like a lot of trouble for something I don’t necessarily need."
Lily leaned forward, her eyes bright with patience and urgency. "Because the benefits are immense, Elara. A core attuned to specific affinities would make your spells significantly more powerful and cost less mana. Think about it, using a core that naturally generates affinity mana, rather than pulling from raw mana and trying to dye it to the right affinity, would give you a tenfold boost in efficiency and power."
Elara's eyes widened slightly as she processed that information. A tenfold increase in power was no small improvement. She opened her mouth to ask more, but Lily continued, pressing the point further.
“If you managed to get that as a skill within your Class,” Lily went on, “it would amplify that tenfold boost by five times, making it fifty times better than your current ability to cast unaffiliated spells. And if you could move that skill to your Racial category, it would double again, making it a hundred times more efficient and potent than what you can do now.”
Elara’s breath caught at the enormity of those numbers. Almost a hundred times more powerful than her current spellcasting capabilities? She tried to imagine what that would feel like. The ease of spellcasting, the depth of power behind each spell, and the drastic reduction in mana expenditure. The potential was staggering.
Seeing the wheels turning in Elara’s mind, Lily gave a small nod of encouragement. “I know it seems like a lot to consider, but it’s worth considering. You’re already strong, Elara, but with a well-formed, attuned core, you could be truly formidable.”
Elara took a deep breath, letting the idea settle. She could feel the weight of the decision ahead of her, but the potential was undeniable. "That... really puts things into perspective," she murmured, her mind beginning to race with the possibilities.
After a moment of silence, Elara's expression grew more serious, her brow furrowing slightly. "But what's the drawback, then?" she asked, her tone cautious. "Beyond just the hard work and time it would take to form and attune the core... there must be a downside."
Lily's smile faded into a more thoughtful expression. “There is one major drawback,” she admitted, her voice steady. “Once your core is attuned to specific affinities, you won’t be able to cast spells outside of those affinities. Spells that don’t align with your core’s nature would become inaccessible.”
Elara’s eyes widened slightly as she absorbed this new information. “So, if I choose certain affinities, that locks me out of anything else?”
Lily nodded. “Exactly. It’s a significant limitation. You’ll have to be very careful and deliberate in your choices. Once your core is formed, there’s no going back without some major, and I mean major, effort to undo or rework it.”
Elara nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of the decision even more now. She could feel the weight of the potential choices pressing down on her. It wasn’t just about gaining power; it was about setting the direction of her abilities for the rest of her life. She had to make sure she chose the path that would serve her best, without closing doors she might need open later.
"Thanks, Lily," Elara said quietly. "That's a lot to think about. But I guess it's better to know all the details upfront."
Lily nodded, her expression softening. "That's why we're having this conversation now. Better to understand the path before you start walking it."
They started by listing Elara’s spells and analyzing their elemental requirements. It became clear quickly that if she aligned her core with only a few specific affinities, several spells would no longer work as they did now. Elara’s current repertoire was diverse, too diverse, in fact, for anyone affinity combination to cover them all seamlessly.
“Look here,” Lily said, pointing to Elara’s list of spells, her brow furrowing with thought. “You have spells that require Air, Fire, Water, Shadow, Spirit, Force, and even some that touch on Space and Time. If you choose to focus your core on certain affinities, you'll lose access to many of these.”
Elara sighed, feeling a bit overwhelmed. “Right… It seems like whatever affinities I choose, I’m going to lose out on something important.”
Lily nodded in agreement. “Yes, that’s why this decision is so crucial. You want to focus on affinities that cover as much of what you need as possible without spreading yourself too thin. Based on what you use most and what would complement your [Crimson Quill Dance] and [Altered Reality], it seems Spirit, Force, and Light could be good choices, with Shadow as a primary element.”
Elara thought about it and nodded slowly. “That does make sense. Spirit would cover a lot of my more subtle spells and my connection with Quill. Force for physical manipulation and defense, Light for illusions and sight, and Shadow would complement my stealth and teleportation spells.”
“Exactly,” Lily said, tapping her chin. “It aligns pretty similarly to my affinities, but you’d focus on Shadow instead of Fire. It would cover a lot of your core abilities and keep your options versatile.”
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“But,” Elara added, her tone growing concerned, “I’m still worried about some of the specific spells. What about [Dimensional Link]? That one relies on Space and Time threads, and I don’t have those affinities.”
Quill, quietly listening, interjected with a calm, reassuring voice. “The [Spirit Tree] provides the Space and Time elements for that spell. As long as the connection to the [Spirit Tree] remains intact, you don’t need to worry about your lack of affinity there.”
Elara felt a wave of relief wash over her. “That’s good to know,” she said, nodding to Quill. “But then there’s also [Create Fire] and [Create Water].”
Lily shrugged, a smile forming on her lips. “You know, you could always store water barrels in your storage space. With your inventory benign, a timeless, almost infinite domain, you could store enough water that you would never run out. You’d just need a good storage container or containers that could hold a lot.”
Elara chuckled at that idea, feeling some of her tension lift. “I think I’ve got an enchanted fire starter somewhere in all the camping gear I’ve acquired over time. That should handle the fire part well enough.”
“Perfect,” Lily agreed, her eyes twinkling with approval. “Now, for some of your other spells like [Tempest's Touch], [Animate Objects], and [Stormcrow's Soar], I know replacements that work similarly with the affinities you’d be focusing on replacing the air affinity with your force affinity. They might require a bit of learning, but it shouldn’t be too hard to adapt.”
Elara nodded, feeling a bit more confident as she listened to Lily’s suggestions. But then Lily’s expression turned more serious. “However, I don’t know a direct replacement for [Haste] or [Warrior Reprieve]. As your dexterity and perception increase, [Haste] becomes less necessary. The speed boost becomes less noticeable the stronger and faster you get naturally.”
Elara’s brows furrowed in concern. “But what about [Warrior Reprieve]? That’s one of my core spells for healing minor wounds and restoring stamina. I’ve relied on it heavily in the past.”
Lily nodded sympathetically. “I understand. I don’t have a direct replacement for that. There are some other spells that might fit that category, but nothing quite as straightforward or reliable. It’s something you’d need to consider carefully. Losing that spell could be a major drawback.”
Elara’s worry deepened, the idea of losing such a reliable tool weighing on her. She had relied on [Warrior Reprieve] more times than she could count, especially in prolonged fights where every bit of stamina and health counted. “That’s... a lot to give up,” she said quietly, the reality of the decision settling in even more.
Lily nodded again, her expression understanding. “It’s a lot, yes. But it could also open up new possibilities. It’s a trade-off. Only you can decide if the gains outweigh the losses.”
Elara took a deep breath, her mind teetering between doubt and determination. "Alright," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do it."
Lily smiled, giving her an encouraging nod. "Good. We’ll stay here in the shade while you try.”
The midday desert was glaringly bright, but they were shielded under the cool glow of Lily's [Foxfire], which cast a gentle, iridescent canopy over them, softening the harsh light. Elara sat cross-legged, eyes closed as she tuned into the rhythm of her own breathing, focusing on the feel of mana coursing through her.
"Visualize your core," Lily instructed gently, her voice grounding Elara. "Look for the threads of energy woven within you."
Elara concentrated, picturing her mana core. Threads of black, white, silver, navy blue, red, brown, green, and blue were interwoven, pulsing with faint energy. In stark contrast, dull, muted strands were also present, lacking the vibrancy of the colored threads. These colorless strands, untouched by any elemental affinity, were the unaffiliated threads.
"Find the unaffiliated mana," Lily prompted softly. "They’ll look colorless or feel out of place."
Slowly, she honed in on the tangled, nondescript threads, noticing how they disrupted the otherwise harmonious weave. She furrowed her brow, murmuring, "I see them."
"Good. Gently untangle them. Don't pull too hard; just let them slip free."
With slow, careful movements, Elara reached out mentally, starting to loosen the unaffiliated threads. It was painstaking work; each thread resisted, clinging stubbornly to the others. Sweat prickled at her temples, even in the shade of the [Foxfire] canopy, as her focus intensified.
"This is harder than I thought," she admitted, her voice tight with frustration.
"Reshaping your core is never easy," Lily reassured her. "But each thread you free brings you closer to clarity and control."
Elara took a steadying breath and pressed on, visualizing the unwanted threads sliding free, one by one. As she released each strand, her core felt lighter, her elemental mana shining a bit brighter without the dull interference.
After what felt like hours, Elara opened her eyes, her complexion pale and her breathing shallow. "I think I've removed as much as I can manage," she whispered, her voice strained.
Lily's eyes filled with concern. "You've pushed yourself hard. Maybe we should rest."
"Maybe… just a moment to catch my breath," she murmured, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle deeply into her bones.
Lily nodded, her expression a mix of patience and encouragement. "Take all the time you need. This is harder work than it seems."
Elara resumed her position beneath the canopy, eyes closed as she tuned into her core once more. Each unaffiliated thread she pulled felt heavier, the energy leaving her with each release as if she were stripping away a piece of herself. Beads of sweat clung to her forehead despite the shade, her breathing growing shallower with every extracted strand.
After a few minutes of struggle, her voice broke the silence. "This whole process feels... draining," she whispered, her gaze focused on her hands, which trembled faintly. "I feel emptier after every thread. Is that… normal?"
"Yes," Lily replied gently, watching her with understanding. "Removing unaffiliated mana can feel like you're stripping down to nothing. It's part of making room, even if that means you feel weaker before you can rebuild."
Elara frowned, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "I don't feel stronger at all. If anything, it feels like I'm unraveling myself, piece by piece."
"It's a difficult path," Lily acknowledged, her voice soft but steady. "But often, it's the discomfort that signals the change. You're shedding what no longer serves you, making space for what will."
Elara shook her head, her chest tightening with doubt. "I hope you're right," she murmured, though her tone was heavy with uncertainty.
The [Foxfire] veil’s gentle glow felt comforting yet distant as she resumed the process, the pulsing rhythm of her core weaker and dimmer with each unaffiliated thread she removed. The vibrant colors within, once so clear and strong, now dulled, as if shrinking into a faint echo of their former intensity.
Time seemed to drag as she continued. Her sense of readiness had long since vanished, replaced by a growing despondency that matched the hollowness she felt inside. Every strand she removed felt like a step further into an unknown void, the colors of her mana more and more distant, like a memory slipping from her grasp.
As the midday light gradually softened to a warm dusk under the [Foxfire], the weight of her efforts pressed upon her, an ache settling where her core pulsed faintly. The veil overhead cast a gentle luminescence around them, contrasting sharply with the emptiness within her.
Eventually, Elara opened her eyes, a defeated sigh escaping her lips as the cool night air began to settle over the desert. "This feels pointless," she grumbled, rubbing her temples with tired hands. "Here I am, sitting under this magical canopy in the middle of the desert, trying to build a mana core that feels like it’s slipping away."
Lily, seated beside her, chuckled softly. "Well, the first step of forming your core is tedious," she said. "You need to remove the unaffiliated mana from your existing pool. Your mana is mostly composed of that neutral, clear mana with only small portions of affinity-specific mana."
Elara sighed, trying to maintain her focus on the process. "And how exactly does that help?"
"Once you start removing the clear mana," Lily explained patiently, "your mana pool will shrink. It'll continue to shrink until the amount of clear mana equals the amount of your affinity-specific mana. This is why most people do this in a secure place at a young age. At that point, your mana pool will grow again, but only with the affinities you've retained. So, you'll effectively have a core that reflects your chosen affinities."
Elara nodded, following along with the explanation. "And what happens when I get to that stage?"
Lily's eyes sparkled, "when you reach that point, your total mana pool will be the same size as your original pool divided by the number of affinities you have. The performance of your spells will improve as they become more aligned with your chosen elements. From there, you can refine your core further by removing any affinities you no longer need."
Considering this, Elara's mind worked through the implications. "So, I'll have to manage which affinities I keep and discard based on what's most useful to me."
"Exactly," Lily confirmed. "And once you narrow it down to your last few affinities, I'll teach you how to make one of them the primary driver of your mana. This will cause your mana to become even more efficient. You'll be able to adjust your status screen to show either your effective mana pool size or your actual mana pool size. Thanks to the increased efficiency, the effective size will be significantly higher than before."
Elara looked at Lily with a mix of curiosity and determination. "That sounds like it could make a big difference in how I manage my mana."
"It will," Lily assured her, her eyes reflecting the gentle luminescence of the [Foxfire]. "The more streamlined and focused your mana core becomes, the more powerful and efficient your spells will be. It's a process, but it's worth the effort."
Total Energy: 18,364 > 17,912
Completion: 2.8%