Under the Light of the World at War: Early Chapter 41

“Twelve.” I whispered, breathing heavily as I turned and raced back. Across the room up the stairs to El’Tela’s floor, then back down the stairs, and then across the room touching the wall. 

Then I turned and ran back.

It was early, and some people were up, for the most part it was quiet, except the breath in my ears, and the constant sound of my feet on the floor.

I’d come up with the path mostly to integrate the stairs into the exercise, which would help.

Every bit would help, every hint of difficulty would help me get stronger, help me prepare for what was coming.

I kept going until I couldn’t anymore, stopping to get a drink and really tempted to dunk my head into the fountain, I caught my breath before dropping on the ground and starting to do pushups.

I wasn’t limited to one or two anymore. I wasn’t a baby.

“One. Two. Three. Four.” I repeated the numbers up and down as I went feeling my arms start to strain eventually. Muscles starting to protest, and my arms getting shakier.

I kept going until I collapsed, wincing as I flopped onto the floor.

“Uh, Miss?”

“Oh, hey.” I greeted Sha’Narin who was coming out of his room for the morning, already dressed up in his shopkeeper uniform. “Don’t mind me. Exercise.” I explained from the floor, before rolling over. Wincing, as I started casting. Holy Light bathing over me, removing most of the ache from my limbs, but the phantom soreness remained. 

That was fine. I cast Blessing of Wisdom, and then started creating more Mana Agate as I sat up. Sha’Narin watched me confused as I started placing the gems in a pile, as I slowly rose up, and then when I finished using up all my Mana I got up and started stretching.

I stretched out, touching my toes, and then doing the splits as I slid down.

I’d never done it myself, but I remembered some gymnast stretches from my last life, and making sure I was properly limber was going to be important. 

Only when I finished the stretches did I get up. Then I started running. 

Back across the room touching the wall, then up the stairs, down the stairs, across the room and touch the wall then back.

I kept it up when one exercise became too much, I switched to another, Holy Light healing away the damage, letting me push even more.

“This isn’t something you see every day.” I didn’t stop, but I looked up and smiled as Grunkle Zo’Talana was there, standing at the entrance of the steps watching me race across the room and back. “Has she gone mad I wonder?”

“Exercise! I need to get stronger.” I explained in gasping pants as I raced by him, and then back across.

“Hmm, and this is exercise?"

“Y-Yeah!” I finally hit the wall next to him as we watched and then tiredly got down, and started doing push ups. “One. Two. Three.” I repeated out and kept going under his eye and then I dropped. Unable to do any more, but hey! I got a few extra in there. That was good.

“I’m absolutely astounded at how foolish this looks. What will you do now, crawl along the floor?”

“No.” I said, rising up to my knee and raising my hand, it was hard, my arm was very sore, but I did it.

And after a few moments of casting, the Holy Light washed over me. I was still tired, my arms stopped shaking, and I rose fully to my feet.

“Good morning.” I greeted him, just walked past him to the fountain. Blessing of Wisdom, Conjure Mana Gem. 

“And now?”

I didn’t respond too busy whispering the spell as I conjured the gems over and over, increasing the size of the pile.

Then when I was out of Mana, I bent over and started stretching.

“While this is very entertaining, perhaps you want to explain why you are rolling around on the ground? Surely this is not the best you can come up with?”

“Stretching is important for flexibility Grunkle.” I told him, and delighted as his nose scrunched up at the title.

“May the Sun lead me away from fools.” He whispered, rubbing his nose. 

“Call me a fool in a few years if this doesn’t work. If I’ve gotten stronger, then who is the fool?” I retorted, finally getting back to my feet .

Then I started running.

“Has Grandmother seen this?”

“Not yet!” I called out as I raced up the stairs and back down.

He just sighed and then walked up the stairs, forcing me to go around him as he was an ass, and walked slowly up the stairs just to disrupt my rhythm.

But he headed into El’Tela’s drawing room, and I ignored his remarks.

I’d gotten another point in Strength just from this so far.

It was working!

“Dorah. It’s time to eat. Go clean up.” Mama said, looking me over with an exasperated look. I nodded, looking at the fountain for a moment and really tempted to just stick my head in the water, but instead I hurried back to my room. Conjuring water, heating it, and cleaning up was a fairly easy task with a bit of magic.

Once I was cleaned I got dressed in clean clothes and headed up to El’Tela’s nook which was apparently just where we were going to have breakfast from now on.

Papa and Mama were waiting for me and I waved at El’Tela, ignoring Zo’Talana as I hurried over and slipped into the seat. I was starving.

“Dorah, manners.” Mama said firmly, and I stopped and despite how hungry I was I ate slowly. Which earned me a nod.

We all ate together, and I relaxed as Mama and Papa talked and chatted about their day.

Papa would be continuing to clean up some of the enchanting done in the shop. Honestly I don’t think he’d even settled on getting paid for it. I think it just offended him

While Mama was doing some Ranger stuff. 

While everything seemed overly peaceful here, the War was still ongoing, even if no one wanted to talk about it. There was something going on with the rangers. 

I had to wonder if this is when they would become official parts of the kingdoms military.

Probably, or at least it would happen soon.

Either way both adults would be busy which meant I had all day to do some grinding.

Or at least that was the plan. After breakfast, El’Tela had called me over, and when I arrived she looked me over, going up and down. 

“At least your hair is nice. Do you have something better to wear?” She asked, practically a demand, and I looked down at my comfortable clothes that were bought with me playing around in mind.

“Yes?”

“Then go get changed. You’re coming with me.” She declared and that was that. Mama passed by, dropping a hand onto my head.

“I’ll get her into her nice clothes.”

El’Tela just nodded, accepting Mama’s help as I was tugged away.

I wanted to complain, and whine. Fancy clothes sucked, but instead I just toughed it out. Whatever was going on, was fine.

Just fine.

Mama quickly picked out a new outfit, this one with a sort of robe as the outer wear, and I slipped into all if, as she helped me style my hair and pin it back and made sure it was all straight.

“Be on your best behavior with El’Tela, and be careful to be polite no matter what if you are dealing with other people. She’ll protect you, but you can make it easy on her.”

“Kay.” I agreed, and then got a stern look and I nodded firmly. “Okay Mama. I’ll make sure not to be rude even if someone is a jerk first.”

“Good girl.”

We walked out, and I stopped as I noticed all the Agates. Dangit I was going to feed them into the Glyphs upstairs, but just as I was thinking that, Sha’Narin came upstairs carrying a box, and I grinned.

“Hey Sha’Narin! The Mana Gems, when you get a moment can you feed them into the Glyphs?”

“Yes, Miss Dorah.” He agreed instantly, although he was carrying a box and I didn’t want to hold him any longer. 

He rushed off to continue his work and I split from Mama heading upstairs.

—--

Zo’Talana’s appearance for breakfast made more sense. As we walked out the front of the shop an actual carriage was waiting for us. Zo’Talana’s and we both helped El’Tela settle inside, before joining her. 

I was shooting him looks obviously wondering why he was coming along but he just ignored my looks which only told me more that something was up. 

We crossed the city in silence, just the hawkstriders pulling the cart, and the man sitting out front guiding the birds. Neither of the adults seemed interested in chatting, so I just cast Blessing of Wisdom a bunch whenever I had Mana, as I stared out of the City. 

Purposefully ignoring Zo’Talana’s curious look whenever I cast the spell. 

“You are just repeating the same spell over and over?”

I gave him a single glance for a moment, and then pointedly looked away making it obvious I was ignoring him.

He’d ignored me, so now I was ignoring him!

Hehe! The fact he looked grumpy about it as I caught his irritation out of the corner of my eye made it all worthwhile.

“How is the spell coming?” El’Tela asked, cutting through our purposeful silence, and I pouted at her. Don’t make me answer in front of him!

She did not care, and was giving me a look telling me so.

“Good. I’m reaching the point where the spells mana costs are increasing exponentially.” I said trying to sound mature and smart since stupid Zo’Talana was listening in. “Unfortunately the difference between Light, and Arcane is continuing to be a problem… I can’t simply refine the spell to use less mana, I have to alter my own will and belief to lower the cost… It’s hard.”

Glanced at my character sheet I looked at how far it had come. 

[Blessing of Wisdom Lv 6 48/60]

While I was still making progress, just like Holy Light, the cost was going up, and I had to keep trying to remind myself of my convictions to rebalance the cost. 

Luckily, as much as it sucked, the decision to exercise so hard in the morning had helped. Pushing myself through the miserable constant strain helped reinforce my belief. 

I still needed to do more with the Holy part of it. Maybe tonight I’d pray under the moonlight? That was a thing Night Elves did… I think.

“Good. And Evocation? You were working on it yesterday.”

“Slower. The requirement to let myself rest in between uses slows down my testing.” I admitted and smiled proudly as she accepted my words.

I’d made sure to sound super smart too, and I noticed Zo’Talana looked interested in what we had been discussing. 

“Evocation?” He asked, and I sent him a look once more not intending to answer him. Which to my delight El’Tela mimicked, the two of us just looking at him.

He huffed and looked out the window realizing we weren’t going to be forthcoming. 

“Have you made any improvements on your Evocation since yesterday?”

“Oh! Yeah I did.” I said, turning as El’Tela continued the question despite Zo’Talana’s interruption. 

“Good. Very good.” She whispered, smirking to herself, and not saying anything more despite my curious looks.

The coach finally stopped and Zo’Talana moved first. Opening the door and stepping out then helping out El’Tela, and even helping me which surprised me.

We were in a courtyard in a very fancy part of the city, every piece of the stone was polished to splendor. And the guards kinda told me it wasn’t normal

Red Armored guards stood flanking an arched pathway. The heavy armor and massive shields instantly had my attention.

I needed me some of that!

We walked forward and the two guards watched us without motion as we came closer, then a single nod from each of them towards Zo’Talana, and we walked through, down a staircase that had El’Tela grumbling, but it opened up onto a pier, on the water, if you could call it that. It was beautiful, like someone decided to design the most expensive pier they could. There were pillars of crystals giving off arcane light, floating orbs going from the pier all the way across the water to the other side, and more.

I couldn’t even take in the whole thing as El’Tela reached over and used me as a crutch as we walked down the steps and then towards a boat? No it wasn’t in the water, but actually floating above it, directly in the middle of the orbs that hung between the two landmasses.

We stepped in without a word to anyone and while I thought it might be a struggle for El’Tela the boat didn’t rock or waver, it was perfectly steady as we stepped in and then when we were seated it shot off. 

Sailing us across the water without a sound.

“The Sunwell is over there. Right?”

“Indeed.” Zo’Talana spoke. “So be on your best behavior girl. Any mistakes will be punished severely. No one will allow any nonsense.”

“Got it,” I remained quiet as the boat finished the voyage and then we stepped off, where another carriage was waiting for us, this time one with a much fancier magical carriage. 

After getting in we were off again, and despite everything else, I could barely stop myself from bouncing in the seat as I looked out.

The Sunwell. I could feel it. So close the Arcane power it was giving off was washing over me, and it felt like a million energy drinks. Yet even as we got closer, we started moving further away, and I almost wanted to jump out of the carriage and run towards it. Just to see, just to feel.

I understood then just how much power the Sunwell had over me, and my people.

Terrifying, but comforting as well… Like fire. 

Get too close it burns, but the heat and light was so very necessary. 

The carriage stopped before I even realized it, and we once more stepped out. This time it wasn’t an empty dock, but outside a large open building. Magic flowed around every inch of it. And along the walls were scrolls, and book shelves, despite the seemingly open design. 

Either they replaced the books every time there was a storm or any water got in, or this place is heavily heavily magic, 

Either way El’Tela walked up to the Magisters that were waiting looking over all of them.

“You’ve all gotten old.” She said bluntly, and there were rolled eyes and a single chuckle at her words. 

“Magistrix Arkhana’Shola. Be welcome once more in the Hall of Theory.”

“It has been some time.” She replied as she stepped forward, and then another voice.

“Not long enough.” I blinked because the woman that walked out from deeper inside was looking irritated, but I knew her.

“Zan’Felanar I was wondering when I would see you again.” El’Tela offered. Zan’Felanar, the Magistrix that had examined me for my Arcane Mind.

I noticed her eyes flicker to me, and her face shifted even harder into furious lines, but she gained control of herself.

“I heard you were arriving… I’ve seen the spell.” She said and El’Tela said nothing, simply nodded. “Well let’s get this over with then.” She snapped.

“Let’s. Come along Alaha’Dorah.” I was called, and I hurried to follow, but I noticed Zo’Talana, didn’t a single glance back and he was simply remaining with the carriage watching us with an inscrutable blank expression.

I decided now would be a good idea to stick close to El’Tela, and did just that. The other Magisters were walking in formation ahead of us, but they were chatty.

“Quite the stir Magistrix. Evocation formula has been making the rounds. It works.”

“I know it works you fool. Must you always state the obvious.”

Okay maybe staying so close to my caustic grandmother wasn’t a good idea. 

“You haven’t changed at all Magistrix. I missed your cutting remarks.”

“You were always a weird one.” El’Tela responded without missing a beat, and the Magister flashed a smile as if just amused at her attitude.

Oh okay. It was okay.

I barely held back a gasp as we entered through the first rooms, and into a massive structure, multiple floors, stone paths arching above parks down below, and a quiet sense of peace permeating through the whole thing.

Magisters of all types wandered around, some sitting on benches working, some casting spells, others socializing.

We walked past it all, getting more than a few looks from the younger Magisters. Something I realized, the magisters in the group I was in were all older, and everyone was scoping out what was happening.

“It’s peaceful.” I whispered, looking over how lax everything felt. 

“Of course. This is the Hall of Theory.” I jolted a bit as I realized I’d been heard, and I looked at the smiling Magister that seemed to be so fond of El’Tela. “Here is the source of our people's true strength. Knowledge, learning. All shared, stored, and constantly improved.”

His words would sound nice, but…

I couldn’t help it.

“But our people are dying right now. The Trolls are attacking. These Magisters… They’re strong. We should all be fighting.” I said, including myself in that. 

I was too weak, and yet… I should be stronger. It only made my conviction stronger. If no one else would fight. I would.

He laughed instead. “Trolls are dangerous, yes, but nothing we can’t handle. The King has already started a plan to fight back against the unprovoked attack. Be confident the raids will soon end.”

“It’s not a raid. It’s a war.” I argued, but El’Tela just patted me on the shoulder, telling me without words to shut up.

Whatever. I would do something about it if no one else would.

“Most Magisters aren’t trained for combat.” El’Tela finally said, whispering. “Many of these are scholars, even if they would be useful in battle with their magic, they are best left to their tasks. Until they are needed.” Her words were taken with nods from the Magisters, but I just wanted to argue that letting the Trolls constantly pick us off until we realized how serious this was, was only going to get us all killed.

We walked across the upper walkway and into a smaller building, one that was covered in magical items. I could smell the Arcane in the room, wafting off everything inside. Odd globes, and devices were on every bit of space, and I looked around interested, before noticing the Glyph on the floor.

I couldn’t even tell what it did. Not even as I looked it over, and tried to follow the Glyph line. I couldn’t even tell where it went after starting it was so complicated.

“Well, let’s get this examination started! To begin with we have our dear colleague Zan’Felanar, research.”

“Yes yes, I can speak for myself. The girl has both Arcane Meditation and Arcane Mind. I’ve gathered a spiritual scroll from her, but a full examination is required… It is my belief… That she is speaking the truth. If so a jump forward for my research and all magic is here.”

“Well spoken! Well come on then, let’s get started!” Smiley said and looked at me. “Please step into the Glyph.”

I looked at El’Tela and she waved me to do it, and so I did. Walking over and onto the Glyph. It started glowing instantly, and there was no pressure like El’Tela’s Glyph, instead a buzzing ran over me, and then I began glowing, something shifted, and magic flowed out of me, and yet… It wasn’t out of me at all.

A copy of myself stepped forward.

I stared at the back of my own head… Huh did my hair always look like that? I reached up and the copy mimicked me as I touched the back of my head.

Yep. That was the back of my head… Cool.

“The simulacrum is completed. Please stay inside the Glyph until we call for you to leave.” Zan’Felanar spoke not quite harshly, but still firmly at me, and I nodded.

“Good. Now, shifting view.

My body burst apart, or rather my copy did, my skin and bones and muscle simply fading away. It should leave nothing, it was all of me, and yet, there stood flowing mana, slowing around in a mimic of the shape of my body.

“Cool.”

“As you can see, the Arcane Mind manifestation is there, and…. No wait, this isn’t what I saw before!” Zan’Felanar snapped, walking up and circling around the Glyph without entering. “This is different! El’Tela!”

“Don’t look at me. I told you already, I didn’t teach her, how could I? I never learned.”

The Magistrix looked at me, almost angrily. “What is this!” She demanded pointing at the floating flights that represented my head….

“Me?”

“Don’t be daft! This is different from what I gained from the scroll before!”

I glanced at El'Tela, not sure what I should do and she gave a little wave with her hands, telling me to answer.

“Oh… Well yeah? I’d only just learned to do it when you examined me… It’s not like I didn’t work to improve it? 

[Arcane Mind Lv 4 35/40]

Sure it wasn’t a drastic improvement. It increased slowly, and honestly I just hadn’t been spending a lot of time focusing it because of everything that happened.

“You… You improved it?”

“Well yeah?”

“I told you before Zan’Felanar, the girl came up with it herself.”

“You had no part in it then? Oh great Magistrix?”

“Only as a questioner, and someone that could show her.”

“And the Evocation spell? That had nothing to do with you as well!”

“I hadn’t even talked to her about it. My life's work to craft it into a spell, and the girl does it without even knowing it was impossible. Life is funny like that.” She said, and everyone was looking from her to me.

It felt awkward, to have everyone staring at me. “Even if she was taught. She’s young enough for it to be exceptional regardless.” The smiley Magister said, and then waved his hands seemingly telling everyone to calm down. “If this matter is resolved Magistrix?”

“I… Am satisfied.” Zan’Felanar, grumbled seemingly using a device to spit out a scroll with something written on it.

“Then moving on… Evocation.” The Magister looked to me, and I just shrugged. And brought my hands up.

The pull of Mana in the room was intense, just from how close we were to the Sunwell, but I held it for a while, as the copy of me did something similar just showing the mana flowing through me in time.

It was cool honestly. 

Then I ended the spell. Wincing a bit.

“Impressive! Thoughts?”

“She’s using a different alteration than ours.” A Magistrix that hadn’t spoken yet did, walking over as she pulled a scroll off a shelf looking it over. “The basis is correct, but her alterations… Inefficient, look how long it would take to regain Mana!”

“Show her your copy.” El’Tela spoke, catching the Magisters off guard as they were all huddling over the scroll. The magisters looked from the scroll to me, and then shrugged. I walked over and they held up the Scroll to the Glyph. 

Oh.

So that’s what Spell Refinement looked like at someone else's hand. El’Tela had sort of walked me through how to do it, but she’d never actually refined a spell for me, or showed me how she would do it.

It was different, and the reason for that was obvious.

“You are trying to maximize the recovery speed…” I said, noticing the choices whoever had made this spell had made. I don’t think I could explain the choices myself, but it was obvious at least after a few moments of looking at it.

“Indeed. The speed of regeneration is the biggest value of the spell, to nearly instantly restore you mana. I don’t quite understand what you are trying for.”

“I was working more towards reusability. I wanted to make it so I could just use Evocation whenever I wanted, however many times I wanted.” I explained and that got a surprised look from the woman as she looked at her scroll to her colleagues.

“That’s a grand goal. Perhaps if you make enough improvements you can submit your update to the Hall.” The smiling Magister said, sounding amused more than impressed.

“Fool. Open your eyes. She’s already succeeded. Dorah. Cast Evocation again.”

“Okay?”

“Magistrix I protest. Injuring the girl is not needed.”

“Just watch fool.” El’Tela responded and I looked between them knowing something was up. But just sighing and doing it anyway.

I cast Evocation. It had been more than enough time while everyone was talking to not be overly strained.

The Magisters all looked between me and my copy back and forth as I absorbed mana. 

Then I finally stopped.

“There.”

“That’s… How long between uses?”

“She’s at about five minutes currently.” El’Tela said, and there was a twitch in the crowd. 

“She’s already done that much work?”

“I believe that you will all agree that such an achievement is quite impressive. Of course your own alterations will be added to her version of the spell, to be submitted to the Halls.” El’Tela said and that was definitely a metaphorical bitch slap as half the Magisters flinched. 

“You jest.”

“Can any of you do the same? With any amount of time?” El’Tela asked, and that silenced all of them.

I think… I’d been doing something a bit crazy without realizing? Again?

Dammit.

This was getting complicated.