By his own account, Eric was sure that he was now in his second month in this world, and things continued to advance with a steady pace.

  The attacks toward the various patrols didn’t diminish that much in the time that Eric had spent basically locked up in the barracks. But Lu Feng still confirmed that Eric was the target because while some people still targeted the patrols, others began to avoid them, looking elsewhere.

  The ones that are attacking the patrols are probably the ones that don’t know what I look like. It’s likely that the last piece of information they received from me was that I was in the patrols, but they still haven’t gotten the information that I’m inside the barracks now.

  They might not even know that I am in the barracks at all. Some people might even think that I already went on to the next floor. In fact, it would be great if that rumor spread.

  Even though Lu Feng had basically confirmed that Eric was the target, he didn’t really do anything other than ask him once if he knew why they were after him.

  “No, not really,” Eric answered, displaying complete confidence in his uncertainty. “The person that you caught me fighting with, did attack me before we arrived at this city, but he never said what he wanted specifically.”

  “What do you have in your storage rings?” Lu Feng asked, looking at Eric’s chest, at the inner pocket where his rings were hidden.

  Visually undisturbed by the sudden question, Eric answered honestly.

  “Machine parts and some weaponry. Nothing out of the ordinary—Well, some of the machinery might appear to be fantastical to the people of this city, but nothing that the others like me might find interesting. They should have access to more incredible and powerful stuff. So, again, I truly have no idea what it is that they want from me.”

  Completely undisturbed by the mention of machinery that would be considered fantastical, Lu Feng analyzed the situation as calmly as ever and with zero desire.

  “Hmm. You don’t appear to be lying. But just in case, I would prefer it if you were to stay a bit longer in the barracks,” Lu Feng said. Even though his words were soft, they were clearly a command. “And from what I hear, you are making good use of your time. I will continue to investigate this issue. Be well.”

  “Before you leave,” Eric said, quickly. “Is there anything you can tell me that can help me—”

  What was the term that they used? It was basic, but they gave it a lot of weight… Oh, right!

  “—better connect to nature and its elements? I’ve managed to create fire, and from one of your talks, I remember you saying something about how all of nature is connected. So, I was thinking that maybe, using the connection I already have, I can connect with other elements.”

  Lu Feng took a moment to consider my words. “From your words, I’m guessing that you have no intention to specialize on any specific element?” he asked, his expression curious.

  “Not yet, no,” Eric answered, sincerely. “I have a personal issue in that I feel… empty? Yeah, I think that’s the most fitting word. Anyway, because of that, I don’t feel connected to any of the elements I’ve seen up until now. Basically, my idea at the moment is to try them all and see if something happens or not.”

  “That is a risky venture. By pursuing more than one goal, your path becomes muddied, the heavens become distant and if worst comes to worst, you might even lose yourself in your journey.” Lu Feng’s expression became one of mild worry.

  “To be honest, I don’t care,” Eric answered, flatly. “I have no goals, purpose or desires. My ‘path,’” he said with air quotes, “Is basically just me searching for meaning.”

  “Isn’t that what we’re all doing?”

  “I guess… So, are you helping or not?” Eric asked, bringing the conversation back to his original question.

  “I’m afraid to tell you that you already have all the answers. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you groan whenever I impart my teachings,” Lu Feng said, shaking his head with a small smile.

  “You aren’t the first to not like the constant examination of ancient teachings. But it is within those teachings that you can glean the answer that you require. Now that you have access to flame, you are closer than ever to air. Water might require a bit more imagination though.”

  Eric nodded, his mind and skill already thinking deeply about what Lu Feng said. Lu Feng himself, left, resuming his patrols, and whatever else he did.

  Eric really took in what Lu Feng had told him about the lessons that he had imparted, about how they carried deeper meaning and especially about how they had the answers to his questions.

  While practicing his flame, he remembered how he first created it. He didn’t do it by trying to imitate fire itself, but rather the flames that the patrol member created. There was a difference in how both of the fires behaved.

  A natural fire was wild, its direction, intensity and power determined by things completely apart from itself. But the fire that the patrol member created was different, it was constantly guided, and with his excellent mana sense, Eric knew that that guidance was possible because of mana.

  He then remembered the leaves that swirled around him when he first encountered the patrol. The important part about the leaves was that they were mostly made of mana, and not only that, but the wind that moved them was also mana.

  “No, they weren’t mostly mana. It was all mana,” he murmured with a sudden realization.

  Running to the flame user, he asked him to create a simple flame. And after using his mana sense to look beyond the most obvious mana, which was the guiding mana, he saw the truth.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “All of it is mana!”

  With that small realization, he was able to turn a small amount of mana that he gathered using Mana Insight, into a small flame. He then realized the importance of the more prominent “guiding mana,” and from there, he steadily increased his Flame level.

  Now, he was thinking deeply about what had been told to him. The part that most jumped out at him was obviously how connected nature was, and according to Lu Feng, the flame that he could already do brought him closer to being able to create air. But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t close the gap, making the connection.

  “And I think I know why,” Eric muttered to himself as he sat in his room. “Because I didn’t learn how to create flames in the same way that the one who taught me did. If I’m right, he actually used those strange wuxia methods that require introspection and all that shit. If I were to look at it from that angle, I can see how they relate. Air feeds fire, and I would probably just need to isolate the air element and voila!”

  Eric extended his hand, as if he had actually done something. When nothing happened, he continued with his analysis.

  “If I want to create air by using their teachings, then I basically have to start over from the beginning. But that comes with too many problems. Chief among them, the time it would take to even get into the right headspace. I am so against this conceptual bullshit that I can tell that it won’t be easy for me.”

  “The alternative is to continue with what I’m doing, and hope that with a deeper understanding on how mana works, and how it connects to elements, I can create air.”

  Having not really resolved anything, Eric continued with his days like normal. His practice time with the flame wielder actually diminished, while he instead prioritized his water creation practice.

  One of the observations Eric had made during his long hours of practice was the fact that while the flame was entirely made of mana when stuck to his hand, if he grabbed an object and it caught fire, that fire would be unbound by his control or mana.

  “That’s interesting,” Eric said, watching leaves burn after he poked them with his fire finger. “It becomes normal fire once it leaves my control. I guess that explains how mana water became normal drinkable water. Wait, could there be a way to condense and leave mana water, as mana water, for later?” He cleared his head, feeling that he was getting distracted. “Leave those things for later. Right now, I have other things to do.”

  Time passed and while he practiced with the water wielder, a particularly large drop of sweat hung from his finger. It felt somewhat colder than he thought sweat should feel, but then he remembered that he didn’t really sweat that much anymore. Much less when he wasn’t doing any physical exertion. He was only sitting, practicing what the water wielder had told him.

  A second later, a System message appeared, confirming his accomplishment.

  You have developed the skill: Water level 1.

  In total, he was much faster with developing the water skill than the flame skill. It wasn’t like he had a higher affinity for water than for fire, it was just that he had already made progress with what he needed to do with water, while trying to learn how to make fire.

  Visualization was a huge component in learning what he was doing. This further cemented Eric’s thoughts that the method he used was unlike the method that the people of this world used to learn to wield elements.

  “According to Lu Feng, I should have had an easier time developing the air skill since it was closer to fire. But instead, I applied the technical knowledge that I gained by myself, and instead developed water.” He paused to consider another possibility. “It’s also possible that I mentally blocked myself from learning how to manipulate air, using Lu Feng’s words as a sort of block… Well, whatever.”

  Eric decided to take a rest after he developed the skill, considering that he had already advanced enough for the day. But, as he navigated the System menu’s, a question popped into his mind.

  Isn’t this what Stella did to learn magic?

  “I remember that the method that she described was similar to what I did. Does this mean that I created magic and not skills?”

  Looking at his status screen, he found it unchanged in regard to magic.

  Magic –

  So, what’s the difference between learning to wield fire and it becoming magic? Is it the fact that Stella can throw it? No, the water wielder also throws it. In fact—

  He gathered a water droplet at the tip of his finger and threw it against the wall. Just like the flame, it also turned into regular water once it left his fingers. Once more, he brought his status screen before him, confirming that nothing had changed.

  Magic –

  “That proves it, it has to be something else,” He sat in contemplation and ultimately gave up. “I’ll ask Stella later.”

  ----------

  Now that the immediately important matters were dealt with, the trio of friends felt like they could relax.

  Stella had awoken, seemingly unaffected by her sudden passing out. Eric’s siblings left without causing much trouble after exchanging a few cryptic words. And to top it all off, as if considering their situation, the tournament had been delayed, allowing them to have at least a bit of time to relax.

  Stella decided to remain in one of the rooms, insisting that she was fine.

  Both Anna and Alex had more questions for her, like what had happened at the end of her match, but ultimately, the pair decided not to make them. They could both tell that something was going on with Stella in regards to her fight, and they knew her well enough that they could tell that she was also conflicted about something entirely different, and they didn’t want to add to whatever she was going through.

  “Let’s just let her be for the time being. I don’t think forcing her to answer us would do any of us any good. Instead, it might harm her,” Alex said, his tone understanding as he turned to Anna. “Do you have anything that you need to do? I’m free until the tournament resumes.”

  Anna glanced at her empty hands. “I need a sword.”

  “I thought that problem was solved. Didn’t you summon your sword just a while ago?

  “No. I can summon it here without issue,” she said, her sword appearing in her hand. “The problem is when I’m in the arena. Once I’m inside, it’s like the sword knows not to come out. It’s almost like someone is telling it to sit still and not respond to my call.”

  “Ok, let’s go then,” Alex answered, gesturing for Anna to lead. “This would be the perfect time to explore the open stores. Who knows, you might get a good replacement sword.”

  “There better be some great shit here, I’ve waited for… “She stopped, counting the time between now and when she first became aware of the tournament. “Days…? For this tournament. If the rewards aren’t better than what we have back at Solace, I’m complaining to management.”

  Alex frowned. “Didn’t you tell stories about how your grandfather used to beat you and steal your food when you were a child? What do you think he’ll do to you now if you complain about something that he organized?”

  “Oh,” Anna muttered, stopping on her way down the stairs, slightly surprised. “That—I did not think about that. If he’s been listening to every little thing I’ve said up until now… well…”

  “You’re getting your ass kicked?”

  Turning to Alex with genuine worry in her eyes, she answered. “I’m going to be assless, Alex…”

  “I’ll pray for you,” Alex said, chuckling. “And your ass,” he added, breaking into full laughter.

  ----------

  Stella felt something burning within her, a fire that wasn’t hers, and it refused to die out. Gritting her teeth and letting the sensation settle as nothing more than static to her, she stood up.

  Approaching the door to the room she had entered, she made sure that both Anna and Alex were far enough away from her to notice what she was about to do.

  Stella left the room, looking completely undisturbed by what was going on within her. She approached one of the government workers that had come with them.

  “What floor did you say you saw them enter?” Stella asked.

  “Excuse me, but who?” the worker asked, not understanding.

  “I’m sorry, in my head I asked the full question,” Stella, said. “The woman with the ponytail that was keeping an eye on our people. What floor did she enter?”

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