Sirius was adept at creating self-sustaining spells by now. Pulling circuit, refraction module, filter, exhaust for residual mana, energy storage, some pathways to connect these parts, and you now have everything to power whatever diagram needed. It had its drawbacks, mainly that the residual mana would be sucked into the pulling circuit, entering the flow of power again, but Sirius relied on natural currents to bring in the fresh energy.

  Sirius stood in the centre of a huge circle he marked using small mana-infused stones. After considering the scale sufficient, he got to injecting small mana crystals into the ground at different depths. This allowed him to create multi-layered diagrams, allowing for more complexity. Sirius pulled out a pouch full of purplish-blue sparkling powder. He dipped his finger inside and looked closely at tiny crystals that stuck to it. After straining his gaze for a moment, he caught a glimpse of thin flakes. Flat crystals were good at resisting the flow of mana, and would usually form columns akin to basalt. In contrast, conductance crystals would look like thin icicles, almost like needles, and accumulation crystals were sphere-shaped. Sirius nodded with satisfaction and began creating the boundary line by injecting conductance on the inside and resistance on the outside of the circle. After completing the border, he branched a pathway and drawn it closer to the centre, where he would set up the controlling diagram. He carefully built up a thick disk of modules and triggers, power unit and proximity detector, valves and shells.

  Suddenly he was alerted by Seth, who was on standby all this time. Without wasting a second, Sirius picked up his items and powered his new, more advanced crystal with stealth spell embedded inside. Under the cover of his spell, he hid in a ravine and seeped some mana into the ground to cover him, leaving only thin slit for eyes and a couple small holes for breathing. Around a minute later he heard the voices.

  "I told you to stop! Why are you going alone again?" woman screamed, her speech soaked with Capital accent, but some irregularities gave out her origins of a northern town on the outskirts.

  "Humph." The rough and hoarse voice of a man responded, "Why would you care?"

  "Because I was there when..."

  "So what? I prefer scouting alone," his accent was unusual, with rolling 'r' roughing up his words, like a growl of a beast.

  "Brokk, I am your comrade, I can't allow you to go with no one to help you. Just because you are a Null..."

  "I am NOT a Null, Sindra!"

  "Then why are you avoiding doing magic?"

  "Because I like so. Now leave."

  "Is it because of your brother?"

  The man fell silent, his heavy steps stopping some distance away from Sirius. After some heavy second of quiet, he whispered with a growl, yet Sirius heard every word, "Do not talk to me about that fucker. He is the reason for all my troubles, and you cannot even begin to fathom what he made me go through."

  "Wow, fine. As you wish, mister untouchable. Don't get lost out here, we're waiting for you at the camp. And be back till dinner, or we will go to sleep starving again."

  "Go already."

  Woman huffed, clearly enough for Sirius to perceive her irritation. Did Brokk care about her feelings Sirius did not know. The man made a couple of steps forward again, stopping somewhere around the diagram control circuit. Sirius heard the man loudly sniffing the air and then — nothing. He did not see, nor hear him, but the back of his mind was screaming with fear, the man's ominous presence tingling his soul. In fear he closed his eyes and tried to calm down his spinning mind. For a ten long seconds he tried to condense his Astral Body to avoid being detected, pruning any thought that sprung in his brain. Hearing nothing more Sirius carefully opened one eye, and his heart sank.

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  Brokk was carefully studying Sirius.

  "So you are alive," he said, his face calm, yet the body tense and ready to act at moments notice.

  Sirius manipulated the earth on his face, not daring to do any rash motions so as not to trigger the soldier. Through force he feigned innocent voice, "Yes, I am, sir. Sorry for overhearing your conversation, I meant no harm."

  "Then what are you doing so close to us?"

  "Erm... To whom exactly, sir? I came from the opposite direction, and no maps marked a settlement in this area..."

  "We are not a settlement, we are a Kingdom's army on the move. What were you doing here?"

  "I?... I was surveying the land for mana crystal veins..." Sirius mumbled, focusing his mind on a real sentence Calmness of Storm said before. He somehow understood how the lie detection spell works, and could fool whomever used it. He just had to genuinely believe in his words.

  "I don't believe you, kid. Your magic is smelly, it stinks of Republic's mages. You are not a spy, aren't you?"

  "Smelly? Does magic smell even?" Sirius was stumped for real and took a few whiffs of air, but the dust was the only thing he could discern.

  "Not for you. Nor anyone but me. If you are not a spy, then you can make your eyes glow, right? Like barbarians do?"

  "I am a druid, not a barbarian!" Sirius tried showing the defiance, but was still locked in the ground. The soldier raised his eyebrow, urging Sirius to open his Eyes. Sirius rolled his eyes, and his irises began glowing with golden light, "Ugh, fine, happy?" Involuntarily he shuddered. The man's Visage was that of a muscular man with bull's head adorned with large horns. Somehow, his appearance was very similar to his Visage.

  The man huffed with amusement, "Fine, get out already. Or you will catch cold in the rock," Brokk relaxed and gave Sirius way.

  Sirius reluctantly crawled out of his hiding spot, patted the dust off with a hint of magic, and took out his staff from the ground. As he did so, he felt the intense gaze from Brokk. Sirius turned to the soldier and asked, "Is something wrong, sir?"

  "No, golden boy. Nothing... It's just... Your appearance is somewhat familiar," Brokk narrowed his eyes, giving Sirius shivers. "What is your name again?"

  "My name? Child of the World is the name I was given, sir."

  "Child of the World?... Doesn't sound like a name to me. How did your parents call you?"

  "That I can't say. Tradition prohibits us."

  Brokk stared at Sirius for a moment, before shrugging, "Sure. Traditions are sacred for all of us, I get that. Gather your things, we are going to a camp..."

  "NO!" Sirius suddenly exclaimed, garnering yet another suspicious gaze of a soldier. "The soldiers in red ravaged my village long ago. I won't go in their den."

  Brokk looked at the boy filled with defiance for a moment and smiled, "I like your attitude. But I cannot let you go just for the drive. Fight me."

  "What?..."

  "We spar to the first blood or until one of us surrenders," Brokk began taking off the plated armour from his arms and chest, exposing the bulging muscles under the leather padding. "If you win, I will let you go, if I win — you will come with me. Deal?"

  Sirius tried finding any other escape route, but could not. Eventually he asked, "Any other rules?"

  "No magic, pure strength and skill."

  "Isn't that a bit unfair? You are much bigger than I am."

  Brokk furrowed his brows, "Hmm... That is true. That's why I will allow you to strike first however you like, you can even use any spell of yours for this one. You have all the time you need to prepare. So, do you agree?"

  Sirius contemplated his chances one last time. Brokk was strong, his every movement was precise and full of power. And with that he was not a Null. Not only he said so himself, but also his Visage was solid, like that of a mage conscious of their direction in arcane arts. That detail deeply unnerved him, but he could not pinpoint the actual reason. With nowhere to go, he finally answered, "Fine. Let's spar. But I would like to have my armour protect me, or you will definitely fold me in half with one strike."

  "Fair enough. Then, if rules are settled, take your time and come at me."

  Sirius meticulously removed the last pieces of dirt from his black robe, while his brain was racking for tactic. He acted nonchalantly, used his staff as a walking stick when circling Brokk, but on the inside he was nervous. It was better to focus on the battle, but thoughts about being in the camp of his enemy found their way into his brain. Sirius completed his circle, and faced the curious soldier. Brokk stood unmoving, his gaze following Sirius' every action, as he expected an attack to come from every side. And that unnerved Sirius the most. This seasoned warrior seemed to read his every intention. An attack from behind — obvious, magic — easily noticeable, feign — too predictable. Brokk seemed like a castle, with no weak spot.

  Sirius took a stance with his staff in front of him. He had just one chance to get an advantage, and was not willing to let it go.