The Way Ahead

Chapter 68: Nice and Slow

Edwin may have been lacking in magical expertise, so his current testing methodologies, limited as they were to exposing objects to Mana Infusion and Firestarting/Infused Firestarting, were rather inadequate.

The Grimoire claimed that there were loads of materials which utilized various kinds of mana. Seagrass was strongly water-aligned, firevine was, naturally, fire-aspected. A footnote in a mostly-unrelated section mentioned that talsanenris was extremely life-attuned, far more than the miniscule amount most plants were. Hed have to try to collect some of the more exotic plants at some point.

Magical creatures also had some very magical and very interesting mana affinities which could be Harvested from their bodies. Death-type mana could be found in the marrow of Shade Vultures, while their wings were more air-aligned. Pele wolves had blood that was literally magma, storm cicadas didnt have blood or even the normal bug equivalent, and were instead filled with lighting-charged air.

The coat of a Winter Fox acted as a filter, turning ice mana into fire and life. The venom of a Deaths Head Wasp (and wasnt that a terrifying name) transformed life mana to death mana.

Hydras naturally produced massive amounts of either poison-infused life mana or life-infused poison mana, meaning their blood could be used for either deadly venoms or potent healing potions. The blood of a dragon was so bursting with life mana it spontaneously transformed into other types, and infused their bones, scales, and wings, making them utterly obscene powerhouses.

...Honestly, there seemed to be a lot of life-rich magical creatures. It made sense to a certain extent- unlike some of the more unusual mana types, everything living had life mana running through its veins. Literally, as it so happened. Blood was the most potent source of mana in any given creature.

Hed have to look into all of that later. No matter how much he wanted orchicalcum and its insane magical conductivity, anmanium or phytium to drain mana away from magical sources

Nope! He was going to be focused on what he had here and now. And that was Firestarting and Mana Infusion.

Attempting to use Firestarting on the berries didnt have much of an obvious effect, not that he expected one. It was when he tried to experiment with an Infusion that things got interesting. Though he didnt know what kind of mana he was Infusing with- according to Inion, everyones was personal, and she didnt know how it was tested beyond it involving a potion. Perhaps he could see about finding out when he was back in Vinstead? Maybe it was like a blood type test or something? He might be able to swing something with Tara if he asked.

Infusing Firestarting on the berries resulted in burning berries, which went up almost as fast as flash paper, just a small burst of flames and it was gone. Setting Firestarting on a bush, however, allowed Edwin to pull a pretty decent Moses impression, as ethereal blue flames danced along the trunk and leaves of the shrub, burning but not consuming it.

As he sustained Firestarting for as long as he could, Edwin noticed the leaves of the bush slowly discoloring, turning from their normal black to become ever so slightly blue? A very, very dark blue but blue nonetheless. Inion had no clue what was happening, but Edwin couldnt help but wonder if it was slowly trying to use the fire mana from Firestarting in place of whatever light mana or whatever it typically utilized.

But why would that make it blue?

No matter how long he spent using Infused Firestarting, he could never get the leaves to be anything but a deep shade of midnight blue, and he didnt feel up to keeping his experiment running for a week at the moment.

After he made his trek into Vinstead, perhaps. But not right now. He seriously wanted a new shirt in addition to all of his other desires, none of which had lessened. Really, given how his distillery had broken his last spare bowl for it a few days past- the lower bowl cracking under the heat- he seriously wanted to get stronger materials for everything, really.

What did he have to offer, though? Hed need something to trade that either helped despite the existence of Skills or helped Skills themselves. The obvious answer there was talsanenris, but could it really be that rare, given how easy they were to grow? He hadnt seen many on sale when hed been in town before, but there could be any number of reasons for that.

Well, whatever. That just meant hed need loads of them to make any appreciable amount of money, and to make up some alchemical potions with them as well. He wished he had more time to experiment and create a reliable healing potion without the need for ingredients he didnt have in overabundance, but he really, really wanted that shirt. He still had time. He had all the time in the world.

4,278.

That was the number of talsanenris berries he had to trade. Hed used a few dozen making up two final batches of healing salve which he was prepared to sell, and harvested every ripe berry every bush had.

It might as well have been weightless. Ten pounds was laughable to Edwin these days, and hes stuffed all of them inside a few clay pots resting inside his backpack. He had his cloak, his stick, all three knives, a dozen dried pitch-soaked pinecones, his filled canteen, a single long-neglected heating stone- he should try to integrate some in place of one of his fires- in case all of his healing potions werent worth much, and his coin pouch.

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He was fully rested after a good night's sleep, his shoulder was only a little bit stiff from the panther attack, and hed just eaten a single talsanenris berry for energy.

It was time to head out.

It had been time to head out ten minutes prior.

Inion, if you arent done in the next two minutes, I am leaving without you.

Im not ready yet!

What do you even need to get ready? I have never once seen you take anything anywhere we go, do literally anything with your appearance, and Ive only ever seen you sleep a single time.

Im almost done!

Edwin buried his face in his hands, You know, this might count as you interfering with my work. Get moving!

Okay, okay! Im ready.

Finally. What the heck were you doing? Edwin was half expecting Inion to look completely different to how she normally did, and so had mentally braced himself for something unusual. What he hadnt expected, though, was there to be absolutely no apparent change to her appearance in the slightest.

Oh this and that.

.....You know what? I think Ill just let you keep that so mysterious if youre so set on it. Lets just... get going.

They traveled alongside Inions stream, both because it made it easier to avoid getting lost, and because the naiad had an easier time moving when connected to her water. All of Edwins practice moving through the undergrowth seemed to be paying off, as he was able to almost effortlessly navigate the tricky riverbank. Even with Packing offloading the weight of his pack, he still sunk deeply into the soft soil right next to the water, so he was forced to contend more with the tangle of plants where the earth firmed up.

Even with that limitation, they reached a larger stream by noon, which in turn fed into a fairly sizable river (not the Rhothos, though) by early afternoon, and they reached the edge of the forest by mid-afternoon.

It was, ironically if predictably, there that they encountered their first roadblock. Edwin had wondered what it looked like when Inion had issues leaving the woods, but now he knew.

Its like trying to go straight from water to a desert! Inion struggled, pushing against some unseen barrier as though struggling against an impossibly strong wind. Her hair was blown back, her outfit was ruffled, and hands struggled and failed to find purchase in thin air, Oh come on, help me!

Oh I dont know. I think Im enjoying the show. he ribbed back, Bit of a turnabout from all the times youve basked in my misery. Just be glad that you still have a shirt. It said something about how hard Inion was struggling that she didnt have a comeback to that remark, and Edwin sighed.

Okay, fine. Let me give you a hand, Edwin set his backpack and cloak off to the side and extended his arm towards Inion, who latched onto it like her life depended on it. Strangely, Packing didnt seem to help him pull the naiad forward, but he still managed, his feet digging into the ground to give him enough traction.

Then, the pressure released, all at once, and the two of them collapsed into a tangled heap, nearly falling into the river before Edwin stabilized and lifted Inion off of him with a single hand, setting her down next to him, picking himself up and dusting off his torso and pants before pulling on his bag and cloak once more.

It feels strange Kind of painful, like Im miles away from my water Inion frowned, What sort of spell could have managed that sort of effect? she prodded at the invisible wall, apparently feeling no resistance, No, wait. I can still feel it on the other side. What in all the Seasons?

What is it that connects you to your pond? Edwin asked, curious.

Im not actually sure. Ive never needed to know, she scrunched her face together, Blight, this itches. I probably wouldnt be able to come out here at all if not for the Bargains support. Even still, not sure how long I can stand it.

What would happen if you dont get back?

Eh, well if not for the Bargain, Id start dying pretty quickly. Im not supposed to be apart from my water, like how you need to breathe. With it, itll just become more and more uncomfortable, and I might still get to the point of dying? Itll take significantly longer, though.

Are you... going to be okay?

Ill be fine. At least for now. Just dont take too long, like you did this morning, eh?

Well, at least Inion was still able to laugh at Edwins vaguely-offended, inarticulate response. She couldnt be in that bad of a condition.

It ended up not being terribly difficult to find a road, contrary to Edwins expectations. Simply walking out of the forest into the no man's land between the Empire and the Verdant instantly showed them where civilization began. The road, running parallel to the imposing woods, stretched on as far as the normal eye could see, but Edwin was still able to make out where it turned far down the line, heading towards the city.

Interestingly, despite the road only being hard-packed dirt, the river literally running through it didnt soften the soil in the slightest. No mud, no sand, no rocks. There wasnt even a bridge! The water just struck one side of the road and seemed to magically permeate the dirt to emerge unslowed upon the other side. It was as though the river had decided to somehow just ignore the presence of a massive dam. As far as magic went, it was pretty interesting, and Edwin mildly started brainstorming the possibility of copying the effect somehow. Maybe he could use it as a filter of sorts?.

Inion similarly seemed intrigued, though she refused to elaborate on why beyond voicing unspecified disgust at the unnatural Skill.

According to Almanac, they were either walking down the same road Edwin had taken to get to the Verdant in the first place or someone had moved every pebble at the side of the road from somewhere he had walked. He figured the former was more likely, though the sights were very different.

Given the way the Rhothos now covered the road on both sides, as opposed to just where it had been on his left, flooding season was still going and possibly still picking up. Like the river, water just seemed to seep through the ground beneath the road, leaving the cobblestones completely dry.

Ill admit to being impressed. This sort of large-scale project would have never been possible back in my day. Too many conflicting Skills. What sort of ability might have even led to this sort of effect?

Edwin chuckled, If you think this is impressive, just you wait.

They didnt manage to quite make it to Vinstead that day, despite their best efforts. Instead, they found themselves spending the night in one of the Curicnan shrines that Lefi was so fond of, and had passed appreciation of onto Edwin.

Edwin luxuriated in the sensation of a genuine mattress, infinitely more comfortable than the pile of mats hed grown used to as he watched Inion float cross-legged in front of the shrine part of the building.

Its nice to see that some things havent changed.

These were around back then?

Inion nodded, Carrakian. God of the hunt, the horizon, and hospitality. He or his messengers would wander the lands and theyd bless those who gave them shelter. In time, a tradition sprang up that every village would have a dedicated shrine to him which everyone helped to build, and would oftentimes be the nicest building in the village. It would be offered to travelers who ventured through, that no individual might claim Carrakians blessing solely for themselves, but it might instead be spread throughout the community. I suppose the tradition morphed at some point in the last few centuries to this, she waved her hand at their surroundings, But this part is exactly the same as it always was. The same symbol, the same layout for prayer it all feels wonderfully familiar.

She turned to him, Sleep now, Edwin. I just need to speak with my god.

Youre religious?

She didnt answer, but Edwin felt exhaustion press in upon him as her voice began to pick up. She was singing a song, and this one he was not meant to hear.

Oer the western mounts, to the shining sea beyond.

From the depths below to the skies above.

I see.

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