Chapter 99: An Idol's Fire.

Chapter 99: An Idol's Fire.

Acquisition requirement fulfilled. [Continuous Cast Lv. 1] acquired

Air Shield! Sanctuary!

With the activation of two spells, a transparent wind and a yellow glowing barrier expanded away from me, their epicenter. As the two protective spells stood still like a solid wall, I felt reassured that what I will do today wont accidentally set the village on fireI hope.

Saori, the villagers will probably get curious despite our warnings, so can you take care of them? I called out to Saori, who was standing at the entrance of the church area.

In the last two weeks, the amount of time Ive been able to invest in my idol preparations has been rather disappointing. After all, during the first week, I had to prioritize the meeting with Count Helvas and learning about magic from Master Kush. And since the saurians left, I've mostly been spending my time learning about the world from Ellaine. As we would travel to Firwood soon, the information I got will probably become handy.

So, I decided to dedicate my time to preparing my stage in the church area. It was a simple stage made from my terra magic, and it would be enough for my first stage performance, I admit, but I still needed to add some flavor to it.

I was reminded of my time in the Belzac Forest where I used to perform to lure in monsters for Saori to power-level with when I look at this stage. The special effects I made with my spells back then were simple, as I didnt put too much effort into it preferring to focus on my singing and dancing. However, with my current abilities, I had to give it my all.

Hopefully, nobody will disturb me. I did warn the nearby villagers and Colwyn about it, and Saori will handle any curious villagers, so everything should be fine. Once Saori went outside the barrier and Tasianna backed off a bit, I began spreading my scale-dust with my arms.

The spark of a single scale looks like the flashlight of a camera, and the greater the density of the scale dust cloud, the larger the flames.

When I lost [Holy Magic], I also lost the [Light] spell. That spell was essentially the same as [Shine] except that it couldnt harm dark elemental beings, so I thankfully had an alternative after I lost it. Using [Delayed Cast], Ill be able to set the magic circle inside a bucket or something to imitate a spotlight, activating it whenever I need light.

However, usually a spell only has one cast, right? Well, I knew this would be the case, so I held an emergency training session after I left Ellaines mansion yesterday. Using the reading material Master Kush gave me, I thankfully got [Continuous Cast] in time to use it for my concertbut this does leave a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, as I still cant get [Multi-Cast]. Why?! Why?!?

Ok, enough of that. I took out a wooden bowl from my storage and inscribed the magic circle for [Shine] onto it with [Trap Creation], much like how I had done when making my bombs in the Belzac Forest, but then I activated [Delayed Cast] when I enchanted it. This way, the spell would still be connected to me and I would be able to control it remotely. If I'd used [Trap Creation] alone, it would have severed my connection to the spell, so I would have had to directly infuse mana into the bowl to activate the enchantment.

I threw it over to Tasianna and told her to point the opening of the bowl towards me. I turned around and activated the spell. Almost immediately, a bright light shined at my back, casting a large shadow of myself onto the snow on the ground. While my body was keeping me warm, seeing how much more snow had fallen since yesterday sent a shiver down my spine.

Using [Continuous Cast], I first deactivated the spell, turning the spotlight off, and then successfully reactivated it. This proved that both the advanced casting techniques I was trying to use were working perfectly.. The four stages of magic casting were invocation, incantation, activation, and release. During this process, I had to cast my spell in a way that it wouldn't activate immediately and could be released multiple times until I dispelled it myself, to make the skills work on the spell.

The only problem was the mana cost. I had to continuously feed the magic circle mana while I kept it active, meaning it would be impossible for me to keep it up for an entire night. Most K-pop concerts are between one and two hours long, but I think it would be safer for me to perform three songs max for my first time.

In broad daylight, with my core continuously using the sunlight to replenish my mana and stamina, I think I could probably keep a concert going indefinitely, but trying for that long, when I'm not even sure of my current limits would be bad. Maybe for my next concert, I'll be able to buy some manatech spotlights. For this one, though, I'll have to make do with what I have available.

Next, I had to make the truss, the roof of the concert stage, where all the lighting and other decorations were attached to support the concert. Constructing four pillars to act as the support and then the roof, a simple earthen truss was made with my magic. I called Saori for help, and had her grab all the spotlights Id made with our wooden bowls and attach them on the truss before she went back to the entrance.

I climbed on the stage and started activating all the spotlights in different combinations, testing how much my mana pool could handle while simultaneously scrutinizing the light formation. I had to make sure that wherever I was on the stage I would never be left in the dark. Cant have the star not be in the spotlight, right?

As if I was being supported by a perfect production team, no matter where I went, the lights would turn on and off without a second of delay. Its almost like the performer and the team supporting them were 100% in sync. Well, that is, of course, exactly whats happening cause my production team consisted of my parallel minds. They knew what I needed do, so they were the perfect partners.

I twirled around like a ballerina, quickly engulfing the stage in a cloud of scale-dust. The cloud shimmered under the spotlights, giving no indication of how dangerous it would have been without me here to control it. Snapping my claws and swinging my tail around as I began practicing my dance choreography, the scale-dust began to spark with every movement. Thankfully, [Pyrokinesis] was enough to manage everything, reducing the intensity of the tiny explosions to make them seem like a sparkling veil.

Using my scale-dust, I could fully surround myself with fire. Trails of flames appeared with every flourish of my arms and legs, emitting like an ethereal aura as they burst into existence and quickly faded away, leaving both Tasianna and Saori mystified as they watched me. By increasing the power, I could even unleash an inferno storm to spiral around me.

[Divine Inferno] gave me complete immunity to my own fire spells, but that immunity didn't extend to my burning scale-dust, as scale-dust isn't a spell. Still, both my draconic physiology and my high inferno resistance made every explosion feel like a tickle, which would quickly be healed up by my natural regeneration.

[Shine] and my scale-dust will make excellent special effects to complement the show, I could even use some wind to flutter my hair and dress and maybe lightning spells to spice things up, I thinkOn second thought, lightning isnt needed when I can have my scale-dust act as sparkles.

Thats all good and so, but still

Is something bothering you, Lady Hestia? Tasianna asked me as she noticed the frown I made after testing a few things out.

Its nothing reallybut, despite everything, I still feel a bitdisappointed, I said, dramatically shrugging my shoulders, throwing my hands up. I wasnt sure how to explain it to her.

I understood my current situation quite well, but I couldnt help but feel the aesthetic of the stagelacking. Everything about it was made out of earth using my spells so it couldnt help but look simplistic in design and color while the wooden spotlights made it seem cheap.

Creating a wooden stage was impossible by this point. The village was too preoccupied with preparing for winter and I dont think Ellaine could hire craftsmen to make me one when the snow would soon cover the roads. Even if a stage could be made before my concert, why would I want numerous trees being hacked down for a one-time use? I havent tried it yet, but I doubt I could fit something that big inside my [Storage Magic] in one go for transportation.

I dunno, maybe its my former idol perfectionist tendency hindering me again, but its kinda hard for me to accept this current stage. I thought I was annoyed cause it didnt have a catwalk and B-stage, the secondary stage usually in the middle of the crowd, so I added them, but that feeling still didnt go away. I had this persistent, gnawing sense that something just wasnt right. It really was infuriating.

Hmm, Tasianna thought over my words for a bit, before replying with her own question. Then, maybe it is something that is missing from the stage, instead of the quality? She said before pointing at it.

Something missing?

As I continued muttering to myself, unable to figure it out, Tasianna told me to go back on stage and stand there. It might be something I dont understand about idol concerts but, from my perspective, doesnt the stage feel a bit lonely?

Lonely? I glanced behind me, noticing all the empty space on the stage. Well, I am the star of the show. Idols usually have background dancers to fill the area, but it isnt necessary. Well, that doesnt mean I am not keen on the idea, if somebody wishes to dance with me. Right, Tasianna?

Noticing the intention of my words and smile, Tasianna giggled a bit as she responded, He he, I wouldnt mind, Lady Hestia. Song and dance are things any fairy can do, and I wouldnt mind joining you, of course. But instead of coming on stage, she shook her head. However, that isnt what I meant, Lady Hestia. You see, when we fairies celebrate, we do it with everybody. To create a spectacle worthy for our beloved Goddesses, Zephira and Anuiqa, we always give our all when we decorate, filling every nook and cranny with flowers and colors so the very idea of lacking never comes into mind.

The Goddess of Wind, Zephira also serves as the Goddess of Celebrations and Travels. Anuiqa, a fairy, is one of the few Faefolk gods. Shes the Goddess of Festivals and Cooking.

Considering that Zephiras subordinate gods include the Goddess of Hunting and God of Harvests, her pantheon sure seems to be well aligned with the normal people. Theres even Mercurias, the God of Mercantilism. Maybe its different in Firwood, but Im a bit surprised that Aurena seems to be more popular than Zephira in this village, although everybody here does know those gods names. I should ask Ellaine when I have the chance.

Back to the present, I do agree I could maybe add a bit more flavor to the stage. K-pop concerts usually have a digital background fitting to the song playing during the performance and its also common to use a multitude of different colored lights to accentuate the artists. Humans feast with their eyes, and this is also true for idol concerts.

I couldnt use my flames to color the lights, as the bowls would easily burn with my purple and crimson fire whereas my white ones have proven themselves safe they feel warm, but not hot however, white on white sounds, well, boring. If I couldnt use my other fire for colored spotlights, then I could use them to wrap myself in it, turning myself into a human torch! Er, dragonewt torch.

Wanting to test this idea, I invoked both [White Flames] and [Corrosive Fire]. Heavenly white flames burned in my right hand and deadly dark purple ones in my left. I was still a bit reluctant to use these purple flames, mostly cause I wasnt sure of its limits yet, but I guess that also applies with [White Flames].

Sure, I made a custom spell out of it, so I understood its main properties: holy elemental fire that can damage and heal, but thats about everything. I have the feeling Im only scratching the surface, though. With [Sanctified Blaze], I should be able to cure anybody affected by [Corrosive Fire] if I dial down its power, so its about time I try using it more.

I snapped my fingers, creating a crimson red flame on my left hand. Wow, I exclaimed as both crimson and purple twirled together in unison.

I see my flames every day but, weirdly, Ive never tried mixing them together like this. I released the fire in the air, using [Pyrokinesis] to keep it afloat and alive, and then began twisting them together into a spiral of crimson and purple, before finally adding the white flames to them.

I held my hand up, and began willing the flames to move. The triple combination of flames spiraled through the air, continuously mixing the color as it flared through the sky. With a thought, I expanded this single beautiful wonder while feeding it more mana so it would keep burning in the cold air as it grew, eventually forming it into a flaming dolphin swimming through the sky.

Geezhave I really forgotten how much fun it was to observe my crimson sparks light up? I cant let some idiotic god of fire ruin the image I always had for them. Blame the creator, not the tools

Hestia, somebodys voice suddenly broke my trance, redirecting my attention away from the spiral. Tasianna told me everything. If you needed aesthetic help that much, you could have just asked me. Besides, your flames and lights are starting to attract everybody.

Looking over at where she was pointing, I noticed numerous kids and young teens having assembled at the entrance, watching me with sparkling eyes. Smiling, I waved at them. They flinched back for a moment but quickly gathered themselves, waving at me vigorously before running away.

Cute.

Once my attention was back to Saori, she began listing suggestions out to improve the whole design of the stage to make it feel more alive, even if we were working on a budget. One of those suggestions was to weave mana threads around the pillars, hiding the hideous brown with a myriad of bright colors to illuminate the night. I could even activate them and turn the pillars into a light show.

I thought it was crazy to suggest cause that meant Saori and Tasianna had an arduous task before them and I couldnt imagine them doing that much work. However, Saori and Tasianna simply shrugged off my concern and told me they had enough time. It was only the 9th, after all, and my concert was on the 31st.

Speaking of mana threads, Saori also had the brilliant idea of wrapping different colored threads around the bowls, so when [Shine]s light is emitted, the threads would color the light much like how those colored films are used. Surprisingly, a pretty simple solution. Ten minds, and none of us were able to think of this answer.

Sigh, I really overthink things too much.

If you guys enjoyed this chapter then, please follow the story. If you guys want the story to grow, then giving it a rating or a favorite will do wonders: Rawr

Thank you for reading this chapter.

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Sunday, October 18, 2020 4:17:03 PM Germany [Member of Zard Skwad]

Bio: Hey there, AbyssRaven here. I'm just an avid Light Novel and Fantasy story reader who randomly thought of a story and began writing about it.

I eventually found out that I've been spending a bit too much time with building, planning, and researching for the story, that I've decided to just share it with others.

Writing is mostly a hobby for me, but I would still love any kind of criticism to improve on it.

I'm also german, so please excuse anything that sounds a bit weird...I wouldn't mind you pointing it out though.

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