Chapter 688 Four Daggers

"Do you think this would be effective against the undead?" Vivian's asked, her focus was still to prepare to go and release her dad from undeath. Eldrian had confirmed for her that he was still in the fort, though Eldrian couldn't gain any more information from his map.

This had been both good and bad news, as it meant he hadn't been converted to an undead, his race hadn't changed at least. However, it meant he was likely under some sort of restraint and highly likely in pain. Which made every day spent here all the harder on her.

Yet she couldn't be rash, Eldrian had also confirmed the exact number of undead. While the lower undead weren't a problem, there were a few dozen Tier 5 unwilling and higher undead, plus four Tier 6 higher undead.

It would be no small task to kill them all. She knew this well.

Of course, they could try to get some outside help. While Vlisia was still under siege this was near impossible as all cities were on high alert and couldn't afford to send out elite soldiers for a non-essential task. Now that the siege had been overcome there might be a chance, though much would be prioritized over a lost fort in the southernmost part of the kingdom. Cities certainly would be prioritized foremost. Trying to save those still stuck there, and perhaps a counter-attack to try and save those taken as slaves.

Vivian repeated herself, "Do you think this knowledge might help?" Finally ripping Eldrian from his thoughts.

"I only know a little of the mortem flower, I can't really say how effective it would be. It isn't a magical flower in itself either so this effect makes little sense."

"He's right, mortem flowers aren't magical. It is a symbol of grief and loss." Myropsis added, hoping that her friend wouldn't get her hopes up.

'A symbol hey? If there is belief in the flower being able to help souls find the path to their afterlife or something similar, they might just have a unique power... Might it be this belief that enables the artifact to do something not listed in its functions? Is this a power similar to my 'talking' with mana? Is my talking with mana a form of belief?'

"Eldrian, care to share your thoughts?" Vivian knocked his head to get his attention, a rather hard knock. She had little mercy when the conversation included her dad's fate. Heck, she wished to rush there and actually confirm the condition he was in. But she understood that if she did she would not be able to maintain herself. She would then rush into danger without a second thought.

Blinking in confusion, Eldrian shared what he just considered. That belief might have granted the flowers magical powers hidden from normal means of detection.

"Is belief possible of this?" Myropsis questioned, she was actually locked in the belief that faith could only present as divine magic cast by priests and clerics. Having it act on plants like this, it would be one insane discovery.

"From what I understand the entire realm of souls came from belief. Ashliel said so herself. I see no reason why it can't alter some plants if it can make the entire realm of the afterlife."

"Then why is it still non-magical?" Myropsis asked, bewildered.

"I don't know. Maybe divine magic isn't something we can disco-" Eldrian paused and looked at Vivian. "Maybe we can, how hard is it to get?" He asked Myropsis.

"I can get some quite easily, but why?"

"They are the symbols for life and death? And while belief normally deals with souls and the realms of the afterlife, perhaps it can also influence the current physical world. And just maybe Vivian might be able to see something."

"Me?" Vivian asked, bewildered.

"Yeah, you have this weird sight now, right? I can't see souls even with [mana sense]. But you can, and in a manner that defies the conventional."

"I don't know..."

"You're actively trying not to see all the death around us, but maybe this extra sight can give you more information than conventional mana-enhanced sights." Seeing her still unsure, Eldrian felt it could be left for later. "Regardless, it is still an interesting concept."

"Belief might be an unconscious use of lifeforce, mageia -the act of visualizing thoughts- might be the first step to connect with lifeforce. And faith can certainly be stronger for many than visualization of magic..." He continued to mumble, trying to sort out his thoughts.

Seeing the confused two looking at him, Eldrian understood that his mumbling had made no sense to them. "Consider it like when a baby learns to crawl. However, crawling is much less efficient and slower than walking. And then perhaps there's running after it."

""I still don't follow"" The two echoed one another.

"Perhaps we should just accept that it happened and test the flowers?"

""You don't want to find out how?!"" They echoed again.

"I do, but currently I can't right now. I see no reason to continue thinking about this matter unless we are going to find the flowers now and test if Vivian can see something special or if they affect death-mana in some manner or another."

Myropsis was surprised that Eldrian seemed to accept it at that, without having a true answer. She still burned to find it, but Eldrian seemed to have already moved on. While part of her wanted to rush to test it, they were in a closed-off room. Better to first finish here talk before leaving.

"Since we are here, might as well check how efficient my designs are." Upon saying so Eldrian took out four different daggers. Each covered in carvings from hilt to tip, they looked quite magical as they floated next to him. Each glowing lightly in its own light.

The design of each dagger differed slightly as Eldrian was still experimenting to find the best 'circuit' for ether manipulation. Each dagger had a small crystal embedded in its pommel, the glow of the runes was the same color as these crystals. Green, red, blue, and white.

"Vivian, are you ready?" Asked Eldrian as he turned to her, she balked at the sight of the four floating daggers. She had seen Eldrian training and testing various things, but this was the first time he brought them out during a match.

"Isn't this a bit unfair?!"

"Perhaps, alright I'll only use one at a time." Eldrian said with a cruel smile as he let the green dagger fly, its speed was shocking. Vivian dodged to the side and only barely managed to avoid it. Before she could even recover the dagger had turned again. In the end, she was incapable of dodging for more than a few seconds.

"Wind sure is effective," Eldrian mumbled, stopping the blade just as it was about to pierce her heart, calling it back.

"Couldn't you give me some time to prepare?!" She shouted, she always knew that fighting against Eldrian was hard when he controlled Frost Needle. But they always sparred without using spells. She was shocked at just how large a difference a controllable projective, or in this case dagger, made.

She finally realized just how much he was holding back.