'Ah, you're thinking of using this to summon specific spells and then you'll take control from there as the mana starts flowing?'
'Exactly, so instead of needing to picture the outcome to the degree that reflects a Tier 5 spell. I can instead use this to start the spell and then do what I want.' Eldrian wasn't quite certain what level of focus a Tier 5 spell required, but he knew it was deeper than just 'fire' or 'water'.
When dealing with the undead, he had envisioned the pillars of hellfire as something similar to bursts of lava from the ground. But he could feel that wasn't quite the right method.
"Are you even listening?" Jade shouted, moving a step forward and falling onto her ass as another pebble shattered and left a small crater between her legs.
'Sounds like a good plan.' Two said, suppressing his laughter at the beauty's sorry state. 'We can try. Oh, right! I forgot to mention it since this girl was in the cave and I have been standing on the ready for if reinforcements arrived.'
'But she is alone, yeah... I couldn't believe it either. She clearly has an aura or similar ability. Miracle not keeping tabs on her is too strange.'
'Maybe they are. You should ask her to give her electronics. I can't think she doesn't have a phone on her.'
'Right, good point. Guess I really will need to find a new home.' The thought wasn't a pleasant one.
Eldrian had grown accustomed to his little cave. A nearby stream, plenty of edible plants, some small, easy to prepare and cook animals. And especially crystals that accept mana. At least to some degree.
'What is it you forgot to mention?' Eldrian asked after getting over the pain of having to leave.
'Our soul, well... It's empty.'
'What do you mean?'
'Well, like last time when you made the solar system, it didn't appear when we were on...in? Earth.'
'Yeah?'
'Well, the entire world is also missing.'
Eldrian had sort of expected that, though it was still shocking to a degree. Especially since this one had been created without mana. Sure, they were slowly giving substance to the world with mana, but it was still part of their soul first and foremost.
The method of creation was completely different from the elemental planets.
'Any theories?' Eldrian asked.
'Yeah, my best idea is that it is out of phase.'
'Out of phase?'
'Basically, like mana with the physical world... until you connect to it with mageia.'
'Ah, I see. So it is still there, but not interactive or visible. Like a ghost?'
'More or less. The same holds for the ball of the lich's soul that we have confined to the outer edges.'
'As long as it is still contained. Wait, are you sure it is there?'
A pause ensued, during which Eldrian turned his gaze to Jade. "Give me your phone."
"What?! Why?"
"Because I don't want to be tracked." Eldrian replied, wishing that mana wasn't so scarce on Earth. He would have loved to just rip it from her pocket with ether. While Jade was a lost princess, she had at least dressed for the wilds.
Well, kind of. Jeans and a T-shirt. Not the best, but better than a dress. That was for sure.
As for taking her phone with ether, Eldrian could. But it would be a waste of mana. Especially now that he didn't know what was going to happen next. Just summoning the flames early would take hours to recover the mana spent.
Jade hesitated, especially in stepping forward. The past two pebbles had frightened her to her core. Realizing this, Eldrian took the initiative and moved next to her.
She flinched. Slowly recovering as she saw Eldrian simply holding his hand out for her phone.
Finally, she handed her phone to him, which Eldrian promptly crushed into a ball and threw into the distance.
"Hey!"
"I thought you would be happy." Eldrian countered her protest with a dangerous smile, searching her with mageia for any other electronics. "Your watch too."
"No way!" Jade hid her arm behind her back and took a step back.
"Do you want to continue our talk?" Eldrian's words caused her to pause and hesitate.
After a slight delay, she obediently took off her watch, which had a similar fate to her phone. Crushed and then chucked far into the distance of the forest.
"Does that mean you will answer my questions?" Jade asked after watching her watch fly. It truly made some amazing distance.
"No." Eldrian replied and paused before continuing. Nearly causing Jade to lose her sanity. "But I want to go clear the cave I was in. During the walk I will reply best I can."
This was a calculated move from Eldrian. He would continue to search the surroundings with mageia for reinforcements so as not to be caught with his pants down. Hopefully, he could recover all that was important and destroy the rest.
During the walk, he answered what Jade asked. At least, as far as Eldrian planned to share with the rest of the world. Her getting the information a few weeks in advance, and Miracle too, if she were to report her encounter with him, he did not worry too much about.
Nothing he said was a big secret, at least not to him. Not anymore.
It was basic knowledge, and Jade seemed to know a lot of the answers Eldrian gave. She had simply ignored them before, not considering them of any importance.
When they neared the cave, she seemed quite depressed. Having expected something far grander from Eldrian.
On the other hand, Eldrian was grateful for how carefree the girl was. He had learned a lot of sensitive information. He hadn't asked anything directly, not wishing to cause Jade to become wary.
Still, he learned what the actual objectives of Miracle were—at least according to Jade; Eldrian did not think she was the best source of information.
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