Chapter 49 Found

With another leap I was at a sufficient height to start attacking the vultures.

*BANG* *SLASH*

With another platform I was able to leap off onto the first vulture. However I could only create 5 more of those platforms at the most so I saved them by using its body as a platform to leap off of. The one I leapt towards was different though, it was brave. Instead of attempting to dodge like its companions, it instead aimed its claws where I would leap hoping to injure me.

*CLANG*

My spear bounced off of its claw. I however was not discouraged by that and used the force of the blow to turn my body and slash at its throat.

*SLASH*

With that the vulture was dead however due to the angle at which I killed it I could not use its body as a platform.

Luckily there were only 2 or 3 left in the pack so I should have enough aether to kill them.

Once I was falling I created a platform below me angled so that I could jump off of it towards my next target.

…

With a grunt of effort I was back down on the ground though I was almost out of aether. My head was dizzy and I felt like I was going to faint but I held on. These were all just signs of aether exhaustion.

It would alleviate after I regained my lost reserves.

Luckily I had time to recover. Before I had initially started the battle I had ordered the Aethon to scout further ahead and find the exact location of this desert's realm protector.

So far the Aethon was not back yet so I had time to rest. Knowing this I closed my eyes ready to take a nap.

…

I woke up to the smiling face of Aoif. She was holding me in her lap, my head against her chest and my body leaning against hers.

"How long was I asleep?" I groggily asked, wiping the sand out of my eyes.

"Not long, only half an hour or so" Aoif answered.

"Hmm" I hummed in thought.

Although it was only a half an hour more than half of my reserves were back.

That would allow me to create 4 or 5 platforms depending on how much I reinforced myself and for how long.

That would not be enough for me to combat the realm protector vulture.

I did notice that I was getting more efficient at the use of my platforms after I had used them for a bit though so maybe If I just practiced I could lower the cost then go and combat the realm protector.

…

Still seated on Aoif I started to create a platform only this time I didn't make it too solid. I want it to be solid enough to allow me to land on it and push off but not too solid that it could endure more than that.

The reason being that it cost more aether to make one that could last against my strength.

However, that wasn't an easy feat. To make a platform I first need to father enough aether from my reserves, push it out then spread it till it becomes tangible.

Just becoming tangible takes a lot of aether but it becomes much easier when there is more aether.

So the first step to minimizing the amount of aether used would be to find the amount needed to make my aether tangible.

…

I tried and tried for a few hours taking several attempts then passing out again in Aoif's lap again and again.

It wasn't a fruitless endeavor like my first idea was though. With every try I could feel the amount of aether needed decreasing.

Now after the several hours of attempts that I had made, it took the cost down to 1/16 of my reserves.

Although it wasn't the great progress I wanted, it was progress. Though by the time I could do that it was already dark out.

Tama had set up a basic camp for us while I was practicing so we didn't need to worry about food nor shelter for the night.

Deciding that now was the time to go and rest at the camp Tama made I get up with Alif and head to the camp.

Once we were there Aoif and I ate the meal Tama had prepared them headed to bed.

…

I woke up to the scent of food wafting into my nose. Aoif hadn't woken up yet so I untangled myself from her and went to go get breakfast. The previous day's healing and aether use had left my body craving nutrients and I wasn't going to starve it.

Tama approached me after I had finished eating to inform me of something.

"My Lord, the Aethon arrived back late last night with the whereabouts of the realm protector."

"That's good, how far away are we from them?" I asked.

"About 3 miles off north then another mile or so west."

I nodded at that, now that I had better control over my platforms I would be able to combat the vultures much more efficiently.

Finishing that thought I replied to Tama, "let's head over there then after Aoif has had her breakfast."

…

After Aoif had eaten we headed off to the place where the Aethon had said the realm protector was resting.

The trip was uneventful, with Tama and Aoif taking care of anything hostile to us allowing me to save my energy for the fight against the realm protector.

And after an hour or two of walking we had made it to a large canyon.

Inside the canyon were hundreds of nests, each holding dozens of vultures.

The only good side to the canyon however was that I could use it to leap off saving me the effort of creating a platform.

Of course I would eventually have to use some but the amount of aether I would save just by using the terrain was great.

Looking deeper inside I saw the realm protector. Just as with the one that I had killed earlier it looked like a beefed up version of the regular vultures. With twice the proportions and a presence to it that could kill lesser creatures.