Chapter 175 - New Spell

During the next two months, things basically just repeated themselves several times. Zaos helped Ameria until she basically mastered the first level of the enhanced arrows, and his lessons were approaching the end. He also was invited to some parties, and he tried to be friendly, but in the end, he didn't make a single real friend. The reason was that those with whom he talked with always tried to ask him to teach his magic skills that could be used with swords, spears, and bows. Zaos certainly didn't need more students, and he didn't need friends, just wanted to have what he had, either.

Zaos headed toward the castle on a certain day and then asked Ameria to show him what she could do. Naturally, the power of her enhanced arrows still wasn't at the level of his, but she made the same progress he did in like eight years in four months. She really had talent when it comes to magic.

"That is it. You have mastered everything that I have taught you," Zaos said. "Now, if you train daily by yourself, you will eventually reach new heights with your skill. Since you didn't mess up a single time until now, I am confident that you have the discipline to train by yourself."

"So, there is nothing more you can teach me?" Ameria asked.

"Nope," Zaos replied. "What about enhancing your body with magic?"

"It is the same logic behind enhancing arrows," Zaos said. "I don't believe you need to learn that, but if you want to, you can still learn by yourself."

"So, you that eager to stop spending time with us, huh…" Ameria said.

"That is even colder than usual, even from you," Drannor said.

"Shut up, you were the one who skipped many trainings days walking around the city with girls, not me," Zaos said. "And Ameria… do you think that I developed this fighting style by learning from someone? Unless you consider yourself a brat, then you should improve your own skills by yourself. You don't need a teacher to improve what you already know. You just need diligence, focus, and wish for it. If you depend on others to do what you want, you will never be able to achieve anything by yourself."

"I guess you are right… sorry," Ameria said. "At least show up now and then to spend time with us here. Or do we have to go to your house?" 

"Absolutely not… I will come now and then," Zaos said. "Well then, see you later."

Although Zaos felt a little guilty in not overseeing Ameria progress from that day onward, he already did too much for her. He had his own goals, and he couldn't sacrifice them for her. Ameria could understand that, so she didn't complain anymore, but Drannor still seemed angry about it, and that really got on Zaos's nerves since the blockhead was always fooling around, and when he returned, he wasn't even a little bit guilty about it.

Regardless, as soon as Zaos returned home, he resumed his research. Most of the symbols of the ancient language have been deciphered by him, and Zaos was about to enter the second stage of it. Thanks to that, he noticed some patterns in how the healing spells were written. All of them basically asked things in the same way but using different words. The caster had to plead for the skies or for the light or for something that seemed connected to life. It was really weird since Zaos never heard of anyone worshiping the sky or something like the light in that world. Although he wasn't worthy of worshipping since he almost destroyed the entire world once, only the demon god seemed like a supernatural force of nature that apparently fit those criteria.

On that same day, Zaos finished deciphering the symbols, and since he was already at it, he decided to keep going and start phase two of his plan. He began to write spells that sounded similar to the ones he knew, and once they made any sort of sense, he translated them into the ancient language. After that, he memorized the formulae and then tried to fill the symbols with mana on his head. However, for some reason, the spells he wrote failed after he filled the first symbols with mana.

"I guess… the symbols have to have some sort of symbiosis with their order," Zaos said. "I can't make these mistakes again, so I guess I will write down the orders where the symbols cannot be activated."

That would increase Zaos workload a little bit. Still, it was better than letting him waste time and mana with impossible combinations.

"Zaos, it is time for dinner," Lyra said after she knocked on his door.

"Sorry, mom, but I am not hungry," Zaos said.

Zaos couldn't stop now that he had finally reached the interesting part. Without wasting time, he tried many different combinations using the symbols and their translations. He could barely describe with words the feeling that he had when he finally found a combination of two symbols that didn't belong to any healing spell that he knew… Zaos felt excited like never before.

Using that same excitement as fuel, Zaos began to work non-stop. Before he could even notice it, he spent the entire night working on trying to learn a new spell, and in the end, when the sun was finally rising, he made some progress…

You have learned Relieve.

Health: 700/700

Mana: 1920/1920

Stamina: 1790/1790

Strength: 350

Magic: 960

Endurance: 895

Resistance: 960

Focus: 07 + 01 

Sorcery Lv 59 (+ 02 UP), Meditation Lv 30 (+ 02 UP), Magic Swordsmanship Lv 35 (+ 03 UP), Magic Spearmanship Lv 11 (+ 02 UP), Magic Archery Lv 13 (+ 02 UP), Magic Martial Arts Lv 08 (+ 01 UP), Alchemy Lv 09, Magic Resistance Lv 11 (+ 02 UP), Magic Perception Lv 13 (+ 02 UP), Swordsmanship Lv 46 (+ 02 UP), Axemanship Lv 14, Spearmanship Lv 15 (+ 02 UP), Archery Lv 23 (+ 04 UP), Martial Arts Lv 12 (+ 02 UP), Shield Mastery Lv 22, Pain Resistance Lv 28 (+ 02 UP), Blacksmithing Lv 15

Lesser Heal, Heal, Holy Light, Detoxification, Cold Whisper, Mend Bones, Dispel, Protection, Magic Barrier, Stone Skin, Fire Sword, Water Sword, Earth Sword, Wind Sword, Earth Bullet, Ignite, Spark, Agony, Purification, Relieve