Chapter 437: Ancient Mentor (2/2)

“It would be most generous of you but it is not necessary. The risk is well known to us. Capture and death are only natural.”

“I won’t start to argue with you on this.”

“A wise choice.”

“Snob.”

“A little, perhaps. We are old. Do allow us some indulgence.”

“I’m joking.”

“As is some of us.”

‘ding’ ‘Space Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 19’

“One more,” she said.

“Any piece of advice you could offer to a young human like me? Something that would help?”

“It depends heavily on what you seek. If it is power, you are on the right path and little we say or share would change this. If it is happiness, we do not know you well enough to offer advice. If it is gold, we suggest branching out into gold magic. Your species is weirdly obsessed with that metal.”

“Yeah. I don’t really know why either. Was the same in my original realm. Maybe it’s instinctual. It’s shiny and rare. We do all want to feel special, in a world where millions of us are competing.”

“Let’s say power… General skills. What would you suggest I pursue?” she asked, the sounds of breaking and twisting limbs fading to the background by now.

“With your peculiar ability to deactivate resistance skills, most certainly that. Anything else would require considerable effort. Do you have anything that helps you survive without air?”

“Harmony of the Drowned.”

“Hmm… it is only beneficial if one is submerged in liquids, is it not?”

Ilea nodded.

“A human body has many limitations and weaknesses. You can survive with little sustenance and in areas near devoid of mana but it should be a priority to address those weaknesses. Sleep, food, air, light. All unnecessary and potentially deadly.”

“I’ve got most of them covered. Can you create a space without air? I guess I could get something if I suffocate long enough,” Ilea said. “Pretty annoying that I haven’t received anything for drowning so much.”

“We never suggested overcoming your weaknesses would be easy. Already you have surpassed most humans we have seen, met or heard of. You should be proud.”

“Why does that sound like you’re complimenting a child on its artistic ability, knowing full well that it does not even come close to reaching mastery?” she asked.

The Fae laughed. “Because in a sense, it is the truth. We do not feel it necessary to explain, knowing what you have faced, what you know exists in this realm. We can force out the air of a specific area, if you wish to train such as well.”

“I can communicate telepathically. Shouldn’t be a problem. My healing should counteract the lack of oxygen a little as well. I’ll let you know when I’m starting to die.”

“Your trust in us is dangerous. Be wary of creatures as old as we are. They are wicked and dangerous. Especially to someone as inexperienced as you are,” the Fae said and changed the space around her, pushing away the already thin air.

Ilea found herself not terribly affected by the change, breathing nothing out of sheer habit but not reacting in a way she would associate with suffocating. Should start up soon.

“You don’t seem very fond of your peers,” she said, through the mind this time around.

“It is simply a warning. As you have warned a part of us before.”

“It’s alright. Speaking of resistances, what schools of magic are there?”

“Many… we know of several hundred ourselves but many are not practiced by humans or even beings in this realm. Many are varieties as well but might provide resistances themselves. Similar to Heat Resistance and Lava Magic Resistance, both of which you surely have by now.”

“I do,” Ilea said and started to notice the lack of air. Her healing magic kept her working and fine but something told her the oxygen was missing and that it would have adverse effects should she continue without.

“I guess a list won’t make much sense then if I can’t find people practicing them anyway. I’ll talk to the people I know, about creatures and adventurers that might be willing to help,” she said.

“It is a part of the excitement as well, is it not? To discover and learn of new magic. We have decided that information is not needed by you.”

Ilea smiled. She agreed. Her goal was exploration and exciting battles, not becoming the most powerful indestructible human that ever lived. That was just a side product.

She was glad the Fae had made her feel excited again. The worry she had felt because of the Ascended had mostly washed away already. In the presence of a being such as this, the creature she had fought seemed irrelevant.

‘ding’ ‘Space Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 20’

- Space Magic Resistance

Against all common sense you have not just faced an Ascended in battle, you have invited a Fae to travel and train with you. In the face of meeting the most powerful being your weak human self could not even comprehend, you remain mostly unfazed. To ask the true Fae to train you is not just an insult, it is lunacy. And yet it seems the creature somehow has come to like you. Truly, incomprehensible.

Yeah, I’ll take that one, thank youuu.

Space Magic Resistance – 3rd lvl 1

Most who try to chase this elusive school of magic will find and choose the Void instead. You have fought a being of truly peculiar making, have faced and survived its spells and may count yourself amongst the few to call this skill their own.

2nd stage: A true mystery, how you have sustained so much damage through Space Magic. You must have truly angered a being to summon such scorn. Your body and its parts become more difficult to displace.

3rd stage: Your being comprehends space magic in its arcane nature, able to ignore some of the aspects of it. You may still be slowed if your adversary is too powerful but it will be difficult to pin you down entirely.

Ilea read through it all and frowned. “That’s just the same fucking thing as the second tier.”

“Congratulations. You will find that barrier of space magic nature will not be able to stop you anymore. Nor will it be possible to hold you in place entirely. Not even for us.”

She smirked and squinted at the same time. “Being reduced to crawling through mud instead of being entirely stuck within isn’t exactly a massive benefit,” she said and opened her eyes.

To her surprise, she found that looking at the Fae didn’t give her a headache anymore. Its form was still changing and unclear but it wasn’t overwhelming anymore.

“You know that such a difference can be the difference between life and death.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Just a little underwhelming that one, compared to Heat Resistance or of course Meditation.”

“The main benefit of reaching the third tier in Resistance skills is the simple fact that they continue to level. Most creatures above level two hundred will attack you with skills in the third tier or higher. The additional bonus you receive for each level is most certainly worth it. Other general skills will have more impactful bonuses but in the end we do recommend gaining as many third tier resistances as possible.”

“Of course, of course. I know all that. I’m just holding on to some of the points in case I meet something where I really need it.”

“A wise precaution. You seem to be suffocating.”

Ilea nodded. “It’s a rapid drain on my health and stamina. The former is off set by my healing coupled with natural regeneration and the latter by Meditation. I guess I have conquered that weakness.”

“Not entirely. You should continue until you receive a skill of sorts. There should be some available for humans.”

“Abstaining from sleeping and eating is the next thing you should focus on.”

“Might as well just die at that point. I’d rather level Pain Tolerance to the third tier than abstaining from either of those. You wouldn’t understand, Fae. It is a grave insult but I shall let it fly considering our relationship,” she said and winked.