Chapter 691: Can we get a zoom on that? (1/2)

Chapter 691 Can we get a zoom on that?

The Meadow made the Void Lord corpse vanish. “Thanks for the meal. You have a personal spatial domain now too, I see.”

“Oh yeah, forgot to mention it. Think it’s safe?” Ilea stopped and asked.

“Safer than whatever else you’re using,” the being said.

“Good enough for me,” she replied and walked to Verena and Owl. She started moving the contents of her necklace and bracelet into her own spatial storage. The domain had a thousand units compared to the necklace’s two fifty and the bracelet’s one hundred. Could gift these to someone now I guess. “Hey Owl, getting used to the local characters I hope?”

“Greetings, Lilith,” she said and bowed lightly.

I feel like that’s the wrong way around.

“There is a lot to learn… but I feel, welcome. No longer trapped. The Meadow has shown me the local environment. The storms especially are quite fascinating. It’s difficult… to process all that I see, all that I perceive. You…,” she said and moved a little closer, one of her hands outstretched as if to touch her before she moved back again, fidgeting.

“What is it?” Ilea asked, squinting one of her eyes.

“Your… soul is…,” Owl said and looked away, her eyes glowing a little brighter.

“Ah yes, fires of creation I assume. You can see that?” Ilea asked with a smile.

The lich nodded. “It’s quite beautiful,” she said. Her hand twitched again.

Like a moth to a flame. “You can touch it if you can and not damage it.”

Verena gave her a look.

“Really?” Owl asked and moved a little closer.

“You know you don’t exactly behave like the Greater Lich you are,” she said and laughed. “Be careful though, you might get burned. It should be fine with your level though.”

The Lich didn’t have to be told twice, her eyes sparkling as she carefully pushed a hand into Ilea’s stomach.

Now that is fucking weird, Ilea thought. There was matter, she could tell, but somehow the Lich bypassed her clothes and flesh. Her soul perception showed a purely magical presence but nothing like a hand or fingers, just a mist like idea. Something that caught on fire as soon as it had entered the domain of her essence.

The Lich recoiled, her hand burning with the white flame of creation. The spell had brought the flame out with it. It started spreading on her arm as she tried to shake it off. “Hot,” she mused.

“Need help?” Ilea asked, white flames flickering atop her clothes now.

“No… the damage is… manageable. I wish to… observe, and learn,” Owl said and nodded towards the Meadow.

“Seems like you’ve got an attentive student,” Ilea sent to the being, her fires flickering out as she smiled.

“Indeed. There are many here actually. Apart from you and that one lightning mage woman. She’s even more unreasonable than you are. Though I must be honest. You’re an enjoyable student. I’ve not had a puzzle to solve as difficult as teaching you since the first eclipse I witnessed on Erendar,” the Meadow said.

“You now I gain another level for each insult you throw at me?” she asked.

The Lich burst out with bright purple energy. Death magic flared out in a sphere as Verena teleported back. Ilea simply stood there, her hair and clothes pushed back as she felt her skin decay just a tiny bit. Her regeneration healed the damage before she could tell how bad it was.

“Oh no… I’m so sorry!” Owl exclaimed, crouching down to Ilea with both hands raised. The white flame on her arm was gone.

“Hey, you did it,” Ilea said. She could see the Meadow’s barriers vanish, the creature having summoned a protective field in front of Verena. It turned out to be unnecessary but she couldn’t help but take comfort in its quick reaction. “Thanks.”

“While you are a child given power, she sometimes seems even less experienced. But she will learn, do not worry,” the Meadow spoke.

“I… did… but my power flared up again,” the Lich said in a disappointed voice.

“Well, you’re a four mark being. You wouldn’t normally have to be careful like that,” Ilea said.

Verena joined them again, seemingly unbothered.

The door to the enchanters’ home opened. Iana stepped out with somewhat disheveled hair. She yawned and looked around. “What’s the ruckus about?” she asked and rubbed her eyes.

“We found an ancient place called the Soul Forge,” Ilea said. “It’s mega enchanted. Soul, space, explosions, all sorts of fun stuff. My sophisticated approach of punching it until it cracks open didn’t seem particularly reasonable for once.”

“Sounds interesting. When do we leave?” the woman asked, a cup of steaming tea in her hand now.

“We can leave whenever but I’d like to be able to return here instantly in case something comes up, and the cooldown is still going. About four more hours,” Ilea said.

“Great,” Iana said, turned, and left. The door closed behind her.

“She hasn’t slept much,” Aki supplied from above. The Pursuer was standing atop near invisible fields of magic, jumping from side to side.

“I figured. You seem more comfortable too,” Ilea said as she looked up.

“He’s wonderful. Very athletic,” Owl said and clapped her hands. The gesture didn’t create any sound.

“One of the most dangerous murder machines at that level I’ve encountered so far,” Ilea said. “Think you’ll be able to protect the headquarters against a few thugs now?”

“Yes, although I’ll have to run on low efficiency. The mana density in Ravenhall is not sufficient to power the abilities of this body,” Aki said and jumped down. “I will simply have to train here. But even getting back won’t be easy. The Shadow Guard won’t exactly let me pass without questions.”

“Ah right. I didn’t really think about that when I got you. Hmm,” Ilea mused.

“Iana suggested a large box. I can make myself rather small after all,” said aki, the bladed extensions and six legs folding in on themselves, creating what looked like a deployable drone form.

Drop a few dozen of those onto a city and it’s a wrap, Ilea thought. It’s good the Taleen considered the Elves their only enemy.

“No way to get an energy core or something like that?” she asked.

“If that were such an easy task, more high level beings would roam your plains,” the Meadow supplied. “At least Aki won’t experience pain in the low density.”

“What about you Owl? Can you be in lower density or do you also require a shit ton of mana?” she asked.

“If I don’t use strong spells in quick succession, I should survive. For a few months, the Meadow thinks. I would be weakened however,” she answered. “Pain should not be a concern but it’s not a pleasant feeling. The Meadow simulated an area for me and it felt… very wrong.”

“The curse of being a Greater Lich,” Ilea mused.

“You know many actually consider it a curse. A funny coincidence I think,” Owl said and giggled.

I’m not sure that’s as funny as you think it is, undead. “Well, would you be up to have a look at the soul magic later?”

“I would be happy to help in any way I can,” Owl said. “Just know that my knowledge is more instinctual than based on theory. I am studying hard, but it will take a few decades to get a grasp of the basics,” she said and laughed, a hand going to the back of her head.