A New World, an immersive game experience

Chapter 208: An offer, a chance

Upon arriving at the mage association, Eldrian quickly headed for the room where Myropsis would normally spend her time. The wind library she claims to be hers. More than once Eldrian had seen other NPCs come into 'her' room only to get scolded and quickly sent out.

Eldrian still did not really know what her position was. It was evidently really high as even Tier 4 master apprentices would simply leave, not wishing to anger her. However, they would normally get the book they had come for. Thus not too much damage was done, other than a couple of curses thrown at the intruder.

"Oh, Haru. I still can't figure it out." Myropsis said after hearing someone enter and confirming it was not one of the irritating 'normal' members.

"Really? Have you made any progress?" Eldrian asked, listening to what she said she had managed to feel. It was not much more, she had only managed to focus slightly more on the feeling. Having found it to be clearer when casting spells she was less used to. After a while, Eldrian brought up the topic he wanted to discuss.

"Have you ever heard of the idea that magic and mana are not one and the same?"

"Of course not, that does not make sense. What would magic be without mana?" She quickly replied looking at Eldrian as if he had gone mad.

"I also thought like that, but recently I received some inspiration."

Before he could continue she interrupted, "Again! Are you not a little too lucky?"

Eldrian shrugged awkwardly, ignoring her interruption and continuing with what he had wanted to say. "I think this has a large part to play in dynamic magic. You know that feeling you get when willing mana?"

"Of course, you told me to focus on it. To try and strengthen it to allow me to control my mana, instead of just willing it to action."

"Right, but what would you call it?"

"Willpower?" Myropsis answered. Normally she would have been certain, but the way Eldrian was asking caused her to doubt.

"I guess you can say it is willpower, but can willpower alone interact with mana?"

"Of course not, there are people who can't use any magic no matter how hard they try. I would never claim that all of them lack the willpower needed." Myropsis quickly answered.

"So it isn't willpower, then what is it?"

"Is this what you meant with magic and mana being separate?"

"I think so, yes. From my recent training and a certain conversation, I suddenly realized what it could be. Have you ever used a dimensional storage before?" Eldrian replied, hoping to remain vague so as to not pique her interest on who. Which would lead to him needing to figure out how to tell the truth, or lie. Both seemed to be more effort than they were worth. Luckily she focused on his question and even became slightly prideful.

"Of course, I have one on me." She said, slightly puffing out her chest in pride as this was truly something rare to own.

"Can I try to use it?"

"No! How can you ask something like that? That is where I store all my most precious belongings."

Seeing the wary look she suddenly stared at him Eldrian quickly realized he had overstepped, "Sorry, I didn't mean that I wanted to poke into your personal things. I wanted to test how using it works, you can try to explain it to me. But as you know, explaining things so vague is not easy."

Myropsis did not give, instead, she tried to explain. However she had no way to do this; saying she focused on it, sent in a small amount of willpower and then she saw the inside, did not really do much for Eldrian.

"How does doing this feel?" Eldrian countered each time she explained and failed again to explain the feeling well enough for him to understand. After a couple more tries she finally gave in.

"Alright, but you can't go through my things. Once you manage to connect to it, I want it right back!" Naturally Eldrian agreed and took the necklace she had hidden under her clothing.

The neckless was top grade with extremely small runes carved even in the silver chain. The pendant was a light blue metal, beautifully crafted and engraved; holding a small dark purple crystal in its center. After appreciating it, and being reminded of a Magic Crystal when looking at the small purple crystal, Eldrian focused on connecting with this crystal. Certain that it was the storage's physical form.

As soon as he did he felt a slight pushback, a confirmation that this was indeed something he could connect with. Before when he had tried to move this magic feeling there had been no response, not when he tried to move it to his hands, nor when he reached for his book.

Forcing his mind on it he managed to see the space soon after, quickly retracting his thoughts once he did. Not even having taken the time to check its size. "As I thought."

"What?" Myropsis asked while quickly taking her neckless back and checking that Eldrian did not steal anything. The speed at which he had managed to connect with it had frightened her. She was not someone with little talent in magic, yet managing what Eldrian had just done had taken her weeks. She felt that it would take her a few hours to connect to a new dimensional storage.

"That is magic alright." This did not elicit much of a response, other than a dumbfounded stare.

"Of course it is magic, what else can it be!" She shouted feeling cheated, even though all her things were safe.

"No, I mean it is magic without mana." This resulted in an even more dumbfounded stare, this time one born in disbelief.

"Magic without mana? What... How..." She mumbled trying to comprehend this and looking into her storage, again and again, to try and gain some inspiration.

"Yeah, that feeling when connecting. Especially when you first tried to connect to it, focus on that. That is the key."

"Ughh! Dammit!" Myropsis started cursing fervently as she heard Eldrian say this.

"Hey! Stop cursing, what's wrong?"

"It has been ages since I first managed to use it. I can only remember the struggle, I can't remember the actual feeling it elicited."

Hearing this Eldrian sighed before suddenly thinking of a Magic Crystal again, "Then I guess using a Magic Crystal will be the only choice, or getting another dimensional storage. Though the latter would be less likely to force this feeling upon you."

Myropsis did not reply right away, taking some time to decide if she should say what she had managed to organize. Hearing the other choice she also wanted to maybe go for it, but she quickly dropped this plan as dimensional storages were nearly as rare as Magic Crystals. Finally she decided and said, "I have managed to organize a visit, but..."

"But?" Eldrian quickly asked as he really wanted to use a Magic Crystal to test the things he had learned and discovered. He felt certain it was the last push he needed to actually figure out how to reach Tier 2. He might even be able to do it on the same day, if it does not require diligent meditating.

"It requires you to do a task first."

"What task?"

"Mmm, " Myropsis tried to decide how to tell Eldrian. After some time decided to try and explain how this had happened, "After informing all my contacts that I would like to use a Magic Crystal for some experiments, none really came back. They probably thought I wanted to try and make something with it." Myropsis had to admit that once she said this aloud she realized she had phrased her request wrongly.

Naturally, I don't know how valuable they are, but it really sounds like she wanted to process them. Eldrian thought while saying, "You should have just said you wanted to cast magic in its presence."

"Mmhmm, that would have made it easier. Well, we already have a chance as one of my contacts came back to me. So just let me tell you what the task is."

"You are the one diverting the topic, not me." Eldrian quickly countered back.

Myropsis sighed hearing this, not used to others being so blunt to her. Also not used to trying to be careful with her words. "Fine, you just need to accompany a few adventurers on a scouting task." She blurted out to end this unknown feeling.

"What scouting task, and why me?" Eldrian asked, already not liking the request as he felt certain those he accompanied were going to die.

"Hey, don't assume things!" Myropsis complained when seeing his stare and hearing his reluctant tone. "I won't lie, it is going to be really difficult."

"Then why the hell do they want me. I am still just Tier 1, you would be much better." Eldrian quickly countered again, feeling a nagging feeling that this request was due to him being a Chosen, and certainly not for his skills.