Chapter 142: One Month
Led by an Attendant Sorcerer, I arrived at Fara's small Tent. Only he was inside; the other Elders had likely given up on me, this Guinea Pig who no longer held research value. For me, this was truly good news.
On an antique Sandalwood Table, various thick and ancient-looking Books were piled high, burying Fara's withered body as if he were in a Sea of Books. I hadn't expected Fara to be up and researching so early in the morning. Although I broke out in a cold sweat thinking about his research direction, a different kind of admiration rose in my heart.
After waiting for who knows how long, Fara finally let out a breath and slowly raised his Head from the Sea of Books, glancing at me standing idly by.
"Wu, sorry to keep you waiting."
He slowly stood up, but from the front, most of his Body was still blocked by the Books.
Before long, he led me to the small Tent where the experiment was conducted last time. It seems my fate as a Guinea Pig is unavoidable after all.
"Sorry, Wu, I might have to trouble you one more time."
I nodded and stepped onto the Magic Array as instructed. However, even after the Glow inside dissipated, I didn't see any surprised expression on Fara's face. It seems this check also ended in failure.
"Ah, what a pity. I thought after the last Mutated state, I might detect something!"
Fara muttered dejectedly, seemingly having completely given up hope. However, still unwilling to admit defeat, he drew a small Cup of Blood from me again.
"Come, please sit."
After the experiment, Fara and I returned to the original Tent, which resembled a Study Room.
"Wu. Since then, have there been any changes to your Skills? Especially Werebear Transformation."
Fara waved his hand lightly, and a steaming Cup of Tea appeared beside my Table. What a convenient Technique! I looked at the Cup with a bit of envy.
"You could say yes, or you could say no..." I answered vaguely.
"Oh, how so?" Fara's eyes immediately lit up.
"There really hasn't been any change to the Skill."
I opened my Skill Bar, carefully looked at the Skill description for Werebear Transformation again, and answered seriously.
"However, I found that my current Transformation seems to be unlimited by Time. After the regulated 220 seconds for Werebear Transformation, as long as I'm willing, I can still maintain the Transformation state, but it consumes Mana. About one point every 50 seconds. Ah, Werewolf Transformation is the same."
"Huh? Oh!! So that's it, congratulations, Wu. Are there no other changes?"
Fara clearly showed a disappointed expression after hearing me say this. Continuous Transformation time is indeed a remarkable improvement for a Novice still in the Rogue Encampment, but it's not very rare. True Druid Masters can even maintain the Transformation state without consuming any Magic.
"Nothing else?" He was indeed still unwilling to give up.
"That's all, nothing more." I nodded affirmatively.
Actually, what I told Fara was half-truth, half-false. In terms of Skills, my Werebear Transformation indeed hasn't changed, nor have any new Skills appeared.
However, the unconscious entry into Complete Frenzy during the duel with Belial, although I had cut off all connections at the time, the Frenzy and the changes that occurred were ultimately in my Body. The subtle changes and Feelings experienced from the Frenzy to becoming that terrifying Monster are all still imprinted on my Body, giving me a strange Confidence at this moment—that as long as I am willing, as long as I can let go of everything, I can transform into that Monster again. This is a very ethereal Feeling, because there is no related Skill in the Skill Bar, and I have never truly tried it.
However, I didn't want to tell Fara, nor did I even want to have this Confidence myself. If possible, I would rather forget this Feeling, forget the Fear of being able to transform into that kind of Monster.
—After regaining consciousness, I once thought how great it would have been if Light Snow and the others had been there when I killed Belial. Maybe those four Ghost Wolves would have Mutated, and the other Yin Ji Summoned Pets might have leveled up again.
But the next moment, I was enveloped by a deep Fear. If, if they had really been present at that time, could they have survived? Could I, who had lost Rationality, have spared them? I seemed to see Light Snow and the others in my claws, their eyes showing warmth, Despair, and pleading. Thinking of this scene, my heart felt torn apart, and Kashya's words seemed to echo in my ears again.
"The Fallen you will personally kill the people important to you with your own hands. Are you willing to see such a Matter happen?..."
Just thinking about Light Snow and the others almost dying by my own hands tore at my heart. If it were Lars, Sha La, or the others, what would I have become? I couldn't imagine. Ultimately, although I have Confidence in my ability to transform, I have no certainty that I can maintain Rationality after transforming.
Moreover, taking a step back, every time I transform, I enter a Weakened State. At that time, no one would come to save me. In the end, this is 100% a mutual destruction tactic. I would rather never use it again in my Life.
"Wu, Wu...?"
Fara raised his Voice.
"Huh? What is it?" I snapped back to attention and quickly responded.
"I mean, since you don't have a Residence right now, and you'll be staying here to study during this period, pick a suitable Room in the Mage Guild to live in."
"Huh? Is that okay? I'm not a Member of the Mage Guild."
"Heh heh, although you're not a Member of the Guild, don't forget. You are now an Elder of the Rogue Encampment! Moreover, our Mage Guild has initially mastered Space Expansion. Let alone one more of you, even if there were hundreds or thousands more, we could still accommodate everyone."
Fara stroked his beard, saying proudly.
"Okay, then I'll impose..."
Fara's words made sense. The most important thing was that I really needed a relatively stable Residence right now.
"Heh heh... Well, no time to lose. Oh, right, to help you focus on studying during this time, I've assigned you an Assistant to take care of your daily Life. You'll definitely thank me..."
Fara laughed with ill intentions, this guy. As soon as he gets away from Academia, he immediately becomes disrespectful of his age.
"Ah, no need, I can manage by myself..."
Seeing Fara's smug smile, I answered cautiously. But before I could finish speaking, the Sorceress who had entered invited me out.
With a strong sense of unease, I followed the Sorceress, turning left and right, and then arrived at a quiet Small Grove. A small Tent stood not far from me.
"Lord Fan. This is it."
The Sorceress pointed to the small white Tent in front of me, smiling mysteriously.
I didn't notice the Sorceress's strange smile. Instead, I carefully surveyed the Surroundings. Quiet, peaceful, beautiful Scenery, and far from the Demon Research Institute, which explodes dozens of times a day. It was practically like a Forest Villa, completely meeting my Requirements.
"Then, I won't disturb you, Lord." The Sorceress bowed slightly and left with a smile.
After the Sorceress's figure completely disappeared from my sight, I couldn't wait to walk around the entire small Tent. My Brain was filled with thoughts of decorating the Surroundings, building a Small Wooden Fence to enclose a Courtyard and planting some Flora, and then buying some Furniture. It felt a bit like the Excitement of moving into a new House.
When I entered, I was truly impressed by Fara and the others' ingenuity for the first time. The small Tent, which looked less than five square meters from the outside, had expanded to at least a hundred square meters after Space Expansion. Inside, thick Wooden Walls carved with exquisite Patterns divided it into several small Rooms, more than enough for a Family to live in. Looking from the inside, it was impossible to imagine that the exterior of this House was just a small Tent. I had originally worried it would be too cramped, but now it seemed a bit too spacious for one person.
Not only that, but the Furniture inside was already complete, as if it had just been tidied up. There wasn't even a speck of Dust on it. Hmm, as if it had just been tidied up...
Wait, it seems there's some Voice inside!?
As I was looking around my future little home, a rustling sound came from the inner Room, startling me. Then I burst into laughter. This was the Mage Guild; who would be so fearless as to trespass? I must have been scared silly. It was probably that so-called Assistant Fara assigned.
Forget it, I'll just find an excuse to dismiss this so-called Assistant. I'm not so lazy that I need a nanny. Thinking this, my heart settled down. I opened the Wooden Door to the inner Room while pondering how to phrase my dismissal.
"..."
Familiar Song, familiar attire, familiar figure. No matter how I looked, the girl in front of me, who was bending over with her backside sticking out, humming a Melody proudly while skillfully tidying the Beast Hide Quilt on the bed, was so familiar.
"Lord, you're back." Hearing the door open, the girl seemed slightly startled. The beautiful Melody echoing in the small Tent immediately stopped. She turned her Head, and seeing it was me, she immediately revealed a smile that would make a hundred flowers pale in comparison.
"Velas, why, why are you here?" I stared at her with wide eyes, unable to say whether I felt joy or surprise.
"Because..." Velas slightly shyly fiddled with the Small Chest Binding on her chest.
"Because Lord Fara said I have a little Talent for Lightning Spell, and the Guild happens to be short of Assistants right now, so..."
"Ugh..."
I sighed weakly, finally understanding why Fara had smiled so strangely just now. Clearly, he was watching the Excitement and colluding with that old woman Kashya, determined to see me make a fool of myself.
"So, from now on, I will temporarily be your Student and Assistant, responsible for taking care of everything for you. What, Lord, are you unwilling?" She widened her eyes and leaned close to me, exuding an aura that said, "Your answer can only be one."
"Okay, whatever you want."
I shook my Head weakly. To be favored by that picky Old Man Fara, her Talent must be quite good.
"Since you have such good Talent and have come here, then study hard."
"Heh heh..."
Velas showed a smile with an unclear Meaning. As a child, her Family had already noticed her Talent, but she was a girl who was easily satisfied. She only wanted to live the Life she liked and didn't have much desire for Powerful Strength, so she had never accepted Training. But now...
She would try a little harder.
...
Due to my Willpower issues, the following Training mainly focused on Magic and Spirit Training with Fara. Old Man Fara's method was very simple. In the morning, because Memory was more concentrated, he would have me read Books and carefully understand the Meaning of Magic.
In the afternoon, he would call me over, sit down, and casually say,
"Do you know what the most practical Skill in 'my' Staff is?" The stingy guy specifically emphasized this, seemingly still holding a grudge about the Excellent Grade Battle Staff that Akara and I had jointly embezzled.
"That, it's Static Field."
I said somewhat uncertainly. This Skill seemed quite overpowered to me. For Monsters that weren't Lightning Resistance, it could reduce their Health by 25% in one go.
"Incorrect, incorrect." As expected, Fara shook his Head like a bellows. He didn't play guessing games with me but directly told me the answer.
"The most useful Skill in it is Telekinesis."
Telekinesis? The Skill that uses Mana to move Items or convert it into tangible Strength to Attack Opponents?
I silently waited for his explanation. I had to admit that in terms of Magic Knowledge, I was less than one ten-thousandth of what this Old Man knew.
Seeing my eager-to-learn Appearance, Fara's vanity was greatly satisfied, and he didn't tease me anymore.
"The purpose of Telekinesis is not to fight Enemies, but to improve oneself." After saying that, he extended a hand, and then a piece of paper on the Table, as if controlled by a pair of nimble hands, slowly folded up. In less than a minute, it was folded into an exquisite small Accessory.
"Do you understand?"
"It seems, you mean to use this Skill to train my Magic Control Ability?"
"Exactly. In a sense, Telekinesis is the most important Skill for a Sorceress. Without its Existence, many Sorceresses would probably have to put in decades more Sweat to achieve the corresponding accomplishments."
"So, I have pointed out the direction for you. Just work hard according to your own Ideas. I hope that after this Training ends, you can..."
He pointed to the Quill Pen and Parchment Book on the Table.
"You can control a Quill Pen and transcribe the complete content of a page. Do you have Confidence?"
"Can't do it." I answered, staring at him without thinking.
"Tch, how annoying. You kid, you're always surprisingly sensitive in unexpected places."
Fara was clearly a bit disappointed that I didn't fall into his trap. Controlling a Quill Pen to write with Telekinesis is a High-Level Technique that requires extremely high Control Ability. Even a genius would need several years of Training to learn it, let alone someone like me with mediocre Magic Aptitude. Although I didn't know the exact difficulty, I hadn't eaten the Pig meat, but I had seen the Pig walk.
"That's it. I still have a few Experiments to do later. How about it, Wu, interested in coming to see them?" Fara stood up, looking at me with Expectation.
"No thanks..." My skin wasn't thick enough to be immune to explosions, so I'd rather not.
"Alas, a boy lacking Curiosity and Desire for Challenge cannot become a true Hero."
"..."
Watching Fara's retreating figure, I took out the Divine Language Staff and used Telekinesis to control a Book, throwing it straight at the Mountain of Books on the Table like a bowling ball.
With a "boom," half of the Mountain of Books collapsed. I shook my Head. Alas, it seems I need to strengthen my Training in the future...
I'll slip away first.
Then, until evening, it was Meditation Time. Just like a monk sitting in meditation, I would cool my heart down and constantly sense the Existence of Spirit and Mana. It was an extremely tedious and boring job. I really didn't understand how Sha La and the others had persevered until now. At this moment, I couldn't help but feel genuine admiration for the Students in the Mage Training Camp.
While studying at the Mage Guild, I would occasionally go find Kashya and practice Combat Skills with her. This time, what she taught me was, according to her, the absolute foundation of combat, Defense-Counterattack. This meant attacking the Enemy while defending against or dodging their Attacks. It sounded quite basic, but truly mastering it was not an easy Matter, especially when the practice Opponent was Kashya. I think before I learn this so-called foundation of foundations tactic, my ability to take Hits will reach the peak. This could also be considered an unexpected Gain.
Of course, I would also often go to Sister Sharna's place, either to chat with her or learn Archery from her. Although she had reached Level 24, Sister Sharna didn't seem to have Poison Resistance Equipment, so she planned to go on another Trial before challenging Andariel. Amen, my condolences to those Elites and Mini-Bosses.
As for me, out of the selfish desire to spend more Time with her, I didn't mention the Death's Hand Gloves. She might not even Accept my good intentions anyway. I'll wait until she decides to challenge Andariel before saying anything.
Naturally, I would also make Time to see Sha La, and occasionally go to the Inn with Lars and Doug. However, I seemed to have developed a certain Shadow in my heart regarding Women's Street. No matter how Doug tempted me, I couldn't move my feet a single step.
Just like that, a month quietly passed. During this Time, Lars and the others left, and Sister Sharna also began her Farming Gear journey a few days ago.
As for me, I had actually fully Recovered ten days after returning. Kashya had certainly said I needed at least a month of Rest to recover with an Affirmative Tone. To avoid becoming a Guinea Pig again, I obediently stayed for another half a month. By now, it was almost Time.