Transmigration Into The Beginning After The End

CHAPTER 25 - POTENTIAL AS A HUMAN

Alea, seeing my attack being straight forward, used her plant magic–which was by her side the moment I unleashed the fire wall–aiming for my dominant hand. 

I responded by letting the vines take hold of my arm, engulfed in fire, the healthy vines burned before even touching my arm. Anyhow, she wasn't the only one trying to attack me as well. Yet, this time, expecting something more lethal, I was met with the surroundings turned to heavy fog. 

She's using her advantage as the Lance called Phantasm. 

Illusion magic being used to the max. This is going to be troublesome. I thought, already nervous on where the elven lance could be. My eyes scattered around, in hopes of finding a small clue of where she could be. Just standing here is a killer mood, even though I lost sight of Alea in an instant. Their mana signature is not something I could trace now, I'm at a disadvantage right now. 

"Why so nervous Luke~"

The distant yet very close voice of Aya sent chills down my spine. She was happy to see me like this, even during death situations in these past years, I've never shown them this expression. 

"Such a fun expression, but if you are only using this much power you won't be able to stand a chance against us." 

Lance Aya's voice echoed throughout the arena, forcing me to face wherever the echo came from. 

Feeling rather stressed from this technique, I had one plan that might work in my favor. If it does not and end up as a pile of ashes… I only have to try now. 

Once again, I dissipated the remaining affinities and focused on one specific element. The main thing I needed to focus on was just on my right arm. More than that, I needed protection to buy me some time. And I have an elemental affinity in mind that could help me uncover more of its true potential.

That was enough for me to start grinning. My idea wasn't good enough to beat a Lance or even hurt one, but it was good enough to push their cards and assure me a victory. 

But before I could even initiate my plan, hordes of green and thick vines came from the mist and began to grab me. Ignorantly, I decided to pay no attention to it as earlier I burnt the ones that Alea had tried to get a hold of me. However, these vines were not the same ones. 

I waved my hand towards the group of vines, expecting them to burn to crisp but nothing happened. It took me a second to realize what was happening here. These vines are fire resistant? 

No. 

The vines have enough moisture to not ignite just by being next to the fire affinity. To prove my idea right, I sent more mana into my arm, fueling the fire even more. And as I expected, it was wet. 

Smart. I thought. Dodging the vines that tried to get a hold of me while breaking my concentration towards the fire already covering twenty percent of my body. 

 With thinking that Alea was the only one attacking, I was wrong. Loud screams of whistles came from all sides. Not only did I have to dodge vines that are impossible to burn with my current affinity power but I also had to dodge sound breaking attacks with little to no time to react.

Cheeky little elves. I said in my mind, tired of their aggressive and merciless attacks, yet it crossed my mind that it was for my better future. If I really couldn't get them in a pinch or even counter their attacks, it would be all for nothing.

Yeah…it would be all for nothing…I would be weak when the War arrives and even before it does as well…Against the Elderwood Guardian…Against the Alacryan invasion force led by Dravneeve…The betrayal of the Drav Leaders…

I had every piece of important information about this world, yet I amounted to nothing? No. I need to at least be white core before the invasion starts. Before the Xyrus students try that potion that gives them the runes that is native to the Alaryan's.

My surroundings became a blaze as the fire which I had been accumulating burst out, pushing back the overwhelming mist until the two powerful mages were brought to light. 

I let out a grin. Multiple thoughts came across my mind, like, how could I, a non-existent character, person, live and fight the battles that are meant for the main character? Would I even unleash the same potential as the main characters? No. Not in a million years that's for sure.

However, I wasn't going to let those around me die just because of my defectiveness in magic or swordsmanship. If I had to use this power to save those who needed it, without a second thought I would. No matter the cost it gives me, mentally or physically… 

***

And like that four months had passed. 

Gramps had told me that tomorrow was the time we had to leave to Sapin. It didn't feel like four months had passed, perhaps my time training had me thinking otherwise. Many things had changed since then like my ability to track and read mana signatures, as well using elemental upgrades such as deviants

My point of view of this world changed as well. My masters, Alea and Aya, had taken me to dungeon raids by ourselves when they had the time. Other than that I would spend it on meditating or trying to learn other spells that may be of help later. 

My healing magic has gotten stronger as well. I am able to heal other people from a certain range–that range being only five to six meters depending on my mana capacity or reserves–without exceptions, before I didn't have a range, much less the power to heal deep and simple wounds. 

Not only that but my mana core stage has gone up quite a bit. Still though, I am not confident to fight a Lance for real, much less give them damage in any sorts.

I focused on the path in front of me, it was warm but not enough for me to not wear a cozy sweater for the occasion. I had to dress fancy for the situation I had going on right now. If not, what type of person would I be later on? 

I let out a small chuckle towards my own joke that was said in my mind. If other people were around me they would call me crazy, I bet. 

As I arrived at my destination, what awaited me was a small little hut. Surrounded by countless giant, green trees. It was a breather. Something that my old world had, unless you lived in a populated area like a city, that is when you had to travel maybe two or three hours to arrive at a place where the technology hasn't reached its hand.

After some time, I decided to knock on the door once more after three years. 

Soon after, the door opened wide revealing the one person who knew the same type of information about the future like I did. 

"Elder Rinia, nice to see you after some time…"

Her hair hat turned more white over the three years I hadn't seen her. I couldn't imagine the stress that comes with being a seer, especially when she is giving her life force for answers that end up in a hole of wrong doings. 

"You came, Luke. You've…grown somewhat, and your eyes, they seem different." She answered, her eyes being unaware of my presence but simultaneously were. It was weird. She was looking at me but she wasn't? "Well come on boy, or are you thinking of talking about important matters outside the house knowing full damn well what there is?" 

Sitting down on the same spot I did back three years ago, I reminisced about how things have not changed. This room. Elder Rinia's base of operations as she might think of it. The way I felt when I first entered this very own room as well as the one to my right. 

A Teapot was in the middle of the table, cups were missing but Elder Rinia was fetching them at the moment. I was alone for the time being, only for a few seconds or perhaps minutes, but I needed to confirm something. 

 Hopefully with this level of mana control I can sense what was around the house before. 

I closed my eyes softly before commencing my search. Yet, the only problem was that I wasn't sure what to find. Whether it be aether or some sort of other mana or aether arts being played at the moment. As I faced the darkness from my eyelids, small little sparks came on and off every second. The sparks differ in colors, red, green, brown, blue, and even purple. 

There was a moment where it seemed to resemble the use of Realmheart–aside from the differences of having my eyes closed and the world losing its color–but I denied such a thing as I for one couldn't possibly possess a Beast's will that already has been passed to someone else. Well I don't know if the author has confirmed that two people can have the same beast's will. 

I would like to try that out one day. I solemnly thought, shaking the thoughts that distracted me from my main goal right now. 

Still an alien sensation to me, feeling these sparks and motes of multiple colors as if they were elemental affinities themselves, I tried the only thing that came to mind. And that was to move them to my will as I did with mana. 

The motes of colors struggled in place, shaking continuously as I gave them orders to move. No. The whole darkness with the motes shook. However, the purple motes did not, instead, it was them who listened to my order and moved closer to me. 

Amused by this sudden discovery, I tried to grab the spark of purple with my hand but I didn't feel anything. It was empty. 

What is going on here–

"Trying to see what this humble house has protecting it are we now?"

My attention was cut off as Rinia's voice came through, opened my eyes and stared at her like a child who has been caught doing something they weren't supposed to do. I tried to keep it cool but that sensation earlier was just…abnormal. 

With a shaky but normal tone, I said, "What are you talking about Elder Rinia? I was just meditating for mana core–"

"You are 50 years too early to lie to me Luke. But I understand where this feeling of curiosity comes from, after all your mana core level is not what you make it appear to others is it?" 

How did she–

Never mind, there isn't a point. Rinia Darcassan is a future seer. She might as well see my future, past, and even the present of my life. She might even know that this world is a novel, a story that is total fantasy. 

"Mana is overflowing in this place, a perfect spot for someone like me, don't you think? Yet, there is another reason why I chose this place instead of others, and that is because of the security and how the path needs to be followed, no matter the cost." She didn't look at me but rather concentrated on pouring the tea perfectly into the cup. As she finally sat down, no words were muttered, enjoying the tea she had made. Then her soft features came to an end, revealing her eyes to be more serious than usual, as if it meant someone's death was involved. But she couldn't tell me that either.

"So what is covering this humble house?"

"A protective barrier that only allows elemental affinities in and out without restrictions unlike people." 

'Unlike people?'

"What do you mean by that, Elder Rinia?" I calmly said, maybe giving in the hint of confusion by her words.

She smirked and took another sip of her tea as so did I, nervous and curious by her answer. 

"What you were trying earlier, you sensed the elemental affinities, right?." 

I nodded impatiently. I Tried to drink some tea, but my cup was empty. 

Elder Rinia had noticed this and filled my cup with more tea before continuing her hiatus of her explanation. 

"Did you notice anything wrong with the elements?"

Wait!

"Yes I did! I tried to move them like I would normally but they only quacked in place." My voice exhaled more than what I wanted to, showing that I was interested in it but there was no point in hiding it when she knew clearly what I was after. "Though only a different colored mote moved." I added at the end, trying to still figure out the correct elemental affinity it corresponded to.

"Boy, and what element was that?" 

Originally I wasn't looking at her but instead at my hands, which later I took a hold of the cup of tea. That's when I noticed her gaze. Her multi-colored eyes examined me, her brows went down considering some things before walking off into the room where she had taken me three years ago when we met after a while.

She then came out with a book. There wasn't a cover on it, instead it was just a leather brown look. 

Immediately, Elder Rinia opened the book and flipped over twenty pages or so before landing on a specific page. I saw how her elven hands hesitated before indulging into the book itself. Finally, Rinia showed me the front of the page. 

The dark colored page showed a dark mote or a darker color of an orb. It had small spikes on the outer circle of it and a description that said, "These motes are to be known as an elemental affinity stronger than the four basic affinities." 

T-there are other affinities aside from the four elements and aether? H-how?! I am sure that the only elements are, fire, wind, water, earth, and aether. Excluding the diviants that come from the four elemental affinities, those are the only ones. So why in God's green earth is there a book saying that there are more elements?!

"Tell me, Luke, is this what the spark or mote looks like?" The old elf woman said, desperation in her voice and eyes. Screaming that I tell her the truth of what I'd moved in this barrier. "You must tell me now, Luke. This is a matter of life or death situation if you tell me that you moved this earlier."