Arrangements for the Future

Today marked the first day of Gaia, the 11th month of the year, named after the Goddess of Spring. In Vishvam, countless gods and goddesses were worshipped. Ancient residents of this planet had attributed a deity to every possible natural phenomenon around them. Consequently, the days and months of the year bore the names of these divine entities. What delighted Ranav was the uniformity in language and time setting across the various countries in this world. The people universally followed a 48-hour day cycle based on their sun.

Vishvam's geographical situation was primarily aquatic, with vast oceans covering most of its surface. The remaining mainland consisted predominantly of towering mountains and dense forests. Mayura Kingdom, nestled in one of the rare stretches of fertile plains, had thrived due to this abundance of cultivable land. It was no wonder that human civilization had flourished here since ancient times.

Ranav reflected on these thoughts as he walked toward Nanima's house. Over the past month, he had made significant progress in his magical abilities. His star circles had advanced, with all except the purple stars now upgraded to Level-1. The process of leveling up his star circles no longer caused the dramatic celestial displays he had witnessed during his initial awakening of the Light element.

Ranav's strides quickened as he reached Nanima's doorstep. He knocked gently and waited. The door creaked open after nearly a minute.

"Come in," Nanima said, gesturing for him to enter. "We were just talking about you."

Her words piqued Ranav's curiosity. He stepped inside, wondering who else could be involved in the conversation. Nanima walked toward her room, leaving him standing in the lounge.

Jessica's voice echoed in his mind. "She's talking with someone through the communication device."

Following Nanima's call, Ranav entered her room and was greeted by the appearance of Countess Vedika on the communication device.

"Good morning, Ranav," the countess said warmly. "I'm pleased to hear about your progress."

Ranav bowed slightly. "Good morning, Aunt Vedika. Thank you for your kind words."

The countess smiled. "We were discussing your next awakening. Are you certain you don't want a targeted awakening? Awakening the Fire element now could greatly enhance your combat abilities."

Ranav shook his head. "Thank you for your concern, but I'm confident in my decision. Targeted awakenings feel like a waste of resources to me. I plan to awaken all six elements eventually, so the order doesn't matter."

The countess nodded thoughtfully. "If that's your choice, I'll respect it. But remember, though I'm not that wealthy, I'm willing to invest in your magical progress. I've already discussed the details with your master. Take care, Ranav. I'll see you soon."

"Thank you, Aunt Vedika," Ranav said, bowing again.

Nanima ended the call and turned to Ranav. "The countess has agreed to sponsor your sisters' awakenings. Since you'll be using the normal awakening process, there's no need to worry about the sequence. She'll handle all the arrangements. We'll leave for the county on the 15th of this month. Your sisters will accompany us, but we'll stay at a rented tourist house near the Hunter's Guild instead of the count's estate. You'll undergo your awakening at Hunters Guild."

Ranav hesitated. "I'm a little concerned about the process. If I awaken two elements again, others might notice."

Nanima reassured him. "Don't worry. I'll ensure your privacy. You'll use the awakening stone between your sisters, and if any anomaly occurs, I'll handle it."

"Thank you, Master."

Nanima continued, "After your awakening, I'll return to the village with your sisters. They won't have much to do post-awakening apart from meditating to form their star circles. However, you'll remain at the count's estate. The countess has arranged for you to meet her sister, who is a summoning mage. Since summoning is rare, finding a reliable teacher was challenging. I trust the countess, so you'll be in good hands."

Ranav's excitement grew. "I'd also like to learn about beast taming. Can you help me with that?"

Nanima raised an eyebrow. "Beast taming is an expensive endeavor. It involves pleasing the beast, feeding it according to its preferences, and providing it with proper housing. Why do you want to learn it?"

Ranav explained, "I'm not looking to pursue it as a profession. I just want to understand the basics. If I ever encounter a powerful beast that can be tamed, I'd like to seize the opportunity. I don't need formal classes… access to a library or a basic introduction would suffice."

Nanima nodded. "I'll see what I can arrange. Anything else?"

"No, that's all."

"Good. On your way home, inform Tenali Raman or the village chief that I'll need a carriage on the 15th."

"Understood, Master." Ranav bowed before leaving.

On his way to the village chief's house, Jessica mused, "I think you'll have to leave the county to study summoning magic. Do you know where you'll go?"

Ranav replied, "I believe Paramita mentioned that her aunt is a Royal Constable. That might be the person I'll meet. But there's no point speculating; we'll find out soon enough. I trust Master's judgment. She wouldn't entrust my training to someone unreliable."

Jessica agreed. "True. She's meticulous about trust."

After informing Tenali Raman about the carriage, Ranav headed home but decided to stop by the construction site first. Although Ganesh Deolalikar wasn't present, he found Henry Irwin overseeing the work. Ranav discussed his upcoming trip and expressed his desire to purchase the necessary kitchen and bathroom fittings during his visit to the county. Henry assured him that Ganesh would transport the items once they were procured.

Satisfied, Ranav returned home, feeling a mix of anticipation and determination for the journey ahead.

He informed his family about the journey on the 15th of this month. He also talked about Camilla and Vivita's awakening, as well as the post-awakening processes.

"Mom, I will not come back with them. They will return with my master. I have to stay at the count's house to learn some magic from the countess's sister. After completing my training, I will return home." He paused, then added, "If any emergency occurs, contact the countess through my master. She has a communication device that can be used instantly."

After informing everyone and preparing them mentally, he let out a sigh of relief. He is looking forward to discovering a new element and gaining new abilities.