Eldrin’s Grimoire
The two years leading up to Zephyr's return to the Royal Academy were filled with intense focus and rapid growth. He dedicated himself to mastering his Darkness and Void affinities, pushing his cultivation to new heights and expanding his knowledge of magic and the world around him.
His training with Master Elian continued, focusing on the practical uses of darkness magic. Elian was a tall, thin man with piercing grey eyes and a serious expression. He was a tough teacher who pushed Zephyr to his physical and mental limits, subjecting him to grueling training that tested his endurance, agility, and strategic thinking.
Zephyr learned to move like a shadow, blending into the darkness, striking with precision, and disappearing without a trace. He mastered advanced stealth techniques, learning to move silently, mask his presence, and anticipate his opponents' movements. He also honed his combat skills, training with daggers, swords, and even his bare hands, incorporating his darkness magic into his fighting style for powerful attacks.
Elian's training was not just physical; he also focused on building Zephyr's mental strength. He gave him exercises to improve his focus, concentration, and resilience, preparing him for the pressures of high-level magic and the political intrigues of the noble court.
Despite the demanding nature of his training, Zephyr never neglected his personal cultivation. He continued to visit the West Tower whenever he could, practicing the 'Elemental Codex' and exploring the mysteries of the Void.
His understanding of the Void grew significantly. He could now sense the subtle currents of void energy around him and perceive faint ripples in the fabric of reality. He made great progress in mastering Minor Void Manipulation, learning to create small rifts in space, teleport over longer distances, and even manipulate the flow of time in a limited area.
One evening, as he meditated in the West Tower with the ambient void energy swirling around him, he thought, System, show me my status.
[Status]
[Name: Zephyr Aurion]
[Age: 15]
[Title: None]
[Level: 70]
[Experience: 6000/10000]
[HP: 700/700]
[MP: 3000/3000]
[Strength: 70]
[Agility: 90]
[Vitality: 90]
[Intelligence: 100]
[Wisdom: 120]
[Luck: 50]
[Elemental Affinities: Darkness (Mastered), Void (Mastered), Chaos (Nascent), Space (Nascent), Wind (Nascent)]
[Skills: Shadow Cloak (Level 30), Minor Dark Manipulation (Mastered), Shadow Step (Level 25), Void Sense (Level 28), Minor Void Manipulation (Level 20), Shadow Strike (Level 15), Void Rend (Level 5)]
[Cultivation Technique: Elemental Codex (Transcendent)]
[Cultivation Level: Adept (Stage 5/9)]
Zephyr was pleased with his progress. His stats had increased dramatically, and he had mastered both his Darkness and Void affinities. His cultivation had advanced significantly, reaching the fifth stage of the Adept level. The 'Elemental Codex' had also evolved to the Transcendent level, boosting his mana regeneration and capacity.
System, explain the new skill 'Void Rend'.
[Skill: Void Rend (Level 5): Creates a tear in space, allowing the user to project a blast of pure void energy. This attack is highly destructive and can inflict significant damage to both physical and magical defenses. MP Cost: 200.]
Zephyr experimented with the skill, creating a small rift in the air and releasing a blast of void energy. The energy dissipated quickly, but he could feel its immense power. With more practice, this skill could become a devastating weapon.
He had also made significant progress on the Legacy of the Void quest. By combining his own efforts with the System's help, he had deciphered much of Eldrin's research. He learned about Eldrin's theories on dimensional travel, his experiments with void energy, and the events that led to his disappearance. He also found several hidden caches of Eldrin's notes and artifacts, speeding up his progress.
System, what is the current progress of the Legacy of the Void quest?
[Quest: Legacy of the Void (75% Complete)]
[Objective: Decipher Eldrin Aurion's research and locate his Grimoire.]
[Current Progress: You have deciphered a significant portion of Eldrin's research, including his theories on dimensional travel and his experiments with void energy. You have also located several hidden caches of his notes and artifacts. The location of his Grimoire has been narrowed down to a hidden chamber within the West Tower, concealed by a complex magical lock.]
Zephyr focused on the West Tower, searching for the hidden chamber. After several days of searching, he finally discovered a hidden passage behind a bookshelf in Eldrin's old laboratory. The passage led to a small, concealed chamber protected by a complex array of runes and enchantments.
Using his knowledge of void magic and the System's assistance, Zephyr bypassed the magical lock and entered the chamber. Inside, he found a single object resting on a pedestal: a large, leather-bound book adorned with intricate symbols and runes.
System, is this Eldrin's Grimoire?
[Scanning… Confirmed. This is Eldrin Aurion's Grimoire.]
With a sense of excitement, Zephyr reached out and took the Grimoire in his hands.
[Quest Complete: Legacy of the Void!]
[Reward: Eldrin's Grimoire, 500 System Points, Unlock Chaos Affinity Awakening.]
Zephyr felt a surge of energy as the quest completed. He opened the Grimoire, revealing pages filled with complex diagrams, intricate runes, and detailed descriptions of Eldrin's advanced research. He knew this Grimoire held the key to unlocking the full potential of his Void affinity and perhaps even uncovering the secrets of dimensional travel.
System, show me my status.
[Status]
[Name: Zephyr Aurion]
[Age: 15]
[Title: None]
[Level: 70]
[Experience: 6000/10000]
[HP: 1000/1000]
[MP: 3000/3000]
[Strength: 90]
[Agility: 100]
[Vitality: 100]
[Intelligence: 100]
[Wisdom: 120]
[Luck: 50]
[System Points: 1750]
[Elemental Affinities: Darkness (Mastered), Void (Mastered), Chaos (Nascent), Space (Nascent), Wind (Nascent)]
[Skills: Shadow Cloak (Level 30), Minor Dark Manipulation (Mastered), Shadow Step (Level 25), Void Sense (Level 28), Minor Void Manipulation (Level 20), Shadow Strike (Level 15), Void Rend (Level 5)]
[Cultivation Technique: Elemental Codex (Transcendent)]
[Cultivation Level: Adept (Stage 5/9)]
Zephyr was satisfied with his investment. His physical stats were now on par with his mental attributes, creating a well-rounded and formidable foundation. He still had some System Points remaining, which he decided to save for future needs.
System, are there any skills available in the Shop that would be beneficial for me at the Academy? he asked.
[Scanning available skills…]
[Skill: Silent Casting (Cost: 200 SP): Allows the user to cast spells without verbal incantations or hand gestures, making their magic more subtle and difficult to detect.]
[Skill: Enhanced Perception (Cost: 150 SP): Enhances the user's senses, improving their vision, hearing, and sense of smell. Also provides a minor boost to intuition and awareness.]
Zephyr considered the options. Silent Casting would be invaluable for stealth and subterfuge, while Enhanced Perception would improve his overall awareness and ability to gather information.
Purchase both Silent Casting and Enhanced Perception, he instructed.
[Confirm purchase? Cost: 350 SP. Current SP: 1750. Insufficient System Points.]
Zephyr frowned. He had miscalculated. He didn't have enough points for both. He decided to prioritize Silent Casting for now.
Purchase Silent Casting, he instructed.
[Confirm purchase? Cost: 200 SP. Current SP: 1750.]
Confirm.
[Skill: Silent Casting acquired.]
His System Points dwindled to a mere 50, but he felt it was a worthwhile investment. Silent Casting would be incredibly useful at the Academy, allowing him to practice his magic discreetly and avoid unwanted attention. He would focus on accumulating more System Points in the future to purchase Enhanced Perception and any other useful skills that became available.