Chapter 6: Journey to Blue Rose (1)

While the group of four was traveling to Blue Rose Academy, Garmr and Fenrin were talking to each other telepathically.

"When Paul first arrived, how was he so fast? My eyes couldn't follow him before he picked me up."

"I should explain the two different fighting styles most Ren users have then. While there are a few more, they aren't worth mentioning right now."

Garmr continued to explain, "Obviously you know about how most elemental users can manipulate, conjure, and 'create' their element; however, there is another way to use ren."

"By manipulating the essence of said element, you can instead reinforce or give properties of that element to oneself. For example, if an earth elemental manipulated earth essence into themselves, then their bodies would become more durable, and their strength would increase, but their speed would stay at around the same level."

Fenrin thought about it for a moment and had a few questions.

"If you have A rank aptitude, could you reinforce your body with every element at the same time?"

Garmr replied, "No, they could not; at least they would have to be incredibly skilled to do so. Imagine combining water and fire; it would simply turn into steam. You would have to keep the water boiling but not let the water evaporate. It would be incredibly difficult!"

"They could let one overpower the other, but it would be mostly a waste. It would be much more efficient to save their essence for ranged methods."

Fenrin then asked about what each element specifically did.

"Fire increases your strength and speed, Wind increases primarily speed, Earth is durability and strength, and Water is all-rounded."

Garmr continued to explain a few more things about reinforcement, then.

"Having a higher rank gives more options to REN users, not even mentioning those with only one element; they couldn't even pick and choose."

"The higher your rank, the more powerful your reinforcement will be."

After Garmr finished, Fenrin asked the question important to him.

"What does the 'Death' element reinforce?"

Garmr smiled, looking up at Fenrin.

"Everything. It is an all-rounder like water, but instead of it being low in everything, it is instead higher in all aspects!"

"There is no drawback to 'Death' when it comes to reinforcement."

"Life, on the other hand, is also similar to water, but it has regenerative effects."

Fenrin nodded, and the two continued talking about unrelated topics.

After half a day of traveling, the group set up camp inside a cave the gophers dug out.

While the gophers dug out the cave, Fenrin couldn't resist watching their cute little hands crush down pieces of stone into dust.

This obviously did not change Fenrin's opinions of the gophers; instead, it actually made him like them more!

"Perhaps someday I will create an army of these cute 'little' gophers..."

As Fenrin was daydreaming, the gophers eventually finished.

After a while, the temporary base was completely set up. There were three carriages inside a large cave, with around fifty humans and three large gophers that were snuggled together in a hole inside the cave.

There were lookouts that stood on towers, which were comprised of stone and gravel that were built from those that had the 'Earth' element.

Fenrin was struggling to sleep; he was still depressed from yesterday's events.

After being unable to fall asleep for the next hour, Fenrin eventually walked around the camp.

After a bit of wandering, he came across a group of kids similar in age to Fenrin.

One of the kids spoke to Fenrin. "What group are you a part of?"

Fenrin responded, saying he had no idea what he was talking about.

The group of kids explained that although there was only one caravan, it was comprised of three smaller groups.

"I'm not part of any of the groups; I'm being escorted to Blue Rose Academy right now."

Obviously, the group of kids was shocked; their gasping faces showed their expressions without a doubt.

Immediately, one of the girls in the group asked, "What's your elemental aptitude?"

Fenrin responded, saying it was A rank, as Paul told him not to tell anybody his actual rank for obvious reasons.

The group of kids felt that this would be an important figure someday and decided to try and get close to him.

Immediately, the boys started calling him "Brother," and the girls started clinging to him.

Fenrin did not enjoy being the center of attention; this actually irked him quite a bit, but he couldn't get the group to leave him alone.

Even worse, contrary to his wishes, some of the kids from the other groups also flocked to Fenrin!

Eventually, it turned into a three-way battle between the three groups of kids. Obviously, they were not attacking each other in a brawl, but instead, they were bashing each other verbally.

It would not be an exaggeration to say Fenrin was getting pulled three different ways.