Spirit's Awakening: The Path of Lightning and Water-Chapter 358: Another Friend Appears

Hallen’s eyes were wide, "Instantaneous travel? Between fixed locations?" His gaze darted toward Sanvra, as if seeking confirmation, before returning to Lassim. "That’s… revolutionary."

Egelina’s hands were clasped tightly in her lap, her emerald eyes fixed on her son. "And this device," she began, her voice steady but edged with concern, "you’re saying it will use your spatial element? You’ve already tested this?"

Lassim nodded. "We haven’t built the first prototype yet, but I can do the same thing on my own. My [Storm’s Dance] technique is basically the scaled down version of what I hope to build," he said. "The principles and foundation are mostly all there. But scaling up and building the gate that can be installed at fixed locations requires some special materials that can handle the energy output. Eno believes that the Astrium Veinstone is one of those materials so I stopped by Starpoint City in the Stellanora Kingdom on the way here. Oh, and my apologies in advance if you start getting bothered by companies or strangers. I might have overdone it in my duel that I had there."

Everard gave him a raised eyebrow, but didn’t comment. He’d just been on the receiving end of a duel with his son and could easily imagine what kind of ridiculous stories might be headed their way in the coming weeks.

Sanvra, seated beside Hallen, inclined her head slightly, "The implications of such a device are immense," she said. "Khaalseru has shown me glimpses of its potential—a network that connects people, places, and even other realms. She and the other Gods are hopeful for it to be a method of further unity and strength in Nexaria. The completion of the first device is going to mark the advent of the spreading of your [Space] elemental mana covering the world, and the beginning of her selecting children to bear the [Space] elemental companions. As Progenitor of the element, your mana’s influence will shape the rest of the spatial fabric of this planet as the devices are used, thus allowing her influence to spread more freely as the newest Goddess to the pantheon. And, this vision, I believe you are capable of realizing, my Star."

Egelina posed another series of questions, "You’ll build these devices everywhere? That would take years—maybe longer, no?"

"It will take time," Lassim admitted. "The hardest part is me physically being at the placement sites to connect the coordinates between the rest of the gates into the system. Thankfully I can move quickly and it also doesn’t need to be completed all at once. I actually plan to have it start here, on our lands, as the first pair location with the other in the Lightning Sect Headquarters."

Taking a breath, he continued, "From there, we can expand—to everywhere else in the Aurora Kingdom, and then beyond. The idea is to connect key locations first—places where the need for rapid response to attacks or high usage for travel are needed. Eventually I’d like to develop the device so that at least one gateway will be present within a short distance of even remote villages, so that they too can receive help if they’re suddenly attacked."

Everard rubbed his chin, his expression thoughtful. "So, the first connection will be here, and the second at the Lightning Sect," he said. "Well, at least you’ll be able to visit us whenever you wish."

His mother asked, "Once you have the prototype, how long will it take to know if it’s viable?"

"It depends," Lassim replied. "If the materials work as we expect, the first gate pair should be functional in a few weeks after assembly. Then we’ll need a lot of testing."

"Better here than somewhere too public," Everard added. "The fewer eyes on it while you’re still refining the design, the better. I foresee the need for us to host the kingdom’s Royal Family once it’s ready so that we’re not labeled traitors. You may need to bring that Sect Master of yours if things get a bit out of hand, but they should trust us. The Vanthar family is loyal to the Aurora Kingdom and its people, so hopefully it won’t be blown too out of proportion, but keep that in mind, son."

"Will do." Lassim nodded his head. "The Lightning Sect has given me their support so far for this project, and my mentors there, who are just as invested in seeing this succeed, will definitely lend a hand if push comes to shove."

Sanvra folded her hands in her lap, "And you’ll have us as well, should you require it. The Drow are your people too, Lassim—they are your strength. Whatever aid we can provide, you have only to ask."

Egelina’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Of course, you have your family’s full support as well. The estate has resources—people, materials, connections. You only need to say the word, and we’ll do everything in our power to help."

"Thank you," Lassim said quietly, his gaze moving across each of them.

The room settled into a comfortable silence for a moment.

Then, a sudden, familiar voice rang out from the underground chamber entrance.

"Lassim!"

They all turned as Cirra strode in, her cloak of faintly muddy hues trailing behind her. Her small frame and lively demeanor were just as Lassim remembered, though there was a slightly glazed look in her eyes, and her steps had an unsteady, bouncy lightness to them.

"Cirra?" Lassim said, surprised at yet another reunion, "What are you—"

She waved a hand dismissively, a grin splitting her face. "Oh, don’t mind me," she said, flopping onto one of the unoccupied cushions at the table. "I was just... experimenting. But I wasn’t sure if it was just the pesky hallucinations in my spirit sense or if you were actually here! I hope you don’t mind me intruding on the family get together?"

Hallen raised an eyebrow, "Cirra, are you..."

"Testing the latest iteration of the Blue Kindred potion?" she interrupted, holding up a small vial filled with a faintly glowing liquid. "Absolutely." She turned to Lassim, her grin widening. "Check it out!"

Before Lassim could respond, he felt a faint ripple in his spirit sense, followed by Cirra’s voice echoing in his mind. "Hello there! See? Neat, huh? My idea is a reality now!"

He blinked, his surprise making him quickly blurt out, "You’ve done it!!" he said aloud with a shock.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

Cirra nodded enthusiastically, leaning forward. "Big progress! Gregor and I worked out a new stabilizing agent that makes it so practically only one person needs the potion now! Much more efficient, but… the downsides are that it still takes some guesswork if the other person hasn’t taken it. Thoughts aren’t as clear unless both parties are enhanced. Oh, and the high and hallucinations from the mushrooms are still pretty crazy if you take a full dose. Have to work on that too, but small prices to pay, greater good, yada yada."

Her speech started to trail off as something interesting and completely imaginary seemed to catch her attention in the corner in the room that made her giggle softly before returning to stare at Lassim.

"Still," Lassim said, "it’s awesome! I also heard from Dad and Mom and Sanvra that it sounds like you’ve got the guilds on your side now? You’ve got a shop with some Drow helping you?"

Cirra smirked. "Oh, the old fogeys at the Apothecary and Alchemist Guilds are practically throwing medals at us. Gregor and I are, what’s the expression… the talk of every noble ball these days—if you will. It’s exhausting, really. But it’s better than the outcasts we were before and we’re able to fund the project now.."

"And the materials you need? Still hard to come by? Have you made progress with the Blue Kindred Herb that Sanvra told me about?" Lassim asked.

Cirra’s grin faltered slightly. "Ah—the darn herb… If I had access to a proper supply chain from the Isle of Westwynn, I could finish the refining process and test more to get rid of the side effects or make more advancements. But, alas." She shrugged dramatically, nearly slumped and falling from the cushion.

"Well, with what we were just talking about… I think I know what location to make a priority," Lassim said. "Once the teleportation system is operational here, I’ll make a trip to and focus on building a gate on the Western Continent. Besides," he added, "I might have a connection there who could help?"

"Teleportation— What? Huh? Oh?" Cirra asked, her head swimming slightly but her interest was certainly piqued as she tried to focus her eyes.

"You can ask Sanvra about that part later, but yeah. They’re not exactly a friend," Lassim said. "More like an... acquaintance from a peculiar encounter. But it’ll be a start and who knows, maybe they might have other materials and help you get rare herbs or materials that could help with your potion. They seemed like an eclectic bunch and certainly hunted down the rare and obscure when I met them back then."

Lassim’s mind went back to the odd encounter he’d had with the Beast Tamers of Westwynn Isle that he’d met. The posh-speaking and flamboyantly armoured wind cultivators on the backs of their black and sleek Nyxborn Unicorns certainly made a bizarre and tough impression during the incident with the Nevaks.

But he remembered the leader, Alistair, offering for Lassim to visit them at their headquarters on the Western Continent’s mainland back then. They’d probably have many connections to weird and strange things that would be a great source of resources for Cirra’s project.

Cirra chuckled, raising her vial in a mock toast, going out of order and taking another sip before saying, "Well, here’s to teleportation things, peculiar encounters, and brilliant inventions then!"