Lee finishes his chalice of liquor and decides to move the conversation past the topic of The Harrowing. “So, about my lecture tomorrow. How many people are we expecting to attend?”

Nitis lets out a breath and straightens in his chair, adopting a more formal posture. “From the clinic, we are expecting around forty people to attend. For the consortium, I don’t know. The lecture is being held in our lecture hall, which hasn’t seen any use in many moons, but it has plenty of room to spare. I’ve been told you didn’t want to restrict anybody from attending, as your goal is to spread your magic and knowledge so anybody is able to show up and attend.”

Lee lets a small smile escape while thinking about potentially saving lives through his teaching. “I do want anybody to be able to attend; that is correct. They don’t need to know any magic either, as the general information will still help those that learn it with their health. Ultimately, the goal is to have those without magic learn how illness and ailments affect them. Those with magic will learn the same, using that knowledge to be able to create healing spells of their own, hopefully.” Taking his spellbook out of his Hidden Cache, Lee places it on his lap. “Afterward, I plan to use the spellbook to teach those who have learned the Life element. How many people from the consortium have learned it so far?”

Nitis snorts as if he has just heard something comical. “With the news of your lecture and the information you gave regarding the element, people are rushing to learn it. I don’t have any concrete numbers, but let me just say that I would not be surprised to find a dozen or so.”

Lee decides that that number is excellent, as they had less than a week to learn it. Still mildly concerned about the soul-binding enchantment, Lee decides to question Nitis, who is most likely well-versed in these topics. “The spellbook is wonderful, but I had concerns regarding the soul-binding enchantment….”

Nitis gives a reassuring smile. “It was actually my idea. It’s not completely foolproof, but it ensures that the overwhelming majority of those who may attempt to steal or use it without your permission will be unable to do so. Once you add a spell, the item will link to your soul. Then, you will be the only one capable of using or holding it unless you intend to allow someone else to do so. Neia’s khopeshes are soul-bonded to her. It’s definitely a rarely-seen enchantment, but it’s great to have.”

Hearing that Neia had soul-bound items alleviated most of his concerns. From the context, Lee assumes khopeshes are her sickle swords. “Sorry, we didn’t know if souls existed in my world, so hearing about something interacting with it put me on edge. I need to put some spells into the spellbook. Is it fine if I do it here?”

With an encouraging smile, Nitis gave a single nod. “By all means.”

Running his hand across the beautiful pearly white leather cover, Lee gently closes his eyes and focuses on sending Mend Wounds into it. Only to have nothing happen.

Sheepishly opening one of his eyes, he inspects the spellbook. It looks the same, utterly unchanged. Looking up at Nitis, he discovers that Nitis is trying his utmost to hold his stone-faced facade together. Nitis, about to crack, blurts out. “Open the book, and cast the spell on the pages.”

Embarrassed, Lee does as instructed. Opening the spellbook reveals the gilded golden pages, blank and without any blemishes. Placing his hand onto the pages, Lee attempts to cast Mend Wounds onto the page itself.

Nearly identical to when he casts a spell on another person, the book glows in Life magics silver and white aura. Not a moment later, he feels something at the very core of his being clicked into place. Continuing onto the next spell, Lee casts Purifying Light onto the gilded pages.

Genesis of Healing’s Spellbook (Epic) - This spellbook has been linked to Lee Barnes, the Genesis of Healing; it is enchanted with Self-Repair, Self-Cleaning, and Soul-binding. Capable of holding 8 different spells.

2/8 Spells.

1. Mend Wounds.
2. Purifying Light.

Kinda anti-climatic. Lee closes the thick spellbook, grasps it by the intricate silver chain attached to the top and bottom of its spine, and throws it over his head and shoulder like a messenger bag.

Nitis, who seems to have managed to contain his laughter, leans forward, placing his elbows on the desk. “Since that is now taken care of, was there anything else you wanted to discuss?”

Lee ran through his internal checklist and quickly found something Nitis could indeed help him with. “I have five of the six basic elements. Is there a way to gain the fire element? I would be willing to go through another Mana Infusion.”

Sighing, Nitis looked at Lee with pity. “You may only be mana infused once in your life. The mana infusion process is only done in place of affinity testing, as once you’ve been tested, your basic elements are unlocked.” Lee didn’t anticipate this and began to look dejected.

“That’s not to say that it is impossible to obtain it.” Nitis gave Lee a small, sad smile. “It’s rare, but some items will grant you a basic elemental affinity. I don’t think any of the monsters in the Shadowgrove provide it, but maybe once you travel, you can obtain one.”

Hearing that it wasn’t an impossibility set Lee at ease. He didn’t need the Fire element immediately, but it would be nice to obtain all the basics. Not having any other important topics to discuss with Nitis, Lee casually chats with him about his old world, Earth.

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Stalking westward through the Shadowgrove Forest, Neia keeps her bright glowing green eyes on her surroundings as she approaches the far-away Garbola tree’s canopy shadow. Ever since encountering the two Hobgoblins with their tribe of underlings, Neia has been worried. After reporting their discovery of the nearby band of high-level monsters to Elder Anix Hethal, she was told to scout further into the wilderness to ascertain whether or not a more prominent threat was encroaching toward Neldam.

Deathly silent as she strides forward, much faster than the pace she set with Lee, eventually reaching the clearing that surrounds most Garbolas. What she sees proves her worries to be well-founded. Hundreds of Hobgoblins fight and bicker with one another outside of a structure built surrounding the Garbola, creating organized chaos in an encampment.

The camp was too well built for something made by Hobgoblins, large Amethyst Willows seem to have been torn straight from the ground, leaving the thick stumps and swirling roots still intact, creating a wall to surround the area. Large hefty boulders were placed equidistantly along the top of the roughly made wall, creating crenellations fit for defense. Yellow Owlbear bones and skulls with pestilent rotted meat hang from above a massive gate without a door, clearly separating the clean outside from the vile and corrupted inside.

Determined to find out what other dangers loom within, Neia casts Shadowweft, surrounding herself in a textile weave of shadowy threads. As the shadowy threads shift and weave around her form, her fierce, piercing blue, glowing eyes fade to darkness. Slowly weaving her way forward through the rambunctious Hobgoblins, Neia holds her breath and focuses her utmost on her Stealth skill. One misstep and she must make a dangerous and hasty retreat.

Minutes pass as she slowly makes her way through the outside encampment, eventually reaching the giant gateway. Before entering, Neia sends a silent prayer to Syver, the Goddess of Nature, and Vanak, the God of War, in the hopes that if she is discovered, she will take as many of the monsters down with her as possible and that she will return to nature should she perish.

Resolved to follow through with her risky scouting plan, she holds her breath and enters the gateway. Instantly, she feels the effects of some type of magical effect, she hastily scans for any other type of monsters within, finding many more Goblins, Hobgoblins, and, worst of all, several Giants and Trolls. Neia has seen her fair share of all of these monsters, but never have they gathered together.

Deciding that she has scouted out enough information to bring back to Elder Hethal, she weaves her way back through the camping Hobgoblins surrounding the fortification, being extremely careful when and where she is placing her feet and rapidly following the nearby movements of the Hobgoblins to cloak the little bit of sound she makes.

Making it back to her original location near the forest’s edge, she drops her Shadowweft spell, revealing her figure, and gazes upon the monster encampment, taking in the sight as she prepares for her return trip to Neldam.

Only a single thought fills her mind. She must warn the others so they can prepare for a brutal battle.

=======================================================

Leaving Nitis’ office, Lee makes his way out of the Consortium of Magical Scholars towards his home.

Having learned an extraordinary amount of information during his discussion with Nitis, Lee considers his time spent here in Neldam. Some things that were mildly confusing to him before now make perfect sense. The reasons why there are no other races were obviously apparent after hearing about the Harrowing, but some of the more minor quirks of the Dark Elves were now explained.

Arriving home, Lee unlocks his door and steps in. Noticing no letters or anything of note, he decides to relax to prepare for his upcoming lecture. Moving through his home towards his bedroom, Lee lies in his bed, feeling the familiar furs gained from his initial trek through the forest.

Reminiscing on his travels and the fact that he will travel much more in the future, he feels lonely. None of the Dark Elves are allowed to leave the Shadowgrove forest, so no one will be able to accompany him past that point. He hopes that will eventually change, as Lee feels that the near millennium of confinement was enough.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. If I am going to the Kingdom of Thexis to spread my healing knowledge… why not try and mend the relations between Dark Elves and Humans as well?