《Return of the Elementalist》 System Activating I winced as I tried to scratch my itchy back with my broken hand, failing to do so, I grabbed a wooden spoon and began scratching myself until my arm began to hurt from the same repeated movement. My broken arm was a reminder of the fight with a shady video game dealer. Stupid but I went to buy a rare video game for a suspiciously low price. And when he tried taking my money and refused to hand me the video game I had no choice but to get in a scuffle to either get my money or my game. Being broke and needy had its own disadvantages. Now, I nervously watched as the game slowly downloaded on my computer. I hope I didn''t get scammed or worse there is a virus waiting to steal all my personal information. But right now the thrill and excitement to play this viral game was pushing all my negative thoughts to the side and only hoping for the best, praying that this thing works even though I only happened to pay $20 for a $500 game. This Game intrigued me the most, it consisted of different timelines, which all depended on which character you chose and most of all the villain is unknown, so you cannot really trust anyone in this game unless its the system itself. I have refrained myself from researching about this game, I wanted everything to be an experience. I hope my hard work reaps great fruits in the future. But Soon the excitement washed away as I stared at the blank computer screen, wondering what happened and why it was taking so much time to load. Did I get conned? Frustrated I slammed the keyboard with such brute force that the sparkles from the computer startled my own self, before I could get away, a sudden burst of strong currents flowed through my nerves frying every little blood cell I had left in my body, as I slowly lost my breath and darkness started to creep in. I heard a voice. Is that God? God please forgive me for all that I have sinned. I will be good in my next life. I cannot believe I lived such a pathetic life, I could have done so much, so muc- Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. SYSTEM ACTIVATING I focus on the prominent voice that just interrupted my thoughts. A holographic display appeared before me displaying a Status Bar. STATUS BAR Name: Elio Age: 24 Class: Elementalist Level 0 MP: ? XP: 0/45 STR: 8, DEX: 9, LUCK: 16, Speed 11, Strength: 6, Attack power:?, CHA:? SKILL: ? Weapon: ? Elmarst Crowns: 64 Reputation: ? House: ? What''s happening and what is the hologram in front of my eyes and what is this world and where is my room? Is this heaven? Am I a baby now? Is this my next life? Welcome ELIO, Your Journey Begins from here. Get Familiar with the System to Gain XP. System? XP? Is this like one of those novels that I have read? Have I become Schizophrenic? I lay on the ground for quite some time ,staring at the holograph in front of me. This can''t be real and if this is I am blessed by the gods to be given this second chance. But I can''t really figure out the game that I have been transported into, I sit and access my surroundings hoping to get a hint of where I have transmigrated but nothing quite hits my mind. Elemenatlist, Elementalist , even the new game that I brought had no mentions of an Elementalist. I focus at the hologram in front of me and telepathically ask the system to open maps hoping to get a hint. MAP ACCESS DENIED. OPEN STATS. I command. ELMARST CROWNS? ELMARST CROWNS? ELMAR- ITS SKERZT. THE GAME. THAT I BROUGHT. An Elementalist? Is this a hidden character that I have seemed to unlock? Or a hidden timeline? +3 INT POINTS +3 XP POINTS I focus on the screen again and open the exclaiming yellow point on the side bar. Welcome to Elmarst. Complete the following missions to level up and gain MAP Access. = Find a Cartographer and Commission a MAP of the "Kingdom of Elmarst" MP : 5 INVENTORY UNLOCK XP: 25 ELMAST CROWNS: 8 CHA: 10 = Collect 5 Elemental Mana Stones MP: 55 WEAPON UNLOCK XP: 80 ELMAST CROWNS: 80 RECIPE BOOK ELEMENTAL NECKLACE So, this is where my journey begins. Killian the Cartographer and Mana Stone Part 1 As I walked along the narrow path, my feet heavy with fatigue, I realised that I had already spent half a day walking through these woods. Yet, my destination was still far off. The trees loomed around me, their leaves - dark and foreboding green. With occasional dead bushes and thorny branches that littered the path. It was clear that no one had bothered to clear this route in a long time, or perhaps no one had travelled it at all. My stomach gurgled loudly, making a strange noise. I was hungry and exhausted and I needed to find a place to rest. I huffed as my legs grew weary and my eyes scanned the flora around me in the hopes of finding something edible. When, I suddenly spotted a cluster of bright red cherries on a bush with dark brown, leathery leaves. The bush seemed oddly out of place, almost unnatural, as if this world had different rules for its nature.. I leaped over the thorny bushes and approached the strange fruit with excitement, eager to quench my hunger. As I brought my nose close to the cherries, I took a long, cautious sniff. This. Smells. Weird. Still, my hunger overpowered my doubt, and I reached for the fruit, pinching it between my fingers to pluck it from the leathery bush. But before I could pull it free, a deafening roar echoed through the forest. Somewhere nearby. No, somewhere very near. Very-very near. I looked up, and there it was¡ªa disgustingly weird-looking monster. Those weren''t cherries at all. They were part of its body. The creature had the small, scaled frame of a dragon, its body covered in red, cherry-like orbs every two inches. Suddenly the system came back to life, the holographic screen appeared in front of me once again. A Fire-Breathing Orb Mana Monster. Attack Power: 45/100 Power: Fire breathing Attack: Rolling Fireballs Defeat one to acquire: I focused on the monster, hoping the system would give me a hint. Attack the crystal on its head to weaken the monster. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. I spotted it¡ªa bright yellow crystal gleaming on the monster''s forehead, almost taunting me, as if daring me to claim my prize. But beautiful things always came at a price. After walking for half a day, hungry and tired, I knew I didn''t have the energy to outrun or outmaneuver this creature. The monster roared again, forcing me to take a step back. I had no weapons on me, As I frantically searched for a solution, my foot caught on the dry wooden thorns scattered across the dirty ground, causing me to fall hard on my backside, right in front of the Cherry Monster. Enraged, it roared once again and launched its attack. Flames erupted from the cherry-like orbs on its body, forming fireballs that hurtled toward me with the speed of a baseball pitch. I quickly ducked behind a nearby tree trunk for shelter, but it didn¡¯t take long for the trunk to be incinerated by the monster''s relentless assault. Before I could get up, the monster was already upon me, its fiery attack ready to strike me any second. I rolled desperately across the dirt path, narrowly avoiding the fireballs. +1 DEX +1 Speed I suddenly noticed a long, thick thorn had stuck itself in my boot. Looking around frantically, I searched for a way to use my environment to fight back against the creature that continued to rain fire on me. As one of the fireballs struck me, I winced in pain, my jacket catching fire. I quickly shrugged it off before it could cause any serious damage. -1 Damage Summoning all the strength I had left, I ran with everything in me. With a burst of adrenaline, I leaped for a hanging tree branch, using it to swing myself closer to the Cherry Monster. As I came near it, I gathered all my strength and kicked the thorn-stuck boot toward the yellow mana crystal on its head with brute force. The impact was enough to topple the monster and crack the crystal on top of its head. It collapsed instantly, its body disintegrating and leaving behind a glowing red stone. +Fire Mana Stone Acquired. +5 INT +2 Speed +2 DEX +45 XP +10 MP +100 EC +1 Strength +20 REP Panting and out of breath, I collapsed on the ground, struggling to catch my breath. As the system updated, In a near distance, a mysterious howl echoed through the woods. My heavy eyes dropped shut as the last thing I remembered before falling into a deep slumber were hundreds of birds taking flight into the sky. STATUS UPDATED Congratulations. LEVEL 1 ELEMENTALIST Achieved. +200 EC +10 MP +10 XP SKILL UNLOCKED: AGILE ATTACKS NEW STATUS UPDATE !! NEW QUEST UNLOCKED !! VISIT THE SWORDSMAN IN ELMARST CAPITAL AND COMMISSION A SWORD. Killian the Cartographer and Mana Stone Part 2 I woke from a deep slumber in the middle of the night as small beads of water trickled down my face. It was a wet and humid night. After my battle with the orb monster, I had lost my consciousness from sheer exhaustion. The recollection of the fight sent aches coursing through my entire body, making the cramping in my legs go even worse. I placed a hand on my knee and carefully stood up, cautious not to irritate my injuries any further. The night was so dark that I could have thought I had gone blind if it weren''t for the faint light from the sparkling stars reflecting off the glistening wet leaves on the bushes in front of me. I looked up at the beautiful sky, stars glittered like sparkles on a blanket of dark night sky. It was a no moon night. Maybe this world has 2 moons, even though I saw none in the sky right now. Moving my eyes from the sky, I looked around, searching for something to start a fire with. My fingers brushed against a nearby branch, feeling the dampness of the wood against the pads of my fingers. I sighed. Wet wood is not going to catch fire easily. I moved my head around slowly, scanning the area in front of me, squinting my eyes to avoid missing anything valuable. My steps were careful and deliberate, as I clung to whatever was nearby for support. I definitely didn¡¯t want to encounter another monster while still recovering from the last battle. Suddenly, the system screen popped up again. Hidden Cave Actions: Explore or Ignore I carefully examined the area where the system pointed¡ªa small cave hidden behind a tangle of branches, almost beckoning me, seducing me to explore every inch, nook, and cranny for anything that might help me survive this night. Of course, I was going to explore it. I quickened my pace and made my way toward the cave. As I stepped into the dimly lit interior of the cave. I noticed a few torches that were nearly extinguished. This was a sign¡ªsomeone had been here not too long ago. Perhaps I wasn¡¯t far from a village or city. I began scanning the area for any leftover food to satisfy my hunger. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Maybe they ate something here and left something behind. My eyes stopped on a ragged and torn bag laying on the cold floor. Lifting it up, I rummaged through its contents. Inside it was a squashed loaf of bread, probably crushed by whatever had torn the bag with its claws. The bag was still usable, though. I could carry some things in it until I found something better in the village. Stuffing the bread into my mouth, I continued searching the bag. There was a letter addressed to someone¡ªa village whore, it seemed. An empty potion bottle. Two Elmarst Crowns. Strange. Why would someone leave these behind? There was also a dagger, now broken in half. Useless. I pocketed the crowns and froze for a moment as coins clinked in my pocket. As I pulled out a handful of the coins, confused by my own situation. I know for sure, they weren¡¯t there before. A Handful of Elmarst Crowns. How did they¡ª Pushing the thought aside, I continued searching the cave. My eyes caught sight of something small and sparkling on the cold floor. I quickly picked it up. It was a blue gemstone, surprisingly cold, like ice and sparkled wildly like a diamond. Water Mana Stone Acquired +10 XP +10 MP +1 Luck The system went crazy with its updates. NEW STATUS UPDATE Name: Elio Age: 24 Class: Elementalist Level 1 MP: 30 XP: 20/70 DEX: 12 LUCK: 17 Speed: 14 Strength: 7 Attack Power: 20/100 CHA: ? SKILL: AGILE ATTACKS Weapon: ? Elmarst Crowns: 366 Reputation: 20 House: ? What even is the use of these mana stones? I wondered. Maybe I could do something with fire since I had already acquired a Fire Mana Stone. To test my theory,I held my hand in front of one of the torches, now nearly extinguished. ¡°Move,¡± I muttered, like a stage magician performing his first trick. I waved my hand in front of the fluttering fire. Nothing happened. I must be missing something. Perhaps there¡¯s a specific way to use this magic. +2 XP I continued searching the cave, but apart from the bag and the mana stone, there was nothing else left behind. Maybe someone had already looted the place. But why did they leave behind a mana stone? I know for sure that they must be rare. For now, I was satisfied with my findings, I slung the bag over my right shoulder and took the torch before stepping out of the cave. I hadn¡¯t noticed it before, but I was standing atop a cliff. The view was breathtaking. A river flowed from the south, winding through the landscape. To the east, a cluster of lights sparkled along the riverbank, signalling the presence of a settlement, maybe a village or a city that I was looking for. The west side was walled, with occasional lights dotting the perimeter. As my gaze moved north, the lights stretched into the distance until they blurred into a single, glowing line. I think this is my destination. Unbeknownst to me, I had missed the strange footprints that led deep into the daunting woods. Killian the Cartographer and Mana Stones Part 3 The cold wind greeted my skin like an old enemy, its crystals melting against my warm skin, creating a freezing sensation all over my exposed skin. I walked almost the entire night. The rays of the sun started exposing from the dark blanket of the night sky, slowly turning it grey with occasional hues of orange. As if it cannot await its escape from the canopy of the thick, bouldering sheet of darkness. My eyes watered with tears of joy. The huge and heavy gates of the city were right in front of me. Guarded heavily with strong, tall and bulky masters of magic and sword. How am I going to get inside the city? Do I need some kind of identification? I tried contacting the system for some help. Or a hint. ¡°Visiting Killian- Second to ray¡± What is this supposed to mean now? Should I turn away? Maybe I can figure something out and then return. Looking behind me, the long and dreadful path that I just walked didn¡¯t seem very appealing to tread again. It hollowed a scream of promising agony and torture towards me. Talking a long and cold whiff of the smooth air around me, I moved towards the city gates. As soon as I reached the gates, I was stopped by a 7 feet giant guard with a sword in its hands. It was almost as big as him. It appeared 1 feet wide and 5 feet tall. How does he carry such a thing around? The muscles almost trying to escape his well groomed uniform were an answer of how. He looked heavily well trained. His bulky exterior and his stone hard expression gave me a stern look before speaking. ¡°What brings you here?¡±, his voice rusty and heavy. Maybe from drinking all night long. ¡°What is the code?¡± Code? ¡°Visiting Killian- Second to ray¡±, I replied exactly what the system hinted. Hoping it was something he was asking for. He didn¡¯t answer back, before I could look away he moved his sword towards me. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Matched!!¡±, someone yelled from the tower above the door. His sword stopped midway and he moved to his previous position back on the post acting as if he wasn¡¯t just going to slice me in half right now. The sound of the doors rolling filled my ears like a beautiful symphony. They slowly rolled to the side exposing the beautiful city behind them. It was bustling with happy noises, merchants yelling out their offerings trying to get more clients, children rolling around tires with a wooden stick in the narrow streets almost hitting passerbys near them, girls giggling around the marching royal guards, some dropping their handkerchief towards them. Some beckoning them towards them. It was a sight to see. An assurance. I wasn¡¯t in this unknown world alone. I stepped inside the city gates, taking in the delicious smell of the food around me. ¡°Adventurer foods available here¡±, signs on some shops said. ¡°Come try our shops sunday special baos¡±, a young frail looking girl urged as she tugged my arm and guided me towards her shop. I was too hungry to argue so I followed her excitedly. I eagerly rubbed my hands together as the steaming hot plate of baos settled in front of me. I took a long look at it. But the moment I bit into the bao, disappointment settled in. This is shit. The flavour was bland and the texture hard and dry. I would not even feed this to my least favourite horse. I swallowed the hard bao and slowly washed down the remaining flavours with their house brewed wine. This was the only thing on their menu that was remotely decent. I watched as the two farmers seated near emptied their bowls, slammed 2 coins on the wooden table and took their leave. Maybe this is how they do things at this place. I didn''t want to attract any unnecessary attention and carefully studied what other people in the restaurant were doing. Since I didn¡¯t know any etiquette of this place, I have to learn by imitating their behaviour. Feeling confident, I did the same thing. Slamming 2 coins on the wooden table, I yelled, ¡°Thank you for the food¡± and took my leave. Looking at the street in front of me, there were thousands of shops that I wanted to explore. Before I could step forward and see what this new and colourful world had to offer, i was greeted with the dreadful screen of the system. Find Killian the Cartographer and Commission the map of Elmarst. Quest Duration: 45 mins Reward: +20 XP +10 Elmarst Crowns +Map Unlock Penalty: -100 Elmarst Crowns -30 XP Penalty mission What?? A timed mission and that too where the penalty outweighs the rewards by such a margin?? Killian the Cartographer and Mana stones Part 4 What the heck? How am I supposed to find someone within 45 mins and in an entirely different place? Taking a deep breath. I looked at the holographic timer again. The decreasing numbers aided to my increasing anxiety. I have never been good at working under pressure. Grounding myself, I looked around, looking for someone helpful and friendly looking. My eyes caught a man in his 30¡¯s strolling around with his family in this sunday market. Going up to him, ¡°Excuse me sir, do you know where I can find a Cartographer here? Killian is his name¡±, I said. He stared at me for a second. ¡°You must be new here¡±, he said in a deep and gruffy voice. Before he pointed to the incoming wagon. It was filled with people, sitting on the wooden plagues placed inside the wagon. It was being operated by 2 big bulls and a man sat behind them on a wooden plague that connected to the wagon. A whip in his hand as he tsked the bulls to keep moving. I looked at him confused, seeing the face I made, he replied, ¡°Take that wagon to the west end of the city. You will find his place near the old city hall.¡± Happy and thankful for his help, I took his hand in both of my hands and shook it vigorously, giving him my biggest smile. ¡°Thank you, for your help sir¡± +1 CHA ¡°It''s always my pleasure.¡±, he gave me a nod and joined his family that was inspecting the silk tassels in the nearby shop. Focusing on the Holograph, I checked the time again, 39 mins 50 seconds I need to hurry. I sprinted towards the incoming wagon and hailed it using my hand. ¡°Where ya going?¡±, the man with the whip asked. ¡°The west end¡± ¡°You have money? I charge 5 crowns till the west end.¡± Nodding. I showed him the 5 crowns. ¡°Make space for a passenger!!¡±, he shouted, causing a commotion of shifting and moving inside the wagon and finally there was enough space for 3 more people in the wagon. ¡°Whatcha watching? Get in¡± I nodded and quickly stepped on the creaking step, finding a nice place to sit and enjoy the bustling market views. The scent of the warm spices and the aroma of hot and sizzling street food coated my nose as the wagon moved forward. My eyes tried to take in as much of this new world as possible and imprint this beautiful scenery in the back of my head. Taking a deep breath I let the fresh air of the cold breeze freshen up my lungs. This whole experience was surreal. Now that I have some time to myself to think about it, what is happening? Still somewhere in my mind I sometimes think that this is nothing but a dream, but I don''t want it to end. For me, this is the chance I have always wanted. The days I spent daydreaming about that maybe I can escape the daily hustle and live my life as an adventurer exploring a different land from scratch, making friends, getting stronger and uncovering the secrets of a new world. A sudden push pulled me out of my thoughts as the wagon came to a stop. I looked at the timer. I had only 20 mins left. I got off the wagon and tossed the driver 5 crowns who gave me a nod and a salut in return. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. There were several buildings congested in this area. It was a small slum. There were shops on the first floor and living quarters above. I followed the arrow that suddenly appeared in my vision. Probably a hint from the system. The buildings that surrounded the area looked surreal, with same color of paints repeating occasionally. They all had almost the same designs, just different sizes. Some were small, some were big, some looked like there were several buildings stacked on top of other. The use of red brick was prominent in all of the buildings. The windows were cut out of wood and almost all floors adorned big wooden windows that opened outwardly. This can be a hazard. The arrow suddenly halted in front of an old shop. Its doors were open and it looked like all the books and papers inside the store were spilling outside on the street. There was a narrow path to enter inside the store. I stepped carefully, not wanting to stain any paper laying outside with my muddy shoes. As I stepped in, my claustrophobia started to act up. The store was huge in length, but its width looked like it was only inches wider than the wagon I travelled in. The bookshelves were bound to the walls rounding the entire store and were filled with books till the top of its highest end. But there was no one inside here, at least I couldn''t see anyone. Signing, ¡° Is anyone here? ¡°, I said out loud. ¡°Hello?¡±I tried again, looking around the store hoping to at least catch a glimpse of someone. ¡°Hello¡±, suddenly a voice from somewhere echoed. ¡°Where are you?¡± I twisted my head and scanned the store, again, no sight of anyone. ¡°I am he-¡±, the voice was cut short by the sudden sound of someone plummeting to the floor right in the middle of the heaping mountain of books. Shocked, nothing came out of my mouth. And my face adorned an even shocking expression when I saw what fell in front of me. It was a dwarf. He ran his hand through his hair while giving me a smug smile, smiling nervously, he asked, ¡°How can I help you today?¡± ¡°I can tell that fall hurts. Are you okay? I am looking for someone named Killian.¡±, I asked worriedly. I hope he did not hurt his head while falling. My timer is running out. I am now down to 9 mins. ¡°Ah-Killian, That would be me. What can I do for you?¡±, the dwarf said, running his hand in his hair again, he looked more nervous than before now. ¡°I don''t remember borrowing money from you?¡± ¡°I am not a debt collector. I am here to commission a map¡±, I waved my hands in front of him, assuring him. Rubbing his hands together, he smiled gleamingly and said, ¡°WOW, thats great. This is usually the slow time of the year. I am glad you came here young traveller.¡° ¡°How do you know I am a traveller?¡± , I inquired curiously, even the passerby who gave me directions, pointed that I was new here He shrugged his shoulders and pointed towards me, ¡°Its the way you dress. ¡° I looked at him confused. Waving his hands again, he continued ¡°You are wearing a cotton shirt and leather pants. Everyone here in Elmarst wears at least their families crest on top of their clothes, plus everyone is here so fashionable, they would never leave there houses dresses like that-¡±, he pointed at my clothes up and down ¡° Since you don''t look demented, you are most probably bot from here¡± ¡°What about the orphans who don''t know about their birth families?¡± He looked at me confused. ¡°You said everyone here wears their family crest on them¡± Nodding he replied, ¡°They wear the house crest, it''s known as children of the Empire. Otherwise, if they are adopted they would wear their adopted families crests.¡± ¡°Also where is your Permission Tag?¡± The more I talk to this guy, the more confused I get. ¡°I don¡¯t have one?¡± ¡°Strange, you should have gotten one when you entered through the gates. Are you from Elmarst?¡± ¡°I lost my memory, I don''t remember anything¡± I hope this guy stops pestering me anymore. Time is running out. Commission a Map. I looked at the timer. I had only 3 more minutes left. Hurrying, I pleaded, ¡° I need to commission a map of Elmarst Kingdom. I don''t remember anything about my past and I want to know where I am from. So I am going to start with this place.¡± I hoped he would take my word and not pester me anymore. Or worst suspect me as a spy of a kingdom. Time Left 2 mins 20 seconds. Killian the Cartographer and Mana Stones Part 5 ¡°No, I don¡¯t like tea. I just want to know if you can do the job or not; otherwise, I can go somewhere else.¡± ¡°There is only one cartographer in the entire city,¡± he said, looking at me smugly. I held back a groan. The last thing I needed today was this man¡¯s ego, especially with a penalty mission hanging over my head. I don¡¯t want that penalty mission! Time Left: 2 mins 20 seconds. He looked at me and sighed, lowering his head. ¡°Listen, I know another kid like you. He¡¯s also suffering like you. Maybe this is a new plague, affecting young kids in this country.¡± When will he stop yapping? I glanced at the timer again: 1 min 45 seconds left. ¡°So, will you commission me a map or not? I understand you have a family to feed. I have money. Just tell me your price, and I¡¯m willing to pay it.¡± 1 min 11 seconds. "We can talk about that later. Do you want some dandelion tea? I got some fresh from the market today.¡± Argh! This guy. ¡°Map?!¡± I said, gritting my teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I will commission the map for you!¡± he finally said, giving me the golden words I¡¯d been craving. Relief washed over me, like a parched traveler stumbling upon an oasis in the desert. Quest Complete +20 XP +10 Elmarst Crowns +Map Unlock ¡°How much longer will it take to finish?¡± I asked. ¡°If you want it today, it¡¯ll be 10 Elmarst Crowns. If you can wait until next week, it¡¯s 8.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Today it is,¡± I replied, handing over 10 crowns rolled in a cloth. He snatched the money from my hands and shoved it into his back pocket. ¡°You can wait by the other side of the shop. My house is over there if you need to rest.¡± What is this world like, exactly? Who even lets strangers stay in their house? But before I could say anything, he gave me a gentle shove toward the back door. I pushed the doors open, expecting disappointment, but an unexpected sight greeted my eyes¡ªa cozy cabin stood in the middle of a vast expanse of greenery, bordered by wooden fences. Both sides of the cabin were lined with vegetable patches, some ripe, some rotting. Sighing, I headed towards the cabin. The wooden door looked at least a century old, crusty and clearly was a permanent home to woodworms. Sighing, I wrapped my cold hands around the doorknob, ---What could go wrong? -- and just as I twisted it¡ªfwip!¡ªan arrow was jutted into the doorframe, just a few inches above my hand. Am I under attack? Before I could turn, unknown but powerful hands gripped my shoulders, holding me in place as a dagger with a gemstone-studded hilt was pressed against my neck¡ªas -- a warning. If I moved, I¡¯d be done for. ¡°What¡¯s your business here?¡± a rough voice snarled in my ear. ¡°The dwarf sent me to¡­ to rest here,¡± I stammered, my pulse racing. ¡°His name is Killian,¡± the voice growled. ¡°Y-yes, him,¡± I somehow managed to twist out of his hold. I finally looked at my attacker and nearly lost my composure at the sight. The man had a striking red mullet, his dark eyes glinted beneath the ends of his hair. His nose was sharp, his full lips were set in a scowl, and he was built like a fortress beneath the worn fabric of his thin tunic. He paused, after scanning me, he raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why did he send you here?¡± ¡°To rest. I just commissioned a map from him.¡± "To rest?!", he scoffed at my reply and continued ¡°Strangers aren¡¯t welcome here¡± "That old man never understands", he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. He squinted at me, then added, ¡°Go stay at a nearby inn.¡± ¡°And if I don¡¯t want to?¡± I challenged. This man was bruising my ego. Even though I¡¯d have stayed at an inn if Killian hadn¡¯t insisted, I was not going to back down now. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to make you leave,¡± he retorted. Before I could react, he swung his fist. A jolt of pain exploded across my face as I hit the ground. ¡°As if this wasn¡¯t humiliating enough,¡± he muttered, turning away. I gritted my teeth and grabbed his ankle with my trembling hand, the rough fabric grazing my skin. ¡°Do you have any idea what I just went through to get here?¡± I spat. He froze, his eyes narrowing as he looked down at me. Then, with a twist of his mouth, he leaned down, studying me with a mixture of suspicion and something else¡­ amusement? ¡°Strange,¡± he murmured, almost to himself. ¡°He never sends anyone here. Especially not on purpose.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡±, I said backing away. Killian the Cartographer and Mana Stones Part 7 ¡°What do you mean?¡± I said, backing away. ¡°Nichola, how are you treating our guests!?¡± Killian¡¯s shrill voice cut our exchange short. His small figure wobbled along the muddy pavement until he finally reached me. The red-haired man¡ªwho was apparently called Nichola¡ªstood straight, still digging daggers at me with his eyes. Killian sighed and reached out with one hand behind my shoulder to help me up, his small fingers brushing my shoulder as he tried to steady me. This body was weak; it couldn¡¯t even handle a small hit and my jaw was ablaze from the punch. Killian turned toward Nichola with his hands on his hips, tapping his foot impatiently against the dirt. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for an explanation,¡± he said sternly, looking at Nichola, who looked flushed red with embarrassment. I cannot believe that for someone so imposing, he¡¯s scared of a ..¡­dwarf. ¡°But he was snooping around,¡± Nichola replied defensively, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°He¡¯s the kid I was talking about,¡± Killian explained, turning back to me. Concern overshadowed the anger in his eyes. ¡°Please forgive him; he¡¯s a troubled child. I took him in a few months ago. He doesn¡¯t remember where he came from,¡± he added in a low voice. Is this why he sent me here? A part of me still didn¡¯t want to trust this guy. ¡°Come, I want to give you something,¡± he said, leading me toward his house.Every wall was lined with towering bookshelves, crammed with stacks of books, scrolls, and loose papers. The floors were clean enough for me to admire my reflection. The middle of the room had a desk, again stacked to top with papers, a curtain separated the work area from the living as I could see two twin beds near the fireplace through the sheer curtain. Small glass lamps lit the room, which felt warmer and cozier than outside,my eyes dimmed at the sudden change in atmosphere. I glanced at Killian in surprise as he levitated a scroll from the top of an overflowing bookshelf. Worried it might all come crashing down, I reflexively covered my head, earning a scoff from Nichola. I turned to glare at him, but he just rolled his blue eyes. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. This bastard! ¡°Elio, this is for you,¡± Killian said, handing me an old scroll covered in dust. Wait¡ª ¡°How do you know my name? I don¡¯t remember telling you,¡± I asked, alarmed, taking a step back. ¡°He¡¯s obviously a mana user¡­¡± Nichola muttered, as if I should have known, rolling his eyes again. -1 CHA. What? Why? System? My Charisma!?? Why is this man draining my charm?! ¡°Elio, dear, listen. I can sense a Mana core inside you. You mustn¡¯t let anyone know you can wield mana, especially your type,¡± Killian explained in a calm and low voice, anxiousness flickered across his face as he leaned closer. ¡°You have an elemental core,¡± he whispered. Nichola looked at Killian, then at me, his face flooded with shock. He opened his mouth, then closed it, only air escaping him. Why are they reacting like this? It must be because I have a one-of-a-kind elemental core. Ha! Take that, runny-nose Nichola! ¡°We cannot have him here!¡± Nichola suddenly shouted at Killian. ¡°If the royal guards find out, we¡¯d all be executed!¡± E-executed? He doesn''t mean ¡­.? ¡°Killian, I¡¯m going to report him!¡± Nichola said, taking a step toward the door. But before he could exit, Killian levitated him in the air. ¡°You¡¯re axing your own foot!¡± Nichola bellowed. Seeing the commotion in the cottage my heart palpitated with anxiousness.I lifted my hand, hoping someone would answer my question. ¡°Why would we be executed?¡± I asked innocently. ¡°We?!¡± Nichola turned pale, still squirming in the air, desperate to get out of Killian¡¯s hold, ¡°Elemental magic is punishable by death,¡± Killian answered. ¡°Centuries ago, the continents reached an agreement deeming all elementalists enemies of the state. Possessing an elemental core carries an automatic death sentence.¡± F**k me. Killian the Cartographer and Mana Stones Part 7 ¡°Elemental magic is punishable by death,¡± Killian answered. ¡°Centuries ago, the continents reached an agreement deeming all elementalists enemies of the state. Possessing an elemental core carries an automatic death sentence.¡± F**k me. And f**k the system! And f**k this game! My eyes darkened as I asked the next question, anger coiled tight within me ¡°And. How. Do. You. Know. That I have an elemental core?¡± ¡°Let me go, Killian!¡± Nichola demanded from above, his voice contained a mix of anger and desperation. If he can know, then other people can know too. ¡°My core can sense any energy, and I haven¡¯t sensed your kind in the last 300 years. I deduced it must be elemental,¡± Killian explained, as he unrolled a dusty, ancient scroll. The tiny palms of his hand brushed away the specs of dust that coated it. ¡°Try this spell. If it works, I¡¯m correct,¡± he said, trying to hand me the scroll. ¡°I don¡¯t trust you,¡± I said, backing away, moving toward the door to exit. ¡°If not me, then someone else will find out, and they sure as hell won¡¯t think twice before selling you out!¡± Killian yelled from behind, making me stop in my tracks. He paused, a calculating gleam suddenly made its way to his eyes, ¡°Your kind goes for 1,000 Elmarst Crowns" I froze as horror creeped up my spine, He¡¯s a money-hungry fox; I saw it in his eyes before. With a sigh, I approached Killian and snatched ted the the scroll from his hands. The specs of dust clung to the pads of my fingers as I held the sides of the scroll to keep it from folding. Stolen novel; please report. Clearing my throat, I started. ¡°Ignis, si verum est.¡± Nothing happened. Killian¡¯s face dropped. ¡°Maybe I was wro¡ª¡± Before he could finish, all the lamps in his cottage went out. ¡°What the hell!?¡± Nichola¡¯s voice echoed inside the cottage. Suddenly, the lamps blazed back to life, the flames no longer tame and small, as they consumed the wick of the lamp, casting distorted shadows across the room, before they plunged back into darkness, ¡°I knew it!¡± I could almost hear Killian clenching his fists with conviction in the dark. ¡°Killian! Ouch! Where did you land me!?¡± Nichola¡¯s voice came from somewhere near the floor, followed by the sound of books and metal falling. ¡°That¡¯s not my hand, dear!¡± Killian yelped. ¡°AHHHHHHH!¡± That was Nichola, and I honestly didn¡¯t want to know what he grabbed. ¡°Wait, dear!¡± I heard the sound of two hands clapping, which made the large curtain around the window move aside, letting sunlight flood in. Nichola sat on the floor with his hand on his face, wearing a look of shock and defeat as he replayed what happened. Killian summoned another scroll and handed it to me. Seeing my confused expression, he explained, ¡°Make this your mission, Elio.¡± Killian¡¯s eyes shone ominously as he spoke. ¡°And take Nichola with you. He¡¯s young and has a lot to learn from this world.¡± ¡°Are you not putting Nichola¡¯s life in danger by making him follow me?¡± I asked, looking at him suspiciously. Killian Scoffed ¡°I sensed your core because you don''t know how to mask it, If you can learn that, you will become unstoppable, I can see that.¡± He looked me at me with conviction. ¡°And why are you helping me? I know you love money. You could easily sell me and make a commission,¡± I said, making sure he knew the edge of distrust in my voice, ¡°There is a time for everything,¡± he stated, handing me another scroll. It looked brand new, tied shut with a red string that seemed freshly knotted. I tucked the other scroll behind the band of my trousers. I tugged on the end of the string, pulling it open. The scroll unrolled itself melodiously, revealing a map¡ªof Elmarst. Its design reflected the finest craftsmanship. Every line looked precise, every curve seemed to dance with life, crafted with the utmost care, as if it were woven by gods themself. ¡°Woah,¡± I breathed in admiration. ¡°I can see why there¡¯s only one Cartographer. How could anyone compete with you?¡± I continued, still admiring the map. ¡°Hah! Told you so,¡± he said, smirking cockily. I closed the map and looked at him again. ¡°I don¡¯t trust you or that hooligan over there,¡± I said, pointing to Nichola, who was still sitting on the floor in the same position. Killian chuckled, his gaze sharp and knowing. ¡°Trust is a luxury in these lands, Elio. But remember this¡ªsometimes, even enemies have a common purpose.¡± With that, he turned away, leaving me holding the map and my doubts as I felt the weight of his words sink into the depths of my mind. Mana Stones and Elemental Core Part 1 NEW SPELL UNLOCKED +50 XP LEVEL COMPLETE XP: 70/70 +10 MP NEW STATUS UPDATE Name: Elio Age: 24 Class: Elementalist Level: 2 MP: 40 XP: 22/120 DEX: 12 LUCK: 17 Speed: 14 Strength: 7 Attack Power: 25/100 CHA: 0 SKILL: AGILE ATTACKS Weapon: ? Elmarst Crowns: 366 Reputation: 20 House: ? NEW MISSION UNLOCKED: STABILIZE ELEMENTAL CORE REWARD: +100 XPA case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. +20 MP MISSION: STEAL MORPHING POTION LOCATION: ESRA ROYAL LIBRARY Nichola had followed me because of Killian¡¯s wishes. According to the system and the scroll Killian had given me, I needed to steal the morphing potion from the city¡¯s royal library before heading to my next mission with Nichola. ¡°Why are you following me!?¡± I snapped, breaking the silence that stretched too thin between us. Unbothered he continued walking lazily, his hands clasped behind his head as a lazy smirk tugged his lips. He met my question with amusement in his eyes and a scoff only deepened my irritation. I sighed and continued walking ahead when he suddenly replied, ¡°I owed him a favour, and now he can consider it taken care of.¡± He paused, carefully choosing his words. ¡°Also, you seem like an interesting character,¡± he scoffed at his own response. Why do I have to be stuck with him? I mentally groaned but kept moving. Having someone with me was good, even if there was a 90% chance he would abandon me in a life-or-death situation. ¡°Stop!¡± Nichola whispered, his tone was sharp and alert. He was suddenly right behind me as his eyes scanned the perimeters in front of us. ¡°There are royal guards all around the premises. We can¡¯t go this way,¡± he explained, his eyes holding an unspoken glint, as if his mind was piecing together a solution. It was honestly frightening when his light green eyes darkened as he reached a conclusion. He grabbed my upper elbow, dragging me along. ¡°We¡¯re taking a different route,¡± he said, leading me through the woods. I studied his focused eyes, which looked deep in thought as he guided me. Despite his laid back and unruly nature, he was strong and him knowing it made him almost regal. Soon enough, my thoughts returned to the present. There could be a bounty on my head soon, and the thought of death being so close - made my blood run cold. I couldn¡¯t die, not so pathetically again. This strengthened something in me¡ªI promised myself I would become the strongest, not for anyone else but for myself. This is a game, and these characters are not human, at least in my eyes. I have to survive, even if it means killing, betraying, or using any of them to reach the top and stay safe. MISSION ADDRESSED SYSTEM UPDATING BECOME THE STRONGEST +30 XP Nichola stopped in front of a messy bush. He reached forward and parted the branches aside, revealing a secret tunnel barely large enough for one to crawl through. I have to do this to survive! I reminded myself as my mind wandered to my fear of tight spaces. Nichola pointed to the tunnel and said, ¡°This way, there¡¯s less chance of getting caught.¡± ¡°After you,¡± I trailed off, indicating he should go first. I didn¡¯t trust him enough to jump into his suggestions. He raised an eyebrow but shrugged and went ahead, even though I expected him to argue. I bit my tongue to hold back the words itching to escape. I swallowed hard and forced the racing thoughts to the back of my mind. Now wasn¡¯t the time for this. My hands trembled as I bent down and crawled behind Nichola. My eyes struggled to adjust to the narrow and dark tunnel, and my hands brushed against the filthy dirt. The growing stench made it even harder to breathe. Finally, we reached the end, which opened into a dungeon. I stood and looked at my hands, covered in grime. The dungeon had the same strange stench, only now it made the air nearly unbreathable. I rubbed my hands on my clothes, trying to clean them, and pulled my shirt up to my nose to breathe. I glanced at Nichola, who seemed perfectly unfazed. ¡°Can¡¯t you smell it?¡± I asked, annoyed He looked at me with a strange glint in his eyes before speaking. ¡°You¡¯ve never smelled blood before?¡± His question was innocent, yet it sent a chill down my spine. Blood? ¡°Blood shouldn¡¯t smell like that,¡± I replied, summoning some strength. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the rotting bodies.¡± Mana Stones and Elemental Core Part 2 "This library used to be a torture center for spies and enemy soldiers before the city decided to shut it down. They never bothered to bury the remaining criminals and simply cemented over the dungeons,¡± he said nonchalantly. A chill raced up my spine, until it settled under the nape of my neck making my hair raise up in fear. I quickened my pace to keep up with him. I was convinced this place had to be haunted. ¡°People avoid coming here at night. They say they often hear screams,¡± Nichola added, confirming my worst fears about this place. The dungeon was vast, with only slivers of light seeping through brick-sized windows high up on the walls. I guessed the windows were deliberately small to prevent prisoners from escaping. Nichola suddenly halted before me, as if sensing my unease. He spun around slowly, an exaggerated smile slowly stretched across his face before he let out an ear-piercing scream. He screamed. I screamed. I screamed even louder, instinctively raising my fists defensively. Seeing my reaction, he burst into hearty laughter, clutching his stomach as he doubled over. ¡°I knew you were a chicken!¡± he managed between gasps of laughter. You will be the first person ,I sacrifice! I mentally cursed him, before I punched the side of his stomach and continued walking. ¡°W-wait! I was just joking!¡± he called after me, still unable to stifle his laughter. ¡°Haha! Idiot,¡± I muttered, rolling my eyes at his antics. Our steps came to a stop when we reached a dead end. I turned towards him questioningly. Signalling me to wait, he held his hand up and gave me a confirming nod before he pushed a stone back in the wall, revealing a hidden door that opened to our right. ¡°How do you know all this¡­?¡± my voice trailed off in amazement.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°I came here once to explore this place and confirm the story about the screams. After that every time I came back, I discovered something new. I know this place like the back of my hand,¡± he replied. ¡°So, did you find out?¡± I asked, curiosity evident in my voice. ¡°Find out what?¡± he replied, confused. ¡°You know¡­. About the screams.¡± ¡°I found nothing. I think the royals made that lore up to keep people away from finding out what they were doing here,¡± he said, his answer bringing me a small sense of relief. There were only two things I feared: ghosts and tight spaces. Today, I had faced them both. ¡°So what are your reasons to come with me?¡± I asked as we stepped through the newly opened door. ¡°To find the Spade Dragon,¡± he casually remarked. ¡°But only someone with an elemental core can access it, which is where you come in,¡± he added smugly. So he won''t betray me at least until he gets his hands on the spade dragon. Noted. ¡°What is a Spade Dragon?¡± I asked, curiously. ¡°It- was an ancient weapon, no one knows if it exists anymore or not, to find it you will need elemental magic¡±, he said as if he was deep in some thought. ¡°And what do I get for helping you?¡±, I looked at him smugly. Now I know that this guy needs me, I might as well boss him around. ¡°How about I don¡¯t report you?¡± he said matter-of-factly. ¡°Though it would be a hassle to find the Spade on my own, I think I can still manage.¡± His words were enough to silence me. ¡°But we¡¯re teammates until we find it, so you can trust me not to pull anything,¡± he added, smirking at me as he raised his hands up in defence. We finally came to a stop in front of a wooden door. Nichola slowly twisted the door knob open as he used his hand to usher me in. We were currently in the barracks of the library and for once I knew what to do. Nichola and I changed into the white and blue uniform of the royal guards,I quickly fastened the golden belt around my waist as Nichola went through some of the papers that were only on the side table, placed near one of the many beds. ¡°What are you doing?!¡±, I whisper shouted as I checked my surroundings. ¡°Maybe there is a map here or somewhere..¡±, he muttered as he messily filtered out all the papers. ¡°Um-hmm¡±, he sounded defeated. Suddenly the system¡¯s voice popped up. Hint: Potion Location - East Wing I glanced at Nichola, who was now staring at the scattered papers with frustration. His furrowed brow and clenched jaw revealed his growing impatience. I knew we couldn¡¯t afford to waste any more time. ¡°Lets search each end of the library..¡±, I suggested ¡°we can start from the east end¡­.¡±, i loosely trailed off. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time, Killian''s spell can wear off any moment and we won''t know how your core will react after that. We have to hurry.¡±, he nodded to himself before he continued, ¡±Yes. You are right¡± Without another word, we both moved, the soft creak of the old floorboards under our feet added to the tension in the room. The east wing awaited us¡ªand hopefully, so did the potion. Mana Stones and Elemental Core Part 3 ¡°We don¡¯t have much time, Killian''s spell can wear off any moment and we won''t know how your core will react after that. We have to hurry.¡±, he nodded to himself before he continued, ¡±Yes. You are right¡± Without another word, we both moved, the soft creak of the old floorboards under our feet added to the tension in the room. The east wing awaited us¡ªand hopefully, so did the potion. We treaded slowly along the narrow hallways of the library hoping our best to avoid any royal guards which might be patrolling at this time. I froze in my tracks when Nicholas'' hands clamped on to my shoulder, he tightened his grip holding me in my place while his other hand pressed a finger to his lips. ¡°Ssshhh¡±, he whispered before he pointed towards a group of guards gossiping near one of the bookshelves. My eyes followed his line of sight before it suddenly caught onto the golden plaque mounted on the wall beside them. ¡°EAST HALL¡± , those words embroidered the shiny plague, I was so close yet so far. We needed a way to avoid the guards. ¡°I will take care of them¡±, Nicholas murmured his voice sounded determined as he took a confident step heading towards them. ¡°You go inside and find the potion.¡±, he said looking over his shoulder. I slowly followed behind him, keeping my head low. The attention of the guards immediately shifted towards Nichola, leaving a smooth opening for me. Moving quickly I slipped through the open door and entered the east hall. Inside the hall, there were various uniformed guards roaming the library with sheets of papers clutched in their hands, they seemed preoccupied, as they scanned the shelves searching for something around the library. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Here you are!¡±, a shrill voice startled me. I turned around slowly to be greeted with a guard with striking yellow hair staring at me. ¡°Hmmm¡­ You are the new hire?! Aren''t you?!¡¯, he questioned squinting his eyes at me before they moved to my name plate, ¡°...Ealyr..¡± , his voice dragged off. Before I could respond to his question, he snapped , ¡°You are late!¡±, as he dumped a stack of papers into my hands. ¡°Here. I want you to mark all the papers by the end of your shift.¡±, he continued. ¡°Find and Mark.¡± as he said those words he brought his finger to the side of his forehead and then pointed towards the stack of papers. With that he turned his back towards me and headed out the door. ¡°Find and mark?¡±, I whispered to myself feeling confused with the newly assigned task. I took a look at the papers stacked on my hands. Recipe of Potion 11, The one underneath it, Grade 9 Potion Recipe, Underneath the same thing. The pages did not list the recipe, it only contained the name and a box to mark where the recipe was located. And they were all unmarked. So he wanted me to find where all the recipes were located.I guess that makes it easier for me. Why steal the potion when I can steal the recipe? A beautiful thought crossed my mind. This can actually work in my favor. I guess. Nodding to myself, I started looking for the section where books with letter M began. After finding the shelf, I began rummaging through all the books quickly. Nicholas could only buy us some time. ¡°M-O¡±, I said to myself as I scanned through the books placed in that section. MORPHING POTION There it was. I did not know it would be this easy. Or so I thought. But before I could do my little victory dance, sirens started blaring through the library. Followed by a scream, ¡°INTRUDER!!!¡± The voice made my hair raise in fear, as I quickly placed the recipe inside my inner breast pocket, but not before grabbing a few more for emergency purposes and stuffing them in all my pockets. A rush of energy surged through my veins as I made a run towards the door before a handful of guards armed with swords blocked my way. ¡°Stop right there!¡± One of them screamed but before he could swing his sword towards me, a dark red arrow was logged into his hand, blood gushing out as he screamed his lungs out holding his hand. My only thought. Nichola. Mana Stones and Elemental Core Part 4 ¡°Stop right there!¡± One of the guards screamed but before he could swing his sword towards me, a dark red arrow was logged into his hand, blood gushing out as he screamed his lungs out holding his hand. As his eyes widened with shock. My thoughts ran towards the only person capable of this, Nichola. ¡°Run!¡±, a jarring scream came from outside the library door. I contemplated running away without him, but I could not do so, I still needed him. He was an asset to my mission and there is no way I would trade that for the liability of completing this mission alone. Should I use the spell Killian gave me? No! That would give away my identity. My mind raced towards all possibilities, firing up all the stem cells, hoping to hit a bullseye with a solution. Yes, Even if this is not the best idea, if i could execute it right it can still work. Narrators POV Nichola¡¯s identity was found out as soon as he had opened his mouth, he was never a convincing liar. The group of guards had attacked him, leaving the left side of his body heavily wounded. In the heat of the moment, he had used his bow and arrow to wound all the guards, only to realise he had put both him and his friend in danger. He held his bow tightly in his hand, feeling the wood tight between his palms. He had a gift from the gods themselves, as long as he was wielding a bow and an arrow, he will always remain undefeated. It has to be, it was a prophecy made on his birth. ¡°Run!¡± Nichola screamed lacing his words with urgency. He himself was surrounded by guards that were lunging at him from every side, as he tried his best to keep them at bay from reaching Elio. This mission needed to be successful, otherwise. From the corner of his eye, nichola watched as Elio, surrounded by the guards, suddenly collapsed on the hard ground. Nichola stood in shock wondering what had just happened. This idiot. His first thought.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. I am going to kill him. His second thought, But first I need to deal with these hooligans. His last thought before his other hand reached for the arrows stored behind his back. His movements were fluid, almost rhythmic, as his bow unleashed a torrent of arrows, each one finding its mark. Few Minutes Before Elio¡¯s first instinct was to run, but that wouldn¡¯t be easy. The guards weren¡¯t just armed¡ªthey were coordinated, and their numbers would make escape through the open a death sentence. He had to think quickly, and in a way that leveraged the skills and advantages he had, not just brute force. He looked around frantically for an exit, but the path ahead seemed blocked, and the buildings were too close together to offer much cover. He looked at the guards with unknown rage as he clapped his hands together, his eyes dark, creating a sense of fear among the guards. Elio¡¯s entire body slowly tingled as he tried exploring the powers of his core, he wanted to keep the guards'' attention on him for Nichola to finish them. An Ominous silence fell upon the guards as they watched Elio whisper something under his breath. Was he an artifact wielder? Cautiously they all took a step back, but still keeping them close enough to attack Elio. Channeling his energy, Elio focused his entire power on the chandelier hanging above the guards - even though he had never done this before - if it goes wrong then this might be his end, if the guards sense any elemental energy from him. Slowly he channeled a small amount of his elemental energy and focused on the chandelier hanging above the guards. I just need a small amount. He thought as he almost became breathless trying to harness the energy. Slowly and slowly he felt something draining his core. Maybe that¡¯s how it works?! A small flick of fire found its way to the rope Elio was focusing on for so long,the rope slowly melted, unstabilizing the chandelier above. Sweat poured down Elio¡¯s entire body as he tried hard to maintain his focus, his very soul tingled with the sudden rush of adrenaline; his hands trickled with wetness from his body heat not long before his skin turned dark red and with a sudden shock, his felt his body falling into darkness before it hit the cold and hard floor with a loud thump. Now Panting heavily from the intense match with the guards, Nichola stood amidst the wreckage as he turned towards the guards surrounding Elio, ready for another fight. But before he could take a step towards them, large boulder came crashing down the guards surrounding elio, though they were not completely taken out by it, it immobilised them long enough for him to act. He quickly headed towards Elio, catching a glimpse of what he thought was a boulder. ¡°A Chandelier?!¡±, he whispered under his breath, confused. Quickly he threw Elio over his shoulder and ran towards the library exit before more guards could come for reinforcement. Unbeknownst to them, a shadowy figure atope on of the library towers watched their silhouettes disappear into the dense woods. With a glint of intrigue in their eyes, the figure whispered to themselves, ¡°Interesting¡­¡±