Master Of None

The change in seriousness for everyone had been radical. Every single leader and person associated with the focus on following the leaders of their races found all of their new duties to have changed yet again. There were many tasks that were now prepared for them to begin training new people.

This was the majority of Genesis.

The first to be on expedition for the elemental planes was an honor that some believed would be the start of their family legacy. To be fair, that was a good idea since there was a high chance that they would be able to learn a great deal about what they could become beyond the average.

While this seemed to be a strange perspective for those researching and exploring the world as a whole, they also understood that the elemental planes were connecting more and more to the world.

It was the mages of the magic tower, rune carvers, and other magic classes were the most focused on this.

They were all closely related to the advancement in magic and understanding of mana. Of course, this also meant magic runes and rune formations. Both were greatly affected by the bridges to the elemental planes.

The naturally formed elemental runes were becoming more stable which would allow more places for smaller magic towers to be built. There were already multiple being built due to the changes in the world's mana and the increased growth in the naturally formed elemental runes.

These naturally formed elemental runes had been both created through planting some herb gardens and other rune formations nearby and also just normally appeared. Now that they were being anchored so to speak with the small magic towers mana would be purified and enhanced again. Those areas already showed some effects.

The naturally formed water rune had a small magic tower built next to it that helped draw more mana in. It was one of the first completed and the result brought the smaller aquatic monsters closer. The entire lake that surrounded it was showing an excess of these aquatic monsters.

They might be weaker now but it was a surety they would grow even more as time went on. The thing was, when it was noticed that the water elemental plane was leaving mana to the world temporarily as it shifted naturally, the water rune grew in size for a short while.

It proved connections even clearer. Therefore those associated with magic at all wanted to be involved even more deeply. If they could chase the sources of these naturally formed elemental tunes and the depths of mana itself they could find enlightenment.

Walker would highly rely on these people because they would be some of the greater forces working toward the growth of Genesis and the elemental planes.

Otherwise, Walker knew that there was more to all of this. The prowl working to venture with him had to be trained to have the mana itself as a danger too.

This caused the start of a new training regiment. Su was leading it specifically because she had trained in these ways before.

The intense manas that were present within the elemental planes were enough to damage many just by being there. This wasn't considering those who didn't have the affinity for whatever elemental plane they would be in at the time.

Therefore, the rotating resistance training began. Groups wishing to apply for the expedition in to the elemental planes had to pass the trial of surviving time in each of the mana focused territories of Genesis.

Su oversaw all of it while the individual tests were done by the royal dragons themselves. They were the ones creating the intense areas of mana which were used to temper the restaurants of the applicants. While others could also participate, not many were there just to train themselves.

Some joined in just because they could, many were the soldiers and guards of Genesis or visiting groups of training guards who would return to their kingdoms. They would be able to advance the most by doing this and bringing their knowledge home.

This didn't mean Walker was idle. He had moved to the most recent bridge to the elemental planes. The dragon who had arrived with unique fused earth and fire affinities was still resting in pools of magma which was necessary for them to remain healthy. But the bridge had stopped spewing the mixed manas and was now only focused on fire mana.

This meant that the fire elemental plane was on the other side of this specific bridge. He could sense that the flow of the fire elemental plane would not be as quick to pass. Whether it was the changes to his body involving better use and understanding of space or just instinct it was something Walker knew for certain.

This gave him the time he needed to try and contact the true fire sage. Someone who could allow them safe entry in to the fire elemental planes. It was also someone who could easily speak to the literal embodiment of fire, one of the elemental kings.

Once one of the elemental kings knew that Genesis was venturing in to the elemental planes it would become clear that to the other elemental kings what the intentions were and how relationships could grow.

While the true sages were also somewhat embodiments of each elemental mana, there was a very high chance that those who ventured from the world would also begin to make bonds with the elemental kings and manas at a deeper level.

This wasn't even considering the unknown races who lived safely within the elemental planes. The elemental kings could easily influence the elemental planes and stop anyone from even nearing one of the races or interacting with certain materials existing in them.

Without traveling in to the bridge itself, Walker began to meditate and sense the manas. He felt the fire and he even sensed the foundations of space mana allowing a smooth flow of fire mana through the bridge itself.

He even started to pick up on the small amounts of other manas flowing back through the bridge from the world. They were manas carried by the smallest and weakest of the elemental spirits. They mixed manas and followed their instincts, balancing the world and the elemental planes.

What struck Walker as amazing was that he couldn't and others most likely could not have sensed these smaller and very weak elemental spirits before. Odds are he was and maybe the spirit race were the only ones who even knew they existed. They might not even be the lesser spirits yet, but they were moving according to nature.

It also struck him that this might be how the world expanded. The elemental planes would slowly but surely become even more attached to the world.

Just imagining the future where the world was not simply attached by the bridges to the elemental planes but a clear transition in to a vast expanse of elemental attuned lands which came together in to the massive central world. It made him wonder just what potential there was for a future like this.

His control over a small portion of fire mana flickered causing Walker to understand he had been noticed. When he felt the fire mana pulling away from him, he stood up and walked in to the bridge to the elemental planes.

It would take some time to get all the way through but he could sense some of the fire mana moving toward him so he would not need to get all the way there before meeting who he needed to speak with.

The fire mana was condensing and small flames taking human like chapels met him. Even though Walker couldn't make out a defined face he felt that he was being watched and listened to. The true sage of fire was not actually here themselves but had used mana to meet him, something that showed off the high control of mana.

"I am here to discuss expeditions in to the elemental planes. I need to understand manas and their part in existence along with how they come together to become part of the world itself. We as an alliance uniting races also wish to grow with the help of those under the protection of the true sages and elemental rulers."

While blunt, Walker knew that it was better to be clear and honest than talk around why he was here. Especially since the true sage of fire might have more tendencies to act heated due to his relationship with fire mana as a whole.

"Why do you think you would be protected when coming here. The flames of the fire elemental planes are unforgiving and also grant the chance at life. It is up to you if you can survive here. I will not spend my time protecting others when I have tasks to guard the balance above all else."

The words echoed with fierce heat which Walker resisted much more strongly than what the true fire sage expected. Not that Walker realized this. Instead, there was another long silence between them while they both thought about how to act or respond.

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