"Damn. Haaa, Haaa." Dallas pulled the makeshift sled while panting "This thing is heavy as hell!" He exclaimed.

"What'd you expect? The thing is massive." Paul quipped as he helped.

The deer bear creature they had slain was flopped over the sled and dragged along behind. They had unanimously decided to dub the animals of this world beasts since their strength and size went against the normal understanding of animals.

Kade listened in as he flipped through a book. The fight had enlightened him on many things, and he began to realize what he was missing. He needed more options both in and out of combat. For example, a spell capable of decreasing weight for a while would be helpful right now.

His mind ran wild as he replayed the battle and thought of imaginative ways he could have disabled the beast. Surely he would find such methods in the book of spells Graakas provided, and if not they might sell them to him. For now, he had to settle with learning as many spells in the book as possible.

As such, his time was divided between his responsibilities to the team, studies, experimentation, and cultivation. It was safe to say that his life would be extremely busy for the foreseeable future.

After some time, they swapped out pulling the beast along. Kade and Julian took over to give the others some rest even though their speed declined slightly. This way, they managed to continue moving and returned to camp relatively early. One thing was for sure, they wouldn't be leaving camp again tonight for anything other than firewood and water.

"Whew." Julian plopped down "It's been a while since I've been so exhausted. Reminds me of my time in the field."

Kade sat beside him. "You had a combat assignment too?" He said while raising a brow.

"Yep. a good portion of my service was combat deployment."

Kade nodded. He had already felt a slight sense of camaraderie with Julian as they had both experienced the terrors of the night watch. Now, it seemed that they shared more experiences. He figured Julian would be his first friend on the team.

"Yours too, I'm guessing?"

"That's right." Kade nodded

"Combat?"

"Yeah, for the first two years. Then I moved to MAGTF. And let me guess, you were special reconnaissance?"

"Heh, bingo. I guess being sneaky is in my blood."

"True enough. You seem damn good at it."

"Right. Well, going for the joint was pretty smart too."

Kade nodded as his brows furrowed slightly. The conversation came to a lul due to the new tension. He wasn't exactly happy with their performance today, his included. He was lacking altaris so he could only do so much, but the speed of his spell casting was abysmal in his eyes.

As for his teammates. Their strength was satisfactory, but they attacked wildly and didn't use their heads. After the first attack, they should have realized that it was going to be a drawn-out battle and focused on disabling the beast.

He couldn't be too upset though. Not every soldier went to combat, and this was their first battle. Not to mention, CQC with cold weapons was completely different from a ranged engagement. He had to cut everyone a bit of slack. Except himself, of course.

"Better than yesterday." He mumbled as he began cultivating. Rather than spreading himself too thin, he returned what was left of his attention to the teal flower, spinning it between his fingers as he examined it.

Unfortunately, he could only learn so much by looking at it. It would be best to take it back for analyzing than destroying it in experimentation. So, he packed it away safely and moved on to his studies. There was a spell he was interested in learning.

Entangle. The spell targetted an area and would cause vines to sprout and entangle anything within.

The good thing about this spell was that it was marked as having a low consumption. Not to mention, it would mesh well with a fireball as the fire would ignite the vines. Perhaps he could use it in succession with the freeze spell to increase his crowd control potential.

Kade realized that he was lacking in many ways and needed to improve quickly. The best method spell-wise was crowd control. He would leave the majority of the damage to his teammates and focus on making combat as easy and safe as possible. Entangle seemed to be the best choice.

So, all of his free time was spent cultivating and learning the spell. Unfortunately, it would take some time to learn Entangle.

Spells worked by manipulating altaris, usually converting it. Like with fire, he would convert his altaris into fire element particles. Blind was difficult to learn at first because it used light particles that he was unfamiliar with. However, once he learned the spell of a specific nature, it would be easier to learn other spells of that nature.

Entangle used nature particles. He had always associated nature with life and believed it to be orderly. However, he found that it seemed quite chaotic and unruly. It made sense if he thought of nature energy as life. Life was never easy to control, or humans would be far more advanced in the biological sciences.

He was forced to close the book because he was dozing off while trying to read. Luckily, he wasn't on night watch tonight and could get a good sleep.

...

Kade woke just before dawn feeling refreshed. He wasn't as groggy as normal and instead felt clear-headed and energized. Peering over, he saw Dallas who looked as if he had seen better days.

"Heh, couldn't relax could you?" he chuckled as he sat on a log by the coals.

"Who the hell could relax with all that racket?" Dallas grumbled, his shoulders sagging in relief.

Kade nodded before opening his book again and continuing where he left off. His mind wandered as he read. Why did he feel so much better this morning? Was it due to getting a good night's sleep, or maybe because he was cultivating for a long time before falling asleep? Perhaps it was a combination of the two.

All he knew for sure right now was that altaris is a miraculous form of energy. It caused him so much wonder and excitement because it seemed to be able to make the impossible, possible. He decided that the moment he learned Entangle, he would devote that time to learning more about altaris.

The team woke one by one and gathered around the pit. Kade looked at them and noticed that they all seemed even more tired this morning than they did the morning before. That fact just reinforced the importance he placed on altaris and cultivation.

"So, uh. What's the plan for today?" Victor asked as he gentle palmed his stomach that was covered in gauze.

Dallas rubbed his neck before sighing "We should probably take it easy today. We're all tired, and we used a lot of resources yesterday."

"Thank the lord!" Paul exclaimed as his body bent "My wounds still burn."

"Mine too." Dallas nodded "And Vic needs some extra recovery after yesterday. Besides, we have enough food."

Everyone nodded as they looked at the hanging tarp just outside of camp. They had dressed the beast and kept the meat in the tarp. They washed the bones in the river and stored them in their rucksacks. The skin was too damaged so they didn't keep much of it, and the rest they discarded.

Once the plans were decided, Kade retreated off to the side, sitting against a tree, and studied while the others chatted around the fire pit. There wasn't much they needed to do today other than refilling canteens and collecting wood, so he would have an entire day to improve himself!

Of course, that was the best-case scenario. His teammates didn't seem content with allowing him to have his way.

"What're you doin' actin' all antisocial over there?" Paul complained as he leaned back to see.

Kade's immersion broke and he looked up "What?"

"I asked why you're being antisocial. We ain't entertainin' enough for you?"

"Nah, that's not it." Kade shook his head as he closed the book and raised it "I'm a mage, remember? I have to study to learn new spells and increase my effectiveness."

"Good then." Paul scoffed "It'd be nice if you pulled your weight."

Kade furrowed his brows as he frowned. He wasn't sure what he did to get on pauls bad side, but he was growing tired of the snide remarks and arrogant attitude. Insinuating that he hadn't been doing his part was ignorant and insulting, especially since his crowd control was vital in yesterday's battle.

However, rather than start a fight, he chose to return to his book. He made sure to remember that comment though. Thankfully, he was able to spend four hours buried in the pages of the book before someone else interrupted him.

"Mind going with me to explore the surroundings? I plan to kill any small beasts I come across and I could use your help."

Kade looked at Julian for a moment before snapping the book shut and standing up. "Sure. I've pretty much memorized the spell at this point anyway."

They left camp and began to circle the area. Unable to contain his curiosity, Kade asked the question on his mind.

"Why'd you ask me instead of Chelsea? Her gun would be useful for hunting."

"Heh, I don't think so." Julian chuckled and shook his head "The beasts here are tough and without altaris enhanced shots, I doubt she can kill them before they run away."

Kade nodded. She had managed to wound the beast yesterday, but they were all superficial and barely penetrated. They were effective at distraction, but not at dealing significant damage.

"Besides, that ice spell is useful. Don't let Paul get to you, you definitely pulled more than your weight yesterday."

"Thanks."

"Yeah man, no problem. I should be thanking you since you saved my ass."

"Pfft, haha" Kade laughed "True enough. You almost got a gnarly make-over." he looked over "Anyway, what's Pauls deal? Seems like an asshole."

"Eh, he has always been that way." Julian shrugged "He is a good guy when you get to know him, but I won't deny that he is both an idiot and an asshole sometimes."

"I figured that out already. I'm just not sure why."

"Who knows. I'm sure he will warm up to you eventually."

Kade shrugged. As it stood, he didn't care to make friends with Paul. They didn't need to be friends as long as they put aside their differences when needed.

The conversation died out and they explored in silence. Kade focused some of his attention on forming entange's trace. He started slow since making a mistake could result in adverse effects like a minor explosion due to the altaris running rampant. However, there was usually an indication that the process was beginning to fail and he would have time to retract the altaris.

He molded his altaris into a single string and formed a circle before creating the pattern within while feeling the changes happening to his altaris. He had finished a third of the trace before he felt an oddity and realized he had made a mistake and dispelled his altaris.

'Damn.' He thought. Trace forming needed to be very accurate because even slight errors would cause drastic changes to the effect, and could be exacerbated later in the trace as the other parts of the pattern would be warped to accommodate the error.

It was difficult because he was working with a single line on a single layer, like drawing a picture without ever picking up your pencil. He couldn't help but wonder if it was possible to break the process up into multiple layers, which would make the process quite a bit easier.

Even if it could be done, it would be slower unless he could multitask and create multiple layers at once. If that were possible, he could form spells at insane speeds with more reliability. As he thought of it, he imagined many ways to improve his cast speed. He could even test one.

On a whim, he roused his altaris and began forming the trace for his most familiar spell, the fireball. But instead of forming it using a single string, he split the string into two threads and attempted to control them both. Unsurprisingly, he failed rather quickly. However, the attempt brought even more questions.

Why did it fail? There were many possible reasons, but the most exciting was if it failed because he made a mistake. If so, that meant that it was possible given that he practiced enough. It would be a long and tedious process to determine if that was the case, but it would be worth it. Besides, he had his entire life as a mage to figure it out.

Now wasn't the time for that, he was far too inexperienced and there were better things to focus his time on. Such as finishing the Engtangle spell, which he could accomplish in a reasonable amount of time.

He continued to practice as they walked. Occasionally, Julian would break his focus to point out curious findings, but Kade didn't mind as exploration was as important as his practice and most things in this world were interesting.

The insects and flora here were very diverse, especially so when compared to the Earth. Neither of them minded stopping to do things as simple as testing the hardness of a random stone. Who knew if the information could prove useful in some way?

They ventured farther than originally planned but doing so paid off. Julian nudged Kade, who dispelled his Altaris and looked up. He followed Julian's gaze and noticed a smaller beast clinging to a tree. The closest thing he could compare it to was a large squirrel.

It only compared to a squirrel in general shape, much like the deer bear it had odd features that defied his understanding. Even more so than the other beast he had seen.

Julian gestured using hand signals to indicate his intentions before skulking away. Kade formed an ice ball in his hand as he counted the seconds. As soon as he reached twenty, he fired the spell.

They were already within fifteen meters and with the projectile speed, the spell contacted the beast before it had time to react. The force of the impact caused the beast to slam into the tree and fall. As it fell, ice began to encase it rapidly.

Julian, who had moved below, swung his dagger and slammed it into the beast's falling body, and forced it against the tree. The ice, which had covered almost the entire body, shattered at the point of impact as the dagger bore into the beast. Even so, because the ice still covered a large portion of the beast, it was completely restricted.

While keeping the beast pinned, Julian took out another dagger and aimed it at the throat.

"Wait." Kade called as he walked up "Let me try something."

Julian nodded and made space. Kade unsheathed his knife and roused his altaris before trying to extend it over his blade. He could manage to extend it part of the way, but couldn't cover the blade.

"Eh, oh well." He shrugged "You can finish it."

Julian quickly ended the beast before returning his gaze to the knife "You have already managed to progress so far?"

"Huh?"

"You almost shrouded your knife." Julian tapped his dagger against the knife "That's some high-level shit, man. The apostle told me that doing required a high level of control that might take me years to achieve, and a high level to boot."

"Surely not." Kade waved and shook his head "I know I'm a mage, but I'm still at the lowest level."

"True. But maybe the status doesn't show everything. Like, it doesn't show our health, Altaris, or other resources."

Kade cupped his chin. That was true. There might be another factor that they weren't told about. "Want to try to learn it?"

"I mean, if you're willing to spend the time and can deal with the frustration, then of course." Julian said enthusiastically.

"Alright." Kade took out his map and made a mark "Then let's head back."

It didn't take them long to return since they went in a straight line this time. Along the way, Kade filled in the map that he had neglected and increased the detail.

When they returned, the others examined the small beast in awe for a bit, but much of the wonder was gone after dealing with the deer bear. Since the beast was still frozen, they didn't bother taking any extra steps to process or store it. Instead, they immediately began training.

"Alright, do you remember what I told Chelsea the other day?"

"Yeah. Cultivate and familiarize myself with circulating altaris. Then, learn to guide it to the area I want to release it, right?"

"Right." Kade nodded "What does it feel like when you cultivate?"

"Hm, ya' know how you get that burning sensation in your throat when you drink strong liquor?"

Kade nodded

"I feel a similar burning sensation in my core, then it moves through my body. From my core to my shoulder, down my arm and back up, and so on."

"Okay, for me I feel a sensation going down one side of my arm and back up the other. Is it the same for you?"

"No." Julian shook his head "It's like a ring surrounds my arm and goes down, then back up."

"Ah. Okay." Kade nodded as he picked up a stick "This is what's happening when you cultivate, at least from what I can tell."

He drew a body in the dirt and made a circle in the torso "This is my core." He drew thin lines that made a circuit throughout the body. "The altaris starts in my core and travels through my body following a circuit before returning to my core and starting over."

"Yeah, for me it's different." Julian took the stick and mimicked his actions "Mine feels like it goes from the core to one arm, back to the core, and then to the other arm."

Kade watched, puzzled. "I wonder if our cultivation methods are different, or if you have lower sensitivity than me. Hell, your altaris could just be more intense than mine."

"You know more than me, so you tell me."

Kade pondered for a moment "Do the apostle give you any books?"

"One, but it doesn't mention cultivation. I did have one while learning cultivation though."

"That works." Kade retrieved his and flipped to the page "Did it look like this?"

"Close. Same diagram, but the process was a little different. Mine never mentioned guiding the altaris and controlling it like this. Instead, it advised controlling my core and breathing and allow the altaris to flow freely."