Today I continued to study under Mest. Under his supervision, I tried to form a spell using Solar Energy, just a basic torch spell for lighting the way. It failed, though I could tell that it was due to a lack of energy more than using the wrong method. It was obvious this method would work, and it was obvious that it was far from the most efficient, which, when you take into account my general lack of knowledge and skill, means that I won’t be able to actually for a decent spell for a while. With a notable exception for anything relating to either plants or healing, as I know both of those well enough to be able to rely on better methods.

Mostly what we are doing is trying to figure out what is relevant first. It would take a decade to truly master all of the material, which would be a waste of time considering it isn’t even a good method to begin with, merely a starting point. So what we are trying to do is figure out what will be most useful and master it, before moving onto a more trial and error approach.

After the lessons, I spent a bit of time growing my grove outwards in all directions. As a result of a compound advantage from my dungeon core and being the lord of the Grove I can work in broad strokes of magic anywhere in my grove, or immediately outside of it, though I need to be up close to do anything with real finesse like healing or true plant manipulation, growing a tree is little more than throwing mana at it till it grows.

I talked to Willow a bit today. I have said in the past that we aren’t exactly close, though I do still feel that minor need to keep her safe. She has become very social and outgoing, but she seems intimidated by me somehow. She has made fast friends amongst several of the Ents, and collectively they really like her, with one exception in the form of a guy whose advances she spurned. When it comes to sheer magical ability she is the equal of the greatest of them, and considering that guy was a mage in his last life means quite a bit.

I’m happy for her, but she has become something of a stranger to me and has no apparent desire to change that. I just hope she doesn’t come to hate me one day, that would be a real tragedy.

Other than that, not much happened today.

Anyway, Good Night Diary.