After another three minutes of trying to sense the external energy, Tus finally said exasperatedly, “This is unbearable!”

Worill looked over and said, “It can be difficult, but if you don’t manage to do it, then trying to survive, or even trying to win against other opponents who have mastered half stasis would be all the more dangerous. Not to mention, your overall grade would be reduced in comparison, making it so that the access to superior weapons is locked for a longer period.” He detached the cane that was on his back to show, “Like my beloved Muriem. This little beauty is so hard and difficult to break, that it can block most attacks while also hurting the other party through the best kind of pain, blunt trauma.” Worill started smiling creepily before continuing while stroking Muriem, “Muriem is also capable of repairing itself. Regarding all of this, the best part about this series of weapons, called the Stagers, is that they can grow with the party that uses them. They become stronger in all ways, until hopefully one day, they become Independents. Gaining their own consciousness, soul, and go through a restructuring to gain a new body. After they are reborn, they imprint themselves onto you like a duck, and follow you around while also protecting you loyally, even at the cost of themselves.”

‘That is so awesome!’ Tus started drooling at the thought of having something like that at his side, primarily just to keep him company.

Upon noticing Tus’s infatuated look in his eyes, Worill chuckled. “Of course, you need to become, at least, a grade ten to legally get one of these weapons. For most people, it would take fifteen years to get from grade 1 to grade ten, as they need to increase all of their skills alongside their second heart. All the second heart does, is give you another way of fighting, and if you can’t use a sword or, for instance, Muriem which a kind of pole weapon, then you will always be lower than those who can. They will always be able to kill you.

“Okay, enough chitchatting, get back to your training. As you are now, probably around a grade 1 or 2, you need around thirty years if you don’t get passed that baseline stasis.”

Tus felt like a bucket of water with ice floating in it was dumped onto his head, drenching him completely, while Worill closed his eyes to do his own example training.

‘Grade 10? It’ll be no problem at all! I’ll show you that your unknown idol is nothing compared to me!’ Having reconsolidated his resolve, Tus began his own cracking down on the restless habit that he acquired after surviving countless life and death moments.

…………

South-East Erkshem, the Gem Regime.

“Lord, congratulations.”

A spacious stone room with large standing shelves that contained thousands of books decorated the walls. It was neatly maintained by three maids who were going around like bees with feather dusters, not leaving a speck of dust behind. Along the center of the room was a carpet imprinted with a design of a pebble with five different colored thorns jutting out of it, red, green, blue, white, and black.

The carpet led from the only entrance that had an old wooden door, which oddly smelled like the fresh forest, and extended past the numerous columns of bookshelves to a single desk. The desk was lit up by two candles by either side and they glowed with a light blue color, but yet, did not emanate any heat, only a light that strangely expanded throughout the room, erasing any darkness.

Besides the two candles, there wasn’t anything else besides a couple of folded hands that switched from being wrinkled and covered in spots, to the oddly expected condition of middle-age. Beyond the folded hands was an expressionless man whose eyes glowed in crimson and hair that changed through the five different colors on the thorns.

In front of the desk, a youthful looking butler wearing a black garment with the pebble design, but with only a single green thorn on it, stood with his head bowed in respect.

This butler who spoke before continued, “Lords’ seventh daughter bested that Quln Regimes’ spawn and proved herself to be unparalleled to most of the early generation.”

The Lord of the Gem Regime, was branded a single name, Revelith. He has lived for around three hundred and ninety-eight years with twenty-three children in total.

“It is good to see that the last child I’ll ever have has been proving herself.” Even though he said it like it was pleasant surprise, his expression remained casted in stone. “Where is Yarla now?”

The butler with his head bowed, said, “All traces of where she is or where she has been appear as though they’ve been wiped out. The personal guards who were supervising her by your orders lost track of her presence. The unneeded inclusion of the ‘act’ by the Alliance Scouts allowed for confusion to set in and allowed for milady to use the Hirashia heirloom to hide her presence along with the Alliance’s target.”

“That was transcendent, right?” Revelith mechanically questioned. “Does anyone else know?”

A brief look of surprise flashed across the butlers face, “No. The Alliance and all of the other factions don’t know. The Hirashia heirloom made her completely vanish from everyone except for our personal guards and her assistants.”

“Do not spread word of this.”

“Without question.”

After the butler left, Revelith spoke out while he turned his eyes to a side of the room, “I assume that Yarla will bring back this transcendent. Before that time, I want you to evaluate it personally, and see if it has any value to me. If it does, brand it, if not, release it to the Alliance for their reward.”

A voice full of authority and overbearance replied, “It will be done.”