Lets try smaller chapters, 2-3k words. Not for you, but for me. This chapter was originally meant to be large, but its too daunting for me to constantly rewrite such a huge chapter. I keep looking back at it, hating on it and judging. Then delaying things even more when I consider proofreading.

Due to this being from a larger chapter, the next few chapters should come fairly fast.

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Shortly before Lily moved inside her room, she spoke a few brief words to Kane after she closed the door after her. Seeing her gone, Kane leaned in and whispered "This time, wake me up"

He was referring to my previous failures the earlier days, honestly he would have better luck asking the guards. At least they care.

"Sure" I smiled at him, already forgetting what he asked. Or trying to at least, if I remember I might do it.

He sighed, closing his door as I stood there silently for a second. Finally I spun around to address the four guards standing outside Lily's door.

"One of you stay, the rest can go", the same ritual as the previous nights. Frankly four guards were annoying, they tend to stare at you as you play with your magic with the occasional whisper. I can hear everything they say. Its pretty distracting when you can't help but try listen in.

One guard can stay, I can send him on errands.

If I wanted to there was a room assigned to me next to Lily's room, I get the impression that Sjen had to juggle people around to set this up on short notice. But while my room was just as posh as Lily's and even posher than Kanes, it's just too unsafe to leave her unprotected.

These guards were nowhere in the same league as the assassins. If it came down to a fight, I'm afraid they would be lucky to even let a single scream loose. Especially when comparing level 8's and 9's to the level 13 assassin. Markedly even more when you consider this is not a straightforward fight, but an assassination.

Sitting on the chair in front of her room, I slipped into meditation as I began to focus on the same task that had so eluded me the past several nights. When my Torchlights were cast, I couldn't effect them. Couldn't change their parameters after having cast the spell. I can't even dispell it without making direct contact with the spell itself. Far too inconvenient. I refuse to believe there isn't a way.

Again and again I summoned the magic from inside my body, spreading it through my fingers and manipulating the shape as I cast it into the world. Every spell I cast looked like the original, but they always had a tiny difference. Every modification I made was geared towards that single goal of mine. Spell manipulation.

But again and again they exploded. Tiny flashes of light soundlessly bursting in the air. Even in my meditative state I couldn't help but grimace a little. Again and again I did this, new Torchlights created with different modifications to the original spell.

Their colors varied, one Torchlight shimmering in the half second before it imploded silently, another burning through its mana in mere seconds as it fluctuated in size. My hands dripped blood on more than one occasion as I played with the mana, corrupted spells ripping out my flesh in their desire to be free.

HP -21

But not a single spell worked the way I intended, efficiency of the spell improving as I played with it but not once did it do anything similar to what I wanted.

Eventually I grew sick of my failures and slipped out of meditation as I just lay back against the chair and closed my eyes. Was there a trick to creating new spells? Or do they just experiment and experiment some more.

I began to muse as I sat there bored, thinking about different applications for the magic I knew. I had more than a few ideas for the spells I wanted to try out, some involved using light to heal and gravity to warp space.

In games you see healing spells being attributed to light, and for the few games that mention gravity you have their casters learning spatial magic such as teleportation. And of course their damaging spells don't actually cause permanent damage as you would expect, but that should be irrelevant in this case.

Then when you consider teleportation, you have rifts which I'm already capable of casting to take me between worlds, just at a stupidly high cost.

But then when you consider that perhaps the cost of the rifts is related to their being permanent and between worlds, also that it should be impossible. There could be a cheaper version of this. But again I can easily be wrong, I doubt it. There shouldn't be spatial magic that demands stats for a single use.

But again, I can't rationalize half my stats just for a single experiment on this line of topic.

But when you consider a single experiment, you begin to wonder if you could play with a created rift? Order it to take you elsewhere or even restore your stats? How do you even do that though, by touching the sides of the rift? Touching the spells, huh. A technique to modify spells I'm touching?

Refreshed and revitalized, I ordered the guard to fetch my bed. No real reason, but the chair was tiresome to be in all the time.

Standing as I watched, the four guards huffed as they moved the heavy wooden bed into the hallway, almost filling the entire corridor as they maneuvered it through the door. "Over there" I indicated with a lazy hand as I waited.

The moment they finished I waved them off "Three of you can go". Ignoring the remaining guard I lay back on the bed as I began to think on possibilities to modify existing spells. The shape of the spell isn't quite describable in words, its more of a formation and a set of charges in layers of mana. I really don't know what I'm talking about. Finally settling on a theory, I began to experiment as I summoned Torchlight's and poked with needles of invisible mana.

Not actual needles, more of small explosions of directed mana. Simple to do, easy to accomplish after my experiments with Lightbeam. Come to think of it, could I weaponize this in the future? Maybe.

Minutes passed, hours passed. Half the night was over before I groaned in defeat as I realized the obvious. This theory of mine, I can't do it. Not in the time I have. I just don't know enough.

My previous experiment with modifying spells as they are cast to provide a sustained connection, that had results, even being few and tiny. That had a direction I was slowly figuring out. But this? I was nowhere near a solution, everything destroyed the Torchlight. Nothing I tried worked.

Looking at the Torchlight floating in the air before me I could see the mana formation, rippling to a unseen beat with light emitted as if there was a furnace heating inside. I knew how I made the spell, knew how to cast it. But I don't know anything how it works. Perhaps a side effect of not learning magic properly, or a problem everyone shared.

I suddenly grew sick of the bed.

"Fetch me a couch" I ordered the guard, adding a few seconds later "and some cushions"

He saluted as I sat on the side of the bed, face scowling as I thought it over.

Settling on the new couch next to the bed, I shoved a few cushions under my back as I began to consider my original theory. That seemed the most promising, but I just couldn't see how it could work.

Slowly I began to form a new theory based on the old, and so I began to try again. Summoning modified Torchlights, robotically summoning another as each exploded.

I barely noticed when it turned morning, but the creak of Lily's door broke my concentration.

Turning my head sideways in the midst of floating lights, I noted the slightly amused expression on her face even as I realized we would be heading out today. Lily was dressed richly, and you don't do that if you are staying indoors all day.

Remembering suddenly that Kane wanted to be woken, I slowly got up and padded to his door before knocking on it. Stumbling back to the couch where I collapsed lazily.

It took him 58 seconds before he rushed out with hair ruffled and blurry eyes, one hand still straightening his shirt even as he opened the door. Quickly greeting Lily, Lily acknowledged him before they began to walk down the hallway, Kane giving me a weird look at the new furniture as I got up and followed.

As a sidenote, I no longer train with Gravity Cloak. It just seems useless ever since I hit that stat cap. It's also exhausting with stamina being drained and every movement as if moving through thick syrup. In vast contrast I now feel like I'm floating. A definite improvement.

Occupied as I thought, I faintly heard Kane whisper back at me with a scowl on his face "Wake me up sooner"

I ignored him. "Lily, a moment?"

She paused and turned around, a puzzled expression on her face.

"Yes?"

"I ask of thee that sire may take off for rest and things of his own whim for the next few days before the next battle befalls us" I bowed lightly, my words severely serious with a face of grave importance.

Taking a moment to digest it, the corners of her mouth twisted before she straightened herself.

"We can't spare you. If it were possible, perhaps. But as things are.."

She trailed off into the air for a few seconds, seeming to stare into the distance. Was she thinking of Ilan?

Continuing, she sighed. "The only reason we can still move outside of Sjen's home is due to your protection. Until the tournament ends, I need you here" she spoke apologetically.

I thought she was finished, but she quietly continued with an empty smile "You see things that we don't, we just can't afford it" she trailed off yet again as she thought.

"After the tournament, you will have your free time. But until then, I need you to protect me"

"That's fine" I nodded.

I didn't care about it too much, and it was obvious she couldn't spare me. But its nice to be told you are appreciated.

I did have one curious thought about the conversation however, why does she have so much confidence in her safety after the tournament?

"Will the magic of the land protect you after becoming queen?" I asked lightly

"No" Lily shook her head, "As soon as the tournament has ended it will be at least two more years before another can begin. Only the winner of each tournament can sit on the throne"

What about the people who run the kingdom in between tournaments?

Eh, whatever.

With no further questions, we moved on.

Afternoon we attended a meeting with a merchant on the east side of the city. His house was glamorous and his entire household seemed to be active in an attempt to impress. Lily sat beside a small coffee table, Kane sitting next to her and Halon sitting opposite them on another couch. The meeting had only just begun when the butler rolled in, carrying a tray holding glasses of water.

As was habit the past few days on consumables, I used *Identify* on them, spying something that made me smile a little.

Glass of waterBlown glass produced by an unknown artist

Contains 266ml of water

Glass of waterBlown glass produced by an unknown artist

Contains 266ml of water

Glass of poisoned waterBlown glass produced by an unknown artist

Contains 272ml of water, 0.9 grams of dissolved Violent Heart

Glass of waterBlown glass produced by an unknown artist

Contains 266ml of water

Reaching out I smoothly took the poisoned water from the tray, "Thanks" I nodded to the butler, casually leaning against the wall and taking a sip as he paled. Interesting, he knew.

Poison status, delayed damage -100 HP in 3 minutes

Expires: 3 minutes

With shaking hands he continued towards the table where he settled the drinks down, he seemed most flighty.

"Interesting flavor" I noted, my voice carrying to the butler. He stiffened for a instant as Lily turned towards me quizzingly.

"Ah nothing" I shook my head, "Just a little poison"

Her face paled as she grew sick, making rapid apologies to the merchant she quickly left as he stared after us distraught. I dragged the butler along, he definitely knew something about the poison.

HP -100

As we moved towards the carriage, suddenly my body was wracked with pain and I gasped, heart pumping furiously as I shuddered for breath. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on my head and my hands clenched. Hearing the butler moan in pain I recalled holding his wrist and relaxed my grip slightly, slowly recovering from the pain.

As my breathing returned to normal the butler stared at me wide-eyed as he stood there weakly, offering me no resistance as I continued dragging him towards the carriage. He knew he was doomed.

The carriage waiting in the courtyard was plenty large enough to hold all of us, something we were borrowing from Sjen. Something I had to ride on top of in order to keep a watch out, better than walking. At a single order from Kane the guards immediately began to prepare for departure.

Kane and Lily both climbed in as I threw the butler on the back before jumping on next to him. With a solid grip on his wrist I held him still as I scanned the crowds for trouble. The merchant obviously wasn't behind this, someone else was.

But of course, when trouble came. I didn't recognise it in time.

A whiff of a foul smell, rotting meat with an acidic aftertaste. It was faint in the air and I caught a sniff for less than a second, but it was enough for me to gag in revulsion.

I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, but I could only look at the butler with angry knowledge that with twin rivers of blood streaming from his nose he couldn't be anything but dead.

Returning to Sjen's home, Lily moved into her room for the next hour as she recovered or something. My bed was no longer in the hallway but the couch was still there, so its where both I and Kane sat as we waited. I told Kane he could leave, but he was most reluctant to leave Lily in my devilish hands. I hadn't done anything to her had I? Apart from terrifying her.

Does he love her or something? I'm not really sure, it may not be love he has but there's something. He's certainly got the protective instincts down like some kind of father. Except he's not her father, that would be beyond weird. I doubt they grew up together, maybe he was a palace guard that left his position behind to protect her?

He has a higher level than most, so he's almost definitely someone who is someone trusted. Someone close to her family regardless, would explain why he's so protective of her. Not that I care much about his situation, just interesting to think about. The reality of course will be much more boring, it always is. 'Oh we met on the road'.

Lets just pretend he eloped with her, except she thought she met him randomly. She met him on the road and was saved from a group of bandits, the bandits planned to kidnap her and sacrifice her to their evil god which would summon a new era of terror. But luckily for them, er, luckily for her. Kane was there to save the day!

Taking a quick look at him, I snickered as he glanced with a slight scowl at me.

I began to practice my magic again, continuing my research as Kane silently endured every bright explosion, the two assigned guards wincing everytime a particularly bright backfire occurred.

Finally Lily recovered and we went out again, a new meeting.

I did hear a few interesting things as the day wore on, most of them coming from an acquaintance of Lily's, an old woman with the title of noble. Probably visited her as a kid, she certainly did talk a fair bit about Lily's family, exclaiming over how much Lily grew up. Lily seemed to enjoy her time there, but it felt strangely personal and a invasion as I listened to their talk as I sat forgotten in a corner.

The woman did greet Kane as well however, so it seemed that she knew him. Other than asking him if he was still a mercenary she didn't comment further on his backstory.

The first piece of news was of two kings having died recently, each being killed within months of each other, those in the line of inheritance also killed..

Some thought it was the magic of the land, but if this was true then the entire family would be slain, not the inheritors of the crown.

The second piece of news was further elaboration on the death of King Fibar who had been giving a speech to his crowd of thousands, standing on a balcony as he announced his retirement to the adoring crowd. Speech was empowered, his words resonating as he spoke and the crowds loved him.

Then in mid-speech he suddenly halted, his throat erupted as blood sprayed forth onto the faces of the crowd. The guards could see nothing, saw nothing. Couldn't even react as the prince followed him seconds later. Interestingly enough a guard standing nearby also had his throat slashed at the same moment. The first thing that came to my mind was piano wire or a similar thin thread.

It wasn't as if these kingdoms were of interest though, we would soon win the tournament and I can move on. But rather its interesting because this day was boring, there was nothing for me to do and I'm too distracting to be allowed to experiment with magic. Also because I lose focus on my surroundings.

As the nights passed, I settled on the couch and summoned more and more Torchlights, eager for my first success. I could feel it drawing near with every spell I cast, the spells lasting slightly longer before exploding, popping, fizzing and misfiring as I attempted to maintain a connection. They appeared in varying colors, wowing the guards as some of my most recent successes managed to flicker through several colors before suiciding.

It wasn't until the third night where I felt my success was incredibly near, close enough that I could touch it. And then with a sudden spell, I knew I had succeeded. It had nothing to do with the popup box that appeared and everything to do with the way I could feel the spell in my control.

Sustained connection to magic has been learnedBy maintaining a mana thread to the spells, spells can be manipulated and sustained using the caster's mana.

Connection strength can be reinforced and sustained with mana and will worsen as distance increases

And of course, my surprise was enough to lose control

Connection to Torchlight lost

The red torchlight exploded spectacularly in a flare of red, but I was too preoccupied to really notice as I stared at the box with a grin.

Finally.