It was much more complicated for Reivyn to visualize an image and then try to recreate that mental image with his Mana than he had thought. Even though he was using his mind and not his hands, he had a hard time grasping how to translate what he was seeing in his head into a tangible image. He sunk into the exercise like he hadn't done anything in a long time. Every waking moment he was chewing on the problem. His sisters didn't help. They didn't know that they were rubbing it in his face, but every time he looked at them, they had some sort of complicated creation of some sort or another at the tips of their fingers. He fondly remembered the painting they had done of him and his friends at the dinner table that even managed to shift depending on the perspective you viewed it from. They weren't great teachers, either. No matter how he posed the question to them, they didn't understand how Reivyn wasn't able to create the works of art that they could. It came so naturally to them that they would be masters without being able to explain the fundamentals of how it worked. They would see a problem, think for a second, and then just give the solution like it was obvious, completely skipping all of the steps required to arrive at the answer. Ameliyn just chuckled at his struggle and interaction with the twins. "You're thinking about the problem too hard," she said. "I've shown you the end goal, but you're forgetting that I told you you're working on the simplest of the simple exercises. You need to build a foundation in other things before you increase the complexity of your work. "What is it that I do every day, and what is it the girls started doing?" "You weave," Reivyn answered. He didn't see how that would help him in this situation. He already had the Mana weaves down. "And the girls did the same thing, just with grass and different colored plants they could find." "You're seeing the overall picture without delving deeper," Ameliyn chastised. "What is it that I'm weaving? What is it that the girls did with their different colors?" "Ahh, I feel stupid," Reivyn smacked himself on the forehead. "You're weaving patterns, and the girls started with simple images before they moved to more complex ones." "Exactly," Ameliyn nodded her head. "It's not just that Casters are more focused on Mental Stats over their physical ones; they also have to develop the appropriate Skills for it, too. You've been so far ahead in every other aspect that I sometimes forget that you haven't dabbled in the arts more." "I've done piano," Reivyn thought for a moment. "Is there any way to translate that Skill toward visualizing images for Casting?" "At a later time," Ameliyn answered. "You can definitely add more complex concepts like sounds, even moving images, to your imaging, but you're not there yet. I really should have had you enroll in an artwork class when you were at the Academy all those years ago. I just wasn't thinking because you were so focused on your Martial Skills for so long. There's a reason other than talent that people don't spread themselves too thin." "Yeah, I've never had enough time to do all the things that I've wanted," Reivyn replied. "Now that I have a direction, though, I think I can make some progress soon." Reivyn began to carry around a satchel with parchment and pencils. He wasn't ready to make colorful masterpieces by his own hand, but he did stop to copy images he could see from time to time. He had a lot of pieces of weapons and soldiers standing in formation sitting in his satchel already. He was rewarded with his hard work, though, and he gained several Skills that would further his ability to image properly. Skills Leveled Up! Tier 1: Drawing: 23 ->25) Penmanship (33 ->34) New Skills Unlocked! Tier 1: Shading (0 ->7) Tracing (0 ->7) Tier 2: Color Correction (0 ->1) All the Drawing had spurred his Skill that he had acquired a while ago to continue improving, and it had even advanced his Penmanship a Level. He hadn't expected Shading to be a separate Skill, but after seeing the difference in his drawings after having unlocked the Skill, he realized how important it actually was. There was an entire gradient of shades one needed to use to convey the image better, and the Skill helped him gauge exactly the depth he needed to make it pop. Surprisingly, increasing his Shading Skill had come with the Tier 2 Color Correction Skill, even though he was working exclusively with black and white drawings. There was a certain sense of gaining the Skill. Black and white could convey just as much meaning as the regular color spectrum if done the right way. His increased Skills, so far, only marginally helped his mental visualization and Mana imaging, but he did see some progress. He could feel his abilities working towards unlocking a new Skill, but he wasn't quite there yet. I'm guessing that the next one will be Visualization itself, Reivyn mused. I honestly don't see how it couldn't be a Skill, what with how important it is. His mother had never come right out and explained the Skills he would need, but her very words alluded to them. Finding out for himself without being told helped him develop his abilities more naturally. If someone had given him a road map to follow, then there would be no space for experimentation. He would just walk along the path already laid before him, and that wouldn't be him. Another half a month passed, and it was time for Reivyn to take another break from his duties assigned by Kefira's father. The training of the others had gone much smoother than he had anticipated. There was no pushback or fighting. There were no egos getting out of control. All of the officers and senior enlisted members who had been assigned to learn from him had been eager to further their own understanding of warfare and combat. News had come back from the first company that had been sent to work as mercenaries. They hadn't done much yet, as the first month had been spent in regulatory hell. A nation backing a mercenary company was a new thing. Most mercenaries were independent Adventurers signing on to bolster the ranks of a nation needing to purge monsters. The new war had created a vacuum for professionals to fill. As of yet, only the soldiers trained by Reivyn could loosely fit that definition, but it was only a matter of time before others gained the necessary experience to do it themselves. Having the backing of an empire would allow for much higher quality gear and personnel, but that also came with a premium price. Reivyn could envision an entire industry of displaced Adventurers with experience fighting against other humans forming in the near future. There might even one day be an entire organization that rivaled the Adventurer's Guild if the conflict spread far enough. It would have to encompass multiple Clusters for something like that to happen, though, Reivyn thought. The Adventurer's Guild, as far as I'm aware, permeates the entire Realm. There's not really a necessity for a Mercenary Guild to grow that large at this point. Where would I fit in all of that? I'm basically spearheading the entire thing, and if I'm not off my mark, I'm guessing Gennet is going to want me to lead a mercenary company of my own under Kefira's banner. "Captain Cormak is going to be leading his company to the front lines next week," Kayzor said. Reivyn snapped out of his musings, called back to the present by Kayzor's statement. Reivyn had been summoned to the petition hall, where he met with Gennet, Garet, and Kayzor to discuss the situation on the other side. His position was a bit special, as his rank and role in the imperial army didn't qualify him to attend the meeting, but his role as the Imperial Liaison assigned by Kefira did. "They've finally worked out all of the ins and outs of the contract, and they're going to go into service directly," Kayzor continued. "We'll keep an eye on them and see how well their month-long training session prepared them for the actual thing." "It would be best if they're able to provide a stable example for the others to follow," Reivyn commented. "Having a strong line across the front would be better for everyone. Let's just hope that the allied commanders have a head on their shoulders and don't wallow in their old ways of monster fighting." "That was something that was taken into consideration," Gennet said. "We don't know how well they're going to operate on the larger front, and since we only sent a company so far, I don't want my soldiers to face undue danger because of incompetence on their part. They're going to be going to the far reaches where the enemy numbers are much less." "It's a double-edged sword, doing it that way, though," Kayzor said with a nod. "They'll be safer that way, but their example won't spread to the larger forces as quickly." "I'm not as concerned with their safety as I am with my own troops'," Gennet replied. Reivyn nodded his head at the statement. It was a harsh reality. They all hoped for the best for their allies, and not just because it would make the war effort better for their own people. That being said, they couldn't prioritize outsiders over their own well-being. In the end, it was more important for their soldiers to contribute where they could, gain the necessary experience, and return home alive for any future incursions they might face one day. "Right now, there isn't a whole lot of news other than the impending setting off of the company," Garet said. "We'll be holding these meetings as often as the teleport circle rotates to the empire in question. This is just the first meeting, and we wanted everyone to have a clear idea of what's going on. "Reivyn, you have one more month in your position as lead trainer. This last month, instead of evaluating the troops, your job will be to evaluate the job of the instructors. If all goes well, and we hear positive results back from the company we've already sent, this is definitely something that we want to expand to the entire Imperial Army. You won't be required to do it, personally, as long as everything works out how we hope." Reivyn already understood all of that, but there was nothing wrong with receiving a refresher. "What will my role be after that?" Reivyn asked. "You're an officer in the Imperial Army," Gennet answered with amusement. "What sort of role do you think you should have?" "I figured you were going to have me raise a banner in Kefira's name and lead my own mercenary company for a time," Reivyn said. "That's exactly what we had in mind; however, because of the nature of the mission and your relationship with Kefira, I'll leave that as voluntary. I won't demand that you do such a thing. You have time to discuss it with Kefira and your family, as well." "Speaking of my family, I'm sure that if I agree to go, my father will want to accompany me. Is that feasible?" "Your path is still one of exploration," Gennet replied. "We're going to be looking to expand the war effort beyond just the standing army. As such, you'll receive a promotion to Captain and receive a Writ, but you'll have to raise your own 'private' force. How you set it up is up to you, so there's no problem having your father accompany you." "Excellent," Reivyn replied. With that news, he already had some ideas in his head. He would need to send out some letters. He was sure there were more than a few from his old company in Drallo that would jump at the chance to join him again. Not only would they get official entry into a Tier 4 Region, but they would be working together again. I don't know about all of the volunteers that served with me, but those in leadership positions will most likely come up. They're the ones I spent the most time with, after all. I wonder what they're all up to? Did they go back to Adventuring with their teams? Did all of their old Party members survive the ordeal? I'll also have to discuss this with Dad. He's used to being in charge. I'm sure we can figure something out. He, his subordinates, and my old comrades together will be able to build the bones of a very powerful force, actually. Reivyn was excited about the prospect of going off on an "adventure" with his father. He had been anticipating going to the Dungeon Refix had access to with his high-Level Party soon. He just hadn't had the necessary time off to do so, and he wasn't going to spend his one week of off-time in a Dungeon with his dad when he could spend it with Kefira. "I'm glad to see that you're not completely against the idea," Gennet said after watching Reivyn think for a moment. "The more I think about it, the more I think it's a good idea," Reivyn admitted. "I'll just have to convince Kefira that it's the right thing to do." "I'm sure you'll find a way," Gennet said with a slight smirk. Reivyn narrowed his eyes as he sensed a trap. This might be a combination strike between Gennet and Silfa in their little game, Reivyn realized. This might lead to a small conflict between us, and there's no telling what Silfa might get up to in my absence. I'll have to handle this delicately. Reivyn didn't let the thoughts discourage him. He wasn't lying when he said the more he thought about it, the better it sounded. He hadn't been completely sold on the idea when it had just been speculation on his part. He had expected to take over one of the imperial army companies, though, and learning that it was another effort to expand their efforts outside of the imperial army and that he could take his father and his crew, he realized that it was the most appropriate step forward for him. Running Dungeons as they reset was a great way to gain Experience, though the higher Tier Dungeons had a longer time between resets. It wasn't just Refix's Dungeon that he had access to that reset once a month. All of the Tier 4 Dungeons in Wispan had a month-long reset time as compared to the one-week reset time found in Tier 1 Regions. Leading a military unit and fighting in a war offered almost as much Experience as a good Dungeon run, but it didn't have any time constraints built into it. If he could utilize his father's key for his own troops once a month as well as lead them in combat in the field, he could grow a substantial force even when considering the high starting point he was imagining. That's another thing I'll have to consult my father about. I need to know exactly how his access key and that Dungeon work. Is it the key itself that sets the instance, or is it based on who uses it? If it's the latter, we could send Parties in one at a time almost constantly when we have downtime, but if it's the former, we'd have to prioritize an elite team. The discussion about the mercenary company and the plans for Reivyn in the future was done. Reivyn wasn't even paying attention to the meeting anymore at this point. His mind was filled with possibilities and plans for the future. "Reivyn," a voice intruded on his thoughts. Reivyn looked up to see Kayzor standing in front of him. He looked around and noticed that the other two members of Kefira's family had already departed, and he was alone with Kayzor. "Oh, is it that time already?" Reivyn asked. Kayzor just smirked. "Yeah, for about five minutes, now," he replied. "You didn't respond the first couple of times I called your name. I was about to smack you upside the head to get your attention." "Ahh, well, just been thinking about the situation," Reivyn said, sheepishly scratching the back of his head. "It's not a big deal; I don't have anywhere to be right now," Kayzor said with a shrug. "I just figured it would be bad taste to leave you here alone. Who knows how long you'd have sat there in contemplation before realizing something was off." "Hah, thanks, then," Reivyn said, standing up. The two made their way out of the petition hall. "So it seems like I won't be able to be a constant sparring partner for you after all," Reivyn said. "Maybe when I get back. Unless your dad sends you off on a mercenary mission, as well." "That's unlikely to happen," Kayzor answered. "The only reason I was dispatched to Drallo is because of Kefira. I'm usually required to be in the capital at all times. Nominally, my uncle is the General of the Army, but he's got his own things on, and he doesn't spend much time here. Unless there's a true emergency, I'm the one running the show." "That makes sense," Reivyn said. "He's got to be high enough Level that he basically has to be in a Tier 5 Region to gain enough Experience to continue his growth, and he needs to keep growing to be the final arbiter of defense for the nation." "Well, I mean, he's not the only one," Kayzor said. "There are a lot of older family members out there, and there's also the older members of the noble families and some of the more prominent non-noble families, too. He's just the one in an official position. One day, I'll probably take up the mantle and do the exact same thing." "Until then, I think we can do something about our sparring sessions right now," Reivyn said, looking Kayzor in the eye. "You've been a bit busy recently, but I think if you join my father and me for our morning training sessions, you'll be pleasantly surprised. My dad is much more Skilled than I am, and I guarantee you won't have to hold back with your Stats when you spar against him." "I've been meaning to ask, but I didn't want to come across as rude," Kayzor said. "You and I have a relationship, and he and Kefira have one as well, but I'm just your future brother-in-law. It might be a little weird for me to impose on your father for personal reasons." "I see that you've come to accept the inevitable," Reivyn said with a laugh. "It might seem weird to some people, but I don't see it that way. Our families work in a different way than most people. At least as far as commoners go. The noble and prominent families all keep together as a clan for the most part, and our families are the same." "You got a point, there," Kayzor said. "Sometimes I forget that you're not actually a commoner, yourself. Your situation is just unique. Kind of like a nomadic imperial family." "Yeah, I would say that's pretty accurate," Reivyn agreed. "I'll talk to my dad. You'll just need to show up. Tomorrow morning should be good." "Aren't you guys training at the Striker's Guild right now?" Kayzor asked. "Not every day," Reivyn said. "Even though I've made good progress on my Pugilist Skill, I still have a lot of other weapons that I train with, and I just won't be able to keep up with them if I exclude everything else to focus on the Striker's Guild. I go three times a week. I feel like it's a good balance for me." "Alright, sounds like a plan. I'll see you in the morning, then." "See you," Reivyn said with a parting wave. Now I just need to wait for Kefira to get home and have that conversation with her. "Absolutely not!" Kefira put her foot down. "Well, hold on, you haven't even listened to my arguments yet," Reivyn said. "I don't need to hear it," Kefira responded with a shrug. "You're just going to tell me all about the benefits you could get, how it'll be great for your personal growth, and how it'll do wonders for the trust my parents put into you." "No, actually, I wasn't going to mention any of that," Reivyn said, shaking his head. Kefira raised an eyebrow, skeptical of his assertion. "You already know all of that," Reivyn replied, seeing an opening. "And your objections were going to be along the lines of us being separated for an unreasonable amount of time just as we've really started our relationship." Kefira kept staring at Reivyn, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his words. He continued on. "My argument is simply: What's stopping you from going with me?" Kefira's eyes widened at the question. She had apparently not even considered it. She had just got back from a Life Experience excursion. The conventional wisdom was to consolidate and build on the experiences one gained in order to advance to the best Class one could unlock. Then they would spend some time getting used to their new Class for quite some time before heading out on another excursion. It wasn't typical to leave on an adventure right after having returned from an extended one, at least not for members of the imperial family. "Is there any reason why you can't do what you would normally do at home abroad? As far as I know, you're not really obligated to attend classes at the Academy, and your mentor is more for general Magic at this point. You've grown beyond what he can teach you about Space Magic, and your foundation is solid enough that I doubt you need to spend much more time in the Academy." "Hmm, I hadn't thought about it that way," Kefira admitted. "The biggest roadblock to this course of action isn't my studies, though, but my parents. They're not going to like sending me out right after I came home, especially if my destination is a war zone." "Heh, I've already considered that, too," Reivyn said with a grin. "We'll just leave the convincing to my mother. Every argument your parents could make to keep you here, my parents could make the same, and then some, against sending me. If they're in our corner, there's nothing your parents will be able to do." "While I agree with the sentiment, you shouldn't underestimate my mother," Kefira said. "I'm sure she'll pull something to throw a wrench in our plans." "I see that you're referring to it as 'our plans,'" Reivyn teased. Kefira rolled her eyes. "I'll admit, if I'm able to go with you, that's basically my entire argument thrown out the window. Still, we'll need to keep on our toes when bringing this up to my parents." "We'll deal with it as it comes," Reivyn said. "I'm sure they'll see things our way. Plus, we still have quite some time before anyone goes anywhere. I still have the last month of training to oversee, and then I'll have to raise and train my own troops. We'll have to decide which empire we go to, as well. Are we going to join the imperial army companies already sent out, or are we going to open up a new front? There are pros and cons to both choices. "I've already sent out letters to my old comrades from Drallo, so we'll also have to wait for them to arrive, too. I'm sure they'll get here before it's time to go, but you never know. They might be busy with their own things and have to delay their departure." "It seems like you've got a handle on it already," Kefira said. "I think I might take a hiatus from the academy, either way. It's not just you that I need to spend time with. I think I'll spend my days with your mother and sisters." "That's a good idea," Reivyn said. "I'm sure there are a lot of things you could learn from my mother, so it's not like you'll be abandoning your own training, either." "That's the only thing I'm actually worried about," Kefira said with a chuckle. "I know I've grown on your mother, but I've seen how your parents have trained you over the years, and they love you."