A New World, An Immersive Game Experience

"What about reaching Tier 5 through the traditional way?"

"I think it will take me half a month to get to the point of guiding my mana, to actually add envisioning a Tier 5 spell module onto that. Several months, with the runes I might be able to do or at least try something by the end of the month."

"And the others?"

"In regards to feeling and guiding mana, I am the furthest along. But I do know that there are a few players who have failed casts already; in the empires."

Eldrian realized just how big a deal this actually was. A failed cast might be considered a failure, but it meant that they were close enough already to at least start the process of casting. They just couldn't maintain focus through the cast.

'This might also be where Miracle has managed to learn more about magic. I always knew that players would eventually get there, seems I have less time than I hoped.'

Eldrian sighed, glad that he wasn't alone but wishing that it wasn't him and a few friends against a massive international company with many governmental ties and probably too many secrets to even try to list.

Eldrian wasn't even sure how much safer it would be outside the country. Though, he did doubt that the military would be able to simply surround him. Hitmen might be a real problem though.

"I have a question for you."

"Shoot," Eldrian replied.

"What's your plan?"

"My plan?"

"Yeah, I understand that you have a lot going on. But what are your actually plans."

"I don't follow."

"Long term." Ilmadia laughed as she saw that Eldrian still did not follow. "I mean what are your plans personally. According to the quest we got from Itireae we only need one more plant to heal Pelaros."

"I'm sure he would jump on the vertical farming and continue his support of the cannons. Heck, he might even tell you to keep being mayor." Seeing Eldrian's frown Ilmadia laughed even more.

"Maybe, or maybe not. But what are your plans?"

"I still don't understand what you want me to answer. Stabilize the city, secure a stable source of food, start fighting back, start reclaiming land. What other plans are you getting at?"

"None of those are personal plans, they are all plans for the city, for the kingdom. Work-related. What do you want?"

Eldrian paused, there was so much he wished for. But what did he want? What within what he wished was realistic? He hadn't even given it a thought.

Being able to focus more on his magic would be great, he might be able to make some actual progress and that would be massive. But, that wasn't really something personal. It was also something work-related.

"You really don't have any plans?"

"I'm just trying to survive and not lose anyone..." Eldrian answered, truly not an answer that a twenty-year-old should give.

Ilmadia nodded seriously, that that was all that Eldrian could focus on. It was truly sad and showcased just how bad stuff must be back on Earth. While she wasn't in the loop, Ilmadia knew that something massive had happened again.

The guild was surprisingly supportive of Eldrian's situation and all the secrets, naturally only the core of the guild knew that there were secrets. But none of them complained about not being filled in, they just nodded and continued as if nothing about it was strange.

"Then what are your plans short-term, even work-related?"

"Figure out why I'm not Tier 5 yet, experiment with runic magic. Find out how to mix all the types of magic I know effectively, understand what XP is, learn barrier-type magic and connect it with runic. Experiment on elemental healing types and learn resurrection if possible-"

Cutting him off, Ilmadia could feel some of the weight that Eldrian must be under. He hadn't even needed a second to start listing so many and if she didn't stop him; just how many would he have listed?

"Is there anything I can help with?"

Thinking on this for a bit, Eldrian nodded. With two occupied navigating his body to what was hopefully a safer location, he could no longer just throw books at the poor figment of his consciousness.

"Resurrection magic, I know it is mostly done through divine magic. But there must be ways to resurrect someone without it. I know there is, but I'm not sure what Tier they start at."

"Considering what it actually is..." Ilmadia paused and instead nodded, "I'll try to find research on it."

"Don't strain yourself, it's been more an afterthought. But if I reach Tier 5 I certainly have to learn it if possible, and I know it must be possible through elemental aspect, or maybe a mix of it and some other. Itireae did cast it, and I doubt she can use divine spells since the description of High Elves stated that we can't access divine magic."

Then again, it might be something that wasn't easy to teach others, or it might be unique to dynamic casters.

"Itireae..." Ilmadia frowned, not knowing what to think of the elf. With her strength she could do so much, she might have even been able to save the city from its siege singlehandedly.

Sure there might be some on the other side who could step in to stop her, but the fact that she had not tried. It simply did not sit right with Ilmadia. Even as a player, as someone from another world. It felt to her like she felt more concerned for the lives of the citizens than Itireae, who was actually from this world.

Eldrian realized what Ilmadia must be thinking. "You're wondering why she did not do more?"

"Yes, even if she couldn't make it to help in the siege. If she tried she would have been able to save far more people."

Eldrian nodded, remembering having felt very similar when he had learned she had resurrected him over Sabrea. Having blamed Sabrea's death on her due to that. If Itireae had tried she could have certainly saved many people after arriving.

"It's true, she could have helped far more. But why must she?"

"What do you mean!? Because it is the right thing to do!"

"I don't disagree, but is that really a good enough reason? Do you know why she is here and not in Ehevell?"

Ilmadia shook her head, assuming that that must be the name of the kingdom or empire she came from.

"The emperor sent her here to learn what war is, what loss is. As a high elf, she is distanced from the lives of ordinary people. It is the same with the Alicorns and most neutral races. They live for thousands of years, some even for hundreds of thousands. Unless they are killed they are effectively immortal."

"Why should they risk all the years, millennia they have left to save someone who would die regardless. To them, if you die now or in a hundred years, even a thousand years, it doesn't matter. It is just the blink of an eye."

"Then why even come?!"

"Because war now also threatens them and most of them do not understand what this actually means. Itireae told me when we first met that she came to understand what war is, why it is so terrible."

"She needs to learn before it is too late and she regrets not understanding, I think she just might have started understanding."

"What do you mean before it's too late?"

AN: I hope everyone is safe with all the chaos going on in the world.