Listening to the rest of the explanation, Eldrian felt deflated. Everything made sense, and sure it was quite the breakthrough. However, it wasn't the breakthrough he had wanted.
"Wait, something feels off." Myropsis mumbled, causing Eldrian's hope to lift again. "If the mental power we used to take control of spells, form our spell modules, or in this case fuel spells with emotions—is lifeforce... Doesn't that mean basically everyone can tap into their lifeforce?"
"Ah, yeah... But that's just mageia." Eldrian replied off-handedly, again deflated. This was precisely what mageia meant. Being able to control spells, but not form them. Not without mana being the fuel for them. Lifeforce was the driving force. It wasn't the matter that makes up the spells.
An invisible force, collecting and guiding an invisible type of matter. 'Logically, if it is a force, it contains energy -or rather is- and it should be able to become a type of matter. Just like how ether is the force equivalent of mana...yet...'
Of course, Eldrian had never truly experimented. And even if he had, expecting results in a year or two was ridiculous. Such a project would be a life's achievement. Just go back three years and he, like everyone else, didn't even consider magic a possibility.
"Either I am still missing something or you're overlooking something." Myropsis countered. "Your addition didn't just alter the spell, it fundamentally changed it."
Sofiera noticed Eldrian wasn't seeing it. "The firebird used the emotions as a catalyst to make itself more than a spell. It isn't mageia guiding, but rather it being consumed and re-used independently. Like it gave the spell life."
"Eldrian! This is a massive breakthrough!" Myropsis tried to get through to him. Sadly, Eldrian continued to be blinded by his pre-conceived notions. Which was in large part because of how vague his definitions were, and how things normally just worked out.
After a bit more of trying to get Eldrian to acknowledge it, the centaurettes gave up. Deciding to focus on figuring out the aftermath of the duel first. Not needing to fight the vampires and conquer the fort was a big bonus, but the politics this brought was going to be a pain.
However, these politics were sure to be preferable to war. If it could be arranged as such.
Eldrian let Sofiera lead the talks as the division leader of the western region. He felt this would be for the best since she was actually a part of the kingdom, while he was not.
Sure, he had done plenty for the kingdom and had come to feel it was home. Undeniably, however, he was still a non-native. Not just to the kingdom, but even to this world.
He was pulled back into the talks near the end. Apparently, Levana didn't mind too terrible to relinquish the fort to their control. However, they requested that they be allowed to visit.
Before going to the keep, Eldrian had wandered the area and was relieved to see that the slaves were treated well. At least, they weren't being worked like slaves and seemed well fed. For their mental health, he couldn't comment, but their condition was good enough for him to not make a fuss.
"In essence, we hope to make this fort a neutral ground for diplomatic talks. As it is outside of the drylands and also past the defined kingdom borders, we see this as an ideal spot." Levana explained once Eldrian joined the meeting.
Looking at the centaurette, he realized they wanted him to weigh in. "Sounds great. I don't see why you want me here."
"Because this is all because of you." Levana offered a sweat smile, which was sadly lost on Eldrian who was still thinking about other things. "Sadly, as you've also noted before, neither you nor I am true authorities in our reflective kingdoms."
"Okay?"
'She wants to form a diplomatic line with us.' The sudden mental prompt took Eldrian by surprise. Eldrian had kept the connection active in case of emergency. He did not expect to receive guidance from it.
"What is your proposal?" Eldrian asked as an awkward silence settled into the keep. Slightly embarrassed that he had needed the prompt. Levana hadn't exactly hidden the lead.
"I would like to stay in the fort, at least for a while." Levana proffered, getting a round of gasps from those in attending.
"Oh... I see no problem with that." Eldrian replied so quickly that Sofiera didn't have time to instruct him. Feeling like another mountain of work had just been placed on her shoulders, she sighed under her breath. Trying to not let anyone notice her annoyance.
'I would prefer you wait for my go-ahead...' Came the message, too late.
"Really! That's great. Right, then Alec—"
"I'm afraid I have you stop you there." Sofiera interrupted before things could spiral more unfavorably. "As this is going to be a neutral ground, I would like to propose a limitation to the strength of attendees..."
"Ah, yes. I can understand that...but it will also be awkward."
"Indeed. Which is why I want to propose that the limitation will be your and Eldrian's levels of strength. Since he will be mainly staying here and we will not occupy the fort, he needs to be capable of defending himself. And the same holds for you."
"I see..."
"However, we also wish to come here from time to time to discuss things and offer advice if we are capable..." Sofiera continued, things now more complicated. "For this reason, a simple agreement will be hard to come to and we cannot leave things undefined."
"You're thinking of another contract?"
"Eldrian." Sofiera turned to the stunned elf.
"Huh...y-yeah?" Half spacing out, Eldrian returned his focus to the matter at hand. Relying on Two for a quick recap.
He was in deep reflection about the duel and everything that had transpired. Tapping into tranquility, teleporting, the firebird (who was now soaring around the fort), and those darkness spells draining his mana.
"Do you think it will be possible to enact a type of magical contract that must be signed to enter the fort?" Sofiera asked. Once she confirmed Eldrian was mentally with them.
"Uh... Sure, why not?" Eldrian replied, thinking that it would be quite a simple thing with help from the AI. His sudden answer again gave Sofiera a headache.
'Couldn't you have taken a little more time to answer that?' She asked, rubbing her head as she tried to rationalize what Eldrian was thinking. Something like they were considering was generally accepted as impossible. If it were, crime would be non-existent.
"Sometimes even we are stunned by his quick answers." Sofiera offered the vampires, who gave her reassureing smiles. The two groups seemingly having found a commonality.
'Are those smiles because of me or Levana?' Eldrian wondered, being asked how they would go about setting up a contract for entrance into the fort.
"Simply put, it will need to be a barrier. Else people can negate it simply by sneaking in." Eldrian explained. The vision he had in his mind was a simple one. Something like getting a pop-up when trying to enter a city.
Something impossible, or at least too costly to ever be practical. However, if the AI, the gods of this world, were to get involved. Then it should be simple.
[Ziraili, do you think this might be possible?] Eldrian started getting confirmation before he laid out his precise plans for everyone. Something he definitely should have done before giving confirmation.
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