Elian sheepishly presented his amateurish creation. He would’ve made something better if he knew an expert like Priest Thalman would examine it. Then again, Elian was supposed to be a beginner in Aether Magic, so this blended well with his story. He reminded himself to hold back on his skills; if it came out that he was more knowledgeable than he had presented himself, Thalman might presume trickery and get offended or think him suspicious. Not a good look with thieves at large.

  Also, Elian had no explanation for his skill. He couldn’t simply say he came from this or that magic school because he didn’t. Large chance Thalman would catch his lie. Claiming to be the former apprentice of a traveling master mage, giving a random fake name or something, might work. But Elian settled with not complicating things.

  “I see your aim,” Thalman said, knocking on the hardened tendrils. He had a solid body and had more ‘presence’ but likely still wasn’t the real deal. The priest went on, “You’re attempting to combine this material made by your plant symbiote with Aether constructs.”

  “Uh, yeah. I was experimenting…”

  “It may be better to construct a solid layer of Aether, the strongest you can muster, on top of this toughened plant material. The Aether layer will take the brunt of an attack. The weakened force will deal lesser damage to the symbiote’s shell and, hopefully, not reach your flesh. Since you can remake the Aether layer more times than your symbiote could its shell, it has to go first. And so, I recommend focusing your concentration on making this outer Ather layer.”

  “Apologies if I sound crazy,” Elian said, “but I have this plan. Uh, how do I explain this? I’m thinking of steel, an alloy of iron ore and charcoal. The product is much stronger than its components. Anyone would choose an armor of steel than an armor made of a layer of hammered iron ore and a layer of coal. It’s not even a contest. That’s just my thought. Making it work, however…”

  “Imagination and creativity are potent weapons, brother. I commend you for experimenting. An attempt not working now doesn’t mean failure forevermore. And I see merit in your thinking. Catfolk concrete has withstood the test of time, even though its components are merely powdered lime, rock fragments from the surrounding hills, and water. Our body is also another example—tendons and bones absorb impact. Tendons alone will tear, and bones without cushion will shatter.”

  Elian eagerly nodded. He was groffshitting the priest with that talk of steel—he hadn’t really thought much about combining Viney and Aether Magic—but it seemed there was something to this idea. Thalman gave some pretty good analogies.

  “But combining materials doesn’t always result in a stronger product,” Elian said. “Most mixtures are just that… mixtures.” He raised his shield. “As for this? The plant symbiote and Aether blocks can’t even mix. I just pieced them together like the blocks of a house.”

  “They might not mix, but they can take on various forms. Perhaps you can thin them into threads and weave them together for strength. Have you heard of reinforcing muscles and skin with Aether?”

  “We have touched upon it in class,” Elian said, though he knew how to do it even before then. “Our teacher explained it is a rarely used technique because making Aether armor is less taxing on the mind and much safer. If the enemy can shatter our construct, they can surely wound our Aether-strengthened body. Better learn Steelskin if we want a tough body, he told us.”

  “It is true that a construct for defense is more mind-economical and efficient than reinforcement. As for comparing it to Steelskin…” The priest went on to explain the differences between the two techniques, delving into more technical matters.

  Thalman was the sort of teacher who could explain complex concepts in simple terms, the hallmark of a true master of his craft. Elian gained new insights just from a few minutes of lecture. And yet, the simple explanation was still too hard for a real beginner. Elian easily followed the discussion but faked hesitantly nodding and a confused expression.

  After concluding that reinforcing the body with Aether was the less-good option, Thalman said, “But you should not give up so easily. The body cannot be changed, but your plant symbiote can take on all shapes, even fine threads.”

  “With enough practice, I can pull that off,” Elian said, guessing what the priest would suggest.

  “There might be a structure of hardened vines and Aether threads that’ll prove stronger than both of them alone. For is not steel woven into a chain mail stronger than if it remained unlinked? That is a puzzle for you to solve. Recall the strengths and weaknesses of both materials. Not only should the result be sturdier, but it should also be less of a burden on your mind. An effort-to-effectiveness ratio is the modern term used.

  “I may not have the answer to combined Aether and plant material, but I can teach you how to weave Aether through your flesh better. There, you might gain ideas on how to accomplish your aim. If your experiment fails, and I hope it does not, you’ll have at least learned to Aether-reinforce your body.”

  Priest Thalman was clinical and precise in his instructions. He turned his arm translucent—he was still a clone—so Elian could see the network of Aether under the skin. The priest also provided him illustrations of bizarre mind paths that jacked up his Aether concentration.

  Barely ten minutes passed but it felt like ten hours to Elian with how much he had learned.

  He’s a prime example of mastering Aether Magic through hard work, Elian realized. Not that the Sarhat King wasn’t hard-working. Rather, the Sarhat King was extremely talented and a natural genius that he sucked as a teacher. He couldn’t communicate things well because it came naturally to him. In contrast, Thalman knew how to teach because he didn’t start as a prodigy in Aether Magic.

  “I did it the wrong way before,” Elian said, copying Thalman’s demonstration. “I just pooled Aether to my skin like Vigor-based enhancement. No thought whatsoever with the structure and those things.”

  “Structure is key,” Thalman said. “You’re not pumping your body with concentrated lifeforce to make it harder than steel. Aether strands support your body, the latter remaining the same. You have mentioned concerns about facing magic-wielding opponents at the Sarnival Port Tournament. Aether-threading your body can fool them—they’ll expect you defenseless after destroying some of your throwaway constructs before you spring the ruse that your body isn’t defenseless against magic.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  But I’ll really be defenseless against magic, thought Elian. Any attempts to increase his Magic Resilience would get zeroed by the Elder Giant’s Curse. Best use Aether Constructs, which are considered separate entities as summons, to catch magic damage.

  “My time to teach you is short,” Thalman said, looking to the left. There were only trees there. His original body or other clones might be looking at something else. “Before I leave, I’ll teach you my specialty of compact aura emitters to embed in your shield.”

  The priest held out his hand. Above it formed a round blue object not bigger than a ping pong ball.

  Elian could tell from the energy lines on its surface that it emanated an enhancement aura of some sort. The interesting thing was how complex the circuitry looked despite its size. Impressive, but nothing too surprising. And then, Thalman showed the surprise—he shrunk the construct into the size of a grape.

  “I could go further,” said the priest. “Mind-efficient constructs that generate all sorts of auras—I pack them into all my clones when I used to undergo Tribulations. If you can make them smaller while sacrificing little of their utility, then you can make more. I’m not doing anything special. I’m doing it better if I’m permitted to be boastful. Of course, it’ll take years of practice and research to achieve this skill, so I’ll just leave you with a few types.”

  Elian bowed low, making sure his head was an inch lower than the priest. “I’ll be forever grateful.”

  Another few minutes of Thalman’s guidance resulted in wonders.

  Elian asked complicated questions, mixing in some dumb ones so his experience as an Energy mage wouldn’t be so obvious. He memorized all the tips and tricks that Thalman taught. He’d try them out after Thalman left. And the helpful priest did bid him goodbye soon enough.

  “Alas, I don’t have more time to spare,” said the priest as he started to fade. “I know you’ll have cracked the puzzle of weaving your plant symbiote and Aether the next we meet.”

  Elian stared at the space in front of him; the only proof someone was there was the flattened grass. “He’s always gone before I can say goodbye.”

  A couple of hours past midday, Elian stopped his Aether Magic training as Borlen and Casimir returned to camp. According to them, the whole of Temple Hill was on lockdown. No one could enter except for those working there. Penitent Tharguras was still with the priests, and the schedule of his Tribulation was up in the air. Borlen and the other leaders of Tharguras supporters came to the same conclusion as Elian did—the theft was a means to destabilize the peace.

  “We’ll also start our own investigation,” Borlen said. “We may not have crucial pieces of this crime, for the priests won’t let us anyone into the temple, but we will persevere in our ways. This is blatantly an attempt to drive a wedge between us and the supporters of Faridar. It has been decided to uphold the pact of cooperation among us.”

  “What if this is their plan all along?” asked the pilgrim to Elian’s right. “The damned red robes delay the progress of our Champion Penitent, hiding their schemes with this cooperation nonsense.”

  “We don’t need them!” exclaimed a fiery youth. “We can help Tharguras on our own. The red robes hide from suspicion by pretending to work with us.”

  “Everyone, calm down,” Borlen said. “I, out of all us here, have the most enmity with the followers of Faridar. But now is not the time for discord.”

  “He’s right,” Elian said. “If we maintain peace, and our guess is true that the culprits want people to fight among themselves, then they’ll certainly try to stir trouble. Maybe they’ll commit another crime to start the blame game again. The only way to catch them is if they act again.”

  His words calmed down the group. He didn’t voice out the remaining question—why would anyone want conflict? Just like the theft not being the end goal, conflict wasn’t either.

  Elian decided to tour the hills to see the state of things. People moved about, but there was a subdued atmosphere. Same as yesterday, guards and golems randomly checked people and shops. Thrice, Elian was scanned by a golem’s giant eye. He passed by the bridge going to Temple Hill—it was full of pilgrims praying on mats laid on the pavement. Since they couldn’t get to the hill where the temple stood, praying on the bridge was the next best thing.

  To reach Vigor Hill, Elian had to take the long way because he couldn’t cut through the temple like he always did.

  “What are they planning…” Elian muttered, observing the streams of people walking with him to Vigor Hill.

  No one answered him. Would be surprising if anyone did.

  He continued on his way to visit the floramage hoping to get answers to other questions.

  “Ohmenstrat, you say?” Gideon said as he stirred the pot of bubbling orange goop—this was supposed to be an experimental growth solution for Viney.

  The floramage didn’t immediately answer the door when Elian knocked, thinking he was another temple guard snooping around. Elian had to shout to be heard. Either the carriage had thick walls or the floramage wasn’t in the mood for visitors. For a moment, Elian thought Gideon was hiding from him because of the talk about Giants.

  “Yes, that’s my next destination,” Elian explained about the Altruistic Tether Boon and the deity giving it.

  “The ruins beneath the Shrine of the Peace-mongering Crucible… That location is quite famous among floramages for its diversity of life not found elsewhere. An abundance of rare ingredients like an assortment of valuable paints on a palette. I will accompany you there on the condition that you must gather my ingredients.”

  “Uh, I’m not so sure about that. When I take the Crucible’s test for its Boon, I’m not allowed to do any harm. Even just picking a leaf from a random plant probably counts as harm.”

  “Explore it again after you’ve obtained the Boon,” Gideon said, sprinkling a fine white powder over his brew. “If you’ve passed the test of the deity, that means you are sufficiently strong to hunt and harvest ingredients at the ruins. My new potions will benefit both you and me.”

  “Sure, we’ll work that out.” Elian was relieved Gideon agreed to go with him. “We can also show off your creations to the people there.”

  “Not advisable,” he replied. “Not a minute had passed since I told you that the ruins are famous among floramages—a number of my registered colleagues will be crawling there. I prefer to keep to myself.”

  “We can try snatching the ingredients they aim for from under their noses.”

  Gideon gave Elian a horrible smile, displaying his crooked teeth. “Now, that is a plan. Have you already decided on our date of departure? I have much to prepare.”

  “I’m not sure… Should be after the supporters of Tharguras end their pilgrimage. I’m friends with some of them, you see. But when that’ll be is unknown. I do hope that Tharguras can have one more Tribulation before then.”

  “Ah, all the robbery turmoil at the temple. I want no part in that. I’m contented with my plants.”

  “Speaking of plants, I have something you might be able to help me with.” Elian presented his right arm and awakened Viney. “I’m sure you have extensive knowledge of plant structure. What do you think about entwining plants and Aether constructs?”