When Kael pulled the most dramatic puppy-dog eyes and said, "Daaad! Can you ask your adventurer friends if they have any lightning spells or techniques? Pretty please?" both Helena and Lucas visibly froze.
Helena blinked, stunned by the sheer cuteness, while Lucas scratched his beard and looked away, trying to act unaffected.
Kael, seeing the momentarily stunned expressions on their faces after his puppy-dog eyes attack, couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at the corner of his lips. 'Heh, haven't lost my touch after all.' He maintained the innocent, pleading gaze, though, knowing the follow-through was crucial.
Lucas cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. He crossed his arms, attempting a stern look that didn't quite reach his eyes and said, "Now, now, Kael. Don't think you can just bat your eyelashes and get everything you want. These kinds of spells aren't just lying around. Adventurers usually keep their techniques close to their chest."
"But Daaad," Kael whined, drawing out the word and tilting his head further. "You have so many friends! Surely, one of them would be willing to help your amazing son? Think of it as an investment! If I learn more spells before the academy entrance exams, won't my chances of getting in be way higher?" He followed it up with another wide-eyed look.
Helena chuckled softly, watching the familiar battle of wills unfold. She knew Lucas was a softie when it came to Kael, despite his attempts at appearing firm.
Lucas sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair and said, "They won't just hand them over for free, Kael. These things have value. We'd probably have to buy them, and even then, getting advanced techniques isn't easy." He paused, a thought striking him. "The Adventurer's Guild might have some basic lightning spells available to purchase for the adventurers. Though, knowing them, they'll probably try to haggle for even higher discounts at our shop in return, that ends up costing more than the spells themselves"
Kael's eyes lit up. "Then I'll make it worth their while! I'll make more rune-enchanted items for the shop. You've seen what I can do with my rune inscriptions. I will create more items with minor buffs or utility effects. We can offer those as sweeteners! A 'buy two get a minor enchantment free' deal? Or maybe even create some unique enchanted tools for your adventurer friends in exchange for the spells!" His enthusiasm was infectious, and Lucas's resistance seemed to waver.
"Rune enchantments, huh?" Lucas mused, stroking his chin. The rune-enchanted items Kael crafted always sold well, and offering limited-run enchantments could definitely sweeten any trade. The idea had merit, potentially benefiting their shop as well.
Helena, who was quietly giggling on the side, said. "Just give in, dear. He's not going to stop until you say yes."
Kael leaned in closer, eyes glittering like a little fox sensing victory. "Pleaaase?"
Lucas looked at Kael's hopeful face and sighed again, this time with less resistance. "Ahem, alright. I'll… I'll ask around. No promises, mind you. My friends are a stingy bunch."
Kael beamed, throwing his arms around his father in a quick hug. "You're the best, Dad!"
A few days later, Lucas presented Kael with three scrolls and a worn leather-bound book. Handing them over, He said. "Here you go, you little wheeler-dealer. I managed to pry these from a few of my contacts. Two of these were expensive even with discounts. I had to promise some 'rune tuning' freebies for their gear. You better make it worth it."
Kael's eyes widened as he eagerly took them and said, "I will! I promise!"
He stored them instantly in his custom storage bracer—an advanced seal formation inscribed with six interconnected storage seals, granting more capacity and faster access than traditional rings or bracelets.
Excited by his newfound knowledge, Kael immediately made his way to his usual training grounds. Once, a riverside clearing that used to be peaceful and green, now littered with scorched trees and shattered boulders. Birds no longer nested there, driven away by his frequent experiments with spells
Kael sat atop a boulder near the water's edge and took out the scrolls and book. He read the names aloud softly. They were:
1. [Lightning Flash](E-Rank Spell)
2. [Lightning Wave Emission](C-Rank Spell)
3. [Lightning Bolt Projection](C-Rank Spell)
4. {Lightning Infusion} (D-Rank Technique)
After reading the names, Kael thought to himself, 'Not bad. I didn't expect my father to get his hands on two C-rank spells. These must be the ones he mentioned that cost more.' He glanced over the list, pondering for a moment. 'So, where should I start?' After a few seconds of thought, he muttered, "Well, let's first take a look at their descriptions. I'll decide afterwards which one to practice first."
He immediately opened the scrolls and started reading them.
* 📜 [Lightning Flash] (E-Rank Spell)
- Description: This spell allows the user to generate a sudden, intense burst of lightning that emits a blinding flash of light. It's primarily used for disorientation and creating openings for attack or escape.
- Execution:
1. Gather Mana: Draw a small amount of your mana towards your hands. Focus your intent on creating a sharp, bright light.
2. Mold Mana: Shape the mana into a concentrated point of electrical energy directly in front of your palms. Visualize a sudden spark igniting.
3. Release Mana: With a sharp mental command, release the contained energy outwards in a rapid pulse. The mana will instantly transform into a brilliant flash of lightning. Minimal concentration is required for this low-rank spell.
* 📜 [Lightning Wave Emission] (C-Rank Spell)
Description: This spell allows the user to generate a powerful wave of lightning that surges outward in a sweeping motion capable of disrupting incoming projectiles and enemy attacks. It's primarily used as a defensive technique, creating space and halting momentum by intercepting threats with raw electrical force.
- Execution:
1. Gather Mana: Draw a significant amount of lightning-aspected mana into your dominant hand (or both hands if desired). The amount of mana gathered will determine the size and power of the wave.
2. Mold Mana: Shape the mana within your hand into a series of interconnected nodes or a single, elongated strand. Visualize the lightning energy coiling and crackling, ready to be released. This requires a higher level of mana manipulation and concentration compared to lower-rank spells.
3. Release and Control: Extend your hand(s) wave towards your target and release the formed lightning energy. Maintain focus to direct the trajectory and shape of the waves. You can release multiple smaller waves or a single, larger one.
* 📜 [Lightning Bolt Projection] (C-Rank Spell)
- Description: This spell allows the user to create and launch focused bolts of lightning. The rank and power of the bolt depend on the amount of mana channeled and the level of concentration. D-rank bolts might stun or cause minor burns, while B-rank bolts can be significantly more powerful and capable of piercing armor or causing severe injury. These bolts are not as potent as a full-powered, direct lightning attack but offer range and precision.
- Execution:
1. Gather Mana: Draw a varying amount of lightning-aspected mana into your hand(s), depending on the desired power of the bolt. Visualize a dense sphere of electrical energy forming.
2. Mold Mana: Compress and refine the mana sphere into a sharp, elongated bolt shape. Focus on the tip, visualizing its potential to pierce or strike with force. The more intricate the molding and the higher the mana concentration, the more powerful the resulting bolt.
3. Project Mana: With a focused thrust of your hand, release the formed lightning bolt. Direct its trajectory with your mind. Maintaining concentration during projection allows for minor adjustments in flight. Higher-rank bolts require significantly more mana and sustained concentration to control their power and accuracy.
After reading through the three scrolls, Kael began analyzing the spells. A few minutes later, he thought, 'These spells are actually really useful in real-life situations. I bet they use [Lightning Flash] to distract mana beasts or create openings during hunts. For defense, there's [Lightning Wave Emission], and for offense, they'd rely on [Lightning Bolt Projection]. Did my father specifically request these, or did they just give him whatever was available?'
He shrugged to himself. 'Well, whatever it is, it works out for me. Out of the three, [Lightning Wave Emission] might be a bit harder to learn. The other two, I should be able to pick up within a week. Since I already know how to create powerful lightning bolts, [Lightning Bolt Projection] should come easily. As for [Lightning Flash]…'
He raised his hand and gathered small amount of mana, instantly converting it into a burst of lightning.
A sharp, brilliant flash lit up the area for a second.
He had succeeded on his first try. 'This one is down. It's just a basic spell, but I still need to make the flash brighter. Only then will it be effective in an actual battle. He nodded to himself. Alright, I'll master this one first, then move on to [Lightning Bolt Projection], and finally train in [Lightning Wave Emission].
Having made his decision, he opened the book containing the technique {Lightning Infusion} (D-Rank) and began to read. The contents were as follows:
* 📘 {Lightning Infusion} (D-Rank Technique)
- Description: Lightning Infusion is a Part of the Elemental Infusion technique family. It allows the user to channel their lightning-aspected mana into a physical object, most commonly a weapon. The infused electricity empowers the object, increasing its sharpness, durability, and overall effectiveness. It also grants the user the ability to manipulate the electricity for offensive purposes, such as discharging jolts upon contact or creating arcs of lightning from the infused object.
Execution:
1. Mana Infusion: Begin by drawing a moderate amount of your lightning-aspected mana from your body. Focus on the object you wish to infuse, visualizing your mana flowing into its form. Slowly and steadily guide the mana to envelop the object, allowing it to soak into the material. This requires focused concentration to ensure the mana integrates without dissipating.
2. Mana Transformation: Once the object is coated with your mana, consciously transform it into active electricity. Imagine the static charge building, the familiar crackling sensation spreading across the surface of the object. This requires a clear mental image of the energy shifting form.
3. Sustaining the Infusion: Maintain a constant flow of mana to sustain the lightning infusion. The amount of mana required depends on the duration and intensity of the infusion. Initially, holding the infusion will require significant concentration, but with practice, it will become more intuitive. To manipulate the electricity for attacks, further focus is needed to direct the flow and discharge of the energy.
And the information about how to infuse different weapons are in next pages of the book.
Kael thought after closing the book, 'Why is this only a D-Rank technique? I thought it would rank higher, considering how powerful it is.' He recalled his previous attempt to infuse lightning into his sword—and how it had failed miserably. 'I see now... I did the entire process wrong. I skipped the steps and just forced lightning into the sword. All it did was conduct the electricity, not hold it.'
He flipped through the pages until he reached the section detailing how to infuse lightning into a sword properly. After carefully reading the process, he nodded thoughtfully. 'Hmm... this method takes time. And if I want to get creative in combat, I'll also need to learn how to infuse lightning into throwable weapons—like senbon needles—and make sure the energy lingers long enough to strike when they hit.'
"Alright," Kael said aloud. "First, I'll learn the three spells. Then I'll start working on this technique."
With his priorities set, he spent the rest of the day practicing [Lightning Flash]. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, he had already mastered the technique.
Over the next ten days, Kael dedicated himself to perfecting Lightning Bolt Projection. The spell required careful control—compressing and launching lightning mana with precision, adjusting its power and focus mid-flight. It was a demanding spell, but Kael found satisfaction in its raw force and accuracy.
He then turned his attention to Lightning Wave Emission, which took another twenty days to truly grasp. This technique required more intricate mana shaping—learning how to create and control broad, flowing streams of electricity. It was challenging to maintain the wave's form while directing its path, but Kael gradually developed the finesse to do so.
By the end of the month, Kael felt a noticeable shift in his capabilities. With all three spells now under his control, his offensive prowess had significantly increased.
Finally, he turned his attention to "Lightning Infusion." He picked up his training sword, its familiar weight grounding him.
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Alright," he murmured to himself, "let's do this right."