Tbate - Making A Much Lighter Path

Chapter 42 - Growing Expectations

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Following my encounter with Echeron and Dragoth, Aya and I returned to the council. I presented our report and immediately requested a two-month training as my reward, aligning my progress with the original timeline's events. However, before commencing my training, the disposition of the horns acquired from the two vitras demanded my attention. The unexpected appearance of a scythe so early in the war was a significant development.

While I'd considered the possibility, the strength of Dragoth, far exceeding my expectations, was a stark reality. I had anticipated facing a scythe, but I'd thought of it being just Nico, not a being of Dragoth's power.

Agrona's strategic choices intrigued me. Perhaps he considered my prior battle with Jagrette. I had neutralized her with relative ease. If I were Agrona, I would undoubtedly have dispatched a far more formidable opponent. Dragoth's participation, however, was probably his own choice, he might've volunteered to be deployed on Dicathen.

From my recollection of the novel, the scythes, including Dragoth, seemed to harbor a degree of envy towards Cadel. Such ambition would naturally fuel their eagerness to prove their worth and gain merit by being deployed to Dicathen.

"Now that you've defeated Dragoth, Agrona will undoubtedly send even more powerful opponents," Sylvie remarked, her words echoing my own concerns.

We fell silent, the weight of the possibility of a wraith appearing during the war's initial phase settling heavily upon us. A knock at the door interrupted my contemplation. I signaled for entry, a smile gracing my lips as my trusted companion, Jasmine, entered my room.

"It's nice to see you again, Arthur," she greeted me warmly, her smile mirroring my own.

"It's been too long," I replied, the sentiment mutual.

"I called you here to give you something," I explained, the purpose of her visit is now clear.

"What could it possibly be?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

I released one of Dragoth's horn from my ring. "This is for you. By purifying the black mana within, you'll be able to absorb this thing's rich and potent mana for your own advancement."

"What-" she began, but I interrupted, carefully severing the horn into two distinct fragments with dawns ballad. One fragment retained the pointed tip of the horn, while the other comprised the portion severed from the scythe's skull.

I decided to give the pointed one to Jasmine.

"This," I explained, gesturing to the fragments, "should aid you in breaking through to the White Core stage." The potent mana contained within, once purified, held the potential to significantly accelerate her cultivation.

"I think I could get there on my own, Arthur. I'm scheduled to get another bestowal next after sir Gideon is done with the preparations, he rarely had the time to prepare for bestowals with the on going war. But he made an exception for me and Helen, I think that the bestowal will increase my mana core stage like last time, even if it's just a small margin"

"So?"

"I'm saying that I can reach white core, even without this" she said with a gentle expression. "You should use this for yourself, or if you don't want to, give it to Reynolds. I already owe you a lot-"

"Don't worry about it, Jasmine." I paused for a second before continuing. "Even if you reach White without my help, I would still decide to give this to you."

"..Why?"

"One day, I would need to use your strength. I want you to become stronger than the other lances, Jasmine, for my sake. Even if you reach white core through the bestowal, you would still be weaker than any white core mage in this continent, I will give this horn to you now so that doesn't happen."