As I looked at the fight objectively, my tension dropped and I could focus on the techniques that interested me.
'Was it mana?'
While I started wondering how he could exert so much power, Ein turned around and bowed his head.
"I've taken care of it, master."
Before I could respond, Jeanne spoke her mind without hesitation.
"Took you long enough."
While Ein grimaced, Brad and I chuckled and I then nodded.
"Not bad."
Ein grinned at my words but Jeanne couldn't leave him be this time either.
"Don't be so smug using something that you begged Brad to teach you."
Ein grimaced once more while glaring at Jeanne who glared back indifferently. The two might have been one step away from fighting but there was something that I was more interested in. After hearing Brad's name pop up, I snuck a glance in his direction. When he sensed my gaze, he beat his chest and smiled with pride.
He looked like a dog waiting to be praised but I was more surprised that he could come up with techniques, and actually teach them.
'So, he's not a muscle-brain?'
I spent a moment wondering if he was always smart or only changed after becoming my familiar, but then I shook my head.
'I'll just be glad that they've all improved. Still, it would be nice if I could learn that technique too...'
Ignoring Brad who pouted as I turned my head, I raised my arm and remembered what Ein did. It reminded me that mana wasn't just to create magic. Mana was the energy that molded to one's imagination, so there was no reason to restrict its uses.
'Right, warriors can use mana to strengthen their bodies and in Holy Magic there are spells that boost strength. I don't need to limit my mana by only using it to create spells.'
With the skills and experiences I had absorbed, there was no problem with my mana control. All I had to do was keep the right image.
I imagined my mana flowing like blood through my arm and then clenched my fist to make that mana focus at my hand. I could feel a slight warmth to my fist but this wasn't enough to satisfy me. My curiosity pushed me to take the next step.
Not just density, I tried to increase the power of my fist by filling it with mana. My image was that of a clump of snow being molded into a snowball.
'Tighter, tighter.'
When I felt a sudden tremor in my fist, I knew that it had reached its limit and satisfaction finally filled my heart as I saw the vague blue glow around my fist.
"As expected of master."
Surprised by the sudden comment from Jeanne, I looked up and found all three of my familiars looking at me in wonder.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, we're just impressed by how quickly you figured out the reinforcement technique master. It makes us proud to know that we have to serve a master such as you."
Following after Brad's answer, Jeanne couldn't help but throw some dirt on Ein while she was at it with a pleasant smile on her face.
"It's just like master to see through it so easily. Much better than this fool who took three nights to pull it off."
"Oi, I agree that master is amazing but why do you have diss me every chance you get?"
Ein seemed genuinely upset but Jeanne responded with a puzzled expression.
"Oh, do I? I'm sorry, I just can't think of something good to say about you."
"Hey! Can't you at least try to consider my feelings?"
"Why?"
While the two started their usual argument I was stuck in my own thoughts. Immature, silly, childish, those were all words I could use for these thoughts of mine, but I didn't deny them.
'Now that I think about, when was the last time I was complimented.'
Maybe most people wouldn't know the exact answer, but they would at least feel like they had experienced it. But, I, honestly couldn't remember. Where, who, when, whether it was my first or my last compliment, I didn't even know if there was one before this. Even something like 'Good Job', did I ever hear that?
"Master?"
!
It was Brad's voice that broke me out of that depressing train of thought.
'Yeah, the past doesn't matter. I have to focus on the present.'
I waved my hand at Brad to show that I was okay before returning my attention to the two who were still arguing.
"Enough," my flat tone ended their heated chat without any delay so I could say what I wanted without having to raise my voice.
"Ein, check them."
Ein nodded before crouching and putting his hand over one of the undead warriors. As my familiars, I gave them the ability to use my unique skill through the contracts that binded us. Familiars, especially half-spirit ones like them, were made to serve in a sense, but to keep their masters from abusing them for all eternity, a contract was required when bonding with a familiar.
My contract was rather simple so I made it at the same time as I was creating their bodies, however the contract wasn't strong enough to allow them to use Assimilation as well as I could. Still, in my current state, I had to leave it to them.
After the undead's stiff body turned into tiny dust and was absorbed by Ein's body, I focused on the condition of his soul. To be specific, how his soul would deal with what he just assimilated with. Using the Sixth Sense ability I got from Necromancy, I was able to guess what was happening inside his body.
'He's, eating it?'
Rather fusing together or sharing the same space, I sensed that Ein's soul seemed to be engulfing the remnant soul of the undead warrior, and consuming it.
'So that was a method.'
I used to leave everything up to my skill so I never thought of how to deal with the souls I absorbed, but after picking out my original soul from the distorted one I had, properly absorbing the distorted pieces would be the next step.
'This will be useful in the future.'
Ein had a face that screamed, 'Bitter!' so it obviously wasn't a pleasant experience, but I could chalk it up to having to take medicine. Especially since I was proof of the 'illness' he should be wary of.
'Now that I think about it, would a witch or someone like that have a cure for my condition?'
As I took note of what happened to him, I waited for his expression to stabilize before asking, "So, did you learn anything?"
Ein held a pensive expression before responding, "All I'm sure of is that this wasn't the only group to make this far."
"..."
Tch, worse than thought. Besides Brad, all of us wore dark expressions after understanding the implications of this. As for him, considering the excitement in his eyes he was probably eager for a fight.
'He may have a good brain up there but the only thing he thinks about is fighting. What a waste.'
Now that I knew of the situation, there was even more of a reason to hasten our journey.
Since Ein and Jeanne fought them, I let them share the rest of the undead. I was worried they would argue but it ended without any need for my intervention. A certain puppy behind me was wagging his tail, but I just told him to wait for next time.
Luckily, we didn't encounter any more undead until we reached our destination. Besides the chain around my heart, the entrance was quite telling that this was the centre of the forest. After all, where else would there be such a gathering of creatures ready to kneel and offer food at any moment?
'I'm starting to get used to this. Should I be worried?'
If I didn't eat before coming here I might have considered taking a fruit or two, but it would have to wait. Without stopping for a moment, we went past the arch formed by the branches of tall trees. After a long path lined by densely packed trees, we stopped at the sight of two enormous figures.
One was a green, luscious tree that stretched into the sky. The other wrapped around the tree with its tail and kept its eyes closed while assuming a sleeping position.
'I thought it would be big, but damn! The tree is way taller but it feels more imposing.'
However, awe wasn't the only thing I felt at the sight of the green-scaled majestic being.
'Hmm, this feeling...'
When I finally saw it in person, I realized why it wasn't able to protect the forest.
"I'm glad you could make it, my child."