"Zakia made sure I was unaware of the Mindscape when he awakened a second time back at the village and hindered my progress, forcing me to use the mask as a substitute for power."
Oliphant was now able to see the manipulations Zakia had made, to make him unknowingly do his bidding.
" From the first moment I came here, Zakia made sure to give me the spell to run away from the high elder leading to my 'death' in which I'm confident I could have talked my way through, my expulsion from the academy permanently cut me off from learning anything noteworthy about the supernatural of this world."
" After that, he enforced more of his will by leading me straight to the Valley of Sirens, it's also weird that during my travel in the swamp, no beasts I couldn't handle attacked me, he must have used his deterrent force as a high ranked individual to keep them away to help me reach the Valley as soon as possible, because his goal is here. "
" But now I'm going to turn everything to it's head, for me to move forward I have to get rid of him, just like he has to get rid of me. " Oliphant thought as he told Zakia he was now going to see Kael.
Oliphant now had come to understand a few things about what being a spell Caster meant.
"Firstly by putting aside my previous attachments from my world led to me gaining acceptance from this world allowing for a change, which is the realization of the Mindscape, which is also what is needed for a spellcaster to process and create spells so that they can be cast."
" Secondly I think it being my first time gaining the Mindscape, what I know was converted into spells for me to use by it, at the moment Zakia only knows of Steal and Impose, I'll use the other two soon to get rid of him."
"And lastly, anything I study or know to a certain extent can be turned into a spell, this is a horrifying ability to say the least, and now I have a way to rid myself of the inhibitor known as Zakia." At the edge of despair Oliphant had now found hope to move forward.
" I know what your plan is Oliphant but you can try your best, but know this, there is no hope for you. "Zakia remarked as he returned to his silence once again.
" Then we shall see... "Oliphant descended down the stairs, and came to the servicing area, the chairs were put on top of the tables as cleaning was in progress and the inn was preparing to close for the day. The bar area was still functional though, so Oliphant took a seat there.
The bartender who was serving was the voluptuous girl who helped Oliphant book his room when he first arrived here. " Good evening , I would like sorghum beer if you have any. "
Oliphant asked the bartender, this was a beverage Oliphant had developed a liking to, while he was out gathering information from the natives of this world, it's thickness and sour aroma coupled with the taste made him love this particular beverage.
" Right away sir, give me a moment." the bartender went to one of the barrels and scooped out some of it and poured it into a gourd and gave it to Oliphant.
"If you don't mind me asking sir, you seem a little different today, do you need some help with something?" the bartender asked as she noticed the slight change in Oliphant's physique.
"It's nothing I cannot handle, but you can help me with something though."
"Just say the word and I will be on it." eagerness was clear in her voice.
"I need to meet with Sir Kael, I'm sure you know about my meeting with him, there's some things I need to clarify with him before I make my decision." Oliphant gulped down the liquid from the gourd and let out a breath of air, "That hit the spot." he said.
"Sir Kael had been expecting you to come, so he told me I should take you straight to him when you arrive."
"Good, then how may I address you?"
"Your can call me Nia."
"The miss Nia can you take me to him now?"
"Sure thing" the bartender replied.
The girl called one of the half Sirens that were cleaning to man the bar as she and Oliphant used a secret door in the beer storage room that led underground. Oliphant descended down the spiral of stairs and arrived at a half open door at the lowest level. "Sir Hashaan can go inside, I will be here by the door to lead you back out." Nia gestured with here hand for Oliphant to enter and gave a slight bow.
Oliphant nodded and went in. Inside was a room with a lot of bookshelves and paintings of all kinds on the walls, in the middle of all this, Kael who's skin was giving of a pale red color as dim light shine on it, was sitting in front of a table with intricate design, piled high with scrolls, books and beast skin hides.
"It pleases me to see you here, does this mean you have chosen to take up my prince's offer?" Kael shifted his focus from the book he was reading and looked at Oliphant, who was now a little different from how he was when he last saw him.
"What is wrong with him, his presence doesn't feel right." Kael thought.
"Indeed I am, but I have decided to meet him at my own terms and at my own set time." Oliphant took a seat in front of Kael facing him directly.
"Yes, it would be weird if you came with no terms, anything can be discussed." Kael spoke with confidence.
"Right, here's the thing...Firstly I need you to Freeze for me."
As soon as Oliphant said this a chill filled the entire underground room and frost started forming on the door and on Kael. "What! I knew something was wrong with this guy!"
Kael leapt out from his chair and formed a razor sharp claw with his hand hurling it towards Oliphant's face. Oliphant naturally had also leapt from his chair and was focusing as much power of the world as he could to power his Freeze spell on Kael's entire body. Before the claw could reach Oliphant, Kael's entire body was already and entirely frozen in place by Oliphant's Spell in that exact motion he had after attacking him.
Oliphant did not waste time as he stopped the Freeze spell and used the Steal and Impose spell in succession, he placed both his hands on Kael's frozen head and said,
" Steal and Impose. "
His right hand grew golden vines that drilled into the left side of Kael's face and his left hand grew silver vines that drilled into the right side of Kael's face. After a moment the golden vines bulged, having extracted something from Kael, while the same bulge appeared on the silver vines and went into Kael.
After this process a change occurred, Kael who was incased in ice now had Oliphant's appearance while, Oliphant had Kael's appearance. Right at this moment the door behind Oliphant exploded into pieces an Nia came rushing in.
"What happened?" What entered Nia's eyes was the man she had led here, frozen in place, with his hand extended in a claw, threatening to gouge one's eyes out,while her boss was standing not too far away from the ice statue. "Boss I led this man here it's my fault please punish me."
"It's no big deal you lead him here under my orders, it just that a mishap occurred, this guy thought he could try his luck so I took care of him." 'Kael' assured Nia to be at ease .
"Now that he's done this I have to personally report to the higher ups, now quickly lead the way for me to the prince's place of residence and I'll follow behind you as I recover." Oliphant made haste.
"Kael is not someone I can beat just yet, I will make use of this time, while I assume his identity. I have his ice sculpture projection in my Mindscape, when the whole sculpture melts, that will be the time he escapes my spell. " Oliphant thought as he let out a breath of relief.
" Right away boss! "Oliphant and Nia went up the stairs rather quickly and we're soon outside the inn." Boss since you'll be recovering on your way there let me piggyback you there so that I can use my speed to get you there quickly."
Oliphant was a bit taken aback but this was indeed a good suggestion so he agreed. "Good idea! Let's do just that."
Around Nia's feet, there was a watery halo around them and her speed increased as she glided on the busy streets of Raziya's peak and headed high up the peak where the prince was residing.