Monica asked, "I see its daylight already. Are you getting ready to train with the wizards today?"
"Yes. I didn't realize it was so late. I was trying some stuff and was concentrating so hard that I lost track of time. I think Archmage Alden wanted to see us this morning. We can jump to the refectory through one of the doors here if I remember right and go straight there, then to the elemental tower after we grab something."
System, do you remember which door on the map in the council tower led to the refectory from here?
"I still need to wash up a little," said Monica. "Someone broke the wash basin." With narrowed eyes, she looked at Von. "I guess I will have to wait and go to the necessary room to clean off. Be right back, V."
A feeling of embarrassment washed over Von as he stared at the melting ice on the floor and the broken remains of the basin. He concentrated on them, but despite being able to sense the metal, he couldn't figure out how to put it back together again. He was able to pick up the larger pieces of ice, then he attempted to use the energies of the water to make the water on the floor and stand move into the drain hole. Unlike the previous skills, this seemed to be a much easier task, or maybe it was just the fact there was so little water remaining. Either way, it went much easier than expected.
Thinking about it, each new skill was worth fifty experience points toward his magical affinity, the new talent cryonomancy was worth a willpower point all its own plus a point of endurance. Each level of magical ability seemed to add a point of willpower. Maybe this is the reason it's becoming easier to manipulate the energies. As my willpower grows, it takes less effort to bend the energies to my desires, or maybe it's the new level of shaping magic. As I increase their level, some stuff seems to increase automatically.
Having finished cleaning the mess he created, he pondered what to do with the basin. So far, he had learned nothing of metallomancy. System, how can I repair this basin so it looks as good as new? Will I need metallomancy?
Do you have a shortcut for learning metallomancy? Can you teach me?
System please spend experience points to learn metallomancy.
What level is my pyromancy affinity? Can I afford the same level?
Wow. 125,000 experience points. He had a lot, but this would be a good number. He wondered how high a level he needed to do what he wanted, not use that much.
System, how strong must my affinity be to do what I asked?
System, how many experience points would it take to learn chrono-cleansing?
System, would you please explain the process of learning chrono-cleansing to me?
Thank you.
Von pondered the words of his system. First, he focused on using his will to move every piece, no matter how small of the basin to the top of the stand into a pile. Hoping he had them all, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and immersed himself in the quietude of the room ignoring the noises coming from the rest of the tower.
The air pulsed with potential as he visualized the basin in its prime. His young mind anchored onto this vision, a mental snapshot of the basin's optimal state. Tracing the weaves of temporal energy in the air, Von extended his hands towards the tarnished basin. A surge of temporal energy, guided by his focused intent, emanated around the basin. The energy, resembling a gentle luminescent mist, enveloped the basin in a softly glowing bubble, heralding the onset of the chrono-cleansing process.
Temporal energy surged through the basin, reversing the marks of time. The broken pieces pulled themselves together perfectly merging back into its original shape. As he continued, the fading of the finish and small bits of tarnish retreated like a receding tide, leaving in its wake the gleaming surface of the restored artifact. Von was careful to maintain a delicate balance, ensuring only the negative temporal imprints were erased, preserving the intrinsic qualities of the basin.
The air shimmered as the cleansing energy wove through the basin, erasing the temporal scars etched upon its surface. Von's concentration remained unwavering, going back as far as his ability would allow. his young but determined mind orchestrating a dance with the forces of time.
As the chrono-cleansing neared completion, Von could sense the basin's renewed vitality. The soft glow subsided, revealing a basin that seemed to defy the ravages of age. Von slowly withdrew his hands, ending the flow of temporal energy, and opened his eyes to witness the transformation. As the basin stood gleaming with renewed life, he felt a sense of accomplishment and a little light-headed from having restored the basin not just a few minutes, but several months into the past. He thought he could have gone farther, but he seemed to have hit a wall where no matter how hard he concentrated, nothing would change. None-the-less, he was excited with his latest accomplishment. Never again would he have to worry about dropping and breaking something.
Running his hand around the basin, he began to fill it and the pitcher with fresh pure warm water.
As he was admiring his work, Monica returned from the necessary room looking refreshed and washed. Her clothes, however, still looked rumpled with bits of dirt on them from the cavern. Looking at his own, they were in worse condition yet. His mind leapt with excitement again. He could show off his new skill to Mon!
"Mon, take your clothes off and set them on the bed," he said as he started to disrobe. They had grown up together, and it meant nothing for the two of them to be unclothed together. They, like many of the children in Milltown had skinny dipped with no taboo involved regardless of their gender.
Looking at him with puzzlement, she said, "Okay. I guess...." She then noticed the basin. "You went and got a new basin? I didn't have to leave after all." She said laying her dress and shoes on the bed.
"No, watch this," he grinned. He again focused his will to entice the energies of time to return the clothing to the state it was in after their bath at the inn manipulating the weaves of temporal energy, Von extended his hands to the pile of clothing weaving these energies through the clothing watching as the dried mud and dirt faded returning to a time before it discovered the materials. This was a bigger group of items requiring a lot more effort than the single basin. Sweat began to form on his forehead as he continued to restore the clothing to the condition he remembered.
Withdrawing the time bubble from around the stack of clothing, he staggered for a second. He wasn't sure why, but restoring this group of items a day was much more difficult than returning the basin to its state from fifteen months ago. Once he finished withdrawing the temporal essence, the clothing was not only clean, but folded neatly on the bed, ready to wear.
Monica's mouth was open wide as she watch the manipulation of the clothing. "V, that was amazing! What did you do?"
"I learned how to turn back time on an object. It's called chrono-cleansing. It makes things like they were before. Let's get dressed so we can eat and go see Alden so we can learn about whatever he called it. You know, the protection magic."