After sorting up their equipment and food rations for a few weeks onward, Darius and the two Warriors rode their horses through the snowy ground.
Since the wilderness was situated at higher altitudes, the temperature was lower compared to the village below. Even with their thick bear's fur jackets, Darius and the two could feel the cold seeping into their bones still.
Aside from the cold, he knew that it was risky going into a forest when there was a chance of encountering the Snow Wolves in their breeding season who usually traversed the forest alone to find their mates. These lone wolves were so aggressive toward anyone who dared enter their territory.
Despite this, he was unfazed and determined to harvest suitable trees and turn them into logs.
As they pressed onward, an endless row of trees dominated their line of sight as they arrived at the harvesting ground. Everything was covered in white. Spotless, even.
"I think this is the place. Let's build a camp before it gets dark." Bjorn said as he dismounted his draft horse. "Skallgard, watch the perimeter."
The archer nodded, and he immediately climbed the nearby tree to do watch duty.
Darius and Bjorn, meanwhile, unsheathed their Axes and began to cut down medium-sized trees which they later used the logs to build a makeshift shelter.
Although the shape was only a simple triangle with a main pole in the middle, it had enough space to accommodate the three to sleep comfortably.
"Hup! That's the last of them." A thick misty cloud escaped Darius' mouth as he heaved the last log into its place.
Darius then piled the snow and dirt onto the shelter's roof to provide them with insulation during the freezing night.
A proud smile plastered on Bjorn's face as he observed the once scrawny brat that he trained to survive in the wilderness had grown into a fine and strong young man.
Skallgard, on the other hand, descended from his tree once he noticed the shelter was completed right before dusk.
"Let's rest early. We will begin marking the trees early in the morning." Darius suggested.
"Alright, Skallgard and I will do the night watch in turns so you can rest easy Chief," Bjorn said, piling some branches to make a fire.
"Thank you."
Even though he looked like he was asleep soundly, Darius' mind was actually in Alexa's pseudo-dimension realm where he could train his magic skill and forge the Arcane Cells which would be implanted in his brains.
Just like before, Alexa brought his consciousness to the Library of Alexandria.
He still has 1.500 Loyalty Points which he could use to afford another offensive spell. However, Alexa promptly rejected his idea.
"What use of a flashy offensive Magic Spell if you can defeat your opponent with a single Arcane Bolt?" Alexa said, sitting on a pile of spellbooks.
"Well, it's true… But wouldn't it be beneficial for me to know other spell's structures and how to counter them?"
"Indeed… But it's still too early for your brain to learn a complex spell that requires tens of thousands Arcane Cells to process the logic behind it."
Alexa summoned the transparent blue screen before her and an old-looking book appeared from the thin air.
"Instead of worrying about other people's magic, learn this defensive spell. If you master it, I guarantee you, even Rank 1 Mage couldn't penetrate your defense." After she said this, the book flew toward him and landed right on his face.
"Ouch!" Darius grimaced. "Can you be more gentle, please?!"
"Oops, sorry, hehe." Alexa giggled mischievously.
Though Darius was a bit annoyed, he was captivated by the book's title when he read it.
[Arcane Shield Aura: The Complete Collection]
His eyes widened upon realizing that the book was not an ordinary thing, it was a literal Magic Tome! Any mage in the entire Northean Kingdom would spend their fortune to get one magic tome.
Some even would strip their clothes and status to get one of this ancient book that was written during the time of Gods and Demons!
"Wait… Are you sure giving me such precious magic tome for me?"
"Not for free, of course. 10.000 Loyalty Points. Since the Library is in a good mood lately, you can pay in installments."
"Really?!"
The Library of Alexandria soon hummed in excitement. Books and paper scrolls soon flew around him in circles, they were so eager for Darius to read them, like a bunch of children who yearned for his attention and care.
"Oh my…"
Thus, Darius was so immersed in studying the Arcane Shield Aura. The magic tome itself seems like it had become sentient upon contact with Darius' soul.
The tome wasn't hesitant to unravel all of its secrets and inscribed the knowledge and wisdom into Darius' mind with ease.
Arcane Shield Aura has 5 tiers which could be studied by any mage. These tiers are: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, Master, and Grand Master.
Although this book was only a Rank 1 Magic Tome, it holds a fundamental teaching of defensive magic from all kinds of offensive spells in existence.
Aside from its defensive nature, this spell could also be used as a Close Quarter Combat spell since it provides the user with physical immunity to a certain extent as long as the assailant did not surpass the user's physical capability to withstand a deadly and fatal attack.
This was also the reason why this spell was very flexible and can be cultivated to even higher degree than what had been written in the Magic Tome. Once again, Magic is a realm of imagination, there's no limit except the user itself.
After what seemed like an eternity, Darius opened his eyes when he had learned the [Basic Arcane Shield Aura.]
The Arcanium System chimed merrily in his mind.
[Congratulations!]
[You have mastered Basic Arcane Shield Aura]
[You have forged 3.000 Arcane Cells]
[Rank up! Fourth Tier Acolyte Mage!]
[You have mastered Basic Arcane Shield Aura!]