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The continuation of the last chapter is missing and I couldn't find it, might right something from my imagination later when i atleast have an idea of what happened. Guessing its an R-18 chapter
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After his conversation with Bonnie, Lance hastened to take a bath, pointedly ignoring the bucket brimming with fresh murloc blood, but exhaustion claimed him, and he succumbed to an early sleep.
Reflecting on the aftereffects, he questioned the morality of exploiting murloc blood for physical enhancement. After all, unpredictability loomed large – who could say if the strange occurrences of that night wouldn't repeat at the most inopportune moment?
As dawn broke, Lance rose with the sun, earlier than usual. This day, he bypassed the familiar route to the martial arts field and instead made his way straight to the Moonlight Tower.
Bonnie, ever faithful, accompanied him. Observing her slightly awkward gait and the persistent furrow between her brows, Lance felt a silent pang of empathy.
In this merciless world, survival hinged on the might of the powerful. Lance's father was such a pillar, a beacon for the territory's leaders who sought refuge in his strength. Sheltered by the Viscount's formidable prowess and the protective embrace of the territory's forces, they could eke out existence in a land haunted by monstrosities.
Currently, Lance basked in his father's luminescent legacy, enjoying a semblance of respect within the Viscount's domain. Yet, this respect was not borne of his own merit.
…
"Lance, you're up unusually early today," Amman remarked, his surprise evident as he watched Lance step out of the elevator into the Moonlight Tower. The dawn's early light barely illuminated the sky, matching Amman's own habitual early rising.
With a feigned burst of enthusiasm, Lance offered Amman a bright, albeit artificial, smile. "Teacher, I've achieved it!" he announced, his voice brimming with engineered excitement. "Just last night, I managed to delve into my inner consciousness. Now, I can proceed to the next step: crafting the rune!"
Lance's display of modesty wasn't out of pretense but a strategic concealment. He had mastered the calm traversal into his mind's depths a week prior but chose to keep this milestone understated, wary of attracting undue attention.
Amman's features softened into a smile of relief and encouragement. "In that case, you're ready to start sketching runes today." He paused, contemplative. "The rune you'll be crafting is the lesser meditation rune. By now, it should be etched deeply in your mind," Amman said thoughtfully. "Actually, crafting a rune is quite straightforward. It involves utilizing your mental energy to fuse the rune's image from your memory into the mental sphere."
Then, leaning in slightly, Amman inquired with a mix of curiosity and hope, "Have you ever gauged the extent of your mental power?"
A flicker of intrigue passed through Lance. He responded, considering, "Are you referring to those golden light spots? It looks like I have around a hundred points."
"A hundred points! That is indeed a sign of remarkable talent!" Amman expressed his astonishment, adding, "To properly craft a lesser meditation rune, a minimum of sixty-nine mental power points are required. Your capacity exceeds a hundred, which is more than sufficient. Furthermore, with the surplus mental energy, once you master meditation, you'll have the capability to inscribe two elementary Level 0 spells."
Lance offered a modest smile in response, a sense of relief subtly permeating his demeanor. He was internally thankful for his decision to report only half of his actual mental power. A hundred points had already elicited surprise from Amman; revealing the full extent, twice that amount, might have branded him an anomaly.
Having perused several introductory texts, Lance had gleaned that the mental power of an average mage, fresh from memorizing the meditation rune, typically did not surpass ninety points. His own capacity, exceeding two hundred, likely stemmed from the extraordinary circumstances of his transference to this realm.
Amman led Lance into a pristine room, setting the stage for a crucial lesson on rune outlining and the art of meditation.
"The outlining of the rune is merely the initial step towards engaging in meditation. You can only start the meditation process once the rune is firmly embedded in your consciousness," Amman began, laying the foundation of the practice.
He continued, explaining the mechanics of mental power: "The energy expended to merge the runes will gradually replenish, though its total quantity typically remains constant, barring the use of specific potions or an advancement in wizardry level."
"With the commencement of meditation, you'll be on the threshold of the wizarding realm," Amman remarked, his tone imbued with encouragement yet cautionary. "You are nearly there, but remember, patience is crucial. Haste leads to errors."
He guided further, "First, stabilize your emotions. Once inside your mind, attempt to manipulate the luminous specks representing your mental power. They normally won't resist - though exceptions exist."
"Practice until these lights yield to your control. Then, begin assembling them into the pattern of the lesser meditation rune. After crafting the first rune, inspect its form daily to ensure its integrity; correct any distortions immediately."
"This routine should persist for seven days. After this period, the rune typically retains its shape, but a diligent mage will continue to verify its form nightly. It's a practice indicative of prudence."
"Once your mental power rune is solidly formed, you'll commence using your mental faculties to activate this rune, ushering you into the meditation state."
…
Amman devoted an entire hour to imparting crucial insights to Lance before attending to his personal tasks. Despite the invaluable nature of a wizard's time, Amman's commitment to Lance was evident, treating him not just as another pupil but as a true disciple, a testament to the old wizard's dedication and belief in his potential.
However, there was an underlying reality that Lance couldn't overlook. Amman's magical prowess was modest, his capabilities peaking at the level of a second-tier wizard. This meant that the old mage's tutelage would primarily encompass elementary spells and foundational techniques. Beyond that threshold, Lance realized, the journey would be his to navigate alone.
Setting aside future concerns, Lance refocused, adopting a serene posture as he prepared to delve into the craft of rune combination. "What comes next can wait," he murmured to himself, steadying his mind for the task at hand.
Entering the domain of his consciousness was effortless for him, greeted by the familiar sight of two hundred golden specks of light — a testament to his abundant mental power.
For Lance, the act of commanding these luminous points had become second nature, a skill honed through diligent practice over time. He observed them, a silent acknowledgment of their readiness to respond to his directives.
"With a total of two hundred and thirteen mental power points at my disposal, sketching the lesser meditation rune should require merely sixty-nine," he noted to himself, poised to begin the delicate process of rune configuration.
Lance, with methodical precision, selected sixty-nine points of mental power and positioned them at the heart of his consciousness, herding the remainder to the periphery. Guided by the intricate design of the lesser meditation rune, he embarked on the meticulous task of tracing its outline.
The luminescent dots, each representing a fragment of his mental energy, gradually found their rightful places. Lance, propelled by unwavering focus, methodically arranged the sixty-nine points. His familiarity with the rune, fortified by his forced engraving, enabled him to sketch the complete figure seamlessly, without a moment's hesitation.
In the quiet sanctum of his mind, the sixty-nine points of active mental energy now resided peacefully, converging into a perfectly structured rune.
A surge of excitement welled up within Lance, a testament to the significance of this moment. The newly formed rune tempted him, beckoning for the integration of additional mental power. Yet, wisdom prevailed over eagerness; he acknowledged the fragility of the freshly conjured symbol. Prematurely channeling more energy could disrupt its delicate balance, nullifying his progress and potentially inflicting grave consequences upon his psyche.
Understanding the grave nature of spellcraft, Lance curbed his impulsive urge. He meticulously inspected the rune twice more, ensuring its stability and precision before gracefully exiting the realm of his mind, leaving the sanctity of the mental space undisturbed.
…
The unexpected grumble from Lance's stomach interrupted the tranquility of his achievement. Momentarily taken aback, he glanced outside to discover, to his astonishment, that the sun hung high in the afternoon sky.
"Fox, how long was I immersed in my mind to shape the runes?" he inquired, the realization of time's swift passage dawning on him, accompanied by the mounting hunger gnawing at his insides.
{You entered the depths of your consciousness at 6:11 this morning; it is now 2:30 in the afternoon. That totals eight hours and nineteen minutes} Fox promptly responded. {Due to prolonged inactivity, you're experiencing stiffness and a drop in blood sugar. I recommend some gentle physical activity before you consider eating.}
Over eight hours had elapsed! Lance was astonished. Within the confines of his mind, what he perceived as mere moments had stretched into hours.
He couldn't help but reflect, "No wonder the mages in tales from my previous world could spend months in meditation. Time slips by unnoticed when engrossed in such profound mental endeavors." Lance's newfound understanding lent him a deeper respect for the discipline required in the mystical arts, as he prepared to tend to his physical needs following the intensive mental exercise.
Heeding Fox's counsel, Lance gradually stood and commenced a gentle stroll to alleviate the stiffness that had set in from hours of immobility. Once somewhat refreshed, he scoured the Moonlight Tower for something to eat, finding sustenance in the simpler offerings compared to the gourmet meals he was accustomed to at the castle. The food, a humble delivery from a local fisherman, lacked the culinary finesse of Chef Hogg's creations. However, driven by his gnawing hunger, Lance found little room to complain.
Satiated, he contemplated his next steps, then decided to inform Amman of his intentions. Subsequently, he requested the tower's attendants to invite Bonnie inside.
Upon her entrance, Bonnie appeared noticeably dispirited, her gaze firmly on the ground. She had spent the entire day outside the tower, neglected and famished, presenting a pitiable figure of exhaustion and hunger.
"Let's have something to eat. Oh, and today, I don't plan on returning to the castle," Lance mentioned in an offhand manner, addressing Bonnie's immediate needs while setting his personal plans. "I'll be staying here with the teacher for a while," he added, indicating his commitment to remain in the Moonlight Tower until the meditation rune was entirely stable within his consciousness.
Sheltering within the confines of the wizard tower offered Lance not only a sanctuary for deepening his magical studies but also a respite from the prying eyes and potential machinations of the lady of the castle. Equally, it provided a necessary distance from Irene, allowing him time to process the complex emotions and events of the previous night.
The incident with Irene weighed heavily on Lance. Ostensibly, she was his sister, making their unintended intimacy all the more troubling. The accidental crossing of boundaries left him enveloped in a mire of regret and confusion.
Compounding his turmoil was the unsettling realization that Irene, during their unintended encounter, had shown no signs of resistance — perhaps indicating a level of consent or, even more perplexingly, active participation. This revelation added layers of complexity to his feelings and the situation at hand, leaving Lance to navigate a labyrinth of guilt, confusion, and ethical dilemmas as he sought solace and clarity within the silent walls of the Moonlight Tower.