(Info Dump, so please bear with it )
Their quiet retreat into the inn marked the end of an eventful day, though something in Emperal's gut told him that this strange new world still had far more surprises in store. As he and Grimblaze settled into the room, the warm glow of the lanterns barely cutting through the shadows, Grimblaze's usual chatter resumed.
"Boss, how much did we ste— ahem, burrow!?" Grimblaze asked, his voice practically dripping with excitement as he hopped up and down.
"It's none of your business," Emperal replied flatly, stashing the pouch safely in a pocket hidden beneath his tunic. He shot Grimblaze a sidelong glance. "That's for me to know."
"Boss, that's not fair! I crossed mountains and seas, all to do your bidding!" Grimblaze huffed, throwing his hands up dramatically. His eyes twinkled with exaggerated sadness, but Emperal wasn't buying it.
Ignoring the theatrics, Emperal sighed, rolling his eyes. "Enough with the drama. I actually need to ask you something serious."
Grimblaze, still grumbling, stopped his antics and looked toward him with a raised brow, his expression now curious. "What now, Boss?"
"I want to know about the cultivation system of this world." Emperal spoke with a tone that left little room for argument. "Before you ask why… let's just say I have my reasons."
Grimblaze blinked, his eyes widening as he processed the request. "Wait… you don't know? Not even a divine beast like me can ignore something as basic as that!" he thought, a flicker of surprise on his face. "Is Boss some country bumpkin who hasn't seen the outside world?" His surprise quickly turned into confusion as he tried to wrap his mind around it.
Clearing his throat, Grimblaze shook off the thought. "Well, if you don't know, I guess I can explain." He stretched out a bit and straightened his back, his posture suddenly taking on the air of someone preparing to share some great knowledge. "I don't know why you're asking about something so basic, but I guess you must have your reasons."
Grimblaze paused briefly, his eyes glimmering with the excitement of imparting wisdom. "So, here's how it works. People around here don't just get by using their muscles or their wits alone. They use something far more… potent. Aetryn, Boss. It's an ethereal energy that flows through the very core of our planet." He gestured toward the ground beneath them as if to emphasize the depth of what he was saying. "Aetryn is drawn from deep within the planet. It is both a gift and a trial, passed down through the roots of the Great Tree, which filters the world's raw essence into a form we call Aetryn." "That tree… it's not just a symbol of our people—it's the lifeblood that allows us to cultivate."
Emperal's eyes narrowed in interest. He hadn't fully grasped how connected everything was here—how even something as fundamental as magic was linked to the land itself.
Grimblaze paused again, ensuring that Emperal was following before he continued. "Aetryn, you see, is the key to everything in this world. It's not just energy; it's life. It flows through every living thing, giving us power. But the path to mastering that power isn't simple. There are cycles. Each one represents a stage of development, a step toward greater control and strength. The more you progress, the greater the power you wield."
Emperal leaned back slightly, processing the information as he glanced at Grimblaze. "Cycles, huh? So, how does it all work? What are these cycles you're talking about?"
Grimblaze grinned, clearly eager to explain. "I thought you'd never ask. Alright, listen up, because this is the heart of it. The first cycle is The Aetryn Seed."
Emperal raised an eyebrow. Grimblaze, noticing, began his explanation with enthusiasm.
"At the beginning, every cultivator starts with a tiny spark, a seed of Aetryn. This is what we call the Sprouting Stage. At this point, the seed's just starting to awaken, and the elf can barely sense the Aetryn around them. It's like having a sense of something in the distance—faint, elusive, and hard to grasp."
Grimblaze leaned forward, his hands mimicking the growth of a seed as he spoke. "As the seed begins to grow, the cultivator enters the Growth Stage. At this point, they can manipulate Aetryn on a small scale—like creating tiny sparks, weak pushes of energy, or dim light. It's still fragile, but there's something there, something they can control."
Emperal's curiosity piqued, but he remained silent as Grimblaze continued.
"By the Budding Stage, the Aetryn Seed stabilizes. The cultivator can now sense Aetryn continuously, not just in short bursts. They can form weak shields, distractions, and simple spells, but it's still early days. Their connection to Aetryn is becoming more solid, but they're still nowhere near the true power that lies ahead."
Grimblaze paused, his gaze shifting to Emperal. "By this stage, a cultivator could easily overpower a dozen untrained mortals, but compared to someone who's in Cycle 2, they're still weak. You see, this is just the beginning, Boss. The next cycle, The Aetryn Flow, is when things really start picking up."
Emperal leaned in slightly, signaling for him to continue.
"In Cycle 2, Aetryn veins begin to form in the body. These veins channel Aetryn, allowing it to flow and circulate more efficiently. At the Opening Veins Stage, the cultivator can start casting spells, and their physical abilities get a noticeable boost from the Aetryn flowing through their veins. The flow's still a bit inefficient, but there's power in it."
Grimblaze grinned wider as he spoke. "As the veins refine and strengthen, the cultivator reaches the Refining Veins Stage. Aetryn flows much smoother by this point, and the cultivator can handle multiple spells at once. They can enhance their physical strength, speed, or endurance for longer periods, making them much more formidable in battle."
"And then, at the Purifying Flow Stage, the veins are completely purified. Aetryn flows effortlessly, and the cultivator can control multiple spells at once with much greater precision. Their physical enhancement is also more powerful and easier to maintain."
Grimblaze paused dramatically before continuing. "By the end of Cycle 2, a cultivator can sustain several spells at once, enhance their abilities for long periods, and take on multiple opponents. But even at this stage, compared to someone in Cycle 3, they're still outclassed."
Emperal nodded, impressed but still eager to know more.
"And that brings us to Cycle 3: Elemental Awakening. This is where things get interesting, Boss." Grimblaze's voice was filled with excitement now. "In this cycle, a cultivator forms a bond with an element—fire, water, air, earth, or something more complex. That's when the real destructive power starts to emerge."
He leaned forward again. "At the Elemental Resonance Stage, the elf's bond with their element begins to grow. They might be able to cast simple spells—fireballs, water barriers, wind blasts. At this stage, their elemental powers are still raw, but they're starting to understand how to tap into them."
"In the Elemental Control Stage, the cultivator's connection to the element deepens. They can use their element more freely, combining it with other forces to create hybrid spells. It's here that you start seeing things like steam or shadowflame, where two elements mix in ways that give the user greater flexibility."
Grimblaze smiled, clearly enjoying himself. "Finally, at the Elemental Ascension Stage, the elf becomes fully integrated with their element. They can cast high-tier spells—firestorms, tidal waves, massive stone constructs. They're no longer using the element; they are the element."
Emperal felt the weight of the explanation settle over him. "So, how does that compare to the other cycles?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
Grimblaze shrugged. "At the end of Cycle 3, a cultivator can wipe out entire villages or towns of lower-cycle cultivators with a single spell. Their presence on the battlefield becomes overwhelming, but there's always a gap. Cycle 4 brings even greater power."
Emperal paused for a moment, processing the new information. He could sense the depth of the system now, and though Grimblaze hadn't been particularly clear about the finer details, it had given him a solid enough understanding of the basics. "Then what about the next stage?" he asked, his voice laced with excitement.
Grimblaze darted his eyes sideways, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "Uh, Boss, you're still too young to be thinking about that!" he stammered, his tone unsure.
Emperal's eyes widened in surprise. So, this pig… He doesn't know anything beyond that, huh? He sighed deeply, his frustration simmering just below the surface.
With a narrowed gaze, Emperal turned his attention to the village head's house, his thoughts shifting as he began thinking about his next move.
…
(From here on It will Aetryn instead of Mana :)