Master Of None

Having onyx go off again was nothing bad in Walker’s eyes. He wanted to take the time to explore this area since it might have signs that there were other races here at some point. But it also looked like there were no angel steps here either.

The Fel angels had been here on this side of the Sigil continent for a long time. However, they did not have the time to explore and research the environments. It was clear that the Fel empire was lower in population already. But they did not build grand villages or large structures. They researched at a more individual level so that they could move through their lives.

This reclusiveness also led them to more or less work and live separately without expanding. Let alone the fact that they also had a floating city that would allow them to have a place to go when they needed to go anywhere. This stopped them from building a city on the ground. Their villages and larger towns were all they needed.

This made a lot of sense going through Walker’s mind. He could fathom why this marsh land looked very untouched. However, it made him feel that the Fel empire was more in touch with nature and the flow of nature in a way.

Leaving these areas untouched for the most part allowed the monsters and plants to develop as they should. They held a natural balance that walkers could sense. The manas flowed s,ootly and he even caught a few elemental spirits here and there that would have been pushed away if the angels had come here before.

”I just realized, we have to begin working with the elemental spirits between the two empires. That will have to be a focus after we figure things out here.” Walker’s realization as this topic came to the forefront of his mind was enough to make the entire party think.

”You want them to return to the lands or do you want the angels to develop relationships with them?” As far as Mordant saw, Walker just wanted the elemental spirits to take a more forward stance in the world since they had always been one with mana and literally were made of mana. But when it came to the elemental planes, it was easy to understand they might be a greater force.

If the elemental spirits took a forward position, then they would need the grand elemental spirits to take the lead and leave those that bonded with them. It was a whole possibility that made things hard to imagine. This could be thought of in many ways, but for the moment, would need consideration.

”For this land, the elemental spirits should be allowed to return. They are dormant and we already know they are intentionally made that way. The angels fear that they would lose access to the mana that they bring within themselves from the world. That is the separation of angels and other races so far.” Su’s evaluation was logical but she also understood the problems this would cause between the other races.

”I am a dragon. I take the mana from myself and the world. I use both. The angels should learn to adapt.” Current saw that this was all avoidable if the angels focused on developing other ways of gaining mana rather than just letting their wings take the full brunt of this. They let their biology rule over their values in this way. They could be more innovative.

”They should just use runes. The runes can be the bond between the two. Angels can use manas with the help of runes so that they won’t lose it all and then the elemental spirits can help make the runes and bind with angels. The spirits wouldn’t lose to the runes either since they can hold on to their own mana. It would be a good stopgap.” Since Gil used the runes to a degree on his arrows when he had met other elves, he thought this was an easy solution.

”That would mean I need them to come to the mage tower. They should learn the origin runes that everyone else is learning.” Walker thought that this would be an additional challenge. Not a bad one though.

While this thought caught everyone for a moment, there was one thing that demanded their attention. ”Walker, want to appraise that thing? I’m pretty sure it’s what’s left of an adult monster.” Remey had spotted a pool of mud ahead of them. There weren’t any reeds or cattails growing there which struck them all as odd.

What Walker saw was this large spot of darker brown mud with a few pieces of wood rotting on top. The white rib bones were definitely left behind by a monster that had long ago died. They had bleached white in the sun on top of the mud which made it seem safe to walk over the mud.

’Mud fish rib bones

The mud fish is similar to what some would call a river catfish. However, the mud fish lives in thin mud that allows them to swim through the mud like water. They can very easily burrow in to mud and await something foolish to sink in to the mud and perish. From there it will eat whatever is strapped. It is a master of letting nature work for it.

When they get too large, they will be forced to move to the surface where they find a partner and perish after laying ten thousand eggs in their nearby den. These eggs hatch and…’

This was a lot more information that Walker didn’t really need. However, it was a clear example of what nature and monsters did if left alone. These monsters were amazing in using the thin and dangerous mud to hunt. But it also proved to Walker that the marsh held dangers like fake solid ground.

’Sinking mud

Due to underground water currents, thin mud pools form that plants can not survive in properly. Some pieces of light wood or animal bones will float to the top. This is a foolish example of solidity that some monsters fall for. Mostly birds when they land on the wood or bodies to eat, will fall in to the mud and become food for those monsters living below. The best way to escape is to float and slowly swim and crawl out.’

Walker’s explanation of this made everyone understand where these dangers came from. But Current was the most amazed. He could feel the flow of water deeper in the mud and marsh lands overall. He had accepted that underground water here was just how nature went. Yet, the layers of plants that lived over the top of it made up what they believed to be solid ground.

This amazing understanding was even further pushed forward by the fact that an entirely different underground ecosystem existed. The thin mud that moved through the marsh lands made a beautiful contract between above and below ground. Water currents being the medium for this natural creation.

”So what you’re saying is that we shouldn’t go anywhere that pants aren’t” Remey looked at the ground and stuck closer to the cloisters of reeds growing away from the sinking mud hole. She did not want to drag herself out of it and be covered in mud for the next few hours.

However, everyone felt that they were learning a lot about this new environment. They might not be facing monsters and battling things out due to the dragon auras around them. Yet, they were learning about a natural flow better than before. It would be very valuable to educate others and share this with them.

Alice in particular was making mental notes. She could see the sun and the light reacting in the water and the plants all around. It was like seeing the light illuminate the right path of peaceful nature. Things might not always be peaceful, but they were balanced and that was peace in a way. The perfect inspiration for a calming song to stop a fight or to sooth harmed emotions. Many musical system users found inspiration in nature.

”I think we should come here again. The elves would enjoy a place like this.” Gil thought back tot he elves around. He also looked at Midnight who was curiously sniffing around monster tracks and other spots of interest. ”Midnight can bring the hatchlings to explore too. They might have a good time.”

Both Mordant and Current nodded. It seemed that untouched places like this would fit well with the hatchlings growing up under the influence of Genesis. They would gain more understandings of elemental manas working to create entire environments. That Was how dragons learned and grew too. They went to the places that their affinities could grow better. But that would be for another time. The marsh lands were just a side stop before they went to the island in their sights.

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