Master Of None

As the flames calmed down and the territory they had sped in to became clear, it was easier to see it as a fire elemental desert. There was significantly less growth and plants around, making the sands, all fire elemental grains of ore ground down to powder. It was an interesting area to say the least.

’Red tin ore sand

Red tin is a somewhat rare fire elemental material that gathers in places that are heavily within fire elemental lands. While it can form within the world, it is internally different when it forms within the world due to it having some earth mana within as well. Within the fire elemental planes it is more brittle than the world’s red tin. It also has a calming ability in terms of flow of fire mana.

It requires higher abilities as a blacksmith to be able to control the fire mana that flows through it due to the after metal that the red tin ore sand can be made in to…’

Looking deeply in to how the red tin ore sand became sand wasn’t necessarily on Walker’s list, but as he grabbed some and let it run through his fingers, the true flame gryphon noticed.

”This territory used to be a large mountain made of flames and the red tin ore. After a battle between some monsters many years ago it was reduced to this. It can not grow anything, but it can be taken as a refuge for other monsters that would feed on these sands. The ore could become parts of golems or the flame saw worms.”

Walker and the rest of the party had never heard of a flame saw worm so that left them curious. Seeing their curiosity, the true flame gryphon kept speaking.

”The flame saw worms are a larger species of strangulating worms. They will wrap their bodies around larger and larger prey like a serpent. Then they will grind the sharp blades on their bodies using fire mana to cut and carve up their prey. It is a brutal way to perish. They are also able to grow continuously to larger and larger sizes needing to eat more and more. They are a pest to every territory.”

The fact that they could grow larger and larger depending on the food they ate meant that they could become a predator for even the largest of monsters if they were not kept in check. Seeing as this territory had ideal food for them to use to grow larger enough, it meant that the dragon placed here was specifically here for ensuring that there would not be a flame saw worm growing within the fire elemental planes and causing issues.

It was a way that balance was maintained.

It was also easy to see that the lack of other plants here would be somewhat depressing. Staring a red ground up ore all the time just waiting to grow in strength but being unable to travel until another replaced them. This fire dragon did not have much of an entertaining future to look forward to…

”I am fine with it. I am granted a territory to take as my own. I am part of everything here. I will make it as I see fit in the future.” The growl of the fire dragon made it clear that he and Midnight had caught their breath. It was also interesting seeing the fire dragons sharper features. It was clear to see the flame like patterns on his scales, different from the red uniform scales of the world’s fire dragons.

That and the wings were different, instead of scales webbing between parts of the wings, Walker noticed yellow scales that spat off flames here and there. It was clearly a measure that allowed for faster flight using fire mana naturally, something that a dragon raised within the fire elemental plane would develop. It was different from the world’s fire dragons.

”Did you learn a bit?” Walker patted Midnight’s head and she seemed extremely happy. Although she had used a decent bit of mana so she didn’t move to show off or respond. ”This is Midnight, she wanted to meet a fire dragon living in the fire elemental planes. We are from the world. You should visit some day and meet the fire dragons that live there.”

The fire dragon seems hesitant now. Mostly since they hadn’t heard of an elemental plane called the world. Then again, they hadn’t traveled much if at all.

”How long will you be within my territory?” The fire dragon looked at the true flame gryphon as if wary that he might need to fight them for the territory.

The true flame gryphon looked at Walker and the rest of the party. Everyone was focused on Midnight allowing Walker to deal with the talking. They were more focused on praising her for her manipulation of fire and how she used different flames in her dragon breath attacks too.

”We are passing through and just wanted to meet others. While I’m here though, would you mind if I planted a few seeds? I can make this ore sand a little more vibrant for you.” The fire dragon seemed confused for a moment but then again he and Midnight had used a lot of mental power to fight and learn some things.

”Nothing grows here well. Very little can survive the tin sands.” This was a statement of fact. The fire dragon didn’t have doubt in its voice, he just knew exactly what the place was like. Nothing grew as long as it had been here. When something grew here it was a monster that shouldn’t be growing. A flame saw worm that had found food and had to be killed to protect the balance.

Since Walker saw that he wasn’t being doubted, just that the dragon didn’t expect anything as possible, he started to demonstrate while speaking.

”This is called a desert tulip, it once relied on the Seth mana until it lasted many years in the desert absorbing fire mana from the sun. Later we found that small fields of it will burst in to flames and that’s when they can grow again and flower afterwards. It’s also why they became an entirely fire mana based plant. It can also be eaten to help purify the body but the effects are weak.”

”Now, these red bulbs will put out roots and since it developed away from water, it grew not to need it. It also resists water mana itself so even if this territory gets near the boundary of the water elemental plane it won’t bother it much.”

Walker had pushed the bulb in to the red tin ore sands. The tip peaked out but it didn’t seem to do anything at all. ”It’s dormant now though, the fire mana will help it come back to life but a little growth nutrients is important.”

The red potion that Walker took out wasn’t liquid, it was a thick dried powder that didn’t seem to stick to the glass vial but itself.

”This looks weird but believe it or not it’s a fire herb nutrients potion. This dry powered is made with fire mana and some metals with fire affinities that allow it to remain somewhat liquid. It’s perfect for most fire affinity herbs and can help them wake up from being dormant.”

As the power def was pulled apart and put on the bulb, Walker also used a few farming related skills. One that pushed the growth faster, another that tapped in to life mana, and even another that increased the absorption of fire mana. All making the desert tulip grow before their eyes.

The small red sprout opened and unfurled in to deep red leaves. The more that it sprouted the evidence that there was a slight change to it. Remey caught on and began watching very carefully.

She could see the leaves didn’t have small lines of duller reds like they would in the greenhouses. It was entirely clear red because it was getting denser and outer fire mana. It was also taller by a whole foot without a flower forming. Besides this it was already spreading roots enough to see that it would form new bulbs within a couple of hours.

”It’s not growing out of control, it’s acclimating and in the perfect place. We might have just brought a plant that originated in an Alene tail plane once upon a time. Or maybe it was meant to be here because it’s lost its earth affinity and grown in to its fire affinity perfectly.” She was ecstatic watching it.

The fire dragon was equally excited, the glint in his eye said that he wanted to see more. That this was exceptional in his eyes. That this change was making the territory’s lived in the best place he could ever want.

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