The Way Ahead

Chapter 92b: Petty Concerns

Chapter 92b: Petty Concerns

Being around people in a non-work relationship was tolerable, Edwin found.

He still wasnt the biggest fan of Lefi- the man was far too energetic and enthusiastic for him to really get along well with the guy- but he was at least, well, tolerable. Thanks to his supposed Exceptional skill, he and everyone near him had their Skills level at a rapid rate, which on its own was already a fantastic benefit when paired with Inions Muse Token. However, if that wasnt already enough, Lefi also had an absolutely absurd amount of experience with getting and using Skills. Thus, Edwin was able to try and get some pointers on his own Skills just by talking to the guy.

Lefi had some pretty startling insights into how Arcadian Elixir worked, for one. Somehow, he sussed out not only the Skills existence but also deduced some basic functionality for it. It was like a cooking Skill, in that if he made something to eat the Skill would engage. That much didnt surprise Edwin. No, what caught him off-guard was the fact that if he grew food, the same thing would happen.

Hed been skeptical, to say the least. However, a brief experiment with a bean Edwin dug out and grew with his talsanenris confirmed the revelation. It made sense for a fey food Skill, but it still wasnt something he was expecting.

Oh, and what he made was also more nutritious. No surprise there. While Lefi wasnt able to figure out for certain whether or not it reduced the appeal, taste, and nutrition of food Edwin didnt make, he did confirm that the manner in which the Skill engaged was similar to Cooking, Hearty Meal, or Potent Concoctions. Thus, even if he did leave some sort of lingering effect with his creations, he wasnt dooming people to a life of constantly pining after his food and his food alone.

At least not yet. And that was quite the relief. If he was the only supplier of food which was nourishing and didnt taste like dirt, and he could inflict the condition on whoever he wanted just by giving them a homegrown carrot he wasnt really comfortable with the idea.

Would that make him some sort of not-drug dealer? Super addictive, hand out apples to junkies?

Other vague drug-related concepts Edwin wasnt familiar with?

Moving on!

The primary area in which Edwin was hoping to get some pointers on was in using his magical Skills. Inion wasnt a good teacher in that regard (her normal tactics of throw things not working all that well for more complex tasks), so he was hopeful that Lefi would be able to fill in.

At least, Edwin was pretty sure that Lefi was a mage. His mana sense kept lighting up when the man did random tasks, even those that didnt seem to have any Skills associated with them. However, he couldnt figure out what kind of mage he was. Ritual Intuition provided exactly no information to that regard, to the point Edwin momentarily was unsure if he even had the skill working (he did).

Hed ask the adventurer about it at some point in the future, he decided. In the meantime, hed work on not immediately chasing answers to every passing question he considered. Also, it would be rude to inquire about something he was obviously trying to keep quiet. In the meantime, he might slowly hint at the idea that Edwin knew Lefi had magic, and once he did ask, it would be really circumspect.

So Edwin hazarded, You have magic? he asked.

Hey, it had been a day! That was loads of time!

Hm? Magic? Lefi was caught off-guard by the question, What makes you say such a thi

Well I think you know I have a couple of magical Skills.

Such as your Flight, yes. What of it?

Wait, how- actually I suppose that one is obvious, isnt it? Edwin realized, Or did I just tell you? But yeah. Got it by combining Packing and Mana Infusion. Fun times.

He shook his head, Anyway, one of them is a magical sense, and it lights up all the time around you. But I cant tell what kind of magic youre using. It just feels like nothing and its really weird.

That is most curious! Though I fear I must disappoint you. I am no mage, as amazing as such a status may be! I merely have hundreds of Skills, some of which are indeed slightly magical in nature! It is the inevitable conclusion to having so many evolved Skills- purely by random chance, you will eventually get a magical Skill, and once you have one, Im certain you are aware, it is much easier to get another!

Edwin frowned, How does that make you different from a mage, though? I can only use magic in the context of Skills. But anyway, I have another Skill that lets me see skills, though. And they dont always trigger in unison. So far as I can tell, youre using magic outside of the context of any Skills you have as well. How is that not a mage-thing?

That is quite the conundrum, Lefi exuberantly agreed, But perhaps it is more likely that you are simply unable to tell when I am using a Skill! I will confess to having some Skills which are indeed magic, though that is not terribly uncommon at higher Tiers, you understand. However, they are just that- Skills.

Why wouldnt I be able to sense the Skill?

Well, though your Skill Identify may be able to detect Skills I use, how sensitive is it? What do you sense? I am amazing at everything, after all, he said with a grin. It would be understandable if you werent able to tell when one of my constant Skills begins using a magical effect.

I dont fully follow. Are you saying you might have a passive Skill that you can push into being magical?

Ha! I knew you were smart. My Wind-Strider skill is constantly in use, granting me fair winds everywhere I go, but if I push it, then I have the most magnificent ability to cause my cloak to flap!

what?

I believe you heard me! You are not deaf, no? Lefi shouted.

I mean, at this rate I might end up that way

Ha! Thats the spirit!

Are we sure youre not deaf? Edwin muttered.

Most certainly! I have Hearing at level seventy-one!

Edwin looked up just in time to see Inion tackle him in a floating leap.

Gaaahhh!

That that whoo. Edwin tried to catch his breath, I didnt even know I was that ticklish. I think I might have gotten an Adaptive Defense level from that, actually.

He shook his head, First off: where did that come from, and secondly, do you have a Skill for that?

His former tormentor just grinned, Well, when you get all mopey I need to do something to break you out of it unless I wanna see you not do anything for the next two days or more. Tickling was a last resort, but it did seem to be effective. She noted, stroking her chin.

Wai wai wait. No.

Oh, you didnt have fun? she teased him.

Well, okay, yes. But you cant just go grabbing me and tickling me for an hour to break me out from being mopey!

Well why not?

Its not.. its not right! Edwin lamely said, then tried to gather his thoughts, Im my own person, you cant just tickle me for an hour just because you think I could benefit from it.

But it worked so well!

Thats not the point! Like what if it were something more serious?

But its not? Its tickling you and cheering you up!

But youre still doing stuff to me without my agreement.

And?

Thats bad.

Why?

Because Edwin knew he was absolutely awful at debate, particularly when unprepared- his conversations with Xares and Galen had spoken to as much- but this was a new low. He also wasnt in the best mental state to debate, either. He was too exhausted from Inions efforts to break him out of his spiral.

What made it more annoying was she wasnt completely wrong. His nihilistic everyone hates me urges had been pushed away for the time being, and while it wasnt a permanent solution, it worked, as much as he hated to admit it. He wasnt sure why it worked- barring Skill shenanigans anyway, which were entirely possible- but it had.

Its still me and my body. Its a matter of principle. When I say not to do something, thats an absolute.

Psshhh. She waved her hand, Youre not even a century old. What do you know about what you want?

Im literally the only person who knows what I want! You certainly dont.

Dont be ridiculous! I know exactly what you want.

And whats that?

She patted his cheek, You want some friends your own age, and to learn about alchemy. Youll get there eventually, dont worry.

Hey! You arent my mother!

Inion just chuckled and pulled him in for a hug, Dont worry, Ive got you. Ill take care of you just fine.

Edwin gave a halfhearted struggle more out of principle than anything. Human- or close enough, he supposed- contact was something he generally enjoyed. It wasnt a full substitute for having someone he was genuinely close to, but it did help fill the gap.

Im still mad at you, he muttered. This doesnt change anything.

Of course, Edwin. Of course.

It was nice, he had to admit.

Very nice.