Syl-Chapter 243: Unfortunate Progress

I browsed through all the notifications, although part of me wanted to skip to the end. Even if it wasn't my fault, I felt partially responsible, and I was also driven by a morbid curiosity to see if I recognized any of the dwarves' classes.

In the end, I still felt upset about it, but I hadn't seen any classes that would indicate someone I knew. What was a big surprise was that a few human deaths were on the list—one even had an assassin class!

I guess Llewel's suspicions were not entirely unfounded. It really looked like those Outeatus people were up to mischief. Would they attack me again, even in the city, or perhaps Tamnaeth?

Most surprisingly, there was no sign of an elf kill, which meant that despite being at the point of my storage exploding—Tamnaeth had survived. I didn't want him dead per se, but I had found his survival baffling.

I guess he must have had some tricks up his sleeve. Perhaps an emergency teleport or a skill or trait similar to [Defy Death]?

After a thorough review, a peculiar notification caught my eye, standing out amidst the level-ups.

<Class/Race Experience ratio has been adjusted.>

I can't believe Gramps messed with my experience gains. Looking at it, it seems like he set my class to the minimum amount. Why? I know I suggested doing so myself, but is he that desperate for me to evolve again?

I silently shrugged and looked over the results.

<Class Experience threshold reached. Elementalist is now LV 20.>

<21 Skill Points are now available.>

<Your class has revealed the following trait: [Derived Element (Advanced)].>

<Racial Experience threshold reached. Chimeric Cluster Slime (Blue) is now LV 17>

<14 Trait Points are now available.>

<Racial Experience threshold reached. Chimeric Cluster Slime (Blue) is now LV 18>

<15 Trait Points are now available.>

So I hit level twenty, and he reduced it to maximize my race-level gains? At least I got my next class milestone, and it sounds like it's precisely the one I wanted!

<[Derived Element (Advanced)]

Select an Advanced Element and gain it as an Affinity, with Mana Purity levels greatly influenced by this trait level.

One's Mana Purity can influence this trait, notably its leveling speed and, to a minor degree, the starting Mana Purity.

The trait points invested will be partially refunded if the owner gains the extra affinity through other means, such as Ascension.>

Advanced Elements are now at the tip of my tendrils… Ah… If only I didn't spend so many trait points on new [Sub-Cores].

I started searching for options to see what I could buy with my new advanced elements.

Looks like I have three new options for purchase—Magma, Nature, and Steam. Magma would be Fire and Earth, Nature is obviously Water and Earth, and then Steam is Water and Fire. If I assume Fire and Air are Lighting, and Water and Air are Ice, then where's my Air and Earth combination? I vaguely recall Dewi teasing Tabitha about being a Dust mage…

After thinking about it for a bit, I finally addressed the elephant in the room.

[Derived Element (Air) LV 8]

I had purchased Air rather than earning it "naturally" through a slime core, which might be why I couldn't buy Dust yet. Thanks to eating slime cores, I had already earned Lightning and Ice affinities and skipped the process. But if I hadn't, they probably would also be locked due to my pseudo-Air affinity.

Hopefully, it counts as having the full affinity when I get it to the max level. Then I can get my Dust Magic. But first I have some spending to do.

<Trait [Derived Element (Magma) LV 1] obtained. Trait Points remaining: 14.>

<Skill [Magma Magic LV 1] obtained. Skill Points remaining: 20.>

<[Magma Magic LV 1] spell [Molten] learned.>

The first level spell was rather unremarkable as it was effectively just a resource generator. You could either spend a lot of Mana to fabricate magma, or you could superheat nearby rock into it at a significantly reduced cost.

It certainly made sense that the advanced element wanted you to be an Earth mage as well so that you could pull up rocks to convert. A small part of me wondered if fabricating magma from scratch would be cheaper or first magically creating some rocks and then converting them.

<Trait [Derived Element (Steam) LV 1] obtained. Trait Points remaining: 13.>

<Skill [Steam Magic LV 1] obtained. Skill Points remaining: 19.>

<[Steam Magic LV 1] spell [Haze] learned.>

Continuing the trend, the first level of [Steam Magic] just created an obscuring cloud of heated mist. With all the various traits and skills available to enhance or provide alternative senses, I wondered how useful it would actually be. I did note that you could expend more Mana to increase the temperature, so at the very least, if it was hot enough, it might be an irritant.

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Then again… Do regular people have as many sensory traits as me? Whitney made such a big deal about [Eagle Vision]. Even Vee had only a few, although she has [Spatial Sense], which still sounds fantastic.

<Trait [Derived Element (Nature) LV 1] obtained. Trait Points remaining: 12.>

<Skill [Nature Magic LV 1] obtained. Skill Points remaining: 18.>

<[Nature Magic LV 1] spell [Grow] learned.>

While I didn't have the official name, I had sort of expected this after seeing what Trixie had done with her magic. This spell literally did what it said on the tin—make plants grow.

However, if I was correctly interpreting the knowledge instilled into me, I wasn't about to start growing mighty trees instantly unless I wanted to bottom out even my impressive Mana pool. If I had to dumb it down, I'd describe it as only being able to pick two of three options: efficiency, size, and speed.

Want something grown fast and efficiently? Then, your size will be limited in what you can grow. Want something big and efficient? Be prepared for a very slow-growing time. And unlike any of the other forms of magic, I couldn't magically apparate the plant from nothing; there needed to at least be a seed.

Do I need to start carrying around various plant seeds in my storage? It's certainly something I could do once it's repaired. Or maybe a higher level of [Nature Magic] will let me summon seeds?

I certainly had a few new toys to play with, but the situation made me somewhat reluctant. If anything, I wanted to get [Dimension Magic] and perhaps brute-force an escape or counter [Time Magic].

As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think any of my elemental magic is going to cut it against something as overpowering as a Chronomancer. Honestly, my best bet would probably be a [Nitro Slime] trap, but my slime mass is dangerously low right now. I wish I still had that [Slime Conversion] trait before Gramps confiscated it from me.

"I'm not sure what you're thinking about, but I think we should just sit still for a bit," Vee interrupted. "Assuming we can trust the elves, our best bet is to cooperate and then leave."

"I do agree," I replied. "But I'd still like some contingencies in case something goes wrong. Sadly, I don't think any of my new spells will help."

"Nothing good?" Vee asked.

"Unless you want me to grow a few plants, turn this room into a sauna, or spawn some magma, no," I sighed.

"If I had skin and not chitin, I'd certainly love a sauna," Vee joked. "And I really don't think the elves would be happy if you dumped molten rock into their giant tree home."

"Yeah, that would certainly be a way to upset them," I agreed. "Although, with how much this tree is brimming with magical effects, I'd hazard a guess that it's probably fireproof at a minimum."

"Please don't test that theory," Vee pleaded. "Why don't we continue our magic practice for a bit? That'll at least keep us busy."

I gasped, "You're actually suggesting magic practice willingly?"

"Har har," Vee replied sarcastically. "I just figured it would be a good way to pass the time and stop your neurotic little brain from jumping at every little thing. Plus, you might finally complete your quest and get your discount."

"I'm honestly tempted to just buy it right now," I admitted. "But you're right. Maybe we just sit still for a moment, get some food, replenish some slime mass, and do some magic practice."

"That's the spirit!" Vee cheered.

To our relief, while Vee couldn't teleport while in this room, we still had access to our other forms of magic, so I continued trying to advance Vee's [Corrosion Magic] and help her break through her Mana Aura.

At some point during our practice, Llewel returned. I'd almost expected him to warn or scold us for what we were doing, but instead, he just observed with apparent curiosity. When he'd either gathered enough info or grown bored, he produced the food he promised.

He brought a selection of meats, cooked and uncooked, and a bowl of fruits I didn't recognize.

"I apologize for being unable to provide more monstrous meat," Llewel said. "We don't particularly eat from monsters, as it's believed to hinder the replenishment of essence to the environment. I hope some animal meat is sufficient."

"Thank you," I replied. "Although I'm surprised, I would've thought your [Bonded Companions] would feast on monster meat."

"Perhaps you're right," Llewel responded. "Although I admit to not following that path, instead devoting my entire being towards magical studies."

I quickly threw out an [Identify] to remind myself of what we were potentially up against.

<Llewel Fei [Nature’s Grace]; Elf LV 83; Chronomancer LV 77; Arcane Apothecary LV 42.>

"And potion making," I pointed out.

"Yes, and alchemy," Llewel admitted. "It pairs extremely well with my Chronomancer class as I can both delay or speed up potion brewing time."

I frowned, "Speeding up brewing, I could understand… But delaying?"

Llewel actually seemed amused by the question and gave a friendly smile and nod.

"Some potent ingredients have extreme reaction rates, and if you don't move on to the next steps within a tiny window, you can ruin the entire potion batch. I'm afforded a lot more leniency in that regard, and in the worst cases, I can even do a do-over."

"Do-over?" I asked curiously.

Llewel flinched a bit, "I might have said a bit too much in my excitement. Forgive me for not being able to explain in more detail. Although, depending on the outcome with Mistress Feirelle, perhaps I can explain it to you in the future."

"I'd like that, thank you," I replied.

He nodded, "Tomorrow, the mistress will question you and confirm the whole story. Hopefully, you can answer some questions yourself at the same time."

I nodded.

"And with that, I'll be off. Enjoy your food," Llewel said and took his leave.

"Good job buttering up our prison warden!" Vee said enthusiastically.

"I wasn't exactly trying to," I replied honestly. If anything, I was trying to press him for a bit of info. I'm not sure if I believe the whole not eating monster meat thing, and I wonder if they're cautious about me eating it and replenishing too much strength."

"Okay, I think that's your neurotic paranoia talking again," Vee sighed. "Because how would they figure that out? They don't know you're a slime!"

"Still…" I whined. "It seems like they're holding back. I need my slime mass."

Vee took a bite of one of the fruits and let out an enthusiastic scream of delight.

"Well, you're welcome to all my portions of meat then! I'll stick to all these fruits!"

I nodded and began eating, making sure not to reveal my true slimy nature just in case. Sadly, It was mundane meat, and even the raw variety gave me a lackluster amount of slime mass once converted.

To think back in the day I lived off this stuff. I've been spoiled after eating delicacies like the obsidian worm or other highly evolved monsters.

I tried one of the fruits, and while it was sweet and delicious, it produced a negligible amount of slime mass compared to the meat. So I happily gave the rest of it to Vee, who delightedly devoured each one.

"You know… Perhaps I could grow more fruits with [Nature Magic] and then eat them and slowly gain slime mass that way?" I suggested.

"I'll never say no to more fruit," Vee chirped. "Although, depending on where these fruits came from, you might need to grow an entire tree."

I frowned and pulled out the seeds from one of the fruits. Casting [Grow] for the first time, I slowly let Mana trickle into the seed, hoping to get an idea of what I was trying to grow.

A tiny crack formed, and delicate roots began to emerge. A pale shoot followed, pushing upward and breaking free into the open Air. The first pair of leaves unfurled, small and vibrant, catching the light as they trembled with new life.

"I think that's a sapling," Vee quickly pointed out.

"I think you're right," I sighed and halted any additional Mana. "I better not try to grow a tree inside the room."

"Oh well, it was worth a shot," Vee said before biting into another fruit enthusiastically.