Chapter 7 The Control

Elysia shook her head at the absurdity of an ever present turtle spying on them, deciding to return her attention to the duo instead. “So, what’s next? Do I need to give them the materials?”

“No, Urus already had someone fetch the needed materials from your ship.” Replied Thrazk as if it was perfectly normal for a psychic turtle to direct her underlings to enter someone’s home without permission.

Elysia scowled but refrained from complaining, knowing it would be useless. She would try to leave sooner rather than later. As nice as it was to return to civilization without the threat of arrest, she liked her privacy. Though that Mezo place sounded tempting. Getting stronger was always a plus. Hopefully soon she would be strong enough to stand up to the local humans.

“You didn’t answer my first question.” Prodded Elysia.

The siblings glanced at one another, with Thrazk giving his sister pleading eyes.

Thoss sighed before speaking. “My dear brother wants me to give you some elementalist training. I’m still not convinced you are talented enough to be worth my time, but I’ll give you a shot.”

Bristled by the jab, Elysia straightened her back as she drilled her glowing gaze into the small Chrotile.

The reaction earned a nod from both siblings before Thoss began. “First, do you know how elemental magic works?”

“I take lightning from my core and direct it to do what I want.”

“And can you still do that after your class evolution?” Inquired Thoss despite knowing the answer.

Elysia winced, pride dictating she remained quiet, but she pushed through it to answer in a pouty tone. “No, it feels slippery now. The only way I can use lightning is with my skills.”

“And why do you think that is?” asked Thoss with an inquiring tone of a teacher.

After taking several seconds to think it through, Elysia answered. “At first, I feared it was because of the evolution blocking me from using my lightning freely, but now I think the lightning is too unruly for me to control.”

Both Chrotile stared at her in confusion more so Thoss. “Why would your class evolution block you from using your lightning? A lighting elemental would never receive a class evolution that would block their element.”

While trying to keep her face as neutral as possible to mask her panic, remembering the warning she received about revealing her race evolution, Elysia spoke. “What I mean is before my class evolution, I could use my lightning in any way I wanted, with the only limitation being my charge. I assumed when I couldn’t, the class evolution blocked me because I didn’t know better, but after supercharging one of my skills, I know that’s not the case.”

Seemingly buying her explanation, Thoss gave her a look of respect. “Impressive. Most struggle to supercharge a skill until at least 20 levels into their evolution. Though an elemental may have an easier time.”

“It really wiped me out, but yeah, that was quite the lightning bolt. I don’t think I could have struck down that level 190 Queen spider with a normal lightning bolt.”

Thrazk gave Thoss a smug look as his sister stared at Elysia, mouth agape. She took several seconds to recover. “How the hell did you kill, let alone damage, something nearly four times your level?”

“See sister? I told you she would be worth it.” Commented Thrazk voice dripping with smugness.

Through gritted teeth, Thoss conceded, “Fine, you win. You finally found someone interesting. It only took you three decades of trying.”

“Hey, it’s not every day a talented young elemental shows up below the second evolution.”

Despite the risk of revealing too much, curiosity got the better of her prompting Elysia to ask, “Do most elementals start at the second evolution?”

Unsurprised by her question as they figured she was a newborn elemental, neither sibling showed a reaction to her question. As the one more experience with elemental magic, Thoss spoke first, “how elemental is born dictates their starting level though most start near the first evolution. We rarely see an elemental as low level as you, because other elementals nearby usually take the young elemental under their wing. There are several theories on why this happens, but most agree an elemental’s prideful nature has something to do with it.”

A distasteful expression formed on Thrazk’s scaly face. “It just wouldn’t do for the legendary elementals to show weakness to other races.”

Did she have another race wanting to hunt her down? She’d rather avoid being around other elementals. It wasn’t good for her health to be near people who would kill her just because she wasn’t a born elemental.

Suddenly, Elysia froze as several things clicked in her mind. She gave Thrazk a suspicious look, knowing she revealed too much about her previous life for him to think she was a newborn elemental, but he showed no sign he connected the dots.

To push the conversation forward, Elysia turned to Thoss before asking, “so is there a way to regain control of my lightning?”

“Yes, but it will take a lot of work, especially if your lightning is strong enough to kill monsters far beyond your level.”

Elysia stared at Thoss expectantly, prompting the Chrotile to continue. “Before we continue, I should probably explain how elemental magic works. As an elemental the process might be different but for those who want to be an elementalist one must purge all mana from the body before immersing themselves in their desired element with another elementalist helping to direct the essence of said element into the perspective elementalist’s body to form a core. If they fail to form a core, they are as good as a cripple as they already purged their body of mana permanently.”

“So, anyone with elemental magic can’t have mana? That seems odd aren’t they both magic?” Questioned Elysia.

“Elemental essence doesn’t play well with mana. If one were to try to form an elemental core while still having access to mana, the two magical power sources would wreak havoc on their body. At best, the fool would cripple themselves, but most likely, they would die a painful death. This also extends to using mana crystals. While usable by us, never absorb the mana from a mana crystal. Instead, direct it outside of your body into the enchantment.”

Goosebumps formed as Elysia shivered at the prospect of exploding, knowing firsthand how powerful lightning could be.

After successfully driving the danger home, Thoss continued. “Once someone creates their elemental core, they must work to gain control over it. Some Elementalists manage it in a few days, while others spend years refining their control to the point they can cast magic in combat. Most Elementalists must repeat this step after each class evolution because of their spike in power. From what you said, I think your problem is similar to a newly evolved Elementalist.”

Once again, her curiosity drove her to ask another question, “are elementally infused humans Elementalists?”

Thoss glanced at Elysia’s white hair for a moment, flashing suspicion, but seemingly put it out of mind a moment later. “In a way, yes. They skip several steps as the process that forms an elemental infused being changes their body to better control the element. This is another route to becoming an Elementalist, though significantly more dangerous as one must die and be reborn. Only the craziest would take the risk, though an elementally infused being has much higher elemental potential than a standard Elementalist at the cost of being dependent on the element.”

Before she gave way too much, Elysia shifted the conversation back with another question. “So, what do I need to do to regain control of my lightning? Sure, I can use my skills, but I feel vulnerable without the freedom to control my lightning as I please.”

“All you need to do is circulate your element within her body, building up the amount as you progress. However, don’t expect it to be instantaneous. Like I said, many spend years refining their control, but I assume it won’t take that long for you as an elemental. I’m surprised you have any problem at all in the first place, but I’ve never taught a young elemental.”

Elysia fidgeted but remained silent. A reassuring look from Thrazk calmed her nerves a moment later. After releasing a deep breath, she asked, “so all I need to do is circulate my lightning until it becomes easier?”

“Yes, also a longer circulation works the best as unruly elemental essence will strengthen its pull towards your core the longer you control it. Over time, this won’t be an issue, but holding onto elemental essence for more than a couple of seconds is one of the biggest struggles for new Elementalists.”

“Should I start now or is there something else we need to do? This sounds like a long and boring process that I’m assuming I’ll be doing alone.”

At the question, Thrazk added. “Actually, there is. We should probably distribute your attribute points properly.”

Elysia perked up at the suggestion, always unsure how she should spend them.

Thoss deflated slightly. “Why don’t you take care of that after I leave? My focus is on her element, not some attributes. Attributes lean heavily on physical combat, so I’ll leave that to you.”

“Really? I never took you as an anti-attribute advocate. Sure, attributes don’t affect elemental ability other than maybe perception and intelligence, but that leaves them dependent on their teammates.”

“Who needs to be fast or strong when she could cultivate her lightning to the point she could one shot most enemies? Sure, it leaves her vulnerable if she were caught, but with proper strategy and teamwork, that will rarely happen.”

“Not everyone has a team of meat shields to allow them to fire off fire and lightning to their heart’s content.”

“Why wouldn’t they? Any team would love to have an elemental in their back line.”

Uncomfortable relying on others, Elysia interrupted the sibling argument. “I agree with Thrazk. I don’t want to rely on a team. I want to be able to delve solo if I need to.”

Thoss scowled at the double-team. “Fine, but if you want to listen to sense and become a pure castor and dump all your attribute points in perception and intelligence for the increased mental processing speed and improved senses. Both attributes will improve your back line ability and cultivation speed.”

Thrazk opened his mouth to speak, but Elysia beat him to it with a question directed at Thoss. “So, you’re saying those attributes will help me keep control while absorbing electricity? Whenever I’ve tried absorbing electricity, it has a mind of its own.”

“Lightning is one of the harder elements to cultivate, but yes, intelligence and perception will help that and high lightning affinity which you apparently lack.”

“That sounds helpful, but I still don’t want to be a one-trick pony.”

A vicious smile formed on Thoss is crimson scaly face. “Oh, you would be far from a one-trick pony. I didn’t choose lightning as my second element because of its rather impressive destruction potential.”

“What do you mean?”

“How do you think every living being barring the highest of magical creatures function?”

Elysia’s eyes widened, then a shiver went down her spine. “Electrical signals.”

Somehow, Thoss’s smile widened. “Exactly. Lightning is probably one of the most versatile elements. In fact, you could control the primitive electronics of earth humans or the humans themselves with enough control. Most assume all lightning is good for is smiting, but they are dangerously wrong. Unfortunately, most lack the talent and control to achieve anything beyond a few boring lightning bolts.”

Despite Thoss’s assertion, Elysia questioned it with a skeptical expression. “Control people? How would that be possible? I understand frying someone’s brain or inducing seizures, but control seems impossible.”

A sudden static in the air caused Elysia to jump back on guard. After nothing happened several seconds later, she relaxed and glared at the obvious culprit, Thoss.

Before she could open her mouth to complain, her left hand suddenly face palmed her against her will before returning limp at her side.