Chapter 5: Taking form of a Drifting Cloud

The depths of my heart, reverberate your voice. Your fluctuating memories, and the oscillation of your thoughts. I am willing to sacrifice everything for you. To give you my everything. As long as you...... no longer shed tears...... “Nomunde, are you listening?” The eight of them were gathered in a discussion, but Lloyd’s thoughts were completely distracted from it. “...... Cough, I’m sorry. My thoughts wandered.” He admitted that he wasn’t focused, hence Vik reiterated for him. “We were saying, now that we have grasped some clues, the results of from these few days, we have a general idea of the locations of the three congregation points. But now, we have to plan and coordinate, to prevent a failure like the last time. With that, everyone please contribute ideas, and a.n.a.lyze how we can approach this. Do you have any in mind?” “Uh......? No.” Lloyd was still distracted, it appeared as if he’s contemplating matters entirely his own. “......” The seven could only discuss among themselves. After half the day, there still wasn’t any complete plan. “Actually, having Indy cast his magic, should garner pretty good effects.” Indy suggested this, while the others deliberated. “Mm, he has that, what you call it, Congruent Elemental Physique...... no, Extreme Cha.s.sis...... no, Five-phased......” Vik blabbered on, yet forgot what he wanted to say. “It’s Infinite Acute Spiritual Embodiment, aye......” Aidric released a sigh at Vik. “Five-phased even, did you think it’s Five-phased Biological Form? That’s too far-fetched, even for you!” Leanne chided him bluntly, and Vik momentarily felt like finding a hole to squirm into. “Yes, I’m sorry. Your humble comrade is lacking in apt.i.tude, lowly versed in knowledge. Learning is dead, when not practiced. To have needed two coetaneous individuals to teach me, as well as having wasted everyone’s time, I really am ashamed. I can no longer lift my head; this disgrace is at its apex......” “Enough, enough, if you continue with your nonsense, today will end up wasted again. No one could stand his baloney. Everyone went on to consider this method’s feasibility. “Secaaj, how many levels of magic can you use up to?” “Mm...... they’re all possible! But there’s nothing I can do if it’s something I’ve never learned.” They’re all possible...... The seven exchanged glances with one another, with both envy and jealousy. “Right, having not learnt it would be a headache. A spell is not just about enunciating a chant, you need to have insights on its definition, uses, cla.s.sifications. It’s best if the spell is practiced to perfection, and mastered to precision. Otherwise, it would still be dangerous. If deflected, or if there’s an abnormal expansion of energy, then we’re dead. We also have to contemplate what defenses and attacks our enemy could use. A battle of magic isn’t that easy, compounded with the full concentration one needs when using it, we can usually only choose either hand-to-hand combat or magic. We can also work in pairs, one for combat and the other using magic. If a person can fight using these two aspects simultaneously, that would be an awesome feat in itself......” Aidric is indeed well-learned. Actually, among those present, those most versed in magic should be him and Lloyd. It’s just that even after learning some of them, they don’t have enough spiritual power to use it. Hence, Indy’s ability is really envying. “...... I really don’t feel like caring so much, and just a.s.sail directly......” Xiev uttered this small comment, and Ca.s.sca interjected again. “Should anything go wrong, it would only add on to the burden of the Guardian of Broken Hollow. Be careful he cracks down on you.” “...... Have you had enough, I was just saying!” “Hmph, best not to even think about it.” The two of them started bickering again. In this group, the quietest would have to be Bayle. He almost had no opinion, and was only waiting for other people’s arrangements, where he’ll just go along and follow suit. “If this goes, when will we ever come to a result?” “Right, Ms Paleris, if we haven’t completed the mission by the deadline, what would happen?” “What will happen? You guys aren’t clear of even this? The succession is still necessary, but this will go into the records. To have a ‘fail’ inscribed is a through disgrace, we’ll be mocked for centuries. To allow ourselves to become objects of ridicule for future generations surely wouldn’t feel good. Don’t any of you care? Besides, from then till now, no one has failed before.”