Chapter 628: Rivlitt
"...and then Emlika found me a seventh-level tome. She’s been great, and I think I’m almost ready to break through!" Elise said, chatting cheerily between bits.
"Already? I think it was only a few months ago you reached sixth," I said.
I ate with my left hand, carefully ladling the savory broth one small bite at a time. I was normally right-handed, but R’lissea hadn’t let my hand go since I sat down, holding it tightly under the table.
"Isn’t that how quickly you broke through?" she asked.
R’lissea shook her head, voice still quiet and a little subdued. "You shouldn’t compare yourself to someone like me or Xiviyah. Heroic souls are designed differently, right?"
She glanced at me uncertainly, and I nodded.
"It’s true, and I wouldn’t push myself too far yet. Your mana hasn’t quite caught up with your skill. I’m not sure you’ll be able to complete a seventh-circle spell yet."
"Oh?" Elise’s face fell. "I was hoping...well, you know...to catch up a bit. But I guess that’s not possible now that you’ve eighth."
"You can still catch up to me," R’lissea said, giving her an encouraging, if strained, smile. "I’m still only seventh."
Elise sighed, resting her chin on her hands in dejection. "Right. But by the time I break through, you’ll probably be eighth."
"Is there something wrong with the sixth level?" A quiet voice asked.