Chapter 51. The Young Warrior/Spirit’s Course
Earth Kingdom. Somewhere in the Shi Wong Desert.
The silence of the cloudless sky over the planet's largest desert was shattered by the sound of a passing object. Its high speed created a loud noise, startling the local tribes of sand mages in its path.
"Tell me another story! Please-e-e," Driya began to whine like a child, pressing her ample figure even closer to my body. Her unconscious seduction techniques improve every day... sooner or later, I might not hold back.
We've been flying for almost half a day on a plant—one that even I don't fully understand—created by my dryad. It vaguely resembles a bird, thanks to her abilities and unhealthy imagination. At least it has wings. This thing can boldly be called a 100% eco-friendly mode of transport: zero emissions, autopilot flight. What do you think about that, Elon Musk?
"Maybe next time," I replied. On any other day, I'd be happy to tell her something, but our destination brings up too many "good" memories. Even now, I occasionally shudder when I recall Van Shi Tong locking me in that room and refusing to let me out until I wrote down everything I knew.
If it were up to me, I'd avoid visiting the knowledge-obsessed owl for another five years. Unfortunately, circumstances are stronger than us. The knowledge stored in his library could help me gain even greater power. According to my calculations, my magic should return in three and a half months, and immediately, the water element will reach its highest level. Add another month, and the next solstice will arrive, with a good chance of acquiring one or more new elements. Of course, it's all up to chance whether new "slots" for elements will open as I reach the next level.
My plan is to spend all these months in his abode. It's long overdue to immerse myself in the knowledge accumulated there over millennia. There are no urgent matters at the moment. My family has been successfully informed of my prolonged absence. I'm incredibly lucky that one of Jong Jong's people is a trainer of dragon hawks. Thanks to his trained birds, we can send letters to each other.
Suyuki has mastered the fundamental skills of earth manipulation, and now she just needs to refine her mastery using the scrolls I've written. She's a capable girl; she'll figure it all out. I'm also not worried about the island's safety. Unagi and her children can handle passing bandits and pirates. And if they can't, Shizuki and Suyuki will give them a warm welcome on the shore.
"I hope there are no surprises this time," I muttered as soon as I saw the peak of the sand-buried library.