Chapter 4: Elven Talent and a Shadow’s Ambush

In just thirty short minutes, Elara witnessed firsthand what elven talent truly meant.

Hilvyn’s learning ability was exceptionally strong, and her mana reserves seemed bottomless. Not a single bottle of the mana restoration potions Elara had prepared in advance was needed.

Only at this moment did she truly grasp the meaning of that old saying: ‘An elf’s starting point is a destination most humans can never reach in a lifetime.’

In this world, the total amount of mana within a species was predetermined at birth, varying greatly from individual to individual.

A high mana reserve was not merely reflected in the ability to cast more spells, or even higher-tier magic.

It also manifested most directly in one’s lifespan.

Humans typically lived to around 150 years, though some barely reached 90.

Pure-blooded elves, however, generally lived for over a thousand years, and their individual mana reserves were terrifyingly vast.

Compared to other species, humans were almost the weakest in terms of total mana.

However…

Elara carefully sensed Hilvyn’s mana, corresponding to her innate attributes.

‘Dark affinity: 51%’

‘Spatial affinity: 38%’

If total mana represented a horse’s endurance, then mana affinity reflected the rider’s skill. A skilled rider could travel a thousand miles in a day, but even a magnificent steed would be wasted under a poor one.

Those with high affinity could cast spells more swiftly, increasing their power. It was also a prerequisite for learning more advanced magic, and it even had the effect of extending one’s lifespan.

Most living beings could reach a maximum affinity of 100%, but humans remained an exception.

Perhaps it was truly a divine favor and mercy, for humans were the only race capable of breaking through the 100% affinity limit and achieving even higher levels.

Because of this, the cream of human talent, aside from their lifespan, was no weaker in strength than the geniuses among elves or dragon-kin.

“Recently, my dark affinity seems to be growing faster,” Elara mused, trying to channel a wisp of mana and carefully sensing the sensation.

Seeing that Hilvyn had practiced enough, she called out, “Hilvyn, let’s go.”

Hilvyn turned her head.

“It’s time for some real combat.”

Simply knowing how to cast wasn’t enough; one also needed to control attacks against enemies.

After a few steps, they encountered suitable practice targets.

“Kill those slimes,” Elara instructed, pointing at several slowly wriggling, translucent gelatinous bodies.

Hilvyn was confident, eager to demonstrate her abilities before her master.

“Master, just watch me, hmph hmph…”

“Wind Blade!”

“The Wind Blade struck the rock monster next to the wind slime… The rock monster remained motionless, showing no signs of diffused mana. It is likely deceased, a remarkably effective outcome.”

Elara provided a deadpan commentary from the side.

“Master, you…”

Not only had she missed, but now she was being mocked.

Hilvyn puffed out her cheeks. “It’s all your fault, you slime! Why didn’t you catch my attack?”

Slime: ?

“It seems our contestant Hilvyn has encountered a formidable foe and has already begun a verbal assault, uttering words the slime cannot comprehend. However, to be fair, the slime contestant’s spawn location was indeed rather off.”

“Ice Spikes!”

Hilvyn instantly conjured seven or eight ice spikes, haphazardly launching them at the slime.

The slime perished.

“Having suffered multiple mid-tier spells beyond what a creature of its age should endure, contestant Slime, a D-rank monster, has finally fallen, a regrettable defeat…”

‘Pfft~’ Elara couldn’t hold back her laughter upon seeing Hilvyn’s pouty, resentful expression.

Hilvyn buried her face in Elara’s embrace. “Don’t laugh, don’t laugh, don’t laugh, don’t laugh—”

Elara completely lost control, bursting into laughter.

“Hmph!” Though Hilvyn was frustrated, her will to grow stronger became even more resolute. She would make her master look at her in a new light!

“Wind Blade!”

“Wind Blade!”

Elara watched Hilvyn diligently practicing again, wiping away the tears that had formed in the corners of her eyes from laughing.

It had been… so long since she felt this happy.

It was a genuine, heartfelt happiness that made her entire being relax, not the numbness, tension, or earlier restlessness she had grown accustomed to.

“Ah, that’s all in the past now.”

“Master—”

“Call me Sister Elara.”

“Okay, Master. No problem, Master.”

Looking back at the ‘fierce battlefield,’ the slimes were thoroughly dead.

Elara stepped forward to collect the slime crystals.

She explained, “Monster materials need to be collected; they can be sold for money.”

Hilvyn nodded obediently.

“Also, for example, when casting Ice Spikes, you can try manipulating the wind to control or accelerate them. The same applies in reverse. This is an advantage unique to dual-attribute users.”

However, this also significantly increased the required proficiency. For now, a simple reminder would suffice.

Next was the task they had accepted this morning: clearing medium-to-small monster groups.

They officially entered the outer edge of the Whispering Forest, approaching the mission location.

Elara cast the spell: Spatial Perception.

Nine direwolves were resting under a tree. Spatial Perception could detect objects within a certain range, and the shape of direwolves was all too familiar to Elara.

“Hilvyn, cast ‘Haste Enchantment’ on me.”

Hilvyn silently cast the spell: Haste Enchantment.

Elara felt a lightness envelop her, and she immediately gave the next command:

“After I charge out, you’ll move forward, hide behind the bushes, and use Wind Blade or Ice Spikes to ambush any lone direwolves. If a wolf notices you, don’t hesitate—run immediately. I will…”

It was an extremely detailed plan.

Even if she were to handle a pack of wolves of this size alone, while not an easy victory, coming out with only minor scratches would not be a problem.

“I’m going in.” Before her words fully faded, Elara vanished from her spot, imperceptible to the naked eye.

She activated the spell ‘Shadow Concealment’.

This was an upgrade to ‘Shadow Step’, further increasing speed while also weakening her presence and aura.

Next came ‘Shadow Blade’.

This spell imbued a bladed weapon with dark mana, enchanting it to increase attack power, causing continuous burning to any wounds inflicted, and making them difficult to heal.

Before the wolf pack could react, Elara had already pressed her twin blades against the neck of the strongest wolf, the alpha.

‘To catch the bandit, first catch the king,’ Elara knew this principle well.

“Awoo—gurgle.”

The mightiest alpha wolf’s mournful howl was abruptly cut short, as it fell, consumed by regret.

The remaining wolves were mere C-rank fodder, perfect for practice.

“So fast.”

Although ‘Haste Enchantment’ was only a low-tier wind spell, its effect was beyond her expectations…

No, that wasn’t quite right.

The Whispering Forest was blessed by the Wind Goddess Hilmeria. Any wind or wood-elemental magic cast within it would receive varying degrees of amplification.

As Elara possessed both dark and spatial attributes, she hadn’t noticed this effect and had implicitly ignored it until now.

At this moment, ice spikes occasionally pierced through the air from the direction they had just come.

Elara curved her lips into a slight smile towards that direction, tightened her grip on her twin blades, and charged towards the next direwolf.

Soon, only three direwolves remained.

By now, the ‘Haste Enchantment’ had worn off, and Elara had deactivated ‘Shadow Concealment’.

Activating the lower-tier spell ‘Shadow Step’ was still sufficient to handle them.

The three direwolves showed no fear, pouncing on Elara in unison.

Elara sharply retreated to dodge, then swung her blade sideways!

A black-glowing gash instantly appeared on the neck of the direwolf suspended in front of her. The body, propelled by immense inertia, slammed into a tree behind it, splattering wolf blood.

The remaining two wolves no longer posed a threat.

Elara was about to leap back and let Hilvyn practice, but her body suddenly froze.

“What?”

Her feet were entangled by something.

Looking down, she saw fine, tough roots emerging from the earth, binding her ankles. She was unable to move.

When she looked up, the two remaining direwolves had already pounced before her.