Can you siphon a portion of her mana as she's casting? As long as it's still more efficient she won't know the difference.

Emils 2018/10/13(Sat)22:45 No. 906807 ID: ea36cf
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>>905474
Red eyes seemed to be preoccupied at the time. She seems very busy and has sometimes forgotten or seem to be unreliable in terms of answers for issues in regards to things regarding Dragons.
Perhaps another creature might help, but I doubt any of the so called 'natives' would have a proper idea on the overall situation of the planet.

>>905936
I can't siphon mana away from her body, seemingly tied to her core as far as I can tell.

"I only made sure that your mana followed the right path. Perhaps that's what a fireball spell is supposed to look like?"
"I... I don't know," Alice looks at me pensively, retreating her hand, "I have never heard of something like this, but... I don't feel as exhausted?"
"Yes, I had felt that your spells had been 'leaking' mana across your body. I had reduced the effect of such, but I do not know of any effects of doing so. If you're willing, I can effectively prevent mana from leaking into your body."

Alice answers after a few minuets, but hastily answers me after her returns with a pitcher of water. "Sorry, but this is a hard decision. I can't possibly consent to it without asking my grandfather."

Alice guides me to a gazebo, where the maid pours us cups of water.
I sip at it as Alice gulps, exhaling heavily as the maid wipes off some sweat from her brow.

"So, What can you tell me about Silvia Strix Saron?"
Alice half chokes while drinking another cup, and after coughing, "Wh- what? Why? Do you know him?"
"I was invited to his birthday party."
Alice looks surprised, "Really? That... that's probably his father's doing."
I nod.

"Silvia and I were... betrothed. This happened way back, before we were born, when our fathers fought together in the army." Alice looks at the cup in her hand, "I don't... I don't know."

Alice takes a breath, "When we first met, I was 7 and he was 5. He was kinda cute," she smiled, "Still haven't completely molted his downy feathers," she smiled, "He was hiding behind his father, completely shy."
"Our parents met often, so we in turn had plenty of meetings. He'd watch as I trained magic, and we'd study together.
He was smart, arrogant, but also kinda chivalrous. He'd help me with my magic whenever I struggled."
Her smile strained, "The last time I saw him, was two years ago. I was 10 and was demonstrating my magic abilities to a facilitator to Fuller."
"What's fuller?"
She looks at me, "Fuller is THE magic academy. Built a few weeks travel away, around a dragon's tower. Anything and everything related to magic can be found, founded and researched there."
"Anyways... He was there, with his mother and my parents. I was demonstrating my spells. Things I've learned from my mother and my grandfather. It was going well, but... I can't remember what happened."
She tenses up.
"The only thing I remember after that was waking up in bed. It had been half a year later."
She wipes off her tears, "After I could walk again, I learned that something wrong happened when to me. My spell went out of control. My mother tried to dispel the magic, while my father protected me. They didn't make it.
I haven't seen Silvia since. He refused any invitation and meeting, and all I know of him is though gossip."

"I don't blame him... I killed his mother."
She looks up, eyes closed.
"Please lady Alice, It's not your fault." the maid speaks up from the entrance of the gazebo, "What happened was an accident, and you shouldn't blame yourself for it."

Alice keeps quiet.

"What was the exact spell the facilitator ordered you to cast? I bet it was meant to turn you into a bomb."

Tell her you can make sure that never happens again, and the only thing you ask in return is dancing lessons. (While actually extracting further spells and skills during the 'treatment process'.) That should expedite her decision-making process.

>>906809
We can't promise that. We don't know why it happened. For all we know she fumbled the wording and it wasn't a mana efficiency issue.

>>906807
Tell her all you know is he's focusing very hard on his work. Wouldn't he have said something hurtful if he blamed her? Sounds like she lost more than him anyway, maybe he thinks she's suffered enough to make up for it.

>>906808
Oh yeah, she might have been sabotaged. Even if that's not the case, it was not by choice and she's suffered enough.

Would you like to remember?

Ask how frequently and in what circumstances do such casting accidents happen? Someone in her household must have looked into the matter.
Query if any... Mana plague? has been reported in the region, or if anyone in attendance had recently been in such a region, or researched the effect.
Enquire if we can take people with us to... birthday parties? and if she would want to be included in that.

This definitely seems strange. Safety should usually be a priority to expert magicians, and as you said, things were going well. It makes little sense to make a mistake, let alone one with such dire consequences. Do you remember wearing any enchanted items when you were demonstrating?

Also, ask her if she'd like you to say anything to Silvia when you go visit him.

ABORT, ABORT!!
Change subject ASAP!

...hug?

>>906807
"Would you like me to talk to him for you?"

>>906807
You copied her spells, right?
"Did the facilitator survive? And did they give you that spell to cast, or was it your own.
My talent with mana extends to an innate understanding of how spells work. I believe the spell you cast was Explosion, but I do not believe you did so wittingly."

>>906807
Analyze spells she is capable of casting. Would she even be capable of effectively channeling enough mana to cause such an accident?

If she was sabotaged, then the question is: Was there anyone that didn’t approve of her being betrothed to Silvia Strix Saron?

>>906807
that story was very emotional for her.

say something about that sounding like a horribly tragic accident, and she obviously didn't intend for that to happen.

>asking my grandfather
This seems kinda important. We can't allow her to spread the knowledge of us being able to do what would be supernatural for them.

Apologize and tell her that if she talks to her grandfather about what happened between you two, that you won't be able to help her. Explain that no one knows you can do this, and you only offered to help her since she's your friend. Tell her that it would put you in danger if anyone else knows about your abilities, so if she decides on this, it would have to be her own decision.

Ah might... want to either whisper that to her or tell her when the maid isn't around.

>>906866
I'd prefer not to blackmail or coerce her. If you're worried, you could have Emils tell her to wait to ask and keep them anonymous.

I don't think that's necessary but it's less gross.

We have too little information on that accident to form conclusions of any kind, so let's keep any speculation to ourselves until we investigate it further apart from Alice, since she basically only knows what she was told about it.
Witness testimonies are too unreliable anyways.
Let's try to cheer her up with some small talk.

Emils, do you still want to eat your classmates?

She might sympathize if you explain to her that, when you were living in a cave, you found signs you believe belonged to your sibling but you got no memory of them.

Screw it, lets not hide anything anymore, lets go talk to her grandfather, tell him about the damage and solution in details he can't possibly understand. If he doesn't object fix her right there, and if he asks how tell him.

>>907102
>answer all inquiries as to our true origin with "I'm on a mission from God."

>>905425
We should totally learn to dance

>>906828
Yes.

And also tell her that it couldn't have been her fault. Reassure her and all that.

>>906866

Yes, once the maid is away. Convince Alice to keep your abilities a secret. A few points on why it must be kept a secret such as: Certain people would hurt others just to know how to use it. You're afraid of what people might do to you to learn it.

Also, no offense to her but what could her grandfather contribute with a yet unknown power. It's best, for now that she keeps this in utmost secrecy till we perfect it, and perfection takes cautious experimentation. Mention to her that once you master this ability, she will be the first person you will help recover. Promise.

>>906807
Emils isn't great with words, a hug is probably the best way to offer comfort.

>"Sorry, but this is a hard decision. I can't possibly consent to it without asking my grandfather."
That is reasonable. Modifying her mana is potentially dangerous and could have long term consequences- she has time to consider things.

Day End Emils 2018/10/21(Sun)01:35 No. 907731 ID: ea36cf
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"Do you think it was sabotage?"
"Maybe? My grandfather was the one who took charge of the investigation. He tried his best to keep me safe and away from any news, so I don't know anything official other than it being publicly stated as an accident."

"And what happened to the facilitator?"
"He returned back to Fuller after getting healed. The test naturally had magic barriers in place around me, but it was the shockwave that did most of the damage. He did leave behind an invitation for when I got better... I... Think I still have it."

"I might not know everything in regards to this, but I don't think the issue is that he dislikes you.
You've described him as a smart person, and someone whose close to you. Besides, as children of influential people, perhaps there are other reasons he could not meet with you. He could just even be extremely busy."
"Maybe." Alice sighs, "I just hope he's still the same Silvia I remember."
"Unlikely. People change over time. At best you can only hope that you still find each other's company enjoyable in the end."

The maid seems to be glaring at me.

"In any case, I must insist you keep what we discussed a secret from others. If people know of what I can do, it may not be safe for me."
"I see... I can see how troublesome such abilities can be."

I set down the cup in my hand, "Well, I still have some time to spare, Could you please teach me what to look out for in the upcoming party, and how to dance? I lack the knowledge on proper etiquette of this place."

Alice smiles at me, and takes my hand, "Well I'm more versed on one side, but I can still teach you how to dance."

Attempts to learn the dancing skill though [Mana Manipulation] has failed. It does not seem to be operated though mana, and thus, can not be copied.
However, my ability to learn and move this form does let me learn easily.
---

>Learned Skill:
Dancing - F

>Learned Spell:
Fireball - Conjure a ball of fire

---

>>Emils, do you still want to eat your classmates?
Their unique abilities would be useful.

>>907731
>Their unique abilities would be useful.

but it would come at the price of never seeing them again, even disregarding the risks involved.
i want you to develop 'Empathy'. let's start with something small, you saw alice was distressed during that exchange, describe what you believe she was feeling.

>Their unique abilities would be useful.
That was a yes/no question, though I guess this non-answer grants insight in its own way.

Good luck with your preparations, Emils.

How do slimes dance?

Before you leave this city, remember to pack as many of those unique abilities as you can for the road. Have you been eating well recently?
After dance lessons, take the guild test.

>Their unique abilities would be useful.
Eh, you can substitute all their innates with regular spellcasting, and you have the reserves to replicate their powers on a frequent basis. Focus on learning skills from them.

>Their unique abilities would be useful.
Useful how? Against what? Do you feel drawn to a grand destiny, saving the world?
And then, couldn't you get their abilities in other ways? Like, imitation or just getting them to choose to help you? Different people also have different insights that can't be physically taken.

For now, continuing to try to learn, and afterwards telling Alice you'd like to continue meeting her is good. Then I suppose check out the guild.

>>907731
Well, we now understand a good deal more about magic. And also magical surgery. We have done well this day.

>>907731
>Their unique abilities would be useful.
While true, they can also be obtained through non-destructive means. We will also require assistants and subjects if we intend to solve the problem of mana consumption ending life on the planet.

>Their unique abilities would be useful.
Sure, but everyone has unique abilities, and what would you do if you ate everyone? There'd be nothing left to interact with, no unique viewpoints left to learn from.

You may as well prioritize the continued existence of persons you find interesting or pleasurable to interact with.

>>907731
As demonstrated, you can learn those abilities without eating them. Anything mana-related you can copy. Anything that isn't, you can quickly learn by being taught.

What unique abilities?

Spell Tests Emils 2018/10/27(Sat)10:38 No. 908468 ID: ea36cf
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>Replication of spells and abilities
As mentioned before, Spells of these creatures are messy. Inefficient.

Currently I can afford to waste such Mana, substituted with my [Slime Mass] which acts as a battery. I would require to consume mana rich foods if I wish to keep a stock of Mana. Creatures with cores in particular seems the most efficient way to recharge mana, and gain [Slime Mass], but it would have to be fresh, as dead creatures seems to leak mana fast.
The living and freshly killed creatures I've consumed were a lot more filling than the prepared foods and the corpses I consumed before.

>Useful Abilities
The ability to affect a target's gravity would be extremely useful with the increased weight I get in correlation with my increased [Slime Mass]. It might also allow me some form of flight with the wings from the Avaros form.
Healing spells seems to affect my replicated body, and would be a more efficient way to repair any damage, rather than recycling damage parts and refreshing the body. Scars and other external imperfections would be more consistent, since my refreshing of this body would remove any such imperfections.
I would be compatible with Fire and Ice spells, and learning a variability of spells would be potentially valuable.
Body enhancement spells can be useful if I wish to disguise the over-physical abilities I can induce on my forms.

>Dance
As I understand it, it is a social faux-pas to step on ones partner's toes.
I am at least dexterous to avoid such complications, and the potential disastrous situation of crushing body parts with my weight.

Spell Tests Emils 2018/10/27(Sat)10:46 No. 908470 ID: ea36cf
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In comparison, spells such as [Warmth] which I can cast in my core is a lot more efficient, where I can direct easily into certain parts of my form. Unfortunately I do not have external abilities to test with if I can cast remotely.
The [Spire] spell itself requires me to have contact with the surface as it is cast, it's durability depending on the material used and how much mana I provide.
The [Fireball] spell becomes more transparent or changes size to an extent the more I focus on it, and more hotter depending on mana.
Both spells instantly dispel when I stop mana, or remove contact with the surface.
With the fireball, it extinguishes when I press it onto a surface.
Any change in the spell requires me to recast it, meaning it can't be changed mid-cast.

The [Warmth] spell, though [Thermoregulation], can be freely changed at any time.

>Guild Test
I can proceed with the test after school, which would eat up the remaining daytime, or go do something else for the rest of the day.

When was the birthday party? Tomorrow? Day after?

Go do the test.

If we are going to eat any colleague we have to do so in a situation their disappearance is a possibility. The best possibility would be an them hunting monsters outside of the city, but an ambush during a trip could work.

Hmm, so even perfectly cast Fireball is inefficient... Why? I guess this relates to how the spell can't be properly manipulated and how it instantly dispels. It's like there's something missing.

There's 3 ideas that come to mind:
- The whole concept is wrong. The resulting fireball should be reached in a different way, rather than through a constant supply of mana
- We're missing an underlying skill. Perhaps something like External Thermoregulation, which would give us proper handling of the effect.
- The spell isn't contained. The mana inside a fireball is missing a protective bubble to keep it from constantly dispersing.

We do have Mana Manipulation, so maybe we could try something with that.
Cast a Fireball, but use Mana Manipulation to prevent the mana inside the fireball from dispersing when you break off the supply of mana.
If that doesn't work, then try something different. First build up mana at the point where the Fireball should appear, and then cast Fireball on that point, without sending any mana around.

As for what to do after school, either guild test or finding Silvia's lab is good, tho I'd prefer visiting the lab first.

Test time.

Test it up my dude. With a longer leash we can freely hunt outside of the city where there are fewer essential personnel and is more privacy.

>>908470
Its too soon for the test. We've hardly been in town at all, and even a little questioning will reveal that you haven't been spending every waking moment studying. On top of this, you will be under close scrutiny by professionals during the test. Possibly by another, more in depth appraisal.

Do the test. Make your competitors disappear before they reach the guild to improve your chances of winning.

There's not really a downside to failing the test, right? Might as well.

Is there some way to temporarily seperate and store part of your mass? Dancing might expose your absurd weight to your partner whether or not you step on any toes.

>>908592
IIRC we can easily dump mass somewhere but it's very inefficient to reclaim it. We haven't done it yet because mass is fuel and Emils isn't dangerously heavy yet, just suspiciously heavy.

Emils 2018/11/04(Sun)01:28 No. 909502 ID: ea36cf
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>>908471
The party is held at the end of the week, about three days.

>>908478
Attempting to bubble in the mana results in a fading bubble of depleted mana, that leaks off into the ambient mana.
I can't control depleted mana, and they want to return to the ambient.
Trying to push my influence upon it, I can sense a sort of... pull?
A direction where it wants to go. To return. It's faint, and I can probably triangulate where wants to go if I try again in a further distance apart.

Unfortunately any additional control over the mana breaks the spell, causing a small burst of depleted mana.

>>908592
>>908616

Excess mass can be removed in two ways:
1. Converting Ejecting Slime/Flesh.
2. Compressing Slime into Mana Crystals.

Method 1 allows for a longer storage option, but requires me to consume it to reabsorb the mass. Highly wasteful, but leaves a mana-rich lump of consumable perishable.

Method 2 allows for higher mana capacity, and is a better option with larger volumes of mana. Reabsorbing mana into slime costs less, which is more efficient. The crystals however leak mana into the ambient, meaning I can't store these for long.

Any further testing is requested to be done at the discussion thread.
>>/questdis/108985
End of thread.