Frieren's greatest gain during this break in the real world was gaining control over Scarlet Rot magic and researching its various derivative applications. She couldn't reverse or purify it completely yet. However, removing environmental contamination or treating mild cases wasn't difficult. Besides, she heard that Pure Gold Needles existed that could suppress it; studying this comprehensively might yield unexpected results.
Beyond that, she needed to test the performance of different equipment in reality. Frieren was the type to act immediately on an idea, so she began swapping talismans in her equipment slots to experiment with their effects, dazzling onlookers around the training grounds with various protective spells.
"Once things here are more or less planned out, I will enter a deep sleep."
"Doesn't that mean I won't be able to see you every day, Master?" Flamme's expression inevitably darkened. Even though the silver-haired girl usually appeared indifferent and aloof, she was still a companion.
"Indeed. However, I will occasionally awaken midway to check on your progress and offer guidance. This is mainly to pass the time during your growth period, as I also need to use meditative slumber to improve myself. There will surely be a fierce battle against the demons later on."
"So, the faster I become a Grand Mage, the sooner you'll wake up, Master?"
"You could say that."
"Please rest assured! I'll accomplish it as quickly as possible. With the amplification from Soul Magic and your teachings, Master, I can't let them go to waste. Oh, and thanks to all my elf friends too!" The red-haired girl grinned and looked around, her gaze landing on Millialdelle, who returned the smile.
So dazzling. Elves weren't good at handling such energetic types. Why was she so motivated? How fast would Flamme grow under such favorable conditions? Even Frieren, who had created the situation herself, wasn't entirely sure. The truth was, she was teaching a miracle born for magic itself. Truly something to look forward to.
However, Frieren no longer felt completely safe. After all, the world contained too many conceptual magics with potent judgment effects or instant-kill abilities. For instance, among the Seven Sages of Destruction, there were illusory paradises and abilities that could turn anything to gold.
Who could know the outcome without truly clashing once? To be safe, defense came first.
Frieren planned to continue testing the effects of talismans, equipment, and battle arts, seeing if she could combine them into a power capable of blocking curses. Consequently, she couldn't attend to other miscellaneous tasks for now:
"I'm leaving the material procurement to you, Flamme. The list is the same as last time, remember?"
"Understood."
With the girl's maturity and intelligence, there was no need to worry. Time to continue preparing for the next long-term exploration of the Lands Between, Frieren thought. Try to make more real-world abilities and research effective under the Erdtree's system...
With this thought, the silver-haired girl strode purposefully towards the workshop's basement.
Those familiar knew things were about to get lively. Protective barriers would likely be erected to contain various explosions; as everyone knew, Frieren's experimental style always involved testing stress limits through sheer violent output.
With their supervisor gone, most elves slacked off, but a portion, including Millialdelle, continued to train diligently. People occasionally sought her guidance, which brought pride to her face.
Regardless, the demon invasion had changed the atmosphere in the elf village; at least more people realized the need to become stronger. They weren't elves who simply aged without any change in magical power; most possessed some magical talent, or could function as warriors. Once they started catching up, their progress was swift. Becoming competent combatants wasn't an issue, at least. Now they shared a common motivation: protect their home.
Forged in the crucible of war, the elf village was rapidly developing new strength. The traditionally isolationist elves were subtly changing, destined to produce more powerful individuals.
Flamme sensed this change as well.
"It might take years, even decades. I probably won't be around to see it anyway." The red-haired girl stretched languidly and left the training grounds.
It was best to complete the task her master assigned quickly, even if there was a chance Frieren would turn around and forget all about it.
"Good morning, Flamme! Your magic power has increased again." Elves she met along the way greeted her warmly. Over this period, everyone had become familiar with her.
Thanks to Flamme's social skills, she was basically acquainted with the entire village; most recognized her. Initially, they felt it didn't concern them and wouldn't have any impact, but the girl was genuinely likable, making it hard not to pay attention.
Then they discovered she was diligent, intelligent, got along well with others, and possessed considerable insight. No wonder Frieren was willing to take her as an apprentice—she was hassle-free.
The village had almost never hosted short-lived races, so everyone maintained a sense of novelty—a "novelty" on the elven scale, enough to last a human lifetime. This atmosphere of mutual influence and change would continue.
Flamme herself remained unaware.
She left the forest effortlessly, clearly familiar with the route. Although it was filled with illusions, miasma, and traps, they weren't hard to avoid if one knew the way and used mana perception, especially since Frieren had explained it repeatedly.
She had also learned from other villagers about the recent battle where the demon general was defeated.
"Master defeated them one by one right here..."
In reality, a skilled mage could dismantle the traps one by one if they wished; it wasn't like the complex mechanisms of a lost labyrinth. Temporary deployments could eventually be broken. The key lay in the defender, and Frieren had annihilated the elite demon forces single-handedly. Every time Flamme passed this place, she wondered when she could reach the level of a Grand Mage. She had to hurry.
The journey to the North Fortress went smoothly. Besides the fact that the usual troublesome monsters and beasts had been cleared out, another reason was that she ran almost the entire way as part of her training. The ritual Frieren called the "Blessing of a Great Rune" actually had its most significant effect on the physical body. In terms of basic constitution, Flamme was now comparable to an adult warrior trained for years; long-distance travel was trivial.
The roads around the fortress had been repaired, and the scarlet earth was gradually being leveled or covered by new sand and wind. She had initially thought the remnants of her master's battlefield would remain forever, but only a few days had passed, and they were already fading. Perhaps nothing lasts forever, only legends spread far and wide.
"Welcome." The soldier checking people at the gate let her pass easily. Flamme carried the insignia given by Commander Vearn as a pass. For Frieren, this wasn't a collectible, so she simply gave it to her apprentice, perfect for running errands—after all, Frieren was the one who broke all those pots and jars in the first place.
Compared to before, the place was noticeably more lively. Without the atmosphere of a city under siege, the streets were filled with chatter:
"Did you hear? Reinforcements sent from the fortress just reclaimed three major cities."
"Does that mean the demons are losing?"
"Not so fast. They actually withdrew voluntarily. Rumor has it they received orders from the rear to avoid Frieren for now. They need time to rest and recover too."
"Doesn't that mean the war will continue? For how long...?"
More people were just numb, and this weariness spurred Flamme onward even more.
While she was pondering, some people greeted her. Among them were familiar military officers, and she responded with a smile. In a way, she had become famous. Before, people might have at most remembered the title of 'direct disciple,' but after just a short time, perceptions had changed drastically.
Flamme, who was still unskilled at hiding her magic, now emitted an aura comparable to an average mage.
So fast? What kind of training did she undergo to leapfrog the apprentice stage like that? As expected of a great master producing a brilliant student. Regardless, her magical power was real; she would surely become a pillar of strength in the future. Feeling their expectant gazes, she felt immense pressure.
Am I actually improving very quickly? Unfortunately, she had no peers—other magic apprentices of the same age—to compare herself with. There were some young elves in the village, but they weren't a useful reference; it wouldn't be fair to measure herself against the progress rate of long-lived species.
Flamme didn't dwell on it. After paying a routine visit to her family, she went to see the owner of the magic shop. Seeing his young customer arrive, his face immediately lit up with a smile.
"I bet you broke something during an experiment?"
"Indeed."
"Don't look like you've caused trouble! That's perfectly normal on the path of magic." He accepted the gold Flamme handed over. "Besides, mages from the Age of Gods are quite generous, aren't they?"
In reality, most of it came from Frieren's spoils from hunting demons. She hadn't deliberately collected wealth and had few savings, completely unlike the image people had of endless riches. Precisely because the apprentice knew their actual financial situation, she worried they couldn't make ends meet. Actually, earning money would be simple with her master's skills; selling a few magic books would do it. But thinking carefully, what was Frieren researching? Soul modification, corrosive rot, curse-killing attacks—mostly unpleasant things, and often half-finished. Letting them circulate would be too dangerous.
"There will be many expenses in the future. I want to earn some money. Do you have any recommendations?"
"Quite sensible. In that case, you just need to hunt monsters."
"There aren't many threats left in the forest, only some basic materials. They probably aren't worth much."
"Then you could brew potions or other magical supplies. As long as the quality is good, you can sell them for a decent price. Or, you could take on commissions regularly to build a reputation. Eventually, big opportunities will naturally come your way."
"Like what?"
"Who knows what opportunities might arise until they do?"
Mulling it over, Flamme felt the last suggestion about commissions wasn't very reliable. The perceptive shop owner immediately recognized her hesitation. This child is very insightful, she understands the need for caution and won't be easily fooled. If she had seemed naive, he wouldn't have recommended taking commissions, lest she run into trouble. Offending Frieren in the background? That would be even more terrifying. He cleared his throat and said seriously, "You have a stereotype in mind, and you're not wrong. Commissions are full of shady characters and mixed bags. But those are things even a mage from the Age of Gods can't teach you. If I'm not mistaken, she isn't the type of elf who travels often, so she probably lacks experience, right?"
"Yes."
Moreover, there was something Flamme had to keep secret: Frieren would be sleeping frequently from now on, clearly focusing more on that 'dream training' magic the elves spoke of.
"Even if I don't mention it, a good teacher would eventually send you out for training, just like those noble magic apprentices. Since that's the case, why not start with small commissions around your hometown? If you agree, I'll keep an eye out for you."
"Okay. I'll take on work involving potions and materials. As for combat-related tasks, I'll have to wait."
"Of course. I estimate it will take at least ten years for you to reach battlefield-level proficiency."
They quickly reached an agreement, concluding the transaction happily.
The magic workshop in the elf village constantly rumbled, making the ground feel shaky, but the elves were long used to it, busying themselves passing the time as usual.
Right now, Frieren was attempting to replicate Zoltraak's explosion magic, combining it with techniques she already knew. The results were decent. She used to use it against mimic chests; perhaps now it could be employed on a larger scale.
'It's a means of environmental destruction, I suppose. Pure explosions aren't very effective against the powerful beings of the Lands Between.' Strengthened by vast amounts of Runes, they were more than just tough-skinned.
Ordinary swords, spears, fire, and water attacks were significantly less effective, their resilience comparable to the bodies of real-world warriors tempered through countless trials—very troublesome.
If demigods were the hypothetical enemies, the standard had to be raised even higher, as they often excelled in both magic and combat. Their basic capabilities were sufficient; the difference lay in how effectively they utilized them.
Currently, the technique that worked well both in reality and in the Lands Between was Lightning Spear. If only she could learn Ancient Dragon Lightning Strike one day. Combining the two, along with Lightning Ram technique, who knew how powerful it would be. Beyond that, there wasn't much else. Many real-world conceptual magics with strong judgment effects were useless when brought over, like spells to clean utensils or make books fragrant—seemingly simple, yet ineffective due to rule discrepancies. Frieren concluded it was still best to primarily use powers from the game against the game.
"Magic research has hit a bottleneck. Soul research is the most crucial, concerning the restoration of the Lands Between, Flamme's education, the possibility of giving Melina a physical body... I should probably visit a magic academy first."
"Before that, I need to clear out the caves in Limgrave as soon as possible..."
The rough plan was clear in her mind. Priorities needed to be set. At worst, she could push through Liurnia of the Lakes and Caelid bit by bit, tackling them concurrently. That might work. After all, the Flower of Aeonia, which she was getting increasingly adept at using, required more research samples. Visiting the old battlefield ruins was the top choice. There was so much to do; after this short break, things would get busy again.
The silver-haired girl stretched lazily and began tidying up the various materials on her desk. Just then, Millialdelle pushed the door open.
"I accidentally broke a barrier during training just now. Do you have any replacement materials?"
"Wait a bit. Flamme went to buy some."
Frieren was getting more and more used to the convenience of having an assistant. It was so easy. No wonder so many mages in the real world liked taking apprentices—probably as laborers, right? However, she had taught Flamme real skills, holding back only the dangerous parts. As long as Flamme mastered them, her growth rate as a short-lived species would definitely give the demons endless headaches.
"Speaking of which, are you planning to sleep for several years?"
"No, I'll wake up frequently. It's just that my active periods might not be as long as this time."
"That's good."
"Is something wrong?"
"I just feel uneasy without you around," Millialdelle said worriedly. "I don't think the demons will give up easily. They might dispatch someone at the level of the Seven Sages of Destruction."
Hearing this, Frieren nodded. "That's a possibility, but don't worry. If it really happens, I'll handle it. In fact, my slumber is precisely to acquire more methods, to find more reliable ways to deal with indecipherable curses." If she could further perfect her Soul Magic, she might even be able to actively wield a sliver of the First Flame's power, enough to protect her main body.
Half a month flew by. In Frieren's mind, the "later" in "enter a long sleep later" was naturally by elven standards. If the village was a small world with a slow perception of time, then the Lands Between was a slow-paced realm of long-lived beings. There was no rush. The Shattering of the Elden Ring hadn't happened just yesterday; it could withstand waiting. There wasn't even a sense that anyone felt particularly urgent.
That being the case, Frieren focused on real-world matters first: Flamme's training was progressing smoothly. She understood things almost instantly, especially after the soul enhancement rapidly improved her physical strength, allowing her to contain stronger Soul Magic. This child's talent was goddess-tier, coupled with the blessing of the Ring, making her top-class in two worlds. It would be difficult for her not to become strong.
However, Frieren believed her style leaned towards practical application, so more sparring was necessary.
The Training Grounds. After several expansions and modifications, it was now comparable in size to the village itself. The ground was paved with bedrock, surrounded by powerful defensive barriers to ensure aftershocks were dampened. Additionally, some monsters had been captured and penned up, convenient for experiments or as sparring partners at any time.
To gather 'sandbags' for her direct disciple, Frieren had scoured the forest, capturing most of the monsters. During this period, the monster world was in chaos as the silver-haired girl flew around, snatching monster after monster, not even sparing regional overlords. Now, the training ground had also become a popular spot for many elves. Having decided to get stronger, they couldn't afford to be idle. The colosseum-like structure beneath their feet was arguably the most active place in the elf village.
Frieren arrived first at the very center. She held the most basic beginner's staff to avoid using too much force, and a cloth-wrapped wooden sword in her other hand.
"It's time to assess your fundamental combat skills. If you pass, we'll begin the next phase: systematic magic instruction. Flamme, remember to call out if you get seriously injured."
"Understood."
"Impressive that you can wear something so heavy. Good. As long as it doesn't hinder movement, the stronger the defense, the better."
The red-haired girl before her wore a breastplate fitted to her petite, still-developing frame, along with varying degrees of armor on her arms and legs. She looked just like a light warrior, yet held a staff brimming with magical energy. To maximize margin for error, wearing armor was essential. Her magical presence was already comparable to a novice human mage, having surpassed the apprentice level, qualifying her to participate in battles as support.
But who would have thought Flamme knew martial arts?
In the next instant, Frieren initiated with a blast of pure mana—not even a spell, just raw magical power used like a cannon to create a physical impact. It was relatively safe yet sufficient to train her opponent. However, the red-haired girl immediately activated Endure and, coupled with a defensive barrier, stood firm. In actual combat, fragile mages are easily interrupted, losing control of the battle's rhythm. So, it was better to tank a hit and then counterattack.
"What kind of mage is that tough? What's with you two, master and disciple?" Watching from afar, Millialdelle raised an eyebrow, having long found these two baffling. It was getting more and more absurd.
Whoosh! Homing Soul Crystal Shards launched by Flamme obscured her figure as a dense volley descended upon Frieren, forcing her to erect a similar defensive barrier. But it could only slow them down; dodging was mostly required. Who told her to teach special magic that could penetrate defenses? Training against it was tiring for her too. Truthfully, there were dozens of ways to handle it, but most involved abandoning interaction, turning it into "you attack your way, I attack mine." What's the point of training like that? Only through sufficient back-and-forth combat could a powerful mage be nurtured.
Suddenly, a longsword thrust out from the dust cloud, aiming straight for Frieren's face, but she dodged it with a tilt of her head. Undeterred, Flamme pressed her advantage with several more lightning-fast strikes, coordinating her blade with the crystal shards in a ferocious assault.
"Not bad. Sufficient for mid-range combat."
Hearing the praise, Flamme didn't dare relax, knowing it meant her master was about to test the next stage. Sure enough, Frieren used flight magic to gain distance, looking down from above. It was magic copied from demons, yet Frieren was becoming increasingly proficient with it. Probably in a few days, she could write it down in notes for dissemination, while Flamme herself hadn't learned it yet.
"Be careful."
Countless beams of light shot out from the silver-haired girl, sweeping across the training ground like an impenetrable spiderweb. Facing such firepower, Flamme failed to dodge one and was sent flying, crashing to the ground. But the next moment, she gritted her teeth, scrambled up, and barely blocked with her defensive barrier. She subconsciously touched her armor—sure enough, there was a large dent. Fortunately, it was just pure mana impact; impressive-looking, but Frieren was holding back.
Competing in mobility was futile, so she chose to defend staunchly, trying not to leave any openings while carefully observing Frieren's attack patterns for gaps. Then, she launched long-range crystal shard snipes, so fast that even Frieren had to raise a barrier and dodge. Soul magic attacks—their major advantage was armor penetration. An opponent couldn't hope to just stand still and rely solely on barriers; dodging was also necessary, inevitably slowing down their offense. Even a beginner like Flamme found breathing room through this, allowing her to mount a larger-scale counterattack.
Boom! Rumble—
The master and disciple's magic collided mid-air, interweaving like raindrops, showers of light from below and above annihilating each other. The speed was incredible; such clashes relied almost entirely on the caster's subconscious reactions, yet their astonishing synchronization spoke volumes of their sharp reflexes. Simultaneously, both constantly repositioned while unleashing bombardments.
Their mobility and firepower intensity were breathtaking. The surrounding elves watched, dumbfounded, knowing full well Flamme had already surpassed most of them. Only a select few could likely match her current level. They had watched her train, yet her progress was astonishingly rapid.
"So this is what Frieren meant when she said the age of humans is coming..." Even someone as seemingly oblivious as Millialdelle realized that a formidable mage was inevitably rising—and not one following the current mainstream of self-study or incomplete knowledge systems. Flamme was receiving systematic, comprehensive education. Her teacher, Frieren, wasn't just cramming information but instilling a methodology for research. Flamme would surely carry it forward. The combination of her own talent and her master's guidance would likely produce revolutionary results—provided, of course, she grew up safely.
Still lacking.
Sure enough, on the next exchange, Flamme suddenly sputtered out, coming to an abrupt halt. Her mana depleted, she collapsed straight back, devoid of strength. She had endured the high-intensity exchange, but her greatest weakness—mana capacity—was laid bare. In contrast, Frieren, who had been expending mana in the most wasteful way possible throughout the fight, recovered completely with a single breath, her mana pool seemingly unchanged.
She slowly descended and walked over to the red-haired girl.
"You already did very well. Mana capacity can only be increased with time, so don't feel discouraged."
"No, I'm happy! I feel like I caught a glimpse of your back, Master. That kind of power doesn't feel completely unattainable."
"Silly girl. That's just a beginner's illusion. One day, you'll understand just how profound this power of mine truly is. And then, perhaps, you'll return to the feeling that it's within reach."
"Is that when I'll have truly mastered it?"
"Of course."
____
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