School Times

A week has passed. During this time, Ramiel focused on his development and training of the goblins.

The results were satisfying. His stats improved slightly, and the green creatures were already able to kill the Night Ripper on their own.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end someday, the lake no longer brought Ramiel any improvement. All the benefits he could get from it were gone, at least for him.

Ramiel had little choice. If he wanted to develop further in this direction, he would have to wait until the Lilies grew up and evolved into a more advanced form. Then, according to Avi, he would benefit from bathing again.

In the meantime, Ramiel went to explore the new tunnel. You can imagine how disappointed he was when he arrived at the end of the cave and found only some old weapons and rats.

He was disappointed and disillusioned, as evidenced by a frustrated sigh and an occasional glance that could have killed.

Don't get him wrong, the weapons were essential to the further development of the dungeon, but their condition left much to be desired. Many of them were unusable. They were rolling with rust and required a lot of restoration work.

Here, Ramiel encountered another problem. He didn't have the materials and, more importantly, the people who knew how to do it. Anyway, just look at what he received and the temporary remedies the former hunter employed.

Two spears needed shafts, and the short sword he handed to Asme required a new handle. For the moment, an old rag performed its function.

The shield was only half shield, the other part of it gone. In the best condition of all was a bow and a few arrows. These weapons were given to Goblin No. 3 by Ramiel.

By the way, the green creature had evolved into a Goblin Archer. It cost Ramiel all of one Night Ripper core, but it was worth it.

The Archer grew several centimeters, now reaching Ramiel's ribs. His figure became limber and resembled that displayed by runners, and sharp eyes allowed the goblin to see a single wrinkle in the rock from several kilometers away.

Unfortunately, this was the end of the advantages, and Ramiel had to do without a taste. The goblin couldn't speak. Rascal, in this case, was an exception.

| Status |

| Name Goblin number 3 |

| Race Goblin |

| Direction of Evolution Goblin Archer |

| Age 16 |

| Strength 12 |

| Stamina 10 |

| Vitality 8 |

| Agility 15 |

| Defense 7 |

| Mana 12 |

| Enriched mana 0 | 

| Intelligence 8 |

The goblin's stats weren't the worst, especially since he was an archer. They were within the standards set by Ramiel.

Wasting no time, Ramiel delegated the goblin to work and placed his hand on the dungeon's core. He had to hurry, he had a tight schedule. He planned to help Asme break through her development problems today.

An interface appeared in his mind.

| Dungeon of Damnation |

| Dungeon level 1 |

| Number of floors 2 |

| Dungeon mana 600 /600 |

| Core energy 220/450 |

| Life essence 0 / 0 |

| Resources in storage 50 / 3000 |

| Dungeon's unique abilities |

| Condemned Soul Collector - There is a small chance that the souls of dead creatures can be transformed into condemned souls. These creatures are condemned to wander the dungeon forever in bondage to a new master. At the moment of enslavement, they lose all sense of life. They are guided by a single goal: eternal service in the ranks of the dungeon in the hope of receiving the desired deliverance. Their destructive power lies in the group. Together, they are invincible. Although they are weak, they shouldn't be underestimated… |

< Requirement - The creature must die in the dungeon and not be related to it. >

| Available Units |

| Skeleton 8/8 |

< Cost to summon 180 units of dungeon mana, 10 units of core energy, eight bones >.

| Master Status | 

| Name Ramiel |

| Race Human |

| Age 21 (26) |

| Stamina 12 > 14 |

| Endurance 14 > 15 |

| Vitality 8 > 9 |

| Agility 10 > 12 |

| Defense 19 > 20 |

| Mana 24 > 27 |

| Enriched mana 0 |

| Intelligence 46 |

Ramiel's stats didn't improve as spectacularly as the first time, but they were still impressive. An increase in strength by two points in a week is an amazing feat. Ordinary people achieve similar results at the beginning of their mana adventure only after several weeks of painstaking training.

All good things require hard work and dedication.

Ramiel satisfied his curiosity and went straight to Asme, who awaited him. At first, the horned beauty was skeptical about the Master's help. After all, she considered him an amateur.

However, a wise person never rejects an outstretched hand. Besides, the man has proven that he knows something after all. Asme also displayed a bit of selfishness. She wanted to spend more time with Ramiel. It would be foolish not to take advantage of the perfect excuse she had been given.

Ramiel sat down opposite the woman. The Dead Gnu's bound skin was lying on the ground, so it wasn't so bad.

" So. " - the man began. " Tell me everything you know about mana, how you understand and use it. Just please cut out the nonsense containing theories about the great Nenneke. "

In order for Ramiel to help Asme, he first needed to know her reasoning. This was the easiest way to locate the problem. Without that, any attempt to help would be a waste of time.

Asme took a deep breath and followed Ramiel's words by beginning a succinct but brief lecture.

The former hunter was an attentive listener. The longer he listened, the more sour his expression became.

The understanding of mana is subject to the same rules as the elements. The deeper it is, the more effectively energy particles can be used.

Asme's reasoning was very simple. Her definitions had many gaps and were sometimes wrong. For example, she defined external and internal manna as one.

Seeing the disappointment on Ramiel's face, Asme asked.- " Master, am I wrong? "

" This is strange... " Ramiel was interrupted by a gentle tug on his jacket sleeve. Turning around his eyes, and before them appeared a sky-blue-haired elfess tugging at his sleeve.

Caera's condition has improved dramatically over the past seven days. She has regained most of her strength, her complexion has returned to its natural hue, and her face has regained the necessary fat.

Ramiel recommended that she rest, but the elfess climbed to the heights of courage and ignored her master's recommendation, giving herself a light workout. She wanted to regain strength and become useful to the dungeon as soon as possible.

" Master... maybe... I could join you ? " - A shy voice came out of Caera's mouth. Her golden eyes gazed at him with unspoken hope.

Ramiel agreed. He saw nothing wrong with the request. He would have to train the elfess in the future anyway. Since he could kill two birds with one stone, he saw no obstacle not to do so.

" Alright, sit next to Asme and tell me what you know about mana. "

Caera wasted no time and went straight to the explanation.

Listening to the elfess, Ramiel tilted his head to the side in surprise. Caera's knowledge was richer than Asme's but still far below the norm.

After the lecture was over, the women stared at the man with anticipation and uncertainty. They felt pressure, quite as if they were being tested, and their entire future lives depended on the results.

" How is it possible that the amount of your mana is huge while your knowledge is poor and mostly wrong? After all, the disproportion can be seen with the naked eye. It's strange that no one has noticed this and guided you to the right path." - Ramiel's words fell on them like a bolt from the blue. Their faces clouded over, and their eyes looked at the ground, hiding shame and embarrassment.

Ramiel's judgment was a tad harsh and unpleasant. He drew conclusions without knowing Asme and Caera's past. He judged books by their covers. Anyway, he can't be blamed for that. The women didn't tell him anything about it, but what am I for?

Despite their noble backgrounds, the women were not provided with any support or education. Their lives bordered on hell. Everything they learned or achieved was the result of their hard work. In such a case, this is an amazing feat.

Ramiel, seeing the grim faces of Caera and Asme, took a deep breath and began.

" It's not that your understanding is entirely bad. For the most part, the basics are good, just incomplete. Unfortunately, you have to throw all the rest in the trash. Therefore, your education will start from zero. " 

The women's faces darkened even more. Ramiel's words depressed them even more.

Feeling negative emotions, the white snake slipped from Ramiel's finger and found itself in Caera's lap.

Traitor. - The man thought.

" Mana is an omnipresent energy that brings the world to life. We can find it literally everywhere. It doesn't care if an element is animated or not. However, we cannot define mana as a single entity; broadly defined, mana is actually made up of energy particles invisible to the naked eye, commonly called mana particles. "

As part of his presentation, Ramiel released a beam of colored mana from his body, breaking it into constituent elements. Like stars in the night sky, each particle shone with a silver glow.

" When we manipulate mana, we are setting small elements in motion. The more we understand them, the more control we have over them. " - Ramiel breathed while moving thousands of mana particles. Asme and Caera absorbedly watched his actions.

" Magic begins when you create spells. To achieve it, you must bend the mana to your will. You must also remember to saturate the energy particles with the right elements. At first, the whole process happens subconsciously, and you can't influence it too much. However, when you understand and learn to control mana better, you will be able to achieve miracles. Your magic will rise to a spectacular level. You will be limited only by your own imagination and knowledge. Of course, mana consumption will increase proportionally. The more complex the spell, the greater the need for energy particles. "

" Going back, mana is divided into two types. Internal mana and external mana... "

Ramiel continued the lecture for another two hours. During this time, he explained and repeated the basics, answered questions from the women, and consolidated the knowledge he had gained so far.

Of course, he omitted such things as multi-vector dependence interaction on the same and different planes. Multi-step fusion spells. Dissipation of low-level spells and the like.

Knowledge has to be imparted in doses, and it's still too early for Asme and Caera to grasp such complicated concepts.

" Asme, I promised to help you with your ice element, but first, you need to understand mana better. Once you do, we'll work on the problem together. But for now, focus on what you learned today. " - Ramiel added at the end.

" Okay, Master. " Asme obediently nodded. Her opinion of Ramiel had improved.

Before, she had thought of him as an inexperienced amateur, but now... he turned out to be a real treasure trove of knowledge.

" That's all for today. Try to assimilate everything. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask them. He will be happy to solve your doubts. If not, then try to rest. Tomorrow, another lecture awaits you. "

Asme didn't need to be told twice. The woman took the opportunity to move away. She had a lot of things to think about. Unlike Caera. She stayed and nervously played with a strand of hair. She wanted to ask the former hunter for help, but was ashamed. Her shy nature showed itself again. 

Seeing the embarrassed elfess, Ramiel laughed in thought.

" Are you all right, Caera? Do you need my help with something ? " - Ramiel exerted himself with a smile that was neutral and devoid of cold feelings. Handling an elfess is difficult. Because of her shy nature, she is very easy to startle. Ramiel must be careful when dealing with her.

" I don't... yes... I... " - Caera shuddered nervously, squeezing the cuffs of her jacket until her fingers turned white.

This sight amused Ramiel, but he didn't laugh. He remained severe, at least on the outside.

 "It's okay, you don't have to be afraid of me. Unlike a certain fairy, I don't bite.

" - Ramiel didn't fail to poke Avi, who seemed outraged by his unnecessary remark.

' Hmpf ! ' - The offended voice of the fairy sounded in the man's head.

" Master, I... I knew about most of the things you mentioned... Maybe... I thought so... maybe you could tell a little more ? " - By some miracle, Caera gathered the courage and choked out the request, although the elfess got a tad lost in the process, especially towards the end.

Ramiel went into a spiral of thought.

The knowledge I gave them was the basics of the basics. Caera's reasoning was mainly correct, but if I go further, I will have to repeat the same thing to Asme tomorrow.

" Sorry, Caera, but you have to wait until tomorrow. " - Ramiel briefly summarized his inner thoughts.

The elfess's face was saddened. She really wanted to know more! The former hunter had awakened her thirst for knowledge.

Seeing her eagerness to learn, Ramiel came up with an idea.

" If you want... " - The former hunter got Caera's attention. " Maybe I could help you understand an element better? How about this? "

The woman's heart beat faster. She had wanted to ask this from the beginning, but felt it was too much. After all, not many people in the Elven Empire wanted to share their knowledge of the subject.

" Thank you, Master. " - Caera regained the golden glow in eyes.

" So, which element do you have problems with? " - Ramiel shifted into a more comfortable position. After two hours of sitting, his legs became a bit stiff.

" With space Master. I study space. " - The elfess lowered her head in embarrassment.

Huh? Did I hear that right? - Ramiel was puzzled.

The former hunter's reaction is understandable. The element of space is one of the most difficult to understand. It stands on a level with gravity and necromancy.

It gives way only to life, death, and time, at least of those known to Ramiel.

" Huh, I must admit that you aim high. In my world, only five people have studied the element of space. " - Ramiel expressed sincere praise. He had suspected that the elfess was a wolf in sheep's clothing, but now he was sure. From now on, he began to see her in a different light.

" I - I'm asking too much ? " - The elfess stuttered, which amused the former hunter.

" No, there is nothing wrong with ambition. Besides, you couldn't have come at a better time. " - Ramiel took a short pause, bring a modest note of mystery to the atmosphere. " Apparently, of all five, I was the best. Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, after my death, most of the skills were blocked. However, the knowledge still remained. "

Ramiel pointed eloquently to his temple.

Caera frowned, focusing on the least important part of the man's statement.

" Ma - Master died? How did it happen ? " - The elfess howled.

Ramiel sighed heavily, accidentally letting out a bit of icy aura.

" This... I don't want to talk about it. " There was a heavy, awkward silence in the air. Caera turned green with fear. She realized she had crossed the line but couldn't even apologize. A lump formed in her throat, blocking any words from the elfess.

" Forget about it. " - Ramiel waved a hand, dispelling the grave silence. " We should focus on your understanding of space. "

Caera nodded nervously. She still couldn't get a word out.

" Before we start, you need to know something. The understanding of each element varies from person to person. All I can do is share my knowledge on the subject and help solve some problems, but the rest is up to you. "

"If you hear a strange word, don't hesitate to ask about it. I often give complicated phenomena their names. It's easier for me that way. "

Ramiel found approval in Caera's eyes and began.

" Space is one of the most difficult elements to understand, but it is also one of the most powerful."

" Teleportation, spatial cutting, transferring a small part of the body to a sub-dimension of space, all this and much more is possible thanks to it. "

" In my opinion, the element of space has a strong connection with the element of gravity, but I haven't yet proven it. I may be wrong, but I will continue to research in this direction. "

" Maybe we can start with something simple. What do you mean by the word space? " - Ramiel asked, forcing Caera to think. There was silence for a few minutes, but the man was patient. He didn't rush or pressure the woman.

" Space is everything, or rather, everything is in space. Mana, energy, life, death, the stars in the sky. " - Caera broke through.

" All this and much more occupies a certain place in space. Without it, nothing could exist. It would shatter into infinite pieces until there would be nothing left. "

Ramiel listened carefully to the woman, then spoke up.

" You aren't wrong. However, let me help you. Don't limit space to just one plane. Imagine two spheres circling side by side. "

Ramiel created them using the element of darkness.

" Now imagine that there are others around them, and so forth. Try to encompass it all in one giant sphere and then another. Now imagine that we live in such a sphere within a sphere. Wouldn't we have the ability to create an even smaller sphere within a sphere? "

A fleeting flash of understanding ran through Caera's golden eyes. The elfess had just experienced enlightenment.

" This is... "

" Alright, you can go now, that should be enough for now. " - Ramiel stated.

" Thank you, Master. " - Caera humbly bowed her head and left. A million ideas and thoughts about space were running through her head. If she tried, she might be able to reach a higher threshold.

Ramiel, seeing the departing elfess with her head in the clouds, smiled in spirit. Other than him, he hadn't seen anyone who grasped the element of space so quickly.

The woman must have had some talent. Properly guided... she would be a powerful weapon.