44 Return
He would rather bring the information back to the outpost and then to his faction. He threw another fireball the size of a ping pong ball into the corpse of the wolf just for good measure. He wasn't sure if he wanted to try and burn the flower with a spell but quickly decided against it.
It had taken over a low-level beast and it must be able to do the same to Leo.
One thing that remained on his mind as he returned to report was the fact that his spell was somehow stronger than the technique's manual description. Although, he had followed the instructions for the technique, it had more oomph behind it.
A ping pong ball sized attack for rapid fire and tennis sized attacks to give it more power, still this was already on the level of mid-level spells if not higher. Maybe it had something to do that he understood the laws behind the techniques, he questioned himself.
Obviously, his mentor had already informed him that understanding a law would be for levels of the Archmages and that he should just keep doing what he was doing and not worry about it for now, but she also informed him that she wasn't the highest achievable level.
Leo knew that to advance one needed to have a deeper understanding of the world and of oneself, so understanding and recreating the law couldn't be the end of the road.
After Leo handed over the mission to his factions, he was dismissed for another member of Arcanum to take over. The member had a dark blue robe, so he was either a complete mid-level or was one rank into the high level, either way he was more experienced than Leo and was more able to handle whatever flower Leo had found.
He even got some extra credit which was enough for him to learn a spell from the electricity and space branch. It would take some more credit for a time spell, but Leo could afford to wait.
There was still another 3 months until he would return with his girls to earth. They were also busy with their faction and the tasks they needed to complete. Leo had sparred with them from time to time and if he didn't challenge them on their expertise, he was able to defeat them quite easily.
Laura's fire moves combined with her sword that she bought were quite devastating. Leo could somewhat replicate them, but he was more limited to the spell types while her every move could be supplemented with her fire power.
Shunlei's stealth techniques and Sarah's healing wasn't something Leo could easily imitate as Arcanum was more prone to destructive spells. There was some support spells Leo saw on the higher-level shelves, but they were still out of Leo's price range.
The next few months Leo spent with learning new spells and advancing to the next level. He also tried to get a deeper understanding of the laws, to see what exactly made them up and he wasn't without success.
As for his mind and awareness, Leo didn't even realize he broke through to the next level until his mentor mentioned it to him.
It was like there were no roadblocks that normal cultivators would encounter on their journey. Leo knew that they needed a revelation and perceive the world differently if they wanted to advance, but Leo never encountered something similar to the things he read in the cultivation manuals, since his understanding was already up in the higher levels.
He just needed to wait for the accumulation of mind energy to reach the appropriate level.
He had asked his mentor about it just to be sure, but she smiled bitterly and only said if he didn't encounter difficulties than he shouldn't complain about it and just appreciate it for now.
Although, she didn't say so specifically, but Leo knew that for the Archmage levels or the level beyond, he would probably be stuck there for a while if he didn't deepen his knowledge about the laws.
Additionally, he would sharpen his mind and his body with regular missions that became increasingly more difficult. It was to the point that the missions were meant for members a level higher than Leo's.
However, since he had yet to fail his missions, he was permitted for missions one level higher than he should theoretically be able to handle. A demonstration of his spells power all the complaints were silenced, and he was taking missions in the middle to high levels.
He earned quite the reputation among the members of the branch near Northpass. After his initiation time was over, he would need to move to another branch near the frontline to prove himself in the fire of war, but before he applied to be stationed there he would return.
After the promised 4 months, the 4 met up in Northpass again and headed back home. The transition through the world gap to earth wasn't as bad as the first time. Since they could somewhat shield themselves with their anima. Leo even had a small epiphany as well.
It was only after arriving on earth that they felt some unpleasantness. The earth's will was rejecting the anima inside their body and drained them of their strength. It hit Leo the most since he had accumulated the most anima.
Fortunately, the earth's will wasn't as hard on Leo's mind as it was on the girls. Maybe something to do with Leo's mind not coming from this earth, though it didn't completely exempt him from the pressure earth released.
Although it hated the natives for 'abandoning' it, it still didn't like outsiders from other worlds. Leo was half an outsider and half a native, so it seemed like the will was more lenient to Leo.
They felt how their strength was being sapped out of their body, but it wasn't something they couldn't solve with enough food.
After getting their stuff from the safe that the organization used to preserve their stuff from the hotel, they made their way to the airport. They already threw away the invitation letter as their emails were added to the Orbis newsletter.
Other than news it also informed them where to find a portal back to Orbis since the location would move on earth. It had to do something about the shenanigans of the places between the worlds.
Either way, they decided to go wherever they wanted as they had announced to their friends that they would be travelling for two years, so they had enough time to kill until they would return.
They decided to first visit all the Asian countries before going on a Europe trip and ending it with flying to America and then back to Canada.
After China they went to visit South Korea before flying to Japan next. In each country they would visit the major tourist spots, though they also tried to see some sights that weren't commonly seen on tourists' lists. The sights were usually recommended by the locals.
It was difficult for the 4 to be understood since they weren't speaking the languages but thank God for google translator which made the trip possible.
They were probably ripped off from back to front but to the disagreement of his girlfriends since Leo could swim in money, he didn't really care too much about it. After Japan they visited the Philippines and Thailand and any other country on the way.
Afterwards they visited all the European countries as a road trip. Taking all the sights earth had to offer was breath taking to say the least as well as the ancient buildings the Asian and European countries had to offer.
Leo especially enjoyed the cold places in the northern countries, but as the time seemed to fly by Leo found himself returning to America. Starting from the bottom in Panama then all the way up through Mexico and the United States to return to Canada.
Leo and his company first visited his parents to announce their return. They were overjoyed that he returned after almost two years. Even his little sister Rosy didn't hold back her joy. She had been a little bit rebellious before he left but seeing her and his parents so full of joy to see him warmed his heart.
It wasn't the thrill that he so desperately sought after, now he knew that he always feels the happiest when he just spent time with the people he loved. He couldn't wait to see his pals.
He messaged them after he went to his home a few streets away from his parent's house and unpacked his stuff and the little souvenirs he bought from around the world. Most stuff he had sent his parents but some stuff he had taken with him.
His girlfriends also met up with their parents, so Leo was alone for a bit in his room as he messaged all his friends to hash out the finer details for their little get-together.
The doorbell suddenly rang. Leo put away his phone and quickly headed to the front door. After opening the door Lenny tackled Leo into a hug before picking him up, while laughing out loud. "It's good to see you! Man did you get fat or something?!" He said as he put Leo back down before grasping his shoulders.
Leo rolled his eyes but couldn't help but have a smile creep on his face. Leo quickly ushered him inside.
"Missed me so much that you couldn't wait for the weekend?" Leo asked teasingly. They already planned to meet up with their friends in a restaurant to catch up.
"Can't I visit my best friend?" Lenny asked with a smile on his face.
"Yeah, yeah. You only want to empty my fridge." Leo said before handing Lenny a beer from said fridge which Lenny happily accepted.
"So how are things with Rosy?" Leo asked already knowing the answer. Rosy was a bit hesitant when she announced that she wanted to talk with him later. It had to be something heavy on her heart that she couldn't just come out with it the first chance she got.
"Great. I- you know how I feel about her…" Lenny said nervously but still held his eye contact with Leo. Leo grasped his shoulder.
"Don't worry, you have my blessing, and I am feeling generous right now, so you won't get any shovel talk from me." Lenny sighed out in relief before smiling at Leo's joke to release some tension.
"Thank you. I mean it." Lenny said solemnly before he continued seriously, "There is another thing I wanted to tell you. I discovered something that I am sure you are eager to know about."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I stumbled over it shortly after you went on your trip. You could say I discovered a whole new world." Lenny smiled mysteriously, at least he attempted to, but since Leo could guess what he discovered it took the mysteriousness right out of it.
"You mean you discovered Orbis?" Leo answered casually as he brought his beer to his lips and turned on the tv.
"Yes! That's right I disco- Di-did you just ask if I discovered Orbis?" Lenny froze for a bit before he stared at Leo disbelievingly.
"Yep. I spent a few months there with the girls before returning for our world trip." That seemed to have broken Lenny for a while as he continued to stumble over his word as he tried to say something.
"I can't believe it! How?! When?!"
Leo laughed at him for a bit as it looked like Lenny was about to pull out his hairs, but as benevolent as he was, he recounted his little trip to the other world.
"So, for that was the invitation." Lenny said with wide eyes as all the puzzles finally formed a picture for him. He had already wondered why no one of the group had messaged him the first half year into their trip.
He had expected the worse back then and he would have gone to search them if it weren't for Leo's previous message not to worry about them just before radio silence.
They talked deep into the night until Leo's girlfriends came back. The following day Lenny and Rosy officially announced their relationship that their parents already were aware off and received the congratulations from the others.
Rosy was especially relieved about it as she was afraid that Leo didn't approve of them. Leo could be protective from time to time, but she wasn't a child anymore and Leo knew Lenny better than almost anyone else.
After getting the heavy stuff out of the way Rosy couldn't stop telling Leo about the new games of her otome series that were published in the last two years, which Leo valiantly endured.
On the weekend he met up with his other friends. Jack and Bella's relationship were still going strong, and they were already trying for a child. Honestly, it was an information that he didn't wanted to know. It was the same as if Jack said that he was having a lot of cream pies lately. He was happy for them, though.
After all the catching up, their lives started to normalize a bit again, though in 11 days Leo's birthday was coming up and Leo still needed to talk with his family and friends about moving towards Orbis.
He wanted to travel Orbis with Lenny as well. Lenny was excited as well as he had yet to be invited, but with Leo vouching for him, it would be easy for him to come with.
Strangely, Lenny had straightforwardly said that he wouldn't want to stay there for too long and that Leo shouldn't either, at least for the next decade. Considering Lenny's serious face at that time, Leo couldn't help but agree to it.
