43 Elf

Celes: "Teacher! What are we learning today?"

Jim: "Mm, today...we will improve your mind."

Celes: "My...mind?"

Jim: "Yes, come sit over here, follow my instruction exactly."

Jim wanted to see if Serene Mind would still have the mental improvement effect even if the user couldn't cultivate. He was prepared to give her Focus and Mechanized Brain to make up for it in case it failed. The meditation would serve as a cover for the sudden mental increase in that case too.

After a few hours, it was clear nothing was happening. 'Oh well...' Celes suddenly jerked around at the sudden sensation of her mind expanding, he had just given both of the skills.

Celes: "Teacher! This is amazing!"

Jim: "Mm, go grab a book, focus on it entirely, tell me the results."

A few minutes later, Celes came back more excited than he had ever seen her. "Amazing, too amazing!"

Jim: "You must not teach this to anyone, it is a hidden technique."

Celes: "Yes, teacher!"

'Well, not like it would do anything if you tried, you'd just make a fool of yourself.'

Gaius had sent for him, heading into his chambers Jim could tell the old man's health was visibly improved since their first meeting.

Gaius: "I'm glad you have come, there is a certain matter I would trouble you with, if you were to accept."

Jim: "Mm? Depends on the contents, please explain first."

Gaius: "Right, our neighbor to the north, the Elven nation of Verdana, has run into a problem. They were somewhat vague in the communication, but have requested for aid from the surrounding lands. I would like for you to accompany Celes as Amgula's representative in this matter. Of course, I will not have you work for free, you will be heavily rewarded."

Jim: "I can only promise to investigate, there are some things beyond my capabilities after all."

Gaius: "That is good enough, I ask that the two of you set off by tomorrow. We will send a full envoy along."

Jim: "No need, we'll reach faster with less people, Celes has toughened up enough to take on basic monsters. I'll handle the rest, don't worry."

Gaius: "Wha-! She has improved that much in such a short span of time?"

Jim nodded and excused himself, he went to Celes' room. Knocking for a second, he opened the door. The place was a mess, hundreds of books were scattered all over the floor. 'Ah, this is nostalgic.'

Jim: "Celes, get dressed, we're heading to Verdana."

Celes: "Teacher? Um, this is...wait, Verdana? Why?"

Jim: "I'll explain on the way, come on."

After she was ready, they met in the training grounds.

Jim: "Okay, climb on my back."

Celes: "T-teacher?"

Jim: "Do it."

Celes: "Okay..."

Giving Celes a piggyback ride, Jim gave her a warning.

Jim: "Hold on tight. Keep your mouth closed so you don't bite your tongue, got it?"

Celes: "O-okay...?"

Circulating Surging Thunder Steps, they rocketed away from the city at tremendous speeds. Jim made sure to give Celes Nausea and Fear Resistance skills, he didn't want a bunch of puke on his back. Checking the route with Detection, it only took two hours before they had reached the Verdana capital. Jim didn't want to waste time going through checkpoints and whatnot, they had been called for after all.

Celes: "Teacher, amazing! When will I learn to do that?"

Jim: "It may take a long time."

The actual answer was never, but Jim didn't want to destroy her hopes after seeing Celes working so hard.

Walking forward a bit, Jim took in the architecture. He had expected treehouses and rope bridges between them, but it was yet more stonework. 'The difference between expectations and reality, huh...'

Looking at the people, all the men were handsome pretty boys, all the women were beautiful. He couldn't spot a single ugly or even plain face among them, it was like a supermodel convention was going on.

Everyone around was perfectly slim too. 'Do they have mandatory fitness routines? Maybe Elven metabolism is different from humans. Well, that place lacks weight too.' Jim had recently seen a lot of anime and manga where the elven girls had huge racks, but every lady here was washboard flat.

'Wood Elves, Dark Elves, Blood Elves, there are so many variations, I wonder how different their physical make-up would actually be from each other.' Jim felt it was rude to examine the internal organs of random people with Detection, he had to stifle his anatomical curiosity.

Celes had been here before for diplomatic reasons, he felt it best to follow her lead. The building she led him to was only slightly larger than the surrounding shops, he felt it strange for this to be the seat of power. Weird thoughts ran through Jim's head about the White House only being as large as a pawn shop.

Celes: "Talia!"

An elf with pale grey skin stopped walking and turned to look. "Celes? What are you doing here?"

Celes: "We came as Amgula's representatives. This is my teacher, Jim Garrett."

Talia: "Nice to meet you, Jim. I am Talia Rorchid, aide to Governor Tamslad."

Jim nodded, "We heard you were having some trouble?"

Talia: "Yes, an unusual number of Undead have been pouring out of the Valask Crypt to the north. While they aren't strong, the nearly constant stream of enemies is troubling."

Talia: "Wait, we weren't expecting anyone to arrive for several days, how are you already here? And why didn't I receive a report that you were coming?"

Celes: "Teacher is very fast!"

Talia: "That doesn't really explain anything..."