10

Regala let me think about that for a little while. I was glad she did. The implications of what would happen if I came up against a domination level caster were dire. I'd only reached the fusion stage of one of my elements, and while that did increase my strength in that element it didn't make me invincible.

"Now to begin the exercises," Regala clapped her hands together.

Snapping me out of my thoughts.

"First I will show you a common affinity strengthening exercise," Regala held her hand out.

Creating a single dot of flame above her hand. It was about the size of a baseball. Then she created a second smaller ball of fire. This second one rotated around the first.

"This exercise is simple, but difficult," Regala added a third ball small ball of flame.

This third one rotated around the original ball of fire twice for each time the first rotating one went around once.

"You create a sun in the middle of the rotations," Regala started explaining, "The first rotates around the sun once each cycle. The second rotates twice each cycle. The third rotates three times each cycle. You keep adding another planet after planet. Each new one rotating faster with each cycle." The whole time she was talking she added more, and more small balls of fire, "You've failed the exorcise when one or more of the planets collide, or if the rotations aren't fast enough."

By the time she finished talking she was manipulating nearly fifty small balls of fire. The fastest one was rotating so fast it was hard for me to track with my eyes.

"This exorcise applies to all elements," Regala stopped manipulating the fire, and it dropped out of existence, "Now on to artificially creating elemental crystals."

I was still stuck on the exercise she just showed me. She snapped her fingers in front of me. Drawing my attention back to her.

"Elemental crystals can only be created by concentrated elemental mana," Regala showed me a stream of lightning focusing it into one place.

She didn't allow the lightning to expand any bigger then a quarter. Yet she kept on pouring lightning into that one spot. Forcing it to compress into a space no bigger then a quarter. Until the spark of lightning vanished, and was replaced with a golden crystal that looked like lightning was sparking within. Regala had cut off the flow of lightning the instant the lightning turned into a solid crystal.

It looked remarkably similar to some of the cores we pulled from beasts. This one was more jagged around the edges in nature.

"Can I see that?" I reached for the crystal.

"It's not a true elemental crystal," Regala handed it over casually, "This is how an artificial one is created. This one is nothing but a figment of your imagination."

I closed my eyes, and tried to focus on the feel of the crystal so I'd know what it would feel like when I created my own elemental crystal. Then a thought occurred to me.

"That exercise won't work for space, gravity or time," I looked at her.

"The only way to improve those elements is to use them," Regala shrugged, "Use them a lot."

"Do you have a plan in mind?" I asked her.

"I want you to use the exercise for at least an hour a day in all your elements," she announced, "After you create a lightning elemental crystal every morning."

"Everyday?" I didn't know if I could actually manage the dedication she was asking of me.

Chances are the same exercises would help Savannah, and Jax as well. Savannah was the type that could keep me on track with the lesson plan Regala put in front of me.

"What am I supposed to do with the elemental crystals I create?" I asked.

"Throw them in a bag," Regala smiled, "Save them for when you want to advance your elemental fusion."

"That's it?" I straightened.

"What did you expect?" Regala raised her brow at me.

"Something more complex then save it for later," I frowned.

"You need the equivalent of a hundred of these lesser elemental crystals to advance your elemental fusion," she stated bluntly, "Even more if all you can create is a poor elemental crystal. Natural ones are more effective when it comes to advancing a natural element, but natural lightning crystals are incredibly rare. With how mana scarce earth is I doubt there are any left that you could use."

"So I'll have to do all the legwork, and not rely on a lucky find," I sighed as I started trying to do the exercise Regala showed me using water.

I could get to five before the planets went out of control. Bursting as they slammed into each other. I kept doing it over, and over again until I was beyond frustrated. Switching to another element to try again. Thinking it might be a little easier.

"How do you use this exercise with wind?" I grumbled, "It's not as if I can see the wind."

"You use dust," Regala deadpanned with an expression that reminded me of a strict teacher about to reprimand me for being an idiot, "If you make proper pockets of air, then any dust or debris that gets caught in them should stay in them."

I kept on going. Anytime I got distracted or tried to get out of doing the exercise she'd glare at me until I got back to work. Sure I needed to get stronger as fast as possible, but that didn't mean I had to become obsessed with training like a few fantasy characters I knew. Regala was insistent, and taking a break wasn't allowed. By the time I woke up I had a pounding headache, and wished with every fiber of my being that I would actually sleep tonight instead of going to the inner world.

Cruel fate made the rest of me feel as if I'd gotten plenty of sleep, and falling back asleep wasn't an option. I scanned my mental connection to my bonded to see where they were right quick before making my way outside to where Savannah was discussing something with someone. I recognized the camera girl as soon as I stepped outside, and suppressed a self satisfied smirk. She was actually dressed nicely with a plain sky blue dress, and some nice black heeled shoes. Not the ridiculous heels either.