Cal should have returned to his field as quickly as possible, but he spent the trip back trying to turn his earth-sensing gimmick into an actual spell.
What he had done to initially detect the mana residue was a very crude modification of an early, single step to cast [Earth Barrier].
He would need something more efficient and purposeful to consider it an entire spell. At least, for him to consider it a spell worthy enough to name.
There were Initiates that modified small steps of established spells to get a slightly different result and then named it. While it technically wasn’t wrong, it was mainly based on the level of affinity in an element and intuition that caused the change. Most never went past that to get repeatable results when ‘casting.’
If a ‘spell’ didn’t have the same result when the creator cast it, how could it be possible for others to replicate it? The simple answer was they couldn’t.
Cal had a fairly complicated goal for the spell he was trying to create. Instead of being able to vaguely sense mana residue when it was concentrated, he wanted to be able to follow even the thinnest trace possible. If a being with mana walked on the ground days ago, he wanted to be able to sense that after casting the spell.
He couldn’t rely on his high-earth affinity for something so complex. He would need to know the intricate details of the ground or surface he targeted—the composition and much more— so he could see even the slightest changes that weren’t natural.
Cal knew that was easier said than done. It might require weeks or months of research for something that was ultimately just a mediocre spell. However, he had bigger plans in the future.
If he was able to become skilled enough to tell apart the most minute changes in the ground, the things he could do to help his farming gave him a pleasurable shudder by simply thinking of the possibility.
She was lying down most of the time.
His lips twitched in amusement when Nibbles darted her eyes around. As he got closer, she tried to subtly shift her body to erase the evidence of the outline. She failed, but she did try.
“I tried to track the wolf into the woods, but I didn’t get far,” Cal informed Nibbles, who was giving him her utmost attention. “I have something I want you to do, but before that, if you get into a fight with this wolf, who will win?”
He had just been asking as a formality and didn’t think much of the question. Then Nibbles gave him a shrug of her tiny shoulders. He didn’t expect that.
“… I’m guessing your retreat wasn’t just because Seris was there,” Cal winced when Nibbles nodded. “Fine, you might be evenly matched with the wolf. What’s your chance of escaping?”
Nibbles finally perked up at this. She gave him a confident nod.
“Great! Could you find where this wolf is? Or the wolf pack. Either one is fine with me.”
Nibbles looked around the field and looked reluctant to agree. He was about to bribe her with treats when she finally nodded in agreement.
“Wait here,” Cal went to the storage room and brought out two tubs of powdered crystals. He could see her eyes locked onto the tubs. “This is thanks for taking care of Seris.”
Nibbles thanked him solemnly before practically diving into the tubs he held in his hands. She downed the powdered crystals within a few seconds before stumbling around slightly with a dopey smile.
Cal was disappointed that he didn’t get to see that ridiculously loud burp leave her tiny body, but that was made up for when her coat became more lustrous than before. Of course, it was barely noticeable, and he had only seen it since he was looking for a change.
“Can you communicate with the wolves?” Cal asked when Nibbles didn’t seem as dazed. The response he received was encouraging. “Good. Let them know that I want to speak to them. And they will be unharmed if they agree to meet me.”
Nibbles blinked slowly before suddenly looking extremely unhappy at his request. He didn’t have the chance to investigate before she gave him a curt nod and disappeared by drilling a hole into the ground.
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so… free with her negative emotions. My request shouldn’t have drawn her ire.
Cal could only assume that Nibbles hated the idea of speaking to the wolves. He thought that was an over-the-top reaction, but it could have something to do with her species.
“At least she agreed,” Cal muttered, returning to the storage room. He moved twenty tubs of powdered crystals out into the open, stacking them near the edge of the field.
If Nibbles couldn’t get it done, this would act as bait for the hungry beasts. He doubted they would attempt to get close to his field after what happened last time, but hungry animals didn’t have limits on what they were willing to do to get sustenance.
Cal wasn’t sure what he was going to do with the wolves in the end. He would keep his word and let them leave unharmed if they accepted Nibbles’s message, but what would happen after would depend on how the talks went.
The simplest solution was to get rid of the pack and be done with it. He would have been more than willing to do exactly that a few weeks ago, but after experiencing the human-like intelligence Nibbles possessed, he didn’t think he was capable of such action.
At least not without cause.
The vague memory of the massacre that might happen in the future was not enough.
Cal left the tubs behind and prepared to start his work for the day. He took his rake out of the storage room, hung it on his back strap, and began to empty the tubs of loam over the soil.
He could feel the pull of his trance state falling over his mind, but he purposefully kept it at bay. He wanted to use this as an opportunity to try to gain control over the odd state of mind. There were well over two acres of soil to repair over the next few days, and it would be the best way to test whether such a thing was even possible.
Hours passed as he turned the tubs of loam onto the soil and then raked them into a roughly flat surface. The last of the loam was emptied, and around five thousand square feet of soil was covered. That was a success, but unfortunately, he had made zero progress in modifying his trance state.
Cal sighed as he looked at his interface. His rake had degraded to a lower quality and had also upgraded to the next rank. However, he had set it aside since the option he would pick was too obvious.
[Uncommon Rake] has degraded to Average Quality.
Your equipment [Uncommon Rake] has been upgraded to [Advanced Rake].
Equipment upgrade has activated an ability of [Farmer (Special)].
You will have two options for the alternate [Advanced Rake]’s trait.
Equipment trait choices available. Choose one.
He ignored the choices and tapped the ‘self-repair’ option for the rake. He pulled up tasks that he had completed for it.
[Advanced Rake: Average Quality] Upgrade: 487/4000 Tasks
Completing tasks on the rake was excruciatingly slow compared to his other equipment. It was actually a relief when he saw that ‘self-repair’ was a trait option, so he wouldn’t need to go through the headache of upgrading another rake.
The process wasn’t as simple as finding a rock to break up for the pickaxe. He would need to actually have a plot of land that needed the raking and then deal with the pain of completing the tasks. A task with an average of ten or so square feet.
Cal hung the rake on his back strap and moved closer to his house. The area he covered with loam was at the back of his field. There was a small separation between the soil he had just covered with loam and the soil already growing crops. It wasn’t intentional, but he liked the idea of having separate pieces of land growing crops at different stages.
He thought it might make things a little easier when it came time for harvest… or it might make it more difficult.
I should speak to an Initiate, an actual farmer, instead of bumbling through it. At least, this is very early on in the process.
Cal raised his palm to point above the loam-covered soil and cast [Rainfall].
He didn’t spare any mana and pumped everything he could into the spell. He covered all of the five thousand square foot area with one large cloud—which was the easy part. The rain started to fall on the loam, darkening it slightly with every drop, and he could feel his mana emptying with every raindrop.
Cal had put his hopes on his mana’s increased efficiency along with his experience with the spell to carry him towards success, and he was right to do so. His non-essential mana reserves dropped to near zero, but he successfully watered the entire area at once.
The smile on his lips only grew when the interface appeared.
Your [Secondary Tier] has increased by 1 level.
He was at this level as a [Mage] in his first life. It felt surreal that he was breezing through the levels now, but knew it was all due to the effects of his [Primary Class]. There was no doubt that it would severely slow down the closer [Mage] got to [Farmer] in terms of the [Tier] level.
Still, he was only three levels away from becoming an Apprentice [Mage]. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of skill options would be offered.
Cal observed the loam-covered soil until he noticed the telltale sign of a slight glow. The first step was complete.
There were still a few hours left until sunset, not that he intended to stop his work then. He just expected Tavia to return before that time, and he couldn’t deny that he was curious about why she abruptly rushed off to Silverpine.
While he waited, Cal decided to fill the hearthstone to pass the time. There was nothing else he could do that he considered more productive. Especially since he had early thoughts on using the hearthstone and its overkill mana storage capability as a possible backup to test [Mist Walker].