Shada had received a Compendium of minor material spells covering the four categories of Material Mastery: conjuring, banishing, manipulation/movement, and shaping. This had greatly accelerated his understanding and enabled him to unlock the Material Mastery Skill sooner than expected. With examples and Essence Perception really helped. Without Essence Perception giving him an unfair advantage he had no idea how long the Skill would have taken to develop.

  Skills had benefits compared to Spells. They were more flexible, versatile, and once acquired easier to use. Spells were more efficient, precise, and easier to learn in many ways. His two Mastery Skills were abilities normally reserved for those that spent decades or centuries honing their craft.

  The problem for Shada was he had more Skills than levels. He also lacked the necessary experience to fully utilize what he did have. He had Mastery Skills, but no actual skill mastery. He didn't know how long it would take for his skill and Skills to match.

  Today was a day of experimentation for Shada. He was in the Mound and taking another day off from the Clinic. Of course if he was needed Shinobin could just tell Luca and Shada would know as soon as Luca did. Luca had actually figured out how to summon Shada just by thinking loudly enough. When he did that Shada couldn't ignore the stream of consciousness from his other self.

  “Ok, Raelis please take notes. I need to get a better idea of what I can do with the Skills I have. With my new independence I can travel, explore, and maybe even work with a Delve team, but I don't know my own limits. I am going to start with Psychokinesis.” Shada said decisively.

  “What is your current Skill level in Psychokinesis, master Shada?” Raelis asked politely.

  “It's…hmmm…that’s strange. I don't have the Psychokinesis Skill anymore, but that makes no sense. I have been using it daily.” Shada mused aloud.

  “Ah, you finally received the Material Mastery Skill if I am not mistaken, master Shada…” Raelis said in a leading manner.

  “Yes, but what does…oh I see. Psychokinesis was essentially just a form of force conjuring. It must have been subsumed by the higher ranked Skill…hmmm, I guess that means starting with Material Mastery instead.” Shada said.

  “It would appear so, master Shada.” Raelis replied.

  “Ok, this workroom has a series of weights and I have plenty of Crystals to refresh my Essence pool.” Shada said. Again thinking out loud.

  The weights ranged in size from a few ounces to several hundred pound stone blocks. So, Shada started lifting weights. The smaller weights moved easily with minimal force and Essence required. The larger weights of course required more force, which required more Essence to produce, but it wasn't linear. As the weights got larger and the force needed greater, Shada began having control issues. He had honed his ability to control minute amounts of force over the past year, but it appeared he lacked large scale control. He could lift hundreds of pounds briefly by using most of his Essence, but it wobbled and jerked in the air.

  “Master Shada, might I make a suggestion? You are limiting yourself by using force to move stone weights. You have Material Mastery not Force Mastery. Move the stone directly with Essence resonance via the Manipulation component of the Material Mastery Skill.” Raelis said and interrupted Shada's practice.

  “True, but would it make any real difference? I have to use Essence to control the force after all, which I then use to move the stone.“ Shada asked curiously.

  “It is a simple matter of complexity and synergy. If you focus on the Essence your Essence Mastery and Material Mastery Skills will both be helping to lift the stone without the need to also control force, master Shada.” Shada often wondered just how much Raelis knew. His insights were endlessly valuable after all.

  “Ok, that does make sense.” Shada said. He then returned to his tests using the new technique.

  His maximum weight and control both increased. However, Shada started having trouble reconciling what he was doing magically with what he knew to be true under normal physics.

  “I am missing something. Shouldn't the amount of Essence be the same if the end results are the same?” Shada asked his demonic assistant and tutor.

  “Master Shada, I believe you are making multiple erroneous assumptions in order to pose that question. Conjuring takes more Essence than Manipulation. It involves Etheric Resistance theory, but it is the difference between pulling a stone from a well and pulling a stone across the room. Then there is Skill vs Spell efficiency issue.” Raelis explained.

  “I can see how that makes sense. So if I understand things then, in terms of Essence used, a Spell would be the most efficient since Spells tend to be more efficient than Skills?” Shada asked curiously.

  “I apologize for the continued correction, but again not truly correct, young master Shada. Spells would be the most efficient use of Personal Essence for moving a stone, but Spells affect and use ambient Essence to work. So the total Essence used is actually greater. Skills only use Personal Essence and do so quite efficiently, but use more than a Spell. However, the main benefit is that they are always faster. Spells require words, gestures, and Spell forms or some combination thereof to work. It is the difference between telling someone to do a task and simply doing it yourself. However, there are so many other factors, like Skills and Stats, that come into play that the arcane math gets complex fast.” Raelis said in full magic professor mode.

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  “Alright, so simply put I am not going to get any hard numbers without doing more calculations that practice yes?” Shada asked.

  “Yes, master Shada. That is correct.” Raelis replied with a slight sigh. “However, you can in general exert about 2-3 times the force a fit level 1 human could, based on your current status,” Raelis continued.

  “If you knew that, why did you let me bother with the testing?” Shada asked in exasperation.

  “It is not my place to tell you what to do with your time, master Shada.” The look and tone Raelis used made Shada think that Raelis wasn't over the accident with the Holy Essence.

  “I see. Ok, that is remarkably similar to what I would estimate someone with a Physical Stat of 20-30 to be capable of,” Shada said questionably.

  “It would depend on their physical fitness and if they have the Strength attribute, but the range is similar, yes. However, point for point Physical might beats Magical might in the arena of physical force master Shada. For obvious reasons.” Raelis answered the unspoken question.

  “Let's move on then. Are there guidelines for conjuring and banishing before I begin experimenting?” Shada asked.

  “There are in fact such guidelines, master Shada. Based on your stats you could conjure a small room worth of fresh air, a gallon of water, 5-10lbs of stone, or a couple loaves of Mage Bread. Each would take 100-200 Essence.” Raelis replied.

  “If mages can conjure that much food and water why are there farms and aqueducts?” Shada wondered aloud.

  “Essence has an unlimited number of uses. Purifying and transporting water is cheaper than Conjuring it. The same is true of growing food. Besides, Mage Bread is not nutritious enough for long term survival. Conjuring real food takes far too much Essence.” Raelis explained.

  “So what do I need to focus on for combat?” Shada asked after thinking.

  “Master Shada, your entire Skill set is geared towards crafting and support, not combat. That is not to say you can't conjure a stone to fall on someone or a flame to set them a light, but there are Spells to do that better.” Raelis responded in exasperation.

  “Then what would you suggest, master Raelis?” Shada responded sarcastically.

  “Use the resources at your disposal to continue to learn, practice, and grow stronger in a safe environment. As far as I know nothing urgent is preventing you from doing that, master Shada.” Raelis answered.

  “I know, but I am growing restless. There is an entire world out there to experience. I want to see what it has to offer now! Not when Luca is old enough to adventure, in a couple decades.” Shada said with a mental sigh.

  “In that case, master Shada. Might I suggest finding a Delver that would be willing to pass you off as a familiar? I am sure your family could assist in that regard. Though be sure to get a strong confidentiality contract. I did something similar in my own past as a demonic Spirit.” Raelis recommended.

  Shada thought to himself. Could he do that? Be a fake, but not actually fake familiar? He was a Spirit. Technically he was his own familiar or rather Luca’s, but Luca wouldn't need a familiar for years. How would they go about finding someone willing?

  These and many other questions churned through his mind as he contemplated what he learned today.

  —

  “What do you mean you want to become someone’s familiar? That is…that is actually not a Bad idea, but it is definitely strange…” Shinobin trailed off in thought.

  “I can move around freely now. I can return to Luca with a thought at need. Finally I am bored.” Shada tried to justify his request.

  “You are only level 10, but then again Delvers start between levels 15 and 20, but still. You are, regardless of your mental age, only a year old in this world. Your experience is really limited and the world is vast and dangerous.” Shinobin said.

  “I can only gain experience via exposure. Besides, the more combat experience I get the better I can protect Luca when he is older.” Shada.

  “I like having you around. Especially after getting my privacy back. You do good things at the Clinic. You help save lives with your Holy Essence.” Shinobin said.

  “I know, but I can do both on different days. I need to know what is out there. I need to know what I can do outside of a workroom.” Shada said emphatically.

  “I am not even sure where to begin. Delvers go looking for familiars not the other way around. I suppose that is something we can talk with Mina about. She might have ideas as a former Delver, but as your mother I have conditions.” Shinobin declared firmly.

  “I am a grown man. I wasn't asking for permission.” Shada said in confusion and annoyance.

  “Shada, you are not a grown man in this world. You aren't even a man technically. You are a one year old Spirit. You are half of my flesh and blood child. What happens to you happens to him. So yes I have every right to set conditions.” Shinobin declared.

  It didn't take Shada long to come to the same conclusion. Rather than argue further he said, “You're right I wasn't thinking. That was actually rather selfish of me now that I consider it." Shada paused.

  "Can I be hurt as a Spirit? How? What would it be like?” Shada began thinking aloud.

  “Of course you can be hurt, damaged, imprisoned, bound, cursed, and any number of nasty things. Spirits can be killed, Shada.” Vanestra said upon catching Shada's questions as she entered the main room of the cottage. “What are you two discussing?”

  Shada filled Vanestra in on his and Shinobin's discussion.

  “That is a bizarre idea. I think Shinobin is right, there has to be conditions. Running around exploring while in a personal ward is one thing, but pretending to be a familiar and going on Delves is very different. You would have obligations to your team and couldn't just run away like you can while exploring.” Vanestra said after consideration.

  Shada wished their arguments weren't so logical.

  “Fine, I understand. What are the conditions?” Shada asked.

  “You need to learn the Manifest Spirit Skill from Raelis. While there are plenty of benefits to being invisible and intangible it is bad for communication and socialization. There are also certain wards that won't let you pass unless you manifest. Those wards would trap you and highlight your location anyhow. The Delver’s Guild has wards like that. No one likes invisible spies.” Vanestra said.

  “That makes a sort of sense. What else?” Shada said.

  “We would need to vet your partner and your team. You need to learn some combat and defense Spells. We will need to figure out how to fake a familiar contract. I am sure we will think of more things as we discuss the nuances.” Shinobin said as she considered the possibilities.

  Shada groaned internally. He was on a fantasy planet and he still had an overprotective mother, but family was like that.

  The continued discussing the details for several hours.