After Arthur heard Sellen's words, he also raised an eyebrow, looked at his teacher, and raised the blue scroll in his hand, saying, "Teacher Sellen, judging by your tone, I'm afraid you've already verified it? What's recorded on this isn't speculation, but actual data, right?"
He knew that with Sellen's personality, it was impossible for her to just leave theories unverified, otherwise she wouldn't be known as the "Witch" in Raya Lucarian Academy.
Indeed, Sellen not only didn't apologize but instead said smugly, "That's right, what's recorded here is the data of Elves using Glintstone Magic. But don't worry, I didn't make them try higher-level Glintstone Magic; I only taught them some of the most basic Glintstone Magic, which won't affect their life safety."
It was clear that Sellen also knew her obedient disciple's personality, so she reined herself in quite a bit when conducting the verification.
Arthur caught the word in Sellen's tone and asked, "Wait, 'them'? You found more than one Elf for the theoretical experiment?"
Sellen said as if it were obvious, "Isn't that natural? How can a single individual determine the universality of my verification? At least three or more individuals are needed for verification to avoid accidental occurrences."
Arthur sighed and said, "Next time you conduct this kind of experiment, remember to tell me. I can at least ensure the safety of the Elves if I'm present. Did you tell them about the potential dangers?"
Sellen shrugged, "I said it was just basic Glintstone Magic; even if it fails, it won't affect them. Of course, I also told them about the various possibilities of the test, and the Elves agreed after weighing the pros and cons themselves."
Arthur pursed his lips, "What did you tell the Elves?"
Sellen replied, "I just said directly that because the Dwarves couldn't learn it, I wanted to teach them some Glintstone Magic from your homeland to test if the Elves could learn it. They agreed very quickly."
Indeed, Teacher, you first mentioned that Dwarves couldn't do it, and then you mentioned that it was Glintstone Magic related to me. It would be strange if the Elves didn't agree.
Arthur sighed slightly in his heart and asked, "So what's the result? How many kinds of Glintstone Magic did the Elves learn?"
Sellen thought for a moment and said, "They both learned Starlight and Glintstone Pebble. I haven't taught them anything else yet."
Then Sellen's expression showed a strange emotion: "But there's one thing I don't understand: why did these Elves ask me if I could teach them Glintstone Magic that could be used in close combat... I'm not one of those battlefield fanatics from the Haima Classroom, so I just didn't teach them."
Arthur's expression was also quite something. He remembered that when he asked Fili and Kili, those two Dwarves also preferred Prayers that allowed for close combat.
People in Middle-earth must all be fanatical combat enthusiasts.
Although Arthur knew this was just a stereotype, he couldn't help but inwardly complain.
Sellen then took the blue scroll back from Arthur's hand and casually placed it on the table: "My dear disciple, are you free now? Just talking about it won't give you a clear picture. Your magical attainment is no lower than mine. Since you care so much about the safety of the Elves, then come with me to see them."
Arthur calculated that he had mostly finished his tasks for the day, so he smiled and nodded, "It looks like I'll be having lunch with my teacher today."
Both of them were people who would leave at a moment's notice. Arthur summoned Torrent, and he and Teacher Sellen rode together, arriving at the Elves' dwelling place without much delay.
Sellen sat behind Arthur, gently patted his shoulder, and then pointed forward, saying, "It's those three."
"You don't need to tell me, Teacher; I've already noticed."
Arthur looked at the three Elves, each with a sky-blue orb created by the Starlight Glintstone Magic hovering above their heads, reaching out to touch each other's heads. He couldn't help but feel that the elegant image of Elves in his mind was somewhat shattered.
The Elves gradually noticed Arthur's arrival and quickly walked over.
"Good afternoon, Lord Arthur, Lady Sellen." The leading Elf bowed gracefully.
Arthur waited for Sellen to dismount first, then returned the greeting while recalling Torrent into his whistle, saying, "Hello, I hope we haven't disturbed you."
The leading Elf's appearance was gender-neutral until he smiled and spoke, revealing him to be male.
He said, "I imagine you two are here at this time regarding my three compatriots learning Glintstone Magic, correct?"
Arthur nodded, "You guessed correctly. I'm quite concerned about any potential ill effects on their bodies after learning Glintstone Magic, and that's why I've come here with that concern."
"You are indeed very kind, Lord Arthur," the Elf said, calling out his compatriots' names, "Eileen, Cairn, Melshin, come here."
Actually, he didn't need to call them; two males and one female, these three Elves, already came over with blue orbs hovering over their heads.
Arthur looked at the Elves, who were gazing at him with respect, and wanted to say something, but he couldn't ignore the Starlight Glintstone Magic above their heads.
Moreover, the light emitted by the Starlight Glintstone Magic had dyed their faces and golden long hair a deep blue, which looked somewhat comical.
"Uh... could you please cancel this Glintstone Magic effect first?" Arthur finally rubbed his forehead and asked.
The three Elves exchanged glances, then raised their hands and waved, and the magical light above their heads disappeared.
Arthur was somewhat surprised by this sight because the three Elves had empty hands and were not holding any staves for casting.
He glanced at Teacher Sellen, who smiled and said to him, "That's why I wanted you to see for yourself."
Arthur temporarily suppressed the questions in his mind and invited the three Elves, "Let's find an open area, and you can demonstrate your Glintstone Magic for me to see."
Behind the Elves' dwellings was an open and lush grassy area. Arthur stood behind the house, watching the three Elves intently.
As they simply raised their hands, faint blue light began to gather in their palms, and Glintstone Pebbles appeared and flew out, leaving trails of elegant wisps.
They can really cast without a staff?
Arthur's expression became exceptionally vivid; this somewhat shattered his worldview.
However, Arthur quickly came to terms with it. After all, this was another world, and it was normal for there to be phenomena he had never seen before.
More than their ability to cast without a staff, Arthur was more concerned about their feelings after casting Glintstone Magic.
"Do you feel any discomfort in your bodies? For example, do you feel an extra drain on your stamina after casting?" Arthur walked up to the Elves and asked.
Sellen's voice sounded from beside Arthur, "I've asked this question. They don't have an extra stamina drain like Dwarves do when casting Prayers."
"Master Sellen is right, Lord Arthur." One of the Elves, who appeared quite refined, bowed with a hand over his chest and said to Arthur, "It was rather rushed just now, so my introduction is late. Greetings again, Lord Arthur. My name is Melshin, this is Cairn, and this is his sister, Eileen."]
The golden-haired Elf named Cairn and his sister, Eileen, who had her hair tied up, bowed to Arthur.
Arthur returned the bow, and then Melshin spoke, "We have learned from Master Sellen that casting Glintstone Magic from your homeland requires consuming something from oneself. For instance, those stubborn and less intelligent Dwarves can only expend physical strength. But we are different from them. After discussing it among myself, Cairn, and Eileen, we concluded that what we consume when casting Glintstone Magic should be called 'Mental Power.'"
Arthur's eyes widened slightly, and he asked in return, "Mental Power?"
Melshin nodded, then smiled and said, "Yes, Mental Power. A more common explanation is that if we continuously cast Glintstone Magic, we will feel our heads growing increasingly heavy, making us want to fall asleep. Although there is no physical exhaustion, we will feel our bodies are very tired and desperately need sleep to recover."
Understood, using too much Glintstone Magic results in a state of not having slept enough.
Arthur suddenly understood.
Sellen walked over at this moment, scrutinized the Elves, and smiled, saying, "The Elves' bodies are indeed very interesting and magical, aren't they? They are almost like the darlings of the Creator God, perfect and flawless."
Melshin, hearing Sellen's words, politely responded, "Thank you for your praise of us, Master Sellen."
Arthur had originally nodded in agreement with Sellen's statement, but suddenly remembered something. After giving the Elves an apologetic look, he pulled Sellen aside to a secluded spot.
"Teacher Sellen, please don't have any ideas about the Elves' bodies. Regarding bodies, I think the original is always better," Arthur whispered worriedly, afraid the Elves might overhear.
Sellen paused, looked at her apprentice with surprise, and finding Arthur's expression very serious, couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Apprentice, what are you thinking? The Elves' bodies and souls do not match The Lands Between, much like the difference between Glintstone Magic and Storm Battle Skills. How could I possibly replace my body with an Elf's?"
So, you've had such thoughts, haven't you, Teacher?
Although the reason Teacher Sellen gave made Arthur feel something was off, he still breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good, Teacher Sellen."
After declining the Elves' dinner invitation, Arthur took Sellen back to Stormveil Castle, and it was at this moment that he happened to encounter Nepheli Loux returning.
But Arthur remembered Nepheli Loux should still be on patrol at this time.
It was already afternoon, and the sunlight streamed diagonally into the spacious City Lord Hall, making the luxurious marble gleam golden.
Sellen and Nepheli Loux had no common topics, so Sellen returned to her room, leaving Arthur and Nepheli Loux staring at each other in the City Lord Hall.
A light footsteps broke the silence, and a maid slowly approached, carrying a golden tray. On the tray were two cups of steaming tea.
Arthur nodded, and the maid, understanding, placed the tray on the nearby mahogany table.
"You've returned just in time. Thorin asked me a favor: could you teach Fili and Kili some combat skills? Just like you taught Dwalin. Of course, Thorin promised me he would pay you for the lessons," Arthur broke the silence first and asked.
Nepheli Loux considered it seriously but still shook her head and refused.
Arthur didn't rush to ask why but patiently waited for Nepheli Loux's explanation.
Nepheli Loux cleared her throat and said, "It's not that I don't want to teach, but I'm not good at teaching people. Thorin, this dwarf King clearly values Fili and Kili, these brothers, very much. I think you should find someone more professional than me to teach them."
Arthur thought carefully and said, "But right now, throughout the Erdtree's territory, your close-quarters combat skills are the most outstanding."
Nepheli Loux smiled, "Can't you also summon those guys from The Lands Between through the Erdtree? I remember there's a formidable fellow in Nymgfor. He stays in a dilapidated shack and often enthusiastically teaches Battle Skills to passing tarnished."
Wait, you're not talking about him, are you?
Arthur's heart skipped a beat, and an image of a middle-aged man in silver heavy armor with a face full of silver-gray stubble appeared in his mind.
Nepheli Loux spoke the name from her memory, "I remember he told me his name, Bernal. Yes, that's the name."
Arthur showed a complex expression, and Nepheli Loux asked somewhat puzzled, "Is there something wrong with the person I recommended, Arthur?"
There's a big problem.
Arthur sighed inwardly, composed himself, and slowly said to Nepheli Loux, "It's normal that you don't know him. Bernal, his relationship with me is a bit complicated. To be honest, I don't even know if he's my friend, my teacher, or my enemy."
It was perfectly fine for him to call Bernal "teacher," because in the beginning, he, who had just arrived in The Lands Between and hadn't yet grown, indeed learned many things from Bernal.
Nepheli Loux, however, said straightforwardly, "My foster father didn't let me read too many books, so I can't say anything eloquent or profound. I only know that if I were to have such an enemy-like, not-friend-like relationship with you, I would certainly use my battle-axe and the storm in my hand to demand a clear explanation from you. This is the last thing I can do as a warrior. So, why not summon Bernal and let your weapon clash with his blade?"
She paused and said in a relaxed tone, "The way you are now is vastly different from the confident and brave Elden Lord I remember. Hesitating is not like you. The you I knew, when facing enemies, even if there was fear of the enemy's great strength in your heart, you would never be afraid to confront them directly. Moreover, Bernal isn't necessarily your enemy, and besides, I've sworn to you that no matter what you face, I will stand by your side and face it with you."
After hearing this, Arthur chuckled, "I'm being comforted by you, Nepheli Loux. My mindset has indeed changed as the things I need to protect have increased and broadened."
Nepheli Loux said with approval, "When I first became Storm King, I went through a similar mindset."
Arthur took a deep breath, and his eyes sharpened again, "Alright, I'll go to the Erdtree now and try to summon Bernal."
Bernal was originally one of the members of Arthur's planned Dragon Slaying Expedition. As a "Quasi-King," he would be summoned sooner or later.
Nepheli Loux's words merely made Arthur decide to face this "old friend" sooner.
But he needed to first confirm with the elden ring whether he could summon the dilapidated shack in Nymgfor first, and then summon Bernal through that shack.