As they reached the village, Thorian turned to address his two comrades. "Nox, I need you to meet Harald by my house. He'll introduce you to your new partner. After that, wait for my instructions. We can't afford to be hasty with this mission."

  "Roger that," Nox replied, a chuckle softening his response. "You're always so serious, Thorian. It's just a reconnaissance mission."

  "This is precisely when seriousness is paramount," Thorian retorted, his tone underscored with gravity. He then shifted his gaze to Tristan, "As for you, take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the village. Enjoy your time with Brix and feel free to pursue whatever piques your interest."

  "I understand," Tristan sighed, a tinge of resignation in his voice. "This isn't a battle for me to intervene in. The powers at play are beyond my grasp."

  "It's reassuring to hear you understand the situation," Thorian said, his smile brief but genuine. "With any luck, we'll be celebrating tonight, having neutralized a threat to us both."

  With these final words hanging in the air, Thorian departed from his companions, setting his course for the Magus Guild. As he treaded the familiar path, a relentless whirlpool of doubts churned within him.

  For some inexplicable reason, I'm haunted by the sensation that a vital piece escapes my grasp. With Nox partnering upwith Harald's child, our lines of communication should be secured. Should turmoil arise, my swift feet will ensure I'm at the Strongheart manor within moments, a mere five minutes from the western gate.

  Despite this reassurance, a gnawing unease tightened its grip around his heart, whispering of overlooked errors, of a path mistakenly chosen.

  A consultation with Elder Oom is necessary. Perhaps there's an ability we've neglected. Only with this assurance can I dispatch Nox free from the shackles of worry.

  With a determined push, Thorian relegated these swirling thoughts to the recesses of his mind, focusing on the path that lay before him. As he neared his destination, he seized the moment to experiment with combining spells he had mastered to their fullest extent, beginning with the Fire Pillar and Water Prison spells.

  Mist Blade appears to be a marginally less powerful variant of the Greater Gale Slash. As for Steam Surge, it presents a viable option for situations where my intention isn't to kill but to inflict severe injury, Thorian mused, weighing his options carefully.

  After careful consideration, he decided on the latter. Although Torrential Mist seemed appealing, it offered little beyond the capabilities of a basic Tornado, making his choice clear.

  After choosing his skill, Thorian decided to combine his Fire Pillar with his Earth Spikes skill.

  The first two skills offer commendable offensive capabilities, yet they would prove inadequate against an adversary of Nalia's caliber. Possessing stronger defensive skills could very well tip the scales between life and death.

  Guided by this line of reasoning, Thorian made his selection, choosing a skill that balanced his need for defense with his strategic considerations.

  Thus, Thorian proceeded to his subsequent experiment: merging the Water Prison and Earth Spikes spells.

  The first and second skills are intriguing, no doubt, but the capability to slow down adversaries, even if just for a brief moment, could prove invaluable. This is particularly true in the context of a large-scale battle, where every second gained can significantly impact the outcome.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The next spells Thorian decided to combine were Water Prison and Tornado.

  As Thorian surveyed the spells before him, a smile crept across his face. I've witnessed the strength of Ice Barrier firsthand. It managed to fend off the spirit elf's assault, albeit temporarily. It's undoubtedly the spell I should opt for.

  Finally, it was time for the last skill combination: Tornado and Earth Spikes.

  Quicksand Trap is the way to go, Thorian concluded, scanning the skills. If I can ensnare Nalia in this trap, even for a brief moment, it would provide us an opening to barrage her with attacks.

  Having delved deep into the fusion of skills, Thorian found himself mentally exhausted yet profoundly gratified. Despite these skills remaining at the level of the first advancement, they significantly enhanced the versatility of his attack arsenal. Utilized adeptly, they could tip the scales of victory in his favor.

  Now, it's time for the real deal, Thorian thought, a smile playing on his lips as he beheld the Magus Guild before him. The skills of the second advancement are bound to be extraordinary.

  Upon entering the bustling guild, he was warmly greeted by Fizzlegrin. "My lord, I presume you're here to further your class advancement."

  "You presume correctly," Thorian nodded in affirmation.

  "Then, please follow me," Fizzlegrin said, leading Thorian to the familiar room where his ranking examination had taken place. "I've moved the advancement ceremony here, as the other room has become a training area for mana control for all members."

  Thorian appreciated Fizzlegrin's rationale with a smile as he approached the center of the room. There, the same purple crystal that facilitated his previous advancement awaited him. Placing his hand upon it, the crystal erupted into a brilliant glow, plunging the room into darkness before it was lit anew with speckles of light, mimicking a star-studded night sky.

  But the notifications didn't end there.