'But that's such a whacky way of seeing the world...' The white-scaled Monster thought as it scratched its head.
Elisa walked a couple of steps in front of it.
'The world's will... Fairness... The world's will... Give and take... Mmm.'
It all seemed rather strange, abstract, and incoherent.
'Pain from using the Eye, Restrictions on how the Forest is used and drawbacks... Give and take. In a sense, nothing can be created out of nothing. As true in that world, as it is this one.' The white-scaled Monster brought a hand to its chin. 'Nothing comes from nothing. It's so obvious, why didn't I think of it before?'
The force called Magic made it seem possible but,
'That's just the job of Mana. It's like... An Element that can be changed into anything. Magic Skills make it seem like the Fire and Ice are made to appear out of thin air, but that's not the case. This Eye,' Mark's High Elven Pupil shone brightly. 'Only makes it more obvious. Then if Mana isn't seen as something foreign or supernatural, but rather as something with properties that can be grasped... Mm.' He nodded. 'The world becomes a bit less complex.'
"What is Mana?" Mark asked suddenly.
"What's air?" Elisa's tone seemed sarcastic.
'Yeah, that makes sense. Forest-dwellers... Would it be okay to call them primitive?' Mark asked himself. 'If so, then seeing air and Mana as similar would make sense. Both have their uses, but they can't explain them. They can't say much about Mana, just like they can't say what makes up the air we breathe. Maybe that's why there's so much "Understand it with your gut". Because that's the only way you can understand it without knowing about it. By feeling it.'
The white-scaled Monster nodded continually as it muttered words that Elisa couldn't hear.
'Then Mana, Magic, and this... World thing aren't complicated at all. Saying that the System is the world's will basically equates it to a law of this world. Just like the world wills that things will be brought down by gravity, it wills how much Magic Skills cost or what Restrictions will be imposed. Just like gravity, there must be a constant... An equation for it.'
Mark was reminded of Nia's words.
Realistically, obtaining the kind of Power that would allow one to Revive any dead Being, without extreme Conditions being attached to it, is impossible-
It would go against the Laws of this very World-
'The Law probably doesn't refer to "The Dead remains Dead", as is the case in the other world. Rather, it refers to this... Fairness thing. Law... Equation... Fairness... Huh. Thinking about it as "Fairness" could simply be a forest-dweller thing.' Mark couldn't help but chuckle as he thought that. 'Right, there's no reason to call it Fairness. It's Balance, I guess. Balance is what's important... If Casting a Great Fire Ball uses up 30 Mana Points, how much would Reviving a Dead Monster cost? That's the idea of Balance that I need to understand. The exact answer or equation, I don't need. I just have to... Just like Elisa get a good grasp on that Balance. Of rough estimate of what costs how much.'
Mark clenched his fists.
'If I get a good grasp on that, I might be able to deduct the Conditions imposed on my Skills.'
The white-scaled Monster took a deep breath in to contain its excitement.
The ability to Revive Monsters had been taken away. For a while now, the only thing that remained was "What if I could...?"
The thought of being able to Revive Monsters from the Outside.
Monsters like Olgas, Growing Yetis, and...
'That Commander, could I have Revived him? Well, getting his Eye is much better in the long run but... What would it take to Revive a Commander?'
The white-scaled Monster chuckled.
How could it not, when it was thinking about Reviving a Commander when it couldn't even Revive something like a Goblin?
'Marking the Monster before it is attacked. Fighting and defeating it alone. Making sure its body isn't too damaged? Those are the Conditions I can remember. They all make the fight tougher. That's interesting. To Revive it, the way you kill it matters. Sounds like some kind of Satanic Ritual or something...'
Mark's eyes widened.
"Do Dark Mages perform Rituals?"
"You're asking the weirdest questions today. Did you have a bad dream?"
"Just answer the question."
"Tsk." She clicked her tongue. "I don't know. Maybe? Rituals have different uses, so it would make sense for them to perform them. Though I would rather not talk and discuss what Dark Mages do."
"Why not?"
"Because it's vile and gross."
Mark pressed his lips together.
He debated internally whether or not to say it.
"I wouldn't mind performing a Ritual to Revive something like a Commander." He said it.
"Are you serious, or are you dumb?" Elisa's tone hid her anger well as she turned around. "You're already a Demon Lord's Target, understand?? Messing with a Commander by performing a Ritual would-"
"Okay, okay. It was just a thought."
"Don't think about that. In the first place, what made you think about Rituals?? Or Dark Mages??"
"Well, Corruption is the Magic Type with which I have the highest-"
"DON'T USE MY WORDS AGAINST ME!"
Mark chuckled, and Elisa turned back around.
They continued walking.
'Why doesn't he want to learn something beautiful like Water Magic instead?' Elisa thought, exasperated by what she would describe as Perversions.
'Having to perform a Ritual might count as a Restriction, right? Reviving it just after its death too. Huh. Guess I can get inspired by using the occult stuff I heard about in the past. Can't remember much of my life, but I could always remember facts...'
The white-scaled Monster frowned suddenly.
"Did you ever perform Rituals?"
"Oh yeah, all the time. But they're good Rituals, you know?"
"I... Don't know."
"Like, uh... Praying for the Forest, that kind of thing."
"Why did you pray for the Forest?"
"Why? Because..." Elisa brought a hand to her forehead. "Why...?"
'Great. My only source of information is an amnesiac... Still, not all Rituals are on the deviant side. Wait... Pray? Don't tell me I'm supposed to pray to Death or some bullshit like that? Sacrifice a lamb? It's-'
Mark was reminded of words he had quickly forgotten.
The Magic Skill had changed quickly, and so the words didn't seem relevant after all.
You must use your Skill on the Monster's body-
Its Skeleton will rise-
What? WHAT? What happens to the rest of its body-
Only the Skeleton lives-n0velusb.c0m
The rest is an offering to the dead-
It is therefore lost-
'Huh...'
"I can't remember."
"Yeah, I got that."
"I really... Can't remember. Those Rituals were... Important. About something. Something we lost..."
Mark could tell this meant a lot to her.
But he couldn't really help, so he wasn't sure what to say.
"I'm sure you'll remember by the time to get there."
"Mm." She nodded. "I hope so."
'What could Forest-dwellers lose anyway? Their way through the Forest?' Mark wanted to ask that question out loud, but he was sure that the joke wouldn't have landed the right way. It was a dumb joke in the first place. The fact that the Dark Elves had impressive weapons, clothes, and more made the joke seem all the more foolish and dull.
He shook his head.
'For some things, using Mana Points is enough. For others, it isn't. I can see why using Mana Points wouldn't be enough to Revive a Monster. The Monster is Revived, Healed, and brought back to life. It isn't simply healed once. The injury it gets after the Revival Heal with time. Endurance and Mana Points also regenerate. It keeps its Stats and Skills. A One-time payment of Mana Points that would balance it out... How many Mana Points would balance out Levi or Light's life after I revived them...?'
Mark winced. It wasn't a pleasant subject, but a necessary one to think about.
'I can't think of a number. The same is true for Fiery... Maybe even more so due to all the Offspring she could produce.' He sighed. 'I really do miss having them. Would make my life a lot easier. And...'
The white-scaled Monster suddenly turned around.
Feeling something was amiss, Elisa did too.
Mark's eyes darted all over the place.
"Krista... Where's Krista?"
"Wasn't she just behind us??"
Instantly, both felt a shiver go down their spine.
"Kristaaa!" Elisa called out as the two walked back for a bit.
"Do you think she got lost? How would she...?"
"She must be hiding, right? Playing a game?"
"Krista?" The Moonlit Feline's Master called out.
Silent seconds passed.
For the Underling not to the answer its Master's call, it could only mean-
Elisa immediately extended an arm forward, and the Wind started moving.
Mark tore away the piece of cloth from his face, and the High Elven Pupil started shining.
