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As we flew over the Golden Dunes, the land slowly became less arid. The sand slowly disappeared, as we were first greeted with a rocky wasteland, which slowly started to gain more grasslands and small ponds of water. Rivers and lakes were all over the place. Flying further in, the entire land changed. From the aridness of the desert, it now became a beautiful wet land, full of high growing grass, dense forests, pongs, lakes, and rivers everywhere. Naturally, there were many swamps as well.

In such a place full of life and water, living beings were very common. The moment we arrived here, we were greeted by a gigantic flock of Wetland Storks, Tier 6 bird-like monsters that flew in enormous groups of hundreds. They were harmless, flying past us into the higher skies. It seems they move around the wetlands, picking fish from the various water resources available.

At the distance, we could notice something interesting and rather captivating. At the center of the wetlands, surrounded by a gigantic swamp, there was a tree. A majestic tree with white leaves resembling glass. It grew as high as fifty meters, and its bark was black and metallic in appearance. Its roots spread around, harmonizing with the rest of nature, despite how strange and alien it looked compared to normal plants.

"What is that tree over there, mom?" I wondered, trying to analyze it.

"That's… I've never seen such a thing before. Then again, we never explored this area. Everything here is brand-new for us as well! Doesn't seem that there is any Ruins in the vicinity though. Should we stop near the tree at least?" She wondered.

"Sure!" I nodded. "Everyone, are you ready?"

"Yeah, I was getting bored of just flying. Let's explore and hunt something!" Zack was eager for hunting. "I want to test my new Wind Abilities."

"You already got some?!" I asked.

"He did! He has been cultivating all this time with Arafunn's help!" Mist said. "I'm very proud of him!" She hugged him tightly.

"A-Ahahaha, come on…" Zack felt embarrassed.

"He indeed learned the technique I taught him." Uncle Arafunn yawned, waking up from his nap. "He's really smart and hardworking, actually! In just a couple of days, he already got the hang of the Harmonious Wind Melody Cultivation Technique! Though he's still an amateur, I see potential in him."

I checked Zack's status and indeed! The technique itself was learned as a Skill; it was seen as "[Harmonious Wind Melody Cultivation Technique: Lv1]"! That meant he really, truly engraved it into the deepest part of his soul and body. Incredible.

"Woah, okay that's pretty incredible, Zack! Congrats!" Aquarina congratulated him for once.

"Yeah, well done!" I patted his head.

"He is truly a hardworking boy." Ninhursag nodded in silence.

"Hahaha, everyone is praising Zack! You must feel like the special boy of today now!" Lara giggled. "Well done! Actually, maybe you don't notice yet, but lots and lots of Wind Spirits have begun flocking around you! It wasn't a thing before even with your strong affinity for the element. Your body is slowly reaching a certain harmony with the Winds."

"I-Is that true?!" Zack was shocked. "Amazing… I wish I could see them."

"Well, the reason why the Winds protect me is the same, isn't it, little Lara?" Arafunn asked. "The winds themselves move and shape by the whims of the Wind Spirits of the world."

"Yeah! Since I meet the Heroes that everyone is always full of Spirits of the world, often of their elements. But I usually don't disturb them nor mention it." Lara nodded.

"Wait, really? What about me?" Aquarina asked.

"Water and Ice Spirits flock around you the most. With Darkness Spirits appearing more frequently now." Lara said. "This means your elemental affinities must be growing stronger."

"That's so cool…" Aquarina looked at her own hands, as if trying to grasp the spirits themselves, even though they were all invisible for us.

FLASH!

The giant Storm Bird slowly descended into a huge patch of grasslands, while everyone was asking Lara how many spirits them were around. Mostly everyone got answers they liked, except my brother and Celica.

"I-It's a bit strange, it feels like Spirits are… afraid of you, Zephy." Said Lara. "But at the same time… They seem to recognize you? It feels weird, like some sort of feeling of both fear and respect."

"Huh? Really?" Zephy was more confused than anything. "Well, that's cool anyways!"

"And about Celica… Well, there are a few dark spirits around you, very little. But mostly than anything, I can feel the echoes of dead spirits. Which are the souls of the dead. I think it might do with your affinity! After all, although death spirits exist, you don't seem to have an exact affinity with them, and instead, your affinity is stronger in the phantom element. Phantom Attribute Spirits don't exist, but there are dead spirits, which are the faint echoes of dead souls. Usually called ghosts, phantoms, and so on!" Lara was very knowledgeable after she studied a lot back home.

"Huh, that's interesting!" Celica seemed rather pleased with the response too. "I wonder if I could ever tame a Death Spirit instead? I mean, recruit it or something…"

"Perhaps? Maybe if you can find some cultivation technique that can help you boost the runes of your magic circle and physique with Death Attribute Runes." My mother got into the conversation. "If you're so good with Phantom Affinity, then it should be possible for you to learn something for the Death Affinity. You're already an impressive Phantom Magician, if you work hard, you could become a full-fledged Necromancer."

"E-Eh? Aren't those looked down upon?" Asked Celeste.

"Huh? Why?" My mother raised an eyebrow. "A Necromancer is just another magician at the end of the day. As long as you don't commit any crimes or rob any tombs, it should be fine. Most necromancers simply use monster corpses and monster materials instead. There's very little point into risking getting arrested by using people's corpses and so on."

"I-I guess that's right…" Celica nodded. "Cool!"

As we landed on the wetlands, the cold and wet atmosphere felt a bit chilly, but at the same time, refreshing from the hot desert.

"Anyways, let's go to the big tree!" I said. "Pyuku, can you feel your slime friends nearby?"

"Y-Yes! In that tree, I think they happen to be close to it!" He said.

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