The Ninth-city was a lone town in the middle of the Crumbly desert.
Due to their geographical disadvantages, usually skilled mages were stationed in the city - who used a huge magic crystal to cast weather manipulation around the Ninth-city. Creating an artificially habitable environment for humans and demihumans to live in.
However, an unforeseen misfortune had occurred when the famous 'Zarestia's light sphere's thief' appeared in the city. A skirmish had transpired immediately between 'her' and an influential merchant.
The damage to the city was severe, but still manageable. However, the strategic-level item, Magic crystal used for the survival of the city, vanished in the skirmish.
To collect another magic crystal of the same calibre, it would take at least a few weeks. Magic crystals are usually made by preparing a large amount of colorless mana and condensing it with lagmites, which is also known as magic stone.
Weather manipulation was a basic necessity for the people of the Ninth-city. Besides dealing with scorching heat, they would even have crops shortage - a potential future problem due to the lack of rain.
Though, such a problem could be dealt by temporarily buying a large amount of supply from other merchants - it would increase the price of food as a result.
It was at this situation, when Orsted arrived at the Ninth-city, a week ago. He became a saviour in the eyes of the locals immediately once he used [Cumulonimbus] and caused a rainfall.
'Rather than being called a saviour, I wanted to show that I could perform 'Weather manipulation' to the world. Something only a very skilled and experienced mage is capable of and I did it without a magic crystal too.' Orsted thought as he walked into the streets with light brownish tiles.
All the stalls and stores were decorated in brown clothes or bricks. Even if they were of different colors, it would soon turn into brown since they did live near a desert.
'My dragon points have reached a stalemate after three months too....' Orsted checked his system.
[Dragon points: 8,466]
In the first-city, Kyo and Eighth-city, Orsted had still made use of [Dragon tribe's curse] to solidify his image. But, in the Ninth-city, seeing a better option, he had chosen it instead.
The magic crystal that had belonged to the city, was safely stored in his inventory right at the moment.
Orsted had connected his [Shadow transfer] with his lizard subordinate, through which he ordered him around. He only had to be mindful of cleaning the scent off him everytime.
The gazes of the citizens of this city held goodwill towards Orsted, as he walked towards his inn. His curse was currently deactivated, hence such an outcome was possible.
Before going to the kingdom of Lugunica, to meet Roswaal, Orsted wanted to collect 12,000 dragon points. With the reward he would get by joining hands with Roswaal, which was 3% of his template.
Orsted could complete his template to 25%, hitting his next milestone. To that goal, he has been trying to strengthen his name anyway possible.
"Can you create ice and heal others with your water magic?"
Zarestia proclaimed proudly beside him: "Of course, I can!"
While returning, Orsted had been trying to gauge Zarestia's exact power level - as she held his hand with intertwined fingers, showing her affectionate state.
In this world, both fire and water magic could be used to create ice magic. Puck, the beast of the end, was a fire spirit in its core, who mainly used ice magic to fight.
Fire magic in simple terms could be considered as temperature manipulation. Which allowed it to create ice by freezing the moisture in the air.
It worked a little differently for water magic, the wielder had to conjure water directly in the state of ice. This process gave the user a lot of freedom in shaping the ice magic, however the mana cost increased exponentially as a result.
".....do you have beast-form too? Like how you were portrayed in the stories." Orsted asked curiously after entering the inn.
"A beast-form? I did, I guess?...I mean, I haven't been able to transform into my true form for a long, long time. I should be able to transform once I have all my limbs back?" Zarestia tilted her head in wonder.
"... you should be able to." Orsted replied back, while seeing her longing expression.
'I have an idea about her strength now....'
In her current state, Zarestia could take on and most likely defeat Shaula, the watch keeper of the pleiades tower and the self-proclaimed disciple of Flugel.
It would be safe to put her in the top 20 strongest entities of this world.
And if Zarestia acquired all her lost limbs, she could potentially reach the top 5 strongest, a little weaker than the peak Divine dragon, Volcanica.
'From my [Tear stigma]'s feedback, I don't think she would have any problem flooding the whole city immediately. She wasn't joking about being able to create a lake if she wanted....'
In the end, the current Zarestia would still lose against Orsted, he was just too advantageous against a magic user. His body had already developed a resistance against magic at this point.
'It would be problematic if she threw a city sized ice block at me, but I should be able to dodge it with my new [Lightning dragon slayer mode].'
After casting [Cumulonimbus], which brought upon thunderous clouds, Orsted was able to collect the lightning element.
"Rest up for today. We will leave this city tomorrow." Orsted spoke while activating the temporary barrier magic circles around the room.
"Ohh~ That's good to hear! I hate this sandy and hot place." Zarestia plopped onto the bed and watched Orsted as he began making something again.
Magic crystals were rare and sold in limited markets. That was the reason Orsted manipulated his subordinate, who acted as the black Zarestia now and stole it from the Ninth-city with some planning.
'I have made a few protection items, but they are lacking at my level. But with this magic crystal, I can make something worth the time.' Orsted began working immediately, deciding to finish it within the night.
Plop~
Zarestia laid on Orsted's lap while he focused.
"Umm~ As I thought, it feels colder on the ground...." Zarestia snuggled into the lap-pillow.
"....." Orsted paused and naturally started patting Zarestia's soft white hair.
"Hnn~ Let me tell you a story, it was around a thousand years ago...." Zarestia began narrating happily.
'Ah, she is starting again.' Orsted calmly waited for her to fall asleep after talking about her grand experience.
It wasn't a rare occurrence at this point, Zarestia liked speaking about her past with Orsted. Which was her way of getting off her loneliness.
[Sound barrier] - Orsted started working only after creating a barrier and seeing that she was asleep.
'Did she like lap-pillows?' Orsted couldn't help but wonder seeing how comfortably Zarestia slept.
In the past three months, Orsted could sense that Zarestia was on guard even while she slept near him. But today, he couldn't sense even a sliver of alertness. He could kill her instantly in her current state.
'....Good night.'