1. Across Eternity: Book 5 - Chapter 6


    Date: 4/7/2024, Categories: Fantasy Author: Sage_of_the_Forlorn_Path

    ... backs and let you rub their bellies. You have not lived until you given a bear a belly rub.”
    
    Valia and Shannon giggled, and Shannon hugged her knees to her chest with a lingering smile. Though she didn’t dare to say it, more than simply enjoying being back in the countryside, she was happy to finally be alone with Noah and Valia. From when they traveled to Welindar to when they worked for the prince, there were always other people around: Uther soldiers who saw her as a nuisance and beastmen who saw her as a traitor.
    
    Finally, she was away from that negativity, free to be with her friends. Noah, who had become her mentor, and Valia, who gave her courage; they were her heroes, her saviors, and her respect and gratitude towards them were beyond words. She had taken it upon herself to serve them loyally, and though she longed to be reunited with her tribe and return to her old life, part of her wanted to continue following them, aiding them with whatever incredible endeavors awaited.
    
    After running all day, Shannon quickly fell asleep while Noah and Valia remained awake, gazing at the stars. Noah used his concealment magic to contain their voices so they could talk without waking her.
    
    “Valon and I used to spend countless nights stargazing like this, searching for new runic constellations.”
    
    “And you could just make new spells like that?”
    
    “Rarely. The stars had to line up just right, and as they moved, the spells would weaken.”
    
    “You know, this is the first ...
    ... world I’ve been to where I don’t recognize the stars.”
    
    “Really?”
    
    “It’s true. In every world I reincarnated in, the stars were always the same. I even learned how to tell the date by measuring the stars. It’s how I figured out I was always being reborn into the same time period, even if the world around me was more primitive or advanced. It was comforting to know I could always rely on them. No matter how different everything else was, they remained the same.”
    
    “That’s so sweet,” she said, rubbing her head against his shoulder.
    
    “Thanks,” he sighed.
    
    “What’s wrong?”
    
    “Using the tech in the lab, I managed to write a counter spell for my curse.”
    
    “You did? That’s great!”
    
    “Not really. It’s mainly just a proof of concept. The spell itself is incredibly simple, just supply a certain amount of power to completely obliterate the curse. It’s like moving a boulder; the spell figured out how much force would be required if you pushed it with just your hands. If I can add specifications, details, and algorithms to the formula, then I can lower the required energy, the same way you can use levers and pulleys to move the boulder easier.”
    
    “Well how much power are we walking?”
    
    “In its most basic, bare-bones form, the spell would require the power of dozens, perhaps hundreds of stars to break my curse.”
    
    “I don’t understand what that means. How much power does a star produce? What even are stars?”
    
    “I’ve told you about the Periodic Elements, correct? Well, the very ...
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