ELECTUS 112 No, You Goblin!

King Michael insisted for the group to seek comfort in the Castle but Eric insisted otherwise. He preferred a small place able to fit all 5 of the group members where they wouldn't be the main attention.

The 10 Guards they brought along from Lan Zhe were located nextdoor. Obviously both King Michael and "King Eric" didn't want to squeeze them all in one house with basically 300 houses available, but since a lot of those houses were long abandoned, the ten Guards had to settle for 2 cleaner houses to temporarily make s.p.a.ce for the 100 Soldiers of which King Zar sent to aid King Michael if a war was in order.

King Michael fell in love with the 10 Guards. Apart from those 10 belonging to the Calidum Lutum race, which were thought to be extinct for thousands of years, each of the individuals were considerably stronger than 5-10 stereotypical Guards. Even Woldemir being a Grand Master in Swordsmans.h.i.+p struggled to defend himself against one of these beasts. Considering the month long training he gave them, if he was to fight all ten of them he wouldn't stand a chance of survival.

These Guards are more well oriented and focused now instead of rus.h.i.+ng through a scene and aiming to destroy everyone and everything while risking many many blind spots.

King Michael even offered to hire these 10 Guards with a full paying salary once he secured an income instead of just paying them with fish. Apart from that he offered full doc.u.mented Citizens.h.i.+p to them with each of them getting their own house without having to pay tax before they get a stable salary. King Michael offered them what the homeless in Pameres Kingdom spent years possibly decades, trying to get.

Eric gave these Guards the freedom of choice, even though there are only 45 Guards remaining in Lan Zhe, there are 5 Grand Masters who can provide Lava to 400 Lava Controllers, ultimately defending their town with ease from attackers. The Guards were just the first defense who buys the Lava Controllers some time. They can spare to detach 10 Guards from the first defence squad, permanently. It wouldn't make a fatal difference.

But regardless of the offer and freedom of choice King Eric purely offered them, these Guards belong around Lava and aren't well adjusted to the outside world even though considering they were outside for almost a month now. In a simple sentence, they can't wait to get home. Well, at least most of them.

Isabel for example, felt like doing more with her life instead of isolating herself from the outside world which with a certain att.i.tude can make her feel like a caged animal with limited opportunities.

She is near to being a Master(level 5) in Swordsmans.h.i.+p and wants to use her skills to help Ignis. This country needs every bit of help it can get if peace is to harmonize in all 4 sides.

Two of her Guard friends who recently became experts(Level 4) in Swordsmans.h.i.+p feel the same and one enthusiastic Guard who is still struggling with the third level(Wielder) is on board too. Being given the freedom to walk freely in Gaster Kingdom and possibly Pameres Kingdom without being called a freak of nature encouraged that feeling.

Eric approached Mogranius to join him in some much needed meditation but was almost instantly prevented from doing so as Mogranius uttered some words in a calm manner while still remaining in a meditating position(cross legged with his elbows over his knees and his arms bent at a 45° angle on the sides).

"Do you know how to do the Fire s.h.i.+eld Eric?"

"If I knew, I wouldn't of swam in lava to begin with if I remember it right."

Said Eric with unintentional sarcasm.

"That does make sense."

He took a deep breath aiming not to break his own concentration and shortly added

"How about I teach you how to do it right now?!"

"That would be great!"

Eric screamed which completely broke Mogranius' concentration and left him with a slight pain in his ears and a very displeased look on his face.

"This is why you can't meditate."

Said Mogranius roughly but yet sarcastically and added

"However. If you gave it enough thought, you would have unlocked the secret to the Fire s.h.i.+eld after the first time you managed to meditate. I even expected you too. Which is why I didn't find it mandatory to teach you the Fire s.h.i.+eld spell until now."

"What does that first meditation i had, have to do with the Fire s.h.i.+eld?"

Murmured Eric asking himself that question over and over. He doesn't remember exactly what he discovered through meditation he did almost 2 months ago. He can't remember everything in great detail even with the Crown's a.s.sistance.

"You said that Fire Controlling isn't all about attacking. It is also about protecting. Protecting your loved ones, protecting what you stand for. Not brute force that burns everything to the ground."

Exclaimed Mogranius.

"So i need to put more emotion to my Powers? I need to feel what i cast?"

Asked Eric in Confusion.

"A bit like that. Imagine a large Fireball approaching your father, and the only way for you to save him, would be casting a Fire s.h.i.+eld. What would you do?"

"I would fight the fire with fire. Like i did with the tons of Lava we faced in Lan Zhe."

"No, you Goblin. That's the issue. You still choose to attack instead of aiming  protecting. We just have to fix that."