CHAPTER 172

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*******A/N: I made a mistake in the last chapter; he had become a level 5 druid right now, not level 6. As of now, he is level 5. I am sorry for the mix-up.

CHAPTER 172

293 AC

POV THIRD PERSON

Aermir's information network had begun to prove its effectiveness as it uncovered spies dispatched by other lords. However, rather than immediately exposing these spies, Aermir chose a more strategic approach by feeding them false information, effectively leading them astray.

For some time, he had grappled with the challenge of integrating the weirwood tree into the vast root network. To his surprise, the solution was elegantly simple, and he wondered why he hadn't thought of it earlier. Instead of attempting to physically connect the tree to the roots, all he needed to do was light a beacon. To achieve this, Druid journeyed throughout the North, persuading the lords to send individuals they wished to execute to the temple. These executions were carried out in the name of the Old Gods.

Instead of meeting their end on an executioner's blade, he believed they could have passed on through a more meaningful sacrifice, ensuring that their life force was not wasted but channeled for a greater purpose.

Aermir's efforts bore fruit as he successfully convinced most of the Northern lords to send around ten murderers each month for the sacrificial rituals. While the numbers could have been higher, some criminals chose the harsh conditions of the Wall over facing the executioner's blade. Aermir conducted a powerful ritual, using the life force of these criminals to feed the sacred weirwood tree. The tree gleamed with an ethereal light like a beacon in complete darkness. 

As soon as Aermir's weirwood tree ignited like a radiant beacon, its influence rippled through the root network, the mystical ley lines under the North. It extended like a tendril, weaving connections with other weirwood trees across the region. After that, the weirwood tree's roots gradually extended and connected with the intricate root network beneath the earth.

With this connection established, Aermir completed the transformation of the weirwood into a holy tree, carving a face into it using his magic. This sacred tree in his temple granted him the ability to observe events within a 10-kilometer radius of any weirwood tree in the North. It was a powerful tool that would aid him in monitoring the region and gathering vital information through his network of spies.

When Aermir ascended to the level of a 5th-tier druid, his mastery over weirwood trees deepened, granting him greater control and access to their intricate network. This newfound level of control was accompanied by a plethora of spells and rituals, some of which he crafted himself through rigorous experimentation.

Aermir had come to appreciate the significance of his training space. It wasn't solely for martial practice; it served as a sanctuary where he could devise and test new spells, pushing the boundaries of his arcane abilities. Throughout his journey, he had subjected himself to countless deaths and agonizing trials, experiencing explosions, burns, and crushing misfortunes. Yet, the invaluable aspect was the freedom from fear that this space provided, enabling him to train without hesitation.

In addition to his magical pursuits, Aermir delved into herbalism, conducting extensive experiments with various poisons. His efforts paid off as he progressed from minor poison resistance to complete immunity against both animal venoms and plant toxins. Where once he might have fallen ill from bites or ingestions, he now felt impervious.

Furthermore, Aermir honed his control over animal biology, mastering a spell called Dȳñes Gumen(animal growth), which stimulated the growth and fertility of animals within a 10-meter radius. Building upon this foundation, he ventured into more extensive rituals, capable of affecting creatures within a staggering 1-kilometer radius. His pursuit of knowledge and power knew no bounds as he continued to evolve as a formidable druid.

Aermir's relentless pursuit of knowledge and power led him to delve even deeper into the intricacies of animal biology. With his ability to control growth and fertility, he began experimenting to determine if he could sense sickness within creatures. After a year of dedicated work, he achieved this remarkable feat. By mere touch, he could discern any ailments or irregularities within an animal's body.

His insatiable curiosity then turned inward as he conducted numerous experiments on himself within the training space. He doesn't even remember how many times he died or turned into a deformed monstrosity, but thanks to the nature of training space, he returned to normal the second he left the space.

Aermir honed his physical attributes and pushed the boundaries of his own capabilities. In one audacious endeavor, he combined all the poisonous substances he had ingested and the venoms present within his body to create a potent venom sac.

The process was excruciatingly painful and extended, a testament to his unwavering determination. Manipulating his own body through mana, he induced mutations and transformations, creating this unique venom sac. However, he realized that attempting such procedures on others led to disastrous consequences, causing internal bleeding and death among the unfortunate subjects.

To harness the potential of his venom, Aermir developed a spell called Narys Jelevre, also known as "Poison Breath." This intricate magic combined the poison stored within him with the element of wind, allowing him to exhale a deadly poison over a 10-meter cone. The venom he produced was incredibly potent and could affect victims through touch or inhalation.

As Aermir continued to expand his repertoire of spells, some of his existing ones evolved to a level 5 tier, granting them even greater power and versatility. Spells like Obterovedȳñes (conjure great animals), Modocalcinum (summon medium elemental), and Figumorfus (shapeshifting) all saw significant enhancements. Conjure great animal, for instance, now had the capacity to summon three bears or six wolves, while shapeshifting granted the full abilities of the chosen animal, although specialized traits like underwater breathing or things like poison remained elusive. When he turned into a snake, he couldn't create snake venom but could use his own.

The enhancement of his summon elemental spell was equally remarkable. Aermir now had the capability to summon elementals ranging from 2 to 3 meters in height. His wildfire spirit had grown to the size of a normal wolf and had acquired new abilities. It could briefly glide through the air and wield two spells: fireball and a weak breath attack similar to burning hand in power, a unique feat among elementals. Typically, other medium elementals could only employ a single spell each, with fire elementals using burning hands, earth elementals utilizing earth shards, water elementals producing aqua blasts in the form of pressurized water, wind elementals manipulating gusts of wind, and lightning elementals harnessing powerful lightning bolts.

...

During the same year, Aermir acquired two more spells, one designed as a protective buff and the other as a potent healing spell. Mass Stoneskin had the capability to enhance the defense of individuals within a 10-meter radius around him. Meanwhile, Regrowth stood as his most formidable healing spell, with the power to regenerate bones and muscles; although it couldn't regenerate organs, it could only mend them. Reconstructing a lost limb was a painful and strenuous process, potentially leading to heart attacks or death if the patient lacked the necessary strength.

Aermir also extended his experiments to include plants. In his travels, he had come across a plant that bore similarities to a potato, but it was green and poisonous. 

Using small patches of land within the temple forest, Aermir delved into selective breeding techniques, employing spells to force these plants into mutation. Though most attempts ended in failure, similar to his experiments with animals, Aermir persisted despite his limitations in strength.

...

Potatoes normally required 80 to 120 days to grow, a timeline influenced by factors like soil quality and climate. In the North, this growth period extended to 120 days. However, Aermir, utilizing spells and mana, managed to reduce it to a remarkable 20-30 days. Nonetheless, this method proved impractical for widespread agricultural use as it depleted the soil. When employed on a small scale of five or ten square meters for selective breeding purposes, it posed minimal harm, but it wasn't feasible for general cultivation.

His efforts focused on cultivating potatoes with a more brownish hue. After two years of dedicated work, Aermir successfully developed edible potatoes, albeit with a slightly sour taste. This innovation significantly boosted farmland productivity, allowing for two harvests per year without significantly damaging the soil. Aermir expanded this approach to crops such as wheat, barley, and corn, enhancing their cold resistance.

He selectively distributed improved seeds and fostered plant growth exclusively in areas inhabited by zealot believers. Aermir aimed to demonstrate that a better life could be achieved by following the Old Gods.

While the Manderlys and other houses were in proximity to those fertile farmlands, they received no special treatment. Aermir observed the smallfolk and, based on their religious beliefs, selectively enhanced the growth of fields. The lords reaped the benefits in increased yields, but the smallfolk began to talk.

Discontentment against the Seven continued to spread as Old Gods' believers reaped two to three times more yield from their fields, even though their plots were located adjacent to those of the Seven worshippers. The contrast became painfully evident during the famine when the Septons insisted on taking a share of the meager harvest that these struggling farmers had managed to produce. This demand proved to be the last straw for many, fueling the growing dissatisfaction among the smallfolk. Because of all those reasons, many started to renounce the Seven and started to worship the Old Gods.