Instead, it was within a shorter period of time just as the sun began to set. Not instant, but sudden enough to cause many to notice when they didn't even have an affinity for wind mana.
This wasn't the only thing though, Su and a few with higher earth mana affinties had started to sense movement within the heart mana. Before, it had been the same as what earth mana was normally.
A resting and constant flow beneath the earth everyone walked on. However, now, it was as if it was reaching up toward the air.
The feeling was abnormal since there was not a single bit of shifting soil or stone nearby, it was just the feeling of that happening. Su even recalled that this was the feeling that came when she had seen earth mages or Walker move larger pieces of stone from the earth to battle.
Like the mana was gathered but there was just nothing taking full action here.
All of this made the group preparing camp much more observant and on edge.
It made the mages more uncomfortable at the end of the day though. They were looking for the sources of this and trying to understand why they now faced a different obstruction to their mana usage.
That was if the mage in question was an earth mage."Reporting in, the earth affinity dragonkin in my command are now struggling to gather solid stone on their shields.
We will have a lesser combat ability. This is our failing.
"
"No, this is not your fault. You have never trained in a situation like this.
You should have the best defenses without your ability to use earth mana to its usual capability. Just maintain your formations and defend those who need it."
Su had trained with these dragonkin and the soldiers which they had partnered with.
It was the guards who she had recruited who were the clinchers to the entire group.
While they were a mixed race group, they were a group who was most accustomed to dealing with various issues within Genesis. They each had been part of a roving team who handled misunderstandings between races.
These guards had been originally trained and recruited at the founding of Genesis because they had been guards within their home kingdoms. But as time had progressed, they had become their own squad handling the hardest issues occurring within the streets on a daily basis.
Whether it was a small error in sales within the market, or something that happened insulting the values of another race. Both intentionally or unintentionally.
These guards had faced it through their knowledge and ability to remedy the situations.
Hence why they were the perfect group to split up between the multiple races within this large team that Su put together.
They were the glue holding each smaller squad together along with keeping things moving smoothly. She also had them focusing on the trade of information between everyone since they could easily match the correct information with the right squad which could handle a situation the best.
All of this allowed Su the peace of mind to focus on the changes in mana herself and gather a small group behind her to do an exploratory walk in to the first layer of hills as the sun had set.
Leading the way, Su noticed that it was very easy to see with how clear the sky was and how the moon lit everything for her.
Not to mention her draconic eyes were much better at seeing through the night than many other races. There was also the additional night vision buff from one of the healers.
The immediate feeling of unease while walking one step from the normal taller grassy plains and in to the shorter grasses of the mirrored hills was clear. Su could sense that the manas were not as balanced here.
More like the manas she could sense were dimmed except for the earth mana. That was standing out right now.
The way that the earth mana gathered though, was very strange. Su had originally possessed some earth mana affinity.
So even as a guardian before, she had been able to take a path toward using earth mana to boost her defensive strength. That was if she had not become a true draconic guardian that is.
Regardless of that, she was able to sense that the nearest hill was brimming with heart mana. Every single one was.
Or at least those that she could see.
"I was told that if the hills are damaged the monsters will emerge.
Right now, the other groups should be finishing the first set of traps. Then the second group should be cutting in to the hills with a shovel to make dents.
That way we can lure out some monsters."
As Su finished saying this to those behind her, she slammed one of the town shields in to the ground.
These were not the normal twin shields she normally carried. Those that held the baby scales from Midnight's smaller form which had been repaired and improved were attached to her back.
The pair that Su used now were dark brown shields with earth runes covering them. She had brought these to purposefully use the strength that came from her natural affinity, her earth spirit partner resting within her spirit markings, and also counter any wind from the natural wind of the grassy plains if need be.
With this, she also caused more than just a cut on the small hill she had set foot on when she slammed one of her twin earth shields down. She had caused a ripple which upturned the soil on the top layer of the entire small hill.
Unsurprisingly, this also revealed some of the inner workings of the hill. In particular, smaller holes proving that this must really be or have been a monster nests.
The grass had just grown over the holes in a way that covered them so that they could not be seen from the outside. Most likely this was a way for the monsters to hide their homes from a predator that might not even exist any longer.
"No reaction anywhere on sight. The mana is also consistent and did not change after your attack."
An earth mage reported what they had sensed as they looked around for any changes in nearby hills.
"No, you just missed it.
Whatever that was, it is hiding right there and managing to trick your senses." The response from a forest elf archer was not what any of them expected.
"There is a small prey in that hole, I saw a small hair twitch just now. Not enough to change the flow of mana, but enough for me to notice.
I hunt at night and I am used to the antenna of hawk moths moving from opposite sides of trees. That is the very same sight.
"
Keeping the tone of their conversation light and focused was a skill any hunter would have so that they would not alert their prey. Especially as the elf moved and drew her bow to aim at the hole she had seen the movement from.
"Please buff my arrow before I fire it. Leader Su, please be ready for any chaos that may follow.
"
Feeling that this was a very lucky moment for Su since she was already seeing results, she prepared herself mentally. Yet, before the arrow could be fully drawn and the healer could buff the archer, movement got everyone's attention.
A brown figure sprung from the hole that the archer had aimed at. Its sixth sense had warned it of danger.
But as it fled, it had fled right in front of one of the soldiers who had a scroll clutched in their hands. An appraisal scroll.
"Appraisal successful!"
The shout was all that they needed and Su motioned for a retreat. They were not here to follow and hunt these monsters.
They had set foot here in an attempt to get some beginner's data on what they were pursuing and trying to understand. Right now, that was the appraisal which was well over what they had expected to get.
"The earth mana is shifting, something is moving under the ground between the hills to our left." even as the mage warned them, they all saw the grass moving and the hill seemingly moving toward them.
It was more apt to say that the hill was crawling under the grass in a
Way.
"They have the skill to manipulate the heart.
Whatever they are, we are backing off." Su pushed for everyone to move away and watched the hills shift to absorb the hill she had damaged.
But they did not move toward the group at all any more. Especially as they retreated
Back toward their camp.
All it left was Su's group with a single appraisal and even more questions to be asked.
----
…
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