With the flames flickering on the table the two of us begin our experimentation on the changes that have been revealed. First Nicol steps forward placing down a half dozen more candles, and four lanterns to begin our testing.

  “So from what you have said Tom the flame has a constant drain on your mana but now lets test if the flames size corresponds to the amount it drains.” Elrich states handing me a lantern to ignite.

  As I grab the lantern I ask, “Would it not be better to understand how to cut the spell off first?”

  “Not at the moment this test is two fold testing the how to increase the drain and how the drain is affected by multiple sources. You see the amount of mana a skeleton like Nicol uses is manageable but if I were to animate a second skeleton the increase in the amount of mana used would be almost four times as much.” Elrich explains. “This is why many necromancers tend to have immense mana regeneration and reserves due to the skeletons stressing their mana supply.”

  “So I guess I'm a bit of an odd one out with my Magical power being as high as it is huh Elrich.” I state slightly joking. While I do I open the lantern and ensure the oil inside is full before turning to Elrich.

  Giving me a grin he states, “Well to be honest you have a better start than most due to the lessons in mana sensing from me along with the talent. Not to mention the lessons in Mana control from Taxol and Gertrude. Most individuals begin to train in those areas after selecting their Intermediate class. Also Magical power will influence the strength of the undead you create.”

  Nodding along I cast my spell giving Elrich a glance as I do and place the flame inside the lantern. At first the flame is about the same size as the candles but as we talk I funnel more mana into the flame causing it to grow until it is three times the size of the candles flame. Cutting off the flow I close the Lantern and focus on the passive mana drain from the two flames.

  Closing my eyes I focus on my mana sense turning it inwards to feel the energy that permeates my body. With my attention focused on the energy I delve deeper towards my core finding a deep sense of pressure from the death aspected mana surrounded by a burning flame. At the edge of the core is a shell of earth mana containing the energy and acting as an insulator for the rest of my body barring a single channel that reaches into the depths. From there I feel a portion of my mana moving through the channel. Once it reaches the earthen shell a quarter of the mana flows out the channel into the shell while the rest flows past. Half the total mana flow begins to feed the flame while the final quarter enters the dense orb of death at the center.

  Taking note of the amount of mana flowing in the channel from the rest of my body it seems to be around three times as much as the small single flame. It is still only a small stream compared to the lake that is my mana reserves. With a breath I turn my focus away from my core towards the flow of energy flowing out from it in two streams. Combined the streams carry around two thirds of the energy that is funneling into my core.

  Without turning my attention away from the channel I speak to Elrich, “The drain from the two spells is around three times as much as the single flame. Could you put out the smaller flame please.” As I speak the first stream cuts off and the energy flowing through the channel begins to drop. Soon the drain is only half as much as before and the second stream is taking around two thirds of the mana that is sent in my core.

  Opening my eyes a grin begins to form on my face. Without a word I grab another lantern and begin to create a flame that is around the same size as the other lanterns. Keeping a portion of my focus on the channel I see a surge in the mana flow as I cast the spell before it begins to drop and levels itself off once the flame is lit. The total mana flow seems to maintain itself at four times the cost of a single spell with a third of the mana remaining in my core.

  “So I take it from your grin the results are fairly decent with these tests so far?” Elrich asks in his gravely tone echoing in the enclosed room.

  “Yea from what I can tell you were right with the larger flames taking more mana. Though the lanterns' flames took less than I thought, not even twice as much as the candle's flame did.” I say getting a considerate look from Elrich. After taking a drink of tea now cold tea for a moment I continue. “Also when maintaining the spells it seems to drain around three times as much mana as a single flame when both are using equal amounts of mana.”

  Elrich nods along, narrowing his eyes as I finish speaking. “When the flames are equal it’s three times as much but what about when they are not equal Tom that is still important.”

  “Well it seemed to be equal to about three times the cost of the weaker flame to maintain the two.” Pausing as Elrich holds up his hands and sends a pulse of mana into the lanterns snuffing the flames inside.

  “Light the candle again first then both lanterns and tell me what you sense. Focus on the drain as you light each one.” Elrich orders.

  Nodding, I reach over and ignite the wick once more, feeling the drain begin. Next as I begin to ignite the lantern I send part of my focus inwards tracking the flow through the channel watching as the drain increases once more.

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  As I light the third flame I speak “the amount of mana flowing through the channel after the initial surge levels off at five times the cost of the candle. In addition the overall amount of mana that remains in my core is slightly less than half the total. For each flame the amount sent to each is staying consistent.”

  Placing the lantern down I look towards Elrich taking note of the fact my book is in his hands with the quill jotting the observations down. Observing him mumble for a moment as he writes, I proceed to lean back. While I lean back I raise my hand to place my chin between my thumb and index finger.

  Elrich’s scribbling in the book is all that is heard for a minute before Nicol reaches out from the side and snuffs the candle out. The skeleton then hands me a third lantern already opened and prepared. “Light the third lantern if you would and note the drain once more.” Elrich commands

  Nodding I take stock of my current mana volume as it regenerates every three seconds more mana than I am currently draining. As I ignite the flame the drain shoots upwards leveling off at six times as much mana as a single lantern. Turning my sense towards the core and the streams I note the core is taking in half the overall mana sent into it while the streams each take the same amount as before.

  “Total drain now Tom?” Elrich asks as I place the lantern down.

  “Around six times a single lantern with half of that remaining in my core.” I state as Elrich finally looks up.

  “Six times the lanterns, that is good, very good.” With a wave he motions to the last lantern. “Ignite the final lantern if my theory is right the total drain should be eight times the cost of a single lantern.”

  Nodding my head I ignite the fourth lantern keeping an eye on the channel as it begins to swell. As I observe the flow begins to level off after the initial surge; it maintains a drain at eight times a single lantern just like Elrich predicted. From my core a fourth stream emerges and once again half the mana flowing to the core remains behind.

  “You were right Elrich, the drain is eight times the single lantern. Now what is this theory you were talking about?” I ask my mentor.

  “Your affinities Tom you have three affinities. From what I understand having two affinities tends to halve the overall cost of using a spell due to one affinity acting as a buffer requiring less mana to maintain a shell around your core.” Elrich explains quickly “Take myself for example I only have a death affinity so when I have Nicol performing tasks he drains a significant portion of my mana. This is due to the death mana needing a shell of raw mana in order to be contained in my core.”

  “So because I have three affinities my fire affinity contains the death affinity and the earth affinity contains both of them in a shell. Why is my fire affinity taking more mana than the earth affinity then? Also shouldn't I still need a shell of raw mana around my core?” I question Elrich.

  “That is simple, the fire is not just blocking your death affinity from the earth affinity it is holding both of them apart.” Elrich states simply. “As for your mana shell, it has not formed for you yet. Generally one forms the shell when their affinity increases into the adept tier as its energy will begin to seep out from your core and affect your body otherwise.”

  “Interesting, Could it cause an issue if my death affinity reaches adeptness while my class is only Intermediate?” I question

  “Not in the way you might be thinking. The worst that could happen is it would begin to constantly drain your mana at a steady rate to maintain the shell as it would need to be reinforced.” Elrich states before pausing to think for a moment. He then continues saying, “However if it goes up to far say if your class is only basic while having an adept affinity it would drain your mana in its entirety. Once you run out of mana it would then begin to seep into your body causing complications at that point.”

  “Alright then, So the fact my Death affinity is intermediate will not cause any issues then?” I ask.

  “No it should not, the increase to intermediate to adept will take a while as it will require more work than casting of death affinity spell. It requires a large amount of meditation and exposure to death aligned mana. Far more than we can find here in the valley.” Elrich reassures me. “However, that is a reasonable and well thought question Tom.”

  “Now let us take a moment before to plan the next step in testing,” as he speaks an audible rumble is heard from both our stomachs, “and lets eat some food.” He says as he gets up and walks over to the wall next to the door and picks up a basket of food and brings it over.

  As he brings the basket over I move the lanterns to the side and Nicol grabs the candles and puts them on a shelf over at the far side of the building. As Elrich sets down the basket he sends a pulse of mana at the lanterns disrupting my connection to them and snuffing the flames.

  Elrich begins pulling a cloth out of the basket before laying some bread, cheese, and jerky on it. Once he sits down with the food between us he begins to talk, “The next step of testing will be seeing how this will affect your familiar spell Tom. Once you manage to create a familiar I will begin to teach you how to cancel the connection, and how to prevent others from cutting it off like I have been doing.”

  As he talks I chew on a piece of jerky while setting some more on a slice of bread with some cheese. After a moment I swallow the jerky and speak up, “I would hope so considering having a undead under my control fall apart instantly to an opposing caster would be annoying.”

  Elrich lets out a laugh at that statement, “You know I saw that happen once when a rookie necromancer had ignored our instructor's lesson on how to shield them. So during a training fight his undead just crumbled instantly, and the rookie I had never seen a man's face go so red.”

  At that I begin to laugh hard at the image in my mind of a red faced necromancer standing in behind a line of collapsed skeletons while getting surrounded looking embarrassed.