NOVEL NEXT Chapter 97: Night Exploration
The technique was called "Thread Walking" - creating a thin filament of essence that connected you to your beast over long distances. The essence thread acted like an extension of your nervous system, allowing you to share sensory information and maintain communication even when separated by significant obstacles.
But Thread Walking was more than simple communication. When properly executed, the technique could transmit crude images, emotional impressions, and even basic spatial awareness through the essence connection. It was like seeing through your beast's eyes, though the information came as impressions rather than clear visual data.
Renard had used similar techniques with Esther in his previous life, though their bond had been much stronger and more developed. With Boa, he'd have to be more careful and work within the limitations of their current relationship.
He closed his eyes and began gathering essence in his core, preparing to create the connection thread. The process required converting his internal energy into its most refined form - thin, flexible, and nearly invisible to magical detection.
Drawing essence from his vessel, Renard began the delicate process of shaping it into a connective filament. The energy had to be stretched incredibly thin while maintaining its structural integrity, like spinning silk that could extend for hundreds of yards without breaking.
Slowly, carefully, he began extending the thread outward from his core. The essence moved through his meridians and out through his skin, creating an invisible line of energy that connected directly to Boa's small form.
The serpent hissed softly as the thread made contact with her essence signature. Renard felt the connection establish itself - a warm, tingling sensation that let him sense Boa's location and emotional state.
But he needed more than basic awareness. He needed to see what she saw, understand the layout of areas she explored, and identify potential threats or opportunities.
Renard deepened the connection, feeding more essence into the thread while carefully modulating its frequency. The technique was similar to tuning a musical instrument - too much energy and the connection would be unstable, too little and it wouldn't carry useful information.
Gradually, impressions began flowing back through the essence link. Not clear images, but something closer to sonar readings. Boa's movement created small disturbances in the ambient magical energy around her, and those disturbances reflected off nearby objects before returning through the connection.
It was crude compared to actual vision, but it provided surprisingly detailed information about spatial relationships, object sizes, and essence signatures. Renard could sense walls, doorways, furniture, and even other people through the reflected energy patterns.
More importantly, he could detect the strength and type of magical auras in Boa's vicinity. Different people had different essence signatures, and magical items or protective enchantments created distinctive patterns that could be identified through the connection.
"Go," he whispered to Boa. "Start with this level. Stay in the shadows and avoid anything that feels dangerous."
The serpent slithered across the stone floor toward his door. Renard had left it slightly ajar earlier, creating just enough space for Boa's small form to slip through without opening it further.
As she moved into the corridor, information began flowing back through their connection. The essence thread carried impressions of the hallway's layout - smooth stone walls, crystal light fixtures, doorways spaced at regular intervals. All familiar territory from his earlier exploration.
But the technique also revealed details he'd missed during his daytime reconnaissance. Faint magical inscriptions carved into the walls that weren't visible to normal sight. Protective wards around certain doorways that would detect unauthorized entry. Small sensor enchantments positioned at corridor intersections.
The monastery's security was more sophisticated than it appeared on the surface.
Boa moved carefully through the student quarters, avoiding the few corridors where Renard could sense movement through the connection. A late-night bathroom visit here, an insomniac student pacing in their room there. Nothing threatening, but good practice for the stealth skills they'd need later.
As the serpent explored, Renard built a mental map of the areas she visited. Room layouts, hidden passages, storage areas that might contain useful supplies. The information would be invaluable for planning future operations.
After covering the student level thoroughly, Boa began ascending toward the middle level where classrooms and training facilities were located. This area presented more challenges - the magical protections were stronger, and there were more sensor spells designed to detect unauthorized movement.
But Boa's natural stealth abilities, enhanced by her developing Shroud Step power, allowed her to move through the protected areas without triggering alarms. Her small size and serpentine movement pattern helped her avoid detection spells that were calibrated for human-sized intruders.
Through the essence connection, Renard explored the training rooms and classrooms from Boa's perspective. Most contained standard magical equipment - practice weapons, spell components, instructional materials. Nothing immediately useful for his mission, but good intelligence about the monastery's capabilities and resources.
One room caught his attention through the connection. Unlike the others, it radiated powerful magical energy that made Boa instinctively avoid getting too close. The essence signature was complex and layered, suggesting multiple enchantments or stored magical items.
'Probably an advanced training room or equipment storage,' Renard thought. 'Worth investigating later when I can handle the magical defenses.'
As Boa continued her exploration, she encountered her first real challenge. The connection suddenly carried impressions of a much stronger magical aura approaching - someone with considerable power moving through the corridors.
Renard immediately sent a mental command through the thread: Hide. Now.
Boa responded instantly, slithering into the shadows beneath a large training apparatus and activating her Shroud Step ability. The connection carried a sensation of darkness wrapping around the serpent like a protective cloak.
Through the essence thread, Renard sensed a figure pass within feet of Boa's hiding spot. The magical signature was powerful and disciplined - definitely an instructor rather than a student. But whoever it was continued past without detecting the hidden serpent.
When the danger passed, Boa emerged from concealment and continued her reconnaissance. But the encounter had reminded Renard of the risks involved in this technique. If Boa were caught, it could expose his entire mission.
The serpent reached the boundaries of the middle level, where corridors led toward the restricted upper areas and the mysterious Inner Hall. Here, the magical defenses became significantly more sophisticated. Barrier spells blocked certain passages completely, while detection enchantments created overlapping fields of magical awareness.
Renard could sense the power of these defenses through the connection - they were far beyond what a simple student infiltration could overcome. Getting past them would require either official authorization or much more advanced techniques than he currently possessed.
But even from the boundaries, Boa could gather useful intelligence. The magical signatures from beyond the barriers suggested the presence of multiple powerful individuals and significant magical resources. Whatever lay in the restricted areas was important enough to warrant serious protection.
After nearly two hours of exploration, Renard finally recalled Boa to his room. The serpent had covered most of the accessible areas and gathered valuable intelligence about the monastery's layout and security measures.
As Boa slithered back through his door, Renard carefully dissolved the essence thread connecting them. The technique had drained more energy than he'd expected - maintaining the connection over long distances while processing the returning information was mentally exhausting.
But the intelligence gathered was worth the effort. He now had a much clearer picture of the monastery's defenses and potential infiltration routes. More importantly, he'd confirmed that the really important areas were protected by barriers he couldn't currently overcome.
That meant he needed to find legitimate ways to gain access to restricted areas - either through advancement in the magical program or by acquiring abilities that could defeat the security measures.
"Good work," he whispered to Boa as she coiled against his ribs. "Rest now."
The serpent settled into a comfortable position, clearly tired from her nighttime reconnaissance mission. But Renard could sense her satisfaction through their bond - she'd enjoyed the opportunity to use her abilities for something important.
As Renard lay back on his narrow bed, he reviewed the intelligence Boa had gathered. The monastery was indeed a complex operation with multiple layers of security and hidden areas. Getting to the Inner Hall where Hobbren's daughter was likely being held would require careful planning and significant advancement through the magical curriculum.
But first, he needed to solve the immediate problem of the First Circle formation. Two weeks wasn't much time to find an alternative to the dangerous procedure while maintaining his cover.
Outside his small window, wind whistled through the mountain peaks, carrying with it the distant rumble of thunder. The Stormy Hills lived up to their name even during relatively calm weather.
Renard closed his eyes and began planning his next moves. The reconnaissance had provided valuable intelligence, but intelligence was only useful if you could act on it.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges and new opportunities. And somewhere in this mountain fortress, Hobbren's daughter waited for rescue.
The night exploration had been a success, but it was only the first step in a much more complex and dangerous mission.
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