"I want to hire you for a monster subjugation. There is a nest near this bridge that is starting to grow in numbers.
They might not be as large as a normal northern monster nest yet, but I have no doubt that after a few more years, their population will explode, rendering this bridge completely useless," Gehen explained to Geehrt.
The young mage looked back at the dwarf with clear interest regarding the proposed mission.
"What can you offer as payment? I do not mean mere coins, but do you happen to possess any unique spells or grimoires? If you do, I will consider that as full compensation," Geehrt asked, wanting to see if Gehen could provide some rare magic.
However, even if the dwarf had nothing of the sort, Geehrt did not really mind helping him.
If his memories served him correctly, the monsters flocking around this area were giant birds capable of summoning powerful wind gusts.
If he could copy their innate abilities, the endeavor would already be worth his time.
"I possess a spell that allows you to flip a pancake upside down perfectly every single time," Gehen offered, adding that he also had fresh ingredients ready for making a large batch of pancakes right now.
This proposition made Geehrt genuinely excited. For the past few weeks of his travels, his diet had consisted entirely of hard tack biscuits.
While he could soften those rations using a modified spell designed to turn stones as soft as jelly, he was eager to finally consume a different kind of warm meal.
"Alright, can I get an advance on those pancakes right now? And make sure you use that specific spell while cooking," Geehrt agreed.
Gehen happily accepted the terms and immediately began preparing his cooking station. While the dwarf was busy mixing the batter, Geehrt decided to put in some extra effort to secure the bridge permanently.
Geehrt stood up from the wooden log he had been resting on and walked onto the bridge.
He stopped exactly at the halfway point over the gap and started summoning a series of complex magic circles, the bright light immediately attracting Gehen's attention.
The geometric patterns Geehrt conjured were translated directly from the ancient texts of the Goddess.
It was fundamentally the same protective barrier that the Holy Church utilized across the continent.
However, Geehrt had ingeniously combined it with another divine magic formula to ensure the total dissipation of any harmful attacks directed at the structure.
'Now, if a malicious spell is targeted toward anyone crossing this bridge, the energy will dissipate the exact moment it touches the outer barrier.
Even the destructive gales generated by those monster birds should neutralize harmlessly. Still, I should test it to be certain,' Geehrt thought to himself.
He then activated another spell, modifying a common household incantation originally meant for attracting pests into a powerful lure designed for larger monsters.
Upon casting the lure, Geehrt sensed multiple giant birds launching into the air and flying aggressively toward his location.
Preparing for the incoming assault, Geehrt cast a multi-layered magical shield over Gehen's campsite.
He wanted to ensure that the dwarf would not be injured by this reckless test, and more importantly, he needed to protect the cooking station where his precious pancakes were being prepared.
The approaching flock let out an incredibly loud screech before suddenly halting their advance in the distance.
They stopped right at the invisible boundary where Geehrt's barrier ended. The monsters seemed to instinctively recognize the divine aura of the Goddess's magic.
Becoming increasingly enraged by their inability to reach their prey, the eight massive birds resorted to their innate monster abilities.
They flapped their wings violently, summoning razor-sharp wind gales directed straight at the bridge.
'Here it comes,' Geehrt thought, watching the eight birds unleash their devastating attack.
Yet, as the turbulent winds crashed against the invisible dome, Geehrt did not feel a single thing. Not even a gentle draft of air slipped through the defenses.
A satisfied smile formed on his face as he realized his spell modifications had succeeded exactly as he intended.
"Goodbye now," Geehrt whispered.
Suddenly, eight distinct Zoltraak magic circles materialized in the air around him. They fired off concentrated lasers the very second they formed.
This precise execution was becoming one of Geehrt's favorite combat maneuvers. He watched calmly as the eight monsters were pierced cleanly through their chests.
Their bodies immediately started dissipating into golden particles, flowing directly into Geehrt and permanently adding to his total mana reserves.
After applying a few final tweaks to ensure the protective barrier would last for decades, he walked back to Gehen's location.
He found the dwarf finishing up the batch of pancakes. Right on cue, Gehen activated his unique spell, perfectly flipping the final pancake in the air and showcasing the magical effect in front of his guest.
With his Six Eyes, Geehrt instantly memorized the spell's structural contents and the required mana output, just as easily as he had copied the wind magic from the birds.
Geehrt and Gehen then shared the warm meal together, happily eating breakfast food right in the middle of the afternoon.
Once he finished his portion and thanked the dwarf, Geehrt took to the skies using his flight magic.
He headed straight toward the deep forest where the monster birds were nesting, fully intending to wipe out their entire population in one sweeping strike.
Upon arriving at the hidden nest, Geehrt discovered a flock of more than one hundred gigantic birds.
The smallest among them matched the size of a large hunting hound, while the apex members possessed wingspans wide enough to eclipse the sun.
Geehrt immediately went to work. He conjured multiple Zoltraak magic circles in the sky above them and unleashed his first wave of attacks, instantly incinerating at least twenty of the creatures before they even realized they were under siege.
The surviving birds became utterly panicked. They had not been able to detect Geehrt's presence with their natural mana-sensing abilities.
As the entire flock desperately scrambled to take flight, Geehrt retaliated by creating a massive gale of his own.
He utilized the same wind spell he had just copied from their fallen brethren. The monsters that had barely lifted off the ground were caught completely off guard by the unnatural shift in air pressure.
The wind speed Geehrt generated was far more intense than the highest category of a tropical typhoon, violently knocking the birds out of the sky.
As the creatures lost all control over their flight paths and tumbled through the air, dozens of Zoltraak lasers were already waiting to intercept them.
Geehrt systematically massacred the entire monster nest with ruthless efficiency, completely clearing the infestation without moving a single inch from where he floated in the sky.
'Five minutes to clear them all? How am I still so slow?' Geehrt thought to himself with a hint of arrogance.
Having completed the subjugation, he turned around and flew back toward Gehen's bridge.
When he reunited with the dwarf mason, Gehen handed Geehrt a large, packed bag of extra pancakes to serve as rations for his upcoming journey.
Geehrt expressed his sincere gratitude to the dwarf once more, took his supplies, and resumed his travels, leaving the mason to his work without lingering for another sentimental moment.