As Mio walked through the quiet morning forest, she let her mind drift, organizing her thoughts and making a plan for the day. She had spent the last few days exploring her magical abilities, and she was becoming more confident in her strength. Today, however, she wanted to test how well her magic could support her over a long journey. While her boundless mana meant she could cast without fear of exhaustion, she knew that carefully chosen spells could save her the trouble of casting frequently.

She decided to use one thread of her divided mind for general magic—specifically for spells that would simplify her journey. With her boundless mana, these spells would last indefinitely, leaving her free to concentrate on other tasks. She began casting each spell with precision, feeling them take hold like layers of invisible armor.

First, she cast Magical Protection to shield herself from attacks. She felt a gentle pressure settle over her skin, the barrier acting as a buffer against anything that might strike her. Next, she cast Resist, reinforcing her defenses against any ailments or poisons she might encounter. Her body felt strengthened, her resilience sharpened.

Then, she called on Comprehend Languages, a spell designed to let her read, write, and understand any language. The magic settled over her mind, making her feel as if the words and dialects of this world were already familiar to her.

The next spell, Increase Physical Characteristics, would amplify her strength and durability to the level of a small dragon. She felt her muscles grow more solid, a feeling of raw power flowing through her limbs, as though her body had transformed into an unbreakable fortress.

She cast Immortality, a spell that ensured she would not age or die unless her body was utterly destroyed. This spell, though easy to maintain, felt significant. She allowed herself a moment of reverence for the gravity of eternal life, even as her practical side reminded her that it was simply a measure of security in an unknown world.

Lastly, she cast Eliminate Needs, freeing herself from the requirements of food, water, and sleep. She felt a sense of clarity, her body fully sustained by magic, leaving her mind to focus on her mission. With these spells in place, she was ready to find civilization.

She turned her attention to Light magic, focusing on a spell she called Find to locate the nearest town. She channeled her mana, letting it stretch outward like a pulse, seeking out the traces of human settlement. A subtle warmth pointed her in the direction of a town to the south, aligning with the sun’s path. She adjusted her course and set off, the spells she had cast enhancing her every step, allowing her to cover ground quickly and without fatigue.

As she neared the edge of the forest, she heard the sounds of a struggle—a shout, the clash of weapons, and shrill goblin voices echoing through the trees. Mio’s heart leapt as she quickened her pace, pushing through the undergrowth until she came to a small clearing. There, on the edge of the forest where the trees met the open plains, two young adventurers, a boy and a girl, were fighting off a group of goblins.

The goblins were small and wiry, but there were several of them, and the adventurers were struggling to keep up with the attacks. The boy swung a short sword, keeping one goblin at bay, while the girl held a staff, casting minor spells to drive back the advancing creatures.

Without hesitation, Mio extended her hand, summoning Earth magic to bind the goblins’ feet. The ground shifted beneath them, and thick roots snaked up to wrap around their legs, rooting them in place. The goblins shrieked and struggled, but Mio raised her staff, channeling Water magic to form ice arrows. She released them one by one, each arrow finding its mark, cutting down the goblins with precision.

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Within moments, the battle was over. The clearing fell silent as the last of the goblins collapsed, and the adventurers turned to Mio, wide-eyed with amazement.

“Thank you!” the girl said breathlessly, her gaze flickering between Mio’s staff and her calm expression. “You… you saved us.”

Mio gave a small nod, lowering her staff. “You looked like you could use some help,” she replied with a smile. “Are you both all right?”

The boy nodded, though he seemed too shocked to speak. Mio glanced at their minor cuts and bruises, raising her hand and calling on Soul magic to heal them. A warm, gentle light flowed from her fingers, closing the wounds with ease. The adventurers stared at her in awe, clearly unused to such skill.

“A spellcaster…” the boy murmured, as if he could hardly believe it. “I’ve only heard of mages like you in stories. It’s rare to see someone who can cast multiple spells like that.”

Mio raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Are capable spellcasters uncommon here?”

The girl nodded eagerly. “Most mages can only specialize in one or two schools, and even then, they have limited mana. What you did just now… I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Mio filed that information away, intrigued by the limitations of mages in this world. If few spellcasters could wield multiple schools of magic, she might stand out here even more than she’d anticipated.

“Thank you again,” the girl said, bowing slightly. “My name is Reina, and this is my friend, Aron. We’re both new adventurers with the guild in town.”

Mio smiled and introduced herself, keeping her origins vague. “It’s nice to meet you, Reina, Aron. I’m Mio Mori. If you don’t mind my asking, what brings you here to the forest?”

Reina glanced over her shoulder at the fallen goblins. “We’re on a quest. There’s a hobgoblin that’s been organizing these goblins to raid the farms outside the city walls. Our guild has asked us to take it down and stop the raids.”

Aron nodded, gripping his sword tightly. “It’s been causing a lot of trouble for the townspeople. We thought we could handle a few goblins, but… well, we weren’t expecting so many.”

Mio considered this, her curiosity piqued. A quest to eliminate a hobgoblin sounded like an interesting challenge, and the thought of learning more about the guild—and this world’s adventurer system—intrigued her.

“If you’d like, I can accompany you,” she offered. “I’m curious about the area, and it seems like you could use an extra pair of hands.”

Reina and Aron exchanged a surprised glance, their eyes lighting up with relief. “You’d really come with us?” Reina asked, sounding both grateful and a little amazed. “That would be incredible.”

Mio nodded. “I’d be happy to help.” She had already tested her spells in practice, but this quest felt like the perfect opportunity to push her skills further and see how they held up in a real-world scenario.

The three of them set off into the forest, Reina and Aron leading the way as they described the goblin raids that had plagued the farms in recent weeks. Listening to their stories, Mio found herself intrigued by the challenges that adventurers faced in this world. They mentioned the guild, a place where adventurers registered to take on quests, each job providing rewards based on its difficulty. For young adventurers like Reina and Aron, it was both a livelihood and a way to gain experience and grow stronger.

Mio took in every word, her curiosity growing with each story. She could see the sense of camaraderie between Reina and Aron, the way they encouraged each other, even in moments of uncertainty. She hadn’t known this kind of companionship in her previous life, where her time had been consumed by her work, her world limited to her apartment and her game notes. Here, though, she felt a new kind of excitement—one born from exploration and connection.

After a while, they paused at the base of a large tree, taking a brief rest before continuing. Reina pulled out a map, pointing to a marked spot deep within the forest. “This is where the hobgoblin’s lair should be. We’re close, but it’s known to be heavily guarded. We’ll need to be careful.”

Mio nodded, feeling a spark of anticipation. She had boundless mana, spells that had yet to meet their limits, and a divided mind ready to handle any number of magical tasks. The thrill of facing a real enemy, one who led other creatures, was something she couldn’t wait to experience.

As they prepared to move, Aron looked at her with newfound respect. “Thank you for helping us,” he said quietly. “With your magic, I think we might actually have a chance against the hobgoblin.”

Mio smiled, gripping her staff. “Let’s make sure we do.”

Together, they moved deeper into the forest, their resolve strong as they advanced toward their goal. For Mio, it was more than just another test of her abilities—it was her first step into a world that was quickly becoming her own.