"Big sis, explain magic to me again!"
"Fine, I will explain again."
A silver-haired girl spoke, her voice devoid of inflection, calm yet emotionless.
"Magic comes in many forms. There are five elements, and the Blaze family predominantly wields the power of fire."
Aria listened quietly, her head nestled comfortably on her lap as she relaxed on the modest bed.
"All elements react to every other element. For example, wind fuels fire. That means children like you Aria, free-spirited and untethered, whose personality attracts the wind spirits have a soothing presence to those with fire affinity."
She poked Aria’s forehead, her face as indifferent as ever. A faint sense of disagreement stirred within her, but she remained silent and continued listening.
"Conversely, somebody with magic like mine would likely seem repulsive to those with fire affinity."
She paused, a hint of anger seeping through. Aria gently took the girl's hand and guided it to her chest, tracing the delicate burn scar on the back of the girl’s palm. The girl faced the window, as if searching for something, before continuing.
"Magic is a rare gift, bestowed upon nobles like us. It is not merely a subject of study, but a language of the mind, a means of communication with the spirits. Rather than practicing magic, what we are really doing is requesting the manifestation of magic. As such, personality plays a crucial role in this exchange."
"Big sis, is that why I can’t use fire?"
She paused again, this time a complex expression Aria couldn’t quite figure out.
"Thankfully, Aria isn’t quite impulsive or volatile enough for the fire spirits to enjoy your company. Besides, I think wind suits you much better."
The girl turned and faced her. Aria stared back, but weirdly enough, their eyes did not seem to meet. It was as if the girl was gazing at some place far into the distance.
"Anyway, as I was saying, personality is important for not just determining one’s elemental affinity, but also the magic they can employ. For example, what do you think of Ignatius after meeting him these past few days?"
"Hmm, big bro has a lot of passion and dreams, but he can get sucked into the papers big sis gives him. Ah, he also told me he wet himself during a fight in the past. He said it was how he got here, I think"
"Hmm, interesting. For every element of magic, there are five types, each biased towards a personality characteristic of one of the five elements. Similar to Tristan, who you played with the past few weeks, Ignatius, who easily fixates on something, is capable of endowment magic. However, enhancement fire magic, arguably the most common fire type magic, requires courage, which he clearly lacks. Heh."
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
A small snicker slipped from her lips, but the girl's expression swiftly reverted to its usual blank state. Tristan, huh. Aria recalled his face and voice, but quickly erased that thought and the associated worries.
"I really hope he enjoyed the paper you passed to him."
Her voice remained monotone and eerily unsettling. Yet Aria had grown accustomed to it over the past four years, finding its peculiar tranquility oddly soothing. With peaceful silence enveloping them, Aria gazed into the girl's eyes and drifted into a serene slumber as a gentle hand caressed her hair.
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"Aria"
My fingers continue to thread through the strands gently, eliciting a sensation of warmth and intimacy. The softness of the hair yielded beneath my touch, my fingers navigating the contours of the scalp with tender precision, before moving on and tracing the delicate curve of her jawline until they reached the chin. There, my finger lingered, applying gentle pressure to lift the chin slightly.
"Please stay as innocent as you are now."
Aria who has so many friends in this castle, a tranquil breeze freely jumping from conversation to conversation. I wonder if you still remember and care about all those who have disappeared, but knowing you, you probably think they escaped to a better place. You who possess such boundless optimism and carefree joy.
How child-like.
How envious.
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Year 1959, May, Imperial Calendar
There was a loud commotion happening in the garden, a cacophony of voices that jolted me from my slumber.
"Somebody stop him from destroying the garden!" "Call Sir Aldric over!" "Sir Aldric is currently not in the castle!"
Turning away from the slumbering Aria, I slowly approached the window, taking care not to disturb her rest.
With a cautious hand, I drew back the curtains and gazed out into the garden below. In the corner of my view, I glimpse a large gathering of children, gardeners and maids. Ignatius stood in the center of the crowd, his demeanor commanding, his attention fixated on a massive rock.
Quickly, I donned my attire and descended into the garden below. With a mixture of curiosity and concern, I ventured closer, straining to check out what he was doing.
Ignatius had his eyes squeezed shut, his brow furrowed in deep concentration as he pressed his palm against the rock. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, evidence of the fervor with which he pursued his task. The surrounding air crackled with anticipation as the rock responded to his touch, pulsating with a threatening red hue that cast an ominous glow over the surrounding area. The tranquility of the pond beside the rock stirred, its surface gently bubbling as ripples emanated from the direction of the imposing stone. Nature itself seemed to respond to Ignatius' endeavor, with the trees and leaves rustling and swaying wildly, as if caught in a mysterious dance orchestrated by his magic.
"Wasn’t he supposed to be making my wooden explosives?" I muttered under my breath, a little annoyed that he wasn’t doing as I had expected.
Suddenly, Ignatius' eyes snapped open, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
"Watch and learn pathetic failures. This is the difference between you and a pureblood!"
As he spoke, a surge of searing heat washed over me, emanating from the rock as its color shifted from red to orange. Ignatius' laughter filled the air, mingling with the crackling energy that surrounded him.
In an instant, the rock blazed with a violent yellow light before erupting into a blinding flash of white. I shielded my eyes instinctively, the intensity of the light searing through my closed eyelids.
As the heat intensified, I attempted to encase myself in water, only to feel it evaporate in an instant. Then, a searing pain tore through my thigh, followed by a sudden impact to my chest that sent me hurtling backwards.
With a sickening thud, my back collided with the unforgiving surface of the wall.