> Kira PoV <

Ah… Back here again. The Magic Academy. I wonder why every time I see this huge building I get nostalgic for some reason? Perhaps some part of me did find this place fun after all? No, that’s not quite right. I suppose it’s just that I owe this place a lot, even if the students were horrible to me. Good or bad, I’m not going to forget those meaningful 5 years I spent here, even if I could. There’s a good chance that, without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

And there’s nowhere else I’d rather be ~♡!

“Kira, you’re making that face again.” (Ellie)

“Hmm? What face?” (Kira)

“The ‘I’m so happy I met Ellie’ face.” (Ellie)

“I make a face like that?” (Kira)

“Oh yeah. It’s something like this.” (Ellie)

She pulls down her mask and shows me a wide, loose smile with her mouth slightly open and positively sparkling eyes. And wait, is that drool? I wipe my lower lip and yes, I was actually drooling a bit. Well, that was embarrassing. A grown woman drooling over someone like that is disgraceful! Ah, but can anyone really blame me?

“Focus, Kira! Let’s do what we came here to do so we can go back home already!” (Ellie)

“Oh right.” (Kira)

I change gears and put my memory to work.

“Let’s see… Old Forenheim’s office should be on the third floor of the west wing. This way.” (Kira)

I lead Ellie inside the building through the grand double doors. We turn right immediately and walk off towards our destination. At least this building was always easy to find your way around. It’s basically four grand hallways put together in a square shape with a huge open space in the middle of it. That place is usually reserved for ceremonies and recreation rather than magic practice though.

Also, all of the rooms are also always on the side facing outwards, so it’s really difficult to get lost here, unlike the royal palace. I swear, if it wasn’t for Nano’s flawless navigation I don’t think we’d ever make our way out of that maze of hallways and corridors! Well, not without breaking some walls, that is!

We reach one of the corners of the building and head up the staircase there, up to the third out of five floors. After some more walking we’re standing in front of a door with a small sign on the wall next to it. It reads ‘Alzack Forenheim.’

I take a deep breath and steel myself. That guy was always strict, so dropping in unannounced like this is bound to make him mad. Well, that and I did break his Treant Heartwood staff back in the day and he’s never quite forgiven me for that. However, I came prepared should that topic arise!

*Knock Knock*

“Yes?” (Forenheim)

Oh good, he’s in. Well, that guy hates afternoon classes so there’s no way he’d be anywhere else right now. I open the door to the cramped office and walk inside. I turn to greet the instructor sitting behind the desk in the corner of the room.

“Good day, Mister Forenheim.” (Kira)

The elderly cat-folk mage looks at me. His fur has gotten significantly grayer, hasn’t it? If he were a human, I’d expect him to have a long, tidy beard. But cat-folk don’t grow beards so that part’s pretty impossible after all. He looks at me with those piercing lime-green eyes. Seems they have not lost even a bit of vigor in the few years since I last saw them.

“Quasse. Good day.” (Forenheim)

He raised the corner of his mouth, briefly baring his slightly pointed teeth almost like a sneer. That’s the same face he made every time he looked at me back in the day. He gives Ellie that same look when she comes in after me.

“Then this must be-” (Forenheim)

“Hello! I’m Ellie, Kira’s wife!” (Ellie)

“I know who you are, girl! I doubt think there’s anyone left in this blasted city who doesn’t by now.” (Forenheim)

He points towards his right. Seems he’s cut out that the newspaper article about us from the beginning of the year and put it up on the wall. Was it really necessary to frame it, though?

“So what do you want? Make it quick, I have work to do.” (Forenheim)

“No, you don’t. You just want us out of here because we disturbed your nap.” (Kira)

“... Right, almost forgot who I was dealing with.” (Forenheim)

“I’m here because I require your aid.” (Kira)

“That so? And what can this old bag of bones do that the infamous [Red Sage] is incapable of?” (Forenheim)

And there it is, that jealousy of his. He always disliked me for being able to use a wider range of magic than he did. More potent, too.

“I need you to tutor me.” (Kira)

“Hah. Hahahahaha!” (Forenheim)

He broke into a dry, almost mocking laugh. I glance at Ellie who’s on my side, but she just dreamily stares at my face. Doesn’t seem like his attitude has crossed her breaking point. Arm-breaking  point, that is.

“Oh wow, that was funny. Haaah. Now why are you really here?” (Forenheim)

“I’m serious. Due to some circumstances I wish to try studying the Shadow Magic that only cat-folk are known to possess.” (Kira)

“You do realize you sound crazy right now, right?” (Forenheim)

“Probably. But I’m still asking you. Not for free, of course.” (Kira)

“Bah, I don’t need your money!” (Forenheim)

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“No, but you wouldn’t mind a new office, right? Maybe one with an attractive secretary to keep people out?” (Kira)

I’ve built up some connections in the past six months that should allow me to do that without ruffling too many people’s feathers.

“... Alright, I’m listening.” (Forenheim)

“I need you to teach me Shadow Magic.” (Kira)

“Oh wow! Okay. Did not expect that one. You do realize impossible things are impossible, right?” (Forenheim)

“Because I’m human, yes?” (Kira)

“Exactly.” (Forenheim)

“Can you be more specific? What is it that humans lack?” (Kira)

“That’s right, you’ve never seen me perform Shadow Magic, have you?” (Forenheim)

“Indeed, I have not.” (Kira)

“Here, allow me to demonstrate.” (Forenheim)

He stands up from his desk and walks around so he’s standing in front of us. He grabs a staff that was leaning against the wall and starts casting a spell.

“------ [Cloak of Shadows]” (Forenheim)

His grey fur turns rapidly turns black and a thick, dark smog starts oozing out of it. His faint shadow, caused by the indirect light pouring in through the window, instantly becomes thicker and  more distinctive. It’s so well defined it almost looks like there’s a spotlight behind him. It’s a bit creepy.

“--- [Dark Tendril]” (Forenheim)

An octopus-like limb wriggles up from his shadow. It looks like it’s made out of an unidentifiable black mass, just like Khamis. It wriggles about and wraps itself around a chair leg, pulling it slightly to the side. The whole situation has graduated from ‘a bit creepy’ to ‘plenty creepy.’ Satisfied with the expression on my face, Forenheim releases the spell, causing his fur and his shadow to revert to normal.

“Understand now?” (Forenheim)

“... It’s the fur, isn’t it?” (Kira)

“Indeed. Shadow Magic demands one cut off their skin from all light. Without fur like us cat-folk to absorb it completely, it becomes impossible to manipulate the darkness like that.” (Forenheim)

I see. So it was a biological limit after all.

“There’s more to it, though. Humans are naturally predisposed to embrace the warmth of the sun. Think about it - when you use your Barriers, what’s the image you’re using to conjure them?” (Forenheim)

“You mean how we have to focus on making the light around us solid?” (Kira)

“Yes, quite right. But do you know why it is only humans can do that? It’s because you have eyes that are naturally attuned to that. Us cat-folk have eyes that love the dark, so it’s impossible for us. Dwarves on the other hand have skin that responds really well to minerals and metals, which is why making them move around as golems comes naturally to them.” (Forenheim)

He’s right. Our Barrier Magic instructor did have us stare intently at his barriers. ‘Burn this image into your eyelids’ is what he said at the time. I thought he was just being melodramatic, but I guess he meant that pretty much literally.

“How do you know all this, though?” (Kira)

“Every mage worth his salt has tried to do what you’re doing right now, Quasse. And like me, they’ve all given up on chasing after the impossible.” (Forenheim)

“Then, do you know about the magic of other races? Like Mountain Giants or Mermen?” (Kira)

“Mermen, huh? I’ve never met them so no, but I did consult with an old Mountain Giant adventurer back in the day. In their case, it’s something called Stasis Magic. Essentially it’s about freezing their target still. It can’t move or take any action, but you can’t inflict any damage to it, either. It’s a flexible magic that can be used to control the battlefield quite well.” (Forenheim)

“Let me guess, it has something to do with their habit of dozing off all the time?” (Kira)

“I’m not sure if that’s related. From what I was told their magic stems from the secondary hearts they have on the right side of their chests. Ah, their blood is precious to their culture so whatever you do don’t make any them bleed, okay? Even if it’s by accident! Trust me, you do not want to see an enraged Mountain Giant!” (Forenheim)

“... Noted. Guess I’ll have to give up on that. Thank you very much for your help, mister Forenheim.” (Kira)

“Ah… I guess that office and secretary are out of the question?” (Forenheim)

“Obviously.” (Kira)

“Heheh. That’s fine. I got to see you realize you’re not as all-knowing as you thought you were. That’s good enough for me! Now get out and let me sleep- I mean, work!” (Forenheim)

We say our goodbyes and leave the elderly mage to do as he pleases. Ellie speaks up to me on the way out of the building.

“It was exactly like Kira said, that was amazing!” (Ellie)

“Yes, well, I thought it might be something like this ever since Ariel told us about her second voice. I think I understand now, we’ve been going about this whole Gaze of Magnus thing in completely the wrong direction.” (Kira)

“Wrong? How?” (Ellie)

“Think about it. Avians have a second voice. Elves have multiple streams of thought. Cat-folk have fur. Mountain Giants have a second heart. Humans have special eyes. Dwarves have a unique feel for rocks and metal.” (Kira)

I pause and consider the ones we have little-to-no information about.

“As for the others, Mermen-only magic probably has something to do with scales or gills. Salamanders like Yuri have that magical tail flame so that’s probably the source of that magical explosion.” (Kira)

Well, that or those glowing runes. Either way it’s definitely connected to her tail. Ellie said it seemed to turn brighter when she invoked her magic against the cyclops, so it’s clearly suspicious.

“The [Unity] and [Thought Echo] spells may help me cheat a bit with the elven Life Magic, but that’s definitely the exception.” (Kira)

Even then it only remains as a possibility rather than a sure thing.

“In short, each race has magic that is part of what they are. It truly was arrogant of us to assume it would be something as simple as ‘we weren’t taught how to do it.’ The magic that we teach to Aura will have to stem from who she is.” (Kira)

“But… can we really do that?” (Ellie)

“I think we can. As long as we figure out what it is that sets her apart.” (Kira)

“So… everything?” (Ellie)

“Yeah, it’s hard to narrow it down. She’s completely unlike the two of us, after all. I’m sure we’ll figure it out once she’s able to express herself properly though.” (Kira)

We’d have to wait until she grows up, but we’re in no rush whatsoever.

“What if she doesn’t want to be a mage?” (Ellie)

“Hmm? I don’t see that as a problem. Surely at least one of her 399 siblings will want to be one, right ~♡?” (Kira)

“Hehehehe! Then we better get to work on that, yes?” (Ellie)

“Fufufu, my thoughts exactly!” (Kira)

{Kira, sorry to butt in while you’re getting fired up, but I have a question.}

“Hm? What is it Nano?” (Kira)

{I’ve been taking notes on your theories regarding this whole Gaze of Magnus thing. Do you really think you can teach magic without being able to feel it for yourself?}

“Mmm, that’s the challenge. Honestly I don’t know if I can do it.” (Kira)

I’ve never been one for teaching. Even when showing Ellie the basics of magic, she picked them up easily due to her experience with that ‘Star Magic.’ Well, that and sharing her mind with me.

{I think I see a way to practice that, at least. Perhaps have that Forenheim teach you what he knows and then work with cat-folk students to see if you can pass it on successfully.}

“Oh! That’s a good idea. I’ll have to look into it.” (Kira)

{Ah, also you neglected to mention Skittles earlier.}

“Huh? What do you mean?” (Kira)

{When you were listing what unique traits each species used for their magic. You left out Skittles. I mean, I can make a guess, but I’d like to hear your thoughts on that.}

“I don’t follow.” (Kira)

{Skittles is the first and last Arachne, yes? They’re still one of the races that should have their own brand of magic.}

“... Ellie, do you know what Nano’s talking about?” (Kira)

“No idea.” (Ellie)

{Did I say something strange?}

“Well yeah. I mean for starters, what exactly is a Skittles?” (Kira)