That lightning phenomenon lasted a while, but gradually Jane's eyes started to regain their original color. Less shiny. All around her, the floor of the courtyard was destroyed; the force of that lightning bolt was frightening. Even if Jane had that elemental affinity, it's amazing she got no damage at all.

Nobody noticed, because of her clothes, but the lightning formed some sort of armor just where her heart was, before disappearing into her body. Right above her heart.

Jane looked around her, and her eyes suddenly shifted to where the two ladies were. She was worried something might have hit them, but it seems it was for nothing. Around the two was a slightly blue barrier, created by Eliza. The mercenary was surprised; she had already seen her use a barrier once, when the Guild exam was happening, but she didn't know Eliza could create one that sturdy in so little time.

The redhead got up, walking toward them, before asking with concern in her voice.

* Are you two alright? Sorry about that, I didn't expect that kind of reaction, neither did Anna.

Nohana just shrugged, looking unimpressed by the prowess of her white-haired friend.

* Yeah, don't worry, I trust Eliza for that. She's the best you will find.

* That's not true, Nohana. I still can't do the same kind of barrier we have in the city.

* Remind me your age? Twenty, right? I heard the mage that did these barriers was almost a hundred. And he didn't have your gift.

Jane lifted an eyebrow at that, looking over at Eliza, who was squirming on her spot, having taken down her barrier.

* Weeeell, I might have forgot to tell you. I have a gift too. They called it "barrier master," even though I'm nowhere close to a master. I can create all kinds of barriers from nothing. It does cost a lot of mana. But way less than a "normal" magic barrier. I haven't gotten much time to train that, but I still have some degree of control over it.

* That's a nice one! I'm sure it'll be really useful in the future.

Eliza smiled widely at that praise, prompting Nohana to roll her eyes with a smile. It was obvious to her how Eliza was smitten by Jane, and she could kind of understand why.

|| - But myself? No, I can't. I can't get too close to anyone. Who knows what will happen to them…? ||

* Nohana? Are you alright?

The green-eyed woman shook her head, before lifting it and recoiling just a little. Jane's face was mere centimeters away from hers, and it surprised her. Nohana still smiled.

* Yeah, I'm okay! What did you want? You wanted to give me that kiss, right?

{ - Jane. Let me out. }

[{ - No. Way. }]

{ - C'mon! I promise it will be really fun! }

[{ - Yeah, yeah, I understand your concept of fun. Sure, it's fun! But stop being horny all the damn time! }]

{ - Pffft }

[{ - Are you a child?! }]

Anna didn't answer after that. At least Jane didn't spend much time staring at Nohana, talking to Anna. That's the advantage of talking with someone in your head: the conversation goes as fast as a thought. Even if it seemed like they spent a long time conversing, in reality, it took only ten or so seconds.

* No, Nohana, didn't Eliza tell you we are civilized adults?

* Meh! You can't say that when you two kissed already.

The green-eyed woman crossed her arms, turning her head and pouting a bit with her eyes closed. Jane sighed with a smile, shaking her head.

* Are you a child too?

* What do you mean, too?

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* Don't worry about that… Anyway! Now that I know I'm capable of magic, I want to learn how to control it. Do you think you can teach me, ladies?

Eliza and Nohana looked at each other, before nodding to Jane. Eliza smiled at her friend.

* Of course. What do you want to learn? Well, I think it's best to explain how to move your magic first.

* Wouldn't it be better to teach her how to accumulate it?

* If I'm not wrong, Anna could teach her that, no?

* Yes, she should be able to. And I'm pretty sure she is already storing it without me knowing. Well, I'll know now.

Jane felt Anna nodding in her head. The redhead kinda knew about that. Otherwise, how could Anna cast any spell at all?

* Well, I'd like to start now.

Nohana looked at Eliza, who sighed a bit. The green-eyed woman shrugged.

* You are better than me about that. You spent a lot of time studying spells to understand and master your gift more.

* Fine, we'll start now then! Let me get us some real seats.

Eliza vanished into the mansion for a few minutes, then reappeared, followed by some servants carrying three chairs. The three ladies seated themselves, before Eliza started her explanations.

* So. I think you already know that, but to cast a spell, you need to be able to sense mana. And also to have some in your body. But it's not all. You can't use a spell simply by willing it. Well, you can. But only much later, when you have mastered that particular spell. But we aren't there right now.

{ - I can use my spells just with my will, and mana, of course. }

[{ - Yes, yes, Anna. You are the best. Now shut up! }]

Eliza continued, unaware of Anna's comments.

* To cast a spell, you need to imagine the magic circle in your head. And for that, you need to think of the mana like a physical thing, like you can actually touch and feel it in your ha-… what?

The surprise in Eliza's voice came from seeing Jane move around a clump of mana. The redhead was playing with it between her fingers, so smoothly it's like she's done that since a long time ago.

* How… How did you manage to do that so easily?

* I don't know? I just… tried what you said. I gathered the mana around me and tried to grab it. It's pretty warm. Is that normal?

Eliza looked at Nohana, and the two ladies crossed eyes for a few seconds, each of them confused and surprised. When the white-haired woman focused on Jane again, her voice was quivering a little.

* Did… Anna enhance your eyes to see the mana? I was about to ask you to close your eyes, and try to feel it. But now you say you saw it?

* No, she did not… I don't know how I can see it. But I can't see it further than around… three meters of me?

* Phew. It would be too overwhelming if you could see more. Mana is everywhere in the world. There's a theory that says mana is what makes the world and shapes all things.

Jane nodded her eyes, still playing with that little clump of mana. She focused her vision on it. It was a beautiful blue, like a calm ocean. But she could feel it almost… breathing, or at least alive. She looked at Eliza, tilting her head.

Jane nodded her eyes, still playing with that little clump of mana. She focused her vision on it. It was a beautiful blue, like a calm ocean. But she could feel it almost… breathing, or at least alive. She looked at Eliza, tilting her head.

* So, you said something about a magic circle? If possible, I'd like to learn a spell to move objects for now. The elemental affinity will have to wait a bit. I'll ask Anna about that.

Eliza shook her head, getting rid of the surprise Jane just gave her, and regained her composure. She nodded with a smile.

* Well, that one isn't really hard. And I had a feeling you would want it first. So I have the magic circle right here.

The white-haired woman took a piece of paper from one of the servants in the courtyard, giving it to Jane. On that paper was a circle, pretty simple with some strange symbols Jane had never seen before. She studied it for a bit before looking back at Eliza.

* So I just imagine that circle in my head and that's all?

* No, you have to make the mana follow it.

Jane nodded once more, then she closed her eyes. She tried to imagine that circle in her head, then to fill it with mana. She then opened her eyes and took out a dagger from her dimension. That dagger started to float unsteadily above her hand.

* Ooh! Yes, I'm sure I'll find some good ways to use that. It will be funny. There's some things I'll need to test with that, of course!

Jane's eyes were practically shining as she observed her dagger floating. The other two ladies chuckled a bit. It made them remember her age; their friend was acting so mature that sometimes it was hard to remember she was only eighteen. They looked at each other and nodded. Jane was too important; they were on the same page about protecting her, so what she had to endure wouldn't happen again.

The redhead stopped her spell and stored her dagger in her dimension, looking at the two ladies with a sheepish smile.

* Sorry! I got distracted by all my ideas! Speaking of that, I also have some ideas about your gift, Eliza!

* Hm? What kind of ideas?

* Well, it's mostly useful for fights. But there could be uses in explorations too!

Eliza tilted her head, not understanding what Jane meant by that. The concerned just laughed mischievously.