Over the preceding days and extending further back, goblins predominantly made their presence known in the vicinity and along the borders, while sightings of orcs remained exceptionally scarce.
Nonetheless, the urgency of their situation heightened due to the impending onset of the rainy season and the pressing need to replenish their dwindling stores.
Ethan furrowed his brows deeply in thought and then turned to his father, seeking understanding. "Dad, our village is situated near the coastal region, just like those creatures. They have their own territory and village," he said, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "They possess the ability to think through the situation, most likely led by their leader. Why don’t they go fishing?".
Aldric's faint smile held traces of worry due to the looming danger. Hearing Ethan's question, he explained, "You're right, fishing makes sense for us and sounds like a good option for us. However, these creatures have different instincts, and water is not their comfort zone." He continued, "You see, they're naturally wary of the sea. Unlike us, they haven't found ways to navigate the ocean's depths for fishing."
Ethan contemplated his father's words, letting them sink in. "So," he mused, "our only option is do or die, isn't it?"
"Yes," Aldric replied with a nod. "And if that occurs, it won't be limited to goblins; orcs might also join in raiding the village." Ethan paused with a heavy heart. "Many villagers are elderly or possess only basic magical abilities. Those who were adept or above have already left in pursuit of better opportunities."
"We've truly found ourselves in quite a situation," Elara acknowledged, sharing a wry smile with Aldric.
"And you wouldn't even let me make it to work yesterday," Aldric playfully jabbed as his gaze shifted towards his wife with a hint of mock fear in his eyes.
"Enough of that," Elara said sternly. "Now let's focus on a plan." Elara redirected the conversation as her tone shifted to a more serious note. "Is the divisional office sending reinforcements to assist us?" she inquired with concern.
Aldric shook his head with a touch of resignation in his expression. "Unfortunately, we're on our own in this, just a handful of us," he responded. "The divisional office is stretched thin, and they can't really afford to allocate significant resources to a single village. With the possibility of multiple villages facing similar threats, they've decided to spread their forces across the region to cover as much ground as possible."
The entire village might be reduced to ruins because of the formidable strength and bulk of the Orcs; creatures known for their raw power and robustness. Aldric's fatherly concern deepened as he contemplated the potential fate of the village, especially the children, who hadn't yet experienced their awakenings and were defenseless.
Despite the orc's lack of magical abilities, their immense physical strength and thick bodies granted them natural resistance against blunt damage and physical attacks. Which was enough to ruin the entire village.
Aldric shivered, his voice quivering as he whispered, "And in the direst of circumstances, if he... if he appears..." His face turned pale with fear. "We will all meet our end."
"Who?" Ethan's voice carried a note of confusion as he watched his father's trembling figure. "If who appears, Dad?"
"The Orc King," Aldric replied with a weight of concern.
Elara gasped audibly from her seat, reaching out to hold Aldric's hands. Her touch was meant to provide comfort and warmth, an attempt to soothe his anxious state.
"We're truly lacking in power." Aldric's voice wavered with a tone of anxiety, and his gaze shifted to the sky, an eerie feeling settling in. "If only we had someone strong here in our village."
As the three gazed at the sky, the sound of crickets filled the air, and the village seemed to be in a peaceful slumber as if it were the calm before a storm.
It had been over eleven years since he found himself in this new world. Despite not living a lavish life and not coming from a noble or high-ranking family, he had finally attained what he had always longed for in his previous life: a loving family. Not just that, but he had also grown attached to this entire village and many of its villagers.
"I don’t like this," Ethan mumbled to himself as his gaze fixed on his father's troubled expression. "If only I could do something; I don't even have the knowledge to make a weapon. I feel utterly useless," Ethan reflected, clenching his teeth and unconsciously chewing on his gum.
"Ouch!" Ethan exclaimed as he bit his gum a bit too hard.
Startled, Elara turned to Ethan and asked, "What happened?"
"Nothing, Mom, but thank you," Ethan replied hastily as he made his way toward his room.
"It seems like he's going for a rest," Aldric remarked. "Elara, could you stay here with me for a while?" He asked, his gaze drifting up to the sky.
"Hmm," Elara nodded.
Ethan entered the house, retrieved a pen and book, and then came back out and settled onto the ground. Balancing the book on his thighs, he crossed his legs and glanced toward his father.
"Dad, can you show me your fire magic spell?" he inquired.
Aldric's concern deepened due to the situation, prompting him to raise his voice. "This isn't the right time for playing, Ethan."
"Dad, please, I just want to see it once," Ethan pleaded, his tone earnest.
"I already told you not to disturb me," Aldric retorted firmly.
Growing frustrated with her husband's response, Elara shot him an angry look and intervened, saying, "At least listen to what he's saying."
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"Fine, but this is the last time I'm showing you." Aldric's voice carried a hint of irritation as he began to chant.
"Embers bright, heed my call; From the depths, let flames enthrall."
As Aldric finished chanting the words, a magic circle materialized before him, reminiscent of the one Ethan had seen his mother use for wind spells. However, there were distinct differences in the design of Aldric’s spell.
The process continued with precision: a first golden ring emerged, followed by a second spinning motion circle, and finally, the third ring appeared. With each addition of a ring and the infusion of mana into the circle, the spell took shape.
Eventually, Aldric released the energy, and the manifestation took the form of a blazing fireball cast onto the ground.
After observing the fireball Aldric had conjured, Ethan mumbled, "Thank you, Dad," as his determination kindled. In that instant, a spark of belief ignited within him: "I can do this".
Over the past few years, he had absorbed various pieces of knowledge about mana and magic. However, most of it had remained theoretical due to his lack of an Arcane Nexus. A theory had formed in his mind, derived from a concept he'd encountered in the book "Essential Elements: A Beginner's Guide to Magic."
In its later chapters, there was an explanation of magic circles, detailing the functions of basic spells. Back then, he’d envisioned a way to enhance one of these spells.
Lacking the necessary mana, putting his theory to the test was impossible. His original plan had been to wait until he obtained an Arcane Nexus, especially with his coming-of-age ceremony just days away. However, the current circumstances were urgent and distinct, and waiting until the ceremony was no longer feasible; he had to act now. The moment had arrived to directly apply his theory to his father and confirm its validity.
After confirming the spell he had just witnessed, Ethan's hand moved swiftly across the pages of the book. The pen danced as he delicately sketched the fundamental circle, which he marked as C1, a universal framework shared across the realm of magic. This circle knew no elemental bounds; it was a pure manifestation of mana's unifying essence. Mana is universal, with no distinct elemental properties.
In the circle's heart lay a single dot, marked as c, like the nucleus of a cell, signifying the core of mana. From this central point, lines extended outward, like tendrils of thought, each one carrying the essence of mana. As he shaded these lines, the first spell took shape—a golden circle that appears when casting a spell, the very foundation of magic spells.
With the foundational circle complete, he moved on to the second, designated as C2, its tip pointing clockwise, representing the anticipated motion when mana coursed through the circuit. This second circle would serve as the basis for a basic fire spell, and within its confines lay the Star of David, marked by points denoted as a,b,c,d,e, and f. A geometric symbol poised to unleash the fiery force.
However, this fire would be pure, devoid of any form or structure; its raw essence would be untamed. Employing it at this stage would yield an uncontained blaze, lacking direction or concentration.
Yet nestled within the Star of David’s hexagonal framework resides a smaller circle, C3, a controller endowed with the power to guide and govern. Within this circle, another inscribed triangle emerged labeled with vertices C3a1, C3b2, and C3c3, its apex reaching upward. The controller was the hub through which mana flowed, dictating the spell's shape and direction."
As Ethan meticulously sketched each of the three circles, assigning specific labels to represent their respective functions, Elara, intrigued by her son's focused activity, gazed over at him and inquired, "What are you working on?"
However, Ethan remained engrossed in his drawing, the world around him fading as he continued his intricate work.
Before his rebirth, in a previous life and during physics class, he had learned about friction, angular velocity, and energy conservation. While these concepts were foreign to the fantasy realm he now inhabited, he saw a potential bridge between the two worlds. He had learned about mechanical systems and how energy could be harnessed and manipulated. Mana, in this new world, seemed analogous to energy in the scientific realm.
As he wrote down the insights he had gained from observing the spell, he deduced that the second circle (C2), with its clockwise rotation and the Star of David, held the key to enhancing the fire's power. His intuition told him that friction could be harnessed to increase the intensity of the flames. But how could he incorporate the concept of friction into a magical equation?
Seeking to bridge the gap between magical theory and scientific principles, he recalled a formula from his school days that represented kinetic friction, the force that opposes the motion of two surfaces in contact. Could he adapt this formula to magical circles? Could he make the clockwise rotation of the triangle in C2 generate friction, thereby enhancing the fire's potency? His mind whirled with possibilities.
ΔF = μ * N * R
The formula floated in his mind, Where:
* ΔF represented the enhanced firepower he sought.
* μ symbolized the coefficient of friction.
* N represented the normal force, a measure of the force pressing the surfaces together.
* R stood for the radius of the circle.
Now that he had managed to deduce the second circle, he moved on to the next one, beginning his calculation. His attention then shifted to the third circle (C3). Here, his goal was to achieve the same magical output with less mana consumption. Could he somehow minimize the mana required for the spell's effectiveness? His mind latched onto the concept of efficiency he had learned in science class.
He recalled a formula related to energy efficiency—a way to calculate how much useful energy could be obtained from a given input. Could he adapt this concept to his magical equation? Was it possible to use less mana while still achieving the same outcome?
Efficiency = Useful Energy Output / Total Energy Input
Could efficiency represent the effectiveness of the spell, with the useful energy being the fire's power and the total energy input equating to mana consumption? Could he simplify and adapt these scientific principles to his magical circles?
E = ΔF / M
Where:
* E symbolized the desired efficiency.
* ΔF represented the enhanced firepower.
* M stood for mana consumption.
As he wrote down the equations for both circles, Ethan realized he was onto something. He could bridge his understanding of science and magic to enhance the power of the fireball spell while using less mana. His heart raced as he sketched these formulas onto the parchment paper, merging the worlds he had known.