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Norbert's Wacky Adventure
Chapter 76 An Extra Passenger

Chapter 76 An Extra Passenger

As the sky lit up, others around him moving at the start of the day. Norbert looked towards Azalea as she began reading through a book first thing in the morning. As the others began stretching and greetings to each other, she continued to read.

Norbert continued looking out of the corner of his eye until Mark said it was time to head out. Suddenly she did a mad scramble to have something to eat and depart on time. As they began to jog again in what he assumed was the same direction, Norbert asked Azalea, "Whatcha reading earlier?"

Azalea looked up, already red in the face "Magic", she replied curtly

Norbert just nodded, "But can't you already do magic?"

Azalea just shook her head and looking to the front. "Talk on the next stop," she said.

Norbert nodded, returning to silence, not wanting to annoy someone too severely and seeing she was probably sore from running everywhere yesterday.

The other members did not break the silence; Norbert just looked ahead, seeing how they could get to their destination faster, the ravine. After running for an entire day and not seeing a living thing, Norbert started to doubt the thoughts of the raptors even existing out here in the first place; after all, not a single path was shown in the grass where they would have needed to cross.

The rest slowed down as they passed another tree. Norbert sat down facing Azalea, waiting for his explanation like a dog before its owner, wanting to get a treat or a pat for being good.

Azalea paid Norbert no mind, getting out her things and looking down at her book. Norbert looked at it upside down, unable to read any of it, not understanding how the words formed together while looking at it upside down. On the other side of the page was a magic circle with lines going out at it and seeing the letters next to it.

Turning back to the first page, Norbert saw the guide, highlighting particular points that Norbert assumed were necessary for the product. Azalea flipped the page, going to the next one with the same style.

Examining the magic circle, Norbert saw it had grown from the previous one, getting slightly more complicated. Throughout the break, Norbert saw it slowly morph from one form to the following, line after line being added, explaining what each part did as it read.

Azalea closed the book with a thud, making Norbert jump where he was. Staring at him, Azalea began, "This is a book for magic. Used to study new spells and grasp an understanding of ones already learnt."

Norbert just nodded in response, waiting for more. As Azalea turned around, placing the book in her bag, standing up, Norbert looked, seeing that everyone else was already out of the shade of the tree. Norbert got to his feet, catching up with Azalea in several strides.

"You said I would get an explanation", Norbert insisted on her.

"Is that a tone you take with someone teaching you?" She accused him. Norbert stared at her as they met with the group before saying, "And we needed to leave; we just didn't get the time."

Norbert looked forward, hearing the excuse in it. "But shouldn't a student ask for insight from their teacher, and a teacher, in return, should tell them?" Norbert asked.

Seeing her smile, he wondered what mind games she was playing. "Move your backpack to the front."

Norbert just nodded in response, wondering why he would want to do it but not wanting to annoy Azalea too much. Dipping behind, she went out of Norbert's sight. A weight hit him on his back as two arms wrapped around his neck.

Regaining from the stumble due to the weight change, Norbert returned to the group, them getting slightly ahead. Twisting his head around, Norbert saw Azalea smile out of the corner of her eye.

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"I'm on him!" She shouted out. Norbert turned to the front, seeing the other three heads turned towards him, the others nodding in response as Mark shouted out, "Looks like we can speed up now", going from the jog to a run.

The others also increased their clip, Norbert matching as his passenger repositioned herself so both were comfortable. Feeling her fingers tap against his chest, her breath tickling his ear, feeling them turn bright red as she began.

"What would you like to know?" She asked.

Norbert thought about what he wanted to ask, answering his first question, "How do you do magic."

"Quite the philosophical one, are we? That question has been asked around since the dawn of time: how can one bend reason until what is unreasonable or impossible becomes the norm, and then both, in turn, are constantly pushed forward."

Norbert said, "You know what I mean; how does someone learn magic."

Azalea replied, "By studying books, understanding the structures of spells, and through repetitive release as it gets ingrained in a person, and the entire act of memorising it becomes instinct. This is normally done through reading books, though some people learn by listening to others speak about the appropriate subjects."

Norbert did not respond, just focused ahead, hearing Azalea accuse, "Hey, my answers are completely justifiable; don't get all antsy with me because you're asking bad questions."

Norbert thought about what he wanted to be answered, thinking back to Olga's showing and the spark leaving him. Norbert stated, "I just want to be able to do magic. Before joining, someone showed me magic; when I tried to reach it, it slipped away from me, unable to even turn a tap on." Norbert explained, frustration seeping into his voice.

"I tried to accept it, but looking at the hive and everything happening, all the lights and sounds escaping, and just wanting to be part." Norbert focused on what he learned before, trying to reach inside with the light. Bringing it forward, Norbert tried to get it past his outstretched hand; once again, just on the tip of his fingers about to breach, it snapped back inside, becoming a taught ball unable to be moved.

"See, whatever happens, it can't be coaxed out," Norbert said, throwing his arms up. Nearly losing balance, Norbert looked, seeing he had dropped back again in his ramblings. Pushing forward, Norbert quickly caught up with them, Azalea cheering as the wind blew her hair behind her.

"Sorry to damper your mood even more, but you will likely never be able to use magic normally." She explained; Norbert continued staring ahead, feeling one hand unwrap around him before it patted his head.

"There there, it's not all bad. For you still do magic, it's just been tied up already, and you have none to spare," she responded; Norbert, not understanding what she meant at all, turned his face around, confusion etched on his face.

Azalea explained, "Whatever supply you originally had is currently tied up in whatever augmentation you have done to yourself."

Norbert looked at her, the confusion still on his face "Augmentation?" He asked

"Yes, augmentation, what makes your veins turn purple like the great trees found in the Hinterlands." She explained.

"And what does that mean?" Norbert asked

"Don't know the specifics, but augmentations, in general, need something to grasp onto, something for it to take, normally and in your case, it is your internal magic supply as fuel, constantly tapping into it as it is generated, keeping all of it in reserve for itself."

Norbert interrupts, "Would a magic capacity elixir allow me to use magic then?"

Hearing laughter in response, "That is one way of doing it, but you need bags of money for that. No, the most common way of increasing it is through repeated use of magic, exercising it like any other muscle. But for a big jump, an elixir would work, though not recommended and not confirmed to allow you to use magic."

Norbert opened his mouth before a hand clasped over it, covering it up and only allowing muffle. "Stop interrupting me while I am explaining things; it's a nasty habit you've picked up." Clearing her throat, Azalea said to herself, "Now, where was I? Oh yes, the reason is that some augmentations will grow with the user, wanting to take up even more of the pool, so if you have something like that, you are out of luck."

Norbert just looked forward, not wanting to say anything or erk Azalea any more. Thinking of something, Norbert opened his mouth, waiting and feeling Azaleas come off his mouth before asking, "So, I either have a chance of being able to use magic or whatever the purple stuff does becomes even stronger, more potent?" Norbert asked, receiving a confirming nod in return.

Norbert was lost in thought as he ran on instinct, the silence enveloping the group and his thoughts. Before realising it, they stopped again, the sun setting on the sky, having only stopped once that day.

About to ask if they could continue, Norbert saw the faces of both Mark and Rachel, red-faced and sweat dripping off them. Norbert keeps the question of asking to continue from going out in the open, feeling Azalea hop off his back.

"Well, that was a splendid trip; I don't know about you guys." She said as she sat down, taking out her book and rereading the same page as before.

Norbert sat beside her, taking out his bestiary as he flipped through the pages, trying to find the raptors again. Finding it, Norbert started to go through the page as best he could. Hearing the book close next to him, Azalea took the bestiary off him and began telling him about the creatures found inside.