CHAPTER 2 - UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCE
Having decided to live on this world, I started to consider what should I do.
In order to learn more things about this world, I need more information that I could ever find.
Since there's no Internet here, the most appropriate medium to gain knowledge aside from asking my parents, was from published literature.
Books.
Since dad had so many books in his study room, I decided to immersed myself in there.
The study was filled with simple, but practical wooden furniture that was kept clean and tidy.
The shelves here were filled with sorts of various literature, including picture books for children.
My dad was primarily a sword instructor in the country's academy.
But he was involved in other fields as well so having this kinds of books seems normal.
Rather than reading picture books, I quickly searched for written works about magic and geography.
To my surprise there were tons of them.
After reading every publications, I learned a lot.
Especially the guide book for skills.
To me, who came from a world without magic, the things recorded here got me interested.
Reading through all of them, I understand some basics.
1. First of all, skills can be broadly classified into three categories.
[[Active Skill]] --- Needs activation [[Passive Skill]] --- Always active [[Support Skill]] --- Increases or lowers attributes.
Three types. Very easy to understand.
These three are then divided into several classifications. Very much like any role playing games that I used to play back on Earth.
2. To use skills, you must have mana.
Conversely, as long as you have mana, you can use any skills.
There is only one way of using mana.
[[Use the mana within the body]]
What about using mana from different source other than the body?
Seems like it doesn't exist here.
Oh well since everyone here are born with mana. There's no point in concerning myself about it.
3. Incantations are needed to activate skills.
You don't need chants to activate skills. Saying the name of the skill is enough.
A very convenient way I must say.
4. A person's mana is set when they are born.
A normal RPG increased your MP as you level up.
But this doesn't look the case in this world.
Hmm, what about me?
Apparently, the amount of mana one possessed was hereditary.
The fact that my mother was capable of teaching and using magic skills meant I could have a certain amount of innate mana.
This worry me though.
Even both of my parents are talented, I don't think that my genetic makeup is capable of that.
------
In any case, I began to try the simplest skill.
The skill book contained different elementary skills.
Fire Ball: A fire bullet that can be shot.
Ice Blade: Forms a sword of ice.
Safety Wall: Creates a safety wall.
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Lightning Bolt: A bolt of lightning that can be shot.
Since I'm a person who loves pyrokinetic powers, I started with my obvious choice.
With the book in my left hand, I raised my right hand in front of me.
"[Fire Ball]!"
After a few seconds nothing happened.
I tried again. Still nothing happened.
After a few attempts, I stopped.
Maybe one needs to have an affinity of fire to use this skill. Like in the anime and games.
But the problem here is that this a real world with a RPG setting.
Alright let's try another skill.
Hope that I can pull off this one.
------
After two hours of trying, the results were still the same.
I can't use any skill in this book.
I'm certain that I followed all the instructions correctly, so why is it that I can't activate one?
From the other books that I've read, once you use a skill, you will feel your blood gathering and squeezing out from your body.
This symbolizes the movement of your mana within your body.
I don't feel anything like the book stated when using a skill.
Does this mean that I don't have any mana in me?
"Ridiculous!"
There's no way, ever, that would happen.
After all my body was born in this world so it sure have mana in it.
Since I don't want to be a failure, I tried again using skills.
In the end the results were still the same.
I need to resolve this issue as soon as possible.
I have a bad feeling about this.
-----
It was almost noon, me together with dad and mom were eating.
After eating our lunch, I called out to mom:
"Mom, mom."
"What is it, Ragna?
She tilted her head.
"Can you teach me how to use a skill?"
After I let those words escaped from my mouth, she revealed a bitter smile.
On the other side of the table, dad looked at me with a forced smile.
Is there something wrong with what I said?
"Eh, why does Ragna want to learn how to use a skill?"
"Because I want to be like dad and mom!"
I answer dad with an honest and lively answer.
Both of them fell silent. Mom then burst into tears as she covered her mouth.
Seeing this, dad came to me. He carried me and rest me on his lap as he stroke my unruly brown hair.
"Dad, is there something wrong?"
He didn't reply. He only looked at me with a teary eye and dejected expression.
As he opened his mouth and spoke, the words that came out from him wasn't what I was expecting.