I sat in the soft grass of the familiar practice field and listened to Corra explain the process of body recovery magic. It proved more of a task than I imagined as I both had to endure the giant’s rather slow speech patterns and keep Letta focused on the lecture as her eagerness to explore her newfound abilities was as perfectly unchecked as ever.
Corra didn’t seem to notice, or mind, Letta’s distraction or my struggles, and after another five minutes, pulled out a piece of parchment from their leather vest’s pocket and offered it to me. “And that is all I know of the healing arts-s-s. Do you have any questions-s-s?”
I took a moment to confirm that this was Rochelle’s promised list of incantations, then said. “Let me just summarize to make sure I got everything. First, you focus on the wound in question, then you choose the spell with the necessary effect, recite it, and then continually supply mana until you’re either spent or the issue is resolved?”
Letta tugged on my loosely fitted shirt. “Anon! Anon! You forgot that you need to touch the person too! And! And! You’ve gotta remember that it won’t have an effect on a spell or other status condition that can’t be fought off by the body!”
Right. No turning people back from stone or whatever with this magic…
“Yep! Good job! If we want to deal with that stuff we’ll have to use some other type of magic, like spirit healing, or one of the essence magics depending on the status condition.”
Corra crossed their thin arms and nodded slowly. “You paid more attention than I gave credit-t-t, young Letta-a-a. You’ll make a fine magus yet-t-t.”
I cocked my head. “Magus? Is that the general term for a spell caster?”
I knew about mages, priests, and warriors, but magus is new.
Letta gave me a broad grin that showed off both of her missing baby teeth. “Yeppity yep yep! I’m a magus, Corra’s a magus, Bretta’s a magus, Alder-Craig’s a magus!” Then she grabbed some of my fingers in both of her little hands and bounced side to side. “And you’re the best magus of all Anon! With your booms! Ka-pows! And sha-shooms!”
My eyebrows rose. O-oh… oh… So that’s how she sees me, huh? Might need to scale the intensity back in the future or I’m seriously gonna mess this little girl’s common sense up.
Corra soon left us to train on our own, and I read off the list of Rochelle’s spells to Letta before we got down to the actual practice.
Obviously there was ‘synthesize’, the mind over matter alchemy spell, but there was also ‘mold’, which can be used to shape and reshape the more malleable types of non-living material like dirt, clay, or sand; ‘refine’ which processes raw materials, such as turning logs to timber, or metal ore into ingots; ‘burden’ which alters the weight of objects in either direction with a touch; and ‘break’ which does exactly as the name implies, though contact has to be made and a commensurate amount of mana is needed for the material to be broken. i.e. the softer something is, the less mana it needs and vice versa.
As for order magic, we got ‘contain’ the spell used as the counterpart to synthesize for alchemy purposes, though Uriel informed me that it can apparently be used to trap just about anything if you know what you’re doing. Then there was ‘control essence’ which is a spell that can tap into any lesser or intermediate essence and allow the caster to emulate their effects, though it’s less than half as effective unless you really splurge on mana; ‘ward’ is your typical defensive spell; ‘nyx’ is a sort of anti-magic that can break other spells; ‘siphon’ can steal either mana or endurance at a touch; and ‘steel status’ is a spell that helps prevent negative status conditions from taking effect. There was also a slew of more mundane order spells like ‘lock’ which locks and unlocks… well… locks, but I can explore those another time.
Out of everything I’ve gathered thus far, I think it’s best if I focus on learning order and light magic first. I mean, I’ve basically already got the heavily combat-focused lightning magic down, so having the weight of order magic’s high essence value and its versatility on top of the more supportive light magic should allow me to comfortably face off with those soldiers… Since I’m definitely counting on that happening at some point, I’d prefer to be ready sooner rather than later, and be able to keep my distance while doing so.
I started by at least trying to run through all the body recovery and mind over matter magic before I settled in on my choices, as a rudimentary understanding might just get me out of a pinch, but my progress was slowed as Letta asked for guidance every few minutes.
Her little fish fin-ear things drooped as she sagged her shoulders. “A-Anon… How do I get to be as good as you?” She sniffled. “I-I got the abilities, so why can’t I do magic too?”
I pressed my lips into a line and knelt down as I placed a hand on her shoulder. She’s been beside me since the start, and I’ve no doubt that seeing me produce results with a new spell every half-hour or so has helped her visualize things, but it’s clearly also taken a toll on her newfound confidence too… And that’s probably because she awakened her mana sense and manipulation one after the other like I did, but isn’t able to actually cast anything.
“Sweetie, there’s no need to be so hard on yourself. Learning magic isn’t as easy as I make it look. After all, before you can cast the spells you need to have the corresponding ability, and before even that you have to get the mana sense and manipulation abilities.”
She wiped her runny nose on a sleeve, and lowered her head further. “So… So I can’t–.”
I gently lifted her chin and brushed aside the curtain of her auburn hair along with her tears. “You can, just not yet. Remember, you’ve already taken the first steps with the mana abilities, but now you need to get the actual magic ones, and that might take as long as it took for you to get mana sense and manipulation.”
“S-so it’ll be a long time…”
“Only if you don’t practice everyday. Since if I’m not mistaken, you only got to practice your mana sense when you stayed with someone who could teach you right?”
She finally met my gaze again, and the sparks of enthusiasm were starting to burn once more. “T-then what should I do? How do I get better?”
I rubbed my chin and pretended to think, so that she’d have the opportunity to collect her feelings and rekindle that youthful fire. “Hmm… You’re still young, so your future is yours to decide. That said, you have a whole slew of dormant abilities just waiting to be obtained, so I think you should go and put in the time needed to awaken them, and then consider your options before settling on magic. Don’t get me wrong, magic’s great! But who knows? You might find that you’ve an aptitude for something else, a gift for something that you haven’t even stumbled onto yet!”
She started to rock on her heels, and a small smile crept onto her face. “Do I really have something like that?”
I cupped her face in both my hands. “In my experience, everyone does.”
And I’m not just saying that either. My seemingly endless youth and that sharp tongued system aside, God gives us everything we need. I know that’s what I’d do if I were God.
“Though realizing your gifts can be tricky, so go and ask around. Maybe the others have glimpsed in you what you now seek.” Then I listed off her dormant abilities so that she’d know where to start.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
“Okay!” She started to race off, then stopped, turned around, and marched back to me with her head down and cheeks rosy. Then she wrapped her little arms around my neck, and mumbled. “Thank you Anon.” Before she bolted back into the village.
I watched her go with a smile. At least now she’ll be able to pick up some more practical abilities that’ll help her survive in an immediate capacity. Which is what we’ll need given that I’m afraid that those soldiers might arrive while I’m still here… I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. I should probably warn Alder-Craig soon. I don’t want them to panic, but I can’t justify putting everyone in danger any longer than I already have.
I put those matters aside for now, stood up, stretched, and then refocused on my training. By now I’d gotten a feel for the spells of the disciplines that I wouldn’t be focusing on, so I turned my complete and undivided attention to order and light essence magic.
I muttered. “Let’s get this done. For me, and everyone else too.”
#
Near the peak of one of the shorter copper mountains that divide the garden of creation from the rest of the world, Captain Horn sat on a small outcropping a little ways off from his unit and surveyed the fertile valley that lay ahead of them.
It’s still hard to believe that the apostle could dig their way under an entire mountain range… I just hope they haven’t strayed too much farther, or following the trail and catching up is going to get tough, even for us.
“Captain! Captain! The scouts have returned!” Larissa, his naga adjutant slithered up to him from the mountainside closest to their destination. She straightened everything except her coiled lower half, then saluted. “They’ve found a small opening in the mountainside close to the exact size the apostle made when it burrowed!”
He returned the gesture, muttered, “At ease.” and then stroked his stubble covered chin.
So they can punch through solid copper too? But magical stone stopped them… Interesting.
“Thank you, lieutenant. Did they find anything else?”
“Yes, it appears that the apostle wasted no time in its descent down the mountain and dug clear through any obstacle on its path. It should be easy enough to track until we reach the forest.”
“And that’s where our trouble will start again. The apostle clearly has a vast affinity for the earth, and if they were the one who was controlling the plants in the garden, then they’re already aware of our general position, and once we reach the forest they’ll harry us just as before.”
Larissa nodded. “Yes, sir, but if it behaves like past apostles then we already know where it went.”
Horn stood, both eyebrows raised. “Oh? Do tell.”
She twisted her serpentine lower body and pointed off into the valley. “It’s hard to see from here, but there’s a small village down there. I suspect that’s where it is.”
He frowned, and slumped back onto the copper chunk. “So we’ll get civilians needlessly involved again… Great.”
Larissa averted her eyes, and hung her head. “It’s not like we–”
“I know. So let’s confirm our strategy.”
“Well, sir, assuming it's at the village, then a simple encirclement would be fastest.”
“Right, then we call it out, explain that we’re not there to hurt them, and if that fails we threaten force.”
“Should we use the villagers, sir?”
Captain Horn spit. “Not unless we have to… Or if they help.”
“And is our battle plan still the same?”
“Yes. Bombarding them with status condition spells while our frontline closes in might be basic, but with Nedrie there to give chase if they decide to burrow, and Felix’s earth magic already proven to be an effective barrier, we should have more than enough of an upper hand… Though we’ll need to relegate a few men to be on guard against the village, so we might end up a bit short on manpower should the worst case scenario come to pass.”
Larissa smirked. “Isn’t that why I’m here, sir? To make up for our relatively small force’s lack of strength?”
Captain Horn grimaced, but nodded. “Indeed.”
She took his silence as her signal to leave, and turned to go back to the scout’s rendezvous point.
“Oh, one last thing.”
She froze and glanced back over her shoulder. “Sir?”
“Never call the apostle an ‘it’ again. And make sure the men know too. You weren’t there the first time, but having their anger directed at us is an experience I’d rather not repeat.”
She stared at him for a time, gulped at the unmistakable unease on the veteran captain’s face, and murmured. “I’ll do that, sir. Thank you for the warning.”
Captain Horn didn’t watch her slither away and instead stared off into the horizon. I don’t normally do this, but please, God, bring this mission to a quick end.
He then hung his head, ashamed of his fear of failure, and of what this moment of weakness would cost him if it was ever discovered by the Ascendant. “Anon… You’ll be coming with me… I’ve got no other choice, so you don’t either.”
#
The fading daylight marked the end of my training, and I relaxed my shoulders and rolled them around a few times to ease the tension that I’d built up over the course of the day. I really don’t want to spoil what these people have got going here, but if I just up and leave without an explanation then I know of at least one little girl who’s going to try and follow me, and I’d much prefer it if she wasn’t constantly in danger like me.
I stared down at my hands amid the mostly purple light that still peeked over the mountaintops. Wrapped in shadow, they trembled ever so slightly. “And I really don’t want to fight anyone either. I feel like I got more than my fill of that in my past life. After all, violence is a question, and too many people answer yes.”
“Anon! Anon!” Letta’s bubbly voice snapped me out of my pensive stupor and I whirled around just in time to scoop her up.
I spun her around and around, then checked her status to see the day’s progress.
Name: Letta
Species: Calminth
Health: 10/10
Mana: 8/8
Endurance: 4/12
Strength: 6
Agility: 7
Speed: 10
Toughness: 1
Spirit: 8
Status conditions: tired (weak) depression (suppressed)
Titles: Orphan; Lonely soul, Nascent faith; One who resented life; Seeker of Hope
Abilities:
Woodcarving lv: 3
Fishing lv: 1 (dormant)
Carpentry lv: 3
Hunting lv: 1 (dormant)
Weaving lv: 1 (dormant)
Brewing lv: 1 (dormant)
Herbalism lv: 1 (dormant)
Mana manipulation lv: 2
Mana sense lv: 4
Swimming lv: 1 (dormant)
My eyes widened at what I saw. “Wow, look at you! Two new abilities in one day, and several level ups! And your stats have gone up! You’re healthier and stronger than ever!”
And that’s not mentioning the title changes too, she went from ‘faithless’ to ‘nascent faith’ and her ‘one who resents life’ title is now past tense. Don’t think I didn’t notice, you sneaky system!
Her mouth opened as if she wanted to speak, but only excited and slightly relieved giggling poured out. I slowed our spin to a stop and she managed to find her words. “I did it Anon! I did it! And it’s all thanks to you!” She buried her little face into my shoulder, and I combed my fingers through her hair.
I gave her a moment to herself as her slight shuddering fit told me that she was pretty overwhelmed with emotion, so after that passed I said softly. “Not entirely thanks to me, in fact, most of that praise should go to you, as it’s been little more than your hard work that’s gotten you this far.”
She pulled back and stared at me. “Really?”
“Yep! And your diligence and patience will get you far. It might not always feel like it on the days you don’t get any visible progress, but so long as you keep working toward your goals, then you’ll get there regardless of what stands in your way.”
I set her down, and knelt in case she still had something to say. Her little hand never let go of my shirt, but her eyes turned back to the village. “And… And I can keep going tomorrow?”
“Mmhmm. And the day after that, and the day after that, in unto the rest of your life.”
I’d say infinitum, but I doubt she’s as long lived as I am.
She grinned. “Then let’s go! I’ve got lotsa growing to do!”
Letta skipped back toward the village and the wafting scent of, you guessed it, more grandour meat, and I followed at a sizably slower pace.
The anxiety is killing me. I know it’s time to own up and let the village know of the all too likely danger on my heels, but how much do I tell? Not everything, that much is for sure. After all, if I told them I dreamed up the world before it became real, then they might mistake me for God! And I really don’t need the system to start messing with me any harder than it already is… . I sighed. So do I tell them that bad people are trying to detain me? Do I tell the truth but leave out the important parts? Or do I just push their faith, and hope they’ll believe that I saw the soldiers coming in a dream? … That last one would be nice… Then at least I’d know where they are… Aggh! I just want this chase to end already!