I continue my study of magic.

The Many Kinds of Magic

For layman unknowledgeable to the arts and ways of the arcane, magic will merely look like a bunch of hocus-pocus and rituals and magic circles and tomes. However, magic fundamentally can be divided into three times depending on its method of activation.

1. Simple Magic

This kind of magic can be cast simply by hand or wand gestures and a few magic words, and sometimes, if the caster is advanced enough, even without any of those. It's the most commonly used magic since it doesn't take much to cast at all, making it perfect for any situation. However, magic in this category is usually limited in its variety.

2. Ritual Magic

This kind of magic needs to have runes to be cast, either symbols or circles or both. It takes more time to cast, due to its necessity for a setup. It is potentially more powerful than simple magic however.

3. Tool Magic

This kind of magic is aided by certain magical objects that allow its casting. Of course, said magical objects need to be made by other mages first. This magic can be as powerful as ritual magic. However, the creation of the tool will be more difficult the more powerful the spell is.

Hmm, pretty standard stuff. Nothing too weird or unexpected..

I look at the other books to see that they're about various magic spells and how to perform them.

I start at the most basic ones. Basic fire, basic water, basic earth, basic wind, and basic lightning.

And I can't cast any of them.

What the hell? I've done the hand movement and the chant just as the books tell me to!

Accepting defeat, I decide to go to the Demon Queen's place to ask her about this conondrum.

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I walk back out to where the pillar was. Conveniently, the Demon Queen is right there. She's touching the pillar with her two hands while closing her eyes. Perhaps she's checking how the energy gathering is doing?

"Excuse me! Demon Queen!"

She opens her eyes. She then removes her hands from the pillar before turning towards me.

"Oh, apologies. I was connecting with the pillar there. And my, you look good in those. Glad to see I've chosen the right clothing for you."

"You didn't get me an underwear though." I deadpan.

"I don't think it's necessary. Really, why do humans wear underwear anyway? Why bother wearing two layers of clothing?"

...You know, that's quite a good question. It probably looks absurd to someone who isn't familiar with human culture.

"To protect our naughty parts, of course," I explain sagely. I should try to bring her to humanity's point of view. "For men like me, we may get turned on if we see a cute girl. And it won't do at all if said girl sees our little elephant expanding right in front of her."

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"Hmm, human girls are odd," she replies with a thoughtful look on her face. "Why would they be disturbed that a man is showing that he's attracted to her?"

"Perhaps she's embarrassed," I reply back, "You yourself blushed when you saw my private part after all."

"True." Her face turns a little red as she says that. Maybe she's remembering the sight of my little elephant right now. "Doesn't mean I don't like looking at it though."

Man, this girl is really sexually honest. I would never be able to find a girl like her back in my old world.

"Well, enough about that." I end the topic. "I come here to ask about the reason why I cannot cast any magic at all. Not even the most basic ones. Had done all the movements needed as dictated by your books and it didn't do anything."

She sighs. "I see. I was afraid of that."

"Wait, you mean you already know I won't be able to cast magic?"

"I had a suspicion," she answers, "Your form before this was that of a cockatrice. And cockatrices cannot cast magic. Nor most of monsters out there for a fact."

"But I'm a human now!"

"Not really. You still have cockatrice part in you. And it means it had 'overwritten' your human part that allows you to cast magic."

"Damn! Just my luck!" I say in exasperation. I was this close to learning magic and now my hopes and dreams are ruined forever!

"Oh, don't be so disappointed." She consoles me. "It's not like you cannot evolve some more."

...That is true. Who says this is the limit to my transformation? I'll just have to evolve into something that can use magic!

"Tell me, what kind of monsters can use magic?" I ask eagerly.

"Well... you're looking at one right now."

"Wait, but you're--"

"The Demon Queen, yes. But my real species is Dark Elf. And the elven folk is a kind of monster, even though they have humanoid form."

I see. So one path I can choose is to become an elf. And I suppose I would eat an elf to do so.

"I already know what you think." She grins triumphantly. "You want to eat some elves, do you?"

I nod to her question.

"Then let us depart at once. I know just the perfect place for the hunt."

In that moment, her eyes flash with a dangerous glint. I think she may have some vendetta with the elves.

Oh well, not my business. I don't care what history she has with them. What I care is how the elves will serve perfectly as my food for my next stage of growth. I am glad if that also means I can help her settle her score with them.

"Let's go out to the valley first. We''ll make our journey from there."