Prince Hugine cast his first [DRY] spell on Heather. The air around her shuddered as dry and hot air engulfed her. It swirled about, ever so lightly, like a hot gentle breeze from the desert. Her clothes dried almost instantly and soon became warm to the touch. Heather did not understand what just happened. A moment before, she only knew she was cold, uncomfortable in her wet clothes. Upon observing as Prince Hugine cast the spell two more times on himself and his Head Captain, she inferred that it seemed to be magic. "Magic isn't real, is it?" Heather thought to herself.
"How did you do that?"
Looking at the bewildering expression on Heather, Eunice asked back, "Do you not remember anything about magic."
Shaking her head from side to side, she said "No". It was quite convenient this way because she had already portrayed herself to be suffering from amnesia. So no one would find it strange that she did not know things that made sense to people here.
"Then let me start with mana first that is the essence of all magic", Eunice affirmed and began to explain.
In the meantime, Conan was exploring the shores and their surroundings. He was wondering about the magic or mana, that Eunice mentioned as he was controlling two bodies simultaneously which couldn't be anything but magic. Looking towards the sky, with a hint of doubt still in his mind, he expected that there would be an entirely logical or scientific explanation for what magic is. Suddenly he caught sight of two Suns in the sky. "How is that possible? How could two Suns exist?". One was a large bright yellow-orange, and the other was a dwarf with a light red color standing near each other, and their combined light produced golden illumination on the surface. Until now, he was only doubtful that this was not the same planet as Earth, moreover a magical one, but now he was sure of it. So he focused his attention on Eunice's speech.
"The mana is a mystical force that resides within all animate and inanimate things. All kinds of beasts, plants, and races are supposed to contain and emanate mana. Sometimes mana exists in magical objects like orbs, wands, weapons, rings, etc. This form of mana is available to be manipulated by anyone holding that object. Some can handle mana in a form unique to themselves. As humans, we tap into the mana flowing within our body via some ritualistic chanting or incantation, while beasts are known to enhance their bodies or their physical attributes using mana. Not all can manipulate the mana ably. Those who can handle mana are referred to as magus, while the beasts are called mana beasts.
Mana itself is just raw energy, whereas magic spell is the process by which we refine that mana into the desired shape and apply the attributes of one of the elements. A magic Spell is a series of words that are combined in a particular order to control the magic and can be sung, chanted, or inscribed onto other items. There are also magic circles that are a design or arrangement of runic symbols constructed to facilitate the use of magic. "That's the basics of magic. Did you understand all of it?" Eunice asked Heather as she finished explaining the basics of magic. She had cut down on a lot of unnecessary details so that it was easier to understand. But if one wanted to, they could browse through thousands of books from the Royal Library about What is Magic, and they still wouldn't have all the answers.
That also explains her current situation, which is the possession of two bodies with a single mind. "Maybe this too is a product of magic", Heather deduced by recalling the strange circle in the Cave where she found for the first time herself possessing two bodies. Finally, she concluded that "Most likely, I have been transmigrated into a different world similar to Earth, but instead filled with magic".
To Eunice's question, Heather replied, "I understood the theory part but still don't understand how one can go about casting a spell". She wanted to know if there's a spell that can send her back home but first, she needed to find out how to cast a spell. Eunice was about to explain when Prince Hugine intervened, "Not everyone can cast spells. Only people born with an affinity towards magical elements can cast a spell. Nobles are by birth born with an affinity towards the natural elements while commoners are not. If you are a noble yourself, you should be able to manipulate mana naturally". Though the Prince has stated that as a question of fact, there are always exceptions, as not all nobles can cast magic, and not all commoners are without the ability to control magic. Often these people became outcasts by their society or circumstances.
Eunice continued, "Once we reach the capital, maybe we can use one of the Awakening Orbs to check your affinity. Also, my magic teacher is a well-known scholar, so he might be able to help bring back your memories as well.". Heather was delighted that she is invited to tag along with them but also anxious at the same time. Previously she didn't care when Eunice mentioned that her master might be able to help her but now she knew that magic is real. "What if he can see through my lie. I will be in real trouble, moreover, for lying to the royalty of all people" she thought to herself.
"Thank you very much. I feel very generous not only to be rescued from drowning but also to have the right to travel along with you, Your Highness.” Heather responded while adding a formal title at the end since it might be rude to refer to royalty without one. Waris noticed the change in her speech and felt pleased, then he suggested to the prince, "We should head towards the camp and pack things before leaving the woods".
Hugine nodded and allowed Waris to pave the way while he and Eunice walked closely with Heather. Other guards spread out around them to protect them from wild beasts as they advanced.
Prince Hugine was quite intrigued by the young girl. He had never seen someone with black hair and eyes, so he asked, "I met many people with everyone having different color variations of hair and eyes but never both black". Are your hair and eyes naturally black, or are they just dyed in black?". Heather found it strange that people here don't have black hair and black eyes. Curiously, she glanced around other guards but found that each one had a different hair color with mostly being a different shade of red. She intended to say that approximately 70-80% of the population of her world of origin either had black hair or the deepest shade of brown but could not.
To maintain her act, she answered uncertainly, "I think they are natural though I can't recall".
"I think they are beautiful as in the stories of a certain Hero", Eunice assessed her.
"Thank you, your highness", Heather said in gratitude.
While Heather was learning more information about this world from Eunice and Hugine, Conan left the shore and entered the woods. He didn't have any weapon, and from the knowledge that he learned about mana beasts through Heather, he realized that it would be too dangerous if he stumbled upon one. Human strength might not be enough to evade them, but there was no other choice but to pass through the woods. So he didn't go far away from the river but instead followed along the river. There ought to be people around where the source of water is. While following through the woods he picked up a wooden club along the way. There were a lot of weeping willow trees around, so he figured that he and Heather were still in the same forest. He was feeling a lot hungry right now. He spotted a shrub-like plant not far away with round spiky leaves with wild berries growing in it. He wasn't sure if they were edible, but they looked juicy, so he couldn't help but try them. They tasted tart and sweet, almost like a raspberry. He ate a whole lot of those berries, as he wasn't sure when he is gonna come across such food next time. Hunting was not a skill he was good at, and neither did he wanted to take his chances against mana beast.
In the meantime, Hugine and their party had reached the camp. Two more guards were there to protect their luggage and 4-horse wagon. Soon upon arrival at the base, Prince Hugine ordered one of his guards to prepare a sumptuous meal. Soon, a hot meal was ready. With the rabbit hunted during the day, as one of the dishes served. Eunice invited Heather to eat along with them. Delightful smells coming from the meals made her eager to eat. She tried the food and felt happy to taste hot and cooked meal after so long. Shortly afterward, Hugine asked her, "Did you like the food?". "Oh yes, it was very delicious, thank you, Your Highness", replied Heather smiling back at the Prince Hugine.
After the meal, they started to pack things and boarded the 4-horse wagon while the guards rode on their horses that they have brought along. Soon it was evening. Conan decided to better prepare a makeshift shelter, as he had seen in one of the episodes of a survival program titled "Man and the Wild". He guessed he'd have some time to gather vines and loose wood before the sky darkens. Luckily Conan found somewhat brittle branches that he broke into several feet long sticks. These he tied together as tightly as he could, using the vines from the trees. As he began tying the last strands of vine around the sticks, the sun had set below the horizon, and dusk came.
From the skies of a big city, only the brightest stars and the Moon can be seen readily but now, a glance at the clear and dark sky presented a bewildering spectacle at Conan with a few thousand or more visible stars scattered randomly across an enormous sky. With a second look, however, he began to make patterns and figures out of the stars. Suddenly the winds became chilled and whistled across the woods, and Conan shivered blithely. He went inside the shelter and tried to make comfortable on the rough ground, but he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep. Not while that any beast could creep up near his shelter during the night. Morning came, both Suns rose from the horizon, spreading golden hue all over the sky. Luckily, he hasn't come across a single mana beast in the woods so far and with that ended the peaceful night in the woods.
After getting some water from the river, Conan continued his journey through the woods. Something rustled ahead. Conan stopped in his tracks and scanned the bushes for any signs of life. He held his wooden club tightly, ready to smack whatever creature appeared. Suddenly it jumped out of the hedges and showed itself with big, gaunt, a brown and angry warthog foaming at his heels and barking with hoarse gruff sound. It looked the same as regular warthogs but was much larger, more aggressive, and had broader tusks. When it charged at Conan, he tried to position himself near the tree. As soon as the Warthog leaped at the Conan, he barely dodged the attack. Warthog soon struck the tree bark behind him with a clash that could be distinctly heard. With its tusks stuck in the tree, the beast was currently immobile. Conan took this chance, ready to hit the Warthog's spine with the wooden club he was holding.
Unfortunately, Warthog didn't give him the opportunity. It broke the tree in half from where its tusks were dug in and swung around towards Conan. Conan was feeling dreadful after seeing the strength of the Warthog. In no time, the beast lunged forwards, its tusks aimed towards his guts. At that moment, a strange thing happened. A massive dark shadow appeared between Conan and the Warthog. It took the blunt force from Warthog's charge and held its tusks and pushed it back.