Dear diary, why is magic so complicated?

“Hold it just like that and keep concentrating on the formation. Make sure all sides are balanced,” my teacher explains while I am trying my best not to blow up the magic circle.

I manage to finish the runic circle, and out of it comes a little flame, “I feel that the flame I can create without the circle is a lot better and takes way less time to cast.” I say as I evaluate the flame

“That is because you messed up the power formation part. Your circle is fighting itself more than it is creating an effect.”

“But I did everything you said I should do.”

“You are impatient. You rush towards a result, creating small mistakes in the process, and that creates weak magic circles.”

“But doing it slow takes too long. What use is it in a fight if it takes an hour to cast.”

Gilford sighs,” Because if you can do it properly the slow way, you can speed up the process” he points out his arm and a magic circle appears, spewing out flames.

“Show off”

“the things you require to use magic properly are practice and patience,” Gilford says in a scolding tone.

“Okay, I am sorry. I will do better next time.”

“Good because you're not leaving this room before you get it perfect,” he says with an evil smile.

“I am starting to regret taking this deal of yours.”

“Less complaining, more magical.”

I sigh and get back to work; this feels about as tedious as when I had to learn how to write, repeating the same character endlessly. I really need to focus now to make sure I get it done correctly this time.

I am at my eighth attempt when something changes. Sadly, not in a positive way. Surely, when the circle is halfway done, the amulet around my neck vibrates, and I lose my concentration, and the magic circle collapses in on itself. Creating a small fire explosion that sends me backwards.

I quickly take control of the fire and put it out, saving my clothes from total destruction at least. As for my skin, I am fine. I have not figured out the exact mechanics, but it looks like I have become somewhat immune to fire.

“What happened there,” Gilford asks. “It looked like you suddenly lost your concentration.”

“Well, that is exactly what happened,” I say while taking out the amulet to inspect it for damage.

“What is that?”

“The reason I got here. It teleports you somewhere at random,” I explain.

“That is fascinating. You going to use it again to leave this place?”

“Probably the chance of it dropping me off closer to home is much higher than me getting there on foot.”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Do you miss your home?”

I need to think about it for a second, then shake my head. “Not really. I miss and love my parents, but I only have one friend back home and she would jump at the chance to come with me and travel.”

“Then why do you want to go back home?”

“When I left home, it was because I was getting chased by bad people. I am just concerned that now that they can’t track me, they will go after the people I care about instead.”

“I understand, so does that mean you are leaving immediately?”

I look at the metal plate, then shake my head, “No, I think it would be more useful if I had actual power when I came back. Also, I feel responsible for Anna, so I want to make sure she gets home safely.”

“That is sweat. Any ideas on how you will broach the subject of wanting to marry his daughter to the duke?”

“That is easy. I just come out and tell him, if he wants to kill me, I just teleport away,” I say while holding up the teleporter.

“That will get you out of immediate danger, but how will you make him accept it? You can’t get married if he does not accept.”

“I don’t understand. Sure, it would be nice if he accepted, but ultimately, it is Anna’s and my decision.”

“I don’t know how it works where you are from. But here, the parents do decide who their kids get married to, especially if there are nobles.”

I frown. “That does not really sound fair.”

“It isn’t, but the only way to break free of it is to become rich and powerful.”

“I see. You are powerful, right?” I ask

“I am, yes.”

“So make me powerful too.”

“I was planning on it.”

“Why?”

“You asking for my motives?”

“Yeah, I understand that teaching me comes with some benefits, but after thinking about it some more, there is no proof that I would ever come back.”

“History mostly in a way. There are always stories of strangers that bring a lot of changes and break down social structures. So either you leave and never come back, and I lost some time, or you come back and are on my side.”

“Your side? Then where do you fall on this whole marriage thing.”

“I hate marriage is a stupid concept. Why would you want to spend the rest of your life with another person? That sounds gross.”

“Not where I was going for, but the right spirit, at least, I guess. Am I really that scary?”

“Traveller, your internal mana is staggering. If you were staying here, the Nobles would be lining up to have you marry into their families.”

“Really, that's great. Is that one of the reasons arcane hosts are so valuable? Because they give people a lot of mana.”

“Not really. It is believed the arcane host only awakens a person’s latent potential, so the resulting amount of mana varies.”

“Really, so I was predisposed to having a lot of mana. That somehow does not feel right, seeing as there is no magic where I am from.”

“that is only the most popular theory, something to keep the status quote.”

“Something tells me you don’t believe in that, so what do you think?”

“I think it is about how strong the connection is between the two individuals all the people that got a lot of magic from an arcane host always had a good relationship.”

“I see. That makes sense, I guess, but Anna and I don’t really know each other that well,”

“Maybe not now, but in the future?”

“Guess we can see if your theory holds any water then.”

“We will. Now go continue your magic studies we don’t have all day.”

“Aye, aye, captain.”

It takes me four more tries to get it right and be released from magic circle hell. For some reason, they make learning magic seem a lot more fun in the movies. I basically ran out of the training room and started exploring the castle, looking for Anna. I find her in the library, looking over some books.

“What are you reading?” I ask as I approach.

“History of how the kingdom was formed,” she answers.

“That sounds like fun.”

“It is. You should give it a read once you get the time.” She says with a broad smile.

“Listen, Anna, about us getting married, I feel like we should make sure that we like each other and get to know each other better.”

“Uhm, okay, but why?”

“Don’t you want to be with someone you love?”

“Never thought of it. My mother always told me to get a maid I could love, so it does not matter who I married”

“That seems like strange advice.”

“I think she took it quite seriously. She and her maid kiss more often than my mom and dad.”

“I don’t really know how to respond to that, but what do you think about the two of us going out tomorrow on a date?”

“There is some kind of magic show plaything going on tomorrow. Want to come to see it with me?”

“Yeah, sure, that sounds fun,” she says with a smile.

“Cool, it is a date.”