NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48 - Omake - Wise-ard Medley
— These happen somewhere before Syuufarin's departure.
# About: Flying magic
It is every witch's dream to be able to fly.
Well… I'm a mage— but details like that aren't important right now.
Magic can do lots of things, It's logical that flying would be one of them.
I searched and turned the libraries upside down, but couldn't find anything about it.
The closest thing was a niche levitation spell that I found after much effort. It was prototyped by a mage in ages old past that lived in a mountainous region, who decided that rather than rely on the common spells of the time, he had a perfect arsenal of environmental hazards around him to use.
I tried to gleam something from the man's notes and the structure of the spell, but gained little from it. It was like trying to understand how an engine is built by looking at the axle of the wheels.
What I got from it is a bastardized "Propulsion magic" that in reality is just a rendition of animation canceling the boulder-kinesis spell. The only thing it does is stop something from falling momentarily before the magic collapses into itself.
On the bright side, after studying the same magic for so long I became rather proficient at it.
…
"Magic that makes you fly?... Yes, I can see the novelty in that." Clauren said after I'd asked him about it.
"Then why doesn't it exist? I mean, levitation too would be a convenient magic, but I haven't seen the slightest mention of it anywhere in the records."
"Hmm… There are two reasons, first, let me tell you a story."
"A long time ago, in a land far far away, there was a great sage king. He and his court of wizards advanced and revolutionized magicraft many times, becoming one of the most powerful kingdoms at their time."
"So advanced was their magic, that a great age of peace was born, and in that time many tools were created for their people, tools not of war or destruction, but of creation. Carriages that moved without horses, water brought directly to their homes, ovens that did not need kindling, and much more."
"It did not stop there. Their army was replaced by efficient and mighty golems that did not need rest nor food. Powerful artifacts created to grow and harvest food made farmers not need to toil in the fields everyday. Buildings that would take months to construct were assembled in a day with the power of magic. They became a land of wizards and magic."
"At one point, everything one could do had been touched by the convenience of the spells and artifacts created by the kingdom's wizards. They did not need to work, cooking was as simple as picking a dish and wishing it to be made, artisans and smiths lost their jobs as golems along with complex relics took over manufacturing, their people grew to value only the power and skill someone had as a practitioner of magic."
"One day, a great empire that heralded from the north arrived, and they sought the power the kingdom had. Many battles and confrontations happened, the empire's army dwindled with each skirmish and the kingdom's powerful golems could always be rebuilt, their archmages safe behind the kingdom's great defenses."
"The northern empire then, rather than plundering the kingdom's knowledge and power, sought its ruin instead. Through corruption, bribery, and promises of great authority. They seduced one of the kingdom's court wizards who was unsatisfied with their king to create a powerful relic that would make their army of golems useless."
"The relic worked. Worked too well and above the expectations of the northern empire. The kingdom that relied on the many magic artifacts that were present from top to bottom collapsed in days. Their army was disabled, their crops died as the magic that held up the food production became dim, the people fell into hunger as nobody knew how to farm or make food for themselves anymore, enchantments that held up their defenses and their buildings faltered and thus the walls fell under their own massive weight."
"The kingdom that did not know how to live without magic fell without the northern empire even needing to do anything. And so, when they were invaded, nothing remained but ruins."
Clauren folded his hands on top of his lap. "The moral of the story is that: magic can be very convenient, but hubris will be the end of the ones that rely too much on it."
"So, you're saying that if someone used levitation magic too much, they would grow with an atrophied body?"
"Along those lines, yes. But also that not everyone has enough magic power to constantly use daily magic like that, in their situations it would be better to conserve their energies for more important things."
"Was that story real?" I felt the need to ask.
"Oh, no. I just made it up."
I almost fell down at his reply.
"Anyway…" I sighed. "What was the other reason?"
"We simply don't have any records on it." He shrugged. "You could probably find it somewhere out in the world if you searched. The libraries may seem big but in the grand scheme of things we don't have much in terms of magical knowledge, Daivette is only around 400 years old after all."
"Couldn't you just have said that from the start!"
"Tee hee." Clauren turned away unrepentant.
——— –– –– -- - -
# About: Love
When I think about it, I never was really left alone at any time in the village.
Especially in the first few months, when I had been… in a less than stellar condition. In regards to my mental health.
I had my privacy. Even though the elves can be a carefree and intrusive bunch sometimes they have a thing for respecting privacy and boundaries, they sort of need to when they live that long together.
But even then, after some time there is always someone who went looking after me after I disappeared somewhere.
Sedia was amongst the top ones who always showed up. She has a knack for dragging me out of dark places. Bright blessing that she is.
I began to suspect that they all knew somehow, that I wasn't faring all that well.
In hindsight, it was sort of obvious, to those that observed me. But nobody ever mentioned anything about it or approached me to talk it out.
No… I guess I did, in a way. I had spoken about my family, my old life, in a way. As vaguely as I had put it then to avoid mentioning another world.
They just had to connect the simple dots. Really, a kid loses their whole family and somehow ends in the very scary and dark forest. Who wouldn't guess that the kid in question isn't all right?
…
When Syuufarin realized and surreptitiously confirmed her thoughts, a week passed where she was strangely more helpful and considerate to everyone she met. People found it weird, but didn't mind the ever-gloomy, but lovable child from brightening people's day in her own way.
——— –– –– -- - -
# About: The mage gang
In Daivette, there is a not-so-secret cabal of mages, people who study magic and its secrets, and people who are often in one shenanigan or another.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The group doesn't have any formal designation or recognition, but nonetheless the magical community gravitates towards one another.
Granny Piyo, the utmost expert in all things magical, is the reluctant and unwilling boss of the group.
Honestly she wants nothing to do with the rabble-rousers but someone has to keep a hold of the leash.
It doesn't help that she is the one person that practically mentored every single mage in the village one way or another.
"We have so many mages here. Why haven't we created a bunch of new spells already?" Mage A said.
Mage B waved their hand lazily. "It's hard and we are all too lazy."
"That's true… so very true…"
They already had this same conversation thousands of times.
"So… What do you think of the new girl?"
"Hmm… Master Piyo is mentoring her, though that is as expected. The old crone barges in every time anyone has even a sliver of interest in learning magic… What I am worried about is Clauren."
"That crazy guy?"
"The crazy guy."
"Is he still not over that thing with Samyra? It's been what?... two hundred years?"
"Apparently no, you weren't there, but they both jumped at the opportunity to adopt the girl back when she arrived, even if for a short time. One thing led to another and she ended up staying in their house."
Mage A scratched their head. "That's… good for them? I'm not one to judge but it seems things ended well all things considered."
"I'm just worried for the girl, before she came Clauren was uh…" Mage B tapped his fingers.
"...Intense."
"Yeah, that."
"..."
"..."
"Wanna spy on them?"
。。。
"Unlike her peers her she doesn't have an ego bloom everytime she succeeds"
"That's commendable… Hey! What do you mean by that?"
"Shh!" Mage B clamps their hand on Mage A's mouth. "I think she heard us!"
"...I think you're imagining things, she's all the way over there."
"Maybe, but she certainly heard something. Look at how she's looking around."
Time passes as they observe her.
"She's good for her age."
"Isn't she… No, I guess so. She's certainly learned a lot in such a short time."
They study and analyse her for a while, commenting on her form and the rumours about her. The girl in question flinched with increasing frequency but they hadn't noticed it.
"Then again, we used to slack off a lot."
"True that… Hey, how do you think she sleeps? Wouldn't those horns get in the way?"
"I'm not sure… Hey, do you think she hugs her tail when she does?"
At one point they began praising her appearance, the girls' face grew increasingly red as time went by.
"Oh, that would be cute— Oh hey she's… running away?"
"Huh?!— I told you she heard us!"
"No way!"
"Yes way!"
"No way!"
"Yes way!"
"Yes way." Granny Piyo says calmly.
"No way!"
"Yes w— T-TEACHER!?"
"If you are so intent on commenting why don't you join us?" Her voice was sweet but the hands on their shoulders certainly weren't.
——— –– –– -- - -
# Saladin's forbearance
A species incapable of satisfaction, willing to sacrifice others for their own gain.
They eat the mountains.
Drink the sea.
Turn inside out against their own for nothing but greed.
Humans.
Saladin would rather burn his own home down than to let those things near him.
Such was hatred. The scars ran deep, and each day passed he sharpened his blades and steadied his resolve.
But…
That… thing—
One day, Gaviel visited him.
"I beseech you." The overly formal tone from the get-go already told a story. "To craft a blade, one that will endure great travels and weathering, for its purpose is to be one of lifelong protection and long companionship."
Right then and there, Saladin almost growled at him. But he held back his anger, his… frustration.
Driven by hatred he might be, but he is not one to become blinded by it.
"For the girl I assume?"
Gaviel nods in affirmation.
Saladin's grip tightens, then relaxes, and then tightens again on his hammer.
"And… Why should I?"
At his reply, Gaviel became a little confused.
"It is only right that we ought to preserve her wellbeing, I believe that a good blade would keep her safe."
And that, right there. Spoke volumes of how far the girl had wormed her way into the village's heart.
No hesitation, no debating. Her belonging has already been a matter of fact since long ago.
Saladin… sighed.
"I loathe her. Gaviel."
Gaviel becomes slightly alarmed.
"I loathe what she represents. But I cannot bring myself to despise her for what she is, and I loathe myself even more for still considering, even now as we speak, to wish irreparable harm onto her."
He would not forgive himself if he ever turned to become as despicable as those that rent his life from him.
Saladin's wrath for humanity still burns brightly, but lately whether that flame exists for burning or for warmth, the line is so very thin.
"She heralds from gods knows where… With intentions to do god knows what… What is stopping her from compromising the village's safety outside? Who can guarantee that?"
There is a heavy pause.
"That girl… she has a human heart." And by that, he meant it in the worst way possible. "She is unsatisfied here, but strongly wishes to be. She is greedy beyond reproach, but is needlessly charitable. She is… an enigma, one that I do not know what to make of."
He stares at Gaviel with a piercing gaze, with a touch of desperation.
"Tell me, what does that make me? I hold such maliciousness within me. That girl has done nothing to deserve it. And yet my hatred for them cannot help itself but turn its eyes. Such things make me no different from the ones that once burned down our home and reaped our kin's lives for no reason other than blatant prejudice."
Saladin supports himself on his workbench, the weight on his mind almost too great to bear.
"I once thought there was no evil greater than those animals that call themselves humans, yet here I am, acting much the same way in how they did when they looked upon our people and wished for our ruin… I loathe that girl because she is as greedy as a human, but yet she is nothing but one of the most innocent souls I'd ever met… Is it humanity that is evil? Or is it something else? If they aren't inherently evil… then why… Why did they chase us down and slaughtered us like mere beasts?"
He felt like a hypocrite. Or maybe just really sad for acting like an asshole after all this time.
Gaviel stood in silence.
"The girl… Syuufarin." Saladin laughed self-depreciatively, as if running into a realization. "She scares me. And I cannot fathom what to do with all the hatred I have sharpened for all these years."
"Perhaps, then…" The ranger begins with tentative, careful words. "An opportunity to start anew."
The forgemaster raised his head.
"The past shall remain. Whether we want it or not, we have stepped into a war with the humans in that place. Is our path to wage war once again? Or to seek peace? If there is one thing I have learned from the world, it is that might is potential, and potential opens paths that were previously unknown." He tilts his head, breaking eye contact. "Perhaps I am speaking in baseless conjectures, but if your rage has been funnelled into crafting and building all this time, what is the difference from doing it again? This time, for preservation, instead of destruction."
"You feel as you do because you care. What you make of it is your choice."
Gaviel's bland and pointing tone spoke as if it was all a simple matter. In a way that reduced Saladin's conflict into a trivial morning argument.
"You… You have an infuriating way of disarming people with words." Saladin pointed his hammer threateningly. "Damn it all… Fine! You'll get your fancy blade! But you better pay me back afterwards!"
"Now you seem more alike a dwarf if I've ever seen on—"
"OH DON'T EVEN START WITH THOSE FILTHY—"
Saladin is an old man with many, many, misgivings. Today he might have just let go of some of his ill opinions of the world, but he is a long way from being the nicest person.
——— –– –– -- - -
# About: Grimoires
What makes a good grimoire?
It isn't something as simple as a compendium of magic, or as inane as a textbook.
While all books on magic could be thought of as grimoires, not all magical books should be thought of as grimoires.
A grimoire is filled with, essentially, information pertaining the steps to produce magical phenomena, be it incantations, spells, or rituals. Along with their effects, requirements, and inner-workings.
In a way, books of faith could be considered grimoires by technicality, as the faithful are able to do feats that defy common sense. But those usually fall into the category of "miracles" rather than "magic".
They come in many shapes and forms, they are commonly encrypted for safety, some transform them to use as a focus for their magic, the ones that are magically imbued are specially varied in effects, ranging from cursing anyone who touches them to spontaneous combustion.
But the defining factor is that first and foremost, they are objects of knowledge. And thus, meant to be read.
The pivotal point that differentiates ordinary grimoires to magical grimoires, is how the process of extracting information occurs.
Metaphorically speaking, a book can define and explain what a square is and what it looks like, with one plus one equals 2.
A magic grimoire however, is capable of going a little further than just presenting information. It makes them tangible, the grimoire demonstrates what a square is and then goes a step further and reveals the concept of a cube.
It is what a hologram is to text. Capable of conveying information in a level magnitudes higher.
Though the thing with magical grimoires is that, paper isn't exactly the best material to stuff magic into.
So rather than a mystical "knowledge bestowment" that makes the user instantly understand magic that only experts in the field would even begin to fathom to master, the common magic grimoire is more at the level of neatly understandable "this is way better than the textbooks!" kind of way. Not because the author is unusually good at describing information, but because the magic imbued into them tickles the mind in a way that pattern recognition, memory, and cognition efficiency become a tad more specialized to learning the contents of the book.
Real magic grimoires, the ones actually worth their salt, are all notorious and usually placed at the level of national treasures.
So what happens when an easily-hoodwinkable peculiar looking girl walks into town with a grimoire that ticks all the flags of "this-is-valuable" and "obviouly-a-tourist"?
Well, someone is going to try and bet on their chances.
——— –– –– -- - -