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Capítulo 26: Show-Off

It didn't take much more than a few hours to pack up all our stuff into a large bag. Vol offered to carry the bag, but the moment he threw it onto his back, he immediately keeled over and onto his back.

I can't remember the last time I've had a good laugh, but that certainly did it. Elizabeth and I helped him up from his weird turtle position. She ended up carrying the bag instead.

Since the greater monster attack, the city of Rosewood has gotten a lot quieter. With hundreds of homes in pieces, and major infrastructure in tatters, a lot of the elves living there have been moving out. The elves have a very tightly knit society, so all of the towns and villages that Rosewood has gates to, have gladly offered temporary homes.

Technically speaking, we could live in the magic academy, as we have been doing during the development of the manacaster, but since there are so few people still living here, there aren't really any supplies lines. Basically, we're short on food. Besides, as much as I like the academy, it isn't designed for permanent living.

Anyway, that's why Vol, Elizabeth, and I are currently on our way through the city. We're headed to a small oceanside town, where Vol used to go on vacation. The portal is the same as the one to Sheere. A big tree with a large hole, inscribed with a spell.

Vol puts his hand on the mana stone, ready to activate the gate, when there's an unexpected voice from behind us.

"Hold on just a minute, Vol."

The three of us look around. It's a little over half of the council. They're looking a little ragged, but still well-postured and overly formal.

"Oh, how can I help you, councilman?" Vol asks.

"Where, exactly, are you going? Surely, you will help rebuild the city, will you not?"

"I'm afraid not. I'm working on something more-"

"-Important right now," a councilman cuts in, "We know."

They don't seem too pleased. I can almost guess where this is going.

"The only reason why we permitted *them*-" he points to Elizabeth and I, "-to stay, was because you assured us that they would aid you in your work. But since your initial presentation, you've had nothing to show us. Why, exactly, would that be?"

"Well..."

I guess I better cut in. It shouldn't be a problem at this point.

"We're actually on our way to test our newest creation. You're welcome to join us, if you like."

I lock eyes with Vol for a moment. There's a somewhat relieved looked on his face. He hasn't been too comfortable keeping secrets from the council.

"Is that so? Well, then, yes; we will join you."

---

Tayde is a rather pleasant place, I think to myself, as I look out over the oceanside town. Trade here is excellent, due to its many harbors. This is the primary reason why we chose Tayde over the other places. All the elven towns are supposedly quite nice, but the trade here gives it a major advantage.

Food.

Well, that, and the fact that it's harder to accidentally kill somebody when firing spells into the ocean. That is the purpose of our trip here, after all.

And also the food.

Elizabeth and I originally had planned on going through all the stalls upon arrival, since both of us were excited - if you can call us that - to taste the food. Since the council was with us, however, we decided to postpone those plans, and go directly into the testing.

We hurried past the hotel, so Elizabeth wouldn't have to carry who-knows-how-many kilos of luggage.

"Where will we be testing this new device, then, Vol?"

For some reason, they always talk to Vol, and never to me. It's really rather annoying, since Vol just asks me anyway, turning him into a really weird go-between.

"Down by the ocean."

"Hrm, that's quite far, isn't it," a disgruntled councilmember says.

"We thought it'd be best to avoid destroying anymore buildings," Elizabeth states, matter-of-factly.

"A-ah, right," the councilman says with a small jump.

There are no other objections as we head down to the harbor and walk out onto the longest bridge there.

"So, where is this device?"

These idiots don't even realize that I've been wearing it the whole time. First Gaia and now the council. Are all authority figures this clueless?

"Right here," I say, lifting my arm to show them the manacaster.

"A... shield?"

Oh, yeah, definitely. That's what the greatest magic researcher has been spending his time on. A shield.

Absolute idiots.

"It's not a shield. We call it a manacaster. It allows the user to cast specific spells without having to form its symbol before casting."

"Really??" the council's excited voices pick up.

Partial truths for the win.

One of the council members reach out to touch it, but Elizabeth suddenly grabs his arm.

"Be careful. It might explode."

"Wh-what?!" the councilman pulls back his arm, startled.

"Okay, that one was pretty funny," I bump Elizabeth in the side, as Vol tries to hide a snicker behind me.

I'm really warming up to her sense of comedy.

"Now, if you'll be so kind as to stand back, Sebastian will start testing the manacaster," Vol says as he pulls out a notepad.

"Mm... right," the councilmembers reply, stepping back a bit.

I turn to the ocean and move the small switch to the symbol of a flame.

I take a deep breath, a sense of excitement welling up in me.

Savor this moment. At last, I can use magic.

"Rogsfulnert!"

FWROOOM

A massive fireball - much larger than the one cast by the mage in Jonas' group - instantly appears above me. I can feel the heat on my face, despite it being several meters away from me. The moment it's fully formed, the fireball shoots forward. With unprecedented speed, it makes a straight shot for the ocean in front of us.

SPLASH

PTSSSHH

Oops.


next chapter

Capítulo 27: Racing & Relaxing

Turns out that fireball was pretty hot. Who could've guessed.

With a loud fizzing sound, the water around the fireball had evaporated, leaving behind a pillar of steam. As the ball of molten rock fell deeper underwater, bubbles of hot air began to appear on the surface. I peek out over the edge of the bridge.

At the bottom of the ocean now sits a large, roundish mound of cracked rock, as large as several adults. I pull my head back as the harsh steam hits my face. The water must be boiling. I hope I didn't just destroy the local ecosystem.

"That was... incredible..." one of the councilmen blurt out. "How, in the name of the gods, did you do that??"

Oh, they're talking directly to me now. How nice of them.

"Which part?"

"Which-?!"

These guys surprise easily, huh.

After making sure that none of the councilmembers would pass out, we continued our tests.

We decided to skip Solaeyvun, the lightning spell, and Taeilynert, the tidal spell, to avoid endangering the local fauna more. It was rather unfortunate, as I kind of wanted to know what would happen if I struck the ocean with a strong lightning spell, but I guess I'll live without it.

Instead, we go directly to "Equeralliex."

Vol casts it first, without the manacaster, and a familiar see-through barrier appears in the air, much like a hologram.

"Elizabeth, if you would?" he requests.

Elizabeth draws her new sword - a plain metal one, which doesn't really suit her - and strikes the barrier. It holds against the slices, but after a few direct thrusts, it shatters and breaks.

Vol's attempt at a barrier with the assistance of the manacaster is significantly better. The barrier is less see-through, and holds up against thrice as many direct thrusts from Elizabeth.

The council have been looking on in interest, but when he hands it to me, they seem to perk up and pay close attention.

"Equeralliex!"

Now that's what I call a barrier. It's barely transparent, a bit like stained glass, and has a visible thickness when viewed from the side.

Elizabeth breathes heavily. She hasn't had much luck in penetrating my barrier, despite it having been several minutes, so we decide to stop and move on.

The last spell is "Ailomolliex!"

It's not a flashy spell, like the other ones. Instead, it makes you faster and more agile.

We decide that the best way to test it is a 100-meter dash between Vol, Elizabeth, and myself. People from the town have been slowly gathering to look at us, like we're putting on a performance. One of them volunteered to do the countdown.

As soon as I cast the spell, my entire body feels much lighter. We take our positions. I feel a bit like an Olympic runner. I assume this is how they feel, anyway.

"Ready. Set. Go!"

Three of us set off and-

"Wh- uhm- goal!"

In just a few seconds, I arrive at the designated finish line. Eat your heart out, Usain Bolt.

As the crowds disperse, and the council, apparently very satisfied, thanks us for the presentation, Vol turns to me.

"Say... how do we get rid of your barrier spell?"

"Uh..."

So we just left it there and went back up into the town.

We've been working on this for so long, it's been ages since we've properly rested. We decide to spend the day on something relaxing and calming, to help balance out all the excitement of the past two years.

"'Ay mister Vol, can I interest ya in some fresh squid?"

"How about some fish filets, sire?"

"Sir Vol, what a pleasure to see you here again. It's been ever too long."

I never much liked the smell of fish, but in a market like this, mixed with the salty smell of the ocean, I find it almost pleasant. I think Tayde might be a contender for my list of top 5 places in all the lives I've lived. Still, nothing can beat the lake Sofia and I lived by.

Despite how nice and calming it is here, and although I have two of my closest friends by my side, I can't help but linger on those memories.

Looking out over the glinting ocean brings back memories of that moonlit summer night when I proposed to Sofia.

How lovely she was.

"- what do you think, Sebastian?"

Elizabeth's voice snaps me back to reality.

"Hm?"

Oh, were they talking to me?

"What do I think about what?"

"The manacaster. Results were better than expected, right?"

Ah.

"Right. Yes, they were exceptional."

"It's a shame we couldn't try the lightning or tidal spell, though," Vol says, disappointedly.

"Yes, I would have liked to see those, too."

Vol is silent a moment and then speaks into the air.

"You know, I think there's a guild here in Tayde."

"Hm," I reply, vaguely.

"I hear that they have some training grounds a bit outside of town. They'd normally be in use, but anybody who'd normally be using them is busy aiding Rosewood right now."

"Is that so."

"Apparently, the grounds get damaged quite often. You know, by magic and such. Pretty badly, too."

"Huh."

"There's also a small lake nearby."

...

"You don't say."

---

I can only imagine what rumors might have spread about that night's spectacle.

Who knew lightning could strike the same place 10 times.


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