Bab 44: Magic Study Group
(Lyze POV)
This day was not going well. At all.
I rolled my eyes under the blindfold as yet another elf gave me a dirty side-eye from my right as Riveria spoke on about magic theory, and the importance and impact of magical circles upon a person's magic.
She also spoke of possible internal affinities for magic determined upon birth which was honestly not too bad of an assumption since she was heavily gifted in fire and ice magic. Of course she also had several other talents as well but from my analysis of her battle tactics, those particular elements seemed to be most effective.
So what was I doing here?
It turned out that Noir had told Finn about my dislike of coming to this study group and the particular reasons behind it. And after learning how much I disliked it, the captain had made my coming to this class a mandatory thing (as well as what he considered the rest of my punishment for the previous night) until Riveria determined that I was no longer in need of them.
Which would definitely not be happening anytime soon as it was clear she was obsessed with my 'strange' magic as well as my insight into casting theory, a topic that I assumed she was very eager on sharing with every other pointy-eared prat sat at this table considering that it seemed to me she was trying to hurry along the usual subjects so they could all get onto the discussion part of the study group where apparently different ideas and philosophy on sorcery were conversed upon.
Honestly, if she was that obsessed with simple elemental magic, she'd probably die of shock the day I'd be able to release Chaos Magic. Wouldn't that be a sight? I was still learning new things about elemental magic myself as well. Like a couple of dungeon runs ago, I discovered that there were copious amounts of iron in the ground and the walls of the upper floors.
Particularly in the misty areas where the Orcs spawned. I have to admit that Earth magic is in fact perhaps the most difficult to master since it connected with such a complex concept. And by that I mean that the word 'earth' could refer to all manners of rocks and soil which are of different types of themselves.
Having to process that information at once before bending it to your will through the use of magic focus made it really hard to construct images in your head. As a matter of fact, I think I would have had to credit my knowledge of modern science for my ability with Earth Magic. Otherwise I would have probably been stuck for years on end trying to perfect the technique.
But my skill in it was paired alongside my high school grade science was enough to identify goethite in the tunnels of the first floor and to learn how to use Earth Magic to refine pure iron out of it without the need of the usual smelting process. Doing this made me think of the adamantine sources rumoured to be found in the Dragon Vase and it went unsaid how expensive that stuff was.
Without the presence of the Zeus and Hera Familia around in Orario, the Hephaestus Familia did not get much opportunity to dive down that deep with capable escorts to mine out the riches. Due to Evilus's shadow constantly looming over the city, the Freya Familia were just glorified patrolmen who barely entered the dungeon for expeditions.
As for our Familia, we simply weren't yet at the strength needed for a full Familia dive down to the lower regions of the deep floors. We only had three first class adventurers after all, and as powerful as they were, they were average level fives. Not at all exceptional like those of the previous Big Two. So they could not be expected to carry the responsibility of vanguard down to the fiery hellscape that served as a nest for the Valgang dragons and Cadmus's playground.
But it was simply a matter of time. As the days went by, we came closer and closer to the advent of Erebus's schemes. And if things went as they did in Freese, the it would be right after it all that the Loki Familia acquired what would be the very bulk of their strength. I would have to make sure however that I was way more powerful than any of those yet to join.
I did not look forward to being an object of scorn for a traumatised puppy and possible mating material for a pair of tribalistic girls. I mean it would probably happen anyway so that didn't make sense...but I would much rather be stronger than them than weaker.
Honestly, with the extent of my abilities, I reckon I would have become very rich in this world if not for the fact my objectives were very different. Money was useful, and it's value literally increased as you acquired more of it but it was all just a tool in the end.
I digress though. Coming back to the point of sitting among these egotistical elves, I found myself on the verge of snapping if it had not been for my continuous daydreams and musings like the one above. I could literally sense the arrogance and indignation just oozing out of these damn elves as their attention switched between scrutinising me and admiring their princess/idol. Not to say all of them were like that though. I had met some nice elves during my time here.
One in question being the elfess a little older than me sitting on my left. Her hair was an odd colour to describe. I would call it purple if it did not seem to look white when light fell upon it at certain angles. Her eyes were definitely purple though, of that I was sure. She seemed like one of those that were not either introverted or extroverted but somewhere in the middle. She made the effort to get to know people regardless of who they were or what they were but she was not at all talkative.
And get this, her name was Vira Columbine. Aside from the alarm bells ringing in my head thanks to her last name, I was quickly able to draw the connection between her appearance and a certain flower that grew in forest regions. No matter what universe it was, elves seemed to always base their family names on things of nature which somehow also seemed to coincide with their appearances.
"You seem a little bored, Lyze." She murmured to me.
"Can't be helped." I replied. "All we've gone over so far just seems quite obvious and not all that hard to conclude. The size of certain circles indicate the level of magic being cast, and the runes appearing in each circle deal with regulation of the amount of Mind being pumped in, the casting time needed as well as the complexity of the chant required. Alongside a few other things, it's not all that hard to figure out."
"That's why it's considered the basic stuff." She smiled. "Beginner level theories that serve as a base and foundation from which mages can launch themselves into the field of magic. Specialization in an area of the field comes after a few years in the course. You can become a combatant or a researcher and even those have different branches."
"Vira, Lyze? I hope whatever you two are talking about relates to what we're discussing here." Riveria said as she paused and looked up from her stupendously large book to give us a questing stare.
"Yes, my Lady." Vira replied as she snapped to attention. "Just introducing Lyze to the dynamics of our study group as well our learning procedures."
Riveria gave us a once over.
"That's all well and all. But do please try and pay closer attention."
"Yes, my Lady / Yes Riveria" The two of us said. Riveria went back to reading while some of the elves sent a few glares my way.
"Stupid human..." I heard one of them mutter.
I'm the petty type so I telekinetically held on to his tongue while waiting for his jaw to close. Sometimes we don't realize how much strength we put behind the normal things we do, and he certainly realized it when he nonchalantly clamped down on his tongue. To my pleasure (and certainly not to his), he bit down right on the tip where it irritates the most. I had to credit him for his tolerance though as while his pain was not too evident, I could see that it did indeed hurt a lot.
Over time, I'd come to realize that I didn't necessarily have to use 'Snatch' or wind magic for telekinetic effects. Telekinesis was a natural ability afforded simply by having the power of Darkness. The Demon King crushed a small mountain with it, Bellion launched a castle tower at Meliodas with it and there were several other small instances in SDS that went unnoticed. I'd come to realize exactly how effective it really was although I couldn't yet lift a house. Such things came with practice.
Eventually we came to a close on the basic magic theory before what I supposed the truly interesting part of this gathering began, the discussion part where the reigning experts on magic theory exchanged ideas with one another while green ones like us listened an took notes. I mean it was more of an unspoken rule as we were not necessarily forbidden from engaging in discussion, but I guessed it was common sense for the 'kids' to keep quiet while the 'adults' talked. Riveria had other things in mind however as she stood up, closed her book and announced the beginning of everybody's favourite part of the study group.
"Now as you are all aware, we have a new peer amongst us today who is also quite gifted in magic too." She gestured to me as they all followed her hand. Great, as if I didn't already have enough eyes on me. I saw a couple of the younger elves upturn their noses in a distasteful way and turn their heads away from me. So childish, honest to God.
"Forgive me for pointing this out Lady Riveria..." Said Kalos, the bowl cut elf whose face I really wanted to kick in. "...but I don't see the point of adding in a human to our circle. They are limited to the magic that their Falna gives them. I see little point in explaining other areas of magic when they are simply stuck with the abilities they receive from Loki's blessing."
"Perhaps so." Riveria said. "And Lyze stands out especially considering that he possesses no magic slots whatsoever according to Loki herself."
"Then why have you brought him here?" sniffed another elf who looked to be on the older side. "His presence here is meaningless if he's not able to cast magic anyway."
The other elves around him murmured in agreement and nodded while giving me plenty of disapproving stares and rolling their eyes. Riveria looked at all of them before fixing me with a suggestive tilt of her head as she subtly smiled.
'Show them' was the message I was getting.
So I stood up and held out a hand with my palm facing upwards. They all looked at me curious as to what I was doing. Wordlessly, I willed my fire magic to work itself, and a roaring blue flame sprang from my palm without burning me. The fireball bounced up and down in my palm without actually touching me, but the heat it was giving off was enough of an indication to these snotty gits how powerful it was.
Some of them jumped out of their seats at the sudden appearance of this strange flame as they stared at me slack-jawed and unable to comprehend what had just happened.
"No chant!?" One of them half-yelled. "How is this possible?" He said while looking straight at me, his braids swinging about in his disbelief.
"How is a human even able to use magic like that, even at level 2?" One of the others questioned. I assumed he was referring to the intensity of the heat. I did notice that some of them were beginning to sweat a little.
"This is precisely why I invited him here, my fellow elves." Riveria said as she gestured to my palm. "He may be a human, but he has introduced to me the concept of 'wordless magic', something previously thought impossible with all of our centuries of magical study behind us."
"But it should be impossible!" Spluttered a white haired elf girl. "No it is impossible! This precisely goes against everything we've ever understood about magic. It defies the laws of the world itself!" She pointed an accusatory finger at me. "This has to be the work of a magic item or something! There is no way he's doing this by himself!"
Typical arrogant elf. Can't credit a non-elf with something that would revolutionise the field of magic. Apart from the few other decent elves I had met like Vira, I was beginning to think that Riveria was the only elf that I liked around here. How was it that the elf you'd expect to be the most arrogant was in fact the most accepting of other races?
Speaking of, I believed I discerned the difference between High Elves like Riveria and normal elves. Other than the obvious fact that High Elves were heavily talented in magic, I believed that their ears seemed a tad bit longer, at least to me. Or perhaps that was just Riveria.
I'd heard somewhere that female elves appear more attractive to male elves if their ears were long and of a nice shape. In which case it would make sense for Riveria as she was universally considered amongst the elves to be one of the most beautiful.
But it was just my observation that the longer ears were what gave away her identity as a High Elf, from an appearance perspective. I suppose it would be the thing that non-elves would have to go by as the other races generally couldn't sense magic like I could or like an elf.
"I can assure you that it is not a result of a magical item Lia." Riveria said firmly. "I myself have investigated it and have determined that the magic is genuine." She waved her arm dramatically in my direction. "Savour this sight my fellow elves, for we are looking upon a human born with innate magic. A phenomenon unseen for several elven generations."
This caused another round of whispers to reverberate around the room.
"A human with innate magic?"
"Those have not been seen in centuries!"
"I thought they existed only in the legends and the fairy tales!"
"I know right? I thought it was absurd that a lowly human could ever be able to use magic naturally without the aid of a Falna."
My eye twitched at that last one and a spark flew out of the flame in my hand in that elf's direction. He yelped a little bit but it dissipated before it could even reach him. The good thing about the blindfold is that the prat could not read my expression so he couldn't make a fuss. Riveria continued.
"Lyze here has also explained how he had been able to achieve this through his own casting theory. One which I must admit has given me much more insight into the field of magic that I've had previously." She nodded to me. "Please explain."
And so I explained to them the theory of chants being detriments and altogether a massive flaw for a combat mage. This bristled a lot of heckles but a glare from Riveria quelled any outspoken indignation. I then explained how it was ultimately the mind that was the magical focus of magic techniques and not staves or wands.
I reasoned that chants were merely a method used to help a caster envision their spells to achieve that desired their outcome, and then theorized that it was better to sharpen the mind, improve the image of what you wanted to happen while stringing those thoughts along the Mind (mana) you would be expelling. I demonstrated how this also served to exercise magic like a muscle, that the more you practiced, the stronger it became.
I made sure to drive this point home by releasing my mental locks on my Mind pool. The air slightly rippled around me as pure magical energy filled my body and made itself known to the special senses that elves had. While it did not match that mind pool of a high level adventurer like Riveria or Hedin from Freya's Familia, it certainly beat others of my level by a FEW landslides.
For a moment I considered opening my eyes under the blindfold and for a brief moment flash the possible infinite magical pool of Chaos which was also my pool technically. But I decided against it as that would have raised a lot more eyebrows than just the elves. I had been practising with my Chaos powers since Valaron but only in times where I was secluded.
While I was far away from harnessing it's full power, I found that my limit for sustaining it was a couple of minutes. It seemed that the more I levelled up, the more of a grip I got on Chaos. It was huge difference compared to the 20 seconds I was only able to manage in Valaron.
When I finished explaining my own magical theory, the result was better than I expected. Instead of the many scoffs I was expecting, instead I got mostly deep and thoughtful looks from the elders. The young and more immature elves still had childish sneers on them but I could always just cook them alive later. Vira gave me an awe-filled and encouraging smile though, which fluttered my stomach a little.
"And now you see, Lyze has proved that his magical theory to be correct as evident by how long he has manged to sustain that flame in his palm." Riveria said.
"But that theory would only apply to him though as the fruits of such labour are only possible because of his innate magic." Kalos tried to say.
Riveria shook her head.
"I thought so too. But now I see I was wrong." She said.
"Huh?!" Came the collective response from everyone around, including me.
"It was not easy." Riveria smiled. "In fact it was unnaturally difficult, harder than than even the most complex exam I've ever taken in magical study. The sheer mental power required to perform such a casting method shows how much credit must given to Lyze with how easy he is able to perform it." She held up her palm the same way I was doing. "But with time, effort, dedication as well as Lyze's guidance, he has taught me time and again how to envision my spells properly and to refrain from using my words to refine the images in my mind. And it is thanks to him alone, that I am now capable of this!"
I was beginning to realize the purpose of why she'd approached me so many times in the past three weeks on this subject. My suspicions were confirmed as an utterly weak, orange flame but a flame nonetheless appeared in her palm.
All the while she remained silent with no word to speak of coming from her mouth.
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