บท 39: Chapter - 39
It only took an hour for Vaylara to stop giving me the silent treatment, and since I had pretty much figured out how to keep my wings on autopilot, she started teaching me the basic theory of magic.
Pretty soon, I had realized that magic was very similar to coding. It seemed that even reincarnation was not enough to help me escape that particular pain in the ass. Thankfully, this time around, I was a lot smarter, and the end result was nothing as bland as a shitty webpage. That kept me pretty motivated to learn all I could.
The only problem now was that I had to learn another freaking language that seemed harder than Mandarin for some fucking reason. I mean, I know that shrinking an entire sentence into one letter is efficient, but ughh.
One thing I noticed was that the magic I was being taught was not the Harry Potteresque "throw colors in people's faces" kind of magic, but more like pentagrams and circles type of magic. While it wasn't the fast battle kind of magic I had in mind, it was very versatile.
After approximately half a day of learning, Vaylara finally felt confident enough to allow me to attempt my first spell. Although I was tempted to try it while flying, I decided it would be safer to practice on solid ground.
Unfortunately, I was currently soaring over water, but I spotted a few islands that appeared to be suitable for a brief stop.
I managed to locate a relatively secluded section of one of the islands and landed in a spacious clearing.
"Let's start with something small," she suggested, raising her hand. A vibrant blue spell circle materialized above her palm, and lightning began to crackle within it. Each fork of lightning that veered too far from the circle's boundaries was drawn back inward, creating a captivating visual display.
"As you can observe, this circle consists of only two runes: lightning and containment. Now, it's your turn to give it a try."
As I raised my hand, a wave of uncertainty washed over me. "Um, how exactly do I create the circle?" I inquired, feeling a bit lost.
Vaylara chuckled, finding amusement in my novice status. "Oh, my dear fledgling magician, worry not. The circle creation comes later. For now, you can either draw it by hand on a parchment or trace it on the ground."
Letting out a sigh, I realized she might be teasing me. "Well, I suppose drawing on the ground it is, since I don't have any parchment with me... Unless, of course, I could borrow a few pages from your grimoire?" I proposed, hoping for a momentary solution.
She responded with a mischievous smile, giving me a warning tinged with amusement. "You're certainly welcome to try, but I doubt you'll be pleased with the outcome."
That was a clear rejection. Accepting the reality, I picked up a nearby stick and began etching the runes onto the ground, adjusting my work based on Vaylara's instructions.
Before long, the familiar crackling sound of lightning filled the air, accompanied by a sense of exhilaration. I gazed at the ball of swirling electricity before me, a wide grin spreading across my face.
"Your rapid learning is truly impressive. It gives me hope that this journey won't be as lengthy as I had initially anticipated," she remarked, a genuine smile gracing her face.
The crackling lightning dissipated as I ceased fueling the spell, yet my grin remained firmly in place.
"I want to attempt a more challenging spell," I declared, my enthusiasm driving me forward.
Vaylara regarded me for a moment before her grimoire floated in front of me, its pages flipping on their own accord.
"Choose whichever you desire. By now, your reading skills should be sufficient to grasp the essence of each spell," she encouraged, her voice filled with confidence.
Without hesitation, I delved into the pages, scanning through the array of spells presented before me. After a few minutes of browsing, one particular spell caught my attention.
Although I couldn't fully comprehend the intricacies of the spell, I sensed that it stood a few tiers above the basic one I had just attempted. Furthermore, my inner yearning for fiery spectacles seemed to align with the nature of this spell.
Vaylara approached me from behind, peering over my shoulder to examine my choice. "Quite a significant leap in complexity here. Are you certain you wouldn't prefer to start with something simpler?" she questioned.
"No, it doesn't appear overly complicated. It may be time-consuming, but I believe it will provide me with a deeper understanding of the runes," I responded, my determination unwavering.
While the sensible choice would have been to start with a smaller spell, such as casting a fireball or something of that nature, I already possessed the ability to do so using my shard powers. Therefore, I resolved to push myself further.
Vaylara arched an eyebrow, pausing for a moment before giving me her approval. "Very well, if you have the confidence, go ahead," she conceded.
With her encouragement and occasional guidance to address any uncertainties, I diligently transcribed the intricate runes from the grimoire onto the floor.
By the time I was done night had fallen and the product of my efforts could be seen etched on the ground, a grand pentagram adorned the ground, its lines replaced by elaborate letters, forming a complex symbol.
Somewhere during the process of drawing the circle, a realization dawned upon me. The spell wasn't just about summoning a more potent fire; it involved cursed flames. However, my excitement and eagerness had overridden any concern I may have had, and I disregarded the ominous implications of the spell's name.
Eager for feedback, I turned to Vaylara and posed the question, "So, how did I do?"
"It's passable," Vaylara responded, her tone hinting at a mixture of approval and caution.
I simply shrugged, content with her assessment. Good enough was sufficient for me.
Without any hesitation, I commenced channeling my magic through specific components of the spell, following the precise intervals I had learned. As I poured my energy into the incantation, I witnessed an inferno materialize before me. A sense of exhilaration overwhelmed me, and I couldn't help but burst into maniacal laughter.
However, my elation was short-lived. I soon noticed that the flames were growing beyond my control. Concerned, I ceased channeling my magic, attempting to halt the expansion of the fiery manifestation. But to my horror, cutting off my magic seemed to have the opposite effect. The flames accelerated their growth, taking on the shape of a colossal serpent that consumed the entire clearing, leaving us trapped at the center.
"Is it supposed to be doing that?" I inquired, my voice tinged with concern.
Vaylara's coy smile persisted as she responded, "I have no idea. Cursed fire is known for its unpredictable nature, especially during its manifestations."
I stared at her, wide-eyed and incredulous. It became evident that she harbored some petty resentment towards me for my bullshit powers, but dwelling on that now would serve no purpose. Instead, I redirected my focus towards the escalating inferno, which continued to grow despite my ceasing to channel my magic into it.
The aura surrounding the flames became increasingly sinister, while their hue deepened into a darker shade of crimson.
"In hindsight, attempting to summon cursed fire as my second spell was perhaps not the wisest decision," I admitted, acknowledging my lapse in judgment.
The colossal serpent locked its gaze with mine, poised to strike at any moment. I stood frozen, paralyzed by uncertainty. However, to my surprise, the serpent's attention shifted towards Vaylara, seemingly reconsidering its target.
I sensed a flicker of basic intelligence within the serpent's gaze as it seemingly reached a conclusion. Recognizing the futility of attacking us, particularly the spirit accompanying me, it abruptly changed its course, slithering away from our direction and disappearing into the dense forest. In its wake, the unrelenting blaze continued its destructive path, engulfing everything in its fiery embrace.
The serpent's retreat brought a momentary respite, but the devastation left in its wake served as a stark reminder of the havoc that had been unleashed. The crackling flames devoured the surroundings, reducing them to a charred landscape. The trail of destruction left behind served as a haunting testament to the raw power of the cursed fire.
Overwhelmed by the chaos unfolding before me, I turned to Vaylara, desperately seeking answers. "What did I do wrong?" I implored, eager to rectify my mistake.
Vaylara responded, her tone matter-of-fact, "You didn't do anything fundamentally wrong. You simply forgot to incorporate a control mechanism into the spell. However, even if you had, it wouldn't have made much difference in this situation. You decided to summon hellfire in an area that is inherently steeped in sin."
Her explanation came without much concern for the rapidly spreading inferno that surrounded us, growing with alarming speed.
"What do you mean, 'steeped in sin'? I'm not even sure where we..."
As the words began to form on my lips, a surge of realization washed over me. I mentally conjured a map, trying to discern our precise location. It quickly became evident that I had been flying from Dragonstone to Winterfell, and I had unknowingly landed on an island situated midway between the two.
"Damn it! We're on Three Sisters," I muttered under my breath, the gravity of the situation sinking in.
Vaylara, ever quick-witted, couldn't help but comment, "Ah, so you've figured out our location. Do enlighten me."
Realizing the implications, I admitted, "It's an island with a notorious history of being infested with nothing but pirates."
Understanding dawned upon Vaylara's face as she connected the dots. "Ah, that would certainly explain the rapid spread of the fire," she acknowledged.
"How do I stop it?" I urgently pressed, my mind racing for a solution.
Vaylara's response came with a hint of reproach, "Shouldn't you have considered that before? Regardless, it's too late now. Once you severed your connection to the spell, the fire cannot be extinguished, especially given the sin-infested environment you chose."
Frustration welled up within me as I muttered, "There should have been a warning."
Vaylara, still maintaining her composure, replied dryly, "There is a warning. It is on the next page."
"That makes no sense!" I protested, feeling a mixture of confusion and irritation.
"Of course, it does! The spell was developed through extensive trial and error. Naturally, the side effects would only become apparent after its creation. It's your own fault for being too eager to proceed without reading the fine print," Vaylara retorted.
"Fortunately, we're on an island, so the fire should be contained within its borders," she added, seemingly unperturbed by the escalating disaster surrounding us.
As the intensity of the heat reached an unbearable level, I reluctantly acknowledged the futility of my efforts. With a heavy heart, I took to the skies, seeking refuge from the growing discomfort. From above, I could make out the serpent tearing its way through the ships that were desperately trying to escape. I watched helplessly as the relentless inferno consumed the entire island, leaving behind nothing but a desolate, scorched wasteland.
While I was no saint, condemning an island full of people, even a pirate infested one to a fiery death due to a mistake I made, left a bitter taste in my mouth.
The haunting cries of anguish carried by the wind pierced through the air, serving as a grim reminder of the devastation caused by my ill-fated spell.
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