Chapter 93 – Wind Magic & Warning
“Boss! Good to see you! I am ready to learn!”
“Roo Woof!”
“Calm down, you two; it has only been a week.” Syrus scratched the back of her head. It had been a little over a week since their last training session; it wasn’t the long ti they had in between training sessions, but it was the first ti Anlesa was completely unreachable for the entire gap.
They were at the edge of town to train again, but a little closer towards the forest this ti.
“I understand.”
“That doesn’t even make sense as a response…” Syrus sighed, and Eva followed up, “Anyway, before we start, I have sothing I want to tell you.”
“Hmm?”
Eva explained that on the 4th Street Westside was a store on a side street run by Ash Evelen. She gave a description of the store and its location. Afterwards, she explained she had left a present for him in her care that he should pick up soon.
Ethan was confused at why Syrus just didn’t give him the gift now, but Eva explained that she didn’t know when they would et next and it was easier to keep where she ntioned. There was also a separate reason Eva did this. By making Ethan go to the location himself, it would make him rember the location better. She wanted him to be aware of a place to go if he was ever injured. It was likely he knew places already, but Ash’s place was sowhere Anlesa trusted.
Much to Ethan’s excitent, it didn’t take much longer for training to begin.
[When do you want to warn him?] (Luna)
[Doing it now could disrupt his training.] (Syrus)
[Doing it later can be dangerous; telling them can prevent any negative reactions.] (Luna)
With the church's presence confird, that put an unintended target on Ethan’s back. Cobalt had gotten back at masking its presence and signature from all ans to the point it greatly impressed Luna and Eva, but the nature of its existence was a danger to Ethan.
However, Ethan would never abandon his friend.
[...We will do it after the magic talk.] Eva suggested.
[Fine.] (Luna)
They couldn’t teach Ethan wind magic, but they at least could explain what magic was better for him to experint on his own. This would help him if they ever left for an extended period of ti again.
Thirty minutes later, Ethan continued to train himself under Syrus's watchful gaze.
Under Anlesa's guidance, he could push himself further, as Syrus was able to stop him if he was about to seriously injure himself. She was also able to correct his form and provide motivation.
Syrus found a log to sit on, and then she called Ethan over. “Ethan, ti for your theoretical lesson of the day.”
Ethan held back a groan. Sotis the theoretical lessons were very interesting and, other tis, extrely boring. He physically couldn’t forget the ti he was forced to learn math. It was actually Syrus who led that lesson; she believed basic math skills were very important. Her reasoning was that it was better to know how many enemies there were and how much that number decreased compared to how many were killed.
Ethan sat cross-legged on the ground in front of him. Cobalt tried to copy Ethan’s position, unsuccessfully.
Eva used Jen’s system to further explain magic to Ethan. “Now look, when people are referring to magic, they are usually referring to the more powerful stuff. If we split magic into three tiers, tiers two~three are what people hear when they hear magic and not just soone using their attribute.”
Ethan asked, “What about tier one?”
Eva explained, “The dividing line between tier one magic and simply attribute use is thin; you could even call attribute use tier zero magic.” The majority of the terms Eva used were ones that Jen had used, besides tier zero magic, which she made up on the spot and felt quite proud of herself because of it. “Now I need you to understand that magic is not sothing that has been greatly developed.”
“Huh?” Ethan–and Cobalt copying him–tiled their heads ever so slightly in confusion.
“I know, confusing, right?” Eva returned a light, joyful smile. “The magic masters only really are the masters of their own field, and even that field is limited. You hear about the great healing properties of light magic and its related attributes, but that is because of centuries of developing those magics. Why can those lessons be transferred over from one attribute to another?” Eva’s rambling increased as excitent rose. “Is it because their appearance is similar or sothing else? The light magics aren’t the only ones that can heal; you could find in stories that people have been healed via songs, magical flas, or divine springs? But why can’t I heal people with my fire? Why has a spell not been made? Is it actually a simple spell with a crucial elent of understanding missing? Or a complicated one that we haven’t built the road for yet. And that is just for fire, a common attribute; what about the more fantastical ones?”
Ethan apologised, “Sorry Syrus… this is getting a little over my head…”
Eva closed her eyes and coughed in her closed hand. "No, I’m sorry, I got too excited.”
She opened her eyes and refocused the conversation. “Let’s talk about your attribute and tier-one magic.”
Eva moved the wire up from her right wrist and had a little bit of it float in the air. “What separates magic and standard attribute use? Well, it is the split of one's attribute into multiple parts. What are those parts? Who is to say, for certain attributes or people, is it blocks, pieces, or string?" Eva had the wire wiggle around. “After that, the user moulds it in such a way to enhance the effect. Whether that is increasing fla strength for decreased mana cost or creating a stronger breeze of wind.”
Ethan asked, “So magic is just better than using attributes normally?”
“Not necessarily. Just read a list of attributes, and you will see many that don’t sound like more can be done with them outside their basic use.” Eva summoned her second wire. “My Manipulation, for instance; advanced uses of it don’t really fall under the definition of magic. I am splitting my control of it, but I am not making a spell or anything.”
Eva’s ramble started again, but she did manage to stop herself. “Now, you can try and make so simple magic yourself; as I said, the dividing line between tier zero and one isn’t too big, but don’t feel bad about not getting it or making anything, ever honestly. Magic is taught for a reason, and most people with zero understanding don’t beco mages just because they want to. If anything, this is more to inform you of the possibilities than anything else.”
Then Syrus said, “Now go. Practice for a bit before we continue talking. You may try stuff with your attributes. But be warned w-cough, argh, sothing in my throat, I can’t help you with it much.''
[Syrus?] (Luna)
[Let the boy have fun first.] (Syrus)
[He can have fun after he knows about the danger.] (Luna)
[Then he wouldn’t be able to have fun.] (Syrus)
Luna didn’t try to stop Ethan’s training and let it continue until he began to tire again.
“Okay, now Ethan. I have sothing important to tell you. And no, it is not about training or improvent.”
That last comnt imdiately strangled Ethan’s attention, and he walked over to close proximity to Anlesa, who was sitting on a log. Once he was close, Syrus put a finger over her mouth to signal to be quiet.
“There are more people from the church back in the city again, and I an a lot more than last ti.”
Ethan’s eyes widened, “Are they–”
“No, I don’t think they are here for Cobalt, but still you can’t let them find him.”
Ethan turned to Cobalt, and he looked back, feeling Ethan’s worry.
Ethan asked, “Can you keep Cobalt safe again?”
Eva opened their mouth, “I…” Syrus took control back, “I don't think I can; there is a lot going on and I will be closer in proximity.”
“I see…”
Syrus put her hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “It will be alright. Rember, you can always run, and if you can’t find , keep running.”
Ethan asked, “...And if I find you?” He was scared of sothing happening to Cobalt, but he knew the church would be a lot of trouble, and if he was caught and ran to Syrus, what trouble would he be getting her into after she already did so much for him?
“I’ll protect you two, idiot.” Anlesa flicked his forehead. “They won’t take your family from you under my watch.”
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