Chapter 23 - Basics of the Basics

  The view was truly extraordinary. The shouter hadn’t lied about that.

  As the City of Artorias shrank ever smaller and the mountains around it turned to lesser hills, the land stretched out before him in every direction. It was as much as Daniel had ever seen of the world he once created.

  There was nothing he could identify right away, but he knew the general direction of every major city—or at least those that existed a thousand years ago. The jagged mountains from the books that had taken the party of heroes weeks to traverse covered most of the view. It was understandable that they had struggled—even from up here, the terrain looked brutal.

  Then the great ocean to the north-east, stretching endlessly into the distance. It was near the edge of the map, so he wasn’t sure how far it was to the other side. What had he called that continent again?

  Something with a G… Garuni?

  “Is it a nice view?” Felicia asked politely, not quite managing to mask the tension in her entire body. She was still fighting the fear of flying every moment that passed.

  “Worth every sliver,” Daniel replied, trying to distract her from her terror. He deliberately relaxed his own posture, hoping it might help her do the same. "You get the free version, so the view fits the price."

  She managed a small smile at that, then hit him softly on the shoulder. The gesture was so sisterly that it made him grin.

  “Maybe one day I can see that far…”

  Daniel's expression sobered slightly. “Mmh, not unless you create a better version of magic sight on your own. I can cover a city or two, but this is a hundred times greater.”

  “You think I can?”

  "I think the only limit is the creativity in that little head of yours." He smiled, poking her forehead gently. “But actually, I might have a way to let you see far away through the magic sight.”

  “Really? How?”

  Daniel had been reminded of a special kind of projector that took videos and recreated them on a screen, letting nearsighted people watch blackboards in schools. The principle was simple enough—capture visual information from one location and display it at another, close to the user.

  Easier said than done, though…

  “I’ll have to think about it. The design isn't a simple one." He caught himself getting lost in the technical details and refocused on her eager face. "Oh, speaking of designs!"

  With everything that had happened since, he had forgotten to give her the gift he had prepared yesterday. He'd spent a good hour fine-tuning the formations, making sure everything was perfect for her first real magical tool.

  He opened the spatial storage of his index, pulling out a thick bracelet. The outside was steel, while the inside was made of leather for comfort. He had added a few engravings to make it similar to his own, mostly just to make it personal.

  “This is for you, Fillie.”

  She leaned forward, clearly studying the bracelet intently. Her expression shifted from curiosity to amazement. “Is it… the index?”

  “Yes, your very own. It should be easy enough to use. Want me to put it on?”

  She nodded slowly, then took a deep breath, then nodded some more. “Please.”

  Daniel helped her, unlocking the mechanism and sliding it down her hand. It was designed to be very hard to remove, making it harder to steal. He felt the tiny pulse of magic as the index recognized its new owner and adjusted to fit perfectly.

  “There we go. How does it feel?”

  Felicia flexed her wrist experimentally, and Daniel could see her testing the weight and fit through her movements. The bracelet sat snug enough to stay in place during whatever adventures lay ahead, but loose enough to let her skin breathe underneath.

  “My very own index… How does it work?”

  “Put your mana into it. The display should show you the rest.”

  She promptly did as he asked, and Daniel felt a small thrill of satisfaction as the index came to life on her wrist. He'd programmed the initial display himself, wanting her first experience to be perfect. Tiny letters appeared on the surface, made of carefully controlled barrier magic instead of the usual formless holograms.

  The message read: "Good to meet you, Felicia!"

  Her sharp intake of breath told him she could read it clearly.

  “It has an adaptive spatial storage, meaning you can put as much stuff as you want inside, but it will drain your mana quicker the more you place in it. Then there–oof!”

  The words were knocked out of him as Felicia suddenly jumped at his chest, pulling him into a fierce hug. She held him firmly, with her face buried against his chest. Too overwhelmed by emotion to speak, but not quite overwhelmed enough to cry.

  Daniel felt a warmth spreading through him, of the kind he had missed dearly. He put one arm on her back and another on her head, tousling her hair gently.

  “Let’s call it a birthday present for the previous thirteen years. Which means you owe me one for twenty-seven—no, one thousand and twenty-seven birthdays.”

  "...Then this hug is one." Her voice was muffled against his shirt, but he caught the slight tremor in it. "One thousand and twenty-six remaining."

  “Hah! I’ll make sure to treasure them, then.”

  “You better…”

  Felicia released the embrace soon after, holding the index up to her face as if studying it closely. Daniel knew it was easier to look at things through magic vision when they were right in front of you—the magical perception grew more detailed at close range.

  “...It’s controlled through mana?”

  “Yes, as a bit of extra practice. It’s very useful once you get good at it, and I figured you’d manage it well.”

  “I’ll do my best!”

  "Good to hear." Daniel glanced down at the landscape below them, noting how the landscape had shifted as they talked. Her fears seemed to have lessened for now, but only as long as she was distracted.

  And I promised I would.

  “So, are you ready to start lesson number two?”

  “Of course!” She sat down on the couch in the cabin, looking eager to learn more. The way she leaned forward slightly reminded Daniel of an eager student on the first day of school.

  Considering what the last lesson had brought her, he thought, settling into the chair across from her, I understand her excitement well.

  “This won’t be as life-changing as the last round, I’m afraid. We need to teach you the basics of the basics before anything else.”

  “Even the basics sound interesting to me.”

  The sincerity in her voice made him smile. “That’s the right attitude.”

  In his old life, most people approached learning like it was a chore. Felicia treated it like a gift.

  What basics should we start with, then? What’s the most useful? What’s commonly known? Has anything else been lost to history?

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  He leaned forward in the chair, putting his fingers together in what felt like a teaching pose. “Is telekinesis also a forgotten art?”

  She tilted her head slightly upward, which seemed to be how she searched her memories. “...I’m fairly certain my father knows how to use it, so I think it’s known. Why?”

  “Well, it’s pretty similar to magic vision in many ways, so I thought maybe if one is forgotten, both would be. But telekinesis is too helpful to forget, I imagine.”

  Basic utility magic, Daniel mused. The kind of thing that makes daily life easier. No way that disappears completely.

  “How does it work?”

  “Telekinesis uses the energy of mana to push something, in simple terms. It is very inefficient when it comes to mana spending, but at the same time, very useful in certain situations.”

  “Well, I figured it would use the energy of the mana. That’s magic.”

  Her matter-of-fact tone made him chuckle. "Fair point. Maybe you could try using it before I explain the details?"

  "This again?" There was a note of exasperation in her voice, but also anticipation. She was starting to understand his teaching methods.

  "You surprised me last time."

  Felicia shifted on the couch, tensing her shoulders. "Well, that was luck. I couldn't imagine something formless, so I made it easier first."

  Easier, you say...

  Daniel shook his head in amazement. The girl had no idea how extraordinary she was. "If anyone else could hear you talk about forming mana crystals as being easier than making mana gaseous, I'm sure they would laugh at you. So I'm curious what your mind might do next."

  He watched her process that, saw the moment when she realized he was both complimenting and challenging her. Her chin lifted slightly in determination.

  "Okay… What do you want me to levitate?"

  Daniel grinned, watching her search the room for light objects. He had something else in mind.

  "Me."

  "What?"

  "Or rather, I want you to try pushing me through your mana. In any direction, however you want."

  The surprise on her face slowly turned to worry. “I know this is probably a stupid question, considering who you are, but… won’t that be dangerous, maybe? I don’t know what I’ll do.”

  Daniel appreciated her caution. It showed she understood that magic could be deadly if mishandled. "Yes, maybe I should explain the concept of mana heart first."

  “Mana heart?”

  He settled back in his chair, preparing to explain one of the fundamental concepts of magical self-defense.

  “In basic terms, your body will act on its own to defend itself, using the mana in your core to push back against any excessive force or damaging impact. It can be both active and passive, and the passive version is enough for me to be completely impervious to any attack you can send at me.”

  “Really?”

  The beauty of having an absolutely ridiculous power level.

  His mana reserves were so vast that his passive defenses alone could probably withstand a balista without breaking skin. "Yes. You can not hurt me. Maybe you could make me bleed a little with your Sarun Magic, but that's it."

  “...So I never did hurt you?”

  “Ah.” When he pretended she had hurt him to make her his disciple? “Well, no. It just fit so well with the situation—I thought you knew.”

  Instead of looking sad, she laughed. “It was obvious, don’t worry.”

  “...You’re getting good at this little sister stuff, aren’t you?”

  “You said I was supposed to be annoying.” she tilted her head with a wide grin. “But fine, then. If you’re certain, I’ll try to move you.”

  Daniel spread his arms wide, making himself an easy target. "Hit me with all you've got."

  Felicia held her arms up toward him, taking on the focused expression he was beginning to recognize as her 'serious magic' look.

  He could feel her mana stirring, creeping through the air like invisible fingers exploring their surroundings, blending with the already diffuse gaseous mana she kept around her at all times now. It moved near his head, gently trying to touch his hair.

  Okay, not a bad choice. Hair is light. But mana does not act like air, since it’s frictionless in its usual state.

  Daniel kept his own mana vision light, trying not to disturb the gentle mana Felicia was sending out. Too much mana in the environment might hinder her.

  Her focus remained sharp as the mana tried moving across his scalp, but still, nothing happened.

  “Why can’t my mana move inside your body?”

  "Same reason as earlier," Daniel explained, "but also because mana has a much greater authority inside someone's body than outside it. It takes a massive difference in power to overcome that difference."

  A look of realization appeared on her face. "That’s what mana suppression is?"

  "Exactly."

  "So… your mana could enter my body?"

  The question carried a note of vulnerability that made Daniel choose his words carefully. "Yes, as long as I use enough of it. You know how it feels, right?"

  He watched her expression shift, saw the memory cross her features. "I felt it when… when I…"

  “Yesterday,” he confirmed, thinking back on his actions. “I know. I should apologize to the entire city once I get the chance.”

  “...You did it to save me.”

  Yes. He would do it again in a heartbeat if the same situation arose.

  “I did. But still, it feels cruel not to tell them why it happened. Though I’m sure your father will take some responsibility.”

  He left Franz a lot of responsibility. What he managed to do with it remained to be seen.

  “But let’s focus.”

  “Right… Am I doing something wrong?”

  Daniel leaned forward slightly, studying her technique. She was trying to manipulate his hair through direct physical contact, treating her mana like invisible hands. "Yes. Think about everything I've said."

  Felicia's brow furrowed in concentration. "...Use the energy in the mana. Like…"

  Suddenly, a burst of wind erupted from Daniel's scalp, sending his hair flying in every direction. The strands whipped around wildly before falling back down in complete disarray.

  Daniel couldn't help but grin at the success, even as he ran a hand through his now-chaotic hair. "There you go! A complete lack of control, but those are the basics. Well done!"

  “Really? But I simply… turned it into energy? What does that even mean?”

  She's doing this instinctively, Daniel realized with amazement. No formal training, no understanding of the theory, and she's converting mana into kinetic force through pure intuition.

  "I think you transformed it into a vector force, but completely lacking in direction or purpose. So it created a burst of energy in every direction at once."

  "Vector force?"

  "Yes, like this," Daniel replied, pointing his finger up at her. He gathered a small amount of mana and converted it into directional force, applying it specifically to Felicia's hair.

  Instantly, her hair stood straight up as if she were falling through the air feet first, each strand reaching toward the cabin's ceiling.

  "Aah! This is all in one direction?"

  She can feel the difference immediately. Daniel maintained the effect, enjoying her startled reaction. "Exactly. And to keep it standing, I have to supply it with mana continuously. It's a good way to practice."

  He kept her hair suspended, watching how it moved in the artificial breeze. The blonde strands caught the light streaming through the windows, creating an almost comical halo effect.

  "Okay. Okay! You can stop now!"

  "But it's fun," he replied, grinning from ear to ear.

  She somehow managed to glare at him with her eyes closed. Then she focused again, seemingly intent on returning the favor.

  Daniel felt his hair raise slightly, but it fell just as quickly again. “You’re getting the hang of it. Your mana might not be great enough to keep the effect sustained like I’m doing, though, so don’t push yourself.”

  “I’ll show you push myself!”

  Felicia stood from the couch and moved closer to him, positioning her hands directly over his ears, nearly touching the skin. Daniel could feel the heat radiating from her palms as she concentrated.

  The next burst of energy lasted several seconds, lifting his hair ever so slightly in a sustained effect. It was impressive, but he could sense the strain it was putting on her magical reserves.

  Felicia started breathing heavily, clenching her teeth as she fought to maintain the spell. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on her forehead from the effort.

  Daniel stopped lifting her hair, letting the strands fall back to frame her face normally. "Okay, that's enough, Fillie. Don't spend all your mana on this."

  "But I'm close!" Her voice was filled with the frustration of someone who could see the finish line but wasn't quite fast enough to reach it.

  "You're already doing amazingly." He reached out and gently placed his hands on top of hers, guiding them down to rest against his ears. "This lesson is to teach you what you should practice on your own, not to have you master anything."

  "...Fine." Felicia's shoulders relaxed slightly, though he could still feel the lingering tension of her ambition. "What's the next basic of the basics, then?"

  “Well, what do you usually think of when you hear Alderic Magic?”

  Felicia thought about the question for a while, tilting her head up in that contemplative way again.

  Then the ship shook beneath them.

  The vibration ran through the cabin floor. A faint sound echoed in the distance—something between an explosion and a thunderclap.

  “What was that?” Felicia whispered as her face turned pale. Her posture collapsed inward, with her arms wrapping around herself defensively. “What was—”

  Another blast hit, much closer this time, and Felicia let out a quick scream as the cabin shook. The airship began to slowly tilt to one side. Either they were turning rapidly, or something had damaged their stabilization systems badly enough that they couldn't stay upright.

  What are the odds? The one ship we choose to get on… If this is done by someone in the Harrowbloom family, I’m headed back and turning them into paste.

  Daniel immediately sent his mana out in all directions, surrounding the entire ship in his magical perception. Over four hundred passengers, all either cowering in fear or trying to figure out what was going on.

  The ship was unharmed, but the barrier surrounding it had been shattered in two places, and three smaller airships had darted through, now in the process of attaching themselves to the larger ship.

  “...Pirates. Nothing to worry about.”