"So... wait... where does the spirit go?"

Seria looks under her eyes and scrunches her brows, looking distant.

"Of course... why would you not notice..." she whispers, sighing.

After dinner, it is now my first lesson on the why's and how's of magic use. I don't think Seria is used to students asking questions.

"Is... is that a bad question?" I ask.

Her eyes snap back to me.

"There is never such thing as a bad question. It is just you... you never cease to surprise me, fufufu..." she sighs again, and suddenly moves closer.

"It is merely... I am somewhat ashamed. I only considered this question for the first time in some very recent research. None of my predecessors, or any other pupils of mine have asked this. Ever."

"So... perhaps the spirit is consumed?" I gulp.

"...No one knows. That... that is a possibility. A bad one." She groans, flicking a twin-tail.

"Because the spirits are alive?" I ask.

"If a magician wanted to be a humanitarian at the same time, I'd slap them." She growls. "No. It is because the process is just akin to burning wood, and after all..."

"...there are only so many trees... no miracle, just equivalent exchange, and energy can't be created or destroyed?" I say, linking my understanding to my own rudimentary grasp of the sciences.

Like the popular duo alchemy anime, and in fact, real science, you can't have something of nothing.

Seria looks wide eyed.

"What is that!? Is that common knowledge for your world?" She almost shouts.

"It is an important theory in Earth physics, yes." I say carefully, somewhat startled by her attitude change.

"I see..." her brow creases "Yes... this is something I must study after all."

She ponders, chin on her fist for a moment, but then apparently realises she is still meant to be teaching a lesson, snapping back to look at me and clearing her throat.

"But... in any case, enough of that. I think we should carry on."

She unhitches the broach from the front of her fanservicey tube top, and hands it to me.

"A focus. Mostly a worthless bauble, but useful in utility applications. Like finding your affinity. Close your eyes."

I do so. Part of me wonders (hopes?) Seria is going to do something questionable, but it’s unlikely. She appears mostly focused; and less of a troll when instructing, so it seems.

I feel an odd tingle all over.

"Fufufu, the spirits here are quite excitable. Well... let us begin."

"What do I do?" I ask.

"Let us try the orthodox method first, and if that fails, the Torosky method... mmm... very well. Think of something that is on fire. Burning. Flames. Picture it in your head."

I can't help but recall the molotov. I was actually quite terrified and disgusted at the intensity of the blaze... the smell of incinerated flesh. The raw, rolling waves of heat... it makes me feel hot just thinking about it.

"STOP!" Seria shouts. I do so.

"Hmm... Very good. That is... better than I expected. Around... two quarts? I'd say so."

I open my eyes. The focus feels warm in my hand, now I think about it. A couple of embers appear to lazily swirl around it, but disappear quickly.

"You saw them, yes? Fire spirits are basically indistinguishable from embers. You have a minor affinity there."

"So I can make fires after all?"

"Perhaps. But not likely. They were quite lethargic, so I see you being limited to warming yourself slightly. Don't be disheartened, though... fire is actually a very uncommon affinity. Those who have it almost invariably experienced nearly burning to death in some form." She states, with a stern tone.

That’s pretty macabre. But I guess the way to truly understand what burning feels like is to be in a real fire... and live to tell the tale.

"Mmmm... well then. Let us proceed. Do your best to think of water..."

We proceeded like this to test all nine spirit types. It turns out that besides fire, water, air and earth; there were both metal and wood, light and thunder, and void spirits.

Funnily enough, it appeared my highest affinity was also thunder, at seven quarts, which gave Seria a wry smile. But earth and metal were also quite high at five quarts. Void and wood were zero.

"You and I are surprisingly... compatible, boy." Seria states, raising an eyebrow.

"I was never a child to be scared of lightning. I enjoy a good storm." I reply.

"Ufufu... you flatterer." She grins.

"Is seven quarts good?" I ask.

"I myself have fifteen. Sixteen is the highest ever recorded. You're not quite Sage material, but it is good enough for a journeyman sorcerer. Same with your earth and metal. I suggest you pick one of these." She states.

"I... I can't have all three?" I query.

She raises an eyebrow. "You ~are~ a greedy boy, fufufu. But no... You cannot. Attuning to one type invariably shuns the others. Though you can learn as many incantations as you like, the spirits will not respond... normally. Some anomalies ~do~ exist, but they go insane, or destroy their own bodies from conflicting power." She looks wistful.

I did wonder why Seria, with all years and her ancestors, only mastered thunder magic. Does this restriction apply to my skill tree as well? I'm not in a rush to try it.

Well... I wonder what I should choose...