-Afternoon. Nefiru's POV-

I'm getting healed by a little girl's Magic while resting my neck on top of the stone table under the shade of the tree in the comfortable afternoon as the sun passed the zenith two hours ago and is halfway to the west where my body is oriented. The cool breeze carries the scent of blood oozing from the man sitting on the right table next to ours and the smells from the kitchen preparing dinner for the forty plus people living in the fortified estate.

"So? Tell me already!" I ordered Shaila then sneaked magic to her legs.

"Hiauu...!" She whined and twitched her body from electrocution after interrupting her recovery magic. "Jerk! Bad pet Dragon. I'm not done with the treatment..." the little girl protests while repeatedly hitting me with her right palm.

"That's fine. You alleviated the pain enough, and my natural healing can take care of the rest, just don't hit my neck like that..." I informed using my left paw to scratch the scales around the itchy wound. "Anyway, we can't waste mana healing a dumb pet that couldn't assess the situation better, and you have yet to demonstrate your theory." I point out then brought a clean claw close to her face and moved the white hair to her back.

She stared into my left eye as if wanting to jump inside and sighed before nodding then grabbed the claw with both hands.

"They call it light burst or flare which blinds enemies to escape, but I was thinking to employ it differently by compacting all elementals in a tiny finger-like shape as much as my magic density allows then feed them without restraint in layers from the tip until they disappear. However, I lack the concentration to make the tiny structure past a certain length to increase the duration. Also, it's rather difficult to feed each layer at the right time while producing one specific electromagnetic wave to maintain the intensity of the beam with coherence, then change my target on top of that." She happily elaborates and starts humming while dangling her feet on the bench.

Mmm... it's true she doesn't have to follow conventional methods to amplify light by stimulating photon emission from excited atoms or molecules to produce a coherent wave of electromagnetic radiation. I concur with her idea to break out of technology's limitations. However, this method won't allow her to do it continuously like with the Gem that uses stimulation or mirrors made with elementals which collect the light that scatters from a ball of intense light and lets out a particular wave through a specific gap. Lastly, she removed a process in the system which is moving more elementals in to replace the ones that disappear. So instead of using a hose which consumes less energy, you are throwing a bucket at once using more effort and exchanging duration for intensity. I associate the rapid energy consumption of the proposed method using analogies.

Wait a minute! Do we have to change the name if she's not using a medium to stimulate the emission of radiation? An acronym for Systematic Emission of Intense Radiation by Elementals would be 'Seire,' but for a name... Laser is fine, isn't it? I stare at the tree trunk in front pondering.

"Alright, next I'll need a demonstration with a pose," I announced retracting my neck from the table while smirking.

"Fueh?! A p-pose is embarrassing..." The white haired girl fidgeted looking at Alphonse's direction. "Is that even useful for combat?" She questioned with an interrogating gaze.

"Maybe if you attack while glowing, they'll be mesmerized and stop to look at the spectacle..." I informed before slowly nod with my eyes closed while recalling the divine appearance when she glows.

"Just what are you imagining in that lizard head of yours..." The little girl scowled at my ulterior motives crossing her thin arms and sighed. "Fine, what kind of pose you want me to do?" She conceded under my gaze and got up from her seat.

"Take half a step with your right leg, bend the knee of the left leg a little with the left hand on your waist and point your open right palm ahead while shooting the beam," I instructed as she moved away from the bench on my left.

"Uh... like this?" She waits for acceptance making a funny stance.

"Yes!" I show claws up in approval while Alphonse an I contain our laughter. "Now everybody put on your safety glasses to protect you from any deflected radiation that could make you blind, and by that, I mean use elementals or hide." I look at Alphonse on my right who might not be skilled in that regard.

The black haired magician shook his head. "Won't be a problem." He consented. "Darkness users specialize in absorbing light, so I'll just decrease the intensity in front of my eyes until it looks as if it's night, but you don't have that capability and your eyes are more sensitive..." Alphonse points out my lack of protection.

Argh! I'm the only one in danger here, despite having a light affinity... I lamented derisively watching them make preparations. Perhaps it's time to start collecting a tiny portion of light elementals to use on my eyes or for healing in the future, but gradually changing the ratio of Elemental rights from 50/50 to 49/49/2 to accommodate light will require increasing my magic density without filling neither to capacity for some time. I recall the delicate process to make the spirit retain the intended proportions after Ranking up. Although I don't need that much healing unless something goes missing like parts of Raiga's wing, the greatest benefits could be an infrared vision to see in perpetual darkness, blind enemies for a moment, and a brief camouflage. I acknowledge the usefulness of my low light affinity with adequate magic density and decided to start gathering them as soon as possible.

"Can I start now? My arm is getting tired." Shaila pleaded maintaining the initial pose.

Well... I'll just risk looking with one eye, but at the angle that she's shooting, mostly may reflect towards the tree, and my scales should protect from residual rays... I rely a lot upon my scales as of late. I nodded in my crouching position causing the hair fibers to make rustling sounds.

"Go ahead, and shout a catchphrase while doing it!" I smile watching the little girl below preparing her magic with a calm posture.

"A catchphrase too...!?" The little girl cried out in dismay and starts assembling magic from all over her body shortly after. "It's ready." She informed preparing to fire at the tree trunk.

"Wait, wait, not the tree! Have mercy on the poor tree and use the stone table." I stopped her and offered a different target pointing at the furniture in front of me.

"Sha-Shaila laser!?" She stammered embarrassingly before a shiny blue orb the size of a golf ball appears in her right palm.

The smoke of the kitchen blown by the wind reveals a beam of blue light pinky-finger thick originating an inch away from her palm which lands on the stone surface that rapidly heats up turning red with sizzling noises and creating cracks.

"Crackle!" Pieces of stone explode under the heat and chips away from the laser path that lasted two seconds.

"ss-SSss-sizzle..." The red hot trail carved in the stone sizzles as it cools down.

Amazing!! I didn't get blind from the brightness... or rather just how many kilowatts was that!? I stare at the curved incision approximately almost the thickness of three coins deep and a foot long then probe her body with my magic.

It consumed a third of her magic, and the duration was reduced to one-fourth compared to the crystal, but it's enough to go through my scales if used for penetration instead of an extended cut, though it must be hard to maintain the beam steady. Although it was needlessly powerful to kill a human instantly if aimed right, she would need to adjust the output depending on the target since she only has enough magic in that little body to make three shots with this intensity... I analyze the beam attributes to weaponize effectively, then turn to face the light magician on the left.

"H-how was it??" The white haired girl stuttered seeking appraisal with a broad smile while holding her hands together on the chest.

"Magnificent! I'm proud of my white monster." I praised lowering my head until my snout was in front of her.

"Little miss was quite Impressive..." Alphonse did a brief clap while praising as well.

"Hehehe." The praised girl squirms for a moment turning red, then lifted my snout to redirect the hot breath blowing on her face. "Do you think I should increase the duration or work on the leaks?" She asks advice to improve.

"No need to increase duration unless you want to cut someone in half while burning all your Mana." I shook my head from a higher position. "Instead, you should work on the stability when firing since the beam loses penetration power if you move it around and increase the number of Lasers because it's a nightmare dodging more than one." I point out the weakness of this attack of hers while she nods.

Working on better aim is the priority here since she's having trouble even to hit a table a few meters away and if one of those beams is not enough, she could always point them to the same location but must get accustomed to making the Laser sticks quickly. I discern the areas she needs to improve by herself.

It feels wrong to make a cute little girl like this into a killer, but we are still in a human kingdom, and the people after her might appear at any time according to Alphonse who keeps killing their spies... Still, why would people so adamantly want a light magician girl to the point of risking trouble with the Royals? Well, I believe it when they say her talent for light is exceptional since she did cross the first barrier of the world at around four years old and with the hardest Affinity, but the question is why she is so gifted on it? I wonder the mysteries behind Shaila's talent in Light Element.

"As for leaks, it's always a good thing to decrease them, and there were still some on the source but mostly went towards the intended target, so that's good enough." I elaborate my views leaving her to ponder on the bench.

Hmm...I wonder when I'll be able to make a laser like that given my Low Talent in light affinity? I recall how Low Talents require higher magic density to produce the same effects as those with High Talents. It seems like Talents are the level of permissions an individual gets to use Elementals based on their Soul and this is not too harsh in the other Elements, but Light is quite severe about it, then followed by magic control. I rest my neck back on the damaged stone table to reflect.

I think to do the same as Shaila with my light talent, I would need much higher magic density than she, and perhaps at Rank 6 or 7, the leaks will be negligible, but to completely eliminate them might require Divine Rank. I recall that leaks occur because Elementals are tiny fourth-dimensional gateways that bring forth particles in any direction if Magic Density and control are insufficient for a preset Affinity Talent. I guess it was wrong to assume they were flat portals, but this is not a problem for Lightning since electrons travel from Elementals with high potential to low ones and Darkness have no issue with leaks either when making rings to produce big electromagnetic waves.

The difficulty must be related to the size of the particle, its nature, and magic application, but photons are incredibly small that feels as if trying to move a Christmas tree to have the lights point in a single direction, so our awareness must sense Light elementals directly to have zero leaks. I contemplated about the Light dilemma.

"Ah!" Shaila lifted her head in realization and stared at my left eye.

"What is it? Need to go to the bathroom?" I inquired looking at her on the edge of my vision while lowering my eyelid and grinning.

"N-no... Don't sniff me!!" She protested pulling my ear. "It's about rewards" She whispers then let go of my ear that twitched in discomfort.

"Do you want a hug, ride or licking?" I offered my reward options.

"Why are there only those options?!" Complained the girl as she rocked my neck on the stone table.

"But... I already do everything you ask of me, and I don't have anything to give you. Now that I think about it, not even a piece of cloth belongs to me, and my body is the only thing I have..." I lower my eyelids depressed from the fact that I own nothing material in this world. "You made your pet sad again, start petting!" I demanded her stroking services before closing my eyes which caused the black haired person laugh on the next table.

I own fewer possessions than any Monks from Earth ever did, though they win in the diet since I eat like an anime character... I think I can understand why dragons in stories would want a treasure in their Lairs... loneliness. I audibly sighed comparing lifestyles then open my eyes.

"Silly Dragon, you have this body of mine." She disapproved and declared placing a palm on her chest solemnly.

"You look very appetizing and shiny, but I don't have a Cave to keep a treasure or any Lair for that matter..." I shake my head looking at her. "I want a Lair, and my instincts tell me it must be high up on a cliff with the entrance facing an ocean or lake to the west." I describe my choice of real estate while nodding with eyes closed.

"Fufufu..." The light magician giggled pulling my hairs. "But why your instincts want a cave though? You Dragons can fly everywhere, so why do you need a permanent Lair other than to collect elementals?" She inquired puzzled.

"Well, it's like a feeling, I imagined all sorts of caves and that description felt pleasing while anything else will feel uncomfortable, but you know... everyone wants to belong somewhere, even wild animals, and it's not just about safety or convenience, a place to call your domain. Maybe deep in our cores, it's a way to affix our existence in someplace, and ultimately even entire realities are the domain of higher beings..." I explain my opinion about the nature of belonging.

"My domain..." She murmured after climbing on my back.

"If you are that depressed about it, I can give you this." Alphonse takes out a steel dagger a foot long and presents it to me. "It may not look like much, but this knife has ended many lives and in many parts of the world... it has a history." He speaks proudly of his collection of assassination weapons.

"I'll take it!" I extend my right paw to his table before he handed the blade that made metal sounds as it hit my claws then left towards the kitchen.

Hmm, I always tried to efficiently use elementals because it's the best advantage of having a huge mana pool and they are my bottleneck compared to a human which is the magic capacity, but I guess there is merit in splurging just like Midas when he buried my siblings in one go. I recall how the number of elementals that corresponds to a specific magic density is equal for every creature, but just like engines, the more fuel added to the system, the more potential work is produced.

I shouldn't blindly follow conventional methods either since building a Rail Gun will require a massive frame to channel the high current, and given my affinity, it will be a piece of cake to fire it, but I don't want to walk around with two bulky steel structure attached to my forearms. I realize the inconvenience of such weapon while recalling the second method.

A Coil Gun... It uses a set of coils that turn on and off for the electromagnetic field to push the projectile through the frame but controlling the process will be a lot harder than a Rail Gun, though a little less clunky and without heat problems generated by friction. However, I'm looking to replace the structure altogether and make it with my Elementals alone, but the coils are fixed in place for the magnetic field to force the projectile ahead, so how do I fix Lightning Elementals in the air to do the same? I recall the Elemental ability to defy gravity.

Erm, every Elemental has the capability of defying gravity, but I'm not sure how to go on about that and never used that function on Lightning since it's not heavy like water... Whatever, let's see what happens. I retracted my neck from the table once more and brought my paw holding the dagger in front.

Let's see... Any electric current produces an electromagnetic field which increases with each Coil around a core even though it is the same current, but I don't have to use wires since Elementals can be used as stepping stones in the air for the current to jump and flow to produce the field. I made a string of Elementals with tens of turns around the dagger and alternated kilovolts current in a closed loop which made the metal blade vibrate then chase the coil while making electric spark ruin the metal.

Woah!? That was easy! The smell of electric sparks on metal is also nostalgic... I control the string loops away from the dagger which makes it float up higher above my paw. Interesting... to lift something in the air using magnetism consumes just a bit more than having the same mass of water defy gravity and around the same amount of elementals too, but what happens if I increase the current further- Ah! The bridge collapsed in a few sections of loops, and the magnetic field pulling the dagger collapsed.

"Pretty~ What are you doing?" Asked Shaila standing on my back and watching the ruined dagger fall to my paw which signaled the end of my experiment.

Hmm... I see... making a wire or long bridge is no good since the flow is interrupted once some Elementals run out and they do run out rather fast lifting a dagger... what to do...? I ponder feeling the girl stomping on my back seeking my attention.

"Realizing that a wire is no-good," I informed the results shaking my body in retaliation.

"Ahh! I'll fall..." She panicked sitting in a hurry and grabbing the tip of left wing for support. "Do you have to make a wire thingy?" She inquired.

"I guess not..." I concentrate for a moment.

I had the idea of using elemental wires to make a coil ring-shaped, but that's not going to work as I planned.... Forget the wire, let's make a mass of elementals into a single loop then run Direct with high Amperage current to create a magnet. I held the dagger between two claws to start the experiment.

I gathered the remaining Lightning Elementals in my Core before making a loop finger-thick around the dagger then increased the voltage until the bracelet started glowing purple and the blade bends a little while the loop also approached.

Alphonse is not going to like this... I stare at the blade in my paw slowly deforming where the current touches and sniffed the black haired guy approaching from the kitchen. It seems hard to balance the blade in the middle of the doughnut, and the magnetic field looks a little weak with this current... If I stop feeding these Elementals, they will disappear anyway, so let's just use the remaining Magic and fuel them in one go to see what happens. I changed the shape of the loop to that of a disk while grabbing the handle of the blade with my claws then fueled all the magic available to the system and increased the current as much as I could.

"Piiiin!" The steel blade snapped, and the purple disk vanished right after.

"Ah! My Dagger..." Alphonse froze watching his former weapon beyond recognition.