Chapter 20: Learning Magic

It was already autumn when Saria finally decided to teach me magic. For real. After drilling hundreds of basic theories about mysteries of magic into my head. It was time. I’m glad I was able to persevere. After all, it opened a new path for self-defense when things go awry. I also earned another unexpected bonus throughout the grind.

“Status,” I whispered under my breath.

Status Panel

Name: Victoria Rothfield Rosenberg

Level: 1

Job: Princess (Fallen), Spirit Mage

Title: [Witch of Rothfield]

Race: Human

General Skills:

[Language of Another World]

[Etiquette Lvl. 6]

[Basic Mana Manipulation Lvl.1 (New)]

Abilities:

[Spirit Eye Lvl. 2]

[Appraisal Lvl. 1]

[Scent Tracking Lvl. 1]

Void Items:

[Victoria's Soul Fragments (Damaged)]

I looked at the flashing status window and grinned. I earned [Basic Mana Manipulation] after spending a lot of time practicing theories. Those magic books were the real deal. The wriggly text in those old parchments truly held the secrets of magic

The new ability [Basic Mana Manipulation] allowed me to sense the seemingly invisible strings of mana roaming in the air. Sensing the hidden strings of mana had opened my eyes to a new world.

I had also discovered another problem. My level. I couldn’t help but grimace at that glaring level one bobbing its ugly head every time I open the status screen. But how do I even level? Should I kill some skeletons outside? One thing was for sure though – I won’t level up by sitting my ass off all day while reading.

Unfortunately, Saria doesn’t appreciate me going alone to slay some undead, telling me that I am not yet ready. And every time I talk about that, she’ll simply add another thick book to my already book-filled study table.

I turned and saw the large door of the library slowly swinging open. A squeaking clank filled my two ears as the heavy door got pushed by a certain force. Jet-black filaments swayed left and right as the lady who owned rare emerald eyes strode forward from the door.

Saria lolled her head, trying to find me among the stacks of books. “It’s time for your practical magic class. Where are you, Victoria?”

I raised a hand enough for Saria to see me. The number of books she had been asking me to read wasn’t ending at all. I finish one and she’ll add two. I breezed three and she’ll pounce new scrolls into me. And now, it had already formed a mountain, hiding me from any peering eyes all day. “I’m here!”

“Oh, there you are. Come on, let’s go outside and start. Don’t forget to wear a coat.” Saria said, gesturing to follow her. She had left a thick furry coat on the coat hanger. “It’s already starting to get cold so we better do start your class earlier.”

Enthusiasm filled me to the brim. I stood and followed though not before adding a bookmark on the thick book I have been reading.

I find Saria’s magic class quite interesting. It was mostly composed of magic theory. Explanations about magic incantation. And well, everything about magic. Saria's classes also helped me learn and cope up with the workings of this world especially about…common sense.

But this time, it won’t be mere theories any more.

I won’t lie. This lady aunt is tempted to learn the ways of magic and cast something of my own. Who on Earth doesn't want to learn magic?

The realm of magic was an interesting new world for me. Imagine, an auntie who spent her life living with logic and graphs. Then the aunty transmigrates into another world where logic is not as usual as it seemed. A world not governed by physics and rationality.

She then had to abruptly believe in things that she once considered myths and folklores. Won’t she be as curious and cute as me?

The cold wind blew cuddling the back of my neck, sending shivers to my whole body. The orb of fire blazing in the sky had its temperament cooled. Not as fiery as the summer and not as gentle as spring. Most of the trees around the witch hut had started to shed their beloved leaves. The ground had feasted on the carpet of chocolate, scarlet, and beige colored leaves.

“Victoria!”

I heard Saria’s call and turned. Seeing her waving at me like a kid made me forget that she’s a powerful ball whacking archmage. She’s also a master at teaching magic and common knowledge.

"Umu, Saria is quite a good teacher." I nodded and smiled. I couldn’t thank her enough.

Her lessons were easy to understand. Direct to the point yet poetic. Saria could also be overzealous and argumentative with even the tiniest details. Though she's also a slouch from time to time, refusing to even lift a finger during her resting time.

Saria's knowledge about magic is also impeccable. I never had an unanswered question related to magic. Saria was able to answer it all. No wonder she became an archmage at a seemingly young age. Though she doesn't tell me her real age. I can at least tell that she's in her twenties. Call it a woman's instinct. Saria's also beautiful, a genius, sometimes cold and sometimes hot - a fine lady!

She's almost like a mirror image of my past self. Who am I kidding anyway?

I rubbed my head in thought. No, I shouldn't stress out about useless things. I hope I’ll learn a magic trick or two fast. I hugged the fur jacket closely to hide from the breeze, striding towards Saria. I huffed a warm breath into my hands, gazing at the skies, “When will it snow?”

Saria’s wooden staff appeared out of the void. She then stabbed the lower part of her rod to the ground. Flickering sparks burst forth with vibrant hues akin to a grand display of fireworks.

Soon, the rotting leaves were blown back to the depths of the forest. The soft moist ground turned hard like cement, I could sense the mana moving as it covered the ground.

“From now on, this will be your place to practice practical magic. I had already taught you the basics. Even so, I don’t encourage you to follow my steps.” Saria smiled, casting a gaze at the dumbfounded me. “Victoria, a magus path is her own alone. One’s discovery and accumulation of knowledge. You can follow the others but you’ll be limited because of the same reason. Draw your path to the world of magic with your imagination as the limit.”

“So you won’t teach me any magic?” I uttered, looking around while feeling lost and confused. “This is it?”

Saria chuckled before winking. “I had already taught you what you need. After all, you’re a legendary spirit mage. Your way and mine are different. Still, though there are differences their origin is the same. I can’t teach you something I don’t know. At most, I can only guide you. I’ll let you see a part of your magic. A few easy abilities. Alright, hold on to my hand.”

“Alright.” I reached out and grab Saria’s hand. It was warm despite the chilly weather. Now that I think of it. She was not wearing any protection from cold aside from her thick cape. Is Saria among the cold-resistant species?

“Close your eyes. Relax, don’t fight the impulse, and just let it flow.”

I shut my eyes tightly as I held her warm hand, feeling a bit giddy.

“Brace yourself!”

Soon, I felt an electrifying shock creeping into my capillaries and blood vessels. I felt like I had chugged a dark brewed coffee into my buccal pouch. The feeling was exhilarating. An exploding bomb. It took me a moment to calm down, trusting Saria.

All of a sudden, my eyes turned warm as if something was about to break free. The unique feeling of rush came forth, originating from the back of my head. It traveled into the nerves of my eyes akin to a stream of flowing water, making me moan in delight. If my flow of thoughts were correct, this liquid-like substance was mana.

You have learned more secrets about your skill - [Spirit Eye Lvl 3].

You have learned more secrets about your skill - [Spirit Eye Lvl 4].

You have now learned the secret of [Spirit Eye]. You can now freely activate it according to your whims and wishes.

There was a voice inside my head telling me to open my eyes. Thus, I followed the call.

I turned and gawked at a sight. She was clad in a crimson coat of fire. Is this the reason why she doesn't need to wear any protection from the cold?

Saria grinned, "What do you see?"

"A raiment of fire." Gaping as I answered her question.

Saria chortled, nodding after finding my description apt. "Look around."

I heeded her advice, casting a glimpse at the humming cold breeze. I watched the flowing lines of mana. There were a bunch of blue balls riding the moving green waves akin to a knight. The unique spheres were laughing, dancing, playing, and shouting like young little kids.

I reached out, stirring the flowing green waves. Then, I remembered a spell from one of the books Saria had forced me to read.

“[Wind Arrow]”

The green waves spun, acting meek before my hands. The blue balls all jumped ships, refusing to follow their sinking steed. Though, I could somehow feel a few of them glaring at me. Not one but almost all. Some were curious, but the majority were watching me like I was a troublemaker.

At the same time, a whirlpool of wind spun in the air, floating on my left hand. I glanced at the running skeleton outside the barrier which Saria had set to protect the witch hut.

You have learned the spell [Wind Arrow Lvl. 1 - Green].

I knew what’s the next step that I should do. “Saria, can you remove that part of the barrier for a moment.”

“Interesting. Alright.” She giggled, waving her ultimate ball-whacking staff towards the magic walls. The magic walls protected the compounds of the witch hut from any wild monsters and undead.

The skeleton turned its head to me and rushed like a suicidal maniac as it lifted a part of its ribs on its bony hands. The undead wore a rusted soldier's armor, its teeth chattering irritating noises.

I gently pointed the [Wind Arrow] to its target – the undead. The green threads agreed to my wish and charged accordingly to the direction I’d pointed. The green threads felt alive.

Phossh!

The [Wind Arrow] struck the skeleton sending it towards the sky. After waiting for a few seconds, it fell to the ground like a broken ragged doll never to rise again. Nevertheless, I felt a little bit tired. A side effect of casting my first ever spell perhaps?

You have killed a Lvl 2 Skeleton Warrior.

You have leveled up!

Feeling proud, I threw a smug gaze at the lady archmage. Now Saria, be amazed by my great feat. And at last, I'm already at level 2. Ah, I never thought that killing a skeleton would give such a sense of achievement.

Argg. Hungry. Hungry!

Shkk. Shkk. Clack. Clackk.

Hearing a cluttering sound, I turned again to the wide-open barrier and saw a rushing tide of undead. My eyes almost popped out at the sight. But before I could even cast another [Wind Arrow], I heard a calm call echoing beside me.

"[Frozen Spikes.]"

I watched agape as a series of sharp-edged chunks of ice thrust upwards, impaling the rushing undead frozen. Not one among the hundreds of undead were spared. All were flayed with icepicks. They were all hung and exposed in the cold weather.

I glimpsed at Saria, feeling a bit shy after my silly boasting. I also almost blurted out an eerie question after seeing the sight, ‘If she knew someone called Dracula, I mean, it's within the possibility right?’

Wait, but why is she grinning at me like a fool?

I frowned, "What's wrong?"

"..."

Wait. No. She was gawking at me like I was…some sort of interesting experiment? Her eyes flickering with curiosity and greed. No, hell no, not again!

“What a massive amount of mana! Incredible!" The archmage tattled, ignoring the fact that she just impaled a hundred undead in no time. Rather than that, she found me more appealing for some unspeakable reason. "And your eyes became shiny again!”

I knew what was coming next. I tried to run but was unable to. After all, she was clenching my hands like a pair of handcuffs for a while now. Though I already expected it, I couldn't help but grimaced at her next words. “Let’s go to the laboratory!”

“Saria.” I scowled, trying to sidestep the hour-long session. “I still need to read the next book.”

“Oh.” She stopped pulling for a moment as if she understood what I was saying. “You can bring your book too.”

That’s the end of our one-sided conversation.

My personal opinion of the matter was ignored and buried. I had to turn off and turn on the [Spirit Eye] akin to a light bulb. The experiments continued until the next day. Ending only until her burning curiosity had been satiated.

With streaks of dark coal under my eye, I closed my tired eyes with a smile. It’s not a bad trade for the magic I learned through Saria’s help. I couldn’t help myself from involuntarily cackling like a witch.

Abilities:

[Spirit Eye Lvl. 4]

[Appraisal Lvl. 1]

[Scent Tracking Lvl. 1]

[Wind Arrow Lvl. 1 – Green Elementals (New!)]

I laid in my bed, falling prey to the drowsy spells. Soon, I fell asleep. Today was a good day.