"I can't believe this shit."

Benji was fuming as he looked at the list of spells available in Divine Magic. Advanced healing magic, a spell to cure all sicknesses, defensive spells, the ability to summon angels and the power to resurrect the dead were within his reach from the moment he used Nerd Lord's Majesty to gain the ability to heal Zoe. His head spun with missed opportunities despite the fact that he couldn't possibly afford to buy any of the spells outright with experience points.

"So what else have you been hiding from me, A.I.?"

I'm not hiding anything from you.

"Bullshit. If I had this list yesterday I could have been training to use something a little bit better than Heal."

Oh really? Because you've been working nonstop trying to handle your current list of problems. I can't imagine you could have worked intense magic training into your schedule.

"I could have done more! I thought you were here to help me!"

My first and only job is to advise you so you can entertain Bob. That's it. End of story. How I do that is entirely up to me and I've got to say it's not by being your babysitter. I helped you here and now because you actually have a bit of free time. What good would it have done had I told you at any point before exactly right now?

"People are dying out there! Resurrection could have saved them."

Do you know anything about the spell? It's physical, magical, or mental cost? Does it restore the body or simply bring them back to life only to die again based on their cause of death?

Doubt began to creep into Benji's mind. "Well, I'd imagine it functions like it does in the game it came from."

Because Heal works exactly like it does from UD12 right? You know that's bullshit.

Benji had to stop himself. He hated arguing but arguing against an artificial intelligence somehow made it worse. Just then he noticed his elevated heart rate and the quick, shallow breaths he was taking. If he didn't calm down his anxiety would take control and lead him into a panic attack. He sat down next to Lu Bu, closed his eyes and began the breathing exercise he learned when he was a boy. Breathe in for three seconds, hold it for three seconds and exhale for six seconds. For the next five minutes all he knew what his breathing. Slowly his heart rate decreased and the icy rush that had been building in his body slowly faded away. When he opened his eyes Fitt was staring at him.

"What troubles you, Master?"

"I had an arguement with my A.I. about my magic." Benji explained the heart of the arguement to Fitt. "I'm frustrated that I have the chance to do more but not the ability."

"All magic users face that reality at some point in their lives. Most are defeated by it and remain mediocre. You will not be one of those people."

"But how? What little I know of magic was given to me by the World Spike."

Fitt shook his head. "When you brought me into this world the World Spike passed on knowledge to me. Part of that knowledge is that magic has always existed on this world. You only lack the knowledge to harness it."

"How do I begin?"

"You must learn that mana is yours to command. Do not just blindly hope that it works. Will it to work. Force it to work."

"Is that why Heal uses so much mana?"

"Most likely. Divine Magic didn't exist in my world but it likely does somewhere in the universe. The version that you use was created for you. When you speak the spell it casts automatically for a predetermined result. For now you must learn to manipulate and control mana."

"It is easier to show you." Fitt stepped forward to place his hands on either side of Benji's head. "Do not resist, Master."

Benji felt something press against his mind causing a dull ache to build at his temples. As the pressure built the ache turned to piercing pain causing him to clench his teeth. Finally the pressure broke through some unseen barrier to flood into his mind. The invading force, which he know knew to be Fitt's mana, worked to soothe his pain. A kind of gentle euphoria washed over Benji.

Fitt's mana traveled down through his master's body before stopping at his chest. Benji jerked forward as his mana was easily wrested from his control. He felt his mana begin to build in the same way it did when he cast Heal. Instead of rushing toward Benji's hands it instead circulated throughout his body, leaving no part untouched. Finally it collected again at his chest before repeating. After half a dozen rotations Fitt's mana slowly retreated up Benji's spine and left through his temples. Benji fell forward as Fitt removed his hands, suddenly feeling exhausted.

"I didn't cast a spell, I willed my mana to act. Practice the motions I showed you while visualizing what you want to happen. Remember what you did for the wooden man."

Benji thought back to his encounter with the wood elemental. Heal didn't work the first time. Only after he pictured the man's hand regenerating did the spell work. Benji had an epiphany. Benji jerked his head up to stare at Fitt.

"It didn't work at first because I was trying to heal something that wasn't there."

"Correct. You didn't notice at the time but your mana reached out to his remaining hand in order to help restore the lost one."

"Is that why you circulated my mana?"

"It is better to know what needs healing rather than to simply hope for the best."

Benji reached forward and pulled the boy into a hug. Fitt, unused to displays of affection, akwardly stood there before finally patting his master on the head. Benji smiled, sat back down and began to practice circulating his mana.

Benji's internal battle began at fighting the predetermination that Fitt spoke of. As soon as Benji thought about using his mana it automatically tried to cast Heal. It took nearly thirty minutes to break that process to where he could freely direct the flow. Another thirty minutes passed until his flow of mana reached the tips of his toes. Benji smiled once he was able to complete one full circulation without stopping.

Benji looked beside him where Fitt stood with his hands on Lu Bu's head. The large warrior had sweat pouring down his face. Benji was just able to make out the look of irritation displayed on Fitt's face. The boy removed his hands letting Lu Bu fall forward.

"How goes your practice, Master?"

"I finally did it. I can circulate my mana." Benji beamed with pride as he spoke.

Fitt stepped back over and placed his hands on Benji's head. "Show me."

Now that Benji knew what to expect he only felt a slight discomfort as Fitt's mana entered his mind and flowed down to Benji's chest. Benji circulated his mana slowly but with confidence. It took a few minutes to complete the circuit. Fitt withdrew his mana and Benji opened his eyes.

"Very good, Master, but you must practice. Two minutes is too long. Someone could die in that amount of time."

"I'll do better but it's about time to eat. Send Lu Bu out to relieve Miami once he's recovered a bit. I'll be in the showers if someone needs me."

Benji stood up and stretched as he looked around room. Alex and Duncan were still at the dining table but Isabel had joined them at some point. Zoe was nowhere to be seen. With no other pressing matters he walked towards the showers.