Later that night, Violet scribbled on Big Boulder, backlit by moonlight. The flurry of information bombs delivered earlier was enough to disorient your average pixie.

Apparently, Daire was from a different plane/planet called Earth that was more technologically advanced but didn't have magic. This explained the strange metal box. She wasn't completely positive, but Violet was reasonably suspicious that all Willow's books originate from Earth. How else could the technological content be explained?

Violent was currently drawing a smartphone on Big Boulder with a small charcoal piece, labeling it: "AMAZING MAGIC BOX!!!"

It was in all capital letters, accompanied by several exclamations, and was surrounded by what Daire would recognize as wide-eyed emoticons.

The smartphone had a noticeably large impact on Violet. What amazed her was the collection of books. The little metal box could hold ten times as many books as her entire collection! All she had to do was swipe her hand! It was like a gift from god. Or maybe god lived inside the little box?

Was god a woman? She was curious because there actually was a naked lady living in the box. The lady was very persistent.

She appeared when Daire opened an "app" on his phone. His survival explanations kept getting interrupted by the rude naked lady who said she was in his area and wanted to play. Which was odd. She didn't look familiar.

It bothered Violet that the naked lady was exactly her size.

Violet shook her head, trying not to think about it. Daire had tried to explain until he realized it was better just to shut up and move on.

The only other objects Violet was interested in were the small notebooks. Daire said they could share one if she wished, causing Violet to jump for joy. She wanted to write in it post-haste but psyched herself out by realizing how expensive it must be.

The rest of his objects were comparably mundane. Soft clothes, several tools, knives, and a couple of flashlights that were larger than her. She could have used his tactical flashlight as a mounted spotlight if she rigged it the right way but quickly decided it wasn't worth it.

Daire took out a canteen and flask, which he was sheepish about having left packed the night before.

"I got excited and forgot. I just drank from the straight from the pond."

After filling the devices, Daire had opened his wallet to show her the different denominations of currency. The men on them were ugly.

Several wrapped packages of peanuts didn't interest her.

He had a colorful cube that could move and twist. A bouncy ball about the size of her head. A pack of thin cards with pictures and numbers on them. And other things. Less fun things.

Daire seemed worried that they might be stolen; frightened, almost.

Glancing up from her musings, Violet noticed Daire making odd noises and posing under the light of the moon. She observed him for a while, laughed, then returned to her drawings.

Throughout their talks, Daire came off as very reliable, if a bit silly. But that was okay. Silly is good.

Violet got the impression that he was trying too hard to be a specific kind of person. Someone he's not. Violet has seen examples in her novels. Like when General Harry is trying to act tough in front of his soldiers. Daire gave off a similar vibe at times.

Regardless of his efforts, Violet already figured out what kind of person he was. Proud of her excellent deduction skills, she coined the single word that defined Daire was...

Kind.

Daire asked Violet to be his partner! He could have simply taken the grove for himself and kicked Violet out of her home. Or worse. Eaten her!

"Instead, he asked me to go on an adventure..."

During his lengthy explanation, he was very considerate not to overwhelm her.

When he was displaying his belongings, he had always given thorough explanations and answered her questions patiently.

There was one item he didn't show her, but she had peeked at it when Daire was busy.

At the bottom of his bag, tucked in a small pouch, was a picture of a man, a woman, and a young boy. At first, Violet assumed Daire was the man. Then it clicked.

The stocky, handsome man and the tall, thin woman were his parents. She gleaned that the little boy struggling to hold a thick book over his head was actually Daire. Chubby cheeks and bright eyes.

Including Daire's actions the night prior, all of this allows Violet to firmly believe Daire is a kind person who she could trust wholeheartedly.

Switching gears, Violet contemplated deeply. Supporting her chin with a piece of charcoal. Her appearance that of a chimney sweep.

Daire had mentioned the "main character" was named Liam Ryuji. Born to a half-elf, Liam has extensive access to magic. His human father was once a renowned duelist, famed for the sword. Beauty. Strength. Magic. Prowess. Intelligence. All inherited from pinnacles of two species.

Daire described Liam as a curious and innocent child. His biggest dream to explore the world.

Everything changed when Beast-kin and Humans attacked. His mother perishing horribly.

Something broke inside of him that day. For a young boy, it was to be expected. Liam's dream shifted. From exploring the world to conquering it.

He hated the humans who were too scared of change to accept that some people were different.

Liam despised beast kin more, knowing of their strength first hand. They could easily end the oppression by simply standing up as a collective. For a people that preached peace, they only seemed to be hypocrites that couldn't stand mixed blood, the same as the humans.

Daire mentioned that, right now, Liam should be secretly rising the military ranks of Meist while subduing "barbarians" that live in the farthest northern reaches of Meist.

Violet felt conflicted. From what she had been told, Liam had the potential to be a great hero. But she knew by now it was already too late to intervene. She felt sad about Liam's past and how he turned out. However...

"If Liam didn't become an anti-hero, I would have never met Daire."

There was also the fact that there were many people in danger that they had to save.

"Like Iris Black."

Daire refused to give her any information regarding Iris. He had been so forthcoming with everything else that this surprised her. He promised only to reveal it when they left the grove.

Setting down her charcoal, Violet gave up on trying to make a map on Big Boulder. Her wings tickled, sensing approaching showers.

Violet arched her back in a stretch letting out a little squeak, eliciting pops in her shoulders. Letting out a long breath, Violet flew back over to Willow to relax before turning in for the night.

Flying over the wolves, she waved. The female wolf, Night, yipped. Light ignored her.

Daire more than a little torn at Violet's naming convention. He was only relieved that Violet didn't take to calling them Black and White—her first choice.

Unknown to Violet, Daire already internally called dibs on the next name.

The wolves gorged themselves on an apparently limitless supply of suicidal rabbits. Which was creepy. The rabbits, that is...

Daire spent time burying the first two, but when the bunny counter reached six, Daire simply collected the carcasses in a pile, lamenting the fact that he could never skin them for their hides.

Night actually brought one rabbit over as a gift! Unfortunately, Daire had completely failed at skinning it. Shoving the meat on a spit, he tried to roast it over a fire. The contraption collapsed, and the meat got burnt to a crisp, falling in the fire. Even Light had shaken his head when offered the blackened meat. The supply of charcoal grew twofold.

Daire was downcast until he asked Violet about magic.

Laying down for the night, she recalled how giddy he was.

=

Earlier...

Daire bounced on the balls of his feet, shooting questions.

"So is magic instinctual? Are there complex formulas or geometric formations needed to cast complex spells? Do I need to test my affinities? Is a medium/focus such as a staff or wand required? What about components like a yard of silver wire, bat guano, or diamonds worth thousands of gold?"

The questions continued...

"Is mana quantified, or do you measure it simply by feeling? Surely there aren't mana points or health points, right? How many total elements are there? Is it just the basic four elements? Are there sub-elements such as Magma or Ice? What about obscure elements like Time or Space?"

Overwhelmed. Violet backed up.

"Ah... Wait. Please. Just. Give me a moment to process."

She wasn't a good teacher. Violet is a pixie! She uses mana to sustain herself, absorbing it through magical meridians in her wings. She's never actually used it before.

Violet rubbed her temples and trying to figure out where to start. Daire was so full of information before that this was a complete 180.

Daire bounced energetically. Eyes gleaming. Eager and expectant.

Violet took in a deep breath. Lecture mode engaged.

"There are four major elements. Water. Air. Fire. Earth."

"I believe there are sub-elements created from mixing two major elements. Magma derives from Fire and Earth, respectively."

"I am a Lightning Pixie, born from Air, Fire, and Earth. I naturally have a talent for Lightning magic but my prowess in the major elements it is comprised of is practically non-existent."

"Magic has always been similar to breathing for me. It comes instinctually. I have the feeling that I could perhaps learn Earth and Fire Magic, but it would never be as strong as my Lightning magic or the Wind magic I use naturally."

"I don't know about Time or Space, but seeing as you arrived through a portal, it should be safe to say it exists."

Exhale.

Violet never left the grove or interacted with others, so her knowledge truly was limited to just Lightning magic and its composing elements.

Having three major affinities made her develop minor aquaphobia. She had the irrational fear of somehow melting in water. She liked the rain, but still, water scared her...

Counting on her fingers, she answered his questions in order.

"I don't use magic circles or complex math. It doesn't cost me diamonds to fly. I wish there were mana points and health points, but unfortunately, this isn't that type of world."

Violet frowned, thinking of the Litrpg's she's read and how much easier it would make life.

"I could sing jingles and whisper Level up in your ear."

Daire's face scrunched up at the thought.

"No... that's alright. I understand. I knew going in, but I had hoped."

Violet felt crestfallen as Daire deflated. She decided that she would try to make it up to him somehow.

Daire was lost in thought for a while. He wanted to ask about Life and Death magic, similar to Holy and necromantic magics, but he realized Violet wouldn't know that.

"How should I go about training? Can you cast lightning magic for me to see?"

Violet thought this was a reasonable request, so she demonstrated, creating a spark between her hands that let out a small *zap* before disappearing again.

"I can do that around three more times before I get winded. Maybe nine more times before passing out. If I were to create sparks large enough to shock a human...

She thought.

"...I could do it twice. Even then, it would be a toss-up if they would be startled."

Daire watched her create the spark and listened to her explanation afterward. There were no formations, no build-up. The spark appeared and disappeared... Like magic.

This was troubling.

"Alright. I am going to experiment. Work it out through trial and error. It would help if you also built up your mana capacity. The surest way to increase your pool..."

Violet flinched.

"....would be to use it. Flex it like a muscle. Preferably draining it entirely. So... Before bed tonight, you should try expanding all of your mana until you pass out in order to build up your proverbial pool."

She flinched a second time.

"Does that sound like a plan?"

Violet pondered. Why was Daire giving her advice when he was asking about how magic works?

Whatever. It couldn't hurt to try.

"I guess I can do that. I don't use it for much else."

=

In the present...

That was what Violet was currently doing.

Lying in bed, she created nearly a dozen tiny sparks. She would try creating a large shock tomorrow night and examine the difference. This training didn't perturb her. Violet had accidentally spent her mana like this all the time when she was young. However, she refrained from draining it on purpose since it gave her strange cravings.

Violet could still hear Daire training outside. He had been at it all afternoon, evening, and night.

Right as Violet created her last spark, she could hear Daire yell.

"Kame.... Kame.... H-"

*spark*

*FLASH*

*CRRAAACK*