《Cutthroat》Episode 2: Chapter 17 - A Certain Travel Diary (Part 5)
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Day 121
Before sun had set, we hunted the last of the Grand Grizz deep in the Meldrid forest. This hunt was the same as the rest, though the feeling of finishing a hunt and working up a sweat is satisfying.
Then of course as expected, Nadi arrived. I was worried because Andi and I arrived around the same time during the day, while Nadi arrived late at night, around a couple of minutes before tomorrow. This is troubling, this means that Li might arrive in a different time as well. I’ll just have to make sure we find her.
But these days, it seems my troubles are piling. In this world, Eorth, everything is stuck. It seemed like time has stopped and we were left in a limbo of unprogressive technology and magic. Since magic was widespread, technology and common sense was different from what we were used to.
Though the same can be said back on Earth that everything is stuck, the only difference was where we were stuck.
Technology, science? Everything was developing even further back home. We were already on the verge of creating a consciousness similar to humans. Magic was non-existent so we have to be innovative to increase convenience. So humans were stuck. Society matured so much that it became too convenient too fast. It was difficult to live and at the same time, difficult to die. It felt like you were locked up.
It’s wonderful to be a pioneer, to know how invent things for convenience, but I can’t believe how hard it is to live here! There is an abundance of resources, but I lack the skills and knowledge to process them. I thought of magic but what’s the point if I can do everything with it. Inventions won’t matter if there are ways to do things that are far more convenient!
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Recently, I tend to ask myself: what will we do from now on? We haven’t decided because we’re still waiting for Li, but questions like: Do we go back to earth? Should we explore this world? Will we be able to go back? And most importantly, who and why are we brought here? These questions are often asked. We know nothing so it’s hard move. It’s frustrating but, I’m scared…
If it was some coincidence or a plot made by the Gods, I sure hope Li is well. If not, I will do everything in my power to destroy those Gods who destroyed the fragile peace we’ve built back home.
But I still don’t have anyone to blame, be it Gods or people. The existence of magic and the power to bring us here. This may all be an illusion or we were hypnotized or something similar. Virtual reality maybe?
Whatever it may be, our only clue is based on what I and the twins remember— that we all woke up in a place with nothing but whiteness and an excruciating pain in the abdomen. We’ve all experienced the same thing so there’s a high possibility that Li did too.
We’ll just have to wait for Li…
***
I’ve taught Nadi everything I can about magic and she learned it faster compared to Andi. She was more studious than her twin so she understood the concepts easily. But she had troubles without chants and mana control compared to Andi who used magic with sheer will, so as a solution, I helped her make magic cards.
The cards are embedded with different kinds of magic for fast chanting and it invokes magic depending on what’s embedded. Each cards were made with a type of calcium similar to the water and fire resistant paper for reusability.
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Which makes this a great invention. This will definitely decrease casting time, but I don’t want to spread this too much right now. This will be a good source of income, when the time comes.
But her mana control is still a huge problem. Compared to Andi, who learned how to control his qi, which is very similar to mana, she couldn’t understand it, so Li gave up on teaching her. She instead learned how to use guns well and to make a weapon out of anything to kill a target.
Nadi lost control due to Marny, the dog beastman we took in. Nadi is strict so she made an enemy out of Marny. She got so angry that she lost control, if it wasn’t for Andi absorbing most of the attack she would’ve almost destroyed the whole inn.
A twin’s sense is definitely miraculous. In the end, Nadi was able to destroy the insides of the room leaving a burnt Andi and a terrified Marny.
Nadi was scared of her own magic, but it led her to create a bracelet with mana storing capabilities. The bracelet will consume any out of control surge of mana and will store it using empty magic stones that are often thrown away. The charged stones can then be used as catalysts or used to power other magic tools like a battery. Nadi may have a talent in magic tool crafting.
***
For now, we decided on our goals:
Register Nadi as a mage and magic tool crafter
Start investigation on:
Eorth
A way to go back
Who brought us here
Explore nearby areas
***
I lot of things happened and I’m sure a lot of things will happen so we need to be ready. But these days, I feel like everything is a hassle, I feel tired. Nadi noticed and took charge but there are things she can’t do and there’re also things I can’t do.
I hope Li comes soon…
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