Reading about Darkness magic was a bit odd. Though he had already figured out that it was not the opposite of Light, it was just different, he was still not completely certain about it.

The book almost seemed to purposefully not detail it too much, given that the only spell explained was the life draining thing that could wilt plants. There seemed to be way more to this element than he thought but due to the lack of explanations he couldn’t really figure out what it was.

Since this was a beginners, almost test-like book, it kind of made sense that it wouldn’t explain everything. Books were expensive in the old times on Earth so perhaps that was the thing here as well? Or perhaps they wanted to make sure you were inspired enough to go to their schools? Angela did mention an academy thing.

Gilliam couldn’t decide if this was a Go-to-School scheme, or Buy-the-books scheme, but it felt like some form of payment thing regardless.

The problem here was also that once he had read through the book, he didn’t really learn that much new. Both Light and Dark were extremely poorly explained, and though Angela’s explanation did help a lot in regards to Light, there were still so many questions about... Well... Everything, really.

Not understanding how spells properly worked save the detailing in the books on these specific training spells, Gilliam couldn’t just create new spells either. Or, he might be able to but decided against it for safety reasons. It would be a shame if he exploded due to improper technique or something like that, no, instead he aimed to master the fuck out of the few things he could!

For now that meant figuring out things that kind of made sense in the way of training.

Training earth was simple, he would move earth up and down, make pits and then filling them, perhaps trying sculptures. Though that worked to a certain degree the resolution on what he made was... bad.. Trying to make a person ended up looking more like a blob monster, but it worked if nothing else.

For water the only thing he could do was create a stream of water, much like a garden hose set on low. It worked, the water was even drinkable and didn’t disappear over time. But he couldn't use it for anything super practical.

Air was... windy... More than anything. He had moved trees with it but that took a surprising amount of energy. The comfortable amount of energy for him was not much more than one of those hand-held collapsible fans you got everywhere back home.

The telekinesis thing he had used considerable time on, it was the most fun of the lot, it also felt easier than the others. Perhaps he had an affinity for it? Or perhaps it was just the time used on it compared to the others? Hard to say without some more testing or someone who knew more about it.

Like before he didn’t want to experiment too hard with Fire or Dark magic, and life magic needed a patient... He was not comfortable using himself or Angela for this so that would have to wait.

Figuring out that the weird spells detailed in the book were almost meant to be underpowered, so they were perhaps by design weak so young kids trying out things wouldn’t accidentally explode the neighbourhood before they get proper training, he decided to continue playing with the telekinesis thing!

It was still fun, he could launch things literally at supersonic speeds, but like he found out before that drank energy like it was paid for it. So instead of getting closer to headache-town he decided to try control more than power!

He started stacking things, throwing things at specific targets and moving things in the air. It was... not perfect to say it nice. Like with the pebbles before he had a 10% success rate at the moment. He could get as much power as he wanted out of most of it but power didn’t mean much if you missed your target, not to mention that if you hit the wrong target.... No.. that was much worse than missing. He wanted, no, he needed better control.

Not having realised how long he was doing this, he sort of came out of his focused world as Angela had come for him again. She had found him in the small clearing that he had made by destroying trees, moving and stacking rocks and logs, uprooting small trees and simply being a dick to nature.

“I see someone had fun” she tried to smile alongside her comment but it came across a bit more worried.

Gilliam had started learning magic earlier that day, before that he didn’t know it even existed, the concept of how much progress was weird or not was alien to him. Angela had more knowledge and she seemed slightly unnerved at what he had done.

“Yes, I had!” he replied back with the glee of a child playing his favourite game, completely missing her facial expressions.

“Most of the spells are weak, almost by design, but I’m getting the hang of the telekinesis thing.” he bragged, tone of voice was more matter-of-factly but still highly enjoying it. His explanation was backed up by a handful of pebbles slowly spinning around him in a line almost like a pebble-made hula hoop.

“I can see that.” She clearly referred to the man-made clearing more than his finer control over the pebbles.

“If this is what you managed in half a day, I’m suddenly more glad that I know that you’re on the side of good.” she didn’t seem to doubt for a second that Gilliam was a hero of the side of good. After all she seemed incredibly certain about the details she had gathered from her visions.

Though, this did bring up a thought in Gilliam’s head. Sure this was apparently his new real life but in all media he was used to, there were always bandits, highwaymen or whatever you want to call them. Not to mention that if her prophecy vision thing was real he would most likely have to fight... like a lot..

With this power, lifting several tons, he had broken thick logs through testing and... He might kill someone. Frighteningly easy as well...

As his facial expression grew alongside his train of thought, Angela again broke him out of it.

“Are you... doing OK? You look a bit pale...” She seemed a little worried, though her tone of voice weren’t too uncertain her face showed a different story.

“I just realised a few things... I’ve been so deep in learning and mastering this new power that didn’t even exist in my mind as real a day ago, that I didn’t think what I might end up doing with it. I haven’t even punched a man properly in my life, any fights were always play fights and... Now I have the power to crush people... I mean, look at this”

Like if he didn’t believe that Angela would believe him, seeing the clearing they were in, he pointed his right hand towards a standing tree, about 40cm thick (1.3ft) in a grasping motion. The tree made a low squeaking noise like the wind was blowing on it, but as he suddenly closed his hand into a fist the tree imploded a small fist-tall section into the thickness of ones wrist, sending splinters and wood chunks flying around its roots. It didn’t take long for the tree to break the remaining structural support and start falling over. It stopped before it hit the ground due to the other trees, branches and vines tangling everything up.

“That wasn’t even my all.. I..” he looked at his hands almost terrified of what kind of monster he had become. “I can do horrible things with this.”

Angela’s face had softened to a calm, smiling and almost proud expression. “I think that way of thinking is good. With that mindset you won’t become some tyrant or monster. Besides, if you need to fight you have me!” making an overly manly flex, which was supported by her slender frame actually having considerable muscle now that she flexed it.

“Besides-” her flex ended in a calmer stance with her right hand supporting itself on her hip. “-you can aim that thing, right? Just trip them, steal their weapons or pull their clothing apart. You don’t have to kill anything that attacks you, just enough to stop them from doing harm.”

There was an odd sense of experience to her voice, though she did have very good points. A weapon is only as dangerous as the one using it, and the better you are at using it the more versatile and less dangerous it could become.

This calmed Gilliam’s fears considerably, his terrorised expression calmed down to a more content variant. He still seemed like he was stressing out a bit but her explanation helps.

“I... honestly didn’t consider that. If it’s life or death I might be fine breaking some bones so, thank you.” he smiled honestly at her. This didn’t fix the problem he had with the newfound power and what he could do with it, but it did make him stop and think for enough seconds that he realised there were so many more options and ways to use this weapon of his.

“No problem at all” she replied with a wide smile. “But let’s go back for today, it’s getting darker and... you’re eating all the food, so I think we’ll leave tomorrow.”

She turned around and started leaving in the middle of the sentence, so Gilliam couldn’t see what expression accompanied this, but based on the tone of voice this was a positive thing.

Not really answering he nodded at her, not considering that she was facing away at the moment, but he got to his feet and started following her. Using a casual movement of his hand to remotely pick up the book, moving it into his hand, amidst the other thoughts and feelings there was still the giddiness of being able to do this at all. Mastering this aspect should be very fun!

On the way back fatigue was not as much creeping in as it was storming in like an angry train. As soon as the adrenaline was calming he was starting to properly feel it. It seemed like Angela could see it on him as she had an oddly satisfied expression after having a look at him getting a bit more sluggish.

Getting back to the cabin didn’t take that long, he did this training close by after all, but shortly after getting inside he was guided over to where his little bed was. It was not more than a stick-mat of sorts, supported up by some wooden legs it made for a decent frame. On the top of it was a stuffed bag, it looked like a melted mattress or a thick blanket that didn’t have any internal structure. But at the moment none of this mattered, he shuffled over and the last thing he remembered was halfway laying down into it.

Opening his eyes he felt almost hungover, a groan escaped his lips as he struggled to sit up. It felt like he had been working out for the last two days, but with weights that were a step too heavy for him. Besides the sluggishness after literally just waking up he felt physically fine, but he was tired somewhere else. The worn out feeling was clearly there but also not. In short he felt kind of like shit.

Getting his ass out of bed he quickly felt the need of nature, in general feeling pretty dirty he decided to do his best here. Not wanting to wake Angela up he wanted to sneak out. Though, as soon as he looked over to her sleeping place he noticed two things. First, she wasn’t there, second, the sun was very much up. It seems he was the slower of the two.

Nature didn't wait for no man so this took priority, leaving the cabin he found her outside taking one-arm pushups with a large log tied to her back. The log seemed to weigh more than he did so this was... Just not right, her smaller frame with all that weight and she was just pushing through.

“Oh, good morning!” She stated to him, seeming like she was barely winded.

The sun was almost straight above them, this was no morning.

“I’ll get back to you.” Gilliam replied as he speedwalked into the treeline to relieve himself.

Luckily this was not exactly a problem and was taken care of rather swiftly. Returning to his caretaker feeling refreshed she chuckled as he got closer.

“So, now that I’m in no urgency.” He started the sentence before he was in proper conversation distance, this was more of a conversation starter. “Thank you for letting me sleep in, I feel like shit but I think I needed that”.

Gilliam couldn’t do much but smile a bit embarrassed. Though probably everyone liked to sleep in there was still things not right about the situation, he still felt a bit guilty being taken care of.

“I remember how it was after learning to use magic, using far too much the first few days was pretty bad the day after.”

Somehow managing to get up to standing, although heavily leaning forward for balance, she managed to get somewhat upright with all that weight on her back.

Pulling a dangling part of the knot on the rope that held all this in place the whole ordeal fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

“That shitty feeling will pass, it’s somehow tied to the same effect where you used up all your mana yesterday.”

Gilliam nodded, that felt about right. Though it’s not the same it was somewhat similar in feeling. The thing yesterday was in his head and body, this felt more like... in spirit and feeling? It was hard to explain.

“It’s not the same, though. This feels... Like it’s not me, but it’s me. I feel like shit but there’s no physical discomfort, I’m fine. But at the same time I feel like... You know when you really want to do something but you feel too bored to start, it sort of becomes a weird form of effort to do anything even if you want to do it? It’s like that kind of... Blarghness to every single movement of my body. Instead of muscle pain I have... blargh-pain?”

He tried to explain it but this was something he had no idea what was, how it worked or, well, anything surrounding it.

He had some second hand knowledge from someone who possibly slept through classes, and an elementary-school level book, of sorts.

“Oh, that’s amazing!” she broke out, looking incredibly happy, like if he had found a small bag of money on the ground.

“How’s that amazing?” He wasn’t as much uncertain about this being good or not, she seemed to have control over that but... How could this feeling be good?

“It means that your Core has improved!” She seemed ecstatic about this!

Not that it made sense to Gilliam but it sounded good?

“Oh.. I forget... you don’t know how this works.. In your mana specific abilities have two specific components, named the Core and the Boundary. The core is your mana quality and where your mana comes from. The boundary is how much you have available for instant or short-time use. If you imagine the boundary as a bucket of water the core is the stream of water that fills it. You can empty the bucket instantly, but it can take time to fill it. This is the relationship between the Core and Boundary.” she points to her solar plexus as she talks about her core, and makes a spreading out motion to cover her torso when speaking of her Boundary.

“Now, the quality of the Core does two things, first it can refill the Boundary faster, second it deals with the quality of your mana. Better quality has a higher effect. If a spell needs a certain amount of mana to be cast, a bit less is needed of higher quality mana... If that makes sense?”

There was a slight confused look to her, she was clearly uncertain of this otherworlder understood the complexities of mana.

Gilliam thought about this for a good solid few seconds.

“No, I think I get it. The Core is the power source that fills the bucket, it uses time. The bucket is the ‘available right now’ mana that can be spent faster. It’s much like a battery and capacitor, this makes sense!”

Gilliam was happy, first because he properly understood something, second because apparently his magical ability had improved a bit!

Though Angela had an agreeing expression at the first part of his explanation, with buckets and water, she turned a bit more quizzingly at him when he started talking about electronics.

“Capacitor? Battery?” she could replicate the words but they had no meaning to her.

“Ah.. Things in my world. In short terms, a battery can give out energy but it usually does this slowly over time, it can give out a lot but not instantly. A capacitor can be charged with energy, it usually doesn’t hold too much compared to the battery but it can use this energy virtually instantly. Much like the stream and bucket” he smiled at the end, a bit sheepishly as he felt kind of odd explaining the basics of electronics to someone in a world where electricity apparently didn’t exist in that sense.

She slowly nodded, her face told the whole story; she understood the concept but had no idea what he was talking about.

“In short-” Gilliam broke in before this became too technical. “-I understand. My stream has improved.”

As he ended his explanation she turned to nodding instead! In her own, albeit more mundane, explanation he was correct!

Then that face turned a bit sour again. “I... really am happy for you, I am. But this progress is a bit...” It was clear that she was just envious, understandable all things considered, but there wasn’t much Gilliam could or even would do about it.

Gilliam didn’t really have an answer or comment to this, he was enjoying the positive parts happening to him but he didn’t exactly want his caretaker to end up with a sour taste towards him in the future.

“I’m... sorry?” he tried, if nothing else to end the awkward silence that grew after she explained herself.

“No, don’t be, it’s great for you but.. I can’t help being a bit envious. I used quite some time for my first Core improvement. And the progress of your magic, it’s unlike anything I have seen so... I really am glad for you but I’m also annoyed”

She was surprisingly honest with her feelings, though embarrassing or annoying depending on who you ask. She was pretty open.

“Well... Perhaps I just started out with a really shit core? So the first upgrade just means that I took a tiny step, where you might have taken a larger one?” Gilliam shrugged, there was some truth to this, how when you start working out for the first few times after being a slouch you’d see almost immediate improvement, but this stagnates a bit over time.

“No, that’s not the case. Based on how much mana you used on your spells yesterday, and how fast it regenerated the time you got the headache, or how it didn’t happen at all when you limited yourself after that. Your Core and Boundary are both pretty good from before. In fact, one this stabilises you will most likely notice an improvement... or..” she started thinking for a few seconds.

“In fact, I don’t think you might, since you don’t have too much experience with your last Core, you don’t have much to compare it to?” Sort of pinching her chin as she looked to the sky in thought she didn’t seem too certain about how that would work.

In her defence, Gilliam was a very unique case, both as a mage but also as a person in this world.

Before they could continue any talking there was the familiar growling from Gilliam, he almost grasped his stomach in the hopes of having it shut up. It didn’t.

He couldn’t do anything but be embarrassed of himself but it broke the thoughts and feelings back to normal.

“We could eat and pack?” Angela joked in the tone of a topic change.

Gilliam only silently nodded, he had never had this problem with his stomach before. Not that he had expended energy in this odd way before either but this was getting dumb.

Angela laughed as she headed back to the cabin, Gilliam following her with a hint of shame.