Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening/Night(whichever one it is in your part of the world),
Hi! I'm here to leave a quick review!!
First Impression: Hmm, this chapter is off to a very interesting start. Despite the whole thing being pretty much a single conversation between the two of them, its really doesn't sound like it, we learn so much about the school and how it functions and this society as a whole and then we end on some very intriguing revelations there.
Anyway let's get right to it,
‘
The difference between basic and advanced Natural spells is the direction of the elements which they are based on,’ Gael said, raising a finger, his eyebrows raised. A breeze brushed his cheek and he could feel the tickling of the grass underneath him.
Sitting in front of him, Ilami nodded. They stayed on the field under the tree, the same one Gael used to study the reference book about blood magic. ‘I remember that, but I don’t understand what it means.’
Hmm, so that sounds like a very important concept to the magic system in general of this world here. Its a very interesting choice here to start this entire chapter by stating something like that, it sort of creates a bit of a focus towards that as we get this underway and it does appear that this chapter will have some talk about magic and Gael's tutoring in general.
Gael shrugged. ‘I expected that. Fighter students always want to use fancy spells that they think can aid them better in the battle without knowing the nature of those spells. Basic Natural spells create pure elements - fire, water, wind, earth - and direct them in a clear way. Advanced Natural spells do the same thing, but the way they direct those elements differ. It’s like the one you used before. The fire you created wasn’t used to attack; instead, it was used to strengthen your sword, wrapped around it to add a burning aspect to it.’
Ilami hummed, watching the reference book on Gael’s lap. She might have been impressed he didn’t use it since the start of their lesson. ‘Basically, what you’re trying to say is that advanced Natural spells involve enchantment? Like the one Aleveri used on you?’
Hmm, these two are definitely both fairly well verse in the intricacies of the magic they use it seems. Gael knows more than enough it appears to break things down and tell Ilami about what's going on, while Ilami also seems to have almost no trouble at all when it comes to understanding all of these concepts.
‘Exactly!’ Gael said, smiling.
‘You should’ve just said that, you know.’
‘Well, I didn’t know you knew about enchantment. Not after seeing the wonderful spell you performed.’
Ilami squinted her eyes, but Gael maintained his smile. It felt good to be sarcastic sometimes around her since she caught it the moment it left his mouth. With Haka, it was a matter of hit-and-miss. Ilami leaned forward. ‘You said I used the wrong words to perform the spell I made the other day. What are the right ones?’
Okay...well this is good to see, that's actually a pretty important step in a friendship, that point where you can actually criticize the other person for a joke like that and for nothing to happen not just you expecting nothing to happen is actually not a point that you always achieve, not easily anyway, so at any rate, it looks like these two are becoming friends fairly quickly here.
‘ignis waracia, legacia, melisia,’ he said, the knowledge of the spell surfacing in his mind like a floating ice. ‘You’re supposed to use them, but not in the order that I’ve just said. Advanced Natural spells come in longer sentences than the basic ones. The one you used was called Advanced Melting Defense. It doesn’t strengthen the object at which it is applied on, but gives it a defensive property in the form of melting other objects upon contact. Quite a lethal spell, I’ve to say.’
‘The full sentences, please.’
So impatient. Typical Fighter students, Gael thought. ‘*Ignis, cesat et micima. Kiveris sheli er kiveria, an stes tirhet tirinrex. Melisia evakis dae ces si nuhreza. Bari razha tes reha dir bari nu hirima.’
Hmm, well it does look Ilami is not the most interested in learning all about the background of her spell and what it is meant to do, she's just sort of laser focused on knowing what was wrong about the spell that she used and to know what is the right way for it to be performed. It sums up her personality and Gael's personality rather well here.
Ilami frowned. ‘That’s so long.’
Gael rolled his eyes. ‘That’s what to be expected in an advanced spell. You want the fire to function in a specific way, so your command should be specific too.’
‘Urgh, it seems like Natural magic is more suited for a Scholar student,’ Ilami said, leaning against the tree.
Gael told his thought about it. ‘The first year in the academy is really about learning the weapons for Fighter students. You learn about offensive Natural spells on the second year. Officially, of course. Many of the students learn the basic ones before that.’
Hmm that seems like a wise move in general, I like this little discussion going on here to tell us a bit more about the more specific workings inside this academy and I like it. This strategy here to have the students know the weapons before learning how to use magic offensively seems like a good way to avoid accidents.
‘How does a Scholar student study the spells?’ Ilami asked, raising her eyebrow. ‘Do you learn how to attack with them?’
Gael chuckled. ‘I wish. No, we learn everything about Natural magic. The history, Naturals, prominent figures in Natural magic and how it differs from the other magics of other countries. We’re all about theory. When we reach the second year, we’re going to be introduced to blood magic.’
‘The old magic?’
Hmm, that seems like a very strong divide there, its interesting how despite that the two different fields of study don't seem to be as divided as far as the students are concerned. It seems both are respected and appreciated equally which for a place with so much mystery and death is a pretty nice thing to see.
Gael didn’t like the intonation Ilami used to describe it. He raised a finger. ‘Objectively speaking, blood magic is more versatile than Natural magic. It’s just that it depends on how much blood you can offer. And other factors. Others have debated the Twin Deities are arguably stronger than the Naturals. In fact, either of them can defeat the four deities.’
Ilami frowned. ‘Why do we worship the Naturals then instead of the Twin Deities? They’re stronger than the new ones.’
Well blood magic seems like a slightly more...I believe the word would be archaic form of magic where some amount of sacrifice is needed, so I get where Ilami's thoughts seem to come from but I like how this argument is being slowly presented with Gael then showing us sort of the other side of the coin here.
‘Ah, but that is not the basis of a belief, Ilami. Quaror and Qualia disappeared a century after they introduced blood magic. No one knows why. A decade later, the Naturals arrived. Not only they blessed the people their magic, they also helped them develop blood magic. How could you not trust deities like them? When it comes to belief, trust comes first.’
Ilami kept her silence, frowning. ‘You have a point there. Why did the Twins disappear? It doesn’t make sense.’
Gael smiled. ‘Should it? They’re deities, not human. Their perspectives on life are different than ours. It’s understandable, however, for us to not worship them. Hopefully, we don’t forget them and blood magic.’
Hmm, well there are so many interesting things being brought out here and I am loving it. It does seem like fairly backgroundish talk at the moment but through it all we're learning a lot more about this world and these could actually become important things in the future, we don't really know just yet. I also love how it teaches us the sort of viewpoints these two share and the blossoming friendship between them.
‘You really like blood magic, do you?’ Ilami said, picking a fallen leave and twirling it between her fingers. ‘Have you tried practicing it?’
Gael beamed. ‘I did, actually!’ He took out the bright diamond and blood vial from his satchel. He let a drop of it fell on the stone. ‘I can only cast one spell. It’s not as long as it should be, but but it would do. *Saracas stevenes, waracar irrevorar. Arfanis warrantis, araxex dormanixex.’
The blood evaporated until there was none. A small black circle replaced it and expanded, covering the area of the tree. Gael saw the area darkened and smiled at Ilami’s wide-eyed expression.
Ooooh well that is a pretty cool spell, I'm guessing it was the one he was working so hard on earlier before Baris and his goons interrupted him. I guess he only partially managed to get things done what with the interruption, but it seems like he still did pull off a pretty impressive regardless.
‘I can’t see anything!’
‘Well, yes, that’s the purpose. The Darkening spell. It allows you to create darkness. Others who pass us wouldn’t see us; instead, they’d see a black semi-sphere hiding our appearance and everything within its radius. Also, unless I give you the permission, those within this area wouldn’t be able to see anything either.’
As soon as he was done speaking, the darkness shrunk and returned to its original shape before disappearing. Ilami blinked her eyes.
Hmm, well it looks like it takes a bit of effort to hold a spell like that and perhaps the use of just the single drop of blood factors in along with Gael's own power...so it certainly looks like there are a few limitations that come with that form of magic, limitation I haven't yet seen in the other forms.
‘I can only hold the spell for thirty seconds. The longest the spell can stay with that blood drop is five minutes. I need more practice.’
‘It’s impressive already,’ Ilami said, nodding. ‘I can come up with ways how it’d be useful in battles.’
Gael rolled his eyes and grinned. ‘Battles. Of course. Typical Fighter students.’
Ilami shrugged. ‘It’s not so bad.’ She looked around. ‘Why isn’t Haka with you? I thought he and you are always together.’
Gael nodded. ‘We do, but sometimes he practice sparring with the senior students. He’s exceptional when it comes to fighting, what with his unconventional battle style.’
Hmm, okay so the conversation is slowly taking a turn away from the magic here, this should be interesting. So far we were learning more about the world as a whole but now it looks like perhaps its shifting towards more personal things which should be pretty intriguing here.
Ilami raised her eyebrow. ‘Is he better than I?’
‘Of course he does,’ Gael said, putting the diamond and vial back into his satchel. Looking at Ilami’s flat stare, he continued, ‘I’m not joking. I bet this diamond he’s the best first-year Fighter student.’
‘Okay, fine,’ Ilami said. She looked around again before staring at him with a frown. ‘I’ve something to tell you.’
Oh dear, well that might just turn into a nice little rivalry there. Its pretty clear that Ilami is a little miffed that she's not considered the most powerful, which to be fair, she is rather young so despite her training she is just simply not going to be as strong as someone whose older which will be a disadvantage if physical combat if that is what first year is mostly about.
‘What is it?’
‘Mother told me to supervise you.’ Ilami let out those words as if she had just spat venom.
Gael frowned. ‘And... that’s a bad thing?’
‘Of course it does!’ Ilami said, scowling. ‘You can’t be telling me you like people - especially your friend! - monitoring every movement you make. It’s like you’re dangerous or suspected to have done or would do something bad.’
Gael chuckled. ‘I trust Mrs. Venaria. She must have a good reason to do it.’
Well he took it pretty much exactly like I was expecting him to. The way he voluntarily and quickly revealed information earlier about Ilami's actions and the whole training situation definitely shows he has a lot of trust in Mrs. Veneria and so well, this is not surprising from either of them with how Ilami seems to be outraged on behalf of him even when he isn't.
‘She told me about what happened to you that made you lose the blessing,’ Ilami said, looking away. ‘I hope you don’t mind.’
He was surprised hearing that, knowing there was another person who knew about his past. And it was Ilami, who he met just recently. What made Mrs. Venaria trust her that much to confide with her this secret? Even if she was Mrs. Venaria’s daughter, he didn’t think that was enough reason. Maybe it was because she and he were friends now? It was still too fragile for him if that was the case.
‘I don’t mind,’ he said. ‘After what Mrs. Venaria did to get me into the academy, doubting her is the last thing I’m going to do.’
Ilami let out a sigh of relief.
Well...that's an interesting move. I thought from his initial reaction he'd be a bit more reserved about it and perhaps take some time to be fully comfortable about it. After all they haven't been friends for all that long, it can't have been more than a week or maybe two weeks at most. Hmm, him accepting this so quickly is going to be interesting going forward, especially I do suspect Mrs. Venaria is upto something that won't bode well for a lot of people.
Aaaaand that's it for this one.
Overall: Overall, this is off to a pretty neat start here, and I already like where this chapter is going. Gael's reactions to the news there is a tiny bit surprising but not completely unexpected either, so well let's see how this ends I suppose.
As always remember to take what you think was helpful and forget the rest.
Stay Safe
Harry
Points: 253913
Reviews: 4100
Donate