Episode 13

The following morning, I practiced outside the city with Miss Heliet, who was eager to demonstrate some things I had never seen before, especially magic that most people never even consider.

Throughout my apprenticeship, she constantly pushed me to memorize various spell formulas ranging from basic to the most complex, and now came the greatest test.

"My dearest pupil, try to summon your magic circle."

"Alright."

When I unleashed the magic circle from the palm of my hand, with a single snap of her fingers, it shattered. How could this be?

"Once you learn the magic circle formula, you can apply it to your enemy's circle—each formula has its weak points, like the one for water magic."

A blue magic circle materialized in front of Miss Heliet. A magic circle is another form of mana synchronized into seven different elements; some activated it with a chant, but for us both, we infused Magic Script into it. A Magic Script is an enhanced formula that incorporates an element of spirit, allowing us to cast spells without chanting. But the spirit element my teacher created was wrong, thus it shattered immediately.

"Do you understand now?"

"Ah, incorrectly placing a Magic Script on an enemy's circle can destroy it instantly."

"Exactly, it's just one method that can be used, you can also randomly scribble over someone else's formula," she said softly before continuing.

"The magic circle is most crucial of all... while your enemy must chant spells, we can destroy them instantly."

Note: Small magic circles representing the spirit elements of the four great spirits—fire, earth, wind, and water—can be attached to a spell formula in sequence to cast spells without chanting, but if they aren't in the proper order, they will fail.

I began to try, though it was hard to affix it to a moving enemy.

Random scribbling took too long.

"You need to be quicker."

We practiced by flying.

My teacher used a broomstick, while I simply stood upon my staff.

An hour later, I lay exhausted on the grass, catching my breath.

"Isn't it unfair for the teacher to keep moving?"

"That's the challenge you must face; if your enemy were still, I'm sure you could perform it," she teasingly replied.

Before I could get up, Miss Heliet pushed me back down, positioning herself above me.

"Men enjoy this position, what do you think?"

I just looked at her blankly.

"Stop teasing me, teacher, isn't it time for you to open your shop now?"

"Ah, right."

We both rose, and my teacher linked her arm with mine as we walked back to the city.

"By the way, teacher, why are your concoctions always so bitter?"

"Isn't it that medicine is supposed to taste bitter?"

"That's why your shop isn't very popular."

"Is that so?"

I pulled a potion from inside my hat and handed it to my teacher.

"This..."

"I bought one from the next town over, I wanted you to taste it as well."

"You traitor."

"I'm not a traitor, I'm just trying to get people to visit your shop more, by comparing it with products from other stores we can judge the quality of our own."

"Is that so, I'll try it."

I just watched her from the side.

"It's sweet."

"Right? All the shops I visited have this taste."

"It seems a lot has changed in 900 years."

I was even more surprised that she had only just realized this.

"So, Aksa, what is their recipe?"

I tugged on her cheek.

"Ow... it hurts, it hurts."

"Maybe you should figure out yourself what to add, and not think about stealing other people's recipes."

"I know."

"For starters, why not try adding fruit juice?"