Chapter 11

The next morning, Aedric pulled me from bed early. After dressing and having breakfast, he took me to the forest near the village where we had landed with the dragon.

"Now that you've obtained the badge, the second thing you need to survive on this side is to use magic," he said as we walked through the trees. "In a month and a half, when we head to the city, you need to be able to handle it with proficiency. If you can't, you'll raise suspicions, and that's the last thing we want."

"A month and a half?" I questioned. "Isn't that too little time?"

"It's what we have. Even children master it from an early age on this side. If you can't manage it, people will become suspicious."

I pulled out the pendant Isobel had given me. "During Grandmother Isobel's trial, I was able to use magic thanks to this pendant."

"That's an artifact—it can help you, but if you don't know how to use magic on your own, you won't be able to take full advantage of it," Aedric explained.

"An artifact?" I asked, confused by the term.

"That's not something we should discuss yet. First, let's start with the basics. What do you think magic is?"

"Throwing fireballs?" I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"That's an application of magic, but to use it that way, you need to understand where it comes from. It comes from the soul."

"From the soul?" I repeated, struggling to visualize it. "That's too abstract for me to imagine."

"Think of it as the strength of your soul, imposed upon the world," Aedric said.

"Imposed?" I furrowed my brow. "Does that mean trying to control the world by force?"

"You could say that, though we don't control the entire world. That's why we focus on one thing—controlling fire, air, or water. By specializing in one concept, it doesn't have to be an element. As long as you have a clear understanding of the concept, you can use it as your magic. Someone who's good at mathematics could use numbers as their magic, but that's rare. Elements are more common because people are already familiar with their concepts from nature."

I tried to rephrase it in my own words. "So, as long as I have a clear idea of the concept of the reality I want to 'impose,' I can use it as my magic?"

"Exactly. That would be a good way to explain it."

"I didn't expect something so abstract," I said thoughtfully. "This raises many questions about how it can coexist with science."

"That's far too advanced for now. Start by learning the basics," Aedric replied.

"Well then, how do I find my concept?" I asked.

"For many years, people found it through trial and error until they discovered something that worked for them. But a few decades ago, we discovered that our souls are more attuned to certain ideas. It might not be the most optimal one, but using this method, you can find an idea that's sure to work well with you." Aedric reached into his bag and pulled out a golden orb, handing it to me. "I'm not sure if it will work with you given your situation, but there's no harm in trying."

"What do I have to do?" I asked, studying the sphere in my hands.

"Sit down and close your eyes."

I settled onto the ground and shut my eyes, holding the golden orb. Suddenly, it opened into many rings that began rotating around themselves.

"Try to think of memories from your past. Look within yourself," Aedric instructed.

This method didn't seem ideal for my situation, as Aedric had warned. I tried to look inside myself, but I only saw what I always saw—a thick fog. For some reason, I felt the rings of the sphere beginning to rotate faster.

"It's detecting something. Keep going," Aedric said.

Keep doing what? I hadn't done anything; I wasn't seeing anything. Then I remembered Isobel's words. Even though I'd lost my memories, I was still the same person. Maybe the orb was detecting something I couldn't see.

In that moment, the orb began to shine so brightly that it blinded me, and I opened my eyes instinctively.

"What's happening?" I said, startled.

"Well, this complicates things," Aedric muttered, sighing.

"Didn't it work?" I asked, worried.

"No, it worked. Look closely."

I gazed at the radiance and could see a current of electricity flowing through it.

"Electricity?" I exclaimed in disbelief.

"That's the problem. Not many people use it because it's usually associated with science."

"Is that a problem?" I asked, uncertain why it mattered.

"If people see you using it, you'll stand out. They wouldn't necessarily suspect you, but with a more common concept, it would be easier. I suppose there's nothing to be done about it," Aedric sighed, accepting the situation.

As I thought about it, a memory surfaced. "Wait—during Isobel's trial, when I attacked the boar, lightning struck it from the sky."

Aedric's eyes widened slightly. "Well, if you were able to use it with just the relic, you must be very attuned to it. That will make it easier for you to master it in a month and a half. We'll start right now."