Chapter 12

I spent an entire week practicing magic, though all I could manage were small lightning bolts erupting from my body. Aedric explained more concepts about magic to me, particularly what distinguishes one mage from another. Even when two mages use the same magical concept, what sets them apart is how they apply it to themselves. Two mages might both harness fire as their magic—one could shape it into fireballs through manipulation, while another could engulf themselves in flames. The fusion between the concept and its application is called a state of trance, and I needed to achieve this state before we ventured to the city.

At this moment, I was meditating in the forest. At first, I would fall asleep the moment I sat down and closed my eyes, but after several days of this practice, meditating had become the only way I could draw out the lightning bolts. I spent entire days here in meditation, and Aedric would visit three times daily to check on my progress.

Right now, I was alone. It had been hours since Aedric's last visit, and several more hours would pass before he returned. I could hear sounds around me—I wasn't sure if they were small animals or the forest's faeries. Likely both.

"You'll never achieve it this way," a voice called out.

I heard it but couldn't tell where it came from. I looked around and saw no one.

"Is someone there?" I asked.

"You're doing it wrong," the voice continued.

I looked in every direction and spotted something in a tree. When I focused, I realized it was a bird—an owl, to be precise.

"An owl?" I asked.

"About time you noticed," it replied.

The owl took flight and landed on the ground in front of me.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"You can think of me as an ordinary owl, or a faerie—I don't care which," it said.

"Do we know each other?"

"If you're asking about my advice, then no, I don't know you at all. I was simply passing through and saw you, much like when you see a child learning to ride a bike and doing it all wrong, so you tell them they're doing it wrong."

"So, are you going to help me, or did you just come here to tell me that?"

"Hmm, if you give me something to eat, I might consider helping you further."

"I have some cookies. Will that do?"

I pulled out the cookies Aina had made, which Aedric had brought for me to eat during my breaks.

"They look good. You've got a deal," the owl said.

It grabbed the cookie pieces with its talons.

"So, what am I doing wrong?" I asked.

"You're simply thinking about lightning bolts. That's why you'll never achieve it," the owl explained.

"Then what should I do?"

"What do you want to do with those lightning bolts? How will you use them? If you don't know what application you're giving to the concept—whether within yourself or to the world—you'll never internalize the concept. You'll never enter a trance."

"How am I supposed to use lightning bolts?" I said thoughtfully, struggling to think.

"Why are you doing this in the first place? It's obvious you're a rare case—someone your age should have mastered this already. I don't know your situation, but think about why you're doing all this. What do you want? Power? Wisdom? To show off? Or do you want everyone to fear you?"

What did I want this power for? I want to live here and fulfill the promise I made to Hina to travel around the world; I needed to be strong so I could win, faster.

"Do you have an idea now?" the owl asked.

"I think I can try."

"Visualize it and watch me," it said.

I opened my eyes and saw the owl flying in front of me. It spread its wings, releasing several feathers that flew toward me like knives, piercing my body and leaving multiple wounds.

"What are you doing? Why are you attacking me?" I cried out.

"This is the fastest method. If you don't enter a trance, you'll die," it replied coldly.

It spread its wings again, and feathers rained down on me, covering my body with more wounds. I tried to dodge them, but there wasn't enough time.

"If you don't do something, you'll die," the owl said.

Damn it—this was just like my fight with the boar. I was facing death again, and I didn't know what to do. If only I could stop it before those cursed feathers were released. If only I could be faster.

The owl spread its feathers, preparing to launch them.

"I'm going to live, and I'll travel this cursed world!" I screamed.

I ran straight toward the owl. The feathers fell upon me, but I didn't stop. I kept running, and even as it released more feathers, I refused to be halted. I jumped off a tree trunk and leaped again, gaining enough momentum to reach the owl's level and catch it.

"I caught you!" I shouted.

"Impressive speed. I didn't have time to react," the owl said.

When I looked down, I realized my entire body was surrounded by lightning bolts, and my hair stood on end. I had finally achieved it. I collapsed to the ground, trying to rise, but I couldn't. Looking at my body, I was covered in wounds. If I didn't do something soon, I would bleed out."I've already notified your master. He can save you," the owl said.I lay on the ground, face-up. I could barely hear the owl, but I think it had said something about being saved.

"Listen to me—this is my final piece of advice. True magic comes from your determination. The world's vision corrupts it. If you remain faithful to your principles, you won't fall into the chains of this system," the owl spoke.

I could hear the owl talking about something, but I couldn't process its words through the pain. I tried to listen, but my consciousness grew darker and darker until I lost consciousness entirely.