#BLUR V

5"Mr. Cat, that holograph thing you did was incredible! Can you teach me magic too?" I exclaimed with wide eyes."Magic? Oh, Blur, it's not something one can just teach. It's a bit of a complex art," Mr. Cat replied, his silver eyes gleaming. "Come on! I bet I can learn! It looked so cool!" I urged, my enthusiasm showing.Mr. Cat sighed, "Learning it isn't about looking cool, you know. Using the [System] command is a lot more complex than you think. It requires patience and a much deeper understanding.""I don't care! I really want to learn. Please, Mr. Cat!" I pleaded."It's not like teaching someone to ride a bike, Blur. The concept of the [System] itself is a delicate craft, not to be taken lightly," Mr. Cat explained, a hint of weariness in his voice."I promise I won't take it lightly! Just show me the basics," I insisted."The basics? That's like asking to learn rocket science and starting with building paper airplanes," Mr. Cat responded, his tone filled with skepticism.Undeterred, I smiled and said, "I'm up for the challenge! C'mon, just a little spell, please?"Mr. Cat contemplated, his expression wavering between reluctance and consideration. Finally, he conceded, and I could see a glint of amusement in his eyes."Don't worry about anything; I'm a quick learner! I can totally grasp the essence!" I reassured, my confidence shining through.Mr. Cat, with a sarcastic tone, remarked, "Oh, fantastic! Maybe I'll teach you a thing or two then."Ignoring the sarcasm, I continued, "Seriously, Mr. Cat, I've always dreamt of doing magical stuff."He sighed, "That is one thing, but this is another."My frustration surfaced, and I growled, "Cheapskate.""Blur, magic isn't some child's play. You can't treat it like a toy," Mr. Cat warned, his tone exasperated.With puppy eyes, I looked up at him, hoping to soften his stance. He muttered something, and then sighed, "What have I gotten myself into..."Finally, he conceded, "Okay, fine. I'll teach you only the basics." He added with more emphasis, "Only the basics! Okay?"Nodding eagerly, I replied, "I understand, Teacher."The cat seemed taken aback by the title and replied in a not-so-convincing tone. "Well, what can I do? If my student is insistent on it, I might be able to teach him a few more."—Easy. I never knew Mr. Cat was an easy target to the word 'teacher'. Well if that’s what gets him on the groove to teach me then so be it, I'll play along a bit. I grinned, "Yes, teacher.""Good. Fear not. I am here to teach you the way. By now, you must realize that you possess a unique ability," he declared.—Too easy. My chuckle echoed through the space, but as I met the cat's unwavering gaze, the absurdity of it all sank in. "Magic?"It was a word that I uttered with newfound comprehension. The reality before me transcended the boundaries of technology; it was a force beyond the norm, something that sounded as awesome as it felt.The cat shifted to his usual explanation mode, "The [System] concept itself—technically, it's not magic, but it's like that. Think of it as a fusion of logic and nature. [System], in this context, is a system—a set of commands that interact with the environment."Its silver eyes shimmered with a hint of mischief. "And now, our first lesson starts."
—Din—Don—Don—Din—Din—
The usual bell tolled, breaking the tranquil atmosphere of the Cloud Garden."Ugh, that bell is so annoying. Is it midday already?" I grumbled.—As the echoes of the bell faded, my head began to ache. It was like my mind had tuned into a bad signal on an old television, a fuzzy, unpleasant sensation."Huh!? What... what's happening to my head?" I questioned.Mr. Cat noticed my discomfort, "Blur, is something wrong?""Did you hear that? That buzz?" I asked, searching for an explanation."No, I didn't hear anything unusual. What's bothering you?" Mr. Cat inquired.I'm I the only one hearing it, or is he hi—no, Mr. Cat does have any reason to lie to me.Even though its only today i just met him I can trust he isn't one to hide something from me. But it’s strange, when the first bell tolled, it triggered a headache. Was there a connection?Maybe it's just a weird coincidence. I shouldn't overthink it. I decided, pushing the strange feeling aside."Oh, it's nothing. Probably just a momentary headache. Let's continue our practice," I assured Mr. Cat, eager to move past the unsettling sensation."As you see, Blur, the [system] concept works through precise commands. It grants the wielder the power to invoke, shape, focus, and release elementals. Elements in the form of matter," Mr. Cat explained."Invoke, shape, focus, release... Got it. But how does it actually work?" I inquired."Close your eyes, Blur," he instructed. "Breathe deeply and feel the energy coursing within you."I complied and a heartfelt warmth washed over sapling a bit of my strength, focusing on the unfamiliar warmth that welled up inside me—a gentle, radiant river of power came over."Good," the cat purred. "Now, recite the [prompt]. The [prompt] is the first word, more like a starting word for magic. 'System Command.'"I obeyed, my thoughts aligning with the command. "[System] command."As I prompted the command, a virtual interface materialized scanning through the area. Channelling the strange energy coursing through, my eyes came in contact with a radiant blue glow, accompanied by a voice in my head. —Initiating Command sequence. "[Invoke] flame."Following the [System] guidance, I envisioned a tiny flame in my hand. To my astonishment, a flicker of fire came to life, dancing playfully like a sprite."I did it!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my excitement."That was unexpected. To initiate a successful command on the first try is..." Mr. Cat's words trailed off, a hint of surprise in his voice."Maybe I have a talent for it," I suggested optimistically."Well, that was just beginner's luck. Don't expect too much from it. You still have a long way to go. For now, its best you stick to learning the rest about it," Mr. Cat advised, his tone cautious.Surprisingly, Mr. Cat seemed not to approve of my talent, maybe even a bit jealous, but it didn't matter as long as I continued learning."Now, let's break it down. Level One Commands involve controlling elemental forces. For instance, summoning water, creating fire, manipulating the wind, or transmuting the earth," he continued."That sounds amazing! What about Level Two Commands?" I asked eagerly."Ah, at Level Two, we move on to shaping elementals. This allows you to form complex shapes. Picture conjuring fireballs, crafting water spheres, or even creating intricate structures," Mr. Cat explained."Impressive! And Level Three Commands?" I prompted for more."Level Three commands involve combining elementals. It's like merging different matter aspects to achieve a more potent effect," Mr. Cat elaborated."So, [Invoke] is like calling, [Shape] is creating, and [Focus]?""Precisely! Focusing is honing in on specific aspects, concentrating the matter to enhance control. And, finally, release—well, that's letting it all out," Mr. Cat clarified."This is so cool! But you mentioned limitations?" I recalled."Indeed. You can only control what's in your immediate proximity. Anything beyond that comes with a cost—compensation in the form of life-force," Mr. Cat warned."Life-force? That sounds serious," I noted, realizing the gravity of the magic system."Yeah it is, so it’s not advisable to use it much. The [System] demands balance. As your abilities grow, so does your connection to it. It's a symbiotic relationship," Mr. Cat explained."So, I've been learning all these commands. What's the next step?" I inquired."There is no need to worry, young apprentice; the journey has just begun. We'll delve into more advanced techniques and perhaps even uncover the secrets of Level Four—" Mr. Cat began, his tone hinting at a mysterious future."Level Four Commands? There's a level four? What do they do?" I pressed for more information.Mr. Cat gazed away, looking suspicious, "Ah, that's a tale for another day. Patience, my friend. For now, let's continue refining your mastery of the basics.""Alright, Mr. Cat, I'm ready for the next lesson!" I declared, excited about the many things I could use the [System] for... Hehehe... "Looks like I'm going to end up regretting teaching him," Mr. Cat mutters