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CHAPTER START---
"Well my boy, welcome to Fairy Tail..."
Oberon's guild mark punctuates Makarov's words, glowing golden for a moment before returning to solid black.
Makarov doesn't react, while Gildarts stares with wide eyes, having seen dozens of these moments before.
And never witnessing that happen to anyone.
"Cool." Oberon is still mesmerized by it and pokes the mark. "I can't feel it."
"That's so it's more comfortable for you, now, about your Magic." Makarov gestures to the open space between them and his desk at the end of the large office.
"Oh, yeah, I can show you," Oberon eagerly hops off the couch and walks over to the open space. Turning to both of them, he takes a deep breath and focuses.
Gildarts gets ready to react with his Magic if necessary, and Oberon notices this.
"What's wrong?" he asks.
"Gildarts is just being cautious," Makarov says. "He has Crash Magic. It lets him disassemble anything, including Magic, so if your Magic appears a bit too dangerous, he can simply shut it down."
"Oh, my Magic isn't really that kind," Oberon says as he brings his hands closer together, holding them out in front of him.
Makarov recognizes the stance and is even more intrigued.
Then suddenly the illusion of a small galaxy, slowly spinning, appears between his hands.
"Well, that's a first," Gildarts says as he raises one hand, casually using the same technique. Except his Magic appears as a ball of Magic Energy constantly breaking apart into cubes before pulling itself back together. "Who taught you that little trick?"
"My dad, when I was a baby, he couldn't figure out what my Magic was, so projecting it like this should have made it easier, but—"
"It only became more confusing," Makarov says while looking at the tiny galaxy illusion. "And what's the name of your Magic?"
"Cosmic," Oberon says.
"I see, in the hospital you were able to move small objects with a mere hand gesture. I assume that's part of it."
Oberon nods eagerly, "That's the Gravity Manipulation."
"So you've got Gravity Magic," Gildarts says. "Hard to learn, and train, but powerful and versatile."
"And light!" Oberon shuts down the projection of his True Magic -the magic first awakened in his soul- and creates a Light Sphere.
Gildarts shuts off his own projection and glances over at Makarov, "Two Magics at 8 years old, you found another you, huh Master."
"No, this is all just my one Magic," Oberon says, confusing both of them.
"What do you mean?" Makarov asks.
"Well, Cosmic, it lets me do a few things."
"Take your time and explain. We're listening," Gildarts says.
"Ok well. You know how some Wizards are Holder Types, which means they use Magic Items instead of their own Magic?"
"We have a few of those," Gildarts says.
"Right, and some are Caster Types, people who release Magic into the world to cause things to happen."
"The most common type of professional Wizard," Makarov says. "But from the way you're speaking... are you about to say you're an Ability Type?"
"Yeah!"
Makarov tries to wrap his mind around it, as does Gildarts.
Ability Types are the most rare form of Wizards, people who channel Magic with their body as if it were a natural part of themselves.
Even Transformation Magic is considered a Caster Type because its use is active, but Ability Type implies it's always active naturally, like a Dragon Slayer's abilities.
"How does that even work?" Gildarts was still skeptical. "Not calling you a liar, but it's a bit hard to believe."
"Well, it's hard to explain, but," Oberon looks down at his hands and thinks hard for an explanation. "It's like my body is part of the cosmos, and I can generate my own Gravity and Light as if I'm a celestial body.
The closer I am, the easier it is for me, and the stronger my magic, like an actual planet's gravity! Learning Gravity Magic and Light Magic was useful to help me control it, and let me split them apart, but when I use them together it takes way more Magic Power, so it's better to just use them separately."
"Hmm, perhaps a demonstration would be better," Makarov gestures to the coffee table. "Would you mind lifting this with your Gravity Magic?"
"Sure," Oberon raises a hand, and with ease, the table rises into the air.
He holds it in place and looks between the older mages expectantly.
"I don't sense any Magic Energy around it," Makarov says.
"Which means instead of generating a spell onto the table, he's just channeling his internal Magic Power to alter the surrounding gravity," Gildarts says. "Definitely an ability type."
"But I have seen you use Magic Circles before, like when you helped me onto the bed in the hospital," Makarov says.
"Yeah, they come out if I'm trying to be careful or I'm not familiar with something. Dad said eventually I'll be so good I won't need them."
Makarov nods, "That's true, they're like training wheels. However, some spells which require Runes or certain scripts to be written cannot function without them, no matter how familiar you are with them."
"Most mages never stop using them," Gildarts says. "But speaking of Magic Circles, what's yours?"
"Oh, it's weird, but it's like this," Oberon raises his hands and faces his palm forward, creating a Magic Circle in his palm.
It appeared like a galaxy slowly rotating, with no script around it.
"Just like in the hospital," Makarov says.
"I'm so jealous," Gildarts says. "I got regular red ones."
In response, Makarov causally and without moving a muscle manifests his bright golden Magic Circle between the three of them.
Large as a dinner plate, glowing golden, with 5 concentric rings of runes that Oberon couldn't read. And in the very middle was the Fairy Tail emblem.
"Why is the guild symbol there?" Oberon asks.
"Because that's where my heart belongs, of course, and this is what a Magic Circle normally looks like when used for a more advanced spell. You see, each layer of runes focuses and amplifies the power of the magic flowing through it, increasing the effect much more.
So even if you are familiar with a spell, you should never completely discount the effect taking all the basic steps can bring you, even if it could take a bit more time."
"I understand, Master Makarov," Oberon nods.
"Good," Makarov dispels the Magic Circle, as does Oberon. "Now, about your Healing Magic?"
Gildarts almost falls out of his seat at that revelation. "Healing Magic? No wonder you were worried about the council coming for him. You're telling me this kid has that Lost Magic?"
"Possibly," Makarov says. "But I doubt it's as simple as us stumbling upon the first person in 400 years to have Healing Magic."
"Uh," Oberon chuckles nervously. "That's something I only figured out in the hospital. It feels like I focus my Magic Energy on myself and it heals my injuries, or at least bruises... but it cost me Magic Energy, and makes me tired. Plus, I don't think I can use it on other people, sorry..."
"Incredible," Gildarts was staring at the boy in a whole new light now. "You really can heal yourself. Damn, what I wouldn't give to get rid of some aches that last job gave me."
"Which is why that aspect of your Magic will be kept between the three of us," Makarov says. "Use it only when necessary, or when it won't be noticed, understand?" Healing Magic has been lost for centuries. If people learned about you being able to use it, then who knows what chaos it could cause."
"Yes Master," Oberon says.
"Hmm, finally someone in this guild with actual manners. Perhaps you can even teach the others around here a thing or two about that," Makarov laughs.
Oberon isn't quite sure what to make of that, so he just stands there awkwardly before asking, "So when will you teach me Magic?"
"Hmm, as soon as tomorrow morning, this afternoon I'll be helping with the final preparations for the parade tomorrow."
"Oh, ok," Oberon seems a bit disappointed at that. "Is there anything I can do until then?"
"Well, you could make friends around the guild, or practice on your own if you'd like, but if you're going to practice, use the field behind the building."
"Ok."
"Now, come take a seat so we can at least know what Magics you can learn," Makarov pats the seat beside him.
Gildarts raises a brow at that, seeing Makarov's excitement at the idea. "You haven't done this since I joined up. Really think the kid has what it takes?"
"Well, if he's half as talented as you, he'll have an affinity for at least a few different Magics," Makarov says as he waves his hand, and a large book flies out of the shelves and into his lap. "And if he can actually use what he has between his ears, unlike you, he might be able to learn some of them..."
"Ouch," Gildarts says. "Not like I needed those other Magics, Crash Magic is enough. We don't all need to have 10 different Magics like you after all..."
"You have 10 Magics?!" Oberon was almost shaking in excitement.
"Well, more than that actually," Makarov says boastfully. "Being the Master for this long means I often help people explore and learn their own Magic, and learning it beside them is the easiest way to do that."
"Also helps that he was born with an affinity for like 7 of them," Gildarts says.
"Yes, that helps the process, but it still requires a lot of work."
"Affinity?" Oberon asks.
"That's what this Grimoire is for," Makarov pats the enormous book on his lap.
It was blue and purple, with the symbol of the Magic Council on the cover.
"When you use some of your own Magic Energy in this book, it will add your True Magic and any other Magic you know into the logs of the Magic Council, but luckily as a Wizard Saint I can prevent it from adding your information to their copy.
It will also reveal any Magic affinities you have.
A Magic affinity makes it easier or harder to learn certain types of Magic. For example, my most prominent two are for Giant and Light Magic, so those were extremely easy for me to learn.
But just as most mages actually have no affinities in either direction, I learned Wind Magic at a normal rate... aside from the fact that I was already an experienced Wizard who knew how to channel Magic Power most efficiently.
Then there is my extremely negative affinity of Darkness Magic, which makes it so that with a lifetime of study I doubt I'd be able to ever learn a single high level Darkness Magic spell. And it would take a hundred times more Magic Energy than using Light Magic for me."
"Ok I get it, so if it's good I should learn the Magic, and bad it takes way more time and Magic Energy?"
"Pretty much," Makarov says. "Even with a negative affinity, most Magic aren't impossible to learn. Some you must be born with, however, like Celestial Spirit Magic."
"What's that?"
"It lets you summon people from another world to fight for you," Gildarts says. "That's the simple version."
"I hope I get that!" Oberon says. "Ok, how do I do it?"
"Just focus some of your Magic Energy into the book, and it'll do the rest..."
Without hesitation, Oberon reaches out and touches the cover of the book and immediately pours some Magic Energy into it.
They all then sit back and watch as the grimoire floats out of Makarov's lap via his Telekinesis Magic and hovers between the three of them.
It shines bright white for a moment before opening, projecting some runes into the air that Oberon couldn't read.
"What's it say?" Gildarts asks.
"You can't read it either?" Oberon asks.
"Nope, I'm more of the punching monsters type of Wizard..."
"It's also written in Gil Script, a mostly dead language," Makarov says. "These books are rather old, after all. I only have one since I'm a Wizard Saint."
More and more runes appear in bright blue, and Makarov takes his time to read them all.
"Well, as I suspected, Cosmic is a new magic, and you're the first to have it. So learning about it should be fun..."
He continues reading for a bit.
"You're talented when it comes to Cosmic, Gravity, and Light," Makarov says.
"That's it?" Oberon frowns at that.
"Sadly, that's it. You don't have any other positive affinities."
"Three is still pretty good," Gildarts tries to comfort him. "Most mages just learn the first magic they bump into. They don't even have a True Magic like us."
"If you're even lucky enough to be born with Magic," Makarov waves his hand and the next set of runes appears.
This time in bright red, and the list just kept going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going.
Until there were almost three hundred items on it.
Oberon was looking at it with teary eyes, while both Makarov and Gildarts were slack-jawed and horrified.
As the list finally stops, Oberon has tears flowing down his cheeks.
"Do I have the Celestial Spirit Magic?"
Makarov scans the list. "I see it as neutral, so you do. But for most other things, your affinity for them is far into the negative."
"Sheesh," Gildarts shakes his head. "Having an affinity in either direction is rare... but being this bad at hundreds of Magics, that's actually impressive."
Oberon just starts crying more as Makarov shoots Gildarts an angry look.
"Sorry sorry, it was a compliment, I swear. Besides, your True Magic is awesome enough!"
"This doesn't mean you can't still explore different Magics. Just these few hundred will be a bit more difficult."
"Yeah!" Gildarts says. "Just because you've got less than zero talent doesn't mean it's impossible...for most of them at least. It just means they'll cost way more Magic than anyone else would need for them, and take a lot more time to cast, and—"
Makarov casually extends his hand across to Gildarts and smacks him on the head. "That's enough out of you!"
Oberon just starts crying even harder, and Makarov pulls him into a hug.
"This isn't the end of the world child, you have a neutral affinity with some Magics I'm familiar with. That means for the things you can learn, you've got the best teacher in the world."
"Really?" Oberon pulls away and wipes his tears.
"Of course, and your Light Magic affinity is just as good as mine, but unlike me, you'll have a living person teaching you, so before you know it, you'll be far ahead of me!"
Oberon smiles at that, "then— "he sniffles a bit. "Acnologia won't be able to hurt me again..."
Gildarts freezes at that, and as Makarov pulls Oberon into another hug and he shoots Gildarts a look. 'We'll talk later,' he telepathically speaks to Gildarts.
And Gildarts just nods along in response.
After a few moments, Oberon stops crying and they break the hug. "Alright, now head down to the bar and get some lunch. Until you finish your first job, you can eat at the guild all you want, and I'll talk to someone about letting you stay with them, because in Fairy Tail, we take care of each other."
"Ok, can I go practice magic after?"
"Sure, I'll be here rehearsing for the parade tomorrow, and figuring out what I should teach you first."
Makarov sees Oberon actually smile as he says that, "ok, I'll go eat."
"Just try not to break anything with your Magic," Makarov says as the boy walks to the door.
"I won't..."
And with that, Oberon leaves the room. Makarov waves his hand and the grimoire floats down into the empty seat beside him, still open as he has to note Oberon's talents, or lack of talents in this case.
Otherwise, he could waste time teaching the boy Magic he'd never be able to get the most out of.
But right now, he had a much more serious discussion to deal with. And he and Gildarts were finally alone to have it...
END CHAPTER---
Discord: discord .gg /eHuxNeZfyS [Come chat with me]
pat.reon: Keanu_Eugene [Read ahead & support me]
You.tube: @KeanuEugene [Giving away all my writing knowledge]