Author's Notes: Chapter edited and corrected by Scott Fellman.
Riveria POV.
I couldn't help it, I let my fingers run over the page of the book I was reading, slowly passing over the magic circle drawn on one of its pages with such mastery.
The magic book that Miach's daughter had given me. A magic book that contained revolutionary theory I had never seen, that would never have occurred to me.
Among them were a series of magics, which the author referred to as Charms. Charms, according to the book's definition, were spells that add or alter certain properties of an object or individual.
Although that definition was apparently quite vague.
As that 'Charms' to generate fire, according to the description, were able to create a blaze with which it could set the target on fire, technically, it was altering the object, so I guess it could be classified as such, but it was still somewhat vague.
Each Charm had a lengthy theory, and although the words were written in different characters, the writing was beautiful, legible, and easy to understand once one became accustomed to the regional modifications of the language.
The theory itself was also easy for me to understand; the book seemed more like an introductory text, something you would use to explain and teach. The author had taken care to detail and explain everything she could to make the book easier to understand.
After the theory, there was the practical application to cast magic; there were three different ways to cast magic, which... was impossible in theory.
The first one was remarkably vague, emphasizing the importance of imagination, determination, and visualization when using magic and allowing it to flow as if that explanation would be of any use to anyone. It was simply ludicrous.
The second one went into more detail; this time, there was a bit more theory and several calculations, a spell, along with its proper pronunciation, and the movements of a staff. Apparently, it was designed to be used with wands; although it wasn't a common choice, I could understand why.
This was an introductory book, possibly for those just starting to learn magic; using a wand would significantly limit the magic they could use, unlike using a staff.
Despite appearing exceptionally well-made—after all, the theory and calculations explained made perfect sense—they were still odd. Like the incantations, I'd never seen such a short chant. Most of the spells written in the book used only one word, and rarely two. It was unheard of even in the best of chaos.
The only example I had of a one-word chant was 'Aerial' by Ais, and even then, it was acquired magic, one obtained from her Falna; it was completely different.
Then there was the language of the words themselves; I couldn't recognize at all what language they belonged to, and I knew how to read the language of the gods; it was... strange, disconcerting.
Finally… the movements were another matter. Magic was a delicate art, exacting and challenging to master; losing concentration on it was perilous. So, incorporating movements to cast it? For people who were just learning to use magic? It seemed risky.
And then there was the third method, which completely surprised me. Magic circles. The author had drawn and explained magic circles for all types of magic, which shouldn't work. Magic circles don't work that way. There were no magic circles when using magic.
Magic circles were formed after obtaining the development ability, Mage, which served as an amplifier. Using magic circles as a way to cast magic was… clever. Damn clever.
The magic circles appeared beneath someone whose development skill was correct, yes, but that didn't mean that the person in question couldn't adapt it to their tastes, modify it while adding or removing things.
Modifying the power, duration, number of targets, area of effect, and other aspects was done by modifying the magic circle, not the magic itself. Many seemed to think it was the same thing, but it wasn't.
The magic circle appeared almost instinctively to people who were just beginning to learn about magic, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be controlled, created, and modified to the magician's liking.
I began to study the circles from top to bottom, without leaving any line unread or ununderstood. The words, the runes, the lines —everything was slightly different from what I was used to, but the author had not skimped on details, translation, or explanations.
Everything was clearly presented and easy to read and understand.
Using the magic circle was a shortcut. There was no other way to describe it. Magic without Falna requires a lot of training, long, systematic chants—so much so that the magic used in the Royal Forest, where I came from, used twelve verses.
It was difficult to control and much weaker; there was a much greater risk of getting hurt when triggering an Ignis Fatuus explosion, including damage to oneself and one's surroundings.
But these magic circles… they had everything there. The incantation, the properties, the calculations, the magical control, and more. The magic circle was so detailed and regulated everything with such precision that if my calculations were correct and it was feasible to cast them this way, it would be almost impossible to cause an Ignis Fatuus.
Once you understood the theory behind it, it was just a matter of 'copy and paste' as described in the text.
It was revolutionary. It was incredible.
I bit my lip, slightly excited.
I couldn't resist making notes on small pieces of paper, which I placed on the pages. Even though Miach's daughter, Bellatrix, had said I could write on the book, I couldn't; writing on these wonderful pages felt like sacrilege.
I couldn't resist making slight changes to the magic circles, translating them to make them more accessible to the general public. Perhaps I can teach them to others. It would be a huge improvement—
Or not.
I thought almost bitterly. I sighed deeply as I turned to the first page of the book. At the beginning of the book, there was an elegant signature along with a name and titles.
Serena Eileen Prince. Head of the Prince Family, Baroness, and King of Pentagram City.
It was the first time I'd ever heard that name. I'd never heard of any Serena, or any Prince family, and certainly not of a city called Pentagram City.
I thought she was from Yenite Forest. An elf who sought knowledge and was capable of creating such things? I was almost certain Bellatrix's wife was from Yenite Forest, and it wasn't entirely ruled out as her birthplace; perhaps an exiled elf or a traveler.
It didn't really matter; somehow, I had grown tired of those titles, which had been a problem.
I didn't know why she held the title of baroness and, at the same time, the title of 'King,' or why she was referred to as 'King' rather than 'Queen.' I was surprised that Bellatrix Prince had mentioned having a 'wife' many times, and the name Serena sounded feminine, so the whole thing seemed strange.
But that didn't change the fact. The title had to be taken seriously; the author was the King of a city, and while I doubted it was on par with Orario, it would be a terrible idea to anger foreign kings, especially when she had such revolutionary ideas about magic.
Furthermore… I didn't want to bother the book's author… I wanted to discuss it, speak directly with her, and have a long conversation about the magic written in those books. To read the other books she surely wrote.
Who knows how many wonders she has written in the pages of her books? Or how many books she has written in her long life? Someone capable of creating something like that must be quite old.
And teaching such magic without their permission was a horrible idea; it would completely sever the bonds before they were even formed.
Even so… I couldn't help but grab a piece of paper and start writing a new letter. If I asked for permission and she agreed… then there wouldn't be any problem. I didn't know how far away Pentagram City was, or how Bellatrix planned to send the message, or how long it would take, but as long as it arrived, I could wait.
Oh! I'd also have to include books. Forget 10 of them; I need more—30 or 50 wouldn't be enough!
I needed to copy them all somehow so I could send them to her. I'd also have to send her a suitable gift. Perhaps a staff—though I didn't want to speculate—the staves created in Orario were high-level due to the easier access to resources on the deeper floors.
Perhaps some rare ingredient from the dungeon, or high-quality magic stones from the deeper levels. I could ask Bellatrix for ideas; as her wife, she should know her tastes.
With a renewed smile, I finished writing the letter and placed it between the first pages before gripping the book tightly. I went to one of the shelves on my wall and grabbed a small wand that was on display there.
It was an old wand that I had kept simply for sentimental reasons; it was something I had used in my lower-levels years ago. Even so, it should do the job perfectly since Lenoa was repairing my staff.
I grabbed it excitedly and squeezed it tight along with the book before practically bouncing out of the room with a huge grin. When was the last time I'd been this excited about practicing new magic?
I didn't know it, but I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. I opened my bedroom door as I stepped out and stopped when I saw Finn.
"Ah! Riveria!" Finn said, sighing with relief. I greeted him.
"Hi Finn!" I said happily as I circled Finn and started bouncing excitedly down the hallway.
"Riveria?! Wait! I had something to talk to you about!" Finn said as he walked quickly to my side.
"Sorry, Finn, I have something to do." I smiled apologetically as I walked towards the outside patio, where I could safely test my magic.
"Riveria! By the gods." I heard Finn groan wearily as he followed me. I barely paid him any attention. Once I reached the courtyard, I saw Ais training with Lefiya, watching from the sidelines.
"Ais, Lefiya." I greeted them both with a nod.
"Ah! Riveria-sama! Are you feeling better now? " Lefiya asked, surprised and with a worried expression. I looked at her, confused.
"Better?" I asked, confused.
"Yes? We thought you were sick... We tried calling your room yesterday, but you didn't answer. We even tried opening the door, but it was locked. Also... you skipped your lessons yesterday and this morning." Lefiya said, sounding genuinely worried. I blinked a few times.
"Yesterday? Yesterday we were at Monster Feria." I pointed, confused. Lefiya blinked several times; even Ais blinked in confusion as she tilted her head.
"Riveria…" Finn began as he approached, a worried expression on his face. "The Monster Feria was the day before yesterday, and you didn't leave your room all day yesterday… Is everything alright? I was seriously about to break down your door to get in." Finn said, sounding genuinely concerned. I froze, stiff as a board.
What? Was the Monster Feria two days ago? What happened yesterday?! I— I clutched the book to my chest.
I spent all day studying without realizing it?! My eyes opened wide, and I could finally feel my stomach growling loudly.
"Oh... I... I think I'm really hungry," I said shyly. The three of them looked at each other worriedly.
"Are you okay? Are you sick, Riveria? We can go to the Dian Cecht family right away," Finn said quickly.
"No, no, no, no, you don't have to worry, I'm perfectly fine," I said quickly, blushing slightly. "I... I lost track of time. I was studying a new book someone gave me. I didn't realize I'd been reading all day, honestly," I said earnestly.
The three of them in front of me sighed with relief when they heard my words.
"Oh, thank the gods." Lefiya sighed in relief. I smiled shyly.
"So... a book?" Finn finally asked, looking down at my chest where I was clutching the magic book. My eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Yes! This book is truly amazing! It has a magical theory that I hadn't even seen in the Royal Forest! I was about to practice with it; do you want to see? " I asked with almost childlike excitement, before my stomach protested once again. I blushed slightly and smiled shyly at them. "Maybe after... what time is it?" I asked, confused, as I looked up.
"Breakfast should be ready by now." Rio Finn chuckled slightly. "Honestly, it's the first time I've seen you like this, Riveria. So... excited about a book." Finn said playfully. I blushed.
"This book is revolutionary! It's incredible!" "Its author is a complete genius! " I immediately defended myself. Finn just laughed even harder.
"Come on, let's have breakfast. Even a high-level adventurer needs to eat to maintain their strength," Finn chirped. I nodded shyly.
I guess I'd have to wait to try the book. I gripped it tightly as I quickly followed the trio. Now that I could finally feel my stomach, I could feel myself starving, and that was dangerous.
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After a very lively breakfast and regaining energy with a hearty meal, I practically couldn't help but run out into the yard once again.
"So, what are we looking at?" Tiona asked, her hands behind her neck as she looked to the side.
"Riveria-sama has learned new magic! We are here to see the results of her studies! " Lefiya said happily.
"Don't expect too much, this is an introductory book," I said immediately, hoping to dampen their hopes. Apparently, none of them heard me as I spoke due to talking amongst themselves. I sighed before smiling excitedly.
I ignored the chatter and opened the book where the first magic circle was written. I had already memorized it, but I looked at it once more to refresh my memory. I closed the book tightly and raised my wand.
Take a deep breath and allow the corresponding magic circle to form. The first thing that appeared was a symbol: a crescent moon pointing downwards, with three nails at the bottom, a dot at the top, and two curves on either side.
I didn't know what it meant, but I knew it belonged to Serena Prince, possibly the symbol of her family, the Prince family. The same seal was placed along the length of the book and next to her signature. The symbol was positioned in the center of the circle.
I was sure it was useless, simply a 'seal' or 'signature' to prove it was her magic, but still, it wasn't as if it could be removed; somehow, the magic circles were entangled with that particular symbol.
Removing it would render the circle useless, even if it was simply a display of the author's pride.
Even so, I'm not bothered. Serena Prince had every right to feel proud and sign her work.
I banished those thoughts from my mind and took another deep breath. The circle grew, and the rest of it appeared. I let my magic flow, and a word escaped my lips.
" Lumos," my magic flowed with such ease that I had never felt it in my life; it was so different that I barely recognized it.
Finally, the circle activated, and a flash of light blinded me.
" Gah! I'm blind! " "My eyes! My eyes! " "What was that light!" "Riveria! Turn that off! "
I heard all the screams around me, and quickly focused on the second one I had memorized.
" Nox! " I shouted quickly as the circle activated just as easily. Finally, the light went out immediately. I sighed with relief; I was delighted I had memorized the whole book before using one of them.
"What was that?! My vision is still blurry!" Tiona complained, rubbing her eyes hard. I smiled awkwardly.
"That... was supposed to be magic to turn on a light. I didn't think... it would be so strong," I said timidly.
"Did it have a level 6 adventurer warning?" Finn asked dryly, rubbing his eye. I stopped stiffly before he could finish speaking, blushing slightly.
I hadn't thought about all my improvements! I guess... I'll have to restrict myself even more.
Even so… it had worked! The magic circles had worked! One circle, one word, and the magic had worked!
"Okay, next one!" I chirped.
"I hope the next one doesn't blind us," Tiona complained. I snorted. I raised my wand and pointed it at the sky. I let the following circle form, and this time I cast more magic. " Incendio! "
With all the magic I'd put into it, it was only natural that the enormous blaze would soar into the sky and grow as tall as the mansion's towers. I could feel the heat of the fire spell as my eyes glowed slightly.
One word and one circle for such a powerful fire spell! I wasn't even using my full magic power; I could make this stronger, much stronger. Even the magic consumption to keep it active wasn't really expensive! It was amazing!
Maybe… I can make it more focused, hotter. I bit my lip lightly as I extinguished the flame. I moved to the next circle, aiming at one of the nearby walls.
" Diffindo!" The cutting magic pierced the solid stone wall with ease. I used it a couple more times until the wall completely crumbled. Then I finally moved on to the next magic circle.
" Reparo!" I said expectantly. To my enormous surprise, all the debris, rocks, and dust began to float gently as the wall was completely rebuilt as if nothing had happened. My smile grew with excitement.
I let the next Charm form its magic circle, and before it was cast, I pointed it at the group that was watching.
" Wingardium Leviosa." I said with a mischievous smile. I could see everyone tense up slightly, but the magic had already taken effect. The five people in the group began to rise from the ground while shrieking.
" Kyaa !" "We're flying!" "W-wow!" "Riveria!"
I watched the group having fun as I held the levitation magic over them. This one was much easier to control. I could see the four girls starting to have fun as they floated. Tione and Tiona seemed to be trying to swim in the air, while Lefiya had grabbed Ais and was spinning around in the air.
Finn had simply crossed his legs and placed a hand on his chin as he slowly twirled in the air. I could see his mind racing and almost wanted to sigh. Always strategizing, I'm sure he already had several ideas on how to use this new magic.
I would have to talk to Finn to tell him that these spells could not be used; it was one thing for her to lend me the book and let me study it, and even cast the spells in it as a test, but it was very different to use its contents for the benefit of the Loki family.
"Alright, I'm going to undo the spell." I said playfully as I slowly lowered them all.
"That was amazing!" Tiona and Tione squealed at the same time. I just smiled slightly.
"That was wonderful, Riveria-sama!" Lefiya clapped happily. I could see Ais give a thumbs-up, slightly blushing with excitement.
"I couldn't help but notice, you're using only a word or two," Finn said while humming, and I smiled slightly.
"I told you it was special," I said playfully, winking at him.
"Riveria... can you teach this magic to the other elves?" Finn asked immediately. I froze slightly before shaking my head.
"No," I said immediately. Finn seemed about to speak, but I interrupted him. "The book doesn't belong to me. I don't know if the owner would let me use or show anything in it," I said immediately. Finn's eyes widened slightly.
"Did you steal the book?" Finn asked incredulously. I looked at him with disdain.
"Of course not! What are you saying, Finn! Miach's daughter lent it to me. She said it belongs to her wife. I have to ask her permission if I want to show it to others." I said with a huff as I held up the book. Finn raised an eyebrow.
"Miach's daughter? The one who humiliated us? " Finn asked, his voice devoid of judgment. I nodded.
"I ran into her the morning of the Monster Feria, we talked for a bit, and she gave me this book to read," I said simply.
"So... if we ask her, could you teach us?" Finn asked while humming. My eyes widened slightly.
"I... yes, if I had the author's permission, yes," I said immediately. I didn't tell him I'd already written a letter for that very purpose. Finn nodded and looked at Tiona and Tione.
"I suppose our trip to the dungeon can wait a few hours. Could you go find Miach's daughter before I go down to the dungeon? Tell her we want to talk about Riveria's book. If you don't find her in an hour, come back," Finn ordered.
I blinked slightly. Were they going to the dungeon?
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