I opened my eyes and gazed at the ceiling of the room. After a brief moment of contemplation, the events of the past came rushing back to me. Looking out the window, I saw the same forest—unchanged, as it always was. This forest is perpetually shrouded in night; I've never seen the sun in this world. Not that I'm particularly curious about it, but it feels odd not to wake up to the annoying glare of sunlight.
Lost in thought, Hormizd called out to me. I walked to his room and found him holding a piece of paper—likely the very sheet used to determine an individual's magical abilities. Seeing it filled me with excitement. Hormizd smiled at me and said, "Look who's all energized! When it comes to magic or adventure, you completely change, as if you've been waiting for it all along. Not that it's a bad thing—it can add more color to your life."
He handed me the paper. It looked plain enough, though its yellow hue resembled aged parchment. As soon as I held it, I felt energy flowing from my body into the sheet. After a few seconds, the color shifted to purple, and inscriptions began to appear. I couldn't decipher the text, so I asked Hormizd to read it for me. He nodded and read aloud:
"Five Unique Magics:
1. Manipulation of Everything
2. Magisynthesis
3. Spirit Purification
4. Absolute Insight
5. Reset"
I was shocked by the list; the names alone exuded immense power. However, my excitement faded when I noticed Hormizd's neutral expression. Why wasn't he surprised? Not even a hint of intrigue crossed his face. What could the reason be?
I asked him, "Why aren't you surprised? Your face suggests you're not impressed. Can I ask why?"
He looked at me with a faint apologetic smile and replied, "Sorry, my friend, I didn't mean to dull your excitement. But there's something important to understand about unique magics—they start off incredibly weak. It takes a lot of time and focus to make them stronger. Having more of them doesn't necessarily mean you're powerful. In fact, someone with fewer magics could be stronger because they dedicate their time to mastering just one. To be honest, I've seen most of these before—except for Absolute Analysis, which I'm not sure about. The others… they're good, especially Manipulation of Everything. It can truly turn the tide of battle. But as I said, everything depends on the individual and their imagination."
Hormizd's words initially dampened my spirits. Yet, as I thought about it more, my excitement returned. After all, I'm not a native of this world—I possess a different kind of knowledge. Most importantly, I've spent my entire life lost in imagination, which gives me an edge here. The fact that these powers require practice is comforting—it finally gives me a purpose to work toward. I just hope it's challenging because I want to experience what it's like to overcome hardships, reach a goal, and revel in that moment of triumph. It's something I've never had before. So, why not embrace it?
For the final time, I glanced at the sheet and, with a smile, turned to Hormizd. "Looks like I need to start practicing. Can you guide me on what to do?"
He looked at me and seemed to notice my newfound determination. With a confident tone, he said, "Listen, my friend, this journey is going to be a long one, but you'll make it—I know you will. Why? Because one of the best is going to teach you everything he knows. Painful, perhaps, but it won't be fruitless."
Hormizd's words made me smile, and for the first time, I felt good—because, for once, I had a friend who wasn't with me for what they could gain, but for who I was. And so, my intense training began.