Chapter 3: The Learning Begins
Makarov led Noah to another part of the clearing.
"To learn magic, you must first understand some basic principles," he began. "In our world, everything is filled with particles we call 'Ethernano.' These particles are in a constant state of circulation, and it is from them that our own magic power is born. By controlling the magic power within our own bodies, we can cast spells."
Makarov's voice became more profound. "Noah, you must remember this: all powers that seem to defy common sense are, in fact, born from it. Magic is not the power of miracles. It is the result of the flow of spirit within us aligning with the natural flow of Ethernano in the world, giving it form."
"Magic is the result of focusing your spirit and concentration—no, it is the result of pouring your very soul into it!"
"If you wish to advance on the path of a wizard, you must find a path you believe in and forge ahead without hesitation!"
"Woah!"
I've heard him say this so many times in the anime, Noah thought, but hearing Makarov say it in person is still incredibly moving!
Noah's heart pounded with excitement.
Following Makarov's instruction, Noah learned how to meditate and then tried it for himself. He sat cross-legged on the ground and, following the method he had just been taught, entered a meditative state.
The moment he did, Noah felt countless tiny particles from his surroundings begin to surge into his body, gradually forming a current of energy that grew steadily stronger.
From the side, Makarov watched as the Ethernano in the atmosphere swirled towards Noah, moving so fast that it created a small vortex around him. The old master praised him silently in his heart.
What astonishing talent for magic! It was truly a blessing that he joined our guild. I believe Fairy Tail's future will only get brighter from here!
Noah became so engrossed in his training that he lost all track of time. It wasn't until Makarov woke him that he realized it was already noon and time for lunch.
After a short break, Noah began learning Light Magic from Makarov.
Thanks to his morning's work, Noah already possessed a pool of magic power he could control. Makarov started by teaching him the simplest of light spells.
With just a little practice, Noah was able to cast it successfully. This rapid learning pace naturally made Makarov very happy, but he also offered a word of caution.
"Learning quickly is a good thing, but you must never stop training. Your magic power, your body, your knowledge of spells, your practical skills—all of it requires constant training and study. That is how you build a solid foundation to achieve what you truly want to do."
"I understand, Gramps! I'll work hard!"
For the rest of the day, Noah studied diligently with Makarov. After dinner, he continued his reading lessons with Laxus until it was time for bed.
Thus began Noah's new routine: training his magic power and body in the morning, studying Light Magic in the afternoon, and learning to read and write at night.
Whenever Noah trained, Laxus would be nearby doing his own exercises. The sheer amount of magic power radiating from the boy always amazed Noah. It was incredible for someone so young.
However, Laxus had also suffered greatly for it. As a child, his body couldn't handle his immense magical reserves, causing him frequent pain. It was only after having the Thunder Dragon Slayer Lacrima implanted in him that his physical constitution was enhanced enough to fully withstand his own power.
Noah recalled that the only other person mentioned in the original story with a similar condition was Ultear. Both of them went on to achieve astonishing feats in the world of magic.
One reached a level that equaled, or even surpassed, the Ten Wizard Saints—the ten most powerful wizards hand-picked by the Magic Council from across the entire continent of Ishgar, the strongest four of whom were known as the Four Gods of Ishgar.
The other, during the final battle against the dragons, used the last of her strength to turn back time for the entire world by one minute, reviving countless people and surviving as an old woman. If one's power was insufficient, they couldn't dream of turning back time for even a second without being utterly obliterated, let alone for a whole minute across the globe.
It was easy to imagine how gifted those two were and how powerful they became. But Noah didn't feel envious or jealous, because he had discovered his own unique gift.
He wasn't sure if it was a result of his soul and body transmigrating together, but as soon as he started training, he realized he was constantly getting stronger. It wasn't just after training—he was getting stronger even when he wasn't training.
On the very first day, he could feel his total magic power slowly increasing during his lunch break. When he woke up the next morning, he found it had grown by a significant amount.
It wasn't just his magic. His eyesight, hearing, sense of touch, and sense of smell—all of his physical attributes were constantly improving. His thinking speed and learning ability were accelerating as well. He was, in short, automatically getting stronger in every conceivable way.
At first, this discovery scared him. He had read too many conspiracy novels where every gift from fate had a hidden price tag. Fearing some unknown plot awaited him, he spent several days in a state of anxiety.
Finally, Noah thought it through and decided to just let it go.
Only with power could he face any potential traps or conspiracies. Without power, all he could do was worry fruitlessly, which would only hinder his own growth. Besides, who was to say there even was a conspiracy? Maybe he had some kind of fortunate encounter during his transmigration, like being baptized by the process itself, enhancing his natural talents.
Noah decided to simply accept this passive growth as his innate talent. Thinking of it that way, he no longer had to worry. This "talent" also fit perfectly with the name he had chosen for himself, 'Flair', which made him happy.
Having resolved his inner conflict, Noah threw himself completely into his studies and training. In less than a week, he had mastered the common continental language. He was surprised to find the alphabet was nearly identical to English, which gave him an unexpected advantage. His evenings were now spent devouring the books in Fairy Tail's library. Thanks to his comprehensive passive growth, his memory had improved to the point where he could remember everything he read perfectly.
He started with books on geography, local customs, and magical beasts, as this was the foundational knowledge he would need for future missions to avoid falling into trouble out of ignorance.
Meanwhile, his morning training sessions became increasingly destructive. The sheer force of his growing magic and physical strength forced him to move his training grounds to the nearby forest. He often couldn't control his newfound power, and leaving a crater with a single misplaced step became a common occurrence.
Eventually, Noah had to ask Makarov for help finding magical items that could suppress his power, just so he could train without demolishing the door every time he opened it or crushing a cup every time he took a drink of water.
His lack of control was causing chaos at home, where things were constantly being broken. On several occasions, he had accidentally slapped Laxus clear across the room and into a wall. Thankfully, by this point, the Dragon Slayer Lacrima had been active long enough to significantly strengthen Laxus's body, allowing him to endure the hits. Otherwise, they would have needed to make frequent emergency visits to Porlyusica.