"Is it raining?"
Autumn and winter in most regions of the continent were supposed to be dry, with little rain. This sudden downpour was completely out of the ordinary.
Suddenly, Rorschach, Unuk, and Tassia all felt extremely unwell. Even the Dwarf, who was usually maxed out on resistance and even a bit slow on the uptake, noticed something was wrong.
Including the Priest, they were all Casters in the broader sense.
"The Magic Power in the environment is no longer flowing. It's become chaotic."
Rorschach attempted the most basic Magic, Magic Power Drive, but it unexpectedly failed. It was like trying to scoop up a handful of sand in a dust storm—he'd come away with nothing, his hands sliced by the high-speed grit.
"Rorschach, your nose is bleeding!" Tassia warned him when she saw his condition. She tried to cast a healing spell, but it failed, and her face grew even paler.
Rorschach had no time to worry about his own situation. He hurriedly asked Unuk, "Can you still cast?"
Unuk tried as well, raising a hand to make a few gestures. He couldn't cast a spell, and his expression changed drastically. 'Their experiment has reached this stage?' He quickly composed himself. "Don't worry. No need to force a spell. The ritual has definitely failed by now."
The flow of Magic went from a surge to a chaotic mess that prevented Casting, and now, it was gradually fading away entirely. The ambient Magic Power in the area was completely depleted. The violent change occurred in a single instant.
After the Magic Power in the environment dried up, Rorschach felt his own Endogenous Magic Power spontaneously leaking out, with no way to replenish it. For a Caster, this was undoubtedly a form of torture, like a fish being pulled out of water and left to gasp in the air.
Amidst the pain, Rorschach had a flash of insight. 'Even without Casting, a balance exists between the Magic Power in one's body and the Magic in the environment. The absolute amounts aren't equal, of course, but if the disparity becomes too great, the side with more Magic Power will flow toward the side with less.'
This was a discovery that could only be understood by combining two experiences: completely depleting one's Magic Power and being in a place with no Magic. And Rorschach, whether one called him lucky or unlucky, had just experienced a taste of both in a short period.
As one thing faded, another grew. The Magic vanished, and the rain grew heavier, pouring down and drenching everyone. Torches, braziers, and the large fire consuming the straw-wrapped lamb were all extinguished. The mind-addling smoke was also washed clean by the downpour.
Next, in the darkness devoid of firelight, the people, as if waking from a long dream, began to cry out in alarm and pain. As their eyes gradually adjusted to the dark, hostile gazes from all around fell upon the outsiders.
Rorschach felt the Magic Power in the environment beginning to recover, as if what just happened was only a brief vacuum. He readied a Fireball Skill, prepared to display a Mage's intimidating power if necessary.
"Don't move! The special forces are here!"
"Everyone, do not move! Everyone, do not resist! All of you, squat down!" Several small Airships appeared in the sky above the city district. The crew aboard them activated pre-charged Scrolls, sending focused beams of light sweeping across the ground.
"Everyone! Get out of the circle of light! Warning! Anyone remaining inside the circle of light will be responsible for the consequences!" The beam fixed in place, and the Airship deployed armored Samurai, one after another. After reaching the ground, they unhooked their tethers and began cracking whips that whistled through the air.
Rorschach noticed that all the Samurai had been buffed with the Light Technique. The illuminated raindrops bounced off their bodies, so they must have had some kind of Shield-type Magic cast on them as well. In the darkness, these tall figures in glowing white Heavy Armor looked sacred and imposing. Their mere landing was enough to quiet the chaotic crowd in moments.
Just then, Unuk cast a Light Technique and called out loudly to the nearby Samurai, "This is Unuk, the city's resident Mage! Please let me speak with your commanding officer!"
Two of the nearest Samurai strode toward them. The civilians they passed trembled in the rain, scrambling to clear a path.
"Master Mage, who are these people?"
"Rorschach, an Empire-certified Caster from the Imperial Capital." Rorschach presented his Mage Badge and, after a moment's thought, also showed the Caster Identity Card issued by the Empire. "This gentleman, this young lady, and this Dwarf here are my companions."
The Samurai confirmed the badge and returned it to Rorschach. "Master Mage, please do not move. You and your companions will need to come with us shortly."
Meanwhile, a squad of eight Heavy Armor Samurai separated the people at the center of the stage from the other civilians. Those at the center remained in a state of abnormal fanaticism. They ignored the commands from the Airship and suddenly erupted, attempting to attack.
The Samurai first tried to drive them back by cracking their whips. When they found it had no effect, they tossed the whips aside and drew their Sharp Blades.
After a few sounds of blades slicing through the air, some people were decapitated. The rain became tinged with dark red and the stench of blood.
"Leave some alive." The Samurai who gave the order wore a crimson cape, distinguishing him as the commander. At his command, two Samurai strode forward, each seizing a rioter and pinning them immobile in their iron-clad grips.
Suddenly, beside the stage, a man in fine clothes and a mask shot into the sky, seemingly launching himself in an attempt to escape.
'A Caster among them? No, that looks more like the effect of a Scroll or a Magic Item,' Unuk thought. He raised his hand to take aim as Crossbow Arrows shot toward the man. But the target was moving too fast in the dark and was about to break through the blockade around the square.
"You think you lapdogs can catch me? HAHAHAHA!"
The man flew over the Samurai, leaving behind a mocking shriek.
"Mr. Unuk, please illuminate the sky near him."
"Alright." Unuk condensed a spinning, dancing halo of light and shot it upward, successfully illuminating the Flying Man.
Then, without any warning, the Flying Man's trajectory changed. He was still struggling, but to no avail, and he plummeted straight toward the ground.
When he was just a few paces from the ground, his descent slowed. The man, who was already a mess of tears and urine, was overjoyed. However, he soon realized he was being held fast by a large, invisible hand, unable to move. He could only watch helplessly as the Samurai surrounded and arrested him.
The Samurai standing beside the two Mages witnessed the entire event and couldn't help but wonder, 'If I were fighting an enemy like that, could I even get close?' Though Rorschach couldn't see the Samurai's face behind his helmet, the look in his eyes as he regarded the young man had undeniably changed.
"Excellent! The Cultists will finally be brought to justice!" Unuk applauded for Rorschach. It was indeed justice—the justice of Magic.
"My friend, what Magic was that?" Unuk realized that his standards for a Tier One Mage didn't apply to the young man before him.
"Mage's Hand."
"My friend, you just snatched him right out of the sky, didn't you? Does Mage's Hand have that kind of range and power?"
Rorschach suddenly worried Unuk would get the wrong idea about him. "Um... my Mage's Hand is just a bit... stronger?"
"...Then you have to share your training method with me, my friend!" Unuk really wanted to ask, 'Is Rorschach's dominant hand not his left or his right, but his Mage's Hand?'
"CAW CAW!" Yazi, on Rorschach's shoulder, ruffled his feathers.
The rain fell even harder that night.