JusKIdding: Pfffffffft! Phantom as a scholar? dfdjskfdafdsjk My brain just cannot process such thoughts because of the sheer improbability. He's just too flat-out uninterested.

Frozen Fate: Oh very good! I couldn't have summarized it better myself! Yes that's exactly how it is! Very insightful! Yes, he indeed does understand it to some extent however, if you were to ask him to explain it in-depth or to lecture to others, he wouldn't have the first clue about it and because of this lack of knowledge… Well, you got the gist XD And I'm glad I was able to get at least a chuckle out of you for that chapter hahaha! :

This is, I believe, the longest chapter in the story. Hope you enjoy it!


Day 6, Lesson 6: Intermediate Theory of Light Magic II

"… It's curious…"

Phantom glanced up over the top of the book he had been assigned at the soft mutter and raised an inquiring brow at a pensive Freud seated across from him at the desk.

"What is?"

Freud shook his head. "Oh nothing much. It's just that for some time now I've wanted to examine your skills a little closer is all."

"Oh is that so?" Phantom purred, a smug smirk beginning to take form on his lips as he put aside his book. "I always knew you were in awe of my talents!"

Freud rolled his eyes. "Not out of awe mind you but out of curiosity. Your magic is quite unique," he commented ponderously.

"Is that so now? Do tell me more," Phantom coaxed, his smirk growing wider and wider by the second as he planted his elbows on the table and rested his chin on intertwined fingers.

"Always eager for ways to feed your ego aren't you?" Freud asked, an amused tilt in his lips.

"But of course! Why hide my excellence? I am rather marvelous so please, do continue. I am all ears."

"And you're sure about going off schedule yet again? Do I need to remind you of how much you had to catch up on last time? This time the work will be ten times harder. Will the extra work be worth bloating your ego I wonder?"

"There's nothing I can't handle and besides, I've managed before. I can manage it again so continue," Phantom said dismissively, waving the concern aside.

"Well it is your decision after all," Freud chuckled. "Alright, then I'll tell you that in all my years of studying magic, I've never encountered any other individual such as yourself with the ability to mimic others' skills. To explain further, I'll begin by saying that, with the exceptional talents of the Paladins notwithstanding, most individuals have affinities for one or two elements but no more and thus, they are all restricted in the number of skills they could perform. But you don't appear to have any such constraint. You're able to use every element save light and wind, an extraordinary number that bests the Paladins or even what Afrien and I have in our arsenal. I have not seen anyone else who could handle six elements.

"Moreover, you have the ability to use your cane as a template upon which you manipulate your cards into an imitation of any weapon you please. As you are aware from your study of basic mana, these weapons are conduits without which individuals are unable to perform their skills. It's really rather clever."

"But of course," Phantom said, sitting back in his chair with all the dignity and airs of a haughty royal king wearing an expression of smug self-satisfaction fit for a cat who had just eaten the canary. "I had thought of it after all. Well, my former teacher had but I perfected it."

"Ah, but even perfected, your skills are still not on par with their originals performed by those specialized in their class," Freud continued thoughtfully, drumming his fingers on the desk. "I shall give you credit where it's due and say that it's extraordinary that just by a glance, you are able to distinguish individuals' flow of mana, its characteristics, and the way it's directed but while that may be, your skills are still an imitation in the end. Just being able to distinguish mana flow and copying it is not enough. The level of expertise within each class is so fine that it may even be impossible to copy it perfectly and although you are able to use your cane to create a proxy conduit, it's not the same as the real conduit and thus it's not enough to bring out the full potential of the skills.

"There's also the case that while an individual may be able to use more than one element, they still only have one or two elements they are the most affiliated with which includes the Paladins with their main affinity towards holy. Afrien, as another example, can use all manner of magic of different elements, such as ice and lightning, but these powers pale in comparison to his main affinities, which are fire and darkness. You, on the other hand, are curiously not the case. It appears you have no affinity whatsoever, which would normally render you unable to use any elemental magic save neutral but instead, your non-affiliation has made you a jack of all trades so to speak, giving you the capacity to handle all manner of elements but with a decreased power output. It's most peculiar."

Freud glanced at Phantom and couldn't help the exasperated sigh at the boastful look he now donned.

"But, do keep in mind, Phantom, that just as the situation you find yourself in now, imitation without a deeper understanding of the mechanics is what makes your replicated abilities so much weaker. Furthermore, just as any scientific progress advances ever onward, so too does magic in its ever growing complexities. You may even find yourself one day unable to copy the skills of some future classes."

Phantom scoffed. "There is nothing I can't do. I'll figure it out."

Freud quirked a brow at that. "Is that so? Need I remind you that there are currently four other people stationed throughout your immediate area right this moment whose abilities you cannot copy?"

"Yes well, with all of you as the exception rather than the case."

"I suppose. To be fair, we all have different circumstances that prevent you from being able to duplicate our skills," Freud said thoughtfully as he sat back in his seat. "Mercedes's powers are mostly drawn from the spirits around her through her close relationship with nature though this also means the elements she uses in her supportive magic are not hers per se. Aran's expert manipulation of her mana in her combinations is nothing short of masterful and such artful and tight control is something almost all will never be likely to achieve in their lifetimes. My skills require a bond with an Onyx Dragon and lastly Luminous…"

Freud hummed. "Truthfully, I don't believe anyone outside the Light Mages are even capable of using light magic. As far as I know, only mages born of Serenity can ever hope to wield light magic. No one has been able to replicate their magic, not even the Priests, who practice one of light magic's closest cousins, could do it. As you already know, light magic represents a more distilled or purer version of holy magic and that may be the reason why. No matter what they do, they cannot seem to attain that same level of purity in their light. This failure to replicate suggests that it may require some form of innate talent or rare affiliation with light magic after all, despite their common thread of light manipulation, holy and light magic have completely different properties. If not for that, holy magic could have very well been made a subcategory under light magic. In fact, it is still a matter of much contention with the scholars."

Freud sighed. "Such foolishness. If that is to be believed then they may as well make dark magic a subcategory as well." He got up and started towards one of the nearby bookshelves. "And so, we have come full circle once again to the topic of light magic. In order to commemorate such an occasion, I shall now hand you several assignments to make up for lost time."

Phantom's conceited expression immediately dropped.


NoxPersona9: I hope I've answered your question adequately and clearly here! If not, please do tell me and I'll attempt to explain it a little more! Oh! Or better yet, try looking at Frozen Fate's response in the reviews!

Remember, any and all insights or questions are welcome!