Disclaimer, don't own Log horizon or my hero academia or any other series used in this fic.
An: au,,,, ooc... Izuku is Shiroe (or a version of him at least)... accidental time-travel... sort off dimension travel... winged Izuku... magical Izuku...
"talking"
'thinking'
Chapter 7... Mana
Shinso took a gulp of air, as the bo-staff struck hard sending him hurtling backwards into the soft sand.
fighting on sand and near water made the spar harder it do make for a softer landings. he decided.
staff twirling lazily, and Shinso knew that Shiro weren't going serious on him. 'he's probably playing around' he thought dryly.
"do you want to continue?" Shiro asked.
"urgh"
"we train so that we can learn, so that any mistake we do while training don't happen out on the field" Shiro stated, as Shinso grabbed the boo-staff who had fallen to the ground.
"because one mistake there can cost me my life or the lives of others" Shinso answered while pulling himself up as he repeated a fact Shiro told him early on.
"indeed" Shiro responded before tilting his head waiting for Shinso to gather his breath. "while not as extreme in this world. if you falter, if you hesitate then it can cost you your life or that of those you protect. mistake isn't something we can afford. even if you are completely outmatched physically, keep the other at bay occupied until backup can arrive or just out trick them instead your body isn't the only thing you got at your disposal" Shiro explained.
standing up Shinso grimaced slightly "but I don't think staff is my weapon" he grimaced slightly.
"perhaps we shall use a bow next time" Shiro shrugged absently "while having one trick and all may be good but it isn't enough in the hero business, not if you want to get good at it"
Shinso sighted, tightening his grip.
"center of balance" Shiro repeated causing Shinso to shift his grip a bit to re-find it and didn't get any more time then that before Shiro was upon him. staff in full motion and he manage to block a few before a hit struck his hand just before another struck his stomach.
his own boo-staff were sent into the ground and Shinso landed in the water with a surprised sputter.
"why not sword?" Shinso asked out.
"just because I can use swords don't mean I'm good enough to teach it" Shiro said bluntly "and what do you plan to do. put down your bow to bring out a sword, then search for where you put your bow? don't be ridiculous" he said dryly. assassins, bards and kanagi who picked bows as their weapon of choice didn't go around switching weapon in mid combat. no you got a bow and used it, making sure the enemy didn't get close enough and if they did then make sure your bow can act as a staff when needed.
Shinso sighted and didn't argue that statement. it actually made allot of sense both statements that was.
but a thought struck him, every time he's seen the white fae with a staff he's never seen him drop it. either by accident or by a strike.
"how come you don't ever drop it?!" Shinso snapped out before he could stop himself.
Shiro closed a single eye smiling amused at the mere question. "as a mage I formed with a staff at hand" was all he said and Shinso didn't know what to make of that, if Shiro was being literal or figural.
/
elsewhere while those two where training, Eraserhear or Aizawa were watching a footage at Nezu's request and weren't quite sure what to make of said request. the fact that Enchanter, Shiroe had caught the chimera's attention was one he wasn't sure was good or bad.
on the other hand it took a while, or well no, Nezu had tried to locate Shiroe before the meeting a few weeks ago.
they still don't know where the now more or less official underground pro lives, and it wasn't like Enchanter where intentionally hiding himself. no, that insane stealth of his was passive subconscious something enchanter did without a second thought about it, and if Aizawa didn't really want to know how good he could be in that if Enchanter actually tried to hide.
his memo when dealing with villains hadn't really changed, he where still doing it mostly quirklessly. with at times using his wings for defense or offence seemingly out of nowhere. but that made them wonder what he could truly do.
but this footage like with the sludge villain incident last week where in a really good condition. showing enchanter saving people from a burning building avoiding both fire and falling debris moving toward the victims still stuck inside as if he knew exactly where they were, but there was something not quite right about this footage.
seeing enchanter roll out of the moments before the heater exploded in the footage. there was something so very wrong with that picture.
"did you see how he avoided the explosion?" Nezu asked giddy.
"he rolled out of the way" Aizawa answered, making the principal giggle.
"interesting but I asked if you can see it. play the footage frame by frame this time" Nezu ordered.
Aizawa did as told not knowing what to look for, but he blinked at what he saw. he expected to see Enchanter walk past, roll out of the way when it exploded, but that's not what it showed.
replaying the frames again. seeing how the heater exploded, flames flying towards Enchanter, who simply stood out of reach.
it where missing no it was as if it never where there in the first place, but Aizawa could sworn...
"like someone made a jump cut. your mind fills in the gap who shouldn't be there with a logical explanation" Nezu said paws together with a smirk gracing his muzzle, before opening up the footage of the sludge villain incident.
frame by frame, this case similar. one frame you saw the wings flare out, the next they where almost folded around him and then dust and fire of the explosion covered the area. as the dust settled, the wings where back folded behind him thought one of them leaned more forward against his side then the other.
Aizawa frowned, he knew it couldn't be a quirk, the guy's quirkless,
"it looks like a high speed quirk, or temporal one" Aizawa stated.
"possible, Ticktock was able to move at such speeds but I think it's some form of spatial manipulation. however that don't explain his ability to locate the victims to such precision or how he was able to calm them so easily even less dodge the explosions, debris avoiding damaged ground" Nezu counted simply sipping on his tea..
Aizawa stared at Nezu.
"possible time manipulation, some form of clairvoyance, a enhanced senses not to speak of the potential teleportation, intangibility and mind manipulation, of course space manipulation as well as enhanced physic from speed to strength and agility. and when taking in his wings, flight, hardening just to name two. we're lucky that Enchanter is someone who wants to help"
Aizawa where shocked, while Enchanter called his mana magic that, that's still beyond ridiculous.
but...
Enchanter's eyes. they're constantly glowing which normally would be a tell sign for some form of vision quirk, yet Enchanter's still quirkless and that won't change.
"we can't even be sure he has these powers" Aizawa said out but when bringing up the question of what Enchanter could do.
Shiro hadn't actually explained anything. the little he said later on was that mana is a spiritual mental energy that everyone have and it exist in four types. thought Hawks do seem to know more of what mana is outside of that basic description.
and while Enchanter had sort of explained his wings, which can be summed up as a culture throwback using past life knowledge. all he said about his abilities where openly calling it magic, and that a demonstration wouldn't be enough.
something Hawks apparently agreed on, if you're not intending to learn to use it yourself you wouldn't be able to understand what the capabilities actually are. or at least nothing past a shallow summary, which may not even make sense or feel way to absurd.
"you said he calls his abilities magic, that he has mana and can use it" Nezu pointed out that fact.
"the current system we have puts all focus on quirks. however that causes people to ignore other skills besides quirks, and that makes more cracks then when Present Mic saw a spider. even if he can't do any of this, enchanter have proven that he have the skill and capable of using it. that alone will help more people then All Might would be able" Nezu took a breath.
"however if Shiroe do possess these powers then he might very well hold the key to japans future as we can't continue to rely on All Might forever" Nezu finished, his beady eyes serious.
"Shouta if Shiroe do possess these abilities then we must know. we have to find out how he got them the fact that he kept them between lives where all other cases with incarnations looses theirs, with one previous exception"
"I'll contact Hawks" Aizawa said out.
"hm?" Nezu tilted his head.
"Hawks knows Enchanter personally; he probably knows what mana can do or at least some of it" Aizawa said.
Nezu nodded to that.
/
Hawks blinked "say what?" wondering if he heard right.
"err, the principal of UA wants a meeting with you" his secretary said out not all to sure what to think of it herself.
"he didn't happen to say why?" Hawks could not help but to ask.
"sorry sir"
'what is that chimera thinking now?' Hawks frowned lightly before realization struck him seconds later 'Shiro' he thought.
"I'm heading out" Hawks said startling the secretary who barely got to react before Hawks where already moving thru the balcony door.
"wait out? but sir" she sputtered as he took off.
"call if there is anything" Hawks called out and where already gone before she could respond.
'Nezu wants information on Shiro and most definitely mana' Hawks thought, and with that it became public knowledge that the two know each other.
Nezu contacted him to get the information because Shiro's being elusive about it.
wings flapped still not getting any response, which means Shiro's probably going civilian at the moment, thus not wearing that visor of his.
which means Shiro can be pretty much anywhere...
"right I'm buying him a normal phone" Hawks muttered
frankly he should have expected something like this to happen and Shiro probably did expect it to happen or at the very least won't be surprised about it. and with Shiro having his eyes watching UA.
it's better Shiro knows about this event, to avoid any more extreme surprises.
it didn't' take Hawks long to reach Musutafu, not with his speeds, now it where just to find him.
looking for the familiar flash of white that is his wings would be the easiest "now where to start" Hawks mused.
he didn't think Shiro where shopping or he'd answered by now. he rarely ever manage to go shopping without knocking out at least one villain in the process. it's why Dabi tended to deal with most of the shopping and why hawks at time came there with a bag of his own.
thought none of them had any clue why this is so.
he could also remove hero work or Shiro would have answered, that still left several things. Shiro might be reading or spending some time in a café, he might also be training.
'maybe' hawks thought to that, heading towards the area where Shiro generally trained.
/
"well, he wasn't put to sleep this time" Hawks said as he landed at the edge of the beach, startling Shinso who lost his breath as the staff struck right past his defense.
"dodging and blocking needs to be second nature or even a harmless surprises will mess you up" Shiro stated as he looked at Shinso who groaned.
"yeah, I can get that" Shinso responded gulping for air.
At least Shiro weren't serious when fighting him or he'd probably been sent to the hospital by now. Shinso is perfectly aware that Shiro is way, way stronger then him when it comes to the enhanced physic mana grants, but Shiro also have insanely good control.
tilting his head slightly as if listening to something unheard "did something happen?" Shiro asked.
"something yes, do Shinso know?" Hawks asked honestly curious about that fact.
Shiro paused at that glancing at Shinso for a moment, before his brow rose in surprise "not yet apparently" Shiro said eventually sounding rather amused.
Hawks opened his mouth for a moment before closing it.
"not yet what?" Shinso frowned now fully aware that he's missing something.
"never mind, take a breather kid while I speak to your trainer in private" Hawks said out gesturing a little bit away from here.
"what happened?" Shiro asked as they started walking.
"UA's principal happened" Hawks said bluntly. "he wants a meeting with me"
"of course, he would" Shiro said out closing his eyes for a moment.
"this may be nothing but if it is" Shiro started and Hawks could practically see the gears in his mind turning.
/
some days later, Hawks where walking thru the hallways of UA, which for one where shocking the students as he passed eventually reaching a door, with a sign principal on it. 'at least it's the right door' he thought before knocking.
"come on in" was heard, before hawks opened the door to the office.
"I'm glad you could come, do you want tea?" Nezu asked filling his own cup with a smile.
"no thanks" Hawks shook his head as he sat down.
"I wasn't going to accept a meeting about my friend without telling him first. I'm guessing you asked for me instead due to Shiroe being elusive with his powers" Hawks started off offhandedly before gaining a more serious tone.
"that is to be expected, I'm guessing he's willing to part with some information if you're here?" Nezu responded.
"sort of" Hawks responded, with a kind-of gesture. "I can give you a general summary of the basics but I won't go into it deeply and mana is not something that should be public yet"
"I see" Nezu mused, sipping some of his tea. "well I can live with that" he said cheerfully.
"firstly, what is mana?" Nezu asked.
a brow raised to that "don't you already know?" Hawks countered
"calling it spiritual energy don't actually tell me or anyone what mana is" Nezu rephrased.
Hawks lips quirked, "complicated" was the swift response.
"please be serious" Nezu requested an ear twitching.
"you think I'm not" Hawks chuckled. "mana is complicated, intricate, versatile and intense. it don't follow the limits quirks do, but also freer you can more or less choose what you can do with mana with enough training but with quirks you're either born with it or not" Hawks shrugged.
"on the other hand unless you're mentally wired for it, without that little mental trait that makes mana second nature it would take years, decades of training, dedication and effort to make it useful" Hawks continued.
"and with the current society focus on quirks mana would have been forgotten if it ever were known before quirks surfaced" Nezu said it out aloud.
Hawks nodded to that.
"you're worried of what would happen if it came out that anyone with enough training and effort could learn it" Nezu stated.
"people already are" Hawks said swiftly startling Nezu who blinked. "but that's Subconscious Unaware mana use isn't the same as the passive use of an active Aware wielder, even less conscious use" Hawks continued.
"interesting" Nezu mused, his mind rapidly going thru that statement few times, it still left a few things thought.
"what can mana do?" Nezu asked.
"and there came that question, well firstly mana has gamer like aspects for some reason" he started his own hud flicking active before fading with a simple thought.
Nezu's smile had become slightly forced, 'gamer aspects' he thought holding back a twitch. gamer quirks were legendary in rarity, only teleportation quirks matched said rarity.
most gamer quirks have surfaced in China or Korea, and never actually appeared in japan as of yet. said gamer quirks have a reputation as some of the most obstinate quirks known to exist, complicated to the point that most who got them only manage to tame said quirk by sheer force of will and match, allot of math.
math that would drive any mathematician to mental meltdown.
gamer quirks are among the most powerful quirks existing due to their unpredictable nature... they can be of any form of game, from rpg to gacha or even dating simulator jammed with a shooter or even fighting game mechanics so realistic and magic mechanics s utterly broken.
all gamer quirks had one thing in common they all had a HUD, and a status screen pretty much shoved in the eyeballs of the user permanently.
Nezu didn't know how similar the game-aspect on mana was to a gamer quirk and he weren't sure he wanted to know anymore. there was no telling how different mana's game aspects can be from a normal gamer-quirk.
"how much" Nezu started "do it resemble a gamer quirk?" he asked.
"the hud can be turned on with merely a thought, the official class system is closer to title or moral choice, but the level system is lucid, and more or less the same as the power-rank we use, so starting level is E, before you rise and hits A then S" hawks started deciding to leave out the fact that the menu screens differed between worlds.
something that where like logging into a different game who were created from the same base. both using mana to make it's foundation but as the two world differ, the hud's settings limits and frame would change in how it refined and manifests to reflect that even if they form from the same source.
"but it pretty much mimics a fantasy rpg. with skills, spells and techniques. the skills having a rank system going from, lowest initiate, to elementary, intermediate, hidden secret then finally mystery... with the higher you get it the easier it's to use said skill you've trained. the same system can be used on how good you're at using mana as a whole to" Hawks explained
"there's a class ranks too of apprentice, journeyman, master, giant and finally arch. but that refer to your skill level, stating more or less where you're at when using your experience, knowledge, skills and so forth as a mage or warrior as a whole. yet even if you're an S level it don't make you any higher then a Master in ranking" he continued.
'well that's interesting twist' Nezu thought filtering the information away.
"the traditional classes of a rpg do exist but this is due to the way mana divide into four types, and said class is more or less a way or path you chooses to learn and wield. it's not as restricted as traditional class-system gamer quirks uses" Hawks paused slightly "of course like quirks, the mana type determines if you're a warrior, weapon master, healer or mage, well five types, the fifth being neutral but the moment you start training it will fall into Will, Chi, Spirit or Magic, so it never stays neutral for long" Hawks finished letting Nezu swallow the information
his mind where whirling with the information.
with mana anyone can become a gamer, you just need to be aware of it enough to consciously access it.
'oh hell' Nezu thought as that train of thought sank in and registered. now understanding why Shiroe where so elusive about his powers and why he where unwilling to explain them.
any person with enough effort training and dedication could learn to use mana even if took Time.
but thankfully Mana also lived up to the gamer quirks reputation as obstinate and ridiculous complicated. which means the sheer force of will and determination needed to learn it mean that most of the population would probably never become good at it.
but there are those who's naturally wired for it.
"how much of the population would be natural mana users?" Nezu asked trying to figure that out.
Hawks frowned slightly in thought before shaking his head, he didn't know. he's rather sure that Dabi is one, he himself is one to, as is Shinso, and Shiroe can more or less tell if a person is a potential adventurer here or not. there was a density difference between a civilian and a adventurer, the latter having denser stronger mana making it run deeper and more natural linked to the wielder. a link a non-adventurer would be forced to learn and develop training it until it became second-nature or close to it.
"I see" Nezu closed his eyes, mana was terrifying, that it's game aspects ran on fantasy rpg typing only made it more so. Hawks didn't need to say it out aloud that if a person is Aware of the mana types, and decided to train you can more or less choose what kind of mana you want to use.
that choice was probably a permanent one.
Gamer quirks truly are ridiculously powerful, and while mana isn't a quirk it seem to follow similar preference as gamer quirks. which was rather terrifying.
"magic lives up to the name doesn't it" Nezu stated, that was also what Shiroe, Enchanter called his mana.
"it does, and just like quirks it can be divided into sub categories" Hawks agreed.
"his namesake is one the others, possible wizard? elementalist" Nezu mused out loud.
Hawks shook his head "summoner, sorcerer and enchanter" Hawks corrected "of course that trio is just the international mage classes, there are regional classes in some places, and other's who's more subclasses than a true main one"
"I'm guessing the sorcerer is the elemental user, and enchanter probably has something to do with the namesake, with summoner being pretty obvious" Nezu stated going over those names, also thinking of what a regional mage class could be.
"more or less" was the response.
Nezu sipped more of his tea as he thought. 'Shiroe's not using his spells or perhaps anything truly visible because once this bag is opened it won't be able to be closed ever again' Nezu mused mentally. 'this is something that needs to be handled carefully, just releasing the information can be dangerous, add the fact that, Shiroe's the one with all the knowledge, even if Hawks seem to have some, he's not had the same amount of time to learn it'
tilting his head slightly 'but there's a chance that he's simply not needed to use his spells yet' Nezu thought of the possibility, or if he have it wasn't anything visible, but then there was those footage the distinct feeing that he knew where the attacks would hit or debris fall.
subclasses, there was that distinct possibility of more unique powers, considering the ranking went form initiate, elementary, intermediate then came hidden, Secret, Mystery.
secret and mystery where most definitely rarer skills, potentially legendary or unique one.
"he got foresight don't he" Nezu didn't ask,
Hawks didn't respond, it's not like he could either, just because he knows that Shiroe got some form of esp and clairvoyance don't mean he knows how it worked even less how powerful it was.
"no he probably don't want that aspect to be public. I can understand why clairvoyance type quirks often more then not hurt the user in ways others can't understand. Nigtheye is a good example of that even as composed and logical he is he's still traumatized by his visions that he don't use it frequently or freely" Nezu said pointedly.
Hawks sighted, "I can't explain it, I don't even know what his clairvoyance is named. I do know it seem to be active 24/7 on some level but is stronger when he turns it up fully" Hawks answered.
"I see... no his foresight will be kept secret the public won't need to know that, and most seem to lean toward reflex or danger sense rather then foresight. as for mana, that needs to be handled carefully when released or if it even should be made public" Nezu decided, that mana was a subject that needed to be handled carefully and slowly.
"I still want to hire Shiroe as a quirk consultant" Nezu declared clapping his paws together and Hawks blinked.
'did I hear right?' he wondered looking at Nezu.
"never mind, that's something you have to take up with Shiroe. just keep in mind that his mental age and physical aren't the same" Hawks said.
"that's to be expected with an incarnation" Nezu nodded, already aware of it, but had the feeling it where more then that.
"well you got your summary, and Shiroe's going to contact you over a different matter soon. you can try and recruit him then" Hawks said before bidding bye for now.
"have a nice flight back home, Hawks" Nezu said politely as Hawks left the office.
"complicated he said, mana is ridiculously overpowered, what kind of limits do it even have, exhaustion if you use up too much?" Nezu sighted, if going by gamer quirks that was most likely the case.
/
Shiro laid on the sofa as he read, his little wisp reading the same text or at least looking at it from his shoulder.
but his thoughts weren't merely on the book, actually it where on the meeting Hawks told him about or rather the ending of said meeting 'should have expected that the principal found out about my full control encounter' he thought.
"hire me, of all things" Shiro mused, he wasn't sure what to think about that, and it's only a matter of time before he gets a message from Nezu about it or some form of meeting.
but even if that wasn't the solution perhaps they could come to a agreement.
It's easier to effect and change the flow if he's near the event location and UA is in the center of the coming war, the hell-class.
"don't you agree, Magic light?" Shiro asked and the little wisp cuddled closer.
"now then, what to do" Shiro mused before tilting his head towards Dabi who entered the living room with a grumble, and wince if he saw that correctly.
"coin for your thoughts Dabi?" Shiro asked startling the fire healer out of his thoughts.
"actually" Dabi paused, a thought hit him, "do you know a way that would let me use my quirk without being burned alive. just because I'm getting good at healing don't make it any less painful or risky" Dabi asked and Shiro started owlishly for a moment,
"are you planning to use that pro-license of yours?" he asked.
"pro-wait that still counts?" Dabi asked in disbelief, sure he manage to get a license not sure if it was the final one or provisional, before his supposed death. but he's believed to be dead how could that license even count?
"hero licenses can be given out port-mortem" Shiro replied offhandedly, making Dabi stare.
"never mind, I'm more after some way to avoid being burned alive each time my quirk acts up, I'm ice-prof not fire-prof" Dabi stated and Shiro jolted blinking owlishly as those words registered.
"wait, ice-proof? what the, why would" he shook his head wings folding back down feathers ruffled slightly.
"right fire-resistance, A or S rank preferred" Shiro mused. sure mages gained elemental resistances naturally, and adventurers in general gain high levels of heat-resistance when it comes to hot and cold environments especially at higher levels.
his own resistance elemental vise outside of environmental regardless of how extreme, to his poison resistance which are typical for any kind of high level adventurer, then his more class specific resistances to status effect, mind and sleep manipulation, which are borderline immunity. Shiro do have some passive resistances, the kind that formed from the gradual use of his magic as he advanced in levels.
astral, spatial, lighting, cold who they could be divided into.
so to hear that Dabi is more or less ice proof but got no fire resistance when he have a fire quirk threw him for a loop. it wasn't something Shiro had even entertained, because to an adventurer, not developing resistance to the force they use is well ridiculous notion that's not really considered.
"rune sigils, no those won't work unless you want to go around half naked" Shiro instantly dismissed that option 'half naked?' Dabi thought blankly.
"enchantments? no the resistance would vanish if the gear goes missing, but it can be temporary fix. wait cosmetic items that would work" Shiro snapped his fingers.
"wait isn't there a problem making said item" Dabi asked and Shiro snorted.
"I'm a high level artificer, while tricky it can be done. as you can use equip. cosmetic items are more then simply changing ones appearance even if that was their original intent. the enchantments alter reality to an extent bonding said item to ones biology. linking skeleton, musculature, nerves, blood veins and so forth to make it as natural part of you as possible. as if you were born with it. high level cosmetic items often coms with perks as result, intended or unintended ones" Shiro started.
"like your wings I take it" Dabi stated.
"wings, tail, ears, horns, tattoos" Shiro counted up.
"like my old staples" Dabi said.
"a set then, mixed with tattoos or carved markings then, might make the scar transition easier to" Shiro mused, notebook in hand, as he started writing up a schematic, potential stats, perks, what kind of form it would have to have to make the perks possible.
what material he would need to make it real.
grin started forming, it's been a while sense he got to create something completely new. not sense making his conjuring and that was over two years ago now.
/
an. seventh chapter over...
yes, dabi's gaining back his stables sort of. I still finds the fact that one of the strongest pyrokinetic quirk users in the MHA world isn't resistant to fire extremely odd.
but cosmetic items do have uses and are more permanent then normal equipment, as they're not really that simple to remove or disarm.