"Please be aware that this might not be a easy process Iori." Crusch warns me with a serious look. "Doing a simple spell itself isn't hard, but actually mastering? It might take sometime, even if you happen to be fairly talented." I figured as much.
I nod with a bright smile. "I'll try my best Teach!" I'm quite excited about finally learning magic. Reinhard apparently doesn't know a lick of it, so he couldn't take advantage of my gate to teach me. "Still, what exactly do you mean by mastery?" Making the spell stronger?
Crusch pauses for a moment, thinking of the best way to explain it. She's not used to teaching, so it's understandable. "In the case of your first spell? Mastery means knowing when to close the gate, so to speak. You see, many beginners accidentally spend their entire reserves on a single spell." Ah, so using 500MP for a 20MP attack for example?
She continues. "Of course, this does mean the spells comes out... I wouldn't say stronger, but it will last longer and typically reach farther. That said, tiring one's gate to the limits like this is extremely dangerous, worst case scenario it might even lead to death." I see...
So my comparison from before was inaccurate. It would be more right to say, that a spell costs a set amount of MP to maintain per second, and amateur doesn't know how to end it, therefore he reaches negative numbers and kicks the bucket.
Crusch raises a finger as she continues entering teacher mode. "Don't worry however, your gate isn't suicidal, once it reaches its limit you will feel sick, dizzy. That's when you stop and rest for a few days, until you finally master your Output." It goes without saying that I can't waste days...
Suddenly her fairly happy expression is replaced with an unsure one. "I actually... can cite a very recent example of one who was pushing their gate to the limits. You know Subaru Natsuki, correct?" I nod, I would even go as far to say we are friends. "She was with my camp for healing actually. You see, she has a yin affinity, and she pushed her gate too far a few too many times using it's simplest spell, Shamak. My knight was healing her gate." Of course she would...
Subaru seems like the type of girl who has no restraint, definitely the type that starts exercising and then pulls a muscle. I will try my very best to not do the same of course, even if I'm rather out of time.
But Crusch did say something very interesting. "You can heal someone's gate? That seems interesting... Could Emilia then help with my training?" She could even heal my broken arm, and then heal it again when they were all fucked up. She also brought Crusch back from the brink of death...
The Duchess shakes her head. "Probably not, at most she could alleviate some aching... The Gate is a human's most complex organ, even Felix, my knight who is considered the greatest healer in the world, struggles with it." She sighs. "We also lack Bocco Fruits here... They are a rare fruit that stimulates a Gate to generate more mana." An MP potion then.
She continues. "They do have their drawbacks, but they are typically used for helping a Gate heal, they also energize someone... Which brings me to my next point. If a person uses their mana, they will get tired... It's entirely possible that you feel exhausted after our magic training, which is why maybe we should spar physically first." Lame...
I get why, but I really want to learn magic. "Got it, then let's throw down Chrusch." This area is big enough anyways. A training room indeed... In fact, it's so big that Anastasia is trying, and failing to converse with spirits in the background.
Priscilla and Shaula are just lazing about however. Ah, and Emilia and Felt supposedly left to get some food, once the half-elf comes back, she will probably help Anastasia, and Crusch will probably spar with Felt too, even if she's clearly stronger.
As for why Priscilla isn't doing anything? It's easy to understand once Shaula yawns. "You guys are chumps. I can't believe Nerdytwo doesn't even know magic, and Shortie can barely hear the spirits... Bunch of losers, yep." It's because we have to fake strength in front of Shaula.
Priscilla shrugs. "They all have potential. Except for the Fox, she truly has no future ahead of her. Also the Slum Rat might never truly become strong as well..." Then only Emilia, Crusch and I have potential!? Anyways, since Shaula would realize we are weak and incapable of touching Reid once she sees us training...
Priscilla is staying in the bench, to give Shaula the illusion that she's totally strong and our trump card. It's not even a complete lie either, Priscilla really is our strongest member and our trump card... It's just that even at her best, during the day, she still probably could not touch Reid.
I take a few steps back and get into a fighting position. "So um... Should I try using mana reinforcement? To be honest, I always hurt myself while doing it." It's only natural, since I'm new to this. People from this world do so from the moment they are born, but my case is different, and while it certainly gives me a interesting perspective on the matter, it's also annoying.
Crusch draws a wooden sword from her hip. This room thankfully has stuff like that... Crusch using the Life Sword during sparring would be obviously dangerous. "Yes, it will be helpful for our magic training in the future if you already lightly exercise your Gate." Like doing a bit of running before exercise then? "Besides... You really should not slack on this department. You are a fighter who fights at close quarters are you not?" That's true...
I frown. "You're right... but it's like I never get the hang of it. I thought it would be easier for a guy like me, since I'm so naturally strong." I already told Crusch about my super body of course, she's my teacher so she needs to know stuff like this.
Crusch nods. "Your natural physicality will offer you no advantages in manipulating mana I'm afraid. In the end you will simply need to get used to it." She pauses for a moment. "But it's possible that you are simply using too much mana, more than it's needed for your current strength. Remember that reinforcement is magic too." I will try!
I take a deep breath and find my gate, normally I only reinforce one limb out of fear, the only time I didn't do so was against Reid. Right now though, even though I'm not immortal I'm rushing mana through my body.
I can't use too much right now, it's Iori Ishida is a cup, I'm trying to fill him with a fountain. It's easier said than done though, and before long my body is trembling, so the moment I feel a hot liquid running down my nose, I pull all the mana back in.
I feel sore all over. "Sorry, I messed up...!" I then clean the blood that just dripped down my nose with my hand. I shouldn't be surprised really, this is something my body was supposed to learn with years of training, but it's still frustrating.
Crusch smiles. "It's fine... Okay it's clearly not fine." Eh!? "I have seen people messing up advanced level of reinforcement before, but you are trying the basic of basics right now.." A-ah! She's that type of teacher huh!? "That said... Can you please try again? I want to confirm something." Her attention is completely focused on me.
I give her a weak grin. "You sure? What if my body pops like a balloon?" Does she even know what a balloon is? Nonetheless my concern is clear, it's just like she basically told me before, training has limits. You are not supposed to exercise until you pull a muscle, you are not supposed to use magic until your Gate begins to break, and you're definitely not supposed to reinforce your body until you bleed.
The Duchess nods. "Yes, I understand you are justifiable concerned, but I must see something, in fact..." She suddenly sheats her sword. "It might be that our spar was not meant to happen today." Thank fuck, I feel tired already.
Still, I know I must be disappointing her. "Sorry for being a mess right now..." Where is my supreme heroic talent!? I want to learn something just by watching it! Logic should die in front of the strongest, and the strongest should clearly be me!
She frowns. "If anyone is a mess right now, it's me. Don't feel bad about having complications on your training Iori, it's normal, it's expected. I... This may be a bit foolish, but I'm glad you are not a Reinhard Van Astrea." Well, I'm not.
I raise a questioning eyebrow. "Um... why? It would be amazing if I could just rush through the challenges in a flash, wouldn't it?" Even as I say that, I don't know if Reinhard could actually beat his ancestor. That said, it would definitely be a closer fight than what it was with us.
A light blush appears on her face. "Ah, yes, that would be amazing indeed. Do not misunderstanding, I hold no contempt against Sir Reinhard, he's a good man, and my knight constantly sings him praises." So Felix knows him? I guess both are important knights. "It's just that... if I was given such a amazing talent to train, I wouldn't know what to do." I have to admit, her training Reinhard at anything does sound funny as hell.
I smirk, this time is for heal. "Just don't be disappointed once it turns out I'm secretly amazing. I mean, I have an affinity for all magic, don't I?" Maybe later I'll learn I also have an affinity for a long lost type or something! Maybe I can use almighty moves!
Crusch chuckles. "I promise I won't. But... being called a teacher is nice, if you surpass me too quickly I'll miss you." Oi, oi, oi! What's with these dangerous words!? "That said, even if that happens, no doubt these memories will stay stored in a special place of my heart." Who is this rizzler over here!?
I blushingly look at her. "Crusch, you're cute." These words came out instinctively. How else am I supposed to react to a girl who is flirting like we are characters in some old romance!? And why do I feel like I'm the noble lady being seduced by a gallant knight here!?
She blushes bright red. "Where did that come from!?" Isn't it obvious!? "I'll have you know that while I hold nothing against you, I have no intentions of falling for a man due to a prophecy...!" Then don't go around flir- Nah, that's not what she was doing.
I smile. "Way too cute." I see now, Crusch is the type of girl who only gets what's going on when it's super obvious. Like the time I complimented her legs. She's a true tomboy knight and therefore romance will pass right by her... If she doesn't take care, she might become an anime Christmas cake.
She obviously looks pissed right now. "Whatever, just reinforce yourself." And then she puts a hand on my chest. "I'm not a healer, so I can't take this to the level of Felix... But I'll analyze what's going on with your body as best as I can." What's going on through my body?
I tilt my head. "Hey... what is healing magic anyways? Is it something you just learn?" There are six affinities, I remember Reinhard telling me that... Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Yin, Yang. The first four sound quite obvious, but the last two are a bit more complext.
My knowledge of tropes is screaming at me that Yin is evil dark magic and Yang is good light magic. So does that mean Yang magic is magic for healing? I guess maybe Yin would cover up stuff like... curses?
Crusch quickly waves me off. "Water magic is for healing, what I am doing however, is something simple that all magic users learn how to do eventually. It's just that unless I have an Water Affinity, this will never truly be amazing... Don't worry too much about it, I'll go more on the specifics of magic later." I need to get Crusch a classic teacher outfit.
She continues. "Now reinforce yourself the way you usually do. Don't try anything different or special, right now I'm a teacher trying to understand her students mistakes." Ah, for some reason that sounds super scary.
I nod to show I understand and pull on my mana as usual, spreading it through my whole body. It's painful even in the beginning this time, I would compare it to someone touching their wounds... Overall not a good experience. Specially as my Gate basically groans in pain.
I try to hold it for a decent amount of time, but before long I pull it all back in as usual. The sensation is even worse than reinforcing myself. If before I was touching a wound, this time I'm actively scratching. It goes without saying that my nose bleeds a little.
Crusch pulls her hand back. "I understand why Sir Reinhard didn't catch this the first time now. What a unusual mistake, even unnatural I would say." Ah, so it's a skill issue for real? "Iori... why don't just let the mana go? You're pulling back into your Gate, which is... well, it will certainly conserve mana, but it will also kill you before long. Seriously there are so many problems I don't even know where to begin." I see I'm a complete fuck up.
I sit down, Crusch immediately follows it, giving me a look full of worry. After catching my breath for a minute I answer. "What do you mean let it go? Normally I just pull back in, so it doesn't just... stay there." I can barely handle one second with it.
Crusch sighs. "This... maybe it's due to your nature as a traveler from another world, but you aren't supposed to keep your mana in. Though I now see it's not your own doing, but your body. In that case pulling your mana back is smart, even if it's straining your gate and holding back its growth..." She smiles, seemingly in relief. "How lucky, if I didn't catch this so soon you might have died." You just said something really scary!
My eyes widen. "W-why though!? I feel just fine... I mean, I obviously don't, but it's not like this can't be healed by Emilia!" In fact she has done so quite a bunch already. I was even planning on asking her for another round of it once she came back.
Crusch nods. "Indeed, she was healing your body, Emilia is quite skilled. The problem isn't your body however, it's your Gate. It's an organ that naturally produces mana, and normally it will naturally filter it out... your does this as well. This is so that it doesn't burst, and there are many cracked Gates that lose this ability to naturally throw out mana, in fact Subaru Natsuki's Gate was seemingly going down that path." That girl really has the worst luck.
The Duchess continues. "So once you utilize your mana and spread it through your body, your Gate naturally makes more mana, it's always doing that. The problem however is that you then pull that mana back in, even though your Gate is full." She starts muttering. "It's like you're eating the world's must dangerous Bocco Fruit." Ah, I definitely wasn't born to mess with mana.
She raises a finger, apparently a habit of hers. "You're supposed to simply let that mana... out. Normally it will naturally leave your body through your pores, though it's clear you will have to do this manually." Her face shifts into a serious look. "Perhaps teaching you actual magic will help you with it." All roads lead back to being a wizard...
I have a question though. "Any idea why that's happening to me? It's supposed to be an automatic process right?" Somehow I messed up something that my body should be doing it naturally... Geez, what a mess.
Crusch shakes her head. "I don't know, though as I said before I'm assuming it has something to do with your nature as an out worlder." Maybe I can ask Al for help once I see him again then... "It honestly reminds me of a spirit... They leak out way too much mana, more than they generate, so they naturally develop instincts like that." Then maybe I should ask Emilia for help!?
I nod. "Understood teach! So what should we do now?" My body feels broken, so sparing is definitely beyond me... I definitely can't reinforce myself again either, I might break something important if I do.
She smiles. "For now simply rest until Emilia returs from her trip with Felt. She will heal your body, and then we must expel some mana from it, for your own good." I don't want to blow. "As for me? I guess I'll work out for a while, I have to wake my body up!" Awesome.
I'm totally fine with watching Crusch getting all sweaty for a few minutes!
"This is an awful idea Felt..." Big sis complains again, because she's too much of a goody two shoes. Even when it comes to her own demerit, I mean we already broke the rules of the tower anyways!
I sigh while trying to open the door using Emilia's ice made hook pick. "Look Big Sis, we are obviously gonna need to escape this tower, and maybe some of these doors holds a clue to help us." Besides, it's embarrassing to admit, but I naturally like breaking rules.
So I lied to Scorpion Big Sis that I was gonna eat, as if anyone would stuff their faces before a bit workout, and dragged Big Sis with me. That's because I know the half-elf can make ice constructs, like that one time she made a shield against the bitch Elsa.
It took a bit of time of course, Big Sis has no idea on how to make a hook pick of all things, specially one that won't shatter immediately, but we managed. Ah, my hands are freezing... And I'm also quite scared for obvious reasons.
If Scorpion Big Sis catches us it's over. That said, frustrating as it is to admit... That annoying cow Priscilla is quite smart, I'm sure she understood what I'm doing. And if Shaula does get some funny ideas, the Baroness will find some way to distract her.
Emilia looks down, she looks more like a younger sibling right now. "I-I don't know Felt, what if Shaula catches us...?" Then we are all dead duh. "And can't we just do the challenges? Maybe they aren't as hard as Reid's." I wish.
I scoff. "They will probably be even harder. Remember that Reid said entering the tower would mean torture? That he didn't like girls going through that fate?" The half-elf flinches, she probably doesn't have a single good memory involving the swordsman. "The challenges are gonna be impossible, Reinhard tier stuff." Asshole, the moment I need him he isn't here.
Even though I called for help...! I know I can't blame him, but it's frustrating seeing that perfect knight not being perfect when it matters the most. Unless he did hear me of course, and is waiting outside of that barrier like a lost puppy. That's kinda of a funny image, I guess.
Big sis looks down. "You're right... but we... Shaula trusts us, besides this is just scary. Do you even have a plan?" Geez, it's like this is the first time she has done anything bad at all. And of course I have a plan! I brought you here to make hook picks, doesn't that show my genius!?
I smirk as soon as I hear a click from the door. I was scared that this place was gonna have some magic defense like Reid's door, but it seems that isn't the case. Honestly it's like that sage expects us to be good boys and girls for no reason, must be the type who is full of book smarts and that's it.
Still, even though I'm close to opening the door, I have to respond to my noisy Big Sis. "First of all don't trust Scorpion Big Sis, she lied before about the rules, the noble lady clearly caught it. Besides... she gives me a really bad vibe." Even worse than the one Reinhard gives.
Emilia tilts her head in confusion. "A bad vibe...? She seems very nice to me, maybe she will even let us out if we ask nicely." Yep, definitely a kid who has done nothing bad before. That spirit she calls a father must be the over protective type.
I roll my eyes, but the sound of another click quells my annoyance. "She has those eyes that some monsters back in the slum have. Not like the people like me who want to leave and are willing to steal to do so, and neither the eyes of the losers who have given up. She has the eyes of the type who kills in desperation, and they have long forgotten what's like to not be desperate." That's why I can't trust her.
Emilia obviously doesn't get what I'm talking about at all, but it can't be helped. In fact, I prefer if she doesn't get it... She's not like me, or someone who casually shrugs off pain like Iori, she's the type who is just not built for it.
Still, I accept her silence and continue. "And as for a plan? First of all, I doubt Big Sis Scorpion is smart enough to notice, but after this we swing back to the food room and get rid of two cans. She can't notice we didn't eat." Hell, we might even eat them after all, it will need to be done quickly though, so it isn't suspicious.
I grimace. "Hopefully she isn't the type to check if all the doors are still locked too." Because if she is... that will be bad. I tried finding a 'bland' door that was unlocked, but I couldn't. So this is our only option. "And if this door leads to outside... we start planning our escape." It will have to be done during the day, which is annoying.
The outside of the tower is apparently full of Demon Beasts though, so we need to have everyone at full power to survive, specially Priscilla. Annoying ass gimmicky Divine Protections... We also need to take a look at this barrier, figure it out how it ticks and then how to break it.
It would be great if we could find a method of transport, but this place has no Earth Dragons... We also need to find a way to distract Big Sis Scorpion for a few hours... And the Pleiades Watchtower is in a desert, everyone knows that, so we will need to bring tons of water and food with us.
To be honest, escape sounds completely and utterly impossible. But then I remember how strong Reid was, and the thought of these challenges being even harder... And suddenly escaping the tower sounds easier than the alternative.
Emilia looks down. "Ah, this would all be so~ much easier if we could find some way to ask for help. Then I could contact Lord Roswaal, or Subaru, or... anyone really." Ah, for some reason I really do feel like Subaru could get us out of here.
I snort. "No one that reliable is coming to save us, so..." With a final click the lock opens. "I guess we just gotta trust love, or whatever the prophecy says, and get the fuck out of here." Then again, I don't trust the prophecy in the first place.
Emilia pouts. "You swear so much Felt, it's not go~od." Yeah, yeah. I obviously ignore Big Sis' yapping and open the door. Hopefully there isn't a big monster inside, or some sort of monitoring system, or worse... a Reid.
What I'm greeted by however, is complete darkness. "Welp, I should have expected this, light up the room before we enter it Big Sis." There could be traps in the floor, like a wire that will warn Big Sis Scorpion. Or a wire that will remove my legs. I don't which is scarier to be honest.
Emilia nods and extends her hands. "Okay, just be rea~lly careful." After a few moments her hands shine, illuminating the dark room, even if it's still dim. I don't get why Old Man Rom is so scared of spirits, they're fucking awesome.
However my mind doesn't really stay on that thought for long, because... "What the fuck?" I enter the room, with careful steps of course. And the first thing that greets me is not something scary like a monster, instead it's a baby crib.
Looking around, it's like this whole place is a baby's room. "What a bust..." It's definitely not an escape at least. "But why the hell is this place even here...?" It clashes completely against the rest of the tower.
Instead of the walls being the usual dark cold color I'm used to, this place is painted with a warm blue, and the ceiling... "Are those supposed to be stars?" The ceiling is painted with a bunch of little spots, like a fake sky.
Emilia hums in confusion. "This... I don't think a place like this should exist somewhere like this..." Her eyes then widen. "Hey, the didn't the Sage have an stillborn...?" Her expression shifts into sadness. "Maybe this all of this was in preparation for that..." That's kind of sad, I guess...
It's hard to feel too bad when she's probably responsible for why I'm so fucked. "Didn't the tower get built after the Witch was sealed? Does that mean her baby was born after that?" I don't know a lot about history, for... obvious reasons, so I'm curious.
Emilia nods. "That must be the case... Hey Felt, maybe we shouldn't touch any of this..." She looks down. "None of this belongs to us, it's for... someone else, someone who never got a chance." Ugh, that's nice and all, but...
I scoff. "Fuck that, I risked my life to get here, I'm checking everything. Besides, I doubt the baby is gonna haunt us for wanting to live, unless he's an asshole, and in that case, fuck his things." I immediately start checking drawers.
There's just a bunch of toys and clothing everywhere, this place really was a room for baby. Eventually though I do find something interesting. "Huh, this one has writing it." It's one of the clothes, I guess it's the baby's name, but... "I can't read it though. I guess I can't read much though..." I'm still learning it.
Emilia scoots over it. "I can't read it either... May~be it's some lost alphabet?" I guess that's not impossible... This place is four hundred years old after all, I'm surprised the shit here hasn't turned into dust already.
I let out a frustrated sigh. "Whatever, this room was a waste of time, let's go before Shaula notices something." Emilia nods, relief clear on her face. My stupidly nice Big Sis really needs to have some guts already.
I just hope next time I get the opportunity I find a more important room than this. I have no interest in the Sage's tragic past or whatever.
AN: A Felt POV! Now she can join the Anastasia (and Subaru) club!