Time for two completely original chapters by yours truly!
Aka: Let's send Rudeus and Sylphie on a field trip to a completely random made-up village!
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Please note that I do not own Mushoku Tensei or Fate
Also please note I do not know much about the Fate Universe. I will try and search everything I can, But I will make mistakes. And I'll make a lot of them. Please tell me so I can fix them. I'm doing this to try and cure my writer's block, so please don't bash me too hard in the comments.
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P.S. I need to mention this. The Runes of the Mushoku Tensei world in this fic are completely made up by me and have no connection to any fandom.
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Let's skip ahead a few months-to the beginning of winter, to be exact.
It was one of my best ideas to introduce Sylphie to the world of Runes. To have a companion to dissect symbols of great power with was one of my dreams. Especially since the Clocktower didn't exist here-I didn't have to hide anything.
My house was basically finished and wouldn't need adjustments for a while. I called a professional to adjust things before the first winter winds hit. I bribed him into silence about my age with a few gold coins. It was far too cold outside for lessons now, so classroom style was the preferred alternative-for Sylphie and me both. We only went out for dangerous and explosive spells. Usually, we'd cuddle up beside a low table covered with silk blankets with a magically powered heater underneath. Whoever invented the Kotatsu should get an award.
What would our parents think if they knew? I bet they think we are studying in some cave or something.
I chucked as I waited beside the snow-covered tree, gazing down at the fields below. Winter was beautiful in proportion, like a white blanket covering the land. My fingers ran along my cloak in nervousness. I'll do something risky today-taking Sylphie on a field trip. That's why I made her take double the lessons the day before yesterday and let her take yesterday off.
During my latest trip to Roa, I heard people talking about a flock of Red Wyrms spotted near a village. The village wasn't far from Red Wrym's Upper Jaw in the Red Wyrm Mountain Ranges. It was rare for a single Red Wyrm to wander far from the mountains-a whole flock was almost impossible.
So I'll check it out. It's probably a fluke, so bringing Sylphie would be fine. It'll be a good learning experience for her, and I'd meant to stretch my wings.
"Ready for the field trip?" I asked as Sylphie ran up the snow-layered hill.
Recently, I made a new hoodie using silk for her, though it was more of a combination of a dress and my butterfly cloak. She started wearing girlish clothing ever since my first trip to Roa. I'm not complaining-it made her look cute as hell, though it was odd, such a drastic change in fashion sense. The dress was almost identical to her old hoodie, but I added an intricate gold trim along the edges with a few golden butterflies here and there. When did I start obsessing over butterflies again?
"Yep." She exhaled a breath of fog, "But why call it a field trip? You said we aren't going to a field."
"Ahahaha. Just a name I know." I took her hand, "Come on. We need to get ready."
She nodded, and I teleported us to my house.
...
I scrambled around, grabbing anything I thought might help.
Despite the chances, I was still nervous about running into a Red Wyrm. It was a flipping dragon. It was dangerous. Period.
Sylphie had finished packing ages ago and was waiting for me on the couch in the living room.
"Are you sure you have everything?" I asked for the twenty-somethingth time.
"Uh-huh!"
No matter how many times I questioned, Sylphie distinctly chirped back a response. I was unimaginably thankful for her patience in times like this.
"Alright!"
I clambered out from the storage closet with a small backpack on my back and a large pouch on my waist. My cloak covered everything on me, though. The wand Roxy gave me was hidden in my wool jacket's sleeve. I had considered giving it to Sylphie a few times, but making her something permanent was more efficient. I tapped the leather shoes on my feet against the ground-not too heavy and insulated well.
I gave a faint smile. "'K, you ready?"
Sylphie tugged at the straps of her backpack. "Ready, Rudy."
"Alright," I grabbed her hand. "We'll have to get out of this forest first. Hold on tight."
I checked my map, and we vanished in a flash of white and gold.
...
We reappeared a few kilometers away-at the edge of the forest.
I scanned the area surrounding us. I'd never been in this direction, so the scenery was new.
Rolling white hills spread out as far as the eye could see, a mountain blocking the horizon. Barren brown sticks covered in white stuck out from the ground. If it wasn't winter, I'd imagine their thick canopies gave shelter to tens of adventurers.
I looked closer at the snow, finding a dirt path winding into the distance. Good. I'll follow that when I fly. I gave Sylphie my hand. She hesitated. I guess that fear of flying still stuck with her.
"Don't worry. We won't even be five meters off the ground."
I levitated to show her. Walking was just too slow. She took my hand and climbed onto my back after that revelation. I took off slowly, letting Sylphie get used to the feeling. My cloak's wings fluttered as wind magic beat against it, carrying us in the correct direction. We flew fairly fast-about the speed of a commercial plane. I formed a magic barrier to block the wind.
I looked at the sun in the distance. We set out quite early-I think about seven A.M. I took a deep breath and sighed. This was going to take a while. My teleportation spell still has a fifteen-minute countdown since I have Sylphie with me.
"See? Flying isn't that bad."
I looked behind me. Sylphie was clutching her hands tight around my neck, but she didn't seem all that nervous.
"Y-yeah." She shuddered.
"'K, we'll have to stop every thirty minutes to teleport. And landing a few minutes each hour to rest is preferred. That alright?"
"Yes."
"Wonderful. We have fifteen minutes until our first landing. So hang on and enjoy the view." We flew in silence for a while.
...
...
Since I have nothing to do, I'll say something about this village I'm heading to.
The settlement is north of my home, a few miles below the "Red Wyrm Upper Jaw." From what I've heard, it's a town less extensive than the country village I come from, but its houses are much more densely packed.
Most of-if not all-the residents are mages. I heard they have a few advanced-ranked, but most are just beginners.
Despite this, the village is relatively unknown. Almost anyone can become a beginner-ranked mage, after all. It's those who are Saint-Rank or higher who deserve respect.
This village doesn't have a name, yet those who mention it call it "the Village of Abandonment." I'm not sure why it's called that-I remember hearing something about a curse, but I doubt that's it. Why would people willingly set up in a cursed land?
I shook my head, peeking at the sun's position in the sky. We'd been flying for an hour now; it should take another half hour to get to the village. I muttered a nostalgic lullaby under my breath. My previous mother sang to me when I was a child. Even in my past life, my memory was top-notch. I still remember the words clear as day.
"Lay down your head, and I'll sing you a lullaby."
The wind howled by my ear.
"Back to the years of loo-li lai-lay. And I'll sing you to sleep, and I'll sing you tomorrow. Bless you, with love for the road that you go..."
I hummed that song for a while before feeling the grip around my neck loosen. I glanced back, seeing Sylphie sleeping on my back. It makes sense she's tired. I made her get up at six. But her position on my back won't do.
I silently landed, shifting to hold her bridal style. She wasn't heavy, and wind magic solved the rest. I carefully took off, still humming that song.
...
I spotted the village a few kilometers away.
It was surrounded by a two-meter wall made of stone, no doubt made using magic. Houses of different sizes littered the clearing inside. A few barren trees were scattered inside as well. There were a few relatively large snow patches without any buildings. I'm guessing those are fields. It was hard finding the center of the settlement-was there even a center in the first place? Two people stood guard at the entrance. Both of them had a staff in their hand. They were facing each other, chatting about something.
I landed a distance away from the guards. Clearing a patch of snow using fire magic, I laid Sylphie down before shaking her awake. She grumbled something, turning on her side. I sighed, grabbing a handful of snow before shoving it down her back. That should get her up.
"Yeep!"
She jumped at least three meters before landing in more snow.
"Had a nice nap?" I asked.
"Th-that..."
"Hm?"
"That was mean!"
Sylphie began hurling snowballs at me using wind.
"Ho? A snowball fight? I'd better-"
I bent backward as a snowball whizzed by my head. I jumped, using wind to propel me higher. Doing a backflip before landing.
"I'd better retaliate then."
I snapped my fingers, and a wall of snow rose from the ground, blocking the snowballs. Snowballs materialized around my wall before being flung in a direction I could not see. I peeked out from my wall, only to be tackled to the ground. So that's why the barrage of snow stopped. She pinned me to the ground and began beating my chest.
"Stupid. Meanie."
This went on for a while.
We eventually ended up sprawled on the snow, laughing.
"Well, that was fun." I helped Sylphie up, brushing the snow off our clothes. "Now, time for a disguise."
"Disguise? Why would we need that?"
"Just a safety measure. I don't want people to know our identities." I brushed a snowflake from her head, "We are powerful. There aren't many children who are Advanced-Ranked mages. Much less a Saint. People might try and kidnap us."
"But you can fend them off, Rudy. You're the strongest in the world."
How innocent she is. I'd better correct her. I won't be able to get us out of any situation.
"I probably could, yes. But better safe than sorry." I lightly chopped her head, "Also, I'm far from the strongest. Take 'the Seven Great Powers' for example. They could beat me in a second." I held a finger up. "Remember. To be a mage is to walk with death. I'm pretty sure that was the first lesson I taught you. There are always people trying to hurt you. So be careful. Alright? I couldn't stand seeing you hurt."
Sylphie nodded, "Understood!"
I ruffled her hair. "Right, now. For the disguises. I think I have a spell in my magic crest somewhere..."
"Magic…crest?"
"That's a topic for another lesson. Don't worry about it for now." I searched for a second, locating the spell I needed. "Ah! Here it is."
My circuits burned with energy as a mystery materialized.
"To change is to leave behind another. To imagine is to deny the truth. Take form, oh bridge between dream and reality."
A bright flash of light later, my crest calmed down. The disguise spell invented by my father is based on Shell Projection. In the simplest terms, it projects my imaginary self upon my body. My mimicry of the First Magic also utilizes another version of this. I eventually swapped regular projection for Shell Projection sometime after I met Sylphie.
I projected a mirror, carefully criticizing my reflection. I know I perfected this spell, but better safe than sorry.
Large eyes, blacker than coal, peered back at me, still in their original shape. Silver hair tied into a small bun rested on my head, and a few stray locks shot out every way. My eyebrows were a bit shorter and thinner. My nose was a few degrees higher.
I nodded. This will do-a combination of my past self's child form and my current form. I handed the mirror to Sylphie. Her eyes widened as she stared at her reflection.
"You never run out of magic tricks, Rudy."
I just chuckled and shrugged.
I didn't change much with her. Her cheeks now had a faint red tinge and were more defined. Her eyelashes were longer but not unnatural. The most noticeable change was her hair, now white as the snow around us, and fell down to her waist. It wouldn't do to have people see her as a Superd.
Sylphie twired a strand of hair. "It feels...real."
"It's just a solid projection made of Mana. The closest thing to this spell would be a Battle Aura." I let the illusion slip, revealing my right eye before completing the spell again. I waved my hand. "Come on, let's get going."
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Third Person POV
...
A guard that stood in front of his town's gates sighed.
He didn't want to deal with this today. His friend just had to catch a cold, forcing him to take his place at the gates. Why are colds so hard to cure, anyway?
Galdur was born by a mage and a cleric in "the Village of Abandonment." They told him his name meant "magic" in a long-lost tongue. His parents expected great things from him, like becoming at least an Advanced-Rank mage. It was something every villager in town dreamed about.
However, fate is often cruel. Not everyone had the Mana capacity, and his family wasn't wealthy, so getting into a good magic school was extremely unlikely.
So, Galdur lived an ordinary life in his home, growing up like any other child. His hair was dark brown, and his eyes were like amber. The people of his village once even said he had an air of royalty. He was just a regular, handsome teen. Though he had an ego, he was a pretty alright guy. He sighed, looking out at the white fields.
"What monster would even be stupid enough to attack a village of mages, anyway?" He muttered under his breath.
His partner just laughed and clapped him on the back.
"Don't look so glum about it. Protecting the village is necessary. Besides, you might find something unexpected in the snow."
He sighed. "What can I expect to find? Two children? There's nothing in this white plain."
There was a rustle and a roar of heat. Two children wearing white cloaks revealed themselves. Well, they weren't hiding in the first place-their clothes matched the color of the snow too well.
The two guards looked in wonder as the meter-thick snow melted away into a path. Who cleared it away? Not the children-no child was capable of wordless casting.
As the two got closer, Galdur examined them. He wasn't the best at judging character, but children as young as the ones walking toward him didn't require that skill.
They wore white cloaks with gold designs; made from a material he'd never seen before. The child in the front had an uncanny aura, more confident than a king yet humble as a peasant. Eyes blacker than a moonless night scanned the snow-looking for threats, perhaps? His silver hair was tied into a small bun that rested on the back of his head, with stray strands that swayed in the cold wind.
The girl in the back seemed thoroughly opposite of the boy holding her hand. Just by looking, Galdur could tell she was shy and skittish. She was practically hiding behind her friend. But his instinct screamed there was something hidden behind her timid nature. Eyes brighter than rubies glinted in the sun, and the white locks that fell down to her waist flowed like seafoam in the wind. Her ears were long-even for someone of the Long-Eared race.
The children reached the town's gate before Galdur even realized it. The boy-no older than seven-looked up at him with an innocent smile.
"Hi! I'm Anima, and this is my friend Sylph. It's a pleasure to meet you. We got separated from our parents some time ago. We were wondering if we could rest in your village for a while?" The boy took his pouch from his pocket, "I have the money, and it should only take a short while for our parents to find us. So if you could show us to the nearest inn, it would be greatly appreciated!"
The boy gave a slight bow.
'Polite.' That was Galdur's first impression of the boy.
He must be more well-mannered than most noble-born children. But looking at their clothes, it wouldn't be a stretch to assume they came from noble families. How else would you explain their gold-patterned cloaks? Though that begs the question: what are two noble families doing traveling through winter? Political warfare? Maybe.
"Um...we don't have an inn. But we'll introduce you to the chief. He should find you two a place to stay." The guard beside Galdur said.
The boy's face lit up. "Really? Thanks a lot, mister."
The guard turned towards Galdur. "Could you get these two to the chief?"
"Yeah, sure," Galdur said, grabbing the staff he set on the ground. "Gives me a reason to skip guard duty." He turned to the two children, "Follow me. And don't get lost."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Galdur."
"Sure, kid."
...
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Rudeus
...
As we entered the village, I nervously scanned the inhabitants.
We'd gone over the fake story while we walked here. We would be the lost children of nobles who just happened to stumble upon this village. People might ask why an elf is of noble birth, but we'll cross that bridge when the time comes.
People were staring at us as we walked. This village rarely gets any visitors, being too secluded in the plains. Sylphie's grip on my hand tightened-she must be nervous from the staring. I rubbed my thumb on her palm, lightly squeezing her hand.
"We'll be fine. I promise." I whispered, giving a discreet smile.
Sylphie nodded, still gripping my hand. After a few minutes of walking, we came to a large house-slightly larger than my house but smaller than my parents'. Galdur-I think that was his name-knocked on the door.
"Chief!"
The door opened a minute later. A man in his fifties stood in the doorway. He wore a maroon robe with red sleeves. A fire mage, perhaps? Even though he was in his fifties, his hairline was intact. A beard with considerable length rested on his chin, adding to the "wise old mage" look.
"Sorry to bother you, but two lost kids wandered into our village. My buddy at the gate said to bring them here."
The chief nodded, opening the door wider.
"I understand." He turned toward us. "You youngsters make yourself comfortable. I know this village isn't like the royal palaces you come from, but I hope it will suffice."
"It's more than enough. Thank you very much." I bowed, with Sylphie following suit.
"Polite ones, aren't you? Would you like anything to drink?"
"Tea will do, thank you." I glanced in Sylphie's direction. "Anything you want? Sylph?"
She peeked her head out from behind me. "Oh! Um...just some water, please."
She hid behind me again.
Sigh~ She's open with me but clams up in front of a stranger. I'll need to work on her social skills.
"Alright. Tea and water. You two can wait at that table over there." He pointed to a long table at the end of the hall. No doubt it was used for village meetings.
I sat down in the first chair I saw, pulling out the chair beside me for Sylphie. The chief came back with three cups in his hands. He placed two in front of us with a warm smile before sitting across from us. Galdur stood by the doorway. The chief sipped his drink.
"So, what are two children so young doing out here?"
I began telling my made-up story. We were the children of nobles running from political warfare. Our parents were traveling through the Red-Wyrm Upper Jaw when we got separated. We wandered through the snow for a few hours before seeing this village in the distance. Hoping they provided refuge, we headed towards the settlement, eventually ending up here. I made sure to add a few dramatic details, but that's pretty much it.
"I see..." The chief had an apologetic face, "I'm sorry about your parents. You can rest here for as long as you need."
"Ah! Don't worry about it. It should only take a few hours for our parents to find us. It'll be fine."
"That's good. In that case, allow me to show you around my humble town."
"Thank you very much!"
"You're welcome, child."
...
People stared at us as we walked through the snow-covered dirt paths of the village.
We shouldn't have worn such fancy clothes.
This was a quaint village, I decided. They had no shortage of fields, a market, and even an advanced rank healer. Most houses were furnished nicely outside, with stone walls and dirt paths. Though that's not a surprise-this was a village of mages. Odd symbols were sewn onto banners of wool. I would say they were runes if I didn't know any better.
I pointed to a flat spot devoid of snow, "What's that for?"
The village chief glanced at the place I was talking about. "That's our training area. Our people practice their spells and do battle."
I nodded.
I hesitated for a while before asking my next question.
"Why do they call this the 'Village of Abandonment?'"
The chief turned to me with a surprised look. "How do you know that name, child?"
"Um...I heard my parents talking about this village." I tried giving my best apologetic look, "I'm sorry. Did I offend you?"
"No, no. I was just surprised." The chief sighed, "I suppose a quick story won't hurt."
He led us beside a stone wall. He lifted us up and sat us on the top, muttering something about his back.
"This village was founded by my ancestors. Back then, this place was perfect. The soil grew delicious fruit and vegetables, and the snow never lasted long."
"But what changed?"
"Nobody knows. However, the best theory is that they started praying."
What did praying have to do with anything? Shouldn't it make the land better?
"Pray...ing?" Sylphie asked.
"It's when you try and talk with god." The chief said, "They were trying to contact the gods of fertility and blessings, yet they called the god of evil instead."
Another mention of this "evil god." Who is he? I wonder.
"The evil god punished them for daring to tall upon his majesty. He cursed the land so winter would be long and harsh. He called people in their dreams, manipulating them to their ruin. He sent multiple assassins to kill the chief's family. Thanks to our magic, we barely survived." The chief had a lost look in his eyes. "The god's curse faded over time, yet this land still feels the strain. Winter lasts for two seasons, and crops are hard to grow. But we make do with our magic. That's why it's called the 'Village of Abandonment.' The gods have forsaken us completely."
Why did this story feel familiar? Right, the druid's book. It makes sense now-the odd symbols on the banners and the evil god. These people are the descendants of lost druids. Sort of like how I am the successor of a dead family. I guess runes are a lost art. If these people can't carve them, I can confidently say I am the last druid alive.
"Sorry about your ancestors." I gave my condolences.
"Don't concern yourself. We make do with what we have." The chief ruffled my hair, "You're incredibly mature to understand that story."
I beamed at the praise.
"Well, that concludes our tour. Feel free to wander the village. The people here are all nice. I'll keep a look out for your parents."
"Okay, thanks!" I picked a random direction and walked off, dragging Sylphie with me, "Bye!"
The chief chuckled, "Be careful."
...
Sylphie tugged at my shirt, and I jolted from my musings. "Is there something wrong?"
"No, you just had a far-away look in your eyes."
"Sorry, just thinking about something."
We walked in silence for a bit.
"That story was sad," Sylphie commented.
"I know." I pulled her along quicker. "But that's in the past. The villagers all look happy, right?"
I pointed at a few kids our age playing in the distance. Sylphie nodded, and I smiled.
"Come on, let's have another snowball fight. That should get your mind off that. It'll be good magic practice, too."
We ran to an open clearing without any obstructions. It was one of the fields I saw when flying. We walked away from each other, leaving a fifty-meter gap in between.
"Three." I held up three fingers.
"Two." I lowered one, and swords made of snow began floating around me.
"One." Sylphie was slightly slower to react, quickly forming her snow-made arrows.
These days, I have her practice with details rather than power.
"Go!"
The snow-made constructs flew toward each other, colliding and becoming white piles. I tilted my head to the right as an arrow whizzed by my head. I waved my hand, and snow rose, becoming two cannons I aimed and fired.
"Yeep!" Sylphie created a wall of snow with a small gust of wind. My attack just added to the barricade, making it sturdier.
I smirked proudly-she was progressing quickly. The barrier then turned into arrows, being fired in my direction. I held up a finger, and they exploded mid-air.
Sylphie pouted. "No fair! I can't make things explode yet!"
"I'm allowed to do what I want." I teased back, "Exploding things is a lesson for another time. I don't want you blowing up my house."
We continued throwing snow at each other for a while. I would shoot a few swords, and she would block with a wall. Until a gust of wind blew snow in my eye. I lost focus for a few seconds, and Sylphie took that time to bombard my face with snow.
"Arg! You got me! Whatever shall I do?!" I decided to add a bit of drama because why not. I fell over and lay completely silent. After Sylphie was done celebrating her victory, she walked over and pocked my face with her finger.
"Are you aslee-Eep!"
I flipped her body, burying her face in the snow. I stood up, brushing the snow off my cloak.
"Looks like it's my win. Hehehe."
Sylphie looked up at me with a look of betrayal.
"T-t-that's cheating!"
"No, it's not~ I didn't say I gave up, did I?"
"Still...Not fair!"
"Hey! Ow!"
She began hitting my head.
"Okay! Ow! I won't-ow-do it-ow-anymore!"
I rubbed my head after she stopped. Seriously, how could a child this shy be this open with me? I picked a snowflake from her head. She still looked pouty.
I ruffled her hair, "Come on, don't look so pouty. How about I show you a secret spell in our next lesson?"
Her face lit up. "Oh! Secret? What kind is it?"
I shrugged. "Who knows? I'll tell you later."
Her ears drooped. "Come on! Tell me!"
"Nope! You gotta wait." I giggled at how cute she was being right now.
*SMASH*
The sound of shattering glass entered my ear. I glanced up, looking toward where the sound came from. The training ground. I guess a spell must have smashed a window or something. I motioned for Sylphie to go with me.
"Come on, let's check it out."
...
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Third Person POV
...
Galdur pushed through the dense crowd.
When he got through, he sighed. A window lay broken in the dirt, shards of glass and splinters of wood scattered everywhere. A bullet made of stone was embedded in a wall behind the window.
This was a common reoccurrence in this village. There wasn't much room, so accidents often happened. He wondered why people still formed crowds about this.
"Great. Now I'll need to replace that." He heard a villager complain.
Poor guy, having the house closest to the training area.
Just as the owner of the house went to get a broom, a small voice came from the crowd.
"Wait! Don't clean that up!"
A young boy pushed himself through the crowd, pulling a young girl behind him. The two kids from earlier rushed out of the gathering, the girl looking shaken up. Both had snow in their messy hair. 'Anima and Sylph.' Galdur's mind supplied him. Who names a girl "Sylph" anyway? Nobles, apparently. People started whispering.
"Those are the noble children the chief found, right?"
"I heard they were running from political warfare."
"What is that boy going to do?"
"Probably something meaningless."
"Don't let him touch it! He'll cut himself!"
As the boy got closer, his eyes inspected the smashed window.
"I can fix this."
The boy sounded confident, but who would believe him? Not even the best professors at the University of Magic could control glass.
The silver-haired boy knelt beside the most intact piece of the ruined window; he held out a hand. Most couldn't see, but Galdur caught a glimpse of a glowing blue liquid dripping down the boy's finger. Where did it come from? He didn't know. If he didn't know any better, he would say it was the boy's blood. But there weren't any wounds on his finger. It only took one drop for something miraculous to happen. The glowing fluid expanded impossibly, coating the shattered edges of the glass and wood. They floated in the air, stitching themselves together with a synchronized ringing. It was almost as if magic itself was singing in approval. When the ringing stopped, a perfect window was left in the window frame, not a single crack running down its shiny surface.
The boy slowly stood up and nodded as if approving his work. Galdur could feel his jaw dropping; most villagers were displaying similar actions. A boy-not even seven-accomplished a once impossible feat. Whispers erupted from the crowd once more.
"Chantless magic?!"
"Who is that child?"
"Did he learn that at a magic school?"
"No, even the 'Ranoa University of Magic' doesn't teach that."
"Controlling glass is not possible!"
As they whispered, the boy gave them weirder and weirder looks. The boy then snapped his fingers, and a sound far too loud for a snap rang out. The glass from the window flowed like water into the boy's palm, where he molded it into various shapes. Finally, the solid once again settled in the wooden frame as if nothing had happened.
"You really can't do something that simple?" The boy sounded so innocent that it was humiliating.
...
...
Rudeus
...
I knew I shouldn't have done that.
The villagers swarmed us, trying to get answers while making Sylphie uncomfortable. The crowd eventually dispersed after I said, "sand is made of glass. There are spells to control sand, aren't there?" That aside, the looks on their faces were priceless. How embarrassing it must feel to be outsmarted by a six-year-old.
I pity them, even if I'm not a six-year-old mentally.
The villagers still gave us odd looks of awe and suspicion, but I didn't care.
"What's that building, Rudy?" Sylphie pointed at a construction larger than most in the village.
It looked like an old barn-probably because it was a reconstructed old barn.
"I think that's the hospital or, in other words, the healer's."
Heh, might as well check it out. I've visited everywhere else in this village.
The bell rang as we entered, yet few people in the re-fashioned barn turned to look at us. They didn't have a healer in this village, though it's more appropriate to say everyone was the healer. Almost all the villagers knew healing magic, though some were better than others. The higher-leveled healers would be in charge, though it wasn't a set position.
There were few people currently in the building. I spotted a girl applying healing magic on an unconscious young man. Even though he looked no older than sixteen, his hair already had tufts of white. Mana exhaustion, I presume. It's common for mages' hair to turn white or pass out when they push themselves too hard.
I sighed-if only there was a way to mitigate that...I might know something that can help! It might not work, but it's worth a shot. I'll need to test it out eventually.
"Excuse me, but he's suffering from Mana exhaustion, correct?" I walked up to the girl.
"Oh! You're those children."
I gave a naive smile. "Yep! But are you alright, miss? You looked pretty worried."
The teenage girl sighed. "Yes, I'm worried. Though I wonder why I even bother." She waved a hand at the sleeping young man, "My boyfriend tends to... overdo it when sparring. It happens every week, and it leads to these white hairs he has." She sighed. "I tell him to be careful, but he forgets it in battle."
Adrenaline can make people do reckless things, I suppose. That aside, "Do you mind if I try something?"
"Huh?"
"I might know a way to help his condition."
The girl chuckled, "Kissing him better isn't going to work. Believe me, I tried."
Okay, I did not need to know that.
"Not that. I guess you can call it...a technique passed down in my family."
The girl absentmindedly waved a hand. "Sure. If you know a way to help this buffoon, go ahead."
She probably thinks as a child, I can't do anything. That works in my favor. I waved my hand, and a large tree branch appeared in my hand. With another flick of the wrist, the wooden stick morphed into a bent frame. I didn't have an affinity for manipulating wood, but the water inside made it possible. Tightly pulled threads popped into existence with a snap of my fingers. I ran my fingers along the cords of the makeshift harp. Not perfect-it's what I get from using projected strings-but it'll do.
"Woah." The girl muttered.
I sat on the bed, holding my hand out; I began carving symbols on his forehead. My fingers were slow-much slower than usual. It's been years since I drew these signs in this specific way.
A circle with a dot in the center was first, representing the sun. On top, I inscribed a ring with a cross in the middle, meaning the earth.
Usually, this would signify an end to the carving, but since this was a different world, I had to make a few adjustments. I pulled down the blanket covering the young man, revealing his arms. I carved another symbol below his elbow, resembling a cross with a horned circle on top. Mercury-the planet that represents the arms and chest.
"Alright." I muttered, "That should do it."
I turned to Sylphie. "Sylph, we'll have a lesson on the go. I hope you don't mind."
"No, not at all." Sylphie came to sit by me.
"Wonderful. Listen closely, then." I plucked at the strings of my harp, finding a good rhythm. "There are multiple ways for a mage to increase their Mana capacity, though most methods are too expensive and not worth the effort. Mana potions are the most well-known example. However, other methods exist as well."
"Does it involve the wood thingy with strings you have?"
"Precisely." I ruffled her hair. "This instrument is called a harp. Though the process doesn't require one. Any musical instrument will work." My fingers rang along the threads, getting ready for the next part. "This is only experimental, so I'm not sure if it'll work. But hey, never hurts to try."
My fingers "flowed like a roaring river." It was a quote from my harp instructor in my previous life. It felt nice-to finally pick up an instrument. It's like I never put it down.
A Celtic song rang out in the large barn, its notes filled with longing. A warm feeling crept up my spine, and I felt my circuits activate one by one. I noticed the symbols glowing.
"I've never felt so warm..." Sylphie muttered.
I grinned internally. Perfect, that's the sign it's working. The girl sitting by the young man looked in wonder as orange lines akin to a spiderweb appeared on every person's arms in the room. The Mana pathways pulsed with golden light, fading along with the astronomical markings on the young man as my song drew to a close.
I shut off my circuits with a huff. I need to figure out a way to use Mana for tuning. I'm not a good tuner-it's something I learned accidentally.
"He should recover in thirty minutes, give or take a few." I turned to the girl. "If everything worked as it should, his Mana regeneration should be sped up by twenty percent. I'm not a master at this, so I apologize that I can't do more." I gave a sheepish grin.
"Uh...what?!"
"Gotta go! See ya!"
I grabbed Sylphie by her sleeve and dragged her out of the hospital.
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So, what do you all think? Not bad, I hope. I'll say this again. I'm just writing this fanfic cause I lost my creativity. So I'll apologize if the conversations sound forced and all that.
This Arc will have two parts. Look forward to the next one.
Anyways, Please like, share, follow, and comment.
As always, good luck with your game of life.