Chapter 21: It's Magic. Do I Really Have To Explain?

Dragging Subaru outside, YN finally let go of him in the middle of the freshly cut lawn and asked how he felt.

YN: Take in the smell of cut grass and relax for a bit, alright? I don't have a clue what your acting so high strung over but just dial it back a bit.

Without answering him, collapsing backward, Subaru back-planted onto the lawn with a "Phew".

Subaru: I've just got to work harder. You might have an easier time since Rem seems to like you right away this time for some reason, but I've got lots of ground to make up.

Lifting a bandaged hand up, he made a fist while he spoke.

While his hand certainly wasn't as badly damaged as on the previous loop, it was clear his overly hasty attitude had caused him to make mistakes, resulting in his injuries. With Subaru closing his eyes, he enjoyed the mid day sun and the breeze that carried the smell of the grass and the blooming flowers of the gardens.

Taking a deep breath, YN was just thankful Subaru at least had enough sense to rest himself. Sitting down not far from Subaru, YN looked out on all the shrubbery he had just cut.

There was a silence between the two as they just took in the moment, resting their bodies from the day's work so far.

Until a familiar voice interrupted them.

?: Hey there Subaru! Taking a break?

Subaru: Ah Puck. Yeah I am, but I still got tons to do after all this. Is Emilia-tan also out here?

Opening his eyes, Subaru sat up and replied to the little gray floating cat. Upon asking his question, Subaru bobbed his head from side to side, looking all around him for the half elf.

YN also looked up, instantly spotting her in the gazebo that made it's home in the middle of the lawn. With small sparkles of light around her, Emilia was conversing with the microspirits around her.

A sense of curiosity was instantly conjured within YN, almost unexplainably. The sight of the small spirits, all hovering around her, was not something YN had seen yet.

YN: Say, Puck.

Getting the little cats attention, Puck levitated on over with a "Hmm?"

YN: What kind of magic does Emilia exactly use? I've seen her hurl ice around but never seen those... sparkles of light, all around her. Is it some kind of meditation?

Getting real close to YN, Puck almost seemed to tease him with his response.

Puck: Oh? You're curious about spirits, huh YN?

Confused as to what he was implying, YN replied simply.

YN: Yes, that was my question.

Also chiming in, Subaru got up and sat cross legged.

Subaru: Yeah I guess I'm curious too.

Moving to a spot between the two workers on break, Puck explained how Emilia was a "Spirit Arts" user and that her spells are really cast through himself mainly, or any of her many microspirits. He further explained as well that the mana for the spells was also mostly pulled from the air around her then though her own gate, via the spirits.

Puck also went on to describe how gates work, and that each person's gate uses one of four main magical elements.

Puck: That means that even you two have one as well! Want me to see which elements you both have?

Subaru immediately started fantasizing over which element his gate would be while Puck poked his tail to Subaru's forehead.

A white light began to emit from where his tail touched Subaru.

After a short few moments Puck floated back and declared to him his answer.

Puck: It's... Yin!

Subaru: What?!

Emilia: Oh! Yin! That's great Subaru, that's a rare one.

Upon seeing Puck speaking with YN and Subaru, Emilia joined the conversation now that she was done occupying her time with the microspirits.

As confused as YN, but not as audibly, Subaru asked why he was an element that Puck had not listed and what Yin magic even was.

Emilia went on to explain that Yin was one of two additional, although rare categories of magic, and various practical examples of Yin spells.

Subaru: It's all debuffs!

Slumping his head in disappointment, Puck and Emilia turned their attention away from Subaru and to YN. Extending his tail outward as he had done to Subaru, he offered the same service for YN.

Puck: Now close your eyes, this might take a second with your gate the way it is.

Closing his eyes, YN let the little gray cat inspect his gate.

YN could feel a warm sensation building in his lower abdomen, right behind where his abdominal muscles were. He could feel all these warm threads being sent out across his body, to each fingertip and toe.

Unbeknownst to him, Emilia at the moment had a face full of worry as she starred at Puck. Almost one of anticipation. Bringing a hand to her chest, she waited for a reply from him.

Turning to face the half elf, Puck simply shook his head to her, and Emilia dropped her shoulders and gave a slightly dejected look. Returning to the happy tone and expression he had before, Puck began his announcement of YN's results.

Puck: Hmmmm... Your element is...

An unexpectedly great amount of excitement welled up in YN at the prospect of what his element may be.

Waiting with baited breath, YN was anxious as to what it may be.

If it's fire, can I burn myself on accident? Can I freeze myself on accident with ice? Blow myself over with wind? Knock myself unconscious with earth?

These thoughts raced through YN's mind.

But...

Another idea came into his head.

Subaru got a rare one, Yin... What if that's related to the "shadowy" nature of Return By Death? Or simply because he's from another world? Would that mean I'll also have Yin?

Just as Puck was set to announce his element, a final thought crossed YN's mind.

But wait, Emilia said there was one additional category that was rare with Yin, and that can only mean its—

Puck: It's Yang!

It was light magic.

Smiling, Emilia congratulated YN.

Emilia: That's actually quite fitting since it's you two. Yin and Yang.

Looking down at his hand, YN tried to imagine himself being able to cast magic.

Something tells me it won't be that easy, and I probably won't even be that good at it.

Interrupting his thoughts, Subaru spoke.

Subaru: So if Yin magic is basically making your opponent weaker or disillusioning them, would Yang be making one's self stronger?

Puck: In some cases, yes. It's also used for things like sensory sharing, restoration magic, and a few offensive spells.

Subaru: Is there any Yin spells I could try right now? Or do I need to read some tome to be able to understand it?

Puck: Hmmmm, well, I could show you one called Shamak that you might be able to give a try.

Subaru: Yes please!

Nodding, Puck flew up a tad higher before raising his small paw up into the air.

Puck: Here goes!

Bringing his paw back down, Puck cast his spell.

Puck: Shamak!

Emilia: Puck wait—!

Instantly, an inky black nothing filled YN's vision and mind.

Too late to halt Puck, Emilia's voice was instantly cut off.

YN continued to feel as if he was still sitting on the ground, although he was calm, his every nerve was reacting to this as if it were a great danger, although his mind and logic told him that he was certainly not.

With his mind racing back and worth, suddenly a large warm feeling began to expel itself outward from his center. As the feeling grew and grew, it appeared as if a great light was washing away the darkness that surrounded him.

Slowly, as if spraying dirt off a window, the same familiar sunlight from before broke through the darkness until so much was washed away it crumbled all together. Blinking a few times, YN expected his eyes to have to readjust to seeing the bright light of the mid day sun.

Although they didn't. It was if his vision had never actually adjusted to the darkness he was just subject to.

Craning his view around, YN saw Puck still floating in the same spot he was. Looking past that stood Emilia, hand out stretched to Puck as if signaling him to stop. If almost instantly, Emilia caught YN's now conscious vision, and lowered her hand to Puck, and instead placed it before her mouth in worry.

Emilia: YN? Are you okay?

Taking a moment for his brain to communicate with his mouth, YN finally answered the concerned half elf.

YN: Uh, ya know? Yeah, I am. That wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Crossing his small cat arms, Puck replied to YN.

Puck: That's cus' you were able to begin to nullify it by releasing some of your Yang magic.

Pointing with his tail to somewhere behind YN, Puck continued.

Puck: You can make it easy on yourself, he can't.

Turning around, YN while asking "He?", before answering his own question.

There stood Subaru, his back to the rest of the group, arms extended outward in front of him, walking as if he was blind.

Heading right toward the fountain, Emilia called out to Subaru to stop. Stopping a single step away from giving himself a bath, Subaru finally came to. Turning around, Subaru gave the three people staring at him an empty look.

Floating over, Puck poked at Subaru's cheek.

Puck: So, what'd ya think?

Immediately dropping the blank look, Subaru put on a face of pure false confidence and throwing an arm behind his head before answering.

Subaru: Ohh, uhh, it's nothing too flashy but I'm sure it gets the job done. Yep.

Putting his arm down and getting a more serious tone, Subaru continued.

Subaru: So is there any chance I can use this 'Shamak?'

Putting his paw to his chin in thought, Puck responded.

Puck: That all depends on your training. Would you like to take the beginners course?

Subaru: Yes! Teach me senpai!

Standing up, YN walked up to the two and asked his own question.

YN: So, is there one I can learn too?

Turning midair to face YN, Puck returned his paw to his chin in thought.

Puck: Usually the first, and easiest spell a Yang user learns is the offensive spell, Jiwald.

Almost instinctively looking down at his hand, YN mumbled the word to himself.

YN: Jiwald...

He wasn't certain, but it definitely felt as if he had just felt that same warm sensation once more, this time on only the palm he stared at.

Gesturing the actions of the spell, Puck explained the magic.

Puck: Jiwald is mana propelled from your hand like a large scattering ray of light. It shoots off in the general direction you cast it and it can burn anything it touches.

Turning back to Subaru, Puck continued.

Puck: We'll start with Subaru first though. I'll be controlling the mana inside you, helping you cast the spell, so it'll all be using your own gate.

On Puck's instruction, Emilia headed a distance away to not be caught by any magical explosion that may result from Subaru's attempt to cast his spell.

Having Subaru "picture the mana flow through his body, and release a portion of that", Puck made a comment out loud that immediately sent worry to everyone near by.

Puck: That's strange. It feels like all the mana in you just escaped out of your gate.

No sooner there after did Puck utter those words, a large explosion erupted from Subaru, sending dark, inky mana all over in a most violent manner.

Puck: In short, you have no control over your gate, so you probably shouldn't try so hard going forward.

Subaru groaned in response to Puck's harsh words.

Having zapped so much of his mana in one go, Subaru had immediately passed out upon casting Shamak. YN had been the one to drag him and place his unconscious body on the bench in the gazebo that Emilia had been in earlier.

Having finally woken back up, Subaru attempted to sit back up, to which Emilia tried to stop him saying that he'll probably not be able to work anymore today and that he "shouldn't push himself", only to have Subaru snap back with "This is exactly the time I need to push myself."

In response, Emilia reached into her dress pocket and pulled out what appeared to be two dried plums.

Emilia: Here, have one of these.

Placing the fruit in his mouth, Subaru chewed it up and then—

Subaru: OOOO—!

Letting out a sudden roar of energy, Subaru bolted straight upward from where he laid. With a refreshed look on his face, Subaru turned his head from side to side, wondering what had just happened.

Giggling, Emilia answered him.

Emilia: That was a Bokko fruit. They help you regain some of your mana when it becomes depleted.

Turning to YN who was still waiting his turn try his magic, Emilia also handed him one of these Bokko fruits.

Emilia: Just in case the same thing happens to you.

YN: Oh. Thanks.

Lowering his head, Subaru spoke up in a low tone to Emilia.

Subaru: I'm sorry... I guess I've caused you some inconvenience...—

Emilia: Subaru.

Getting both YN's attention and Subaru's with her sudden declaration, Emilia went on.

Emilia: It's reeeeeally frustrating to hear sorry after sorry from you.

Pointing a finger up in the air, and then towards YN, Emilia elaborated.

Emilia: YN said 'thanks' because he knows I'm trying to be helpful and not looking for an apology. It's much more satisfying to hear a 'thanks' or 'Thank you' then an 'I'm sorry.' Okay?

Finishing her statement as cheerfully as she could, Emilia tilted her head and smiled towards Subaru, perhaps in part because she was afraid she had been too forward with herself just now.

Across the gazebo, YN raised an eyebrow to the entire conversation, surprised that Emilia had put such unspoken words in his mouth.

I mean, I definitely knew she wasn't looking for an apology, but she has no way of knowing that from me.

YN thought that Emilia's words had been rather bold for her.

Casting away his meta-analysis of what Emilia had said, YN noticed the slightly dejected face Subaru still had.

It was obvious that he— no, no one, would like to be compared to another person like that in such a way over something that was ultimately trivial, and could at the least bit be brought up later in private. Especially by someone you had feelings for.

Not wanting to let the moment drag out anymore for Subaru, YN decided to change the topic to hopefully take Subaru's mind off such a thing.

YN: Hey uhh, Puck. I want to try that magic now. Are you going to need to help me channel the mana like you did with Subaru, or does this one work differently?

Crossing his arms, Puck shared a glace with Emilia before answering.

Puck: Somethin' tells me that you won't need any help.

YN could swear he had seen Puck wink to Emilia just now. Unsure of it's meaning, Puck continued.

Puck: Go ahead and stand a few paces away from the target you set up and I'll explain the rest.

Walking from the Gazebo to the lawn, YN stood ten paces away from his target. While Subaru had been unconscious, Puck had suggested YN find something to use as a recipiant for his magic.

Having walked to the equipment shed, YN found an old, rusted and rotting hay fork, a few pieces of twine, another rotting wooden handle from some other tool, and a moth eaten white table cloth.

Having stuck the hay fork in the lawn, YN used the twine to fix the other rotten wooden handle sideways across the fork's handle, and placed the table cloth on top of it all, having the handles stick out through the holes in it.

The finished result resembled a rather crude scarecrow.

Standing in front of his creation, YN readied himself, breathing deeply, awaiting Puck's instructions.

Floating up by him, Puck began his explanation.

Puck: Alright! Just like I told Subaru before, you have to visualize the mana inside you, and let your gate only let a portion of that mana out. You control your gate.

Taking another deep breath, YN nodded in acknowledgment.

Puck: Okay, go ahead and extend a hand out, aim your palm at your target.

Raising his arm, YN faced his palm out towards the sorry excuse of a scarecrow he had assembled on the mansion lawn.

Puck: Now, feel the mana in you, let some of it out of your gate, and say 'Jiwald' to cast it!

Feeling a warm growth in his gut, YN felt the mana swirling around in his body, ready to all come flowing out should he let it.

He felt like a shaken soda bottle, ready to explode should anyone open the cap.

Concentrating on its flow, he felt the warmth in his gut begin to pour down his extended arm, and buck up against his open palm. This is what it was like to have the sensation of magic in him. It was unlike anything he'd experienced before.

YN knew he had to be concise, and accurate with how much mana he released, least he end up like Subaru.

Feeling like he was ready, YN uttered the words to cast his spell.

YN: Jiwald.

The warmth in his arm that had puddled up at the end of his palm, grew. The heat could be felt pooling up outside his palm. A sudden light began to also grow on his palm, so bright it cast a shadow on YN's face from the back of his hand even in the mid-day sun.

With the heat leaving his hand, outward and away, YN cut off the mana exiting his body, determined to not let himself wipe out his mana.

YN could hear a twinkling noise, quickly followed by the sound of heat searing something, and the smell of heat, like an electric stove left on with an empty pan.

Lowering his palm, YN observed the state of his target before him.

He didn't see much change occur to his ragged scarecrow.

Walking up, he did start to see some changes though. There were a few new holes in the cloth, varying in size. He could tell they were new as the perimeter of the holes were burned, although they weren't charred back as he'd have expected with a burn.

One of the holes he had made had been right in front of the wooden handle he had tied to the hay fork.

YN inspected the damage his magic had made to the wood, moving the cloth out of the way. The wood had obviously been eaten away at, but the resulting crater left in it was about half it's diameter, meaning the magic he had cast hadn't even penetrated through the thin wooden handle.

Further observing the damage, the crater was not burned black and charcoaled as he might have guessed, just like the cloth. Instead, the remaining wood just around the point of the impact was a stark white. It's texture remained like the rotten wood it was made from but when YN touched it, the white wood simply flaked off, leaving normal wood right in its place.

The result of his magic on the wood looked more as if a few termites had been at fault.

It appeared as if this Yang magic had vaporized or disintegrated more so then it simply "burned" things. The white ring left over just outside the point of impact suggested that the light possibly is so bright it bleaches the color out things it doesn't disintegrate first.

Hearing a clap of two small fur padded paws together, YN turned himself back to face the gazebo.

Floating just outside the wooden structure, Puck gave YN a one man applause. Inside how ever was a different scene. Emilia could be seen stepping out from behind Subaru, using him as a shield should YN's magic have explosive results like Subaru's had.

Floating up to him, Puck congratulated YN.

Puck: That was some pretty good control of your mana if that was your first time using it.

Looking down at his hand that had just cast the spell, YN replied.

YN: Yeah, it was.

Floating over to the now some how even more disheveled mock scarecrow target, Puck observed the damage.

Putting a paw up to his chin, Puck gave his thoughts.

Puck: While there was some good control, it was pretty weak. Why don't you give it another shot?

Immediately protesting, Emilia spoke up, stepping out from behind the cover of Subaru, shaking her head.

Emilia: Puck! What about his gate? He shouldn't push it.

Sighing, Puck responded.

Puck: I understand your concern Lia, but I think he'll be alright. This might actually be good for him.

Putting a hand to her chest, Emilia gave YN a look of worry, but did not argue back at Puck. Taking a few dozen paces away from his target again, YN faced the ragged scarecrow once more.

Puck: Go head and give your next try some more power.

Raising his hand to take his second shot, YN asked Puck to elaborate.

YN: How much more though? A little? Twice as much?

Puck was silent for a moment in thought before replying, shrugging.

Puck: I'll let you be the judge of that.

With Puck's unhelpful comment, YN readied himself nonetheless.

Taking a deep breath, YN felt the mana in his gut begin to warm up again, and felt it flow throughout his body. Extending his arm, YN felt the mana flow down his arm, and pool at the edge of his open palm.

Concentrating, YN let the mana spill out of his hand and out to the surface of his palm, feeling it's warmth on the outside and seeing the light it was emitting, instead of immediately casting it, YN let it build for a few moments before—

YN: Jiwald!

The white mass of heat left his hand in a much more intense and fierce manor.

Almost too bright to look at, the light almost instantly met the target and a sizzling sound could be heard.

Lasting for only a moment, it was still cast for much longer then the first, much weaker Jiwald.

Lowering his arm, YN was shocked at the scene before him.

The arcs of light had completely severed the upper part of the target, just above the fork section that was stuck into the lawn.

Walking up the wreckage, YN found some, although not all, of the upper part of the larger on the ground behind where it was mounted.

Most of the cloth had been burned away, including the second crossed handle, and the twine holding it onto the hay fork had also come undone, partially vaporized.

Ultimately, this magic was powerful enough to potentially be lethal.

YN stared at the palm of his hand that had cast the magic, unable to believe he had conjured such destruction from nothing.

Taking in a deep breath, YN could feel the exhaustion envelope his body.

Walking up, Subaru nudged the wreckage on the ground with his shoe, mumbling under his breath.

Subaru: Holy crap.

Floating up to the two, Puck spun around and flipped.

Puck: That was amazing YN! That was a Jiwald you normally only see an expert cast!

Running up to the group, Emilia had a look of worry and concern on her face.

Emilia: YN! Did you hurt your gate? That was a lot of mana you just used! Are you dizzy? Are you—

Subaru: Emilia-tan, give the man some breathing room.

Perhaps feeling some envy from the attention Emilia was giving YN, Subaru butted in.

With Emilia's gaze not leaving YN, Subaru turned his eyes to YN too, who was still looking at his palm. Looking up, YN gave Subaru a nod, in a way for thanking him for stopping the half elf's barrage of questions.

Although he knew she meant well, YN's energy was simply not there to deal with it.

Knowing it would be rude to simply not answer though, YN gave her a simple, and hopefully satisfactory answer, shaking his head.

YN: Yeah, I'm fine, I'm just whooped now.

Turning her vision to the little gray cat floating above her, Emilia pouted.

Emilia: See? You shouldn't have pushed him so hard!

Shrugging, Puck closed his eyes and answered.

Puck: I told him to only use as much mana as he felt he should.

Puffing her cheeks up more, Emilia was going to further argue but was cut off by YN walking past the two of them.

Emilia: YN.

Facing away from them and towards the mansion, YN responded with drowsy slurred speech.

YN: I was going to just walk back to the gazebo and sit down, catch my breath... but—

Turning around, YN faced them again, sighing.

YN: I'm too exhausted to make it. So—

Lifting his hand up to point, YN aimed right at Subaru, his eyes beginning to droop.

YN: No more overdoing it today. Got it?

As soon as YN had said that, he collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.

Gasping, Emilia ran over and knelt down next to the unconscious YN.

Emilia: Oooohhhh, Puck! You made him over do it.

Zipping on over, Puck made his plea of innocence.

Puck: Hey now, I didn't tell him to do anything! He's the one who wanted to cast magic, and you saw exactly how much control he had.

Puffing up her cheeks at Puck's excuses, Emilia turned to Subaru, somewhat calming her words.

Emilia: Can you get YN back to his room? I'm sure it's mostly just exhaustion, not his gate being injured. He just needs to rest for the time being.

Subaru: Well, he did start work pretty early this morning. That's probably some of it.

Moving around YN, Subaru went to lift him up to carry him in doors. Struggling, Subaru lamented.

Subaru: Gunna have to drag him I guess.

Emilia: Subaru!

Subaru: Don't worry, don't worry, I'm just joking. I am going to have to go get Rem to help me here though.

However, neither of them had realized that the entire time, they had been observed, and Rem was already on her way down to help.

From the mansion, on an upper hallway floor, the twins had watched the spectacle of novice magic casting. Seeing YN collapse, Rem had left her sister, who had grown board of watching anyway, to go do what she could.

A/N: That's this week's uploads. I hope you all enjoyed them. Also for those that don't know, there was a new Rem SS that was released and translated. "Provisional Rem." Although, unless you are completely caught up with the WN (At least to Chapter 12 of Arc 7), it would have massive spoilers in it for you. Anyway, until next week!