Puck's Guide to Wielding Mana
Roswaal Manor Grounds
The air was pleasant as Ulric went through a few dagger motions and basic footwork. It had taken a little work, but he'd managed to convince Emilia to give him the purple-bladed weapon that he'd retrieved from the assassin, Elsa. Roswaal had assured him that the purchasing of a new sword would be easy, but after seeing what Reinhard had done to his previous weapon, Ulric had declined and assured him that what he currently had would be sufficient. 'No sense in making them buy me a new weapon every time I destroy one,' thought Ulric, 'It'd be best if I got a hold of how this magic works before I try running it through a weapon.'
The knight went through another couple of forms before his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. "You're up quite early sir knight," said Emilia as she approached. She'd taken to wearing her pink dress once again for whatever reason, not that Ulric could complain.
"I'm used to rising early for training," said Ulric as he tucked the weapon back into his belt, "Father would always threaten to dump cold water on me to wake me up, back when I was a squire. Now it just comes naturally, at least on the days when I'm not waking up from numerous wounds."
"Well that shouldn't become a normal occurrence around here," Said Emilia as she touched the jewel hanging around her neck. "Alright Puck, I think it's about time we got started." The jewel responded by glowing briefly before the now familiar cat materialized.
"Good morning Emilia," Said Puck as he rubbed his eyes a bit, "Is it time to get up already?"
"If it helps, you'll be teaching beginning magic," Said Emilia, "Something I'm certain you can do even when you're half asleep."
"You're not wrong," Replied Puck as he stretched before floating into the air, "But, given that I'm helping out your friend, he deserves my undivided attention."
"So how should we start?" Questioned Ulric, "Is there a book of spells that you draw your power from or a mystical amulet?"
"Those won't be necessary," Said Puck with a wave of his hand, "The first thing you need is to understand the fundamentals of how magic itself works, and how a person is able to use it."
"It has something to do with mana if I recall," Said Ulric as he put a hand to his chin.
"Correct," Said Puck, "You see, unlike the spiritual arts where you sign contracts with spirits, a magic user employs their gate."
"You mentioned that before as well," Said Ulric, "What exactly is this 'gate'?"
"It is the pathway within the body through which one draws in mana and then expels it outward," said Puck, curling his tail into a circle to emphasize his point, "Everyone's gate also has a natural attribute, such as fire, water, earth, or air. So, our first step will be to figure out your attribute."
"And what would finding out my attribute entail?" Questioned Ulric with a raised eyebrow.
"In this case, my tail," said Puck, proud of his little joke as he floated close to Ulric and pressed said appendage against his forehead. Puck started making a strange sort of chanting sound then as his tail began to glow against his forehead. "I have determined your attribute. It seems you're of the light attribute." Ulric actually let out a chuckle at that revelation.
"Light you say," Said Ulric as he examined his hand before making a fist, "How fitting, a crusader wielding a divine ray."
"Well if it helps you concentrate, I suppose you can think of it that way," Said Puck.
"I personally agree with Ulric," Said Emilia, "It really is quite fitting that someone of a noble heart would wield light magic. Especially considering that light magic includes several spells that allow one to strengthen their body and physical abilities."
"Please, you think too highly of me," Said Ulric with a bow, "I am simply a knight following his code of chivalry as best he can. I have not always succeeded in that endeavor." An uneasy silence followed that statement until Puck broke it with a simple change of subject.
"Anyway, let's try casting your first spell," said Puck as he signaled for them to follow him, "Beginner's usually require a little bit of help at first, so I'll act as a type of support to keep the flow stable. In this way, the magic will be flowing through your own gate. Emilia, stand back just in case his magic goes crazy and explodes." Emilia nodded her head and stepped, several feet away.
"You never mentioned the possibility of me exploding," Said Ulric, "That's not something that happens often is it?"
"You just need to relax and let your mana flow," said Puck as he landed on Ulric's head, "Now let's start with a basic light spell, Jiwald. In order to use it, first visualize the mana gathering and flowing through your body and then direct it out of your gate." Ulric did as instructed as he slowed his breathing and formed a picture in his mind of the mana. To him, it seemed as if he was watching a glowing, blue sea of light with several waves heading towards an opening.
As the waves reached the gate, Ulric spoke the words. "JIWALD!" Exclaimed the knight with a good bit of force in his voice. At first, nothing happened, energy surged through his body as blue light escaped from his form. "Is this supposed to happen?!" Questioned Ulric as the light around his hands grew even more intense.
"You're drawing too much mana at once!" Responded Puck with a bit of surprise in his voice, "Don't discharge towards the mansion!" Ulric wasn't quite sure what that was supposed to mean, so he did the only thing he could think to do at that moment and slammed his hands on the ground in front of him. The light from his hands glowed brighter for a moment before winking out as chunks of the ground were blasted apart in front of him. The impact also sent Ulric falling backwards onto the ground.
Ulric got up shakily then as he inspected the results of his first magical spell. A pair of small craters had formed in the ground a little larger than his fists with several more cracks around the site of the impact. "Was that a good start," questioned Ulric, breathing a bit more heavily than he'd expected to be after just one spell.
"Well it's a start alright," said Puck as he floated around to Emilia, who'd made sure it was safe before getting too close. "You're gate is surprisingly aggressive, drawing in large amounts of mana, as if in preparation for battle."
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," Said Ulric as he looked at his hands, "I was in a war for three years before I arrived here. You develop a certain mentality rather quickly, if you want to stay alive that is."
"Well for now, it's best if you visualize a limit," said Puck, "Try bringing out only a small amount at first. If all goes well, over time your use of your gate will become more natural and you'll be able to control more mana."
"One step at a time," Said Ulric as he readied himself again, "Just like knight training."
"Well let's try this then," Said Puck, "Think of strengthening your body this time when you say jiwald. If all goes well, the mana should remain around your body and increase your physical abilities." The knight nodded as he sat down and concentrated once again while Puck landed on his head. As before, he envisioned a gate and a glowing sea of light. But this time, he only envisioned a small amount entering the gate. He then felt the mana coursing through his body, but it was far softer and more subdued than before.
Ulric opened his eyes to see that his body was now generating a blue glow, and what was more, he felt strong and light, as if he could jump over a whole field. A feeling which quickly faded as the light around him lasted only a few seconds longer. Then, he nearly collapsed in a surprising fit of exhaustion.
"I think that's about as far as we can push it for now," said Emilia as she and Puck watched Ulric struggle to catch his breath. "Something Puck forgot to mention, when you use up your mana, you become exhausted."
"I believe I figured that much out already," Said Ulric as he struggled to rise, "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. If wielding magic was an easy venture, everyone would be doing it."
"You'd best take it slow," Said Emilia as she helped him stand up before taking out a strange purple berry, "This should help a little bit." Ulric nodded as he accepted the fruit and ate it. In the next instant, a good bit of the exhaustion he was feeling was gone. Not all of it, but he could definitely move much more easily now.
"They do not have fruit like that where I come from," said a surprised Ulric, "What is it?"
"It's a special berry known as a bocco fruit," replied Emilia, "It has special properties which activate your mana when you eat it and allows your gate to regain a little strength."
"Well it certainly does the job," said Ulric, "Any chance I can resume training now?"
"I wouldn't recommend it," said Puck, "Remember that mana is life energy. If you try to use too much of it at once, you might not be able to get back up again for at least the rest of the day. So for now, just rest and we'll pick up a little later in the evening."
"I suppose it can't be helped," Said Ulric, "The rules of this world are strange to me. But if I learn to work with them, I just might be able to get by."
"I'm sure not everything about this world is different from yours," Said Emilia, "I'm certain if you look hard enough, you'll find something about it that seems at least somewhat familiar." Ulric's answer to that was a kind smile.
Over the next five days, they routinely met and practiced this first spell. Unlike the first time, Ulric managed to not blast a pair of holes in the ground, something the two maids, Rem and Ram, had been rather displeased about when they'd discovered it. As for the spell itself, Ulric managed to hold it longer each day and was soon able to maintain the spell for a solid minute without Puck's help, albeit at great exhaustion.
He'd also grown comfortable enough to stand up and move around while maintaining the light around his body as well. "I must say, not bad," Said Puck as Ulric finished going through a few motions with his blade before ending the spell, and nearly collapsing to his knees, "Your concentration is excellent, definitely that of a warrior's."
"It is difficult," said Ulric between breaths, "It's like keeping a constant thought at the back of my mind while also thinking about which form of sword play I should use."
"That will become second nature overtime," Said Emilia, "It took me a few years of study before I could wield magic like I do now, though I suppose it's a bit easier when I'm contracted to a spirit."
"Well no one said it was going to be particularly easy," Said Ulric as he returned his blade to his belt, "I can hardly imagine what my comrades would say if they saw me doing this. No doubt there'd be no end of questions and debate about where it comes from, Heaven or Hell. But with this being light magic, I'd like to think Heaven."
"Magic comes from all the forces in the world," Said Emilia, "Mana is life energy, the very same energy that you draw upon is also the energy that allows the trees to grow, nourishes the wildlife and drives the natural phenomenon's around us. It is neither good nor evil, that is determined by the person who wields it."
"Then I shall use this magic, hopefully in a way that would make my comrades proclaim Deus Vult," Said Ulric.
"What exactly does that phrase mean?" Questioned Puck, "I've been around for a long time and I can't say I've ever heard the language you're using."
"Oh, it's from an old language known as Latin," explained Ulric, "It means 'God wills.' We crusaders adopted it as a battle cry of sorts."
"You'll have to tell us more about it sometime," said Emilia as Puck yawned, "Unfortunately, Puck's time is about up and I'm afraid I need to get back to my studies for the royal selection."
"Ah, I have some studies of my own I must attend to as well," Said Ulric with a bow, "I shall see you again tomorrow your ladyship." Emilia giggled a little at his continued use of knightly manners before bowing herself. The two then parted ways as Ulric headed to the room they'd designated for him in the mansion.
When he arrived, the knight went ahead and pulled out a book of fairy tales of Lugnica. Not really the first thing one would expect a knight to have, but the pink-haired servant known as Ram had quickly noticed, and quite bluntly pointed out, that Ulric could not read any of the writing of this land. So, as per Emilia's request, Ram had been visiting him each night in order to teach him. This night would prove no different as the pink-haired girl entered his room.
"I see that you've already gotten to work on where we left off," said Ram, "At least you don't lack for motivation."
"As I've explained to you once before," said Ulric, "I've travelled to other foreign lands before and I've learned that knowing the native language and script is invaluable if one is going to survive, or at the very least avoid a number of inconveniences."
"Then let us waste no time," said Ram as she picked up the book and started going through a few sentences, "Tonight, we shall be going through a bit of sentence structure." Ulric nodded as the frustrating work began. He couldn't deny that he enjoyed reading, but he hated the fact that he felt like a small child again, being taught by a girl who was younger than he was, even if it was only by a couple of years. "What happened to your hand?"
Ulric looked up at the question before glancing at his hand. "Oh this," said Ulric as he examined a bite mark on his hand, "Yesterday when you sent me along with Rem to that little town, I encountered some children with a little pup. It seemed friendly enough, but the little bugger must've been teething because it took a pretty good bite of my hand."
"Or perhaps it simply hated your awful stench," said Ram, "I'm inclined to agree with it."
"I did take a bath today, thank you," Said Ulric, "So whatever you smell, I doubt it's me."
"Well it is most certainly something in this room," said Ram, "Which is unfortunate, given that it means more work for Rem and I."
"But it is also a matter I think you can leave until tomorrow," said Ulric, "I don't smell any stench, and even if I did, it would have to be exceedingly awful to keep me up."
"All that tells me is that you must have slept in some exceedingly horrendous places," Said Ram, "Perhaps you've slept in so many that an awful stench doesn't even register to your nose anymore."
"Well if it will please your delicate sensibilities, I shall wash myself more thoroughly tomorrow," said Ulric as he finished writing down the string of letters he'd been working on, "But before that could you tell me one thing? Why is it your sister keeps glancing at me with a glare in her eyes?" Ram seemed to contemplate his question for a moment before answering.
"This is only my opinion, but it is likely she disapproves of you freeloading around the mansion," Ram finally said, "Not so surprising. I don't really approve of it either."
"Lady Emilia approves of me being here," Said Ulric as he began writing another set of letters, "And I've neither heard nor seen any disapproval from Lord Roswaal either. So I find it a mystery that you're both so disapproving."
"I assure you that master Roswaal does have his reservations about allowing you to stay here," said Ram, "But he is a fair master and has allowed you to stay at Lady Emilia's request. But do not mistake his kindness as complete approval, should he sense even a hint of malice in your actions, he will punish you most severely." Instead of feeling dread at that statement, Ulric felt his lip curl into a slight smirk.
"You know you're surprisingly intimidating for a maid," said Ulric, "But then again, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at this point, given all I've seen since arriving."
"A real surprise would be you getting that next batch of letters finished before the night is over," said Ram. Ulric simply laughed at that as he continued writing. Conversation from that point on was sparse as he finished up his lesson, but not before his teacher had nodded off on his bed. 'Hm, complains about me smelling bad and then falls asleep on my bed, again.' It wasn't the first time this had happened and truthfully it was somewhat annoying, given that she was supposed to examine his progress.
But it hadn't become a problem as of yet and truthfully, Ulric had seen how hard the two maids worked around the mansion, so he was content to let her rest for a bit while he signaled her sister to come get her. Afterwards, Ulric set his blade underneath his pillow and turned in for the night himself.
Roswaal Mansion the Next Day
'The sun seems to be up surprisingly early this morning,' thought Ulric as he sat up in his bed. But something was off. He was back in the gray robes he'd been wearing on his first day in the mansion. "Dear sister, it seems our guest is finally awake," said the now familiar voice of Rem.
"Rem Rem, our guest also appears to be a little confused," replied Ram.
"What's going on?" Questioned Ulric, curious about the presence of the two maids in his room. Not to mention, it seemed a little familiar.
"Lady Emilia asked us to check on you routinely until you woke up," Replied Rem.
"Yes, you sustained several injuries," Added Ram, "I was fairly certain you wouldn't awaken."
"I don't have any injur-," Ulric stopped speaking as he glanced at his hand and froze. The bite mark he'd had on his hand was gone. "Tell me, how long have I been here?"
"You were brought in yesterday by Lady Emilia," answered Rem, "According to her you provided her with great assistance."
"Though it appears most of that assistance was as a simple meat shield," Added Ram. 'It couldn't be,' thought Ulric as he glanced back down at his hand. 'I've been at this mansion for five days and the bite mark on my hand was a day old, so it shouldn't have healed this quickly unless Emilia applied magic to it while I was sleeping. But there's no reason for her to wait until I fell asleep to do so, and I only wore this robe on my first day here, the rest of the nights I've slept in basic garments that wouldn't impede my movement if I needed to get up quickly.'
"Tell me," Said Ulric as he looked back up at the maids, "Do either of you know my name?" The two of them both put their fingers to their chins in thought.
"I recall lady Emilia mentioned that you went by the name, Ulfric or perhaps it was Ulvic," Said Rem.
"I did not even attempt to remember," Said Ram, "Given that I am unaware of the length of your stay, it might not even matter." 'So that settles it then,' thought Ulric, 'there's only one reason I know of that everything seems to have reset. Some time while I slept last night, I died.'
It seems our knight can only escape danger for so long before something else rears its ugly head. How did he die and who's responsible, that's a mystery that will need to be solved before Ulric enters another cycle of living and dying. Greetings everyone, hope you liked this week's chapter and as always, feel free to comment or leave a review about what you liked, what I could improve, or even an idea or two you might have. Be sure to stop in next time as Ulric begins his investigation of the threat to the mansion and his life. 'Til next time.
