SWNOVELXO Chapter 12: Chapter 012
The next day, Madoka and Mami arrived at Wulf's place at the same time. He led them a small distance further into the swamp, to a grove of knotted trees on some dry ground away from the town. While yesterday had been somewhat sunny, today the swamp was a bit colder and much foggier, giving it a much more threatening appearance.
"We haven't been able to cast magic since coming here." Madoka told him as they sat down on some rocks, "Normally we'd just use our gems, but they haven't been responding."
"As I've said before, soul magic is dangerous," Wulf said, "A soul is itself energy, and using that energy up will diminish it and corrupt what's left. It's why most people don't do it to themselves, because using their own soul to power their spells will inevitably kill them."
None of that was news to the girls, but the central question remained, "So how do we use magic then?" Mami asked him, leaning forward on her rock.
Wulf explained, "Magic comes from Aetherius, a realm beyond this one. It filters down to us through the sun and stars, which is why being born under certain constellations may have an effect on one's personality and magical persuasion." To this, both girls frowned with skepticism—astrology wasn't what they'd really signed up for here but Wulf pressed on, ignorant of their cynicism, "From there magic inhabits all things. Magic is in everything; in every creature that moves, in every natural phenomenon that occurs. It's in the air you breathe, the water you drink, the ground you walk on. It's energy, and without it this world could not exist."
"… It combats entropy," Madoka said knowingly.
"Exactly!" Wulf said, wagging his finger approvingly, "Your soul is magic, yes, but your body has a reservoir of magic as well, as does everything around you. Now," he stood up, "Who would like to try a simple candlelight spell?"
Both girls stood up, but Madoka was slightly faster—a fact that made her flush a bit with embarrassment when she realized she'd essentially cut Mami off, but the blonde gave her the go ahead with a smile and graciously sat back down. She could wait.
Wulf approached the former goddess and cast his own version of the spell. A soft pale light emerged from his palms, floating upwards until it hovered above the three, lazily moving about until it vanished.
"Candlelight is an alteration spell, designed to provide a small light in dark places. Care to try?" he asked Madoka. The pinkette nodded and then with an almost comedic face of concentration began to try and summon her own light source. After a moment of tense silence, she sighed and slumped over in defeat.
"It's not working…"
Wulf chuckled, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "That's because you're still trying to cast from your soul, not your body".
"How am I supposed to do that?" Madoka asked back, frustrated, "I don't know how!"
"Casting from your soul is like using a muscle, right? Then casting from another source is like using another muscle you don't use as often. It might be hard at first, but once you get it, you'll never forget it". Wulf replied as Madoka began to try again, "I can't tell you exactly how to do it, magic is a personal effort for everyone involved".
|
|
"No one draws magic or weaves it in the same way. It's not a science, despite what some may tell you. It's an art."
Kyoko begrudgingly stood back up, her clothes and hair singed from the flames spell she'd just received. The teacher was prepared to stop there, but Kyoko told her to get back in the ring and throw another goddamn fireball. The teacher was hesitant, but honored her request anyway.
Another round of fire came her way, and Kyoko would not budge.
… And then the fire stopped dead in its tracks. Kyoko's hands shone with a golden glow, and with that faint grip Kyoko pushed further as she grit her teeth, getting a better handle on the ward. A defensive shield of light emerged from her hands and Nagisa cheered on excitedly.
With a final push, Kyoko knocked the fireball aside, and it impacted the bark-like wall harmlessly. Kyoko was sweating buckets and panting heavily, her body still smoldering and in pain… but she had a wolf-like grin of satisfaction plastered on her face from ear to ear.
|
|
"Imagine painting, or sculpting, or baking. You can teach someone the basics, the principles of what makes something good or bad. But ultimately?
Star charts and books littered the table where Homura had been studying. Topics like "Baar Dau"-the rogue asteroid that had evaporated Vivec City, the constellations, the planes of Oblivion and Aetherius, skyshards and the Planemeld, meteoric glass—anything about objects falling from the sky, and various schools of magic had been pulled from the shelves of the library. Homura for her part stood in front of a stool where the invisibility spellbook sat face-open.
Homura calmed herself again, ready for her one hundred and fifth consecutive try.
Again, nothing happened. Homura let out a frustrated grunt, but steadied herself, looked at the book once more, and then prepared her one hundred and sixth consecutive attempt.
This time, magical sparks came out.
However, on her one hundred and eighth consecutive attempt at invisibility, Homura seemingly vanished from the world.
"Ultimately, magic is an expression of who we are, and how we exert our will on the world around us."
|
|
They'd been in the swamp all evening.
Exhausted after hours of nothing and over a hundred attempts, Madoka let a small giggle escape her disbelieving lips as a small soft light floated above her, illuminating the swamp in the otherwise dying light of the evening. It had taken all afternoon, but she'd finally succeeded.
Her light, that she'd made with her own two hands. It was such a shadow of what she'd used to be capable of, and yet… it meant all the world to her right now.
Wulf nodded approvingly, "It just takes practice."