Chapter 129: Magic Lesson

“Magic can be learned by anyone, but naturally, those who have received a ‘Gift’ from Magis-sama, the God of Magic, can use magic more powerfully than other mages. [Magic Doubling] and [Chantless] are examples of this.”

Listening to Stram-sensei’s explanation, I was nodding and recalling the attributes.

Everyone in this world, to a greater or lesser extent, possesses magical power.

That magical power is divided into six basic attributes: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, and Dark, as well as other Special attributes, and aptitude for these varies from person to person.

It’s not that you absolutely cannot use magic if you don’t have an aptitude for its attribute; even a child can supposedly use simple daily life magic if taught properly.

“This aptitude for attributes can also change significantly depending on the ‘Gift’ one is bestowed. For Lady Estelle, who likely received a ‘Gift’ from Holy-sama, the Goddess of the Sacred, the Special attribute of Holy will likely show strongly. For Lady Sakuraile, who received a ‘Gift’ from Samonia-sama, the Goddess of Summoning, the Dark attribute will likely be prominent.”

Ohh… Dark. Dark attribute, huh… It doesn’t exactly have a good image…

Dark attribute magic in this world is mainly magic that manipulates things like summoning, time/space, and the mind, right? I’m pretty sure magic like [Sleep Cloud] was Dark attribute too.

Since Father and Mother also received their ‘Gifts’ from the Goddess of Time and Space, their aptitude for the Dark attribute is likely high. Maybe I should learn Dark attribute magic from my parents when they have free time.

“To check your aptitude for each attribute, we use this Magic Crystal Fan.”

Saying that, Stram-sensei placed something that looked like a bundle of thin, long boards on the desk. When he opened it, it spread out like a folding fan.

A crystal-like sphere was embedded at the base where the seven thin boards connected.

“If you hold here and lightly let your magical power flow…”

When Stram-sensei held the crystal part of the fan, the boards began to dye into seven vivid colors.

From the base where Sensei was holding it, each color extended radially toward the tips, but the extent of the spread varied by color. The three colors red, blue, and green extended to about seventy percent, while the other colors extended only slightly from the base.

“As you can see, I have strong aptitudes for Fire, Water, and Wind, while the others are not very high.”

I see. The color corresponding to the aptitude suited for you extends. The aptitudes for Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, Dark, and Special are glowing in red, blue, brown, green, yellow, purple, and white respectively.

“Now then, shall we try with Lady Estelle?”

“Y-Yes.”

Estelle received the Magic Crystal Fan from Stram-sensei, closed her eyes, and let her magical power flow.

Then, just as Sensei had said, the white color of the Special attribute dyed the board all the way to the tip in an instant.

“As expected, the Special attribute is outstanding. It is almost certainly the Holy attribute. I believe you will be able to use the other attributes up to beginner magic right away.”

Estelle’s fan has the attributes other than white dyed about a third of the way. Does this mean she can use all attributes? As expected of the protagonist, I suppose.

“Now then, next is Lady Sakuraile.”

“Yes.”

I took the Magic Crystal Fan from Estelle and lightly let my magical power flow. Then, as expected, the purple of the Dark attribute dyed in an instant, followed by the white of the Special attribute doing the same.

However, the other five attributes were even lower than Estelle’s, emitting only a faint light. This means…

“I could predict the Dark attribute, but to think you would have such great aptitude for the Special attribute as well…”

Stram-sensei groaned, ‘Hmm…’.

The Dark attribute is probably thanks to Samonia-sama, the Goddess of Summoning, but the Special attribute is likely because of the [Holy Sword], right…? That’s definitely a Holy attribute weapon. Also, it might be due to the protection of the Nine Goddesses.

“The other five attributes are barely glowing, this is…”

“Indeed… With this level of aptitude, I believe even beginner magic will be difficult. Well, you should be able to use daily life magic, though.”

Ah, I knew it. But daily life magic is just that, right? Things like [Ignition] that works like a lighter to start a small fire, or [Aqua Create] that produces a glass of water, right? It’s convenient, but…

It seems I don’t have any talent as a mage in that regard.

Basically, the quality and quantity of magical power are inherited to some extent. That’s the reason why there are many excellent mages among the nobles.

Since I also technically carry the blood of the Imperial Family, my quality and quantity seem to be higher than average for my age.

But there’s nothing I can do about aptitude. Since I’m in a fantasy world, I really wanted to try firing off magic left and right.

Since Stram-sensei can only use Fire, Water, Wind magic, and daily life magic, I’ll probably have to learn Dark and Special attribute magic from someone else.

Well, since there aren’t many people with Special attributes to begin with, one usually has no choice but to figure it out themselves anyway.

For today, I’m going to practice [Aqua Create] together with Estelle.

“Ah, [Aqua Create].”

When Estelle activated the daily life magic, a few drops of water fell drip, drop into a cup placed on a plate. It’s only enough water to make you think, ‘Did it start raining?’. This isn’t enough for drinking water.

“For your first time, this is very well done. Producing something from a state of nothingness is quite difficult.”

“Are there any tricks to it?”

“I suppose it comes down to repeated practice. Lady Estelle, please focus on producing a larger amount than you just did next time.”

“Y-Yes. [Aqua Create].”

When Estelle activated the magic again, this time water fell into the cup with a tapa-tapa sound, amounting to a slightly spilled quantity. Ohh, the amount of water increased.

“Producing about one cup of water is the limit for [Aqua Create]. Therefore, once you can produce that amount, you can say you have mastered it.”

The water Estelle produced was about a quarter of a cup. At this rate, she’ll probably master it in no time.

“Now then, Lady Sakuraile too.”

I focused my magical power on the cup on the plate placed in front of me. The image of gathering water from the air, I guess… Like making a sponge absorb it, and then squeezing it tightly…

“[Aqua Create].”

When I activated the magic, water poured into the cup with a splash, and it stopped perfectly when the cup was brimming to the top.

“To succeed on your first try… Very excellent. It seems Lady Sakuraile has already mastered it.”

“Amazing! Lady Sakuraile! How did you do that!?”

Stram-sensei was impressed, and Estelle asked excitedly. I wonder if it’s that thing? ‘Magic is about imagery’?

So, I tried teaching Estelle exactly what I had visualized earlier. Then, with her next [Aqua Create], Estelle successfully poured a full cup of water. As expected, imagery is important when using magic.

After that, we also learned the daily life magic [Ignition] to light a fire, [Light] to illuminate the surroundings, [Blow] to send a breeze, [Stone Create] to make a small block, and [Calm Down] to soothe someone’s mind.

Having tried using magic, I realized that this really would be difficult without the aptitude.

For example, if you wanted to fill a bathtub with water, you’d have to activate [Aqua Create] countless times, but a mage with high aptitude for the Water attribute could do it in one shot using [Water Ball].

Since everyone has different aptitudes, you can only call this individuality.

People with many aptitudes will likely take up magic-related professions, and people without will live without relying on magic.

Besides, almost no one in the slums could use daily life magic. Since you can’t even feel your own magical power in the first place, it’s impossible to use it even if you try.

The old pharmacist lady who raised me was an apothecary who made magic potions using magical power, so I think she knew how to use magical power. Maybe she could use daily life magic too. I’ve never seen it, though.

Daily life magic is convenient to have, but even without it, there are plenty of substitutes. Flint for [Ignition], candles for [Light].

Well, I’ll learn them properly since they’ll be useful in emergencies.

Next, Stram-sensei started teaching Estelle beginner magic.

Since I can only learn daily life magic, I’m just watching. Stram-sensei can’t teach the Dark and Special attributes that I can use, after all.

Fundamentally, Stram-sensei is an academic tutor, so this magic lesson is a deviation from his duties.

Despite that, he offered to teach me daily life magic and whatever matched his own attributes as much as he could. I really have to get Father to pay him overtime for this.

“[Water Ball]!”

A mass of water about the size of a basketball is bobbing up and down in front of Estelle. Ohh, amazing! It’s incomparably larger than [Aqua Create].

Estelle is moving that ball of water back and forth, left and right. I mean, what are you going to do with that? We’re indoors…

“Lady Estelle, please direct it outside the window.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

Estelle carried the water ball outside through the window Stram-sensei opened for her. Estelle is moving along with the water ball; I wonder if she loses control if she gets too far away from it?

With a splash, the water ball that went out the window fell onto the snow outside.

“Phew…”

“Very excellent. With a little more practice, you will also be able to fly the water ball as if throwing it. [Water Ball] can be used to attack enemies with its mass, and it can also extinguish fires. If your control becomes exceptional, you could even keep it fixed to an enemy’s face to suffocate them.”

Suffocation… What a gruesome way to use it…

But even beginner magic can be quite useful depending on how you use it. It’s all about how you use it, huh.