Chapter 4. Learning Magic
In the morning, Lee Long hurried to the Europe 9 Magic Academy building. It was a large building in the center of the colony. All the mages studied and trained at the academy. He knew that today he would get a trip to the main planet of the Ferin race. On the capital planet at the Ferin magic academy, he would be able to unlock his magic.
The boy entered and immediately turned to the tall she-cat. It had a fur of golden color. Her eyes looked intently at the visitor. Ferin knew at once that another newcomer had come. Both the mage and the boy knew the procedure well.
"I welcome a newcomer to the academy. Are you ready to begin classes? Or do you want to unlock your magic?"
"Greetings, honored mage. I have not unlocked my magic. Please help me."
"No problem. Follow me, kitten."
Lee Long followed the cat. From the hall, a wide staircase led to the second floor. On the second floor were the lecture rooms for students. Ferin walked only a few steps to the corner of the hall. They came to a magical portal. A small area of light flickered on the floor. It was an ordinary teleporter. Only living sentient beings could pass through such a teleporter. Large vehicles and heavy cargo could not pass through it.
Through a small magical teleporter, anyone could go through. How did magic define users? How did it separate the living from the non-living? It was a mystery. Humans did not know the nuances of magic. Humans were just beginning to learn magic. No one shared the knowledge with competitors.
Two hundred years ago, the advent of teleportation on Earth caused many problems. Humans suddenly learned that Earth's civilization was only a small room in the house of the huge megalopolis of the Galaxy. Planet Earth proved to be poor invaluable resources. The only value of planet Earth turned out to be people. Earthmen were capable of elemental magic.
Water magic was a very valuable type of ability. Water magic had the Healing skill.
There is nothing more valuable than the life and health of a sentient being. Healers had a regular practice in the colony and cities of the Galaxy. Humans could be mage healers that made their race an interesting "commodity" in the marketplace of the Galaxy. Very few races could heal with magic.
The cat stopped at the spot of light and asked,
"Have you used the teleporter before?"
"Mistress Mage, I have even been a tourist in the capital city of Ferin. Your capital is a magical and delightful city. I am ready to follow you."
The cat purred with pleasure – "Well-mannered kitten!" – and stepped into the teleporter. Her body dissolved into the air in a stream of light sparks. Lee Long walked boldly into the bright spot on the floor of the local academy.
Suddenly a strange pressure made him close his eyes. He had used teleporter several times! He had long wanted to see what was between the entrance and the exit. But his eyes always betrayed him and closed. Magic!
Lee stood in a new room. It was very large. Much larger than the hall of the Colonial Academy.
The mage didn't let the newcomer get acquainted with his new surroundings.
"There was an important job to do. You'll get to know everything there is to know, kitten. Follow me."
Lee Long knew the procedure for discovering magic. Most people got magic on their own. Magical energy was not available on Earth. Magic permeated the entire galaxy. Every sentient sooner or later received magic. Lee Long had heard stories from older acquaintances. It was going to hurt. He was ready for the pain. He was even willing to pay that price for the new gift.
The boy followed the cat and didn't have time to look around. But there were no interesting new features in the wide hallway. Ordinary doors flanked each other and several students passed by.
The cat stopped at one door and said quietly,
"You're going to get hurt, kitten. Be patient and don't be afraid. There is a healer in the hall of awakening magic. Your life is safe."
"I want to become a water mage. Wish me luck."
The cat smiled and wished him good luck.
Lee opened the door and walked into the Awakening Hall. He immediately saw a man in the corner of the hall. The boy nodded to the healer and made his way to the center of the hall.
In the center of the hall was a strange structure. Lee could see that the pieces were made of different materials. Wood and various metals, glass, and beams of light merged into an intricate construction. It was frightening in that its shapes were constantly changing! It looked like a living thing. It moved, but it was a special mechanism.
Lee Long had heard stories about the awakening procedure, but he had not had time to look closely at this marvelous magical artifact.
He approached the artifact and a beam of light struck his chest. A sudden faint pain gripped his body. He was uncomfortable but annoyed by the inability to move. He felt the force of the pain irritate and build up in his body. Suddenly a message appeared before his eyes,
[Warning, Artifact of additional skill awakening has been found. Personalization is in progress, 23%... 51%... 79%... 100%. Warning. Available skill Magic of the elements. Discovered person's aptitudes, Fire magic 72%, Air magic 69%, Earth magic 74%, Water magic 67%. Do you wish to choose an additional skill? Yes/No.]
Lee Long smiled and thanked fate for his gift. He had a choice! Without the Duelist System, he might not have gotten water magic. The smallest percentage of compatibility with water was bad. Now he could make important changes in his development.
Lee Long agreed to make a choice and wanted the Water Magic skill. He checked his status and saw that he had a new skill, Water Magic Level 1.
Suddenly all sorts of discomfort were gone and some force pushed the boy away from the artifact. Lee didn't fall to the floor, he took a few steps back. The mage healer immediately cast a healing spell on the boy and said with surprise,
"You are very fast! And quite dexterous. May I congratulate the new fire mage?"
"I got the magic of water! I wanted to be a healer!"
The magician smiled,
"Congratulations, my future colleague. Are you feeling well? No problems?"
"Thank you. I'm fine. Can I go now?"
The healer's face became serious and he stopped the new student,
"Take your time. I have to help the new student of water magic. I congratulate you and wish you success in mastering the magic of water. Take these two artifacts. They will help you learn the two basic skills of water magic. Listen to this advice. At the beginning of your magical journey, everyone wants to strengthen their attack skills. My young colleague, I recommend that you devote all your free time to learning the healing skill. When you improve your skill you can start practicing in the capital! This will give you a start in accumulating useful contacts and money. Taking care of your colony is a duty. But every door in the galaxy is open to the healer! Make a wise choice."
Lee Long picked up two small artifacts. They looked like two frozen little drops of water. When he clenched the drops in his fist, he was able to learn two new skills, Healing and Ice Arrow.
The little mage walked out of the Awakening Hall and smiled at the golden-haired cat,
"I became a water mage."
"What a good kitty! A good day for the colony of Europe 9. A good day for my tribe."
The cat was very happy. A new healer on the planet is a guarantee of new favors. She winked at the boy,
"Do you want to tell your family and friends the great news? No problem. We're going back to the colony. Take this communicator. Read the new information. Now you can learn specifically and in detail about the intricacies of training at the Academy of Magic. Hurry up, kitten! I'm hungry."
Lee Long looked at his first personal communicator with pleasure. This device in the shape of a thin bracelet was a sophisticated technomagic artifact. Most of all, its functions were similar to a powerful computer. A communicator is the best helper of a colonist and an inhabitant of the Galaxy.
The cat and the boy walked to the teleporter and returned to the Academy of Magic Europe 9.
The Academy of Magic on the capital planet of Ferin had a teleporter that connected all the colonists' Academies from Earth. The teleporter allowed for the training of students in magical perfection. The main thing in teaching magic was the actual application of magical skills. You can't increase the strength of the Fire Arrow skill by hitting a wall with an arrow a hundred times. Only by using the skill against another mage could you improve your skill.
The system of Academies, linked by teleporters, allowed participating in magical duels.
Magical combat was the only way to improve one's skill.
All Academies cared about perspective and order in their colonies. Only children were free to trouble each other. It was a method for awakening magic. It was a way to develop one's skill. A child with his weak power could not do much damage to his peers. But an Academy student had no right to fight a student from his colony. The competition was between the colonies. Within the colony, all the people were in solidarity and cared about the prestige and prosperity of their common home.
Lee knew right away that he was in heaven. The academy is a lot of fighting! Wonderful! Now he doesn't have to maintain the image of a stupid troublemaker and fighter. He's ready to be the best! Let the students of the other colonies tremble at the prospect of meeting him in a duel.
The academy was not a closed boarding school. A student could leave the Academy building at any time. A student was free to spend his time studying various knowledge. Studies could last for several dozen years. The main focus of the student was the development of his magic. Many additional disciplines were studied in faculties.
The cat nudged the boy toward the exit of the hall,
"Go and make your loved ones happy. There's a long way to go. Congratulations on the beginning of your mastery of magic, kitten."
Lee Long nodded to the cat and walked out of the academy with a happy smile on his face. A group of familiar children was waiting for him outside.
"Congratulations, Lee! Quickly answer, what is your magic?" asked Hannah Muller.
He smiled and answered honestly,
"Water magic."
"That's great! You've drawn your lucky ticket. The colony will help you quickly develop the Healing. You're good! But you're a lazy ass! Why didn't you awaken the water magic sooner?"
Lee scratched his head and didn't know what to answer.
Hannah activated her communicator and contacted her acquaintances. Lee was surprised by her assertiveness. He got excited when he heard the conversation, "Daddy! Great news. Lee Long got the water magic. Yes, you're right. I'll follow up on the case. See you tonight!"
"Lee Long, you start practicing at the colony today. The hospital needs your skill. The colony can now afford the job of an extra miner! Europe 9 will increase its rating.
Lee immediately understood the girl. The colony's existence depended on the work of the mine to produce a valuable resource. Europe 9 was at the entrance to the M-crystal mine. Mixed crystals were added to an alloy of metals and increased the quality of any alloy. It was more valuable than any gold. Without mix-crystals, it was impossible to create hyperdrives and develop any of the higher technologies of the Galaxy. But mining crystals was a dangerous business. In the mine, the miner received life-threatening radiation. Only magic could save the worker's health. Even a teenager with a mana reserve of 30 could use Healing 30 times and save the health of an adult.
Lee had a duelist system. He now knew the effects of magic specifically and precisely. He already knew that it restores one mana point per hour. The boy could accurately control his development. And he had excellent prospects! He was glad to help his colony.
Lee Long used his communicator and summoned Sergeant Nick. The boy boasted of his achievement. Nick laughed and called him a "first aid kit." Maria was more pleased; she was drawn to her job as a tough soldier. Lee talked to the adults and went straight to the hospital. Colony Chief Muller had already given the order. The adult healers and doctors greeted their new colleagues with respect. No one joked about his age and the beginnings of magical healing. Lee was given a schedule and two patients for his daily healing session. He learned that the colony board had increased his income. He was now receiving not only a pension but also a fee for working at the hospital.
He did not see the condition of the miner's health, his skill level Appraisal was low. Lee spent 30 mana; he applied Healing to each of his patients 15 times.
In the evening, Sergeant Nick laughed at him, "You won't make a real soldier. But being a healer and increasing the abilities of fighters is a great thing!" Maria rubbed her left shoulder and said, "Water mages are as dangerous as fire mages. Not as simple, but dangerous. I remember getting 'frozen' by one pirate. It was disgusting and painful. Stop talking trash. Dinner is ready, let's celebrate!"