"Addy! Guess what my dad brought me!" She ran over then came to a hard stop, looking to Adelynn with a face of overwhelming joy.
Adelynn flinched at her sudden arrival, particularly the use of her nickname. That was her nickname in her past like as well, but only her two friends used it. The reason Laas was using it now is because Adelynn told her she could. It felt strange to not allow her after hearing how similar Laas's name sounds. She even acted like her friends, mature until finding something fun, which makes them infectiously hyper instead.
It was so weird, but also strangely comforting. Some part of her wanted to believe it was more than a coincidence, but there was nothing backing that belief except for grief.
Adelynn returned Laas's excitement with cheerfulness. It was somewhat fake, but not forced. She liked seeing children happy.
"What is it? A familiar?" That was her first guess. Seeing as he brought those beasts today, why wouldn't he pass one down to his heir? Laas nodded, then added something she seemed much happier about.
"Yes, Dad brought me a baby Taieound and, and," She placed her hands infront of her for both Adelynn and Antonio to see, then clapped them together. A bright orange light flashed for a mere nanosecond, and a sword quickly built itself in her palms.
Antonio gawked, while Adelynn stared with a racing mind. The sword completely formed after 5 seconds; an ordinary crusader's sword in with a 33in blade length and a 4in grip length. Adelynn's eyes could tell with a glance–the sword is real, made as perfectly as the metal melee weapons in her time. Without technology!
She expected to see thousands of ways the technology in her past life could topple anything in this one. Although she had in many cases, this sword was one of the first to be otherwise.
Laas continued to explain her father's gift. "Dad bought me a new sword! He said it was made from ordinary orniec but enchanted by one of his private magicians to bond with the first person who summons it! Me!"
"Oh wow! You know summoning magic?" Antonio asked first. Adelynn wondered too. When did this child start practicing magic?
Laas nodded, then used a hand to swung to sword up high. Despite the usual weight of swords, this one didn't seem difficult for her to carry at all. "I only know one spell for summoning objects, but I can summon things in the environment. Dad calls it structured magic!"
She held her chin up high as she flaunted. Her dad told her humans could rarely use magic, let alone use it naturally. Which meant she was special!
Adelynn remembered that from a few years ago. One of the reasons Laas was staying with them was to practice without being watched. She simply never noticed her actually practice due to having her own classes, naptimes, and insisting for alone time.
She wasn't learning how to cast magic yet. However, she read books from Emil's old study secretly. It was closed and locked at first, but it wasn't too difficult to sneak the key from Bodie.
Since Emil studied the kingdom of magic, much of her research was on magic theory, principles, and reformant. The books explained magic to be dangerous and unpredictable for those without the very specific talent, most of them being fairies. Elves only tend to have the talent for animal and beast-based magic. Mr.Myi is an exception.
It took a bit to get used to how the books were written, but Adelynn eventually deciphered what structured magic is. Before she could read more about unstructured, their comparisons and difference, different realms of magic, and so on, she was discovered.
Bodie wasn't very kind that week, but at least in was in the past now.
Structured magic, it's a term that confused Adelynn at first. She was an avid fantasy mmorpg VR player, and magic was incredibly important to the fantasy genre. "Structured magic" reminded her of runes and scriptures. Spells that already physically exist, you just have to draw or say them and your magic, or mana in games, would produce the results.
That's not the case, though. In this world, she learned structured magic is magic that doesn't create something new. It uses what already exists in the magician's vicinity.
For example.. In Pearl 3D, the player chose a magician 'type', such as fire, water, or earth. If you chose fire, you can use fire spells to create strong fire depending on how much mana you have. Which increases as you play.
In this world, there is no such thing as 'types' for structured magic. All of them would use the elements around them. If there it a candle nearby, they can manipulate the flame. If they sit beside a fountain, they can manipulate the water. If they walk a dirt path, they can manipulate the path.
The limits in Pearl 3D aren't as obvious as they seem, which is why Adelynn liked the game. Without spending a dime, you could learn all branches of magic. To the point where, similar to this world, the player could control anything in their environment. One of Adelynn's bestfriends, Lafas, managed to master that in 5 years.
Based on how chaotic Lafas was sometimes, Adelynn could easily imagine the strength of someone talented in structured magic. It would be rather funny, actually.
Imagine a structured magician criminal running from a structured magician officer.
The criminal springs up a block of dirt from the ground, the officer plops the block of dirt back.
The criminal makes the dirt underneath them move so they don't have to run, the officer moves the dirt towards themself.
The criminal creates a crack in the earth to separate them, the officer closes the crack in the next moment.
Continuous back and forth like a cartoon, Adelynn's almost wished that's how it actually works. Though, it technically wouldn't. Magic is all about talent.
First, you have to have talent for either structured or unstructured magic. Second, you have to have enough of an affinity with whatever you're trying to manipulate/create. Third, you have to have enough talent to control your affinity in a physical way, most people with talent actually don't. Fourth, years and years of practice will allow you control over a part of your magic, but never all of it. As such, you have to be careful not to use it repetitively or attempt something beyond your capabilities, which will most likely backfire painfully.
It's simple overall, but in the example the criminal and officer would both have to have a high affinity for earth, and the officer would need a ton of talent to reverse an action already done.
Even in Arcanum, according to Emil's books, highly talented structured and unstructured magicians with high affinity to anything is uncommon. Not rare, like in the other three kingdoms, but not something you see everyday either.
"Woah.. even I can't use magic! Is it hard? Is it fun? Must I ask—how could it not be fun!" Antonio continued to gawk about it. Then, retorted his question with a woozy roll of the eyes. Adelynn chuckled and spoke what Antonio intended to ask next.
"Laas, would you care to show Prince Antonio and I later tonight?" She drank the rest of her sweet drink after speaking. Antonio nodded with her idea, looking up to Laas, who was, very surprisingly, several inches taller, with hopeful eyes.
For a second Laas looked embarrassed, then immediately replied with a bit of a stutter. "P-prince Antonio? Oh! W-well of course, how could I deny the prince's request of me? I'm honored you want to see, as I am nothing more than a beginner." She formal smile and tone, much different from her excited and friendly tone from before.
Laas didn't really notice the prince here before, which was to be expected. Human royalty here was similar to the royals on Adelynn's earth, who dressed especially rich for any occasion where they'd interact with other people. While elven royalty was more low-key, more like the kingdom's spokesperson than the CEO, except far more important.
"A beginner who can use magic remains as someone who uses magic, but I am glad you're willing." He said with difficult to discern mix of emotions. Clearly, he had grown stiff after hearing Laas's change in tone. At least he hadn't sunk back into his somewhat shy state from only a few minutes ago.
The three of them continued conversating, mostly Antonio and Laas talking about what structured magic spells she learned, and Adelynn asking about a question or two. She's very interested in magic, but there's not much she will learn hearing about it from a young child.
After around 30 minutes, there was a sudden round of applause. When the three looked over, they found that a stage had appeared on the far end of the ballroom, where coming down from the stairs you'd have a complete view. The area with drinks was to the left of this stage, close to a wall with an odd colored door.
The stage was large, taking up nearly half of the whole ballroom. No one seemed to mind, the adults actually looked liked excited children. Especially Emil's family, or, Adelynn's maternal family, who she could see right across, beside the staircase.
Mr.Tayan looked the least excited, but that's not to say he wasn't at all. He seemed to even look a little proud at the scene, which for some reason made Adelynn feel happy. The only one missing from the family was Jove, his voice coming from on-stage. The curtains pulled back as he started speaking.
"Thank you all for attending on this very unique day. My family from the Tayan Duchy, as most of you know, have a tradition that's been ongoing for a few thousand years." He walked closer to the edge of the stage, then gestured to his family by the stairs.
Jove adjusted his tie, then referenced a legend Adelynn had yet to hear about. "A familiar tale declares Grecira was founded on sacred land. The land was blessed by 10,000 gods from 10,000 realms, all a version of our goddess, Diana. Those blessings are what keep Grecira safe from monsters and protected by creatures of all kind, creatures otherwise thought to be vicious and menacing."
"After the plague that halved our population thousands of years ago, hundreds of gods gathered again. People did not believe those who called themselves gods, the king and queen were blinded by the notion they were the mightiest beings on this plane. Only my relative, a royal general at the time, avidly believed." He paused with a smirk. After a moment, he spoke up, this time Jove's voice was raised to grip the audience.
"My ancestor was said to be a madman, his status as the royal family's trusted general was revoked! He was to be burned alive for opposing the monarchs' belief. However, Diana herself came to his rescue on the day of his execution, in the form of a majestic deer! She shined with a brilliant light, blinding the executioner!"
Jove balled his hands into strong, vein-pulsing fists, then opened them up to mimick of strong explosion. It described it like an explosion that didn't harm a fly, only disrupting their sight. To follow his storytelling, the lights of the stage dimmed, then flashed back on.
They went back to normal and Jove continued, his voice carrying distinguishable pride.
"My ancestor disappeared... then showed up in the royal hall a month later, claiming to be able to disperse the plague from all of Grecira. Goddess Diana, in the form of a majestic deer, was there as well. Under fear of her blinding them for good, the king and queen doubtfully accepted his help.
My ancestor called upon the other thousands of gods. Without hesitation they blessed him, one man, with magic the kingdoms had never seen before. Healing magic! Instantly, he used it to prove his worth to the kingdom and to the gods, masterfully cleansing the plague that haunted and nearly wiped us to extinction! He revived the fallen!"
Jove waved his hands over the crowd of people, as though they had fallen dead, then rose back to life. The Tayan ancestor not only wiped the plague from the planet and healed all of those affected by it, he also brought back to life the most recently deceased.
"The royals dedicated the first Duchy of Grecira to my ancestor and guaranteed the prosperity of all of his descendants. Goddess Diana is said to have been so shocked a man, an elf, could use the gods' power without instantly dying, that she deemed him to be the most respect-worthy man in her lifetime! To reward him, she infused a part of her being into his bloodline."
The story was starting to come to an end and meet the present situation. Adelynn was caught up in Jove energy and the unbelievably of all that he was saying. He gestured towards her side of the ballroom, the eyes of the party guests looking over curiously.
"For thousands of years, Goddess Diana's blood has ensured we of the Tayan bloodline have the kingdom's strongest magic, if born with it. There are times were this magic is too strong at the age elves are usually tested, so my family have traditionally done the Arcanum's spatial test in advance. Today is my niece's 6th birthday, the day when her budding magic is at it's most concentrated!
You are all here for the celebration of such a leap, and the discovery of how deep the goddess's spirit runs in our new generation."
Jove closed on that note and the guests began applauding loudly. There were sounds of excitement as the stage lights changed again, a darker violet coating Jove as heavy and pitter-pattering footsteps were approaching from behind the curtains.
Jove waved Adelynn over with a grin. "Come, Dear."