I slept peacefully on the roof of the carriage. A small tarp stretched above me and extended to the ground where Pina slept cuddled up underneath. In the morning Pina poked my shoulder to wake me. Day four. More travelling and camping with nothing too exciting. The sun had barely risen and I had went to sleep late after the others had gone to bed. My body was refreshed however, already trained to run on minimal sleep.
It was the same routine, prepare breakfast, maintain the carriage, feed Pina and when the Hero and her party were ready, depart for a new day. The road wasn't the best around these parts but coupled with fine engineering and suspension the bumpy road was hardly felt. My biggest issue was the lack of joy. It had been awhile since I had been able to let loose. The stress inside me was continuing to build and my little rampage had only made it worse. Even now I had to keep an eye peeled in case of a random monster attack. The further away from a town the greater chance there was. Despite my best attempts our travel timing wasn't perfect to what it was before and anything could happen. This was all not even considering the Monster I had to face later….
When noon came I parked the carriage on the side of the road. I didn't know of any places to sightsee in the area and as we progressed the forests receded and the plains grew larger. On the plus side if a monster did attack I would be able to see it coming. Unless it was a ground dwelling one…. I was beginning to miss home more and more.
After lunch Ronalt declared we'd take a break. The Hero went to practise with Earnest who had quite forcefully asked me to join them. Despite how many times I had died my tolerance to pain wasn't any higher and I refused them.
As I checked our storage Taylor poked my side, "You know it's a rare chance to learn from a Master Swordsman like Earnest."
Her poke had startled me but I didn't turn around, "I like having my body in one piece thank you."
"That was an accident and you know it," she laughed. "Then again a commoner like you probably hasn't dealt with much pain at all. Scared to get hurt?"
Her words dug into me more than they should have. I faced her, "I've been hurt enough."
"Oh?" she let out teasingly. "If it's emotional pain I've been known to heal those kinds of wounds."
I sighed, "Just forget it. Besides, I'd rather have a go at learning magic than anything else."
"Did someone say learning magic?" Ardent who was several metres away perked up. I was surprised he heard me. His eyes locked on to mine.
"It was nothing Ardent," I replied politely as Ronalt's stare dug daggers into my scalp.
"Nothing?" Ardent came closer, "Nothing!? To learn magic is to open the gates of the universe, to see through all and to understand the fabric of life! Even Taylor here has learnt magic. 'Nothing' is the exact opposite!"
He was becoming incredibly enthusiastic. It wasn't the first time I had seen this either. When he discussed magic, his eyes would light up like a child's.
"My magic and yours are worlds apart," Taylor scoffed.
"Perhaps," Ardent smiled. "But are you not curious as to what young Rain here has to offer?"
She looked me up and down. My body felt suddenly naked. "I must admit he does have me curious."
"Please don't…." I looked at them weakly.
"Oh what's the problem?" Ardent grabbed my shoulder. "We can at least do an inspection." The problem was Ronalt with his arms folded glaring at me. I get it, I'm overstepping my bounds but it seriously wasn't my fault this time. Even worse the Hero, Marley and Earnest had also caught on.
Ardent sat me down on a short stool, "Rain you already have the basic knowledge required from your Apothecary studies. Who knows, you could be even more talented than I." I highly doubted that, but his words had opened a slight burning inside me. Back in Axel while magicians had passed through I had never learnt any magic. To say I wasn't intrigued would be lying especially seeing what Ardent and the Hero were capable of.
"Well, if it's just an inspection I guess that's okay," I gave in.
Ardent chuckled, "Let's see just what types of mana you are favourable in." A Master like Ardent didn't require the use of tools and he joyfully placed his hand on my back. There was a pause. "Hmm, Rain could you please remove your upper garments."
"Yes take off your clothes for us Rain," Taylor whistled next to me. I held back my words as the others were nearby and did as I was told. Ardent placed his hand on my skin and a flash of light lit up behind my back. I wondered if it was working as for several seconds no one said a word.
Then suddenly Ardent cackled, "This-this is amazing! Impossible, for a person like you to exist!" His joyous cheer drove the others to come closer, Ronalt included. "Even compared to Lara you are a rarity!"
My eyes widened involuntarily. To be compared to the Hero, was I secretly incredibly talented in magic? If that was the case no matter how many times I died I could slowly learn magic and save myself. My thoughts of grandeur continued to rise.
"Is it that good?" I asked trying to hide my excitement. It had been a long time since I had felt this way. Like a child receiving a new favourite toy.
"The exact opposite actually," Ardent's words said one thing but his voice was overjoyed. For a moment I was speechless from confusion.
"Huh?"
The Hero's voice responded sympathetically, "It's-It's not the end of the world."
"End of the world!?" Ardent laughed, "Rain's existence is the beginning."
I stood up and pulled my clothes back on, "Can someone please explain?"
Ardent nodded, barely able to contain his giddiness, "Rain you understand mana theory correct?"
Mana theory was important for apothecaries just as it was for a magician. I nodded, "36 types of mana, and magic is cast depending on the mixture of those 36 types." For an apothecary we used the mana found in plants and animal parts to create potions.
"Yes, and people can naturally excel in using some types over others. The Hero excels at 32 of the 36 types, a number exceedingly high, however you trump even her. While people can be talented there is a possibility to be inversely talented, and you Rain are exactly that in all 36 types!"
"…." I just stared at him. Taylor was struggling not to laugh, while the Hero and Marley looked at me with soft eyes. "In other words… I can't use magic at all?"
The Hero answered, "You can… it's just it'll be incredibly hard."
"Indeed," Ardent nodded enthusiastically, "You're more likely to pass out than anything else."
At this point I really wanted to grab his shoulders and give him a good shake while screaming, 'why are you so happy!?' Of course I had to force myself to refrain. Instead I cleared my throat.
"That's disappointing news," there was no small amount of strain in my voice and my eyes locked on to Ardent heavily implying for him to explain his rapture.
"To you maybe, however!" Ardent gripped my shoulders intensely, "Your existence clarifies some of the key mysteries of mana and magic. Here you are inversely talented in all aspects of mana yet somehow you are alive, somehow mana can still exist inside you. What does that mean for researchers like me? You have broken many theories, mine included, yet you have opened the door to new truths. Perhaps there are more types of mana we do not know of, perhaps our idea of mana is wrong to begin with. Are you alone? Are there others like you? Just how much could we learn from you ourselves!?"
"That's enough Ardent," Ronalt pulled him away from me. I was truly thankful to him for once as Ardent's gaze had started to become dangerous. "We have a mission to complete."
Ardent looked at him and then back to me and sighed, "Of course." Suddenly his hand took mine and he gripped it intently, "But Rain, once this is all over, I implore you to come with me back to the Guild."
"Ah, I'll think about it," there was no heart in my reply. While it might have been amazing news for Ardent, for me I felt my spirits being crushed. No wonder I was never taught magic in Axel. My various foster parents probably had me inspected when I was young and hid the truth. They were quite intent to fill my time with other work and always watched me when a magician arrived in town.
"We need to get moving," Ronalt broke us up. "Everyone into the carriage."
"Yes sir…," I internally sighed, dejected, and went to console myself in Pina's feathers.