"I don't have any idea what's happening." Kolin sighed through the phone. I would've liked to berate him further, but I couldn't. He sounded tired. I tried to open my mouth, but It refused to budge; I just didn't know what to say.
"—Hey! It's not that bad if you think about it. Just don't use it if you don't want to, it is as simple as that." Cutting the silence off, Caner tried to lift up the mood. And if I really do think about it, it's not as big of a deal…but I trust my instinct, and lately, I've been feeling a little off about all this.
Sypher, who has been staying silent all this while, finally spoke out her mind. "What are you all talking about?" She said as she frowned in apparent confusion and disbelief. Maybe it sounded like a fantasy of a bunch of pubescent teenagers to her—excluding Kolin of course—or not. I put the phone call on speaker so they could hear.
"Sypher?" Said Kolin through the phone, "Have you been listening all this while?" His voice sounded a bit off—nervous. I thought that maybe he did not want her to know. 'Too late, I guess.' I grimaced, 'Oof.'
"Y-yea? What happened? And what are you all talking about? Not to pry, but…" She looked at us, "The girls are acting weird." She then added. I wanted to explain to her for a second, but that is not within my rights. So I let Kolin tell her.
"I planned to tell you anyway…but not now, I'll explain when I see you," Kolin said.
"Then, I'll wait." Sypher gave a sad smile. Was she disappointed? Maybe, but they haven't really known each other for a long time.
"Thanks."
I then thought about it. "What would actually happen to us if we gained rule over mana? Do we get super bodies?" Kolin hasn't really done a good job explaining.
"No, that's not how it works." Kolin Said, "Sigh, well, it's possible to get an unusually strong body, but not instantaneously."
"Continue."
"…I'm trying to think of a similar concept…Ah, it's like this. The Human body stores fat, don't they?" I nodded along, "Mana is basically like fat—stored energy inside the body of mages', but it is also like a muscle. The mana is either stored or cultured. You can use your stored-up mana to tamper with your surroundings or like how we fly. Cultured mana is different though, you can't use your cultured mana outside your body, so you can't consume it. You can—however, overexert it like a muscle."
"I get it." Lux said, "You eat to gain stored mana, and you exercise to gain cultured mana."
I couldn't help but exclaim because of the great analogy Lux gave.
"Exactly. That's the basics of it, but it can get quite dangerous." I knew it would, there would always be a danger factor in everything there is.
"And why is that?" Lux inquired.
"…well, there was nothing—it was okay, for the most part, to be a mage in my previous world."—as he mentioned that, I saw Sypher flinch. "Mages are born along with their rule over mana…so I found it quite peculiar as to how that lanky dude gained it without even me doing anything artificially."
"So, what's the danger?" Lux again asked.
"Ah, well, the danger is that we don't know."
"You don't…?" I asked.
"Yes, the magic here has been so different than what I—we are used to. So there are so many variables to consider if it's safe or not." The child-like voice of Caner sounded.
"I haven't mentioned, Tobin, as he gained rule, blew up an entire floor of a building."
"Not to mention, most of the supposed rubble just disappeared," Caner added.
As the conversation continued, we decided to go inside the living room. We have been standing for far too long, so we sat around the coffee table to talk.
"Disappeared?" Sypher added to their conversation.
"Yea….it was like it wasn't even there. I know a lot about mana considering what I am, but I have never seen something quite like this." Caner voiced his amazement.
"Can I ask, what—how do you determine what magic you can do?" Sypher inquired, and I couldn't help but be amazed by her question as it led me to what I was initially curious about.
"We usually know by the bloodline, most bloodlines can control fire rather easily, and some can even gain access to more unusual magic. We don't exactly know what they can do, they determine that themselves." Kolin answered, explaining clearly.
"Then, what magic can you do?" To my surprise, Sypher didn't find anything we said ridiculous, rather she replied with curiosity. 'A scientist in heart, huh?'
"I can do anything," Kolin said, although it was a braggy statement, there was no hint of arrogance in his voice. "That leads me to what I was about to say next. Which is Science or rather, the lack thereof in my previous world. One of the most valuable things I learned in my time here is your studies. Chemistry, Physics…it was fascinating to me. And what's more, is that I can apply it on my magic…so it doesn't really matter what my bloodline is now."
"Mana…all that you're saying lines up to what we have discovered. Have you known all this while what I talked about before?"
"Yes, that's why I asked you for help with my project."
"And what project is it really?" I saw Sypher frown for she tried to inquire what Kolin wanted.
"A portal…a gate back to my previous world."
"What? Are you insane? You're asking for something humanity hasn't even believed possible!"
"I know, but I already finished the basics. I just need your help with this one, then I can—"
"Sorry Kolin, but no. You're risking a lot here!" Sypher adamantly refused, the disbelief still present in her voice.
"Think about it! You will be revered as the greatest scientist ever!" My stomach dropped as Kolin's voice became more and more desperate. He sounded out of it—insane.
But then a voice reprimanded him. A strong and decisive voice, "Kolin." He said in an authoritative tone, "Get a hold of yourself."
I was shaken. I have never seen Kolin like this before…he sounded not like himself—at least not what I am used to. Kolin, after hearing the voice, calmed himself down rather forcefully. He clenched both of his fists—they were glowing—and then punched himself on both sides of his temple.
"H-hey, what the hell?" I grimaced as the sound of flesh hitting each other was enough for the weak-willed to belch his guts out.
"My bad…" Kolin then apologized, "Haha…alter ego and all…" He chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head.
Perturbed, I asked him, "What's up with you?" I asked in a somewhat hesitant voice since he seemed unfamiliar.
"Ah, well, long story short, I have an alter ego." He smiled, and I know he tried to console me as he made gestures saying he was well and fine.
"I knew you were somewhat of a psychopath," Sypher then commented. She was obviously joking, but her eyes were worried.
She somewhat had the gist of everything now, but I knew that doubt that still lingers within her. The only thing that is keeping her from not taking this seriously is her trust in my brother. Well, I doubt they're that close, so I wonder where her trust came from.
"Sigh…I don't think we can finish our cruise. I need to study more about this as it is somewhat my fault—for being born here." He chuckled.
"Ah, that's too bad. Let's go together next time?" Sypher offered in a cheery voice. 'Tch. She's in love. Hopelessly so.' I thought.
"Sure." Kolin readily agreed, "Well, you should go visit him and ask him yourself since I know he feels it himself. Tell mom that I won't be visiting them for a while. Aight, buh-bye."
"Bye."