Crusch was in a daze.
With a bored expression yet seriously engaged was she flipping through the contents of a thick covered book in her grasp while seated on her bed, its cover of deep brown reading, 'The Wonders of Witchcraft and Wizadry' written in cursive white bold as its title.
It was a magical handbook that she'd been gifted in her beginings as a Witch and also to have her prepared for the Preliminary Mage trials which, albeit sounding exciting at first, now sounded like a death trap. Viktor and Yoraina had made it clear just what kind of challenges Crusch was expected to face at the trials, a culmination of mental and physically stressful scenarios awaited her there. The trials were held annually but the challenges were always changed to ensure that the next participants only came as prepared with their wits and nothing else.
Once they'd felt that they'd drilled it deep enough that the trials weren't a game was Crusch given a basic magic instructor, that's right, an actual magic instructor!!
Crusch had only heard such from novels and manhwa's that the idea of meeting one was a little exciting but more importantly was that she'd be learning magic! To Crusch, that was all that mattered. The fight she'd had with her father had only given her a taste of the magic in the world and it was tantalizingly palpable enough from the get go, not to mention and it seemed as though Crusch had gained something special from the fusion of her wand's.
"Dragon tongue runs through all magic…" she read as she studied.
Unbeknownst to her and the experience wasn't so amazingly exciting as her instructor, a thin man of tall stature, long nose, sharp green eyes that seemed deprived of sleep and features just as unnerving with round glasses as robes of black covered him from head to toe seemed to be seriously on the books. She was disappointed to say the least, usually did the scenario bode for a mouth watering Witch woman, not that she swayed that way but it really would've been preferable over the instructor she'd acquired now.
Crusch was a beginner however and as the Mage trials were only testing beginners was there no need for her parents to hire an instructor who'd teach her or could teach her anything more but the basics, and the basics were…
"Flipping table's! You people just remember this stuff!?" Crusch exclaimed in exasperation.
The book she was holding entailed everything she needed to know on the basic foundations a Wizard and Witch had to know, it detailed the use of mana, how it flowed from a place in Crusch's body called a mana pool.
"It's not actually inside your body as it can't be contained there" her instructor had told her at least a few days ago, "Think of it as being tied to your spirit body, a projection of yourself residing in a world we like to call Oblivion"
The way her teacher had explained it and it was similar to another universe that resided in between theirs and what they envisioned to be the after life or the world beyond, Oblivion was chaotic, creatures lived there which they called dream beast's but most of all was that the universe that resided there was essentially an infinite expanse of endless magical energy. The projection that her teacher referred to was a part of herself, a spirit body of her within oblivion, it was a connection that all living beings had to that realm.
Essentially, their projections acted as tethers that siphoned that worlds energy to use for themselves but they couldn't use it all which was where a mana pool came in. A mana pool were their projections entirely and how large their mana pool was indicated just how much they could siphon from there, it was a lot to take in.
"You frustrate yourself too quickly master" Crusch heard a voice in her head and turned to her dresser where a pitch black metallic wand sat idly and sighed.
"The bear is right, the basics are the foundations to great figures that'll one day strike fear into the hearts of their enemies!!" Crusch could feel the feminine voices fervor and excitement as another emotion rolled its eyes.
"In any case, isn't this a little much? Like…there's no faster way to learn this?" Crusch asked the two minds as the wand vibrated as though shaking its head.
"This is how humans learn and to my knowledge, it has never failed you people yet"
"Well how did you two gain magical power? You both don't even use wands right?" Crusch asked, this was actually something that had been bothering her.
Through the courses of her lessons with her teacher and times where she'd simply dropped into conversations with her wands out of boredom as she studied and Crusch realized the massive discrepancies between beasts and humans when it came to magic, as though it wasn't already unfair enough that one stood no chance in a one on one confrontation with a dangerous wild animal and no weapons back on her world but in this one did they have their strength and athleticism with the added bonus of magic.
"It's simple, we kill, we eat, get stronger and survive" did the feminine voice respond, "Unlike you humans, all beast's are gifted with an average aptitude score of III while the rare and mythological can score a II and legendaries from the past have most likely graced upon I"
Crusch felt her eyes frown at this information, "However, spells and incantations are far out of a beast's reach at their earlier stages. All we harbor is Magical power and whatever affinity we were born with, we bare no conscious and thus don't even know that spells exist so we use the raw power of our affinities. There's no technique, there's no beauty or fluidity in it except the desire to kill, eat and survive"
"You use no wands though, aren't you more versatile?" Crusch asked.
"No, magical power is dangerous to use directly with your body as a conductor. Beast's use it and die on the spot more often than you might think, by sheer luck did we evolve enough to create cores inside our bodies which you use or replicate as the cores to your wands"
Crusch nodded in an, 'I see' and continued reading. She'd gotten the general idea of how to use mana and manipulate it throughout her body with the help of her instructor and her two wand companions, her instructor had explained it as an energy that you could subtly feel and had to grab at, forcefully with a will never to let go. Her wands on the other hand seemed to have a more gentle and loving approach to the idea, filling your body with warmth and having it swarm you.
Both were effective in their own right but Crusch stuck to warmth, not that she didn't appreciate her teachers advice but it had later become clear to her that how someone invoked and controlled the mana in their body revolved around their outlooks and ideas surrounding mana. Was she power hungry? Did she wish to dominate and control the situation as best possible? Was mana…a tool to ascend her further?
Those were questions that her wand's had posed to her when they'd informed her that how to use mana was entirely up to the user, the general form of control was forceful and dominating which showed the mindsets of a lot of the Wizards and Witches of the new world she was in but also their determination and the importance of true power. Crusch, however, liked the warmth more, she couldn't explain why though.
What came after mana and mana control were finally spells, basic knowledge of spells not requiring affinities. Crusch was given a multitude of spell types and incantations that were quite the hassle to pronounce let alone remember and perform, there were three types of these spells, Attack spells, Defense spells and Charm spells; each self explanatory of their intended purpose.
Crusch had of course asked what were spells that didn't require an affinity and how so? The answer was quite vague, mostly was her teacher scolding her on the uselessness of such a question.
Crusch was to study and acquire the ability to perform a great majority of these spells from each category in the last few weeks to a month before the trials began, this was also to test her worthiness as well. If Crusch was unable to do that much then her teacher(including her parents), assured her that the trials would've eaten her whole.
"They say all this was invented by Dragon's, is that why we all worship them so much?" Crusch asked while lazily flipping over a page.
"They are seen as the primordials, we as beast's know little however… " Crusch could hear that this was the bear speaking.
"Indeed" spoke the feminine voice, her tone seemingly a little frustrated, "There are species who despise you humans for this sole reason…"
"Why is that?" Crusch asked.
"The holy scriptures of your country's and regions depicting Draconic God's give us glimpses into their past's…something we, true beast's have never grasped upon" the bear explained, "however it is nothing noteworthy, why do you ask?"
"Curiosity…" she flicked her hand and her wand suddenly appeared in her hands, her teacher had taught it to her quite easily. The process only entailed willing the wand into her grasp, due to the tether they had as a master and wand was a Mage inseparable from them and connected to their dreamscapes which Crusch found could do a lot more than she thought they did such as storing things.
"Right, let's try a charm spell for starters" she spoke, standing up from the bed as she swayed the wand and spoke lines in what was incomprehensibly not human as her eyes, behind the rims of her spectacles, glowed a color of orangish purple with slit pupils.
Immediately were the effects quite apparent as Crusch's hair shortened by a few inches while the color transitioned from a deep black to a vibrant and bright orange, the colours of her eyes as well seemed to go through a change as they flickered and swirled into a deep hazel and her body height grew by a bit. She stared at herself in wonder and surprise, the change was staggering.
'I can't even recognize myself!!' she exclaimed in her thoughts while growing closer to the mirror, "It's a charm spell but this is great for disguise you know?"
"it can have two uses, disguise is actually the most prominent of all" Crusch nodded at the small input before removing the spell and returning back to her normal features.
The next charm spell wasn't a physical change but Crusch could feel a change in her mind, she looked at herself in the mirror, head to toe and smiled with a great deal of pride.
"Now that's a great bod there" She commented, nonchalantly as a knock was heard from across the room before Melissa entered.
"Melissa!" Crusch exclaimed before coddling her into a tight hug and then separating with her hands on Melissa's shoulders, "I was just practicing, what brings you here?"
Melissa was caught in a daze, Ludmilla's eyes were bright and vibrant not to mention the intimate hug, no matter how close they'd been as unspoken sisters, intimacy was never something her young mistress had ever initiated on her own. Ludmilla wasn't exactly shy in her memories but she wasn't as vibrantly colourful and topless with her emotions, the change was so stark that it froze her in place. The young Mistress had been changing bit by bit over the days, she still couldn't pinpoint a finger on what had caused her change of character all those days ago but she could handle it, this however…
Melissa stared at the vibrant Ludmilla, gazing into her deep brown eyes and felt a little drawn before a frown plastered her face, "Are you practicing charms?"
Crusch nodded with exuberance, "Yeah! I tried the one that changed my features a bit then another that I'm still trying to find the significance of, your hair looks beautiful today by the way"
Melissa watched as Ludmilla recounted her practicing in an excited manner and was then surprised by the compliment that was accentuated with a wink and made an incredulous expression, there was nothing she'd done with her hair today, it was even messily tied in a bun since she was just cooking lunch. Ludmilla in the past would occasionally throw compliments at her but it was in passing, in random conversations that struck to certain topics but never like this, not in this manner.
"Ludy, I think that's enough of that spell" Said Melissa with caution, "It's really embarrassing if you let it continue for to too long"
"Damn, I thought you liked compliments though?" Crusch continued, completely evading Melissa's warning, "Not direct enough?"
The two wands that watched this were in horror as the woman burst into tears of laughter, 'I didn't know this is how it worked!'
The bear shook its head in her mind while it watched, 'Shouldn't we be stopping this?'
'Stopping? This is entertainment! Ha, I had never used charm spells before since they weren't centered around anything useful in a combatative situation but this is hilarious!'
'I somehow struggle to believe that your reasoning for not using them was under the guise of it having no use in combat' The bear snorted as the woman was spurred into an even louder fit of laughter.
'I know what you're thinking you know? What embarrassing thoughts!' She continued to find humour in the situation till the bear made it clear that Crusch wouldn't wake up in a good mood after hearing what she'd said and done in this state while they simply watched.
"Haa, no fun…'
A shudder went down Crusch's spine as she blinked and found herself staring into a red faced and flabbergasted Melissa.
"Is…something wrong?" Crusch asked, confused since just a moment ago she'd been tampering with her appearance, "I was just—"
"Is it…you now Ludmilla?" Melissa inquired, confusing Crusch as who else could it be?
"Yeah…why are you looking like that, you're a little red in the face" Crusch pointed as Melissa quickly stepped back.
"Ahem, I came to tell you that Instructor Red field was looking for you and lunch is ready" Melissa recited, regaining her composure from the awkward course of events and leaving right after.
Crusch was left confused to say the least, it was an odd interaction with Melissa who usually acted quite sisterly behind closed doors but waved it off as she assumed she had more important matters
"Also, didn't I cast a charm spell after that first one?" She mumbled, "why didn't it work…"
"Pft…" Crusch glanced towards her wand that seemed to be shaking violently, "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, absolutely nothing" The bear answered, hoping the events of a few minutes prior weren't revealed but his companion wasn't faring so well.
"Right…, well maybe I misread a part" she stroked her chin, "I'll just try agai—"
"Oh the obliviousness is killing me!" Crusch heard her wand erupt in laughter, "I can't take it, the effect is too potent!"
Crusch raised a brow, unable to understand what was so funny, "What's so funny?"
"Ignore her master, she can act like this at times…"
"Oh, don't hide it from the owner cause she'll find out eventually" the woman spoke through chuckles as Crusch grew annoyed.
"Enough with the mystery! What are you trying to hide?" She shouted and the woman laughed again before answering in between wheezing for air.
"You were flirting with that maid of yours, hahaha"
XX
Lunch wasn't exactly silent but not exactly lively in conversation…
Over the past few weeks surrounding Crusch's training towards the preliminary Mage trials and Crusch's parents had proactively become involved in her life, the few memories that surfaced and weren't blurred didn't have her parents much in the picture but they weren't neglectful, Crusch could infer that. As heads of a noble family and there were probably a dozen reasons why the two weren't exactly as heavily present in her life as they were now.
The preliminary Mage trials were an important matter of interest in the Wizarding world, the two months preceding to its arrival were fraught with little activity as many young and aspiring Witches and Wizards were groomed and trained to best ready themselves. In other words, her parents had two months of free time in their hands and as the youngest child in the household that hadn't grown old enough to either leave to explore adventures of her own or take missions that saw her away from home for days on end was she doted over and given endless amounts of attention.
"Macy was said to send a letter by today, unlike Veronica she shouldn't be taking any active role in Veronica's mission so I wonder…" Her father seemed to mumble to himself as they ate, louder than he'd attended as a frown of worry creased his face and Yoraina shook her head.
"You know those two, Inseparable as always" She said but Crusch couldn't help but hang over her father's earlier words.
"Older sister went out on a mission?" Crusch asked to which her parents seemed surprised to hear.
"You weren't aware? Veronica's usually so open to you over such things" Her mother looked in surprise but quickly explained, "It was a request made by the authorities, they needed a Seer of the Fate domain"
"Authorities? Fate?" Crusch was a little shocked, her older sister was involved with the authorities and there were affinities outside just the four elements?!
Her mother seemed to want to explain further but was interjected by Melissa's entry into the room, taking away the finished and empty plates on the table while informing Crusch that she was expected about a few minutes from now to which she wasted no time in leaving. The past few weeks had given Crusch a pretty new understanding surrounding magic instructors, they were excruciatingly work driven and impatient.
Crusch eventually made it to the snowy fields, a bright yet chilly grey sky looming above her as it was in the middle of the afternoon. Her teacher, Mr Griffith Redfield was seated on top of what was a small log, just as usual, and whirled in her direction as Crusch came near.
"Lady Ludmilla!" He shot a smile, one of which sent a shiver down her spine.
Over the course of the few weeks they'd spent as teacher and student and Crusch came to know of her instructors debilitating polar issues, he was a man with a quick change of both temper and character. At first she'd thought he'd harbored split personalities since the change between his cold, enraged and harsh side of himself was so starkingly different from the man seated on the log and speaking to her now till she remembered that split personalities were usually invoked by certain scenarios and sensations that caused the person to change.
"Teacher Redfield" She greeted politely as the man nodded.
"How have your studies been going?"
Crusch answered his question by summoning her wand into her grasp as words spilled from her lips and she was suddenly encapsulated by subtle purple light that outlined her body.
"Protection magic, you've done well" Redfield noted and pulled out his own wand and recited the same spell only differently with added sentences such as, "May my skin deflect steel, my eyes burn through light and my ears unknown to the sweet words that muddle thoughts"
Golden light encapsulated her teacher and outlined his body just as the purple light had done on hers but there was obviously a difference, Crusch couldn't see it but could feel it, that her teachers protection on himself was stronger than her own.
"I'll gift you a book on Dragon tongue to perform such acts like this" he said, "The protection spell that you recited can be altered and changed so that either you protect only a certain aspect of your body or others in specification of what your up against"
He gestured to his ears, "I'm sure you're aware of the existence of charm spells by now, if you've been studying"
Crusch flinched at the mention of charms spells and felt her wand snicker, the events of a few minutes prior from now still fresh in her thoughts as she nodded slowly.
"It's a dangerous spell type that often leaves no traces of having ever been used when conducted by a professional, one that muddles the senses and causes illusions" he explained, "In the most likely scenarios and a Caster can invoke the spell into their very words, capturing you without even lifting a finger which is why…"
He gestured to his ears, "The protection spell I recited includes the words, may my ears be unknown to the sweet words that muddle thoughts"
Crusch's gaze widened in realization and she quickly nodded before asking a question, "Then does this mean all spells can be altered so?"
Redfield smiled brightly, "To an extent, yes but it's only plausible for spells lacking the need for an affinity, ah, I should probably just say basic magic spells as these were the first spells ever made"
Crusch raised a brow as Redfield slid off the log he'd been seated on and began walking ahead, "The first?" She asked.
"Indeed, the original spells held by the Dragons of old" he coolly explained, "It's why they're still in Dragon Tongue, at one point in the distant past had they been used directly by our creators"
"Really!?" Crusch asked, a little more excited and disbelieving than she would've intended to sound.
"Haha, of course" he continued, "Skin of impenetrable might, cries that shook the hearts of King's with strength that razed entire kingdoms to rubble, where do you think all that came from?"
She was in shock to say the least, 'So their might came in the form of being the first founders of magic!' she thought.
"I see, but if Dragons were the first to wield it and it was theirs then how did we come across it?" Crusch asked to which her teacher only glanced back and laughed.
"So interested in religion today, we were taught magic just as I am teaching you" He suddenly explained, "Like a Mantle was magic passed down to us and all the creatures of the world as a gift"
"A gift?" Crusch couldn't believe that such a powerful asset had been given away under the guise of simply a gift.
"Indeed, many religious texts hold this as a show of their benevolence" Her teacher explained, "That instead of ruling over us as tyrants did they gift us with their abilities.."
"Was this an age of God's?" Crusch asked, her teacher chuckling.
"I'm not a historian nor a devout, Lady Ludmilla" He stared towards the edge of the whittling forest they were walking past, "But many don't see it that way, It's a complicated history that I never bothered to study even as I became a magical scholar"
"I see…" Her head hung a bit, "The Dragon of Death…was it around at this time?"
Her teacher finally came to a stop, they were a good distance away from the castle now but not too far as he turned to face her.
"Just like all the Dragons did he exist since time immemorial"
Crusch nodded and noticed her teacher point his wand at her, "Today will be basic combat training, the preliminary Mage trials won't be testing just your magical skills but your ability to defend and protect yourself in combatative scenarios"
Crusch readied herself as he continued, "I will be teaching you how to both operate your wand and cast spells that'll assist you while engaging in combat"
She suddenly raised a brow, "You make it sound like I'll have to use my fist's and legs a lot teacher, I thought it was all about standing across from one another and shouting spells?"
A scowl appeared on Redfields sharp features, "Far from it! No real opponent is going to attack you so blandly, I'll have to engrave it into your bones just how brutal this world can be"
Crusch gulped and smiled wryly, 'Another misconception…'