Time seemed to speed up, and before I knew it, I was recounting everything to Lucianna. As I told her about my potential destiny on Dragon's Road, her voice echoed through the guild hall, catching the attention of the surrounding adventurers.
"Are you truly the one destined to tread the Dragon's Road?" she asked me, her wide eyes searching my face.
I nodded, a slight tremble in my voice as I said, "Apparently, I am."
Lucianna then introduced a troubling thought. She told me that it was possible for the Avatars of Life to overlook certain individuals. Bewildered, I asked her the reason.
"They might lack talent, or be emotionally drained, scarred by some trauma," she explained, a distant look in her eyes. "Without a goal or love in life, one is as good as dead, and even the Avatars of Life can perceive that."
A deep silence fell between us before she asked me a significant question. "Max, do you have a goal in your life?"
My response was slow but firm, "To be with my family, and to protect them."
"And your conviction?" she queried, her eyes intent on mine.
I admitted to her that while my conviction was strong, I wanted to become stronger before I could proclaim it with pride.
Her expression softened, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "That's a noble goal indeed," she remarked.
Her next statement held a genuine warmth. "If it is indeed true that you're the one chosen to tread the Dragon's Road, then I am sincerely happy for you." Her words echoed in the hall, solidifying my resolve to pursue this extraordinary journey.
Lucianna gave me a steady look, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Are you asking me to accompany you on your journey to retrieve the Dragon's Avatar?" she queried, disbelief etched on her face.
With a nod, I confirmed her suspicion. Her face turned contemplative, hesitancy seeping into her expression as she muttered, "That seems like a big hassle."
I begged her to come along, but she didn't respond, her silence filled the air. It was a tense moment, a moment where the balance tilted between 'yes' and 'no'. Eventually, she broke the silence, asking, "Will the guild compensate us for this quest?"
"Yes," I replied promptly, although I had no way of confirming that. In my desperation, I might have told her a lie just to keep her by my side.
Her eyes suddenly sparkled, her face lighting up with joy. "Finally, I can buy more mini scrolls!" she exclaimed.
Puzzled, I asked her about these so-called 'mini scrolls'.
She quickly produced one, which resembled a card more than anything. "Isn't that a card?" I blurted out, unable to hide my confusion.
Lucianna's brow furrowed as she asked, "What's a card?"
"Well, a card is what you're holding right now," I explained, pointing to the object in her hand.
She remained defiant, insisting that they were called 'mini scrolls', not 'cards'. After a pause, she conceded, "But cards... I guess that does sound more catchy."
She went on to explain that these 'cards' or 'mini scrolls' were used by magic users in this world. As she spoke, I saw yellow energy begin to emanate from her fingertips.
With grace and concentration, she wrote the word 'light' on one card and 'ball' on another. Then, as if by magic, the two cards combined, materializing a magical ball of light that hovered in the air between us.
A thrill coursed through me, my eyes widening in sheer delight. I was witnessing the real magic!
Seeing my excitement, Lucianna asked again, "Are you sure you want to skip the cleric's appointment? They could help with your memory, you know."
Ignoring her question, I impulsively asked her, "Could you teach me magic?"
Her expression transformed from a soft smile to absolute shock, as she responded, "Excuse me, what?"
Lucianna looked at me, her expression riddled with confusion. She was recalling my status as a Chimera.
"Could my status be upgraded along the way?" I asked, the suggestion seemed plausible.
"Well, it might be possible," Lucianna replied, her face brightening up. She continued, "Since you were a Chimera before, your body might still retain the ability to manipulate mana."
I tilted my head to the side, curiosity flickering in my eyes. "Can you explain what mana is and how it works? But, uh, make it simple for me."
Lucianna scratched her head, thinking of how to articulate the complex nature of mana.
"Okay, think of mana as the soul of your body," she began, her voice steady and calm. "If you completely deplete your mana, you die. Everyone has a unique mana signature, which determines the kind of magic they can use."
Using herself as an example, she explained her magic. "I'm good with support magic in gaseous form and the light element. If I try to use different states or elements, it just doesn't work."
She then took out two blank cards from her pocket, writing 'water' and 'sword' on them. The two cards merged together, conjuring a shimmering sword made of water out of thin air.
Suddenly, she swung the water sword at me. Panic set in, and I let out a scream, but to my surprise, the sword hit me with the force of a gently running garden hose. My outfit was drenched, but I was unharmed.
"Hey, you made my clothes wet!" I protested, but the unexpectedness of the situation was more amusing than inconvenient.
"I'm sorry about that," she apologized, though she was clearly holding back laughter. "But, if someone proficient in solid-state magic and water element had done that, you'd be sliced in half."
Instead of being terrified by that revelation, I was intrigued. "That's so cool!" I exclaimed, my heart thumping with excitement.
Lucianna's face broke into a wide grin, and she joined in on my excitement, her energy matching that of a little kid discovering a new playground.