As the arena emptied and the audience vacated their seats, Mizar could feel his brother's disapproving gaze fixed upon him. Abel was clearly furious with him. Mizar had ignored Abel's warning to keep a safe distance from the combatant. What he had done was incredibly reckless and could have easily ended in disaster. If it hadn't been for Abel's protective magic, Mizar would have been severely injured or worse.
"Mizar, that was incredibly dangerous. You could have been seriously hurt," scolded Abel.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist getting up close. That fight was just so captivating," Mizar replied, a hint of remorse in his voice.
Abel let out a sigh as he faced his younger brother. He reprimanded Mizar during their journey back home, forbidding him from watching the rest of the tournament as punishment for his disobedience.
On their way home, they unexpectedly encountered the red magician they had witnessed in the arena. He had shed his combat attire and was now dressed casually in a cardigan and leather pants. It was evident that the fight had taken a toll on him. His hair, the same color as his headband from the fight, was disheveled, and his face carried a sense of desolation, with darkened eyes.
"Yo, Abel. Did you catch the fight?" the red magician greeted Abel, their conversation flowing effortlessly. Mizar noticed a familiarity between them, as if they were somehow connected. Curiosity piqued, he approached the man and offered a modest greeting.
"Hi, I'm Mizar. Nice to meet you."
"What a polite young lad. Did you enjoy the fight? Despite my loss, I hope it left an impression," the magician replied, attempting to uplift Mizar's spirits. It was clear that he and Abel shared a deeper bond, having been close friends in their academy days.
"Yes, I really loved it. You were amazing out there. Your spells were incredible," Mizar exclaimed, genuine excitement in his voice.
"Indeed, they were. My name is Axel, kid, and the spell you witnessed was one of my experimental creations. It's a bit different from your average fire spell," Axel explained. Mizar couldn't help but notice the distinctiveness of Axel's fire—it burned brighter and hotter than normal flames. Learning this directly from the caster himself only intensified Mizar's fascination with this intriguing individual.
"Really? That's so cool, Mr. Axel!" Mizar couldn't contain his enthusiasm, thrilled to learn that Axel not only cast advanced-level spells but also invented them.
"Just call me Axel. Your brother and I were colleagues in the academy," Axel clarified, solidifying his connection with Abel.
Axel told Abel about what happened to him after he graduated. They hadn't seen each other for a long time.
He had applied for the famous Winhard enterprise, but he was denied. He wasn't qualified and not strong enough to be accepted to work there, so he started to apply as an instructor too. But he was too stupid to be a teacher.
That was when he decided to be a duelist instead. The pay was nice, and he would still be paid whether he won or lost.
Axel shared his story, and so did Abel. They went on for hours talking with each other.
As they conversed, Axel couldn't help but notice Mizar's intense gaze fixed upon him. This was the source of the peculiar sensation he had experienced before—the magic Axel used was unlike any fire spell he had ever encountered. It emanated a powerful and scorching heat, resembling the brilliance of the sun.
"Hm? What's on your mind?" Abel's voice snapped Mizar back to reality.
Mizar wore a
curious expression as he asked, "What kind of magic did you use during that duel? It felt... different."
A broad smile crept across Axel's face. He was delighted to find someone genuinely interested in his magic. "You want to know, huh?" Axel teased, gauging Mizar's curiosity.
"Yes!" Mizar exclaimed, his excitement palpable. He had an earnest desire to uncover the secrets behind Axel's unique magic.
"It's called Blaze Accelerator. But here's the deal," Axel teased further, "If you could demonstrate the ability to use fire magic right here and now, I promised to teach you."
"Really?!" Mizar's excitement skyrocketed.
Abel interjected, stepping in front of Axel. "Hold on a minute! Mizar only started his magical education last year, and he also has a condition," Abel shouted, his concern for his younger brother evident. He didn't want Mizar to be disappointed.
Mizar had recently entered the academy and had only acquired basic knowledge, yet to put it into practice fully. On top of that, he suffered from Acute Mana Deficiency Syndrome, which severely limited his mana reserves. This condition made learning magic significantly more challenging due to his limited mana supply.
"Is that so?" Axel's voice softened, realizing his earlier teasing had gone too far. "I'm sorry, kid. Forget what I said."
However, Mizar remained resolute. He was determined to learn that fire magic, undeterred by his limitations. "No, please let me try! Promise me that if I could use fire magic, you'll teach me."
Sighing, Axel relented, "Alright, I promised. But don't take it to heart if you fail. It's normal, especially given your circumstances."
Mizar nodded, brimming with determination. They found a nearby field, and Mizar stood at its center. Closing his eyes, he focused all his concentration.
Fundamentally, magic involved channeling mana from within the body's mana core, an energy reserve that stored and produced mana for spellcasting. Unfortunately, Mizar's mana core had a meager capacity, making it exceptionally challenging for him. Even if he managed to use magic, he could only cast a limited number of spells due to his restricted mana.
As he closed his eyes, Mizar sensed a burning sensation in his mana core, a flicker of mana igniting within. He attempted to channel whatever minuscule amount of mana he possessed to conjure fire.
Raising his hand and directing it forward, Mizar concentrated intently. Moments passed, and initially, nothing happened—just as Axel had expected.
It was impossible for a beginner to summon fire on their first attempt. Even talented magicians typically required weeks or even months of practice to produce a small flame.
And this was also even more difficult for a person with a condition like Mizar. Not only had he never used a magic spell before, but he also had a disease that made his mana reserve very small.
Axel thought that Mizar would simply fail if he attempted to immediately jump into using a fire spell.
"I think that's enough for now, kid. You can try again later," Axel said, trying to stop Mizar's attempt to use fire magic.
"It's your first time trying to use magic, after all. Don't push yourself too hard," he stepped forward and came to Mizar.
However, when he was about to move forward, Abel's sudden interruption halted his steps.
Axel looked at Abel to see why he was stopping him. That was when Axel saw that Abel's gaze was so steady, his attention was fully focused on the boy.
"Don't stop him yet, something's happening," Abel said, sensing a
change in the atmosphere. Heat radiated from Mizar, and Axel, too, felt the shift.
"Wait... this can't be!" Axel exclaimed, astonished by what he witnessed.
Gradually, a small flame materialized in Mizar's hand, steadily growing in size. Though it was not an awe-inspiring display, to the trio, it signified something extraordinary—an inconceivable spectacle.
"Okay, this is unbelievable. But then again, he's your brother, Abel," Axel acknowledged, deeply impressed by Mizar's accomplishment. He suddenly recalled that Mizar was a Morgan, hailing from a lineage of great magicians. Despite his condition, Mizar had shown remarkable talent, defying the constraints imposed by his illness.
Abel stood in silence, gazing at his brother with a mix of astonishment and pride. He had never anticipated that Mizar possessed the ability to wield fire magic.
"Mizar..." Abel uttered softly. Perhaps, just maybe, his brother still had the potential to become a great magician. He felt a glimmer of hope, grateful that Mizar's illness had not extinguished his innate talent.
"So... how did I do?" Mizar asked, unaware of just how remarkable his achievement truly was.