As Tatsuki slowly stirred, his consciousness wading through the murky depths of slumber, he overheard a hushed conversation, voices like distant echoes.
"Tell me... yes, I... considering... my mother warned... talk..."
The sounds of shuffling footsteps and incoherent mumbling led to a whispered inquiry: "Do you think he's waking up?"
Then, a bright and cheery voice broke the fragile morning silence, "Oh, the sleepyhead is rejoining the land of the living!"
Tatsuki, his throat sore and parched, finally found his voice. "Where am I?" he croaked.
In response, the elderly mage looked around the desolate, icy landscape and declared, "You, young lad, find yourself amidst the colossal and bone-chilling mountains of Avacasta, a place bereft of life, except for the frosty air."
Coughing and wheezing, the girl chimed in, "Grandpa, my winnings?"
With a resigned sigh, the mage admitted, "I must confess, kid, you disappointed me. I was really looking forward to your demise." He handed a pouch of money to the girl. "You've won the bet. Fair and square."
With his tongue frozen, Tatsuki stuttered, "Wh-what the shell are you talkin' abouuu...?"
Amused, the mage chuckled, "Hahahaha! Did you hear that? He can't even speak properly. What an idiot!"
The girl came to Tatsuki's defense, "Grandpa, don't make fun of him. He's got a sore throat, probably hasn't eaten, and his tongue is freezing. If not for this bleak mountain, I'd have fed him myself. Now that he's awake, let's eat and hunt. Besides, he had no trouble talking in the Garden of the Immortal Soul, so let's get to it, 'little guy with the big thing.'
Tatsuki curiosity led him to ask , what kind of bet.?
Girl bluntly spoke, oh whether you'll survive or not.
Tatsuki falls down from old man arms and quickly stood up.. he shouted, what the shit you call that small stuff and stupid we are talking about my life here you goat's asshole people with dick face no common sense only peanuts for brain red bum monkey.
Girl replied,oh look, you can freely talk again that's nice, but you need your energy back, so why don't we camp here for the night and cook something yummy for you; ok, small guy with the big thing.
Still recovering his voice, Tatsuki mumbled, "Whatever, you like you do huh.."
The girl giggled, teasingly. "Ahem, oh, my tough guy act can't hide your emotions, nor that bright, flushed face. But, you know what..."
Then, she playfully pulled Tatsuki's hair, looked him in the eye, and said, "My ass doesn't look anything like a dumb monkey."
Tatsuki quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Why are you getting angry so late?"
The girl let him off the hook. "Good. Now, let's set up camp. Grandpa is back from the hunt."
To their surprise, the mage playfully suggested, "You two seem to be hitting it off nicely. Want to get married?"
In unison, Tatsuki and the girl vehemently replied, "Not on your life!"
The mage couldn't resist teasing, "You two even starting to speak like a couple. Oh, my little love is beginning to grow into a woman! How wonderful it is!"
After some lighthearted moments, they tried to start a fire. Tatsuki, eager to contribute, offered, "I'll do it, and then we'll be even for the princess carry ride you gave me. But, I'm not sure I can even call it that, given how you were carrying me."
As Tatsuki focused, an ancient and powerful flame ignited the dry leaves immediately, leaving the girl stunned. She exclaimed, "Whoa, how did you do that? You didn't even chant anything."
The mage explained, "It's ancient magic, a skill you also possess, though only in a small amount. I'm not sure how he has so much; it typically requires a large amount of manacoal."
Puzzled, the girl inquired, "Explain it in simpler terms."
The mage started to elaborate but was interrupted by Tatsuki, who volunteered to explain further after witnessing the feast the girl was preparing.
She asked about ancient magic, and Tatsuki replied, "It's old, nearly lost."
Curious about 'manacoal,' she asked, "What's this 'madcool' thing?"
Tatsuki chuckled, "You're doing it on purpose, aren't you? Anyway, 'manacoal' is a type of magical fuel generated within our bodies. It serves as the foundation for spells and enhanced abilities powered by magic."
Eager to learn, the girl asked, "So, are there different types of magic? And are there different types of the same or different magic?"
Tatsuki explained, "There are eight main magical attributes: 'fire,' 'water,' 'earth,' 'lightning,' 'love,' 'hate,' 'darkness,' and 'Light soul.' People are typically born with 'love' and 'hate.' Within these attributes are various sub-attributes, each offering a plethora of spells and enhanced abilities. However, to learn them, you need to reach a certain level of skill, known as 'level-graded.'"
Perplexed, she probed, "What's the 'leveland 'grade' stuff?"
Tatsuki shot a glance at the mage with a touch of annoyance. "This is your fault, you old flower. Why didn't you tell her anything?"
The mage, with a hint of sadness, replied, "Oh, you'll understand soon enough."
Tatsuki finally revealed, "These 'levels' can only be attained through the cultivation of mana and chi. The levels include 'stone,' 'bronze,' 'silver,' 'gold,' and 'Kuro silver,' among others. Additionally, people need to go through the process of 'mana burns' to reach the next level each time they wish to progress. Most people with average talents can reach up to the 'silver' level, so you don't need to worry about the rest... yet."
Curious about the limitations, the girl probed further, "Why can't they reach the...?"
Tatsuki explained, "The difficulty and the strain on a person's soul and body increase with each level. Only those with unshakeable willpower can advance further. Besides, the first three grades are robust enough for the average person. To complicate things, after 'Kuro silver,' there are five levels within each grade, making the process more challenging as you ascend higher."
The girl's relentless questioning left Tatsuki fatigued. "Wow, my brain hurts. I may not have grasped everything, but that was definitely interesting stuff."
Tatsuki, with a hint of exasperation, muttered, "You can't be serious..."
In his thoughts, he couldn't help but label her as a 'dum-dum' – his term for a clueless person.
The girl asked, "Do you have anything else to say, or are you finished?"
Tatsuki hesitated, considering the girl's keen interest. He wondered, "Wait, is she reading my thoughts? Oh my, these girls are scary, especially this one..."
She teased, "I'll take that as a 'no.'"
The girl then insisted, "Stop calling me 'girl.' I have a name – Aiko Ken, A-I-K-O."
The mage decided to join in the exchange, saying, "Oh, so we're exchanging names now? Then you shall call me 'Sai Ken.'"
After the exchange of names, they sat down to share a delicious meal. Once they had finished eating, they set up living tents and, within moments, the night descended from behind the colossal mountains of Avacasta. Together, they drifted into a well-earned sleep, their newfound companionship and the secrets of magic swirling through their dreams.