Chapter 51 - Water Spells
Gabriel tapped his feet as the sun set over the trees, and his eyes observed Bryn's movements and mana fluctuation. Unexpectedly, he had to do a magical theory class combined with conversation, and on top of that, he forged a magic vow with Bryn.
The faun used all his concentration in developing his very first practical cases of magic control. He was finally able to finetune the amount of mana he dispersed from his core, which allowed him to create different mana spots where the elemental conversion could occur. As expected, his mind wasn't strong enough to maintain multiple water balls simultaneously, but he had the fortitude to create them in quick sequence and send them flying. For the creation to be quick, Bryn had forgone the movement sequence he had perfected previously to try and perform a chant and movementless cast.
His first tries could have been better. He aimed to create a small, light water ball to throw quickly and precisely to spook a target. All he could muster for the first half hour were floppy water discs or spells bigger than a pin's head.
As his visualization improved, the spell forming became comparable to a marble. That was when he had to start learning not only to form the spell but also to send it flying with considerable speed. That took him less time to learn. The difference was in the properties of the magic. Forming the water marble involved controlling mana and converting it into the water element as fast as possible. Sending it flying, though, only needed a burst of raw mana. Combining both parts also took him another hour, stealing half of his afternoon with Gabriel. The fact was that after the vow had been formed, Bryn couldn't stop himself from smiling. His body, core, and mind felt light as feathers, and his rate of improvement had skyrocketed.
He initiated the complete sequence after increasing the chances of successfully creating the marble to 50%. The mana burst the water ball quickly, demanding Bryn to concentrate on the following marble's density and push the water inside it closer to a solid state.
Gabriel's patience was tested as the kid tried the same spell repeatedly, but the real reason for his foot tapping was Bryn's control and visualization ability. It would usually make him increasingly happy that a student developed faster than expected, but the speed was astonishing, as he had already demanded much from the kid. In Gabriel's mind, Bryn's request, even when including the weight of a vow, was the most straightforward thing for someone at his standards. His annoyance was short-lived.
I can see it now; the burst must not be an explosion. It could combine the visualization of a cue hitting the ball from behind. Mana isn't air that I need to expand in every direction and all at once. Bryn thought.
His eyes changed, and his determination was more vital than ever as he breathed to refill his core. As soon as he was in top shape, he created a marble made of dense water. He tried to shape it straight on the outside as if the water had an invisible wall pushing its back. From there, his body instantly stepped forward with his left foot, planting it on the ground as his body arched. One would recognize a mixture between a spear throw and a tennis swing. Whatever the movement was, his visualization worked. The mana pushed the oddly shaped marble, sending it flying extremely fast.
Because the creation process was fast, and Bryn lacked the mental fortitude to send it flying at that speed without moving to help with his visualization, he decided it was time to move on. Perfecting it would be a mission for the next few days. His mind was dead set on doing the opposite.
Gabriel had him repeat the core depletion enough times that he got the hang of it. It was time to put it to good use in creating an attack. Using the same theory from the previous day, the idea behind it would be a bubble of pressurized water. As it burst, the high pressure would focus its dispersion on the direction of impact, destroying anything in its path.
The difference from the previous day would be how to create a ball that used all of his available mana. He dispersed many mana used to develop the water balls the previous day.
This time, the goal wasn't an Instacast spell. Bryn started using the movements he had leaned on the day before. His first mission was the mana dispersion. He had to guarantee neither his body absorbed the mana he was sending towards the spell nor that the conversion was done adequately so the mana wouldn't disperse in the environment.
The task proved much more complicated than he thought, and Gabriel intruded as he was getting the hang of using the higher amount of mana in a short period.
"Bryn, it is already late. We can put up tomorrow from here."
"Wait! One more time, I know my mistakes now!"
"Fine, one last time. Aim it at this rock right here. We return to the village if you can't shoot the spell."
Bryn nodded in response. He closed his eyes, breathing in the air with the herbal and woody aroma from the forest around them. With each breath, he visualized energy running through his body and accumulating in his core. The mana replenishing was the first step for the spell.
This time, as his core got filled. His eyes opened as his feet made a stance. His arms moved clockwise, one starting up and the other down. As the movement started, he pushed less mana than before. This time, it was three-quarters of his core.
Using less energy will allow me more control and possibly help me use the rest to send it flying as before. Let's see the size it becomes.
As the amount of energy flowed out of his core, he could control his body not to absorb it. A flood of energy passed, rushing his limbs to his hands and then toward the place of visualization. It condensed as the water elemental conversion started. Initially, the water ball created by that amount of mana was the size of a soft pilates ball. As Bryn mentalized, it compacted from the outside up to the connection between molecules and atoms.
Sweat poured from his entire body as his mind tried to compress the water into a single point. It was enough as the spell approached the size of a basketball. Bryn used all his left strength to push it toward the rock Gabriel had assigned.
Gabriel constantly used mana in his eyes to improve his perception of magic. If he hadn't, that water ball would seem a standard spell. Looking at it, he swallowed dry. He never expected someone with ten status points on intelligence to create a technique that could harm others. The mana inside was vibrating, looking for a way out, but the outer layer was packed, increasing the vibrations inside. Bryn didn't understand mana properties, so he had no idea they would complement his plan. The pressure kept rising even after Bryn threw the spell.
The speed it traveled was slow, but the trajectory was perfectly straight. Before it could reach the rock, Bryn fainted from exhaustion. He had reached the point of almost depleting his core too many times, and now his control was lacking.
Gabriel remained calm since, over the mana geyser, mana backlash would be similar to a weak headache. He kept looking at the spell as it reached its target.
The moment it touched the boulder, a small fissure opened on the extremities of the spell. The water from the inside finally had a way to relieve the pressure and came rushing out at incredible speeds. Unlike the day before, the pressure was so great that the spell burst utterly and couldn't contain the direction of the high-pressure water for much time. But that fraction, combined with the sudden water explosion, was enough. The rock, almost the size of man, was reduced to pieces. The bolder had parts of it sent flying. In slow motion, Gabriel could see that the moment of impact sent the first jet of water toward the rock, creating a circular hole in it. As the spell burst, it did, in a fashion, point towards the rock, increasing the dimensions of the initial stream as it reduced its strength. Still, it was enough to crack the rock and push the ruble far away.
He finally smiled at the laying faun. Both spells he created had potential as Bryn improved his training and status. Also, looking at Bryn's spell, he had gained insight into improving his water techniques. The faun kept impressing him over and over again.
After a few minutes, Bryn woke up. He understood what happened instantly this time, but his curiosity was too great. "Mr Gabriel, how was the spell? Did it reach the rock?" he asked without getting up.
"It was a success. But I'm not sure you should call a technique that made you faint a spell. You must improve your training and level to become viable in battle. Look at the result." Gabriel waved his hand in the direction Bryan had shot the spell.
Looking at it, Bryn couldn't find the rock for a few seconds, and that's when it hit him. His eyes widened as his head snapped in Gabriel's direction. At which, the man simply nodded up and down.
"Come, Bryn, it is time to go home. Can you walk?" asked Gabriel.
"Yes, thank you."
As both walked home, Bryn's mind was slightly messed up from the second mana depletion. At one point, he missed a step and fell to the ground. Gabriel picked him up before hitting the snowy gravel road, putting him on his back. As Bryn moved a bit to find comfort, he murmured.
"Mom, Dad, you are safe now. Mr Gabriel, thank you."
Listening to him sleep-talking, Gabriel kept walking to the village.
As they arrived, Jonas saw Gabriel carrying the youngster to the faun's tent. He went there to ask about the kid's progress but suddenly stopped. Doubting his own eyes, Jonas recomposed himself and walked towards Gabriel, who had already placed Bryn on his bed.
"What have you done, Gabriel…" Said Jonas in an imposing tone.
As his friend looked back at him, Gabriel's eyes were not those of someone feeling petty over the young kid. That calmed Jonas down, but the vow he noticed on Bryn's status was not something to trifle with.
"Let's talk in the main hall. Ask the former commander to join us."
At that moment, Jonas realized the man still had all his senses. He only called Lysander a former commander when they were active on duty. The posture Jonas instantly changed.
He straightened his body and answered before leaving for the restaurant. "Yes, sir."
Gabriel looked at the tent one last time before leaving Bryn to rest and walking to the main hall.
As he entered the hall, he sat on the main chair, waiting for Jonas and Lysander to arrive. This time, he wasn't wearing the clothes the leader of Yurei Village wore. He was in full battle armor, sitting with his elbows over the table and fingers intertwined, looking at the hall entrance.
As Jonas and Lysander crossed inside, Lysander's right eyebrow shot up as he saw Gabriel. Both men used their spacial rings to wear their uniforms as well.
"What happened today, Gabriel?" asked Jonas.
"You have a new vow under your name, Gabriel. Are you finally disbanding?" Asked Lysander.
"Stop talking nonsense. I'll explain everything to both of you. But first." Gabriel used his mana, creating a barrier blocking everything from coming in or out of it.
"You both know the young faun has a magical body, yes?"
Lysander and Jonas looked at each other before confirming. Gabriel remained silent for a while.
"What is going on, Gabriel? Speak!" said Jonas.
"Today, Bryn absorbed his entire core's energy…"
Lysander's expression became severe. "What do you mean, Gabriel?"