'Let's see… 8 of them? What a joke', Regal thought as he focused on his detection.
Regal wasn't the most strategic person, he didn't consider whether these people were here to spy, or were here with a more malicious purpose. But regardless, they were trash to be dealt with.
'Surely nobility would realise this is useless…? No, there are many fools among them, never listening to their advisors', Regal liked to believe his strength had a better reputation, but it seems there are still those who underestimate him.
It was dark out, the perfect time and environment for these hidden individuals.
Pamel walked outside and saw Regal.
"Regal? It seems you beat me to it", Pamel said.
"I figured you were tucking the heroes into bed, though considering the time, I guess you'd be done at this stage", Regal joked.
"Your conversation took a while as well, how did it go?", Pamel asked, but he knew the answer.
"Terribly, I've been extorted", Regal answered.
'…he was extorted?', or perhaps Pamel didn't know as well as he thought.
Pamel was probably the most aware of Regal's preference in woman, but he didn't think it affected it him this much, especially since Regal usually avoids them.
"That's not what I expected to hear", Pamel said with the surprise showing on his face.
"…that aside, shall we deal with this?", Regal turned toward the courtyard.
"Who do you think sent them?", Pamel asked, also facing the courtyard.
Regal smiled, "Well, we can find that out, can't we".
The two of them started preparing magic circles, suddenly the presences Regal detected began moving away.
"Trying to escape are we?", Regal then shot a barrage of water spheres from a circle with 5 layers.
Pamel also activated a circle with 5 layers, it's purpose wasn't clear but the intruders seems to be running towards them now.
The spheres easily hit their targets, six individuals were immediately knocked out by the impact while the remaining two either blocked or took the hit.
"Hmm… perhaps I went too easy?", Regal said as the two individuals in front of him were confused as to how they got there.
"H-How did we end up here?", one of them voiced aloud.
"Focus! We got no choice now!", the other announced while readying a fighting stance, the first one also followed.
"Pamel, make sure they can't run", Regal's voice sounded strangely cold and his eyes narrowed, the message was clear to Pamel.
A large 4 layer circle then appeared with the remaining two intruders within its range. It seemed to form directly at their legs.
The intruders panicked, but they couldn't escape its range in time.
"4th circle: Spatial separation", the moment Pamel said this, the intruders' legs below the knee had been completely separated from the rest of their body.
"AGHHHH!", the two of them screamed in pain as they fell to the ground.
"Good work, now let's get these lot some restraints", Regal turned around, but he then noticed something was lacking from his detection.
'…one of them pretended to be knocked out?', he thought as he noticed a missing individual.
"Pamel", Regal said as he made eye contact.
"Already found him", Pamel then created new circles above his head as he quickly disappeared.
'How competent, I suppose I can forgive him for earlier', Regal smiled.
Regal then turned again to the other intruders on the floor. '…I suppose I'll need to restrain them myself'.
He activated a circle with 3 layers where ropes of water emerged and wrapped around the individuals. 'That should be strong enough, right?'.
"Now then, I don't suppose you'll make this easy and tell me what you are doing here and who sent you?", Regal said to the men wailing in pain.
"Kgh… couldn't you… have captured us withou- agh! Without removing our legs!?", one of the men shouted.
"I don't suppose you were spying on my residence and expecting to leave in tact?", Regal rebuked with narrowed eyes which made the man gulp.
"Well? Make this easy and I'll let you go, though you'll be a few legs short", Regal stated.
"Y-you'll let us go!?", the other man asked.
"Sure, you guys are more or less insects to me, what could you even do when I let you go", Regal shrugged.
"Though I should say 'if' I let you go, after all, this all depends on you", Regal said while looking down at them, as if they truly were insects.
The men looked at each other briefly.
One of them spoke up, "W-We were sent to assess the strength of the heroes".
"The heroes huh… figures. Though does that mean you planned to attack them?", Regal asked.
"Yes, b-but we were told not to harm them, it was just a test!", the same one answered.
This made Regal ponder.
"Hmm… that does sound like a good idea", Regal said aloud while still thinking. This made the two on the floor become confused. What is this man thinking?
Regal smirked, "I'll need to postpone letting you guys go, I need you to do something for me"
The men began to get nervous, "But, we no longer have legs…".
"You think spells can't do the opposite of their original effect? Besides, there's plenty more of you", Regal said while pointing at the others behind them.
The men didn't have a choice in the matter regardless.
Pamel appeared next to Regal while holding a restrained man.
"They were sent by Duke Regivald", Pamel said as he threw the man to the floor.
Though it only made Regal confused, "Do I know such a person?".
"He is a Duke, so I presume he was present in the audience chamber the other day", Pamel reasoned.
"Hmm…", Regal couldn't seem to remember if he recognised anyone. He didn't even look at the other nobles at the time.
"Well, whatever, he is irrelevant. Instead of that, I've got an idea for these lot", Regal said before his face moved to a smile, "First though, the heroes need a bit of training".
***
The next day the heroes woke up to a rather extravagant breakfast.
Everyone, including the other teachers of the heroes, were present.
Regal sat at his regular seat at the end of the table, with a baffled face. "What's with this banquet?", he said while looking at Pamel.
Pamel kept his posture, and without moving his head he said, "This was requested by Sir Kendrick and Sir Ruk".
Regal then looked at the individuals in question as they wolfed down the food, 'fat bastards'.
Of course, they were not at all fat.
However, to Regal's surprise, there was one other individual who was wolfing down the food just as much. The small Anne.
'She looks like… a squirrel', Regal admired.
"Well, keep up these meals", he said to Pamel.
"How generous of you Regal!", Kendrick shouted.
"Lord Kendrick, you should refer to him by his title! But yes, I thank you greatly for your generosity Lord Riverwood", Ruk added.
'…it's not for you bastards', Regal scoffed as he shoved food in his mouth.
For a few moments after, they all focused on finishing their meals and taking their time, the 3 very hungry individuals managed to somehow continue eating even until the others were finished.
After finishing his own plate, he turned his attention to Anne. 'Uh… her name… Fisher? No that was her last name. Anna? Annie?'
"Oi", Regal loudly said as he made eye contact with Anne.
Anne was confused, but Regal got her attention.
"We are going to the library after this", Regal stated.
"Y-yesh!", Anne answered with a full mouth.
Regal made a slightly disgusted face, but he also laughed a bit in his head.
A few moments later they left the dining area to go to the library.
Anne stood in front of Regal in the library, stiffly standing with a serious face.
'Pfft, she looks ridiculous', Regal giggled. Though his giggle made Anne feel a little self-conscious and nervous.
"Ahem! Before you are able to use spells, you need to learn some theory. We will start with the basics that apply to all magics, and then we shall check you affinities", Regal said with a straightened back, trying to act like a teacher.
"My affinities?", Anne questioned.
"Indeed, affinities is also the basics so I'll give you a brief description, anything you are confused about you many ask but you shall also read the books I give you from now on", Regal said.
Anne nodded in response and readily listened.
"Lets see... do you remember when you asked me if I could teleport us?", Regal recalled.
"Yes? And you mentioned that you couldn't do it", Anne responded.
"Correct. Though it wasn't the entire truth", Regal walked around while explaining, waving his hand around every once in a while.
"You see, everyone has an affinity with an element, I personally have an affinity with water and the other mage you met before, Rosel, has an affinity for wind.
This affinity means you are most suited to that element when using magic, however it doesn't mean that you can't use other elements, it simply means it is the element you can use the full power and efficiency of.", Regal then paused for a moment to see if Anne was still following along, and from what it seemed, she understood.
So he continued, "When I said I can't teleport, it's because I hadn't learned the magic since it isn't suited to me. If I hypothetically did in fact learn that magic, I could never be as good as Pamel at it, my range and casting speed would be greatly reduced.
Anything you don't understand so far?"
"Yes! What is casting speed and what is the range of a spell?", she passionately asked.
Regal smirked as he continued his explanation. He explained various things such as how quickly a magic circle can be formed and the variables that affect it such as complexity and mana cost. He also mentioned that the target of a spell doesn't need a magic circle present, this also applies to spatial magic which is why Pamel can have almost any destination. He continued for a while about other basic concepts and ensuring that Anne understood.
"Right, this next part is pretty important and will have a large effect on how you use your spells", Regal announced.
Anne leaned slightly forward from where she was now seated. Showing a keen interest.
"There are 3 primary forms a spell can take", Regal then formed a 3 layered magic circle to prepare for demonstration.
"The first is layered circles, this is the generic circle where each layer means more power. This circle can then be further divided into two uses.
There is a layered circle that uses the same spell multiple times to increase its properties.
Then there is a layered circle that forms a spell which needs multiple spells for the full encantation.", Regal began to charge the circles in front of him with mana.
It then produced a ball of water, it was particularly large as it towered above them, but it didn't intimidate Anne, her focus was firm.
"This is a simple spell to create a ball of water, each of the 3 circles in front of me contribute to its volume, if I were to remove a circle…", suddenly Regal dispelled a circle and the water ball before activating them again, the spell now formed a much smaller sphere of water which was less than half its size.
Anne then spontaneously went into thought for but a moment, she then asked, "Do each of the 3 circles not contribute to a third of the spells power?".
Regal was rather surprised by the question, "Indeed, by layering spells, their function becomes more efficient and more mana can be focused into the output".
Anne showed a face that suggested she understood completely. Regal was beginning to be amazed by how easily she takes in information.
"There's also the other form of layered spells that's used for complicated processes, for example", Regal changed the inscriptions within his two magic circles and produced water ropes.
"This spell could be used with 1 circle, but by splitting in into 2 I can designate each circle for a certain function and once again increase the power. For instance, one circle forms the water while the other controls its shape. An additional circle could add more power to it, similar to the first case, a combination of sorts.
For some, you have no choice but to use multiple circles even in its simplest form.
Take Pamel's teleportation for example, unless it's extremely close range, he needs at least 6 circles for it to work."
Anne began to seem like she was struggling so Regal decided they needed a change of pace.
"Well, the other types of circles can be explained later, I think we should focus on forming your first circle", Regal said as stretched his arms, 'That was longer than I thought.'