Today, I decided to take Cana on a hunting quest near the outskirts of the city—just like Laxus had taken me once before. I hoped nothing unusual would happen this time.
Mavis accompanied us, floating along and chatting animatedly with Cana. Over the past few weeks of training, the two of them had grown closer. Whether this was a good or bad thing, I couldn't tell, but I often caught them whispering secrets to each other. Whenever I asked, they would giggle and dismiss me with, "It's a lady's secret."
I had no idea what that meant, and frankly, I had no intention of finding out. Avoiding it felt like the wisest decision.
As we ventured further into the outskirts, I assigned Cana the task of scouting the area. It was part of her training—to sharpen her observational skills. Relying solely on magical senses could backfire against skilled opponents.
Meanwhile, my own magic hadn't improved much. Every time I tried, it felt like there was some kind of blockage inside me. Frustrated, I had asked Mavis about it.
"Hmmm..." she murmured, touching my head, her face etched with deep thought.
"So," I prompted, "did you find anything?"
She opened her eyes, a serious expression on her face. "I don't think I can help you with this, Karna. In fact, I don't think anyone can."
"Is it that bad?" I asked, my heart sinking.
"Well, it's not bad exactly, but..."
"But what?"
"This might take some explaining," she said. "Karna, how much do you know about true magic?"
"What's that?" I asked. I recalled it being mentioned in the anime—Hades had searched for it, and at times it was equated with love. But this world was real, so I suspected the explanation would be more complex.
"Good. We'll start from the beginning," Mavis said, smiling.
"Listen closely.
In this world, magic didn't exist from the start. Only about 10% of people have magic now, and most of their children inherit it. If magic had existed since the world's creation, don't you think everyone would have it?"
I nodded, following her logic.
"This suggests that magic is a kind of energy that fused with the universe over time. That fusion brought about the birth of magical creatures like dragons, all of whom possess innate magical talent and vast reserves of magic.
Humans, on the other hand, either adapted to magic or learned to use it. As a result, only a small percentage of humans can wield magic.
Now, the magic used by humans, most magical animals, and even dragons come from the atmosphere. This magic, however, is 'contaminated.' Not by anything harmful, but simply by the fact that it flows through everything. This contamination doesn't affect us physically, but it does make our magic slightly unstable. When we cast spells, they rarely achieve their true potential.
Think of it like juice," she continued. "You can add sugar to make it sweeter, but the nutrients stay the same."
"I don't get the last part," I admitted.
"Take fire magic, for example," she explained. "As a mage grows stronger, they can increase the temperature of their flames. But unless they purify the fire element itself, they aren't truly improving the magic. Elemental magic is the easiest to purify, though it still takes effort. By concentrating your magic and increasing its purity, you can enhance its elemental strength, even if it doesn't become completely pure."
I thought about Natsu. All those years he'd spent using his magic recklessly... were they wasted? Should I teach him to focus and purify his fire? Then again, imagining the damage he might cause gave me second thoughts. Maybe I should wait a few more years.
"Karna, are you listening?" Mavis's sharp tone interrupted my thoughts.
"Yes, yes!" I quickly replied.
"You have a habit of getting lost in thought," she said, frowning. "Try to work on that. Now, where was I? Oh yes, true magic. True magic is said to be magic in its purest form—uncontaminated and incredibly powerful. It's the magic that supposedly led to the creation of beings."
"So, you're saying my magic is too contaminated to work?" I asked, frustrated.
"Not at all," Mavis replied, pouting.
"Sorry, Mavis," I said hastily.
"Hmph."
"Sorry, Big Sis Mavis," I added reluctantly.
That made her grin triumphantly. Honestly, who was the child here?
"Your magic isn't impure," she said. "It's the opposite—it's so pure that it might be the closest thing to true magic."
"What does that mean?"
"Magic is tied to emotions, Karna. Your magic is so pure that a deep-seated problem in your mind is blocking it from flowing freely."
Her words stayed with me as we reached the hunting grounds.
We searched the area but found no signs of prey.
"That's strange," I muttered. "There's no reason for the rabbits to disappear."
Suddenly, a low howl pierced the air.
I immediately pulled Cana behind me. In front of us stood a wolf with blood-red eyes and a sleek, grey coat. I recognized it from the guild archives. A Blood Wolf.
These creatures are notorious for their craving for blood. They'll drink from any prey, human or otherwise, making them especially dangerous.
I summoned my bow and materialized an arrow. My eyes stayed locked on the wolf. I knew it had no particular weaknesses, so wasting mana on elemental arrows would be pointless. Instead, I prepared a standard arrow, ensuring my focus remained unbroken.
"Karna..." Cana's voice trembled behind me. I could feel her fear, and it only strengthened my resolve.
The wolf lunged.
I released my arrow.
The shot was true, piercing the wolf's eye and sending it crashing to the ground mid-leap. I exhaled sharply. My heart pounded in my chest; the tension had made me forget basic techniques, like exhaling during the release of my arrow.
I turned to reassure Cana.
"Don't worry, everyth—"
"Karna, look out!" Mavis's warning rang out.
I spun around, but it was too late. Another wolf, faster than the first, leaped toward Cana. I pushed her aside, but its claws raked her arm, leaving a shallow gash.
Before I could react further, the wolf sank its teeth into my arm.
Squelch!
The sound was sickening.
Pain hadn't set in yet—I was in shock. I quickly summoned my armor, its sudden manifestation cracking the wolf's teeth. Though some teeth remained embedded in my arm, the armor saved me from worse damage.
Fighting through the rising pain, I summoned an arrow and drove it into the wolf's eye.
The beast let out a pained whimper and collapsed.
"Karna!" Cana and Mavis shouted, rushing toward me.
I glanced at Cana, relieved to see her injuries were minor. But I knew my condition was bad. Blood poured from my arm, the embedded teeth only making it worse.
I quickly fired a communication arrow into the sky, signalling the guild for help.
As I waited, I found my thoughts turning dark.
Cana is crucial for the future. I have to protect her. She's...
"An asset?"
The thought hit me like a thunderbolt.
What was I thinking? She wasn't an object or a tool. She was my friend.
Suddenly, Mavis's earlier words echoed in my mind:
"Your magic isn't working because of your deep-seated problem."
It clicked.
I hadn't truly accepted this world as my reality. Deep down, I still saw it as a game or an anime. I'd been detached, unable to fully love or care for the people around me.
My vision blurred, and I barely registered the sound of trees crashing and Gildart's distant roar. Relief washed over me as I realized Cana would be safe now. Then, everything went black.
When I woke, I found myself in a bright, white room.
Two chairs faced each other. With no exit in sight, I sat in one.
A figure materialized in the opposite chair.
"Hello again," he said, grinning.
"You..."
"Yes, me. The all-powerful, ever-handsome god. Looking good, as always."
Still a narcissist.
"Still can hear you," he added smugly.
Oops.
"Well, seems like you died, kid. Blood loss got you."
"I figured," I replied flatly.
"Any regrets?"
"I do. I didn't live my life. I treated that world as if it weren't real. I didn't appreciate the people around me, and I couldn't even love them properly."
"True," he said, nodding. "Even though you interacted with them, you never saw them as real. Subconsciously, you held yourself back from truly connecting with them."
I lowered my head in shame. "I feel like such an asshole."
"Well, good news!" he said cheerfully. "You're not actually dead. You just fainted. I just wanted to mess with you for calling me a bastard in your thoughts all the time."
"YOU BAS—"
"Ah, ah, ah!" He cut me off with a grin. "By the way, new enemies are coming. Good luck! Bye!"
Before I could reply, I woke up in Granny's home.
Cana was by my side, still crying, while Mavis hovered nearby, looking equally distraught. Gildarts and Cornelia stood in the doorway, their faces tense with worry.
From what they told me, I had been in critical condition due to blood loss. They had rushed me to Granny's, where her skills as a healer saved me.
Cana eventually fell asleep, her tear-streaked face buried against my side. Granny let her stay the night.
Laxus came in briefly, silently hugged me, and left. Later, I learned that the entire Blood Wolf population around Magnolia had been wiped out that night.
After everyone left, Granny approached me.
"I can remove the scars once you've healed," she said. "It'll be like it never happened."
"I want it to stay," I said firmly.
"What?" she asked, surprised.
"Granny, please."
She studied me for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. But you're not allowed to use magic or leave this house for a week. Understood?"
"Yes," I replied. The scar would serve as a reminder—a lesson I desperately needed.
Once Granny left, Gramps sat down beside me.
"You know, Karna," he began softly, "ever since you were little, your Granny and I knew you were different. We weren't surprised when you started walking and talking early—we always knew you were smart.
But as you grew, there was something in your eyes. You looked... detached from the world. We were worried you wouldn't truly live in the moment."
He met my gaze.
"But now, it seems you've found it, haven't you?"
Tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn't hold them back as I hugged him tightly.
They had seen how I viewed them, and they still loved me.
Gramps gently patted my back. "Cry as much as you want, Karna. One day, when you're grown, it'll be harder to cry. So let it out now."
I cried for what felt like an eternity. In that moment, I made a vow.
I would protect everyone I cared about—no matter what it took.
A/N- hope you like the rewrite and every 100 powerstone gets extra chapter of Jason.