Morning came, and as the team woke up, Syn noticed Rhys still keeping watch. Approaching him, Syn was halted by Rhys, who turned to reveal his tired face with dark circles under his eyes from a sleepless night. Syn questioned his actions, but Rhys simply replied that he didn't want to wake them up to change shifts.
The team continued their journey, and Luna asked Syn to teach her about complex magic. Syn glanced at Rhys, who came closer and began to explain:
"There are five elements in the world: fire, water, wind, earth, and space. These elements form the very composition of the world we live in. Long ago, magic was divided into two types: complex and simple. The first four elements are called simple magic because of their straightforward formulas. What makes complex magic 'complex' is the inclusion of space magic, which has multiple complex formulas.
"Take gravity spells, for example. These spells pull the target with a force that depends on understanding the underlying formula. The greater the mass of the objects, the stronger the gravitational pull between them. Additionally, the gravitational force decreases with the square of the distance between the objects. This is just one type of spell. To use complex magic, you must understand the intricate formulas that govern it."
he continued.
"an other example for the gravity spells that create a repelling force, pushing objects away from each other. This is like the force between two magnets with the same faces north or south. The greater the charges on the objects, the stronger the force pushing them apart. Also, the closer the objects are to each other, the stronger the force. But if you double the distance between the objects, the force becomes four times weaker.
"Think of it like this: if you have two magnets with north faces, they will repel each other. The strength of this repelling force depends on how strong the charges are and how far apart the magnets are. The stronger the charges, the stronger the force. The farther apart they are, the weaker the force."
Luna kept listening without saying a word, surprised by how hard complex magic was to understand.
"Don't worry," Syn reassured her, noticing her bewildered expression. "It might seem difficult now, but with practice and time, you'll grasp it."
Rhys added, "Understanding the formulas is just the beginning. Once you get the hang of it, casting complex magic will become second nature."
Syn appreciated Rhys's explanation in his mind, finding it easier to understand than what he had in mind. He realized that these two types of gravity magic could become even stronger with the proper use of mana.
The three of them, with a sudden realization, noticed that Ray was missing. Turning around and scanning the area, they couldn't find any trace of him. Syn activated his eye's skill, and the team felt the radius of its range expand to an impressive eight hundred meters. They were taken aback by the sheer extent of Syn's vision.
Within the expanded radius, Syn quickly sensed Ray's mana. The team began following its direction, weaving through the dense forest until they finally found him.
"Huh?" Syn questioned, his voice filled with confusion.
Ray was sitting on a charred hydra skeleton, looking oddly at ease.
Luna questioned Ray about his wide-range fire magic, puzzled by the unfamiliar spell.
"That wasn't fire magic," Ray corrected.
"Then what caused the burns on the skeleton?" she pressed.
"Ah, guess this is another lesson in complex magic," Ray explained, leaning forward.
"Rhys didn't want to complicate things for you, so he used a gravity spell as an example. But let me explain it differently. When you infuse fire and space magic together, what do you think happens?"
Luna shrugged, eager to understand.
"Other than magic and mana, this world is made up of atoms, which contain protons, neutrons, and electrons," Ray began. "Atoms are made of incredibly tiny particles: protons and neutrons form the nucleus at the center, while electrons orbit around it. Fire magic typically burns the atoms in the air, specifically targeting oxygen. When I infuse fire magic with space magic, I control the burning of atoms at the nucleus level. This means I can manipulate the energy released by the atoms themselves, not just the oxygen they combine with. The result is a much more intense and focused form of destruction.And by the way" Ray added with a smirk, "these techniques can't be learned even in the empire's best academies.""
Luna couldn't help but feel like she had just completed an entire semester's worth of lessons in mere ten minutes. The depth of complex magic was far beyond what she had learned in the academy.
"Today's lesson has been quite enlightening," Ray remarked, his voice carrying a tone of satisfaction. "Syn sensed your mana when he first encountered you and informed us of your affinity for space magic. It's not that rare of a gift, sought after by many aspiring mages for its potential in complex magic. Yet, most fail to realize that without even a sliver of space affinity, their efforts in mastering complex magic would be in vain. While space magic itself isn't exceedingly rare, possessing it is essential for delving into the realms of complex spellcasting."
Although Luna didn't grasp every intricate detail, she gleaned the fundamental concept: mastering complex magic required not only talent but also a deep understanding of its intricacies formulas.
The friends arrived at the Firewood Town in the East Kingdom two days later, as the journey lasted one week. Only to be met by a surprising sight. Rhys commented on the situation with a quiet voice as they found all the townspeople waiting for them, armed with weapons.
"We can't harm the townspeople; they're clearly frightened," Ray remarked.
Syn whispered, "Eliminate."
Upon hearing this command, Snow swiftly observed the villagers, noticing their weapons turning to ashes and cracks appearing in the air between their hands. The townspeople, bewildered by what had happened, were reassured by the group that they meant no harm and were only here to ask questions while staying for a few days. Syn approached the town's chief, explaining their intentions and requesting their cooperation.
The chief turned to his people, explaining the harmless nature of the visitors' presence. After some internal debate, the townspeople accepted their request. They offered four empty houses, three possess only one room and the fourth one contain two, which they explained was the extent of their capabilities. Excluding Syn from the response, the team accepted their efforts. Ray, Rhys, and Luna each took one house, leaving Syn and Snow with one. Syn questioned their decision, feeling abandoned, but they explained it was for his own good. Understanding their intentions, he declined the offer. However, they made it clear they weren't asking for his input. Turning to Snow, Syn asked about her feelings regarding the situation. She clearly didn't have a problem with it, as she trusted him. The team accepted the four empty houses and began unpacking their belongings.As night fell, the friends concluded their inquiries with the townspeople regarding any information about the one who falsely accused them of planning to rob the town. Unfortunately, they didn't gather sufficient knowledge about the true culprit behind the accusations.As everyone departed for their designated houses, a sense of unease lingered with Syn, especially sharing a roof with someone who had previously sought his life. Sensing his discomfort, Snow approached him, seeking an honest explanation. Reluctantly, Syn brushed it off, citing concern for the team's safety. Sensing his evasion, Snow contemplated finding alternative accommodations. However, Syn's firm command compelled her to stay put, revealing his underlying trust issues.In the quiet of the night, under the gentle moonlight, they found themselves drawn together. Their conversation flowed effortlessly with honest words, each word carrying weight and meaning. As they spoke, a sense of understanding and trust grew between them, forging a bond that felt deeper than mere friendship. In that moment, they found solace in each other's company, finding comfort in the shared silence and the unspoken understanding that passed between them.Later on, they were meant to sleep in separate rooms but it is clear that one of the two rooms is empty.