Chapter 17 - The True Sight Of Magic

Satoru closed his eyes, feeling the surge of power coursing through his body.

His body began to emit a faint glow, and small orbs of light appeared, each a different color, spinning rapidly around him.

Yuki watched in amazement, she had never seen such a diverse array of elemental forces converge in one person before.

"Your talent is astonishing. This is completely unlike the old you. Did this change happen after your appearance altered?" Yuki asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and intrigue.

"Yes," Satoru replied, opening his eyes slowly. "After my appearance changed, I could feel my body transforming. It was as if someone had inscribed these powers into me, making it natural for me to use them."

Yuki's expression remained stoic, but her eyes betrayed a hint of fascination.

"Such a transformation... It's unheard of. You must be careful with these powers. They might attract unwanted attention."

Satoru nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. "I know. That's why I need to master them as quickly as possible."

Yuki turned, leading him further into the garden.

"Let's begin then. Show me what you can do."

Satoru focused, channeling the swirling energies within him.

With a deep breath, he extended his hand, and the colorful orbs of light followed his command, forming intricate patterns in the air.

Yuki watched intently, analyzing his control and precision.

"You have a good grasp of the basics," she remarked. "But you need to refine your control. Each element must be wielded with precision, or it can backfire."

Satoru nodded, concentrating harder.

The orbs of light responded, their movements becoming more synchronized and controlled. Yuki gave a slight nod of approval.

"Better. Now, try combining them," she instructed.

Satoru hesitated for a moment, then focused on merging the different elements.

The orbs began to converge, creating a dazzling display of light and energy.

A small explosion of color erupted, sending a shockwave through the garden.

"Not bad," Yuki said, a rare smile tugging at her lips. "But you still have much to learn."

Satoru smiled back, feeling a surge of determination.

"I won't disappoint you, Yuki."

The two continued their training, Satoru pushing his limits under Yuki's watchful eye.

The sun set, casting long shadows across the garden, but they paid no mind, lost in their pursuit of mastery.

For Satoru, this was more than just training; it was a path to understanding himself and his newfound powers.

And with Yuki by his side, he felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

"Good," Yuki said, her tone even and measured. "You've grasped the basics, and that's sufficient for now."

"Next, I'll teach you about incantation chanting and magical mediums."

Satoru nodded, his eyes focused.

"I'm all ears."

"First, incantation chanting is a tool used to cast high-level spells. It helps make the magic you construct more stable. Of course, if you have enough proficiency, you can cast spells without chanting. In history, only two people have managed to do this: the first emperor of the kingdom and my father, the 57th emperor."

"Then there's the magical medium," Yuki continued, her voice steady.

"Simply put, it's an action that triggers your magic. It could be a snap of your fingers, or pointing at someone or something. The definition of a magical medium is quite flexible. Almost any action can serve as a trigger."

With that, Yuki snapped her fingers, and a small orb of light formed at her fingertips. It floated gracefully toward Satoru, settling warmly in his palm.

Satoru gazed at the light orb, feeling its warmth radiate through his hand.

"So, this warmth... it's part of the magic?"

"Yes," Yuki replied, her gaze unwavering.

"Magic is not just about power; it's about control and intent. The warmth you feel is a result of my intent to create a soothing light. Different intentions and incantations can yield vastly different results."

Satoru nodded, closing his hand around the light orb. "I see. The incantation strengthens the magic, and the medium channels it."

"Precisely," Yuki affirmed. "Now, try it yourself. Start with a simple spell and choose your medium."

Satoru took a deep breath, focusing on the flow of magic within him. He decided to try the snap of his fingers, just as Yuki had done.

He concentrated on creating a small flame, envisioning the incantation in his mind.

"Flame, ignite," he whispered, snapping his fingers.

A tiny flame appeared at his fingertips, flickering softly. Satoru watched it, a mixture of awe and satisfaction on his face.

"Good," Yuki said, her expression showing a hint of approval.

"You're getting the hang of it. Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the more natural it will become."

Satoru nodded, extinguishing the flame. "Thank you, Yuki. I'll keep practicing."

Yuki gave a slight nod. "That's the spirit. Now, let's continue. There's much more for you to learn."

With renewed determination, Satoru and Yuki continued their training, each lesson bringing Satoru closer to mastering his newfound powers.

The garden around them became a testament to their progress, filled with the lingering traces of their magical practice.

"Though you've done well so far," Yuki began, her tone serious, "I must remind you to use the official incantation method. It's the safest and most efficient way."

"Really? There's a fixed method for this kind of thing?" Satoru asked, surprised.

"Yes, but don't worry. It's actually quite simple," Yuki replied. "The structure is: (Type) · (Size) · (Element · (Name of the spell). Let me give you an example..."

"Magic · Small · Flame · Fireball."

With a snap of her fingers, a fireball shot out from her hand.

The small fireball, despite its size, carried an undeniable force and intensity.

"See?" Yuki said, the flickering light of the fireball reflecting in her eyes. "A simple fireball spell, when chanted and triggered properly, can have a formidable power."

Satoru watched, his eyes wide with admiration and understanding. "So, the incantation and medium amplify the spell's power."

"Exactly," Yuki confirmed. "It's not just about creating magic; it's about channeling it correctly to achieve its full potential."

Satoru nodded, absorbing the information. "Got it. I'll practice this method from now on."

"Good," Yuki said, her voice softening slightly.

"Let's continue practicing. There's still much for you to learn."

As they resumed their training, Satoru could feel the weight of Yuki's wisdom and experience guiding him.

Each spell he cast, each incantation he spoke, brought him closer to mastering the intricacies of magic in this new world.

The bond between them, though still tinged with Yuki's aloof demeanor, grew stronger with every lesson.

In the midst of his training, Satoru suddenly felt something appear in his system.

He opened it to find a chat icon with a little red dot in the upper left corner, indicating a new message.

His right eyelid twitched uncontrollably as he noticed this.

As the setting sun cast its warm glow on him, a sense of foreboding washed over him.

"Uh, Yuki, I think I need to head back," he said, a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Hm? Now? It's only 6:39," Yuki replied, raising an eyebrow.

"What? It's that late already?" Satoru exclaimed, clearly startled.

"Late? I don't think so," Yuki said, slightly confused by his reaction.

"Ah, no time to chat. If I don't get back soon, I'll miss dinner," Satoru said, hastily gathering his things.

Without waiting for her response, he hurriedly left the training area.

Yuki watched him go, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Hm, his parents must be quite strict. I'll find an opportunity to visit his home and see if I can do something to change that," she murmured to herself.

"Honestly, in this day and age, being so strict with one's child..." she trailed off, her eyes reflecting a mix of concern and determination.

'Was she truly indignant about Satoru's situation, or was there some other, deeper reason behind her thoughts?

The sky darkened as she pondered, leaving the question unanswered.

Satoru sprinted down the bustling street, paying no mind to the pedestrians he nearly collided with. His instincts screamed that the situation was urgent.

He managed to glance at his system to check the message.

"Be back by 7, and we can still discuss this."

It was a message from Janne.

Relief and a bit of hope filled him—at least she was giving him a chance to explain.

Soon, Satoru reached the cliff overlooking the wooden house.

Glancing at the system's time display, he saw it was 6:47.

Thirteen minutes left. He had a daring plan in mind, one he had contemplated on the way to the cliff.

With newfound confidence in his magical abilities, Satoru took a deep breath and leaped off the cliff. As he plummeted, he focused his thoughts on the magic he needed.

"Magic · Big · Flame · Wings!"

Instantly, fiery wings sprouted from his back, propelling him forward. The sensation of flying was exhilarating and terrifying, but he remained focused on his goal.

He soared through the air, the fiery wings illuminating the dusk sky.

As he approached the wooden house, he descended gracefully, landing right in front of it.

The flames dissipated as his feet touched the ground.

Breathing heavily, Satoru took a moment to steady himself. He glanced at the time—6:53. He had made it with a few minutes to spare.

Now, he needed to face Janne and hope his explanation would suffice.