When spacetime is normally distorted by excessive mass, the gravity decreases with the distance squared. However, I don't want to start dragging other nearby objects in with my gravity spells. So, I want to warp spacetime less gradually, so that gravity distortion drops off almost immediately outside the target area.
I close my eyes and focus on the space just on top of the marble. I imagine that space being distorted – the sensation is kind of like trying to compress the space itself with my magic. At the same time, I focus on forcing the other surrounding spacetime to maintain its normal shape as much as possible.
As I continue to focus on the spell, I feel the familiar magical resistance that lets me know I'm on the right track. Per usual, I push through it until I feel the marble start to become lighter in my hand.
I open my eyes and continue increasing the opposing gravity until I don't feel the marble's weight anymore. I drop my hand, and the marble starts to slowly sink. I increase the opposing gravity a little more, and the marble is basically floating now. Great, now to move it.
Keeping the existing gravity balanced, I add gravity towards the front of the marble as well, and it begins to move. I continue playing around with this until I can zip the marble around how I want with good control. It's pretty fun – kind of like flying a toy helicopter.
Alright, time for me. I begin the same process on myself, and I start to slowly feel lighter. Pressing on, I eventually float up. Rather, it feels like I'm falling up. I quickly readjust so that I'm just floating. I spend a while playing around with controlling the speed and accuracy of rising and falling until I'm comfortable with it.
Now, how should I fly? Belly down, like a superman, or standing up, like I'm sky surfing. Hmm…maybe feet first.
Whichever direction I'm flying is going to replace the feeling of gravity and falling, so superman style would be like standing on my head. That would not be good. Feet first would be the most natural sensation-wise, but that would be terrifying visually. So, sky surfing it is!
I float up above the tree line, then add my invisibility spell. I don't want any prying eyes. Next, I look over my right shoulder and start accelerating that direction with my flight spell.
"Ahhhhhhh!" (Mizuki)
A startled cry escapes me. As I started going faster, the wind kept twisting my body off balance and I ended upside down.
Tch…I totally forgot about that. I 'swim' my way back upright, then think for a second. I need a barrier that takes all the wind resistance in my place.
I create a teardrop-shaped magic barrier that repels air like for my silencing spell – I recall that teardrop shapes are supposed to be good for aerodynamics. I make it so the barrier is larger and fully encloses me, but I alter it so that it still has an opening behind my direction of motion. I want to have air exchange to breathe.
With the adjustments made, I begin accelerating again. Now, there is basically no feeling of air on my body, just the sound of turbulence behind me. I'd say the handling of the flight spell now feels very much like sky surfing.
As always, time to push my limits.
I rise above the tree line and it's chilly as the air thins, so I use my magic to heat the air molecules in my barrier. Honestly, with all these spells required for practical flight, you'd need insane power like mine.
I begin accelerating towards a point on the horizon. As wind resistance on my barrier increases, so does magic consumption. I keep accelerating until my body is under strain from magic consumption and my reserves can be felt dropping. I'd guess I could maybe fly for two hours under these conditions.
I'm high up, so it's hard to gauge my speed by looking at the ground passing below, but I know it's an absurd pace. I turn my flight towards where the dragons were and pulse my magic sense to detect them. Okay, about 350 km in that direction.
I adjust my course and press on for what feels like 5 minutes, then pulse the magic sense again. Roughly 280 km away now…sooo…holy shit. That's like 800 kph! I knew I was fast, but that's beyond expectation. Okay, I think that's all for now.
I simultaneously release all my flight related spells while teleporting back to the clearing. I grab my belongings, then teleport back to Percivil's shop. To avoid another encounter, I adopt my full concealment spells, then exit his shop discreetly.
When I'm sure that nobody is around, I drop my spells and make my way to the guild. I arrive around noon.
I walk into the guild, and it is bustling with activity as usual. I thread my way to the reception desk and give my standard greetings to Melanie.
"I'd like to report completion of this slime job, and also pay my yearly fees." (Mizuki)
I pull out a silver coin as well as the ten slime cores, then hand them to her for inspection. She nods and smiles after a minute, then walks into the back. A moment later, she comes back with my reward money, not that I need it. I pocket it, and she flashes me a proud smile.
"Congrats on your first job completion, Mizuki!" (Melanie)
"Thanks! By the way, how do I rank up from G to F?" (Mizuki)
"For that transition, you just need to complete three jobs with the guild!" (Melanie)
Easy enough. Alrighty then. That's something to focus on when I'm done with the elves.
I give Melanie my thanks and farewells, then make my way back outside. When I feel unobserved, I duck into an alley and discreetly teleport back to my clearing in the forest.
I gather my weapons and pack, check my equipment, and confirm the direction of the nearest Elder Dragon with a pulse of magic sense. Everything seems to be in order.
A satisfied smile spreads across my face.
"Now then…let's go meet an Elder Dragon!" (Mizuki)