It's been a month since I arrived in this world, and you know what? Magic is so much fun. It's like building with LEGO bricks. For example, I draw a circle as the base, then add the elements I want, adjust the speed, trajectory, and so many other factors.
Felis explained that the more variables in a spell, the harder it is to control. The bigger the variable in the element, the more mana it consumes. These variables are what we call "cycles." New magicians usually start with two-cycle spells—element and trajectory. But apparently, I can already handle five-cycle magic.
The five-cycle magic I use is hot steam, combining one five-cycle magic and one four-cycle magic—fire and water.
For the fire magic, I set the element as fire, with a trajectory of zero, a continuity of 0.5 seconds, and strength set to 2. The base temperature of fire magic is 40°C. With strength set at 2, it doubles the temperature to 80°C, and then applying strength 2 again raises it to 160°C
For the water element, I set the element as water, with a trajectory of zero, a continuity of 4 seconds. Why 4 seconds? Because the mana usage is already immense. This spell alone consumes 50% of my mana pool, and adding target selection as the final variable completely drains my mana pool.
This spell instantly kills any wild animal I try it on. I can cast my magic within a 20-meter radius, while Felis says the average imperial mage can only manage around 10 meters. Maybe this is the cheat the god gave me. After killing a wild rabbit, I bring it home and ask the chef to cook it. The result is a truly delicious meal.
Today, Felis didn't come to the house, so I was practicing magic alone in the front yard. Suddenly, I felt an ominous presence near the house gates. They creaked open, and a big, muscular old man walked toward me. His aura was oppressive, making it hard for me to breathe. I looked at his face—blonde hair, sharp blue eyes.
"Father!" I heard my dad's voice as he rushed out of the front door to confront the man. Is this scary person my grandfather? What?
My mother quickly picked me up and carried me to my room, where I could finally breathe freely again.
"Is he my grandfather? Was he trying to kill me?"
"No, your grandfather wasn't intentionally pressuring you. He's a dragon hunter, so he always leaks mana without realizing it. Children are more sensitive to that kind of pressure, and because you have a large mana pool, it makes you even more sensitive."
"Oh..."
"Here, eat this candy and try to meet your grandfather again."
"Okay."
I grabbed the shiny candy cube and crunched into it. My parents give me one every day, and it tastes amazing. I gathered my courage and walked to the guest room, though my legs felt weak.
"Hello, Grandfather," I said, trying to stay calm.
"You're brave to come talk to me. Most kids run away immediately." He smiled and pulled out a handful of shiny objects, handing them to me. I eagerly licked one—it was candy, but way too big to eat in one bite!
"Father, why did you come here today? And without any notice?" my father asked.
"I heard rumors of a dragon in the area," my grandfather replied. "I came to warn you to be careful when walking near the mountains or forests. Since you're the landlord here, it's easier to inform you directly than to go through the officials. Don't let anyone wander carelessly until I confirm the dragon is gone."
If dragon hunting is a profession, does that mean dragons are common in this world?
"Are dragons common? Aren't they sacred beings we should respect?"
"There are many dragons," my grandfather replied, "but not all are intelligent enough to be worthy of respect. Only royal dragons are revered and prayed to. Stray dragons, on the other hand, often ravage towns and homes in search of wealth. They must be killed or driven away, forcing them into hiding for many years."
He handed me a crystal, and I immediately felt an overwhelming urge to eat it.
"What kind of crystal is this?" I asked, holding it up.
"If you ever encounter a stray dragon, throw this crystal. It will attract them," my grandfather explained.
"So it's a luring crystal? Does it have poison or something?"
"No," he chuckled, "but don't try eating it. For some reason, kids are always tempted to take a bite. Your father did the same and lost his front baby tooth."
At the end of the day, I ended up taking a small bite of the crystal. It tasted horrible.
"Sorry for being a bad kid," I muttered to myself, regretting the decision immediately.