A week had passed since Liria's arrival, and her life had become a grueling cycle of early morning training, mid-afternoon hunting, and evening lessons in the world she now found herself in. Her days started before dawn, with Daena kicking her awake with a surprising amount of energy for someone her age, dragging her out into the woods for a series of seemingly endless exercises. Liria had never cursed the concept of "fitness" so much in her life. Still, day by day, she noticed her endurance building, her steps lighter, her breaths longer.
She wasn't thrilled about it, but the results were undeniable. With each day, she grew stronger, and as the System cheerfully reported at every evening check-in, her stats had started to show real growth. Liria was now level 5, her strength, agility, and magic had increased, and her health and magic capacity were leagues beyond where she'd started.
Status Update:
Name: Liria Silverthorn
Age: 12
Race: Human
Level: 5
Experience: 10/200
Health: 300/300
Magic: 200/200
Attributes:
Strength: 10
Agility: 12
Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 8
Magic: 15
Abilities:
Swordsmanship (Level 1)Endurance Training (Level 1)
Not too shabby, Liria thought, grinning at her progress.
One evening, after another day of intense hunting (during which she'd almost lost a finger trying to catch a creature that looked suspiciously like a fluffy porcupine), Daena motioned for her to sit by the fire.
"Liria," Daena began, her tone unusually serious, "I think you're ready to learn a bit about magic."
Liria's eyes widened. She'd been waiting for this! "Finally!" she said, unable to hide her excitement. "Do I get to throw fireballs or maybe fly?"
Daena laughed, shaking her head. "Not yet, girl! Magic is not something to be taken lightly. It requires understanding, patience, and respect."
Magic? Patience? Liria nearly snorted. Patience hadn't been a virtue that got her far in her previous life, but if learning magic meant possibly throwing fireballs or even lightning bolts, she was all ears.
Daena extended her hand, her palm facing upward. With a whisper, a small, flickering orange flame appeared, hovering over her palm. The warmth of the fire was immediate, comforting yet powerful. Liria leaned forward, her eyes widening as she watched the flame dance.
"Magic comes from the world around us," Daena began, her voice steady. "The earth, the air, the fire these elements are alive, connected to everything and everyone. It is this energy we draw upon, and each person's magic is as unique as they are."
She extinguished the flame with a gentle swipe of her hand, and Liria felt a thrill run through her. The idea of controlling fire or any element was mind-boggling and exhilarating.
"Magic can be powerful," Daena continued, "but it can also be dangerous if you aren't careful. You have to respect it."
Liria nodded, though inside, her excitement was nearly boiling over. This world's magic was leagues beyond anything she'd ever imagined.
Daena gestured for Liria to focus, guiding her through the fundamentals. Liria listened intently, even as the explanations grew increasingly complex. Daena instructed her on focusing her energy, closing her eyes to feel the magic within her and around her. It was a strange sensation, like reaching out with a hand that wasn't there, trying to grasp something invisible.
After what felt like hours of concentration, Daena stepped back. "Now," she said, "try summoning a flame. Just a small one."
Liria took a deep breath, feeling her heart pound with anticipation. She reached deep within herself, searching for the strange energy she could sense under her skin, and focused on her hand. She whispered the incantation Daena had taught her, picturing the flame in her mind.
Slowly, a spark flickered above her hand. She gasped, but as she did, the spark quickly expanded, darkening into an ominous black flame. Unlike Daena's comforting, orange warmth, Liria's fire felt intense, almost consuming, as if it was an entity of its own.
"Uh… Daena?" she said, her voice trembling as she stared at the eerie, black flame. "This isn't… normal, is it?"
Daena's eyes widened, and for the first time, Liria saw her mentor look genuinely shocked. "No, it's not. I've never seen a flame like that."
[New Skill Acquired: Blackfire Magic (Level 1)]
The System's calm, clinical tone cut through the tension, but Liria still felt a thrill of fear. Blackfire? It sounded ominous, even for a beginner like her.
What's Blackfire? she asked the System in a rush.
[Blackfire is a rare and potent form of elemental fire. It is said to be more volatile than regular fire magic, possessing unique properties unknown to conventional elemental spells.]
"Daena," Liria said, her voice barely above a whisper. "What does this mean?"
Daena's eyes were steady, but her expression was unreadable. "It means that you possess a rare talent, one I don't quite understand myself. Blackfire magic is something I've only heard of in old tales, and even then, it was considered… unpredictable."
Liria swallowed, extinguishing the flame with a slight wave of her hand, just as Daena had done. She'd been hoping for something cool, maybe even something a little flashy, but this? It was like holding a dragon's breath in her palm.
[Skill: Blackfire Magic (Level 1) acquired. Proficiency increased with each use.]
As her nerves settled, excitement bubbled up in her again. I mean, sure, maybe it's dangerous, but how many people can summon black flames?
Daena continued explaining magic fundamentals, but now with a caution in her voice that hadn't been there before. She drilled Liria on control, on managing her focus, and on being mindful of her emotions when using magic. The last thing Liria wanted was for her black flame to spiral out of control.
The System kept a running commentary in her mind, offering details on how magic affected her attributes. Each time she succeeded in conjuring even a small flame, her magic capacity nudged a little higher, and she felt a small boost in her control.
[Congratulations. You have increased your magic proficiency. Each successful casting improves your magical stability.]
She felt a surge of pride. The System was usually her biggest critic, so a compliment even one as sterile as that felt like a victory.
The sun was beginning to set when Daena finally nodded in satisfaction. "That's enough for today, lass. You've done well."
"Thank you," Liria said, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. "But, uh… do you think the black flame will ever go away?"
Daena studied her for a moment, then shook her head. "No, Liria. I believe it's part of who you are. Your magic is your own, and this Blackfire… it's as much a part of you as your strength or endurance."
Liria wasn't entirely sure if she should be relieved or terrified. But in a strange way, she felt… special. In her previous life, she'd been ordinary, blending into the crowd. But here? Here, she was the girl with black flames, a force even Daena couldn't fully explain.
As they walked back to the cabin, Daena placed a hand on her shoulder. "Remember, Liria, magic is a gift, but it's also a responsibility. Use it wisely."
They reached the cabin, and Daena immediately started a fire in the hearth, as if to show what a "normal" flame looked like. But Liria knew there was no going back. The black flame was hers, and with it came a power she was only beginning to understand.
System, she thought as she lay on her cot that night, staring at the flickering orange flames in the hearth. What other powers are there in Blackfire?
[That remains to be seen. As your proficiency grows, new abilities may unlock. I will monitor for changes.]
Liria smiled, feeling her eyes grow heavy. The idea of unlocking new abilities thrilled her, even if they were as dangerous as this black flame. She might be just a beginner in this strange world, but she was already wielding something unique, and that was a victory all its own.