Chapter 21
Introduction to Magic (Part 1)
Flip–
"Haa… Aren't I too old for this?"
Shiiik–
"Last time I checked the demon king is still here, there's no limit for people whose life are at stake."
"But I fought my whole life, can't I retire?"
"Eliron's right, old mister. You can at least try teaching for the future generations."
"You sound so righteous. I might have believed you but… aren't you cheating against an old man too much?"
Thermes frowned towards Nameless who only stuck her tongue out.
"It's because you're too good at this and you aren't relenting against children." Eliron said casually to Old Thermes, the latter scowled.
"You're a hundred years older than me." He whined.
"There, there," Dynil Walker mediated and calmed his master down.
"As you know in dragon standards, Eliron is actually quite young. Before the demon king, dragons' lifespan reach a thousand. And after him, well, let's just say Eliron is an old man."
"Don't randomly state facts that distress the players, old man."
Dynil frowned.
Nameless had a personal vendetta for sure, "Why is he an old mister while I'm an old man? It might be hard to understand but he's actually 25 years older than me!"
"Hey hey! Don't sweat the details!" Despite what Old Thermes said, he was grinning from ear to ear. "Plus I'm a swordsmaster with a young face."
Seeing his master's shamelessness, the sentry chief didn't hesitate in placing the last card.
Everyone focused on the last card.
Flip–
"Oh! You won kid." Eliron's yellow eyes sparked with interest.
Nameless' cards were a straight, while Eliron was a full house and Old Thermes was a simple pair of King's.
BANG–
She slammed her cards on the table with crazed eyes.
Finally…
"Prepare yourself, old mister!" She grinned, for the first time she genuinely looked excited like a child, eyes flashed. "Your name will be broadcasted all over the world for teaching us magic!"
Thermes slumped down the table. His almost gigantic frame looked smaller than Nameless right now.
Last night Nameless forcibly entered Eliron's room and suggested that he help in asking for Thermes' help. Eliron was surprised and had not calmed his disappointment towards Nameless yet but the plan was simple.
Have Thermes agree in teaching the children.
Since Dynil was laidback he would've naturally done so with Nameless' demand.
When they came early in the morning they found the old man playing on his lonesome and taught them with no hesitation, which Dynil Walker scolded him for.
Nameless made the attempt of adding a bet and won.
At first it was just a simple match however stakes were raised before the old man can catch up.
During the game, Thermes also taught them the basics of how to manifest and use their mana or attribute, to which was used in different forms of strategy to win against him.
Eliron used copy magic to the cards that he touched before.
Nameless who explored her dark magic learnt a basic deception spell, which was closely alike with copy magic.
However on the last game now, everything was just a matter of unluckiness for the old man. Thermes even checked but they didn't use magic at all.
"…My retirement…"
He almost sounded like he was crying, no, maybe there really was a tear or two.
On a different day Nameless explained the situation to everyone.
It would be great for the leaders to learn magic and teach it to the others later on.
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Someone will teach us magic so get in."
Royce eyed his friend with a stinky expression. "Did you threaten the sentry chief or something? Did you bribe him? He's usually uninterested in us but suddenly he wants to teach magic?"
Nameless smiled. "I didn't threaten nor bribe someone. I simply won a bet and it's not even the sentry chief. Just a random old guy with knowledge and experience."
Eliron watched Nameless convince or simply drag people with her.
Dynil mentioned earlier that he can only let through 10 people at a time including himself.
So Nameless prioritized her closest: Royce, Keith, Emman, Ynez, Loyd, and another two from the oldest children around: Perla, and Finneas.
They were all pushed through the warp with little explanation why they needed to learn magic.
Out of the demons, only Ayu displayed her curiosity.
Lemon and Lime were actively selling things now that Keith and Emman were both summoned by Nameless.
"Stay safe, sister."
Ayu gave her sister a basket full of food.
Though it looked like they were going on a picnic, the dragged ones looked like they were being dragged to a slaughterhouse.
And the butcher was smiling brightly, "Yes, yes. We'll come back when everyone becomes useful, sister."
But as if disagreeing, Dynil placed a hand on Nameless' head, ruffling her hair, with a click of a tongue, "We'll be back in five days no matter what. Karson and Aria, you're the chief while I'm away."
The two soldiers nodded their heads.
After delivering the report to the Heroes' Association, they came back fast.
Dynil Walker confronted them about revealing the report to Thermes, but did not punish them.
There was little to nothing they could do if the man wanted to see the report. He would've used force even out of curiosity.
"I don't think five days is enough though..." Nameless sighed.
Karson chuckled, "You're right but if, um, Old Thermes is teaching you… You will definitely learn a lot."
"So much." Aria nodded excitedly to reaffirm them.
"Really?" Nameless was curious now. "Well anyway, we'll be back soon."
The people who were left waved them off.
With Nameless' smile and the others' low grunting, they all set forth through the warp with Eliron at the very end.
Once their figure disappeared, Ayu stood there for a while.
"Thermes, huh…"
"Ayu?" Karson noticed her gaze to where the warp was last seen. "Are you worried about Old Thermes? Don't worry there's no one as trustworthy as him in the whole world probably."
The girl smiled, her blue eyes shimmering under the light of the inn.
"I understand…"
"How about this… do you want to play a new game? Or help around the kitchen, maybe?"
Ayu shook her head at the offer, "I'd love to help but it's my time to pray. Excuse me."
She left to her room.
Karson watched her retreating form and Aria came from behind, watching her too.
"She's peculiar too, no?"
The male guard nodded. "She's faithful and kind, and yet she hadn't awoken any holy powers."
Ayu reached her room.
She can hear them talk about her but thought nothing of it.
Instead she just quietly pressed her palms together and closed her eyes, kneeling on her floor and stayed that way for hours.
"Royce. Age 9, Light magic of Elemental and, Feel… It's of the special magic type of the Unique System."
"Keith. Age 11, Gravity magic of Elemental System."
"Loyd. Age 12, Fire and Ice magic of Elemental System."
"Emman. Age 8, Beast Taming magic of Unique System? Oh that's fascinating."
"Ynez. Age 11, Light magic of Elemental too and a bit of Holy Magic, it seems you pray a lot and the Goddess likes your actions."
"Perla. Age 10, Search magic of the Unique System."
"Finneas. Age 10, Earth Magic of Elemental and…" Thermes hummed, "That's it."
The check for primary attribute were done through the mirror while Thermes used his own recognition for the second attribute.
It was a special knowledge that can be mastered after fighting for too long.
Dynil nodded to his magic master's words and turned back to the children. However there was a deafening silence among them.
Somehow the gazes were divided.
One was focused on Emman and Eliron, and the others watched Nameless staring at Ynez.
The latter looked scared, staring down.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Should we start the training now?" Nameless turned away.
With Dynil's confirmation, the training began.
"In this world, there are four magic systems: Elemental, Holy, Dark, and the Unique Systems. Elemental Magic are defined to be the natural elements that exist in this world before the emerging thinking or conscious beings, such as us."
The primary magic for this system are Fire, Water, Air and Earth; the secondary would be Sand, Light, Electric, and Ice; and the tertiary or belatedly discovered one is gravity.
"There are other tertiary elemental magic, however all new types of magic will undergo research. If we find out how it works, it'll go to the elemental department, until then it'll be in the Unique System which would be tackled later."
Everyone nodded in understanding at Thermes' discussion.
"Next topic would be the Holy System. Honestly, this is the vaguest magic type of all but beings who have this type of magic are all similar."
Warm, kind, helpful and faithful…
"Someone like that naturally becomes the goddess' supporter. As she is always watching and guiding us, only few people truly listens and understands her will, and become part of the Church."
Ynez raised her hand, "Um… Is it necessary to enter the Church to master the holy power?"
Thermes shook his head with a slight smile.
"Not really but since most gather in Church, it is faster to learn holy magic there."
Dynil butted in, "Well there are training programs now provided by the Church. You can enter for a period of time and leave after mastering the holy magic."
Since the owners of holy magic have the same temperament and nature, it was natural that the church wouldn't worry to what happened with beings with strong holy power.
They'll either become an adventurer healer like how others usually become or become a buffer.
"Also, the Church people are as shady as politicians. But as they are the goddess' people, you'll understand that they're actually good.."
"What's a politician?"
The children tilted their heads, curious.
Seeing those gazes, Dynil explained. It was an easy concept.
They were someone who prioritizes the country's logistics affair or someone who should be.
But…
"What's logistics affair?"
"What's a Church?"
"What's a country?"
Their questions were never-ending.
After all, they were mindless puppets up until the night of the escape excluding a few ones like Royce and Keith.
"Next time," Nameless interrupted everyone. "We'll learn next time, okay?"
She smiled.
Everyone watched her and understood.
Next time. Somewhere safer…
It was the promise Nameless mentioned before when they didn't know where to go. It was their Saintess' promise.
"Okay!"
Thermes watched everyone with a calm gaze.
Surely, he thought. Nameless is the being to talk to when there's an issue with the children.
His gaze accidentally landed on a child and looked away before anyone notices.
He continued the lesson.