According to what Eira had taught her over the past three days. Celina needed the use of light magic to unlock her healing abilities. She didn't quite understand the difference between light magic and healing magic, but she knew she had to grasp the lessons somehow. Yet, after three days, she still couldn't manifest even a spark of light magic. It was far more difficult than she had expected.
She was able to use dark magic. In mere minutes, but light magic was different.
'At this rate, I won't be able to use healing magic at all'
Celina felt a hand on her shoulder and snapped out of her thoughts as she diverted her gaze to Eira, who was still watching her.
"You don't have to rush. Take it easy. Even if you've been learning other magic so easily, light magic is hard to understand and manifest. Even if you take a whole month, I fully understand, dear" Eira assured her.
Her words were able to calm her, but she was frustrated a bit. Maybe because she was already used to grabbing everything she was taught immediately, but this... this one was different.
"Is there anything I have to do to be able to use light magic?" She asked. Eira folded her hands as she rubbed her chin in thought.
"You must first have an affinity for it. I heard you can use dark magic. Lyra taught you that. Maybe you're unable to use light magic because of your high affinity for dark magic" Eira responded.
Celina looked at her stats. She was sure she had an affinity for light magic. It was just locked.
She thought back to when she learned dark magic from Lyr. At that time, she had been consumed by thoughts of revenge against humans, something dark enough to awaken her abilities. But, if dark magic required negative emotions, then light magic must require something... Pure.
Pure?
She has to think of something... Good.
Nothing good has ever happened to her when she was Mallory.
Apart from the fact that she's been treated well by Eira and Clyde. She also met a few good people as her training went on.
It was obvious she was being used by these people, but that's her payment for them saving her life. Her getting reincarnated into this body, was a second chance given to her.
By whom? The gods? Or the system?
She shook her head, trying not to think deeply about her revenge. She had to focus on something else. Slowly, she sat cross-legged in the treehouse, with Eira still watching her. She pressed her hands together, closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.
'Light magic. Light magic. Light magic'
She repeated those words in her head over and over again.
.
Days passed. Then weeks.
Two weeks. Three.
Finally, a month had gone by since she started learning light magic. There was no sign of progress.
Celina wanted to give up, but she wanted to help Clyde when he returned from wherever he went.
"Celina. Remember what I told you, if it doesn't work, don't feel bad. Light magic is the kind of magic only a handful of people can use. Some elves can't even use it, so don't waste any more time trying. You should head to the goblins to start your next training" Eira said and turned to leave.
Celina sat there frozen, tears rolling down her cheeks. She looked at her palm and covered her face.
'It's not working.'
No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't use light magic.
Just while she was seated there, she heard noise from outside. It has been silent ever since Clyde and the others left for their training.
Celina and Eira rushed outside and they saw them carrying someone unconscious.
"Isn't that Clyde?" She mumbled.
"Clyde!" Eira yelled and rushed to him. They laid him on the ground. She looked at his face. He was hardly breathing and he was bleeding profusely at the side of his stomach.
"What happened to him? Why is he..."
Celina climbed down the tree and saw how they had surrounded Clyde. He looked like he was in pain.
Of course, he is. He was stabbed.
'What kind of hellish training did they go through?'
She wondered.
The healer and Eira joined hands together to heal him. They were able to close his stab wound, but, they weren't still able to heal his shoulder that was hurt.
Colour returned to his pale face and relief washed over them. James turned and saw her standing behind them. He frowned and walked towards her.
"You! It's your fault!" His voice dropped with fury as he stormed toward her.
Before Celina could react, he shoved her hard in the chest. She stumbled back and hit the tree behind her.
"You are a typical bad luck!" He yelled.
Celina stood by the tree, wondering what she had done wrong. How is it her fault that Clyde got injured?
"J.. James, don't!" Clyde stretched his trembling hand as he spoke with a weak voice.
"If she didn't hurt you, you wouldn't have been stabbed by those humans"
'Humans? They fought against humans?'
Celina's eyes widened as she heard those words.
"James! That's enough. You shouldn't say that to her" Eira scolded.
"How did I hurt you, Clyde?" Celina asked from where she was standing.
"I'm fine, Celina. You didn't hurt me" he said.
"Don't lie to her, Clyde!"
Freddie stepped closer to Celina and pointed at Clyde's shoulder.
"You're the cause of his injury. You're the reason his shoulder is swollen and red. What kind of monster are you? First, you learn to manifest aura so easily, then you practice archery and spear so easily... Aren't you a monster?"
"Freddie!" Eira snapped.
Celina lowered her head. A monster.
She's been called a monster because of her abilities.
'Is it the system's fault? Is it because I was reincarnated? Should I have just died back there at the alley? When I was found in the dungeon, should I have just died?'
"I'm sorry..." She whispered.
"Sorry isn't going to fix his hands. Clyde was supposed to be the strongest, yet he was attacked by those puny humans. He couldn't protect the others! We lost so many of our people!" Freddie spat.
"I'm sorry!" Celina's voice broke as she spoke louder this time. She shoved him aside and walked towards Clyde who was still on the floor, with Eira and the healer.
She knelt beside him, trailing her fingers around it. She remembered when she hit him with her sword, during their final duel.
'Maybe I'm really a monster'
She pondered as tears rushed down her cheek. She wanted to do anything to help Clyde, without knowing that she was the cause of his injury.
"Celina, I'm fine. You don't have to cry"
"I'm not fine, Clyde. You got hurt because of me. If only I could use healing magic, I would have helped you..."
Ding!
{Would you substitute 10,000 unlucky points to unlock the light attribute?}
{Yes/ No}
The system prompted her.