Three years have passed.
I can walk without issue now and explore the house as I please.
If I think about it, I could probably wander around the kingdom too.
Well, not the entire kingdom. It'd be weird to see two kids strolling through alleys crawling with thieves. Though the idea is kind of intriguing.
What we can do is stay home, studying the Guide to Magic and Combat and The Paradox Scriptures.
"Are you sure that's how it's done?" I asked, trying to conjure a small gust of wind.
Isolde, with her eternal look of concentration, tilted her head and turned the book in her hands, as if looking at it from another angle would make the magic work by, well, magic.
"Yes, I'm absolutely sure. But… why isn't it working?"
Good question.
According to the book, magic requires mana.
Mana exists in all living things. It's an energy inherent to existence itself. But to use it, you have to manipulate the mana within your own body.
Like spitting.
You need to control your saliva to spit it out. It's the same with mana.
But that's not enough. You also need concentration.
And that's the problem.
Isolde insists that to create a gust of wind, I have to feel the wind inside me, like it's part of my being, and then release it.
"Is that really what I'm supposed to do?"
"Yes! Come check it yourself!"
I sat next to her and scanned the book's words. Technically, she was right. But how the hell do I properly control mana?
There was no way to produce a gust of wind just by believing it.
"Do you think the Paradox book has a better explanation?" I asked, turning and stretching my arm to pull the massive tome.
I opened it and flipped through the pages.
And there it was."This says something completely different, Issy."
"Issy." A nickname for Isolde.
I started using it when she decided to call me…
"Lucy, are you sure you're not reading a different page?"
"Hmm…" I scratched my head. "Here. Tell me what I'm supposed to do." I handed her the Paradox book, pointing to the page with the conflicting information.
Isolde read it silently, then spoke:
"Okay. Focus the energy in your body. Think of any element, then be that element."
As she spoke, I followed her instructions.
"Use that energy… and release!"
A small gust of wind shot from my hand. Barely enough to nudge an empty glass.
But it worked.
For the first time, it worked.
Then Isolde read the last line of text.
"Once you're done, you may have experienced the Syrix."
…
Wait, what?
---
"Syrix."
According to the Paradox Scriptures, Syrix is a special kind of magic that only a race called the Nurukaido and certain gods can use. It's similar to mana, but with a crucial difference: it's not present in all living organisms.
At first glance, it seems like a closed, exclusive system.
Except I just used it.
Syrix also has an overwhelming advantage in terms of power. It's more efficient, stronger, more refined.
But, like everything in life, it comes with a catch.
They call it Ultra Instinct.
A state where your body moves on its own, without conscious input. Basically, you become a puppet of your own reflexes. In exchange, your seven senses are heightened to the extreme: sight, taste, touch, hearing, smell, vestibular sense, and proprioception.
Interesting.
But if I think about it… it makes no sense that only the Nurukaido and gods can use it.
I used it.
And…
"I did it! That took 50 tries!" Isolde shouted, practically bouncing with excitement.
I took a deep breath.
"Bravo," I said, clapping halfheartedly.
I'd hoped that having Syrix would at least give me an edge over my sister. But no. Apparently, she can use it too.
And mana.
Damn it.
I can't use mana.
"Come on, Lucy. Can't you be a bit prouder of me?" Isolde teased, flashing that mocking smile that's becoming way too familiar. But her tone softened when she noticed my frustration. "Come on, Lucy, I know you'll be able to use mana in a few days too."
I appreciate her optimism.
I wish I could share it.
I glanced at the Paradox Scriptures. Nothing new. It had the same mana information as the Guide to Magic and Combat. No extra details.
I sighed and stood up.
"I'm gonna try again."
"Hehe. Alright. I'll give you the instructions."
"Fine."
I stretched out my arm, closed my eyes, pictured the air inside me, tried to shape it in the palm of my hand, and…
Nothing.
"Keep trying, I know you can do it," Isolde encouraged.
Why the hell is this so hard for me?
I tried again. Nothing.
Though this time, I felt a tingle in my palm. A hint of something, but it wasn't enough. I lowered my arm, frustrated.
"You giving up?" Isolde asked.
"I'll just try again later. I'm exhausted."
"Oh… I'm tired too."
She has a valid reason. Using mana drains energy.
Me, on the other hand… I have no idea why I feel like this. I didn't even manage to do magic.
Except with Syrix.
Maybe that's why? Could my reserve be so ridiculously low that I can't even use it more than a few times before burning out?
I don't have answers.
"You going to sleep?" I asked.
"Nope! I want to keep learning! Now I want to know about healing magic so I can fix your wounds when you get hurt, Lucy."
Her voice was brimming with excitement as she raised her hand in a determined gesture. I smiled a little.
It's nice having a sister; I didn't have one in my past life. And thank God for that. If I'd had one, my parents probably would've treated her the same way they treated me. The thought alone gives me chills. I shook my head and snapped back to the present.
"Alright. Let's see what's up with healing magic."
Isolde flipped through the Guide to Magic and Combat until she reached the right section, and the moment I saw the content, a weight settled on my shoulders.
"Healing magic is divided into biological branches…" The words left my mouth heavily.
I knew what that meant, and I also knew how tough it was going to be to learn.