Ch. 20 Magic

Elek Carbo's POV:

After the instructor's fiasco, I left next day's training to Captain Atticus, so I could console my children. Of course, I had other things in mind.

In the middle of Damus forest hid a large stone field. Formerly one giant piece, the area now looked like it was mined for a building project.

We went to the middle of the field where the base of the giant stone still remained. Though a bit jagged, it looked like a large stage, the kind minstrels used at celebrations. When we reached the middle of the platform, I turned around and faced my eager pupils.

"Marcus, Deia, do you want to learn magic?"

"Yes!" They answered in unison.

"Good. Then, take 10 steps back."

My children complied. Deia had seen my magic, but Marcus was in the dark. Since it was a life defining event, I figured I should put on a show.

"Children, what do you think magic is?"

They didn't answer. I drew mana from my pendant, opened my palm, and summoned a flame the size of a house.

"Is it power!?"

"Wow!" They had to retreat several more steps so they wouldn't get burned.

"Is it speed?"

I focused lightning energy into my feet and jumped. From above, I could see my children staring in awe. I could see villagers going about their business and even reinforced soldiers repeating drills back at the camp. Several seconds later, I fell.

"Holy crap, dad!"

As expected, Marcus was prancing around like a little kid. His sister fared better, though her eyes were wide too.

"What is it?" I asked them again. "What is magic?"

They thought about it for a long moment, and then replied.

"It's tiny rocks that give you powers." said Deia.

"It's an ability or a skill." said Marcus. "The ability to control mana from mana cores."

"Close, but no." I corrected with a smile. "Here lies the greatest misconception most people have about magic: There is nothing magical about it. Actually, magic is simply a tool."

I stopped talking to let my words sink in. This simple distinction had vast repercussions, so I wanted them to remember it.

"What do you mean?" asked Marcus eventually.

"Magic and magic cores are one and the same. They are tools no different from a sword or a kitchen knife. If you own a core, you can use it. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, gifted or not. With the few exceptions of those who suffer side effects from mana, anyone and their grandmas can use magic. And this means?"

"We can learn it too!" said Deia.

"It can be stolen." answered Marcus.

"Both of you are correct. But, Deia please remember Marcus' answer. Magic cores can be stolen. They are extremely rare and unbelievably valuable. Numerous people have died because someone wanted their cores."

"We'll keep them hidden." assured Marcus.

"Good. You should also avoid displaying your abilities until you can beat a reinforced soldier 1 on 1.

As for how to use a core, that's simple." I opened the sack I brought with me, pulled out an oval core the color of steel and handed it to Deia. To Marcus, I gave a pair of black fighting gauntlets.

Made by the capital's finest craftsman, they had metal plates covering the back of the hand. Four small pointy spikes covered the knuckles, but that was the least important feature. Hidden inside the plates were 2 halves of the iron mage's mana core.

"What is this feeling?" said Marcus when he put the gloves on.

"It's like when I put on the necklace, but stronger." said Deia.

"Since you've mentioned it, hand over the necklaces. You will no longer need them." They gave them back and winced right afterwards.

"It's gotten stronger." said Deia.

"Don't fight it. Let it connect to your soul."

"I can't." said Marcus. "Both gloves are pulling at me."

"Then, choose one. It's going to be a bit hard at first, but you'll have to resist the other core's pull from now on."

I then counted down the time. Just 20 seconds later, Medeia cheered.

"I did it!" 3 seconds later, her brother followed.

"Me too. But, the other glove is still pulling me, though not as much."

Wow, I really did have talented children. It took between 30 to 60 seconds to connect to a mana core. One could only connect to one core at a time, and this time limit was a big problem in battles. Even if you got your hands on several cores, most fights would be over by the time you switched between them. But, these 2 might just pull it off.

"Deia, I want you to focus on the core and draw mana from it into your body." After a few seconds, she nodded. "Good. Now, run from here to the end of the platform and back as soon as you can. Ready? Go!"

Like a cheetah sprinting after prey, Medeia accelerated in an instant. But, she couldn't stop properly and fell from the platform.

"Crash!"

"You need practice!" I yelled, and then looked at Marcus.

"Now, focus on the glove you've connected with. Draw mana and imagine it taking the shape of an object, like a knife."

Marcus squinted his eyes, and soon an iron knife appeared out of nowhere. It resembled his throwing knives. No, it was exactly like them.

"And it only took you 5 seconds. Congratulations! You're a natural."

To make an object using a creation core, you had to imagine the shape, size, and place where it would appear exactly. When I tried, it took me 30 seconds to make a knife not nearly as detailed as what my son produced. Of course, one's core manipulation could be improved with practice, but the starting line was very important and sometimes defining. That's why the iron mage took forever to create his spears.

"Does the other glove have a core too?" asked Tyrian who was studying the items.

"Yes, though it's the same core. I cut it in half and put each part inside a glove."

"Doesn't that lower its power?"

"Unfortunately, yes. Honestly, I did not expect Marcus to be so good at creation magic. Even so, in the long run, these gauntlets will be better. By putting the core inside them, they have a chance of becoming a magic weapon, like this one."

I pulled out my knife and it began flying circles around us. At the same time, I summoned fire in one hand and lightning in the other.

"That's awesome!" said Deia.

"How…?"

"If you attach a magic core to an object, then mana from the core will seep into the object. That on its own does nothing. However, if you begin using said object for certain tasks and the core can assist with those tasks, there's a chance it will respond and help you.

Basically, the mana core inside my knife grants flight. After making it, I slashed and threw it around as much as possible until one day, it started slashing and throwing itself on its own.

Normally, to use a core that grants flight, I'd have to adjust the amount of mana, pick a trajectory, and make more small adjustments until I reach my target. But, since the knife is now a magic weapon, it responds to my will and does all those calculations on its own."

"Is it alive?" asked Deia.

"So, if I keep using these gloves for fighting…"

"Yes, you might get a similar effect. I suggest you make various weapons from each glove, then train with them all day. It can take up to a year, but they should become a magic weapon with creation abilities."

"But, why can't he use both cores?" asked Tyrian.

"You can only link your soul with one mana core at a time. But, a magic weapon acts based on your will. The core's link is with the weapon which you happen to possess. Besides owning a split mana core, this is the only other way to use multiple abilities at the same time. Except…"

There was one more way. I pulled out 2 white mana cores. Again, they were oval shaped and flat in the middle. Though bigger sized mana cores gave greater power, they were also harder to hide. A flat one could be hidden in a jacket, but a big ball was conspicuous.

Yesterday, I cut the large white core in half, and then cut 2 more small fragments from the top to make them flat. I lifted the sleeve of my shirt to show the kids my right shoulder. Imbedded into my flesh was one of the 2 fragments. I gave the other to my wife.

"If you imbed a mana core into your flesh, your own body will become a weapon. It only works with enhancing type cores though. They're cores that directly affect your body, be it by increasing strength, speed, intelligence, etc. These 2 are for you."

Embedding a core into your body wasn't as hard as it seemed. As long as you placed it on the skin and thought about accepting it, merging with it, then it would happen automatically. Unlike when linking your soul, which felt like your consciousness was being tied to something, this type of connection was felt in the flesh. It was like being embraced by warmth, except you could feel it flow into every nook and cranny of your body.

I had Marcus place his core right where his heart was. While cores were easy to break or cut when they weren't linked with anything, when they were linked, they couldn't be destroyed as long as their mana wasn't drained.

Because Deia was a girl, we merged her core to the left side of her ribs. It would keep it hidden from view and wouldn't cause problems when she grew up.

Like this, my children could recover from wounds almost instantly. Their vitality and stamina could also be replenished if needed. Marcus could now summon weapons at will, and Deia was almost as fast as a fully formed reinforced soldier. In a few years, she would leave them in the dust.

But, while my children were merrily testing their powers, something about our surroundings suddenly seemed off. The second I felt its presence, my knife flew up.

"Iiiiiieeeeaaaaaaa!"

An ear piercing screech soon followed, and a large bird fell from the sky. It had razor sharp claws as big as my fingers and a huge beak like that of the parrots nobles kept for company.

Most fascinating, its wing feathers were metallic and sharp. I pulled one out and swung it like a sword. It left a decent dent in the platform.

A creature of Tartarus. I sent soldiers a while back to find the source, but they came back empty handed. It was now time to resume our search.