Fairies and Magic

Both the girls blinked at each other. Then, they looked back at her.

'Was she…talking to us?' Anna thought.

Bewildered, Anna suddenly felt something moving on her head. It was Amor, but he didn't fly off.

Ah, she had forgotten something. In the description, the blue words said that the "Dream Butterflies" are said to be the will of the lord of this realm.

'Is this why Amor brought me here? Because of this lord? Is 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae here because of this butterfly then?'

The cold wind breeze blew through the trees, passing through the golden sea of what. The wheat shifted and ruffled, leaning in one direction.

After a moment of silence, Islafae closed her eyes.

"So be it then. I had already accepted my fate long ago."

Both Abi and Anna blinked, and then looked at each other.

'What is going on?' Anna's eyes moved.

'I don't know either…' Abi responded with her eyes, confused.

First they had to show respect to a fae that seems to be royalty, and now the lord isn't helping her?

While they were both , Amor's wing's pulsed unnoticeably. Unnoticeable for two, but not for one. After a moment of silence, her closed eyes opened, and she looked at the two.

"You two."

""Yes 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺?"" The girl's both stood at attention, their backs straight.

"I have decided to teach you both magic. Well, at least one of you."

""Huh?""

"Is it not polite to thank I, the strongest fae in the whole realm, for teaching you both magic?" Islafae asked, and her eyes squinted slightly.

"Oh! Thank you, 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺!" Abby bowed.

"Oh...thank you,𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺..." Anna hesitantly bowed after Abi.

'What was her goal?'

Did the woman have a change of heart? Is she actually being nice?

The next sentence explained it.

"I'll teach you the ways of magic, for my own personal reasons, not for you," 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae said, seemingly reading Anna's mind.

'Now that makes sense,' Anna agreed internally.

"However, before I start teaching magic, I will need to begin explaining, as well as see how good your talent in magic is."

Abi spoke up besides Anna brightly.

"Your Majesty, you mean our status?"

"Your magic attribute also matters, but it'll depend on your affinity with it. The magic I'll be teaching is the one I use all the time-if not the most often."

Although her face remained unmoving, a presence filled with pride appears to physically manifest around Islafae.

"𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤."

Anna feels a shiver down her spine.

...

"Before I teach you magic, I must teach you about what exists in this realm...even if it doesn't matter at all."

On the hill, two girls stood beneath the shade of the tree. Where the two first woke up. A tall, gray haired woman stood over the two.

Islafae tapped the base of her staff against the ground, and it glowed. Subsequently after, the ground underneath rose, forming a...chair.

'It almost looks like a throne,' Anna thought.

The Internet is a strange place indeed. One random search, and there it is.

The gray haired woman sat down on it, crossing her leg over the other.

"You may now sit."

Abi and Anna both instantly fell onto the ground, both intently staring at her. It could not be helped, for they were both curious and interested.

It's magic after all.

With that, so began the teachings of the greatest witch in the realm.

"Mana is one of the most abundant and powerful energies that is all around us. It exists in the air, the ground, and even in a single leaf," said the gray haired woman, who suddenly stretched her right hand out, and grabbed a leaf that was falling from above. "With it, one can use it to do great magic, magic that can threaten many. Even the most average fairies instinctively know how to use magic, magic at a much greater scale than the average humans who train for most of their lives."

Islafae then held out the leaf to them, and the two girls saw the leaf began growing veins of blue. No, the veins were already there. It was just that the quantity and quality of the mana inside the leaf was so palpable the two can see it.

Then, it suddenly turned into dust.

"However, the vessel that contains even the sliverest of mana must be strong, otherwise it'll turn out like this leaf…"

The two girls instinctively shivered, but the woman didn't seem to notice.

Or care.

"Even then, there are exceptions. Just like humans, there are also different exceptions to fairies. For example, one may have a higher magical affinity than another. That is called 'talent.'"

'Talent…' Anna felt depressed. She didn't feel talented. Whenever at school, she sees those students who shone so brightly, like a star in the night sky.

She felt…alone.

"The most common thing between all fairies is their immortal lifespan, along with eyes than can differentiate between truths and lies-"

'So she would've known that we could've lied, and then smite us?'

At the thought, Anna shrunk down a little. She then shrunk down even more when Islafae said-

"-and their bloodthirstiness."

"Bloodthirstiness?" Anna suddenly covered her mouth, but the woman didn't seem to mind it.

Or care.

"It is a fae, is it not obvious? Nowadays, it's toned down a lot, but all fairies without exception have an innate sense to find something exciting to do. They are basically immortal after all. In fact they would even go as far as copying another culture, enslaving different creatures, and even killing each other."

"Why do they kill each other?" Abi spoke up curiously.

Then, to their surprise, a smile grew on 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae's face. An actual smile. Unfortunately, it was a sardonic, condescending one.

A smile filled with scorn.

"Unlike humans who fight for benefits, rights, ideals…fairies kill each other because it's all for 'fun.'"

"They...kill each other? For fun?" Abby gasped.

"Did you not ask the blue screen about this? How naive. Of course they do…" 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae then tilted her head. "...mostly. It could also be theorized that they don't have a sense of preservation. Even if they die, they wouldn't care."

""...""

"So if you're jealous of a fae's innate talent for magic, their eyes, or their immortality…don't. That is one of the many differences between humans and fairies. They're immortal, and so time wouldn't kill them. Even if they come back in a different way, so what? Why can they not indulge in their bloodthirstiness? However, there are things that can kill fairies, but that topic is for another matter. If you're still curious, ask that blue screen of yours."

"So fairies will come back even if they die..." Anna

𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae let out a small smile.

A very code and grim one.

"Yes, they're endless. Similar to cockroaches who can't die just from being stepped on. Yes, very similar. No matter how many times I stepped on them, again, and again, and again, they still came back. Yes, they still come back. Those bugs-"

All of a sudden, the woman stopped, and her face became bland.

"For me of all people to lose my temper..." she sighed, rubbing her eyes.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺...you hate fairies?" Anna asked minutely and as small as possible.

Both Abi and Anna were frightened.

"Is it not obvious? I hate them. Of course there are exceptions, but for the overwhelming majority...yes. I absolutely despise them."

"If 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 hate fairies, then-"

"Do not be mistaken. I also hate humans as well. Furthermore, weak humans and fairies alike are bugs for me to trample on. It's only a matter of choice."

"..." Abi fell silent and depressed. Anna only looked at her with sympathy.

"If you are still confused, then just ask the 'blue screen' if you have questions. I can't be bothered to answer them. Now, it's time to finally start."

'𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 moves on far too quickly,' Anna thought, looking back to the sitting woman.

"Teaching magic will be strange for me, as it is my first time. Nevertheless, I shall teach you as I was taught."

Islafae tapped her staff on the ground once more, creating a 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘥.

"Once again, before we begin, tell me each rank on your stats or attributes. As a normal human, it should be low...around F perhaps?"

'Let me see...'

Breathing deeply, she clearly thought of the word in her mind.

'𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴.'

...and a blue screen appeared in front of her, as she had imagined.

===============================

Name: Anna Choko

Titles: ???

Bonded Companion: Amor

Race: Human (???)

Strength: F

Endurance: F-

Agility: F

Magic: E-

Luck: C+

-------------------------------------------------------------

𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀:

???

===============================

"𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, my Strength is F, Endurance F-, Agility F, Magic E-, and Luck C+..." Anna said, looking at the woman sitting.

Islafae gestured to continue, and so Anna did, reading off her status screen.

"My skills are blank, as well as my title. My bonded companion Amor is the Dream Butterfly on my head, and my race is 'Human'...with question marks next to it?"

Wait, she's not really a human then? Anna wondered why she had never noticed that before. It must've been the shock yesterday from opening a status screen like in a game.

"It appears that your 'Magic' is somewhat acceptable, and your 'Luck' is average enough. Still, those stats are indeed better than the average human. Are you truly a gifted human? Or perhaps something else? Perhaps that is why you...hmmm..."

Islafae closed her eyes. All of a sudden, Abi spoke up.

"My turn, my turn! 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺-"

"I don't need to know yours. I've already gotten the gist of things," the gray haired woman said, her eyes still closed.

'...when?' Anna simply thought. Did something happen between them?

"Oh..." Abi pouted, but Anna realized she didn't look all that disappointed, or stunned that Islafae seemed to know.

'Did something happen, and I didn't notice? Am I getting singled out?'

At the thought, Anna felt more depressed.

While Anna was very sad, Islafae had already come to a conclusion. She opened her eyes and imperiously gazed down on the two sitting girls.

"I shall be putting all my efforts into teaching the girl with the butterfly henceforth. The other one, you may watch and learn from my teachings."

"...hmm?" Anna's brain malfunctioned once more.

'...what?'

All of a sudden, she felt cold, and Abi suddenly sat up with her back straight and smiled.

"Ok-I mean, yes, 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺!"

'What? Wait Abi, you can't do this to me. Don't leave me!' Anna tried to send her thoughts forward, but Abi smiled innocently.

'...this girl still thinks that this woman is a human.'

The magic training has officially begun.

…

A cloudy day. A day where all things seemed sad, depressed. A day where a person can be hit for messing up with something of importance-

𝘛𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘤𝘬!

"Ow!"

"Again."

"Yes 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺..." Anna muttered, and she began concentrating once more, closing her eyes.

It was the afternoon, and the sky remained cloudy and gray from the morning. Well, Anna assumes it's the afternoon, since it's been a few hours since she woke up and met Islafae, who was whacking her with her black staff? Spear? Axe stick thing?

She doesn't know.

All Anna knows is that it hurts to be whacked on the head by it. Everytime she seemingly made a mistake, she was whacked either on the sides, the back, and of course the head. While she was being tortured-training, Abi was playing with Amor nearby, chasing him around.

'Lucky-'

𝘛𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘤𝘬!

"You're not focusing."

At that moment, Anna really wanted to blow the gasket, but everytime she musters even the tiniest resolve, she suddenly felt a pair of eyes that seemed to look into her soul, making her stiffen up.

With that, her confidence shriveled up, and she could only go back to what she was doing.

'What was I doing again?'

"𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, can you explain it to me once more?"

"You can ask the blue screen if you're confused," Islafae responded blandly, but Anna somehow felt that she was getting angry, even behind that blank, cold face.

'Not good,' she thought, and so she mentally asked the blue screen for help.

===============================

In the real world, as quantity and quality of mana dropped to the brink of nothingness, the difficulty of even sensing the slightest bit of mana has exponentially increased. Those with no talent have no chance of even seeing it, let alone feeling it. Here, in a realm filled with the highest quality of mana, it can be 'felt' quite easily.

In order to feel the mana, one must be calm and at peace.

Feel nothingness. Think nothing.

In a state of nothingness, one can accept something else.

If it is too difficult, it is best to imagine yourself as a pond of water. As you seclude yourself in that image, all of a sudden, a drop of water falls onto the pond, creating a ripple. That drop of water is a bit of mana. As each water drops, it creates more ripples. Each ripple is the sense of mana you feel.

Then, you will arrive at the ocean.

And you will be accepted by it.

Embraced by

You will forever be within it, like a baby within a mother's womb.

For forevermore will you never be truly alone.

From now, until eternity.

===============================

Anna blinked her eyes. She skipped some of the nonsense at the bottom.

That is...actually easy to understand.

'Why did 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 not say it this way?'

===============================

Each and everyone of the fae, no matter which type, has an innate talent for magic. It is what they call 'instinct.' Humans on the other hand would normally find it difficult to even sense even the slightest bit of mana in the world.

𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 Islafae didn't explain it well because she is the strongest, most talented, unparalleled witch in the whole realm.

She could never understand the trials of someone so untalented and weak, unless she experiences it herself. That is why she doesn't explain this way to you. She either deems it below her, or it's a fact that people should already have the knowledge to sense mana.

Essentially, only those with higher than average magic stat would have an easier time. It could take years to feel something with the lowest rank of stats, and most would think it's fake, like the wind breeze.

===============================

Once again, Anna felt like she was insulted.

'Still, with this...'

She slowly inhaled a deep breath, and exhaled through the mouth. Rinse, and repeat. As she did so, she 'emptied' herself, and thoughts and conflicts disappeared…

"..."

The ends of Anna's mouth twitched.

Who was she kidding? She can't. It's too difficult. It was exceedingly hard since she thinks too much.

All of a sudden, something on her head glow, and she could 𝘴𝘦𝘦 it.

Within a deep, black space, exists a pond of water. Never moving, never changing, the pond remains still, and what is underneath it never moved. There were no ripples whatsoever.

Then, all of a sudden, from the void, a blue drop of what seems to be water drops onto the pond, and it creates ripples.

Anna's eyes shot wide open, and she felt it.

===============================

Skill Unlocked: Mana Sensing F-

Magic: E- => E

Race: Human (???) => Human (???) 1%

===============================

The girl let out a sigh and felt relief flooding through her body.

She finally did it. It was that simple. Why hasn't she seen it before?

Before she was caught up in her excitement, she heard a cold voice that came from behind her.

"It seems you've finally done something. Perhaps there is merit to this after all," Islafae blandly said.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳-𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺?"

Anna looked at Islafae, who stood over her. For the first time, there was something hidden within those cold, empty eyes.

"Now, onto the next part."

'There's more?' Anna felt her excitement doused by the cold water of reality.

So as she continued, she had a thought.

'What is the ocean?'

The blue screen never told her.

Instead, Islafae showed her.