Start with the basics (1)

"The rest you have to either figure out by yourself by actually going out there and experiencing it or you can just ignore it."

"Now that you mention it, I can't understand why everyone I've met so far in this allegedly completely different world speaks perfect English. do you mind explaining that?" Damian thought to have finally found an inconsistency.

Somewhere in his mind he still hoped that everything he had been through was just a deliberate and cruel joke. something that someone with way too much free time on their hands and a thoroughly fucked up mind had thought up.

"That's a good question and the answer is that you are wrong for the most par. the only ones who has ever spoken English is me and you. our first two visitors did not really speak in the literal term.

"Their mode of communication it's completely different from ours. you use your vocal cords, tongue and lips to make the air vibrate and that creates a sound. they don't need vocal cords or air to communicate. they are practically so far out of our comprehension that if they tried to speak like we do we probably wouldn't understand anything if we could hear it at all.

"They communicate by projecting their intentions directly into your head. your brain just forms it into words so you can understand them properly. they are even considered enough to make that process gradual, so our brains don't get overloaded.

"It is possible for them to convey a heartfelt conversation, that would normally take hours to conclude, in the span of a few seconds. a process like that would make you feel only the emotions they are trying to get across but there wouldn't actually be any words and-.

"I'm getting off track again, aren't I. Long story short when your body was remodeled something was implanted into your brain." INT lifted the palm of his hand and produced a holographic sphere with thin lines running all over it in a manner that reminded Damian of a circuit board.

"This is a sort of memory card. everything you see, here, smell, feel and taste will be saved and stored in here. it's like a less useful version of an identic memory since you can recall everything, but you have to consciously try to remember the exact thing that you want to recall. it won't improve your cognitive processing but only your memory

"The only significant thing that has been stored inside of it before you got it was every single language the sage could speak himself. since he is really damn old and has travelled most of the world a few dozen times I'd say most of the official languages that have been spoken over the millennia are currently stored in there.

"You are probably going to experience a headache every time you hear a new language and the knowledge about it is forced into your brain, but I think it beats trying to learn a completely new language from scratch.

"I'm guessing you didn't experience the pain last time because you were still unconscious while you were hearing the new words from outside the house. I also doubt you had a clear enough head to actually realize that you haven't heard a single word, of the things we all said, before in your life." seemingly being done with his explanation INT kept looking at Damien and waited for his next question.

"OK, I think this comes a bit late but now it is getting a little ridiculous. how the hell is this thing supposed to force anything into my brain." Damien raced a reasonable doubt, so INT was more than happy to clear it.

"Fine. should we test it." the next words that came from INT where some he could not categorized to any language he had ever heard, much less understand the sense of. for almost an entire second. after that he experienced a splitting headache that made him want to bash his forehead onto the table.

It didn't last long but that didn't distract from the fact that it was a thoroughly unpleasant experience. "Seriously was that necessary?" after finishing the sentence he noticed that the words were spoken in the same language INT had just demonstrated. even though he had intended to say it in English it came out as something completely different that still meant the same.

At least judging from his knowledge that had been pumped into his language center. "I can't explain the principle behind this machination because like already stated, I will not give you magical knowledge that is to advance or dangerous. maybe sometimes in the future but that is a long ways away.

"What I just spoke was one of the dozens upon dozens of languages of this continent. let's put that aside for now. you must be hungry." INT took the sizzling pan off the stove and arrange the contents on a plate together with some vegetables and a sprinkle of a red sauce.

the main dish consisted of a piece of meat resembling a duck breast. with crisp skin and still pink in the middle, grumbling from his stomach forced his hand. literally. If INT hadn't handed him the cutlery in time he would have probably eaten it bare handed

it was the first decent meal he had eaten for more than a week Damien was not a bad cook himself but he lacked the will to make something even slightly bothersome. even turning on the microwave was a monumental chore for him.

he also wanted to stay far away from anything that he could use to put himself out of his misery and the kitchen was full of potentially dangerous objects. he started crying. the good food gave him the strength he needed to realize that he had lost a big chunk of himself and brought him a tiny step closer to accepting the world again.

when he was done, he felt reborn. the emotional burden still weighed on him, but he felt like it wasn't crushing him to the size of a pancake anymore.

"I mean, I know that I'm a good cook but damn that seemed to have hit different." INT tried and succeeded in raising the mood. at least a little.

"Would you prefer to have your introductory lesson in magic first or a tour of the house. I doubt you need another nap and there is not much else to do here."

Damien pondered. from what he had seen until now magic was something grand. a power that could do a lot of damage. in a way it gave him everything he had ever wanted. he would be able to stand tall among others and not have to fear anything and anyone.

"I want to start with magic." the enthusiasm in his eyes worried INT. the sage always said that enthusiasm was the best trade a disciple could have. at first! depending on how much success or failure the student experienced it could spiral into frustration or arrogance.

"Let's go outside. practice is better than any theory." the only decision INT could reliably make was to go on with the plan and deal with any problem, that could crop up, later.

"First, what is the definition of magic. Practically, it is a very foreign concept to you but I assure you that every question you have will be answered in due time so just be aware that anything I show you is definitely possible for you.

"Magic in its simplest form is the manipulation of matter and energy. I will give a practical demonstration so pay attention. We achieve the effects we desire by drawing out the energy of our bodies and mixing them with the energies the world is comprised of.

"The action of using our own magical energy ,or mana if you want to use a specific term, is called casting. the resulting effect is called a spell." he spread his arms wide and created a visual effect that showed green veins extending from his solar plexus over his chest and shoulders until they reached his fingertips.