Magic

-----Yui's POV

George: "So you're saying you can use water magic as well?"

Yui: "Maybe."

We were now in the cafeteria for our lunch break. Luna was ecstatic and ended up blurting out what happened during our sparring session to everyone in our table before I could even bring it up.

Olivia: "..."

Of course, Olivia did end up finding out how my magic words during our fight in the tournament, but for everyone else besides Kaede and Luna, everyone thinks I use wind magic.

Collin: "Does that mean you're a double mana user like Marcus?"

Yui: "I did it on accident. I haven't figured out how to actually use it."

Not that I even know how to use wind magic either, but that's besides the point.

Luna: "Well you never really use magic, so that's understandable."

Yui: "...How do you guys use magic then?"

If I truly did use water magic back there, then I'd like to learn how people go about using their mana. Growing up when I was little, I tried and tried for many years, with countless days just ending in failure. And it's because of my inability to use magic that I ended up disappointing my father. So I'd like to get to the bottom of this, even if there's some kind of shortcut. Hell, even Mell used some kind of magic before we had to leave Azalea.

Mark: "Hmmm. I just think about using magic, and then it happens."

George: "Same here. But I guess I do feel it coming from my center I guess?"

He probably is talking about his vessel. If I remember correctly, Mai said that only humans have these "vessels" to contain mana, and other creatures just accumulate mana throughout their body.

Olivia: "Mmm! Yeah I can feel my mana strongly in my chest. I just try and visualize it spreading to a part of my body from there."

Violet: "I agree with Olivia! You need to bring out your mana from your chest first. Only then can you send it to where you want it to go."

But Mai said that my vessel is damaged, so what if there's nothing to control? There's a good chance that the mana I used to make that water strike could be anywhere in my body. I guess it doesn't hurt to try though.

Collin: "We could skip out the rest of our lunch break and head to the training area now if you like? I'd like to see it for myself."

Violet: "Me too!"

Luna: "I'll just take this sandwich with me then!"

And so, we did just that. The training area had a few students inside, but that won't be a problem at all.

Kaede: "Be careful, okay?"

Yui: "Mm."

Only Kaede knows about my vessel, so she's probably nervous that something bad might happen. Actually, now that I think about it, would Kaede have a vessel since she's half-human? Or would she not have one since she's half-vampire? Not that it really matters, but it's interesting to think about.

Violet: "Okay. So just try and concentrate on your chest, trying to release the mana from inside."

Yui: "How would I know if I done it right?"

Violet: "You'll feel a bit warm inside."

Yui: "Okay."

I try and close my eyes, focusing my attention to my heart, listening to every beat it makes. Mai said the vessel is part of our heart so surely this is what Violet meant.

Violet: "Now just slowly imagine a dam, slowly opening up, releasing all that energy."

She's actually making it easier to visualize it as I do start to feel something.

Violet: "Then just, gently guide that energy through your body, up your arm, towards your hand."

I like to think of this energy travelling through my veins, acting as some kind of pathway. I think I'm doing it!

Violet: "Them... Throw it out of you!"

At her command, I fling my arm forward, trying to force the energy out of my skin... But just like before, nothing happened.

Yui: "Hah!~"

Collin: "Didn't you use wind magic in the tournament? Why are you suddenly struggling to use magic?"

Yui: "T-that's..."

On second thought, maybe coming here was a bad idea. Now thanks to Collin, Violet has also begun to look at me questionably.

Kaede: "Wait."

Suddenly, Kaede steps forward, passing everyone else as she comes up to me, brining her face up against my ear.

Kaede: "Don't listen to them. The mana is already there. Just try and focus on what you want to create."

Yui: "Huh?"

She kept her voice down so only I could hear her. It's quite ticklish, but I try and remain calm and listen carefully.

Kaede: "You're vessel's damaged, right? So don't try and bring it out. Most likely, it's already there for you."

She moves behind me, still whispering in my ear.

Kaede: "Raise your hand."

I do as she says and raise my hand towards an empty part of the training area.

Kaede: "Your magic is right at your finger tips. So just imagine a ball growing out from your fingers."

I keep my eyes open, trying to imagine it like she says, but again, nothing's happening.

Yui: "It's not-"

Kaede: "I felt it!"

Yui: "Eh?"

Kaede: "Keep going."

Luna: "Kaede, what are you doing?"

I guess we do look a tad bit suspicious as Luna and the others began to crowd behind me. Kaede, moved her head away from my neck which did relieve some of my excitement, allowing me to focus more on trying to visualize a ball of water.

Kaede: "Shh!"

I pour all of my focus to my fingertips, drowning out all distractions now as I put every bit of my concentration to making a water ball. Suddenly, I could feel my hand growing hotter the more I concentrate, until finally-

Violet: "Ah-"

Fuck! I thought I had it! I definitely felt like something was about to happen, and now looking at my hand, I even feel that it's a little bit wet, but I suppose that could also be just my sweat.

Kaede: "You did it!"

Yui: "What? I didn't make anything though."

Violet: "No, I saw too. See, even your palm is wet."

Yui: "This could just be sweat though, right?"

Collin: "I'd be worried if I sweated that much in one place, haha."

So... I actually did make something? The thought of it almost brings me to tears as I can't imagine how hard I'm smiling right now.

Yui: "Th-then!"

Kaede: "No."

Just as I was about to raise my hand once more to try again, Kaede stops me.

Yui: "Why?"

Kaede: "Just don't. We can talk about it when we get back to the dorm room."

Luna: "Huh?

Kaede: "It's too dangerous to continue."

George: "But Ellen only made a small puddle in her hands. That's-"

Kaede: "And I'm saying that we're stopping now. We've confirmed that- Ellen can use water magic, so let's leave it at that."

I was excited to try again, but seeing Kaede this adamant about me stopping, I should just wait and see what she thinks, especially if she thinks it's dangerous.

Collin: "I guess. Classes are about to start again anyways."

Violet: "Our class is meeting here anyways, so it's not like we're in a rush."

Yui: "Oh? What will you guys be doing here?"

Going along with Kaede, I focus on trying to change the subject.

Kaede: "Some students are still struggling with summoning their familiar, so we'll be practicing that."

Violet: "But~ We can do other things. Plus you already summoned such an awesome familiar!"

Kaede: "Really?"

Collin: "Well, that's what Violet and I are going to be doing. You can join us if you like?"

Kaede: "Mhmm!"

She looks to be enjoying herself now. I can tell that she's exaggerating her smile, but I can still tell that she's still happy to be getting the chance to learn from them. I should hurry up and do my end of the deal and get on better terms with George and Mark. From the looks on Collin and Violet's face, they both seem to be enchanted by Kaede as they all smile at one another.

Eventually, we all headed back to our classes, with Kaede, Collin, and Violet staying back in the training area.

Mark: "That's cool though! Being able to use 2 elements!"

Yui: "Yeah, but you saw, right? I can't use water magic that well."

George: "That's still something to be proud about! It's incredibly rare."

Mark: "The only person I know who can use 2 elements is Marcus."

Actually, thanks to this little experiment, it seemed like both George and Mark seem to be interested in me. Maybe it won't be as hard as I thought.

Yui: "Maybe I should ask him for a few pointers, haha."

George: "If it was anyone else, I wouldn't recommend that."

Mark: "Yeah. But you did manage to beat him once! So it might not be a bad idea to ask."

I said that more as a joke. I'm in quite a unique situation, so I don't think Marcus would be of any help anyways.