Show-Off

It didn't take much more than a few hours to pack up all our stuff into a large bag. Vol offered to carry the bag, but the moment he threw it onto his back, he immediately keeled over and onto his back.

I can't remember the last time I've had a good laugh, but that certainly did it. Elizabeth and I helped him up from his weird turtle position. She ended up carrying the bag instead.

Since the greater monster attack, the city of Rosewood has gotten a lot quieter. With hundreds of homes in pieces, and major infrastructure in tatters, a lot of the elves living there have been moving out. The elves have a very tightly knit society, so all of the towns and villages that Rosewood has gates to, have gladly offered temporary homes.

Technically speaking, we could live in the magic academy, as we have been doing during the development of the manacaster, but since there are so few people still living here, there aren't really any supplies lines. Basically, we're short on food. Besides, as much as I like the academy, it isn't designed for permanent living.

Anyway, that's why Vol, Elizabeth, and I are currently on our way through the city. We're headed to a small oceanside town, where Vol used to go on vacation. The portal is the same as the one to Sheere. A big tree with a large hole, inscribed with a spell.

Vol puts his hand on the mana stone, ready to activate the gate, when there's an unexpected voice from behind us.

"Hold on just a minute, Vol."

The three of us look around. It's a little over half of the council. They're looking a little ragged, but still well-postured and overly formal.

"Oh, how can I help you, councilman?" Vol asks.

"Where, exactly, are you going? Surely, you will help rebuild the city, will you not?"

"I'm afraid not. I'm working on something more-"

"-Important right now," a councilman cuts in, "We know."

They don't seem too pleased. I can almost guess where this is going.

"The only reason why we permitted *them*-" he points to Elizabeth and I, "-to stay, was because you assured us that they would aid you in your work. But since your initial presentation, you've had nothing to show us. Why, exactly, would that be?"

"Well..."

I guess I better cut in. It shouldn't be a problem at this point.

"We're actually on our way to test our newest creation. You're welcome to join us, if you like."

I lock eyes with Vol for a moment. There's a somewhat relieved looked on his face. He hasn't been too comfortable keeping secrets from the council.

"Is that so? Well, then, yes; we will join you."

---

Tayde is a rather pleasant place, I think to myself, as I look out over the oceanside town. Trade here is excellent, due to its many harbors. This is the primary reason why we chose Tayde over the other places. All the elven towns are supposedly quite nice, but the trade here gives it a major advantage.

Food.

Well, that, and the fact that it's harder to accidentally kill somebody when firing spells into the ocean. That is the purpose of our trip here, after all.

And also the food.

Elizabeth and I originally had planned on going through all the stalls upon arrival, since both of us were excited - if you can call us that - to taste the food. Since the council was with us, however, we decided to postpone those plans, and go directly into the testing.

We hurried past the hotel, so Elizabeth wouldn't have to carry who-knows-how-many kilos of luggage.

"Where will we be testing this new device, then, Vol?"

For some reason, they always talk to Vol, and never to me. It's really rather annoying, since Vol just asks me anyway, turning him into a really weird go-between.

"Down by the ocean."

"Hrm, that's quite far, isn't it," a disgruntled councilmember says.

"We thought it'd be best to avoid destroying anymore buildings," Elizabeth states, matter-of-factly.

"A-ah, right," the councilman says with a small jump.

There are no other objections as we head down to the harbor and walk out onto the longest bridge there.

"So, where is this device?"

These idiots don't even realize that I've been wearing it the whole time. First Gaia and now the council. Are all authority figures this clueless?

"Right here," I say, lifting my arm to show them the manacaster.

"A... shield?"

Oh, yeah, definitely. That's what the greatest magic researcher has been spending his time on. A shield.

Absolute idiots.

"It's not a shield. We call it a manacaster. It allows the user to cast specific spells without having to form its symbol before casting."

"Really??" the council's excited voices pick up.

Partial truths for the win.

One of the council members reach out to touch it, but Elizabeth suddenly grabs his arm.

"Be careful. It might explode."

"Wh-what?!" the councilman pulls back his arm, startled.

"Okay, that one was pretty funny," I bump Elizabeth in the side, as Vol tries to hide a snicker behind me.

I'm really warming up to her sense of comedy.

"Now, if you'll be so kind as to stand back, Sebastian will start testing the manacaster," Vol says as he pulls out a notepad.

"Mm... right," the councilmembers reply, stepping back a bit.

I turn to the ocean and move the small switch to the symbol of a flame.

I take a deep breath, a sense of excitement welling up in me.

Savor this moment. At last, I can use magic.

"Rogsfulnert!"

FWROOOM

A massive fireball - much larger than the one cast by the mage in Jonas' group - instantly appears above me. I can feel the heat on my face, despite it being several meters away from me. The moment it's fully formed, the fireball shoots forward. With unprecedented speed, it makes a straight shot for the ocean in front of us.

SPLASH

PTSSSHH

Oops.