Learning Magic

Yo~ Coreal is really sorry! The weekly schedule made me so lazy that I didn't translate anything for weeks. So, I'll be updating every two days or so to make sure I don't forget about this fanfic.

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"When Natsu was a child, a dragon found him in the forest. It taught him language, culture, and even magic. But one day, it disappeared right before his eyes."

"I see... So that was Igneel..."

Lucy recalled her recent encounter with Natsu in Hargeon Town. Natsu had come there after hearing rumors about Igneel, but his search turned up empty. Instead, he ended up saving her, which led to her joining him and arriving at Fairy Tail.

Kitaro sat calmly, sipping his beer. He knew where Natsu's dragon was, but he had no intention of interfering. Being a transmigrator from another world was already shocking enough—revealing to them that they were just characters in an anime? No thanks.

"Kitaro... You don't seem surprised at all," Lucy noticed, sitting beside him. She couldn't help but comment on how unaffected he appeared after hearing that Natsu was raised by a dragon.

"Hmm... It's not all that surprising."

"Not surprising?! It's a dragon! A dragon, for crying out loud! The kind that can destroy an entire country!"

"Yeah, I know. If I ever meet one, I'd love to learn their magic," Kitaro replied casually.

"Wait, are you not scared of anything? Dragons can annihilate entire nations with ease!" Lucy was flustered just imagining it.

Kitaro found her reactions amusing and couldn't resist teasing her. Smiling, he said, "Ever heard this saying? 'All fear comes from the lack of firepower.'"

"When you're strong enough to defeat a dragon, would you still be scared of one?"

Lucy froze, contemplating his words. "If I were strong enough to defeat a dragon... Wait, no! Humans can't possibly beat dragons!"

"Just because you can't doesn't mean others can't, little girl," Kitaro quipped.

Mira chimed in with a soft smile. "Actually, there are stories from ancient times about humans defeating dragons. The magic Natsu uses, Dragon Slayer Magic, was created for that purpose. But it's mostly lost to history now."

"Oh... Right," Lucy mumbled, embarrassed. She'd completely forgotten that Natsu's magic was literally called Dragon Slayer Magic.

Kitaro stood and walked toward Master Makarov.

"Master," he called.

Makarov was in a great mood. The guild had just welcomed two new members—one with power surpassing even Natsu, easily S-Class material, and the other a vibrant, beautiful young woman with an impressive figure.

His worries about Macao had eased somewhat now that Natsu had gone to help.

"Oh, Kitaro! What's on your mind?"

"Master, I'd like to ask you something. How does one awaken their magic source?"

Makarov, one of the Ten Wizard Saints, had a deep understanding of magic—far beyond the surface-level knowledge most wizards possessed. Kitaro knew he needed a true expert to explain magic's essence.

"The magic source, huh? Well, everyone is born with one. Essentially, it's a mutation caused by exposure to magical particles in the environment. That's the origin of the magic source," Makarov explained.

Kitaro was surprised. So, magic sources came from humans being irradiated by magical energy?

"According to historical records, humans couldn't originally use magic. They were just ordinary people. But at some point, the world became saturated with magic particles. That catastrophe killed a massive number of people. The survivors, however, underwent mutations caused by the radiation."

"That's how the magic source was born."

"People with a magic source became immune to harm from magical particles. In fact, the denser the magic, the better they felt. Those were the first wizards."

"But this is just based on historical accounts. No one knows the absolute truth. Still, it's a plausible explanation."

"So, the main difference between ordinary people and wizards is whether their magic source has been activated or not," Makarov continued.

"I've mentioned before that magic comes from concentration, willpower, and one's soul. The magic source is closely tied to a person's spirit and soul.

"For some, the magic source awakens during intense emotional experiences. But these cases are rare.

"Most people are born with an active magic source. Of course, individual aptitude determines its strength."

Makarov patiently explained everything. He appreciated Kitaro's curiosity about magic but secretly didn't have much hope for him.

At Kitaro's age, the odds of awakening a magic source were astronomically low—less than one in ten million. For adults without a magic source, it was considered impossible.

If he had been younger, magic stimulation might have worked to awaken it. But now? It was far too late.

"So, if I were to stay in an environment saturated with magic particles, I could potentially become like the earliest wizards?" Kitaro asked.

Makarov's expression shifted to alarm. "Absolutely not! While ordinary people have some resistance to magical particles now, excessive exposure would cause irreversible damage. Most people would die before awakening a magic source."

"Got it. Thanks, Master."

Kitaro returned to his seat by Mira.

Mira placed a mug of beer in front of him and offered a comforting smile. "At your age, awakening a magic source is nearly impossible. But your strength is already impressive—on par with our S-Class wizards. You don't need to obsess over it."

Kitaro looked at Mira with determination. "Mira, I want to understand what magic feels like. Can you help me?"

He extended his hand toward her.

Mira hesitated, her cheeks slightly flushed. She didn't want to refuse him, especially since he seemed so earnest.

Glancing around the bustling guild, she leaned in and whispered, "Not here. Let's wait until after the guild closes tonight."

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