I need a raise.

"So this is it, huh?

I can save money on gas now,

Magic's sure is convenient~"

Kael spoke as he materialized a small fireball above his palm. Then, a frown appeared on his face.

"So what do I do now? How do I shoot it?"

However, as he recalled Elira's words, he got the answer.

"It must be the Runes, huh? The Runes I used only allow me to create the Fireball, not shoot it. I would probably need another Rune to be able to shoot it, right?

So what do I do with this thing? And why doesn't it feel ho—"

"You! What the hell did you do!?"

While Kael continued to observe the fireball above his palm, Elira shouted, unable to believe what she was seeing.

"I-I cast a spell…?"

Kael couldn't be more confused and because he was taken aback by Elira's surprise, his Mana Flow was disrupted and the fireball he had created flickered out of existence.

"Oh, come on!"

Kael complained.

However, the Court Mage couldn't be blamed for her actions, even someone like Althea had a surprised look on her face as she stared at the Hero.

"Cast a Spell!? Cast a Spell!!!???

You think one can 'cast a spell' just like that!?"

"Yes...? I mean, I just did that...?

Also, weren't you the one who told me to cast 'just like that' in the first place...?"

"Yo-You…

You!!"

Elira couldn't come up with a reply, she just stood still, with her trembling finger pointed at Kael.

Arlan observed the situation with a frown on his face. He didn't know much about Magic, but even he knew what this man did was absurd.

'Is this what it means to be a Hero…?'

He wondered in his head, once again.

Kael, on the other hand, was confused.

"Did I do something wrong? I did exactly what you told me to though…"

He frowned as he then raised his palm and formed the Containment Circle.

"I created the Containment Circle, added the Runes, and connected everything with Directional Lines."

Flicker

Once again, a fireball was formed above Kael's Palm.

"And this is how you shoot it, correct?"

Whoosh

Boom

As he said those words, the fireball above his hand rushed towards the target at the very end of the hall, however, before it could hit,

Flicker

It scattered.

"Hmm? Why did that happen…?"

Kael frowned as he suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. His head started aching, his mind, however, didn't stop talking.

"I used up all my Mana, didn't I?"

Kael was a man who had just created fire out of nowhere. He was living every man's dream. No matter how exhausted he was, he was never going to stop at this moment.

He would be a failure as a man if he did so.

So to test this theory, Kael tried to draw out his Mana again. His thoughts were simple: if he couldn't form another fireball, it would mean his theory was correct and he actually did run out of mana, and if he did succeed, then well… it would mean he was wrong.

Kael closed his eyes to draw out his Mana again.

"Stop stop stop!

What are you doing!?"

However, Elira suddenly appeared in front of him, placed her hands on his shoulders, and shook him violently.

"What? What!?"

Kael snapped.

Elira, however, completely ignored his outburst and,

"How did you shoot the fireball!? I didn't teach you that!"

"I just tried a different Rune. This one."

Kael spoke as he pointed at one of the Runes Elira had drawn on the paper she gave to him.

"How did you know you were supposed to use this one?"

Elira questioned.

"It looked similar to the one used before. I thought that it might be the one?"

Kael answered, and Elira was horrified.

She mechanically turned her head towards Althea and,

"I-I am supposed to teach this freak…?"

"Oi."

Kael was offended.

Elira, however, clearly didn't care.

"…"

What hurt Kael even more was the fact that even Althea didn't defend him and just nodded at Elira's words.

"Please bear with it, Lady Elira."

'Bear with it!? I am the one bearing with her!

Why is no one on my side here!? I am the Hero damn it!'

Kael complained in his head.

He, however, was a little too close to this woman to say those words out loud. Who knew what she would do if she lost her mind?

"Ahhhhh!"

Hearing Althea's words, Elira screamed out loud. Kael, who was sitting right in front of her, could only close his ears as he stared at the ill-mannered freak with a frustrated look on his face.

Suddenly, Elira glared at Kael.

'C-Can she read my thoughts as well…?'

Kael's body flinched, but then,

"I need a raise.

I don't get paid enough to deal with the likes of you!"

'What do you mean the likes of me!?'

Kael retorted in anger. Again, he didn't dare to say anything out loud.

"I will forward your request to the appropriate department, Lady Elira."

Althea nodded, and Kael nearly lost his mind.

'You are supposed to be on my side!'

Althea's words, however, seemed to calm Elira as she took a few deep breaths and then glanced at Kael, her eyes much less intense than before.

"You were trying to cast another fireball, weren't you?"

She questioned calmly.

"I was."

"Don't do that."

Elira shook her head.

"Why?"

"Casting spells without having the required Mana is dangerous. In the best case, the spell won't work. In worse cases, the spell might use your Life Force instead of Mana. In some cases, it could even kill you."

"I… I understand."

Kael nodded.

Elira nodded and continued,

"You usually feel a wave of exhaustion whenever your Mana Pool is depleted. It is best to stop when that happens and regenerate your Mana."

"How do I regenerate my Mana? Or does it happen on its own?"

"It usually happens on its own, but you can hasten the process using meditation."

"What about the Mana Pool? There has to be a way I can use to increase my Mana Pool, right?"

Kael questioned.

His Mana ran out after casting just two basic spells. There is no way his current Mana reserve would be enough to cast more complicated spells.

"Yes, there are.

I was going to teach you that later, but I guess we need to make some changes, huh?"

Elira nodded as she then instructed Kael to,

"Close your eyes."