Chapter 8: Another Try

"Now, the most elementary technique of magic is enchantment."

The two were kicked out of Doru's Slot after he agreed to help advance Rhian's Rune Rank. So, they returned to the simulation room of the dorm, where Kouki's lesson started.

"This is an enchantment." Kouki raised his pointer finger, finishing his sentence, as his finger was covered with countless red lines that followed the positions of his blood vessels.

"So... It's just using our magic?" Rhian guessed.

"No. Just activating your magic would have your Runes appear over where your Rune initially existed, but not where you want it. Enchanting is the process of spreading and guiding your Runes to a desired area so you can imbue your magic. An example," Kouki further explained the concept as his chest and forehead shone black, causing black sludge-like imprints to appear as they slowly climbed down onto his cane, covering the metal texture with a liquidlike substance.

"This is one of my Runes: Sense of Fear. I usually enchant this on my weapons to have a greater edge during battle."

"Wait.. 'one of your Runes'? Can someone have more than one?" Bewildered, she questions the man as the black imprints scurry back into his body.

"It depends. My magic is related to perception and perspective, which means my Runes don't have a distinct design, even though my Runes are classified as Clean Insignia. That's why I have more than one Rune."

'WHAT THE-! HE'S A TOP LEVEL?!' Shocked internally, she brushes their sheer power difference aside as Kouki speaks again.

"However, individuals with two different Magic Affinities, like Director William, would better be off categorized as 'having more than one Rune'."

'Director.. William? Isn't that the guy who picked me up when I spawned it? So he has two Affinities like me..' Rhian was off thinking, closed off in her mind, a loud thud from his cane brought her back.

"Alright.. good, your back. Now, I want you to try." Kouki had his cane pointed at Rhian, wearing a face that could say 'good luck.'

Rhian was taken aback, especially since she's a complete newbie in using magic and this world; an expectation placed upon her isn't the best move, but Kouki was supportive. "Remember: Desire is all you need."

She closed her eyes, following the same steps as she did in the Evaluator, closing off the outside as she only focused on herself.

She feels her breathing, the rise and fall of her ribcage. She hears her heartbeat resounding and feels the soft vibration in her chest.

BADUMP!

Her chest shone crimson as the arcs appeared again, still unmoving. Kouki stares, waiting for anticipation as he notices the arcs slightly moving, vibrating softly and slowly.

To my arms.

Like a chainsaw blade, the crimson arcs started spinning and vibrating erratically around her heart before straightening out and darting towards her forearm then becoming arcs again, encircling her right arm.

Kouki was intrigued and impressed, clearly not expecting Rhian to achieve something like this after her evaluation. He got closer to her, moving his free hand to hover over the rotating arcs. He felt a soft disturbance surrounding the arcs, causing his finger to slightly vibrate.

'Did I do it?' And the arcs are gone.

She opens her eyes after being unable to hear her heartbeat, noticing Kouki's finger near her forearm, causing him to take it back. "Your magic.. is interesting. Or maybe it's because you haven't fully unlocked its secrets, but currently, your Runes only slightly vibrates its surroundings."

Kouki concluded: that Rhian's magic had other functions and uses much like his.

"Unlock its secrets..? I- I don't know- Do I have to read about vibrations?" Rhian stuttered a question, looking at a nodding Kouki. " 'Sense of Fear' wasn't a thing I could manipulate a long time ago. But, after understanding what I can actually do, it was something I can now manipulate." The black sludge appeared again, covering his forehead and chest before it sank into his chest again.

'I guess strength really has little to no value in this world.' She clenches her fist, looking at it before snapping her gaze onto Kouki. "Can I go into the simulation again?" Kouki raised his eyebrow, staring at Rhian with hesitant eyes with a hint of skepticism.

"Are you sure?"

"...Yes... Maybe." anxiety leaks from her words, causing Kouki to sigh and nod. "I'll lower the Abberant's strength for you," Kouki steeled himself, slowly walking over to the stage while Rhian turned a mix of glee and concern.

'A-Alright I can do this. Desire, knowledge, and proficiency. I can do that, can't I? I worked my ass off to be a surgeon, that's desire, right? I studied in college for years, that's knowledge. A-And, I was able to have countless surviving patients; I'm proficient, no?' Her face blanks, before shriveling from nervousness. 'What am I kidding? This is completely different.' However, she steels her nerves while walking over to the stage and slowly entering the Ran unit, waiting for it to calibrate to her body.

"Considering your.. strength." He gestures to her body as Rhian somehow feels the insulting insinuation.

"I'll lower the difficulty of the task, and if you are in any form of danger I'll terminate the simulation immediately," Kouki reassured her, tapping on the screen above the stage. "Alright. Good luck Smyra."

Rhian nods in the suit as it shrinks. Again, her vision fogs up before turning into the lush, towering forest.

[Welcome Back Rhian Smyra.]

Rhian looks around, moving around her body as she confirms she has indeed started it. 'This.. feeling.." She touches her torso and stomach, reminding herself of how she 'died' last time.

[Rhian Smyra's Current Task: Eliminate An Abberant]

The blue transparent panel in front of her, causing her to immediately swat it away, breathing in deeply as she randomly moves her body, feeling it heat up. 'ALL RIGHT!' She slaps her cheeks, steeling herself.

[An Abberant Is Approaching.]

The panel quickly disappears as the sound of rustling leaves attracts her, prompting her to snap toward the source of the sound. Amidst the dense and dark forest. 'A-Alright.. focus.. and desire!' She controls her footing, maintaining her stance. Focusing her breathing into deep and controlled breaths. 'I'M READY!'

She started to march toward the source, hearing more rustling until a sharp squeak startled her. 'No!' She refuses the fear, following Kouki's advice to push it as far back as possible, continuing her march as she closes her eyes, trying to find the same sensations the previous times.

Help me fight!

Her chest bursts forth the crimson arcs, spinning erratically as it immediately slithers towards her forearm, encircling her forearm with shining circles as she blindly walks into the forest, brushing away the large, prickly bushes and shunning the sharp grass blades.

"Come out!" She yells, trying to provoke whatever Abberant is hidden in the darkness-

SQUEEEEEEEEEEE-

Something pounced outward, producing a piercing screech as it did, startling Rhian out of her focus as her Runes immediately sank back into her skin, causing her to quickly open her eyes, coming face to face with something similar to a jackal, except for its two heads.

Through some dumb luck, the Abberant gladly missed her, though it did cause her heartbeat to spike as the fear she pushed so far back fought its way back to her mind's cockpit, completely seizing control of her body.

[Advice: This Abberant will fight with itself.]