The Conflict Within

The wooden house looked modest from the outside, but inside, the rooms were surprisingly spacious. A lot bigger than I expected.

Like all the other tutors in the school, Miss Fumiko lived in a small house provided by the academy, which was located on the far opposite end of the school grounds.

However, unlike the students' dorms, the rooms in the Tutor's dorms were lit with Lumi Crystals, which were extremely rare and quite expensive.

When I walked into Miss Fumiko's room, I was first greeted by the scent of lavender, and the slightly familiar smell of burnt wood from a fireplace. The house was warm, which was a perfect contrast to the cold evening winds outside.

The sitting room was quite spacious as well, subtly adorned with framed artworks and tiny marble sculptures. Her shelves were packed with thick spellbooks, delicate reading lamps, and dark blue ink that shimmered in the Lumi light.

It reminded me of my manor. Clean and tidy. Almost too tidy, like the owner spent way too much time trying to make sure every item in the house was perfectly in order.

Miss Fumiko led me to a wooden seat beside the sole table in the house.

"You must be hungry," she said, already turning towards the kitchen.

"I'm fine," I replied, though my stomach quickly disagreed with me.

She ignored me and walked into her kitchen anyway. Minutes later, she came out with a tray containing two cups and a jug of what seemed to be tea.

On the tray, the jug was cold, but by the time she poured its contents into the cups, it was steaming. Soon, the air became filled with the sweet smell of cinnamon tea.

After serving, she picked up one of the cups and offered it to me.

"Thank you," I replied, then took a sip. It was delicious.

She picked up the other cup, and sat in the opposite chair, facing me. For a moment, she kept her gaze fixed on me.

"What is it?"

"Nothing," she replied, and quickly averted her gaze when she realized she had been staring at me.

For a woman who was strict and well-spoken in class, Miss Fumiko seemed to be awfully shy in person.

"I know you think I'm lying."

"No… I don't."

"It's alright. I didn't expect you to believe me."

"I do believe you," she said, her eyebrows slightly raised. "But I don't understand most of it."

I took another sip from the tea cup, then dropped it on the table.

"I don't mind going over it again. Ask me whatever you want."

"Okay," She leaned closer to the table, adjusting her glasses as she studied me carefully. "I'm going to ask some questions just to know if I got your story right."

"Sure. I'm all ears."

She tilted to the side. "So, you're actually Drey Belford, powerful Grand Mage. And you're from the future?"

I nodded.

"But after you were killed by the Shadow Queen, you got reincarnated into Rin's body?"

"I wasn't killed by the Shadow Queen," I corrected, "I died when she unleashed a spell that destroyed the world. But to answer your question, yes."

"Alright," she said, "You lost your magic after the reincarnation, and failed to get it back. And you finally came to me because you think I can help you get it back, right?"

I nodded.

"Why didn't you come to me earlier?"

"I didn't know if I could trust you."

"Hmm…That's fair."

"So… Can you help me?"

"I don't know," Miss Fumiko kept silent for a while and stared at her coffee cup. "I've never come across a case like yours before. There are a few theories that come to mind, but all of them have little to do with reincarnation."

"Still better than nothing."

Miss Fumiko readjusted her glasses. "There is one theory that makes more sense than the rest."

"Great. I just want to know why my magic is gone."

"You mean… why both forms of your magic are gone."

I blinked. "What?"

She took one long sip of her tea then pushed the cup aside.

"Here's what I think. You said that Rin Stormborn had magic before you were reincarnated, right?"

I nodded.

"But after that, your soul took over his body. Now, none of your magic works, neither his, nor yours."

"Okay… "

Miss Fumiko picked up the two cups of coffee and placed them side by side on the table. "So the problem isn't an absence of magic. It's interference."

"Interference?"

"Two identities. Two distinct sets of mana. Two magical origins clashing inside of one human vessel. Your magic isn't missing. Both energies in you are cancelling each other out."

The idea wasn't easy to decipher, but it actually made sense.

"So, you're saying that I broke this body when my soul reincarnated into it?"

"No. I'm saying that your body remains in conflict with your soul, and that is why you can't use any magic. There are two forms of magic in you, but until they're merged, or until one is suppressed, neither will work."

I stared at my palm. At this new body I found myself in.

"So, how do I fix it?"

"I.. don't know."

I gave her a quizzical look.

"What?" She frowned." It's just a theory. I don't have a working solution, and it could take me a while to come up with something."

I thought for a moment.

"What about using your Mind Affinity spells to eliminate the conflict?"

She froze. "How do you…?"

"I know who you are," I cut her off. "You're Nara Fumiko, House Nara. Youngest sister to the ruling noble of Tochiko. Famous throughout the continent for her mind reading prowess. Not yet though, but you will be."

The corner of her mouth quirked up. "I guess you are a reincarnated mage after all."

I scoffed. "Will you help me?"

"Alright. I'll try something."

Gradually, she stood up from her seat and walked behind me, then she gently wrapped her palms around the base of my head.

"I'll try to ease the conflict between the two magic forms and merge them into one. I don't know if it's going to work but it might hurt."

I sighed and closed my eyes. "Do whatever you have to do. I'm ready."

"Okay. Here goes."

Miss Fumiko took in a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

"Mind Affinity: Deep Link."