The First Spell

The next morning, I woke up to the smell of… something burning.

I sat up with a jolt, nearly flipping off the bed.

"Jane! Did you try to cook again?!"

"Nope," she called from outside. "That's not me this time."

Which left only one other person.

I rushed outside.

Charriedel was crouched in the clearing behind the cabin, gripping her staff with both hands. Sweat clung to her forehead. The grass around her feet was charred black, and a faint mist of blue energy still lingered in the air.

She looked up, startled. "I-I was just trying something…"

Jane stood nearby, arms crossed. "She nearly summoned a tornado. From a single spark."

"It wasn't a tornado," Charriedel mumbled. "It was supposed to be a floating light."

"A floating light that exploded," Jane said, pointing to the scorched grass.

I raised my hands. "Okay, okay. Calm down Jane. Nobody died. That's what matters."

Charriedel looked away, visibly frustrated. "I know how it should work. But when I try to picture it, it just… turns into something else. I can't control it."

I sat next to her. "You said the staff responds to how you think, right?"

She nodded. "It's like… the more I imagine clearly, the better the spell. But if I lose focus for even a second, it twists into something random."

Jane plopped down too. "So it's like dream magic. But awake. And dangerous."

"Yes, basically." Charriedel sighed. "In my head, it's clear. But when I try to make it real, it's like the magic takes over."

That gave me an idea.

"Alright," I said. "Let's try something smaller. Basic or simpler magic. What's the simplist spell you can imagine?"

Charriedel blinked. "…A floating orb that glows gently. No explosions. No wind. Just light."

"Perfect," Jane smirked. "If it blows up, we'll know it's cursed."

Charriedel took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and focused. The staff shimmered faintly. The air around us vibrated, just a little.

Then—pop.

A soft, blue orb flickered to life above her hand.

It hovered there, pulsing slowly. Gentle. Stable. Peaceful.

We all stared at it, silent.

"…Did it work?" Charriedel asked, opening one eye.

I grinned. "It worked, great."

Jane gave a little clap. "No explosion. That's a win."

Charriedel smiled—shy, but real. She stared at the light like it was a piece of herself.

And honestly? It kind of was.

That afternoon, we helped her try more spells. Small illusions, floating water, a breeze spell that nearly knocked over my chair (thanks, Jane). Each time, Charriedel got a little more confident. A little more stable.

But the more magic she used, the more I noticed something strange.

The staff glowed brighter. And something inside it pulsed—like it was remembering every spell.

Almost like it was learning.

Later, while Jane and Charriedel worked on reinforcing the cabin's wall using spells (which were mostly decorative), I slipped away for firewood again.

And I saw it again.

That same shadow.

Watching.

It was closer this time.

Standing between two trees, barely visible, but definitely there. Its shape was wrong—long limbs, too still, like a stretched mannequin.

I didn't blink.

I didn't move.

Then, slowly, it stepped back into the forest. Silent as death.

That night, I didn't say anything.

Charriedel was busy recording spell concepts in the guidebook—doodles, notes, ideas scribbled in careful handwriting.

Jane was fiddling with her cube, trying to make it change color. (It didn't.)

I just sat there, staring into the fire.

I wasn't sure if telling them would help—or just scare them.

Because this world?

It was changing.

And now, with three of us here...

It had been months since Charriedel joined us.

Jane had finally stopped threatening the cows. Charriedel was getting better at using her staff to make simple magic—lights, water, small shields. And me? I started building a second shower because Jane kept hogging the first one.

Things were calm.

Too calm.

Which, meant one thing: GodDemon was bored again.

Then as if the Demon struck me.

[ TEAM CHALLENGE UNLOCKED ]

Trial of Three – Test of Compatibility

Objective: Survive your own path. Reunite with your team.

Duration: 3 Days

Bonus Points if Nobody Dies

~ With love, GodDemon

Well fuck me.