1-23 Stuck in the Mud
After finishing my bath, I held my hand over the remaining water in the basin and focused my mana. Vaguely recalling how I'd drawn figure-eights in the tub to create a whirlpool-like flow, I tried the same motion. Sure enough, I managed to stir up a big swirling vortex.
Nice, nice. Seems like I'm pretty good at controlling mana.
It had been two days since I'd consulted that pint-sized instructor at the Mage Guild about training methods. I hadn't skipped my daily practice with the four basic magic attributes. Mainly after dinner and before bed, I'd drain my mana completely and then crash.
Sleep seemed to recover mana pretty well, so this was efficient.
Unfortunately, no hyper-recovery phenomenon where max MP increased after fully depleting it—nothing like that yet.
Water magic was straightforward: channel mana into water to create a flow.
Earth magic involved gathering sand outside and doing the same to move it.
Wind magic was a bit trickier.
For wind, you diffuse mana into the air to generate flow. She advised starting safely by pressurizing the air inside a sealed box and circulating it. But unlike water or sand, it was visually and tactilely vague where to direct the mana—tough stuff.
Even students at the Advanced Magic Academy often dropped it because they couldn't get the feel.
And for me, the absolute hardest was fire magic.
For fire, over the water prepared for water magic, you'd light a match or torch, then sway, enlarge, or shrink the flame.
...By channeling mana into the fire.
Channel mana into fire...? What the hell?
Even more incomprehensible than into air. The advice was to imagine converting mana to ignite it, which I was gradually getting, but controlling an existing flame with mana? Total mystery.
Couldn't picture it like creating a water flow...
Ended up better at the supposedly advanced "generate from nothing" technique. Weird state of affairs.
Tomorrow's my second lesson—I'll ask for more advice then.
Suddenly feeling eyes on my back, I turned to see Sarsa sitting on the bed in the corner of the room, watching me.
"What's up?"
"You've been awfully... dedicated lately."
"Yeah, guess so."
Felt like getting a new toy—turning into a little obsession.
"Haven't gotten this into something in ages. It's fun... Were you lonely?"
"N-No, I mean, no."
Shot her a question that's hard to answer yes or no.
I waved it off with, "Ah, pretend I didn't ask," to the flustered Sarsa, then turned back to the basin.
Well, I'd been putting a lot on her shoulders anyway. Hope she sees this as a brief rest.
Thing is, I hadn't done much monster hunting these past two days.
I went out daily, but barely spotted any—total loss.
Time to give up on grinding here. Treat it as training and R&R until the next town.
When money runs low, snag an escort quest and head south.
South was basically decided.
The monster-hunting holy land that piqued my interest was southwest, and monster density increased southward—bigger ones too.
North led to the capital with almost no monster zones. Beyond that, unwalled settlements dotted the area. Tempting for tourism if time allowed, but not for earning cash.
West was backtracking, so skip. East was ocean.
Process of elimination: south.
I spawned water orbs from the basin—pon, pon, pon—and spun them around.
Trial and error yesterday and today showed floating and moving them was easier combined with wind magic.
Not aiming for anything specific, but... magic-like, right?
But combining water and wind drained me hard, gobbled MP too. Only manageable thanks to high MP from Mage and Magic Gunner.
Merged the orbs into a big blob midair, released mana, and let it splash back into the basin. Sarsa, who'd been watching blankly, gave a light clap.
Felt like a magician.
"Ahh, MP's tapped out... Night."
"Good night, Master."
"You're here."
"Morning, Instructor."
"Not 'morning'! How's the teacher arrive first?"
"Sorry."
Though she was already there ten minutes early. How long had she been waiting?
"No school today?"
"No afternoon lecture. Passed, remember?"
"Heh, passed..."
"Once you think you've got nothing left to learn, take the completion exam anytime. I've done over half, so days like today happen."
"Impressive."
"...You don't sound interested."
"Nah, I am. Glad you're excellent. Now, let's start."
"Fine, whatever!"
I asked for fire control advice right away.
"Fire magic? Yeah, lots struggle with it~"
To check progress, I did water orb tricks and ignition demos.
"Hmm, can't believe you're a beginner..."
"Oh? That good?"
"Don't get cocky. Total basics."
"Ugh."
"But yeah, for mostly self-taught, solid sense. Keep at it, you'll outdo Advanced Academy dropouts."
"Feels like a backhanded compliment..."
Using wind to assist water was taught at Advanced after some progress—reaching it solo showed sense.
Key fire advice: not merging with substance like water/wind, but applying external pressure to control.
Sensations personal, so don't over-ask, but Pikata did it that way.
"Got it—not assimilation, pressure... You do water and wind that way too?"
"Kinda. Force 'em down."
Yeah, magic reflects personality. I smiled warmly; she glared.
"Thinking something pervy?"
"Misunderstanding."
After, I tried pressure image, got tips.
"Oh yeah, you said combining magic unlocks new jobs."
"Last lecture. Yeah, ice/lightning like that."
"How to practice?"
"Too early for you... but your ideas surprise, maybe?"
Tried methods she taught.
Conclusion: impossible. Understood theory, but current skills couldn't execute.
Ice: full basic four—control water with wind/fire to chill, earth to shape.
Makes sense: cool water to ice, solidify and manipulate.
But trying? How control water while chilling with wind/fire? No clue.
"What the—feels impossible."
"Practice only. Sensations vary; find yours."
"...How's your composite magic, Pikata?"
She grinned like waiting for it.
"Ice and lightning easy. Watch."
She waved; water orb froze solid, shattered.
Waved again; electricity crackled from fingertips.
"Hey, not at me!"
"Haha, sorry. Impressed?"
Yeah, legit impressive. Pint-sized hid her age, but Advanced student meant young.
Composite at that age? Excellent, promising.
Maybe already changed jobs?
"With that magic, you past Mage?"
"Nope, still Mage. Aiming for all-rounder Magician. Versatile better."
"Huh."
Specialized like Fire Mage boost that element but narrow scope.
Mage: lower power per, but broad learning.
Leads to special like Magisword or Space Mage.
"Composites ramp up difficulty... Mana control, chemistry knowledge helps, plus creativity. Magic's deep."
"Yep. That's why fun."
Fair.
Four basics as base, endless potential via ideas/effort. Loved grindy games like that.
Might've been researcher in old world if STEM.
"Now, rest of time: magic history recap. Knowing greats sharpens ideas."
"Ugh, lecture... Yeah, should know."
I took notes obediently, but not what expected.
"Hey, lots 'unknown origin' or 'probably'?"
"Yeah, looong history—unavoidable."
Not just length.
Earth had ancient theories still used, but not this vague.
"Ancient Empire" bottleneck.
Half-remaining info from era, no surpassing. How OP was it?
...White-Haired Kid said this world's monsters weird. Empire fall tied? Plausible plot, but no answers.
Stopped Empire daydreams; absorbed Pikata's knowledge. Priority.
Today, borrowed Mage Guild training grounds for practicals.
Pikata crossed arms sternly, watching. Sarsa prepped emergency water at entrance.
I spun water orbs high-speed around me, formed fireball, launched skyward.
"Hmm, shaping up nicely."
Pikata's praise softened my cheeks.
"So, attack spells today?"
"Attacks and practical stuff."
"Brought practical manual. See demos for interests. Deal?"
Took manual, flipped through.
Illustrations of effects, names/descriptions. Handwritten checks—Pikata's successes.
"Fire's attack-heavy."
"Yup. Master this: Fireball."
Built fireball, layered bigger, hurled at earthen target.
Sizzle; scorched earth smell.
"Stuns people/small monsters fine?"
"Yeah. Vs. Fire Arrow?"
"This..."
Pikata formed fireball, infused power, threw hard.
Flattened elongated, streaked straight. Hit: small boom, gouged surface.
"Not just smash—add explosive. Elongated throw like arrow."
"Heh..."
Fire for offense, yeah.
But I wanted defense uses.
"Anti-attack spells?"
Flipped; nothing. Heretical idea?
"Back pages: Wall types."
"Walls, got it."
Obvious from name.
"Try? ...Wall!"
Arena sand swirled to her hand, spun, formed earthen wall.
"Whoa!"
"Tough... big mass."
"Shield sub... or just carry one?"
Pikata nodded wryly.
"Basics, yeah. But guard distant allies, footing to leap/dodge—versatile win."
"Ah."
"Elite Earth Mage: instant, strong as third hand shield."
"Frees hands big."
Mage stats magic/mdef heavy—support frontliners usually.
Me: mix mage/front, push aggressive, cover defense magically.
...Started magic to fix reckless fighting. Now brain-muscle ideas.
"Other defense/support techs?"
"Defense/support... Splash?"
"Splash?"
"Formal: Get Stuck Mad? Something."
Ancient Empire tongue fuzzy in implant. Mud?
"Manipulate ground moisture to bog feet. Perfect support?"
"Ah, 'Stuck in the Mud'. Subtle."
Demo: as imagined. Feet bogged, slowed. Simple.
But advanced: earth-channel water control... precise or useless/ally hinder.
Fun training; add to practice.
"Fireball, Wall, that... Splash thing for now."
"Hard name, Get Stuck Mad. Don't spread thin—good choice."
"Yeah."
"Keep manual. Mastered."
"For real? Thanks. Silver coin then."
"If insisting. Sign instead?"
"Do it!"
She played along full, but no signature idea—later.
"Later" meant planning one. What for?
Did muscle training in spare time; night fell.
Money thinning; magic training wrapping. More to learn, but south intel urgent.
Learning world basics from Sarsa bit by bit.
Ask before bed.
"Sarsa, got a sec?"
"Yes."
Her lengthening hair ponytail lately. Undoing at night: eye candy.
"Sit. Time till sleep; questions."
"Yes."
I sat bed; she prim on opposite chair.
Where start?
"Recap country from your knowledge."
"This country? Um, Kyures Kingdom?"
"Yeah."
"Ancient Empire fell long ago; local noble Kyures founded. Not details, but top continental power."
"From who?"
"Parents/adults? Common sense. Never left, so unverified."
"Got it."
Kyures north of Emelt, south Zreshion Union—three great kingdoms. Zreshion bad blood; matches tavern intel pre-Sarsa.
Zreshion young; Kyures royals interfered founding—resentment.
Slagee tavern Kyures-biased still negative—likely true.
"Nobles under royals control land?"
"Close. Nobles vary; complex."
"Population?"
"Kingdom total?"
"Yeah."
"Lots. Nobles care; commoners don't."
"Hmm."
Monsters limit land; feels sparse, but towns populated, no strain. Not extinction crisis.
"Country good. Next: slavery. You mad when I bought solo?"
"Y-Yes."
Sarsa averted eyes awkwardly.
"Don't mind. But if I die, what happens to you?"
"Homeless."
"Specifics."
She chuckled lightly—half-joke?
"Cases. Assume Master sudden death: ownerless slave. Heir inherits; yours distant..."
"None."
"Ownerless, no backer: slum hide or shop plea. State/lord protect sometimes."
"State protects—no homeless?"
"No. Interrogation first; if clean, state buys cheap or to merchants. Harsh treatment."
"Huh."
"No guarantee. Better self-sell nearest slave house. Patented; state eyes shut fast. Ownerless risky—reluctant."
"Ah... Keep alive better if not harsh."
"Basically."
"Subjugation: can't harm master, disobey uncomfortable?"
"Test?"
Simple orders: raise hand, don't look window. She defied on purpose.
"...Feel?"
"Head irks."
"That's it?"
"Yes. Prolonged bad; momentary ok."
"Guild warned against overconfidence—spot on."
"Yes. Don't wanna test, but lethal intent: agony."
"Light slap?"
"...No."
"Ok."
Her pain; skip if no.
"From status contract. Varies binding; mine basic—no restrictions."
"Hmm."
Next buy: ask options. No Sarsa issues, low need.
"Learned slavery at house; teach more."
"Yeah. Other thing."
"What?"
"Levels. Combat jobs level faster? Average?"
"Not combat expert."
"General first."
"Ok..."
She pondered.
"Vague; parents ~30. Derivatives/advanced vary."
"Don't share levels?"
"Rare. Some not even family."
"Huh."
Ultimate privacy—objective ability.
"No advanced: ~30 normal?"
"Dunno... Level 100+ news big; exceeds 100 possible."
"100+ existed?"
"Yes. National news; rare. 50-60 solid, 80 top-tier. Varies job; advanced Lv20 amazing..."
No simple average.
100+ legendary, 50-60 high, 80 elite—from Sarsa.
Long road.
Dozed talking; slept.
You might've noticed (or not), but fixed the long-ignored "Slagee notation issue." Non-mild versions only.