Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: 02. Learning on the Fly
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I looked around in a panic. Metal sculptures and plants cluttered the space chaotically. But in that moment, those sights weren't pretty or wondrous—they were terrifying, ominous, straight-up scary. I took a slow step forward.
"Is there... no one? No one at all...?"
My voice echoed back without reply. With a pale face, I clutched my fist to my chest. Was I really alone? Or were there people, just passed out?
Being alone in a place like this was no joke. Feeling fear and anxiety squeezing my chest, I quickened my pace. I sorted through the jumbled thoughts in my head.
'Why did this happen all of a sudden?'
It had all gone down in an instant. Like I was entranced, I'd reached for that strange orb inside the flower, and then everything started shaking. ...Oh, right. That's what happened. Yeah, that orb embedded in the flower—I definitely grabbed it.
I hadn't even realized I was holding something in my panic.
I opened my left hand, which I'd been gripping. A fairly potent orb of mana rolled around in my palm.
It was strange mana, as expected. Maybe because it was lodged inside a magical plant, but it felt different from the flower's mana.
As I examined the orb closely with those thoughts in mind, I suddenly flinched. Come to think of it, this orb was part of that flower. Even if it was an orb, being in the center, it must have been the stamen... But now, just the stamen was sitting alone in my hand....
'...Wait, no way. Is this part of that flower? Did I just wreck a plant without permission?'
No way! Me, doing something like this! Okay, it was unconscious, but... Aaaah....
But thinking about it, that didn't matter at all for the current situation. Shaking my head in confusion, I pulled myself together and looked around again.
So, what the heck caused this? The possibilities... Maybe a mana surge? But why all of a sudden? If this had happened before, the Yuri Botanical Garden wouldn't be so popular.
Then, with a trembling gaze, I looked back down at the orb in my hand. Could it be related to this gem? It did have that strange mana....
'What if the plants were arranged for a reason, and pulling this orb threw off the balance....'
No, no, that couldn't be. I shook my head vigorously. Even if it was unconscious, I did it too, but surely I'm not the only one. If that were the case, the garden would have shut down ages ago. So many kids reach out to plants without knowing better.
I recalled the moment the incident happened. I grabbed this orb, and light burst from the floor. I remembered the light flowing along lines, like it was tracing paths. That's about it.
I gripped the orb tightly, trembling.
"...What do I do?"
I muttered anxiously, biting my lip. No wonder—I'd learned magic faster than others, but I was only five. Just five years old. I didn't have any spells to get out of a place like this. Clairvoyance was something I'd only just managed recently, and teleportation was way beyond me. The best I could do was conjure a palm-sized illusion or set a very short phrase as a basic enchantment.
My mana reserves were low to begin with. I'd worked hard, but barriers were still at the easiest level—barely enough to cover my arms. What the heck was I supposed to do with that... This was insane.
I paced in place, restless. And on top of that, I'd been feeling weird for a while. Maybe it was just claustrophobia from being trapped, but it felt like someone was watching me. The longer time passed, the more anxious I got.
I decided to scout around first. I walked over the uneven floor. Past metal pillars, over living metal flowers. Worried it might shift again, I clung to metal frames, walls, anything, moving slowly. And unfortunately, my fears were spot on.
Whoosh—
"What the...!"
It was that gem. The one like the orb in my hand. A metallic light burst from it, and the mana spread outward instantly. Just like before, with this gem at the center, mana flowed in lines, spreading through the surroundings.
Before I could figure out what was happening, I instinctively grabbed the nearby metal pillar, clinging for dear life. And then the earthquake started again.
The metal rippled like waves. Those waves crashed violently around me. Pillars rose and vanished repeatedly. I endured the intense shaking, relying on that one pillar. I bolstered my meager stamina and strength with mana, holding on somehow.
The vibrations finally stopped. Panting heavily, I collapsed to the floor.
"So... tiring...."
Of course it was. My mana wasn't abundant to begin with. A five-year-old kid with mana—big deal! I was a total newbie wizard, just starting to cobble spells together. My mana capacity was tiny! Overcome with frustration, I hurled the orb to the ground.
"It was you...! This is all because of you...!"
I stomped on it with mana-reinforced feet. I didn't know why this happened. I didn't know why it was the cause. But one thing was clear: all this was because of this gem.
Self-loathing surged too. Why did I grab it? If I hadn't, none of this would have happened. If I'd ignored it, if I just hadn't reached out....
'Would it really?'
A thought flashed through my mind. I stopped stomping. Even with all my rage-filled kicks, the gem didn't crack, not even a chip. I barely calmed my boiling anger and self-recrimination.
'...Get it together.'
I gripped my forehead, face scrunched. Right. I'd forgotten—in times like this, I needed to stay calm. Cool my head, survey the surroundings. In a situation where I had to focus everything on escaping, what good was losing myself?
For starters, I had no idea what this orb was for exactly. All I knew was it acted as a trigger for magic. Smashing it without a plan—what if it caused something worse? This time might not end so lightly. I forced my mind to cool, scanning coldly.
First, find an exit. But I'd looked everywhere—no gaps, no doors.
If no exit's visible in a weird space, how to get out? Make one. Somehow. The simplest way: smash through a wall.
I scowled deeply.
"But this is steel."
Impossible. My magic couldn't even properly shatter brick. I bit my lip. Despair welled up. But I shook my head, taking a deep breath.
...Pull it together. It'll be fine. By now, someone outside must have noticed I'm gone. Maybe they've even called Mom and Dad. So surely... it'll be okay.
But I shook my head again, rejecting the optimism. No, if another surge like before hits, it'll be dangerous. I couldn't just sit and wait. The situation was too dire.
I held back tears. Someone would come save me. But I couldn't just wait idly. Instead of sitting, I had to do my absolute best.
'It'll be fine. It will be. Definitely.'
Choking back sobs, I repeated it inwardly and brainstormed the next way to find an exit. What I could do... what I could do....
I listed the spells I could use.
'Teleport's still impossible. Illusions are at best semi-transparent ones anyone would spot. Barriers are hopeless....'
In the end, I muttered,
"Should I search for an exit again first."
But in this vast, complex room—when? After a moment's thought, I pulled a notebook and pen from my bag. I wrote on the notepad and activated the spell.
『A light guiding to the exit (outside) or the wall closest to the exit (outside).』
Would it work? Could my mana handle it?
The letters warped, gathered into a sphere, and floated off the paper into the air. The tiny light orb was a navy blue tinged with my mana's silver hue. It moved very slowly. Convinced the spell succeeded, I followed it. The orb stopped at a steel wall, then seeped inside and vanished.
"...Ah."
A twinge of despair hit me again. The spell worked—I knew that much.
But it led to a solid steel wall... meaning no exit from this room right now.
Hiding my disappointment, I placed a hand on the wall. The spell succeeded, so this must be the wall closest to the outside in this steel room. Probably thinner than others.
I glared at the wall, stepping back a few paces. I glanced around to confirm. The room was so warped now, it was hard to tell walls apart.
I examined this wall closely. Just in case the spell failed, I checked if it truly divided rooms. It stretched straight, bending at the end. Ah, yes. This was definitely a boundary wall between rooms, not one risen mid-surge.
I swallowed hard.
In other words, this wall was the room's sole 'weak point.'
With trembling hands, I gripped the pen over my notebook. Word magic was my most reliable tool right now.
I didn't know if it led to a hallway or what. My mana had already dropped from that one spell. But it was the thinnest wall. My only shot at escape.
Normally, my mana couldn't shatter brick. But this time, channeling all my mana into my strongest spell, word magic....
'Maybe....'
Optimistic, sure. But knowing that, I clung to the thought. I needed it. This mindset.
I pocketed the notebook. Then, with all my focus, I began drawing a line on the massive steel wall.
Sure, it's called 'word magic,' but the point is 'writing.'
It doesn't have to be letters for manifestation. Drawings work too.
I adjusted the magic pen's thickness to marker size. With it, I drew a large circle within arm's reach. It was a bit wobbly, but I ignored that. I filled the inside black. 'Hole,' so black to mark it.
Lines scratched in, forming a pitch-black circle. Somehow, just drawing made me breathless. I activated the spell on the blacked-out circle.
'...Pierce!!'
My will consumed mana. But the steel wall barely dented—maybe 1mm. Otherwise intact. Despair crashed over me; I slumped down, covering my face.
'What now. Mana's too low.'
Biting my lip hard, I took deep breaths to cool my head again. But every thought led to the same hopeless picture.
This place was a sealed space. Room-sized like a school gym? Solid steel, no holes. How long could I last on the air inside? Would rescue come first?
Nothing certain.
I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them. Pulled myself together, looked up. Yeah, I'd only learned this much magic. I couldn't stop here.
I sat comfortably. First, to do anything, I needed to recover mana fast. I decided to meditate.
"......?"
Weird. Feeling ambient mana, trying to draw it in with breaths—the response was off. Stiff, sticky. Like tugging a hard black rubber lump. Uncomfortable.
Only then did I open my eyes fully and look at the mana properly. Expanded my vision.
It was totally different from usual. Mana normally flows like wind with air currents. But what I saw was tangled, bound tight—like knotted threads. Like ice. Mana that was usually fluid had frozen solid, locked in place.
Even pulling it in felt like dragging scrap metal. Melting it inside took way longer.
"What is this?"
At this rate, I'd exhaust my stamina before casting again. I stopped drawing mana.
I knew the perfect term for this.
"The mana around here's all frozen?"
Same as the trapped air. Mana doesn't move. A cage for wizards. Trembling, I brought both hands to my mouth, clenching fists.
'Damn it.'
Cursing inwardly, I walked. It took over five small steps to reach the wall. Shaky hand to the indented spot—my spell's mark. Still thick black lines. My best effort: this.
"Ugh...!"
Rage boiled inside. Of course! Who could stay calm here? Sure, someone outside would save me. But what if before that, another mana surge hit and I got swept up—!
Thud!!
I punched the wall, leaning against it. A hollow metallic ring echoed faintly.
That sound barely held my surging emotions. Yes... beyond this was the exit. The exit.
Thinnest wall here. My only chance. Mana left: minimal. Had to make do with what remained.
Word magic was out. Destroying steel took too much power proportional to its hardness. Something else? Not breaking... melting a hole....
'But fire magic's not my affinity.'
What then? Suddenly, a ridiculous idea hit.
What if I move the metal without melting, push it aside?
'Who knew. Metal affinity's 9, for no reason.'
...A hollow laugh escaped.
How long did it take to first make illusions? Word magic felt familiar, fine. But barriers after that—how much mana did I burn practicing?
Before crafting any, I'd image-trained thoroughly, planning usage. Even so, illusion and barrier magic took forever to form properly.
And now-decent illusion and word magic matched my affinities perfectly.
Metal magic affinity 9... pretty high. Very high. Not quite the combined 10s of illusion, word, barrier....
Plus, the activation was simple. Move metal. That's it.
'Can I do it?'
No clue. But....
'Sitting here like this....'
Yeah, who knows when rescue comes! Even I, who sees mana, felt its distortion—this intense mana swirled around. Who'd break through this wall when...?
So, 'imagine' it!!
Magic succeeded. Basic spells learned. I could use magic.
So imagination, belief—leagues beyond the start!
'Move! Open! Before my resolve breaks... move, damn it...!'
Desperate straits. Frozen mana, breaths quickening. Maybe oxygen's nearly gone in this sealed space—who knows.
Maybe that's why I pulled it off.
At first, the steel didn't twitch. Then it shifted bit by bit. Sliding aside, opening. I poured mana there. I....
"H-Hole...!"
I cried out in joy. I scrambled through the hole.
Stepping out, marble floor appeared. I planted my feet on it. Looking up, a huge transparent window formed the building wall.
I turned back. The steel wall I'd pierced. Now I saw a blunt protrusion beside it—like a handle. Seeing it, though no traces left, I thought maybe this was the room's door.
I walked on. Strange. Trapped only briefly, yet this normal scene felt wondrous. So....
Overwhelmingly grateful.
Passing the cold marble corridor, I headed to the building's entrance as remembered. I even smiled warmly at displayed magical plants midway.
Turning into the lobby, my joyful near-run halted. Barricades blocked the door. People gathered, murmuring. Guards stood at the barricade's sides.
"......?"
What was going on?
I slowed from a dash to a stop, peering over.
"Eunha!"
Someone shouted. My name. I looked, eyes widening. No way! Mom.
"Eunha!"
"It's really Eunha!"
Teacher and Yumi were there too. Mom vaulted the barricade, rushing in. As I hesitated, she scooped me into a hug.
"Oh my god! You're safe! Thank goodness. You're safe!"
Mom repeated 'you're safe' over and over. Stunned, I listened, then teary-eyed, hugged her neck tight.
"Yeah...!"
That's what happened.
Mom came running. For me, to save me.
It made me so happy, I swallowed sobs in her arms.
I lied. Lied to the teachers. Couldn't say I escaped alone. Couldn't say I used magic to break out myself.
So I lied. Said I just got lost wandering. They believed it. Of course. No one would think a kid escaped a magically sealed room on her own.
Except one person. My mom.
"......"
Unlike other kids, I went home a different route, holding Mom's hand. I regretted not seeing the gate again, but oh well.
At home, Mom sat me down and asked. What really happened?
I answered. Everything I'd hidden—the magic too. All of it, carefully confessed. Truth I'd have to tell someday anyway.
Mom listened, speechless.
"Control... 'metal'...? "
"Basically... yeah...."
I trailed off. Mom stared, incredulous.
"And word magic too...? My god, since when!!"
"As a sub-spell... planned...."
"No wonder your mana felt high for five... already making spells? Why didn't you tell me?!!"
"Didn't want attention... and you'd worry too much...."
"My god, Eunha! You really!!"
Mom clutched her forehead, then yelled. I mumbled timidly, shrinking. Knew it was coming. Mom's great, but such a worrier....
"Of course tell me! Besides, word as sub—so main is...?!"
"...Main's less familiar... yeah. 'Illusion' magic, palm-sized illusions now...."
"My god, such...!"
Mom started to yell, then propped herself with an arm, knees buckling.
"You...... really......"
Her mutter turned teary. Ahh... I grimaced. Knew she'd worry like this... that's why I hid it.
Mom took deep breaths, calming, head bowed, then asked.
"...Anything else? Word, illusion, metal manipulation. Perfect affinity matches. More?"
"Barrier magic... or rather, 'space' magic planned."
"That's...... insanely hard."
Hand to mouth, thoughtful. Then serious eyes on me.
"Matches your affinities perfectly, probably. Space needs high dark/light affinities. Tough as special attribute, but... you can't use it yet?"
I flinched, averting eyes.
"Well...... body barriers... a bit."
"...What?"
"Arms... can cover."
"My god......"
Mom's face paled. Guilty, I looked up.
"What do we do...... Never heard even from Auntie Seona, talent like this...."
Mom gazed ceiling in turmoil, bit lip, gripped my shoulders.
"Got it? Eunha. Tell no one. Absolutely—only truly trustworthy... like Auntie Seona!"
Planned that. I nodded.
"Mom... for now, Dad's fine, but can we not tell Auntie Seona...?"
"......Overwhelming?"
"Yeah......"
"Okay, we'll do that. But......"
Mom hugged me tight. I felt her trembling. I knew why.
"Worried. So worried......"
I bit my lip.