Magic

As I arrived at the training ground, I saw Alfred swinging his sword with his eyes closed. Every swing was precise, and I could feel the strength behind each one. The blade cut through the air with a soft whistle, a testament to Alfred's skill and control. I watched, transfixed, as he moved through a series of complex forms, his body flowing like water from one stance to the next.

Suddenly, Alfred stopped and looked at me, his blue eyes piercing. "You came back, master March," he said, bowing slightly. "I was waiting for you. I hope you had a good rest?"

I nodded, still in awe of his swordsmanship. Alfred put his sword down, the metal gleaming in the sunlight. "I wanted to talk to you about some magic principles," he said, gesturing for me to follow him. "Maybe you would be able to remember your wind magic. You were especially good with implementing it with your close combat skills."

We walked together, our footsteps crunching on the gravel path. I tried to remember what he was talking about, but my mind was frustratingly blank. Wind magic? Close combat skills? It all sounded so foreign to me, like a language I had once spoken but had long since forgotten.

As we walked, I noticed a small building up ahead. It was tall and narrow, with big doors that looked like they could withstand a battering ram. Alfred pushed them open with ease, revealing a vast library inside.

I gasped, my eyes widening at the sight of so many books. Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, crammed with tomes of every size and color. The air was thick with the scent of old paper and leather, and I breathed it in deeply, feeling a sense of calm wash over me.

Alfred led me into the library, a place that seemed both familiar and foreign to me. "You liked to be here, you always said that understanding and reading about things make your magic stronger," he said as he lit the lamps, casting a warm glow over the shelves. "Close the door please, it's not good for books."

I nodded, following his orders and gently pushing the heavy doors shut. The scent of old paper and leather enveloped me, and I felt a strange sense of comfort wash over me. It was as if my body remembered this place, even if my mind did not.

I joined Alfred, who was climbing the small stairs to the upper level. "And you know, you are right. Reading and detailed knowledge does help you get stronger. In the end, your magic is your mind and then control of your magic."

He stopped near a shelf on the second floor and quickly found the book he was looking for. It was a thick tome, bound in deep blue leather with silver lettering on the spine. Alfred handed it to me, and I felt the weight of it in my hands.

"You will need this, that's the main starting point, if you will ask me," he said, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief.

We made our way back down the stairs, and Alfred sat at the table in the center of the building. I joined him, setting the book down in front of me. The cover was worn and faded, but I could still make out the title: "The Fundamentals of Magic."

While tracing the metallic text embedded in the azure binding, I wondered if this could be the missing piece - the catalyst to restore what was lost in my mind. Alfred's words snapped me from my contemplation.

"Before I let you dive into your studying, master March, permit me to explain several crucial elements," he remarked, grinning. "To begin with, we should address the basics of elemental magic. The core elements: fire, water, wind, and earth. Though certain individuals like January and September can master them all, typical humans rarely excel in more than three."

He lifted the volume from my grasp and revealed the initial section. "Yet there exist other unique cases. You and August stand apart differently. Everyone has an upper threshold for magical capacity, and what you two possess is extraordinary. Though not classified as a natural gift since one can expand their capacity through dedication, believe me when I say you and August are remarkable in this aspect."

His demeanor shifted to one of gravity. "Still, don't let this give you false confidence. Your gift bears its burden. Beginning with such vast reserves means mastering magic will prove especially challenging, as you must learn to harness an immense force without any prior experience."

I listened intently, processing everything he shared. I was resolved to grasp these concepts and recover my lost past. My eyes drifted to the tome in his grasp, anxious to explore its contents and unravel magic's mysteries.

Alfred persisted with his lesson, maintaining a composed and measured tone. "Let's circle back to discussing elements. While we recognize four fundamental types, their combinations yield numerous variations," he explained, his eyes gleaming with passion. "Take your companion April as an illustration - he's currently working with the wood element. An even clearer example is January's mastery of ice. These are the fundamental concepts you'll need to understand about elemental magic."

I bobbed my head in acknowledgment, striving to retain every detail. Despite the overwhelming amount of information, I remained focused on comprehending it all. Noticing my enthusiasm, Alfred passed the volume to me. "You'll find more comprehensive information within these pages later," he mentioned, thumbing through until he located a new section.

"Next physical enhancement," he commenced, "represents a fundamental magical practice. It's where most practitioners begin nowadays, though it requires basic knowledge of human anatomy." His finger glided across the page, indicating various charts and sketches. "At its core, it's still elemental magic, yet for whatever reason, your own body serves as the most effective vessel for channeling magical energy."

I bobbed my head, recognizing the enhancement principles he described from my own limited experiences with magic. Alfred elaborated, gesturing with his weathered hands as he spoke, "Enhancement magic functions as a multiplier, meaning your natural physical condition impacts its effectiveness. While you and August possess sufficient magical reserves to enhance well, warriors like April and December are actually ideal candidates. Their exceptional baseline strength and agility, when amplified by enhancement, transform them into truly dangerous opponents. I've seen December move faster than the eye can track when properly enhanced."

Alfred paused to clear his throat, his fingers carefully flipping to the subsequent page. The parchment crackled softly under his touch. "Advanced enhancement techniques exist, such as April's healing abilities or the mass empowerment you've demonstrated before you lost your memories, master March. However, those represent sophisticated applications of the art, and it's premature to delve into those topics now. We must ensure you have a solid foundation before attempting such complex manifestations."

With that explanation complete, Alfred shut the ancient tome with a gentle thud and handed it to me before returning to the towering bookshelves. I cradled the heavy volume in my arms, feeling its worn leather binding as I observed him methodically scanning the shelves. He muttered under his breath, running his finger along the spines of various books, "Now where could that other volume be? I could have sworn I saw it sometime ago..."

I observed as Alfred brought over a fresher volume, its scent and pristine condition standing in stark contrast to the earlier text. The leather binding still creaked when opened, and the pages held that distinctive new-book aroma that tickled my nose. "Though this one's rather complex," he noted, carefully placing it on the table before me, "I believe understanding it will benefit you, given your companions' unique capabilities."

He inhaled deeply before proceeding, his weathered hands smoothing the pages with practiced care. "We've identified certain powers that defy traditional classification, which we've come to term divine gifts. These abilities transcend elemental or magical manipulation - they're truly bestowed talents, far beyond ordinary magic." His finger traced the elegant script as he spoke. "Consider December's Voice gift, an exceptionally uncommon trait. In fact, it's the most scarce of all, with only a handful of bearers occupying the Empire's highest positions, the Emperor being the most proficient. This power enables vocal dominion over others, though it carries risks - failed commands can rebound upon the user with devastating consequences. While scholars strive to decipher its mechanics, spending countless hours in research none of them is successful and the Emperor remains its most accomplished wielder."

The Emperor's mention stirred conflicting sensations within me - dread, fury, deference, and loathing crashed together like waves in a storm. My hands clenched involuntarily at my sides, and though my recollections remained incomplete, fragments of memories flickering just out of reach, I knew with bone-deep certainty that his legendary might was no exaggeration.

"It's partly why December remains so quiet," Alfred explained, ignoring Marchs reaction, his voice gentling as he noticed my tension, "He's experienced some unfortunate incidents with backfired commands." Swiftly redirecting our discussion, perhaps sensing my discomfort, he continued, "But let's focus on brighter matters. Your group includes two other remarkable talents. September possesses the unprecedented ability to channel other mages' powers, acting as a conduit for their abilities. And January's gift mirrors that of the Right Hand - perfectly replicating any witnessed magic, sometimes even surpassing the original in both power and precision."

Alfred showed me a few more pages that he deemed particularly important for my studies. The information was dense and complex, but I tried my best to absorb it all, knowing that understanding these concepts could be crucial to regaining my memories and abilities.

After a while, Alfred closed the book and stretched, looking tired. "I think that's enough for now, master March," he said, stifling a yawn. "I need to go and look over the house, make sure everything is in order."

I nodded, feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the new information. "Of course, Alfred. Thank you for your help."

Alfred smiled and started to walk towards the door, his footsteps echoing in the quiet library. Just as he was about to leave, I found myself calling out to him. "Alfred, why are you so eager to help me?"

He paused, his hand on the doorknob, and turned back to look at me. There was a strange intensity in his eyes, a mixture of pride and something almost scary. "I saw a lot of young talents while I was at war," he said, his voice low and serious. "And I think that you and your friends possess one of the brightest. Maybe you really could change this world, and I would like to see you try."

With that, he opened the door and stepped out, leaving me alone in the library with my thoughts and the stacks of books. I sat there for a moment, trying to process everything that had happened. Alfred's words echoed in my mind, filling me with a sense of both excitement and trepidation. Could we really change the world? And if so, what would that mean for us?

I looked down at the books in front of me, their pages filled with secrets and knowledge that I had yet to unlock. I knew that the path ahead would be difficult, but with the help of my friends and the guidance of people like Alfred, maybe we really did have a chance to make a difference.

With a deep breath, I opened one of the books and began to read, determined to learn as much as I could. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear - I had a lot of work to do.