12 Magic

"What do you mean?" Ned asked.

"You're a Hollow...but you never give up on becoming...strong," Toni replied while looking at the ground. Her black hair hanged on her forehead hiding some parts of her eyes. "I... rarely go outside...because...I'm afraid that my magic would go out of control...and I really don't like...people staring at me."

So she can't control her magic. Ned thought. He turned around and asked Toni.  "How about we asked Master Will to look at your magic, and maybe, he might know a way to control your magic."

"No! Toni closed her eyes and a look of worry could be traced on her face. "I'm...not really comfortable with other people."

"But you're talking to me."

"You're...different,"

With Ned's past, he doesn't have any problem interacting with other people.

"How about this," Ned felt awkward talking to Toni with a tree between them. "Move out of the tree and show me your magic, maybe I can help."

For a second Toni hesitated, she bit her lips, and a stern look could be seen on her eyes. "Okay...but you need to back off a little bit."

Toni moved away slowly out of the tree, she walked in the middle while Ned moves a meter away from her. The space wasn't broad but not narrow either. Just enough for two people to show off their skills.

In the middle, Toni closed her eyes, she slightly raised both her hands and opened them, a hint of pale and pink skin could be seen. Feeling the Mana all over the surrounding, she muttered. "Left foot, right foot, turn. Again, left foot, right foot, turn," she repeated those words a couple of times before a chilling aura enveloped her.

Ned was observing on the side when countless of hair at the back of his neck stood. A chilling aura enveloped him, his ears turned red, numbness slowly passed through his skin. A look of sorrow could be seen on his face. The moment he felt the chilling aura, Ned remembered something about his past. But he instantly recovered from being tranced when he heard a cracking sound. Falling leaves that passed through the chilling aura was frozen and fell to the ground like a fragile stone and instantly broke apart to pieces.

He was keenly observing Toni, every detail was recorded by ICE through the eyes of Ned.

Flaws, flaws, show me some flaws. ICE, are you seeing this?

[Yes Ned.]

[I'm analyzing it now.]

Do you see any flaws? Like some sort of scar on her body that made her magic unstable? Maybe you could name her technique? Her history? Ned asked ICE different questions.

[I cannot name her technique, since it was her technique from the beginning. And I cannot see the history of her since I don't have any record of her on my database. I suggest the host to get to know her more.]

[Negative, I can't see any flaws. Since I don't have a standard for comparison on my database. I can't see any of her flaws.]

[I Suggest to find someone with the knowledge and make it as a base of comparison.]

Well, I really thought you might have some sort of Library Code, that compiles all data and analyze other's skill and tell them about their medical conditions. Well, it's worth a try. Ned let out a sigh.

[No scar detected. According to the Earth's standard, her body's curves are already perfect. She's a perfect candidate for reproduction.]

"What?!" Ned let out a strong cry. Unknowingly his face turned red. That's...not what I really meant, but now that you mentioned it. Ned looked at Toni casting her spell. Along with her chilling aura, waves of energy emits out her body that outlined her curves. No, that's not why we are here. Ned steeled his heart.

Unexpectedly, spikes as big as a human randomly cracked out of the ground. Its tip was able to pierce a one-meter thick tree. The spikes randomly materialized in different directions, but never on Toni's slim body. It was like the spikes are protecting her.

Breath bursting in and out, Toni opened her eyes. Her reaction was complicated, showing that he didn't mean to cast a spell that pierced through trees. She was eagerly looking for Ned, afraid that he might have been hit by the spikes.

"Over here," Ned said waving his hands hidden behind a tree that was pierced. After a moment, spikes slowly disappeared back to the ground. The chilling aura was gone, now she was back to her old timid self.

"Uhm...so what can you tell?" Steam breaths out of Toni whenever she speaks. Sweat started to melt off her skin. "As you can see I really can't control my magic."

"Uhmm..." Well, this is difficult. I never conjure magic myself, so I find it hard to explain to her. Ned betrayed his own thoughts.

[Analyzing subjects facial expressions.]

[Analyze complete.]

[Subject appeared to be worried.]

Thanks, ICE. Ned thought.

"Granted, your magic is very strong. But it seems like, you are worried, of something or someone?" Ned explained with a straight face. Now she's talking straight to me. I don't hear any pauses anymore.

"Uhmm, Yes," Ned saw her eyes rapidly blinking and her voice was lowered to the point that she's like whispering. "Because..."

"You don't need to explain, it's fine. We all have our skeletons hidden in a closet." Facing Toni, Ned shows a confident look. "Anyway, the way you absorb Mana is stable, it's like you were born with it, but," after a moment of pause, Ned added. "But, the way you released it, was chaotic, very random."

Toni's eye started to turn red and glossed.

Suddenly, leaves rattled in a distance.

"Well done kid," master Will came out of nowhere. A leaf could be seen dangling on his hair. "Your analysis is on point. I rarely showed you magic. Yet, your advice was, somewhat correct."

"Master." Ned bowed. "What are you doing here?"

Surprised, Toni hid behind Ned's back. Pinching a part of Ned's clothes. "Uhmm...hello...Sir Will."

Now she's stuttering. Ned thought.

"I was looking for Cat, I can't find him when we arrived at the orphanage." Master Will scratched his head.

"Maybe he's out there again looking for Rabbi's to hunt," Ned explained. This is a good opportunity, I'll ask Master to show us his magic, this will be good data for ICE. Ned thought for a moment. "Uhmm, Master, if it's possible, maybe you could show us how magic works."

"Well, I never really showed you how Magic works, it might be too early for you, since I thought you don't need it for now cause you're a Hollow. But since we're here. I'll explain some basics to both of you."

Master Will stood in the middle where Toni left. Same as Toni, slightly raising his right arm, and none on his left. He played with his fingers then a smoke suddenly appeared. Slowly, it sparks, "as you know Mana is everywhere." Then his hand ignited. "Ignite." Master Will muttered. "First, you absorb Mana, then store them in your body. When it's time to use them you materialize the Mana."

The flame started to dance on his palm. It wasn't random, the movement was according to Master Will's—will. "The tricky part is Materialization some call it conjuring. There are different ways to do it, Focus, think of the magic you want to Materialize, emotion plays a great role too. Your sad, your magic is sad, your angry your magic might become uncontrollable. So always check your emotions. Master your emotion, and master your magic."

The flame wasn't red but orange. It wasn't rough but smooth. The flame jumps on Master Will's palm. It has emotion. Ned thought. He looked at Master Will, he's face shows calm.

"Finally," he added, the flame suddenly disconnected from his hand and started to float above his palm, and slowly, it turned to a sphere. Started spinning, faster and faster until the air around them started to feel hot. "Magic, if mastered, can affect the environment."

He closed his palm and the spinning sphere vanished. "Again, absorb, store, and materialize."

"Now if you master the three, what comes next, is your Profession." Master Will started to walk back and forth. His old linen clothes swayed left and right. "There is three basic Profession. Mages, Fighters, and Rouges."

"Ned I trained you as a Knight, so you fall under Fighter profession, and you young lady," He smiled and walked in front of Toni. Toni whose very shy about strangers, turned red but she tried to suppress her emotions. "Unlike Ned whose a Hollow, you were born with Magic, so you're a Natural. But, under Mages Profession is a unique Class called Gifted. They were born with magic that doesn't need to be taught. The magic is already inside you, you just need to let it out. And your element is ice, very versatile, can be used offensively and defensively. Gifted's Magic usually manifests during adolescence, so it must be hard on you young lady."

"Remember, choosing Profession is valuable. Think of a Fireball used by a Knight and a Fireball used by Mages. Both are fire element, but the gap is huge. Knight's Fireball takes time to cast and has a short-range, while Mages Fireball takes less time to materialize and has a greater range. That is why Academies will help you choose your Profession wisely."

After Master Will finished explaining the basics of magic, the cat showed himself full of Rabbi's fur all over his body. Master Will asked Toni to demonstrate her Magic again.

Toni's eye lit up when she saw the cat. But immediately focused her attention on the task. Even though shy, she still raised her hands, closed her eyes, and muttered something.

"Try injecting Mana into your magic little by little. Don't overflow it." Master Will instructed. This time, Toni's Magic was less harmful, less cold but one could see that she can control it. Not long after, magic on her hands exploded. "Not bad, it's already a good start."

Ned, started to follow Master Will's instructions, since Ned has already Mana points stored, he thought he could try casting magic. "Absorbing. Done. Storing. Done. Now comes the last part, materializing." Ned closed his eyes and slowly raised his hands. He then focused on his emotions. Feel the flow of Mana, transfer it to the hands, and slowly materialize. He thought. Not long after Ned felt a rough sensation on his hands. And he felt his hand was wet. He slowly opened his eyes to see that the cat was licking his hands.