A world full of mysteries

Savine held her Vasa in the air, and it greedily recharged. Using the controllable mana, Savine put up a wall inside herself again, and now the situation was under control. She still retained 4% of her total mana. It was 6% before the fight so she lost about 2% of progress.

Her mana was like a foreign lake. Slowly, she could take over parts of it, but always, the lake would try to wrest back control. It didn't want to be ordered about. So, Savine needed to always be vigilant and very safely guard the areas she tamed.

Thankfully, mana wasn't sentient. It could resist, but it could not fight back in earnest.

Savine sighed and looked at Eliseline. She was holding her Vasa, trying to do something. It fumbled each time. Mostly, only hands made of clay appeared. Sometimes, the particles of air assumed the form of a hand. Surprisingly, there was a small bit of blood and flesh underneath her.

'That's impressive. She actually managed to create organic material by willing a hand to appear. But that wouldn't allow her to create an invincible hand made of mana.'

For most mages, their early education was the most important. That was the time when they brainwashed their own mind to become as mentally powerful as possible. If they grew up believing they could do fly just because they were mages, then 15 years later, they could float in the air no problem. If they grew up believing they could will phenomena to happen just by imagining, they could do that.

However, if they grew up thinking they needed to firmly understand the scientific reasonings behind phenomena to cast spells, they needed to become top students to become proper mages. Just like Eliseline.

But unfortunately, for them, the concept of spells occurring without any scientific reasoning was too foreign. It clashed with their world-view so it would take something truly extraordinary for them to be able to break free of the chains they wrapped around themselves.

Savine knew it was possible because before she became an angel, she was a mage that only used the scientific method. After a year, she could finally cast with her willpower. And the years after that, she gradually chipped away at her weaknesses before becoming the mage she was now.

It was impossible for Eliseline to reach the same heights as her, but she could get better. In fact, her specs were pretty high. The explosions she created needed only half a second to be ready and her mana sense was great as well. Not many mages could stop spells from activating mid-cast.

At least in the worlds Savine's been in.

But so far, this world had too many mysteries for Savine's taste. It somehow didn't seem impossible for the majority of mages to be able to do the same feat. Even the Initiate she first fought with could use lightning. Since this world operated on the scientific method, that was actually an impressive thing.

'Or are they just imitating eels? And if there are electric eels here, there should be monsters that can use electricity as well…'

Savine decided to just ask.

"Among mages, how high do you think you stand?"

Eliseline looked back at her with a look of respect. She stared for a few seconds and shrugged.

"I don't know. But I should be high, because I'm from a ducal family. Even if our duchy stands at the last spot for now, it doesn't change the fact that a hundred years ago, all the duchies stood on equal footing." Eliseline then grinned. "Also, I was always considered a genius at the academy."

'Good, not everyone's like her. I guess the duke's on a similar level. But I'm still not sure how good exactly are the mages.'

Savine nodded. "Can you tell me how good the average mage is? Can they cast as quickly as you do?"

"I don't think so," Eliseline shook her head. "Most take about 5 to 10 seconds to cast unfamiliar spells and 1 to 3 seconds to cast spells that specialize in."

"And I assume you specialize in explosions."

"I mean, they're extremely powerful spells, but they're almost unfairly cheap. And my affinities are Fire and Air."

She was right. With all her available mana, Savine could only make one mana motor every hour. But with the same amount, she could probably create hundreds of explosions.

"Should I expect every mage I meet to throw explosions at me?" Savine asked.

"No. It's a secret method of the Fest Duchy," Eliseline said. "It's one of the foundations for our strength, among other things. The other duchies have their aces as well. ...I should also probably kill you for knowing, but…" she only shrugged.

"Thanks," Savine smiled. "I have one more question."

"What is it?"

"Do different countries, do they have different mages?"

"What do you mean?"

"Maybe the spells they use are different from each other, something like that?"

"Oh! Yes. For example, us mages of the Sovereignty specialize in light, quick, and accurate spells. While for example, in the Magicracy to the south, mages have big, flashy spells. Great thunderbolts, divine light that smites down enemies, black miasma that can bite into human flesh. Now that I think about it, I guess the way you sometimes cast your spells… is similar? I guess you are from the Magicracy after all."

Savine wanted to sigh. It was a completely different answer than she expected. The countries in this world had different methods of spellcasting.

'Seriously, what is this world…'

With all these mysteries cluttering in his mind, Savine was feeling quite pissed. Knowing she wouldn't be able to find the answers to them any time soon, she was even more frustrated.

"Sigh, thanks for the spar," she nodded to Eliseline.

"No problem."

Over these few weeks, Eliseline's attitude towards her was getting much better. She was still wary of her, but the respect and friendliness she showed were real.

"Lady Eliseline?"

A jittery teen dressed like a knight squire was standing at one of the training yard's entries, staring at the two.

"Aaron," Eliseline replied. "Don't worry about us. Just trying out some spells."

"Oh? Is that, Is that so?"

"Yes, sorry if I startled you."

"Oh, and the duke. He's been calling for you. He's, uh, just called for you. Not been."

"I'll go see him now," Eliseline said.

She bowed to Savine and walked off with the knight squire. Savine's gaze lingered on the spot Eliseline went out of her sight, as she heard her footsteps still ringing loud in her head.

As Savine walked back towards the temple, a certain conversation soon resounded in her head.