Chapter 67: Magic and Spells

About three days passed after my moment of 'enlightenment' that evening. My days went on uneventfully ever since, even more packed with countless long hours spent pondering and staring absentmindedly into space.

Three days weren't enough to bring me an answer on how to approach my goal in learning magic. 

I was in a stump.

This was something I had to figure out myself this time around, since the fact I was able to cast spells at my age was a sealed secret between I and my family. Coupled with the fact I also swore not to use magic ever again till I was old enough, for my own safety.

As for what exactly 'old enough' entailed, even the answer to that eluded me.

At this point, I couldn't wait too long anymore. The term 'old enough' was simply too vague and uncertain. 

At what average age, exactly is a child capable to use magic in the first place? When I looked back, I also realized I'd never watched a kid close to my age use magic in the village. I'll be damned if I had to wait till 30! 

I couldn't approach Cliff or Mr. Ridge this time around, learning magic was something I had no other choice than to figure out on my own, since I was even going back on the promise i made with Layla.

Three days were more than enough to begin my conquest, but weren't at all enough to make any progress at all with my days packed full with schedules and routines. I even found myself wondering how exactly learning magic would fit in all this, in the off chance I somehow find away to approach the topic.

I'd spend hours training, pondering. Where exactly does one begin in attempting to learn magic? 

While I had that thought, my daily lessons and sessions with Layla would come up. At some point, even Don and the others joined in on my home schooling.

Initially I hoped I could maybe get some insight on magic from Layla,but I found that particularly hard to do. For starters, how would I approach the topic towards her without making it sound suspicious as she's already aware I'm able to cast spells.

I had to go around it in such a way I wouldn't give something off. So instead, I paid frightening attention towards every words uttered by Layla during that period, hoping she'd let something magic related slip. After all, part of the subject discussed during each lessons covered a part of the world's history and other similar topics.

A few times in passing, however, magic was mentioned. But those were just passing mentions and held no particular substantial insights I could draw from those mentions. Regardless, I never failed to jump on such opportunities to drop on the topic with a few well styled, and totally not suspicious questions concerning it.

It was one thing asking about it after it was mentioned, and completely different bringing it up myself.

I flawlessly was able to mask my intentions...I lied, it wasn't flawless as I had hard time trying to suppress the childish eagerness that would accompany each questions that followed...during those short instances, but Layla was particularly adamant about disclosing too much concerning magic and the exchange of the topic would mostly come to an end once she's given what she determined a suitable reply. 

After that, I could only suppress a frown and carefully bid my time to the next mention of magic. I couldn't drag on the topic to avoid raising suspicion.

My attempts during the lessons mostly resulted in futility, after that I could only result in books. 

I spent an entire night countlessly re-reading 'The Heroic Legend and Tales' cover to cover, over and over again. Specifically going over the details of magic concerning the characters in the literature. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure what I was hoping to find from reading a far-fetched children's book, but that was one of my closest leads.

It got the point I began to hallucinate the narrators voice in my head everytime I let my mind wander. I could only break a sigh eventually.

Whenever I got the chance, I would ransack the entire house, going through the attic and corners reading anything that had a book cover. Everything.

And the more I searched, it seemed the more vague, unreachable and incomprehensible magic became for me. But my eagerness could only skyrocket at all the odds. Three days weren't enough to crush my spirit. I doubted an entire life time could convince me at giving up on magic at this point.

I was going to learn magic. Even if I had to result to more upfront and rash methods.

"-Reo!" A dull and heavy thud fell against the back of my head, jerking me out of my thoughts with a call.

"Wh-wha...ow!" Caressing the newest bump on my head, I glanced tearfully towards Don, Kyle and Leon.

"You've been zoning out a lot lately these days, is something wrong?" Leon leaned forward to ask. His question hung silently in the air as I recomposed my thoughts with a tired sigh.

"I guess I'm just a little tired." I lied.

Don's shoulders slumped forward as he hung his head with a long deep sigh leaving his lips.

"I feel you, Reo. It's all so exhausting, but we gotta do what we gotta do. One day, when were all able to send hundreds of enemies flying with a single swing, we'll all look back to these moments and sigh in nostalgia." Don's comment registered small chuckles from our lips. And then slowly, my mind began to wander once more.

"Ah! He's doing it again. He's getting all in his head again!" Kyle shouted accusingly, throwing a finger at me.

"Seriously, Reo, if there's something on your mind, you know you can tell us. If you really feel you need a short break, we all do, why don't we just ask my dad for a day off?" Leon walked forward, showing his concern with a suggestion.

My lips curved slightly in a dry smile. It was mid afternoon while we were on our way from Home school with Layla to Mr. Ridge's post in the east gate. The village unfurled before us, remaining a serene background while we casually had light chatter along the way.

My eyes wandered passed the group towards one of the unfurled plains before us at the villagers and farmers cultivating and tending to the needs of their crops.

Short utterances and tender flicks of their wrist, spheres of water and spiralling vortex of wind were conjured off thin air, simplifying most of the work done on the plain. A view I had come to be familiar with over the months, but still struck me with souch eagerness and awe, when I hadn't realized my lips parted and I began to speak.

"Hey," my voice was calm, soft and filled with childish fantasy as i called out, "what do you guys think about magic?" Posing the question, I forcefully ripped my gaze away off the scenery.

Don paused to glance at the spells used not so far away, his green eyes danced with amusement and interest.

"It seems like something out of this world." His comment struck me with surprise. For Don, an 'original' resident of this world to say something like that was unexpected. Especially how close it hit to home on how I considered the strange phenomenon that was magic.

"I've always wanted to try magic, singing chants and casting spells," Kyle flashed a small smile, his eyes wandering through his imagination at the sight, "I mean, who wouldn't?"

"But alas, we can't." Leon interjected, a small disillusioned frown made its way to Don's and Kyle's lips as they both turned towards the stick-in-the-mud.

Leon ignored those gazes with a shrug and continued.

"We'll have to get older, and even then we'll have to be lucky." Despite his words, his eyes played on amusement and interest at the prospect, a sheen dark layer underneath, however.

I didn't ponder too long on what Leon's words carried at that moment, my gaze wandered back towards the plain.

"So...do any of you guys know anything about magic?" 

"Nope."

"Nada."

"Not a clue."

I could only sigh after those replies. I really was on my own this time.

"Oh, Reo. You still heading out with your dad tomorrow?" My eyes slowly lit up after Don said that.

'Oh yeah, there was that.'