Magic Training

That night, the winter wind whispered softly within the cave where we conducted our lessons. The biting chill mixed with the lingering warmth of mana training that had just ended. Thin wisps of breath rose into the air, evidence of our grueling practice.

Yet, neither Loki nor I were bothered by such trivialities. We stood firm, facing each other with subtle smiles, like small unquenchable flames, ready to proceed to the next stage.

"Listen closely," he said, breaking the silence with an air of authority. "There are two primary methods for activating magic. The first is the traditional method, and the second is a method I discovered myself."

I remained silent, focusing intently on each word. Interrupting Loki unbidden didn't seem like a wise idea, it struck me as impolite.

"The first method, the traditional one, involves reciting a magical chant to trigger the activation. The stronger the magic you intend to use, the longer the incantation tends to be."

"Linnie and most others are more suited to this method. As her friend, you must have seen how Linnie activates her magic, haven't you?"

I nodded slightly, recalling the moment Linnie unleashed her magic. Her voice, like melodic poetry, wove through the air as she chanted her spell. Then, in an instant, her terrifyingly powerful ice magic annihilated the goblins before us.

"The essence of activation is simple: you must channel mana to a single focal point while reciting the appropriate chant. From there, a magic circle forms, serving as a bridge to cast the spell."

He paused, his gaze shifting to me, as though assessing whether I could keep up.

"But there's a downside," he added, his smile fading slightly. "You need a sharp memory to recall all the verses of the chant. Without it, mastering this method is impossible."

Loki fell silent, leaving space for his words to sink in. I felt his gaze, as if demanding assurance that I truly understood.

"Well? Do you get it so far, Yata?"

I twirled a strand of my jet-black hair while digesting his explanation. Once confident enough, I lifted my head and smiled resolutely. "I think I understand."

His smile returned, broader this time. "Good. That's exactly what I expected from you."

Loki stepped closer, placing his hand against a stone near the cave wall, as though measuring something. "Now, let's discuss the second method, the one I discovered."

He cleared his throat, the sound resembling a teacher preparing to unveil a grand secret. "This method doesn't require chanting. The principle lies in transforming mana into magical energy through the power of suggestion within you.

"In essence, magic is a manifestation of your will and your own mental imagery. If your inner suggestion tells you to transform mana into fire, then fire it shall become."

I paused for a moment, muttering to myself, "Is this like imagination?"

The words may have been louder than I intended, as Loki immediately turned his head toward me. "Did you say something, Yata?"

I shook my head quickly, covering my slip before exposing something that didn't belong in this era. "No, just talking to myself."

Loki scrutinized me, his curiosity evident, but he eventually let it go, exhaling deeply and choosing to ignore my words.

"If we look back," he continued, "chanting is merely a tool to trigger latent suggestions. For instance, if you want to use fire magic, the chant typically contains elements that describe fire."

He paused again, allowing the atmosphere to settle. "So, do you have any questions up to this point?"

I shook my head with a faint smile. "No, everything is clear."

As someone reincarnated with knowledge of these theories from fictional tales in my previous world, Loki's explanation was easy to grasp, even though I'd never been a fan of fantasy stories like most others.

"Now, I'll show you one of the most basic spells: Ildkule."

He raised his hand, spreading his mana into the air before focusing it into his palm, as if gathering it into one spot.

"Watch closely." Loki inhaled deeply and chanted in a deep, resonant voice: "O flammende ild, samles til små stjerner for å angripe fiendene dine."

In his palm, a magic circle appeared, its blazing design etched with Norse runes around the edges. The circle glowed red as he aimed it toward a large boulder not far from us.

I could see Loki's mana shifting in color, from blue to fiery red. The magic circle, it seemed, acted as a converter, transforming mana into magical energy before ultimately releasing it as a spell. It reminded me of the basic energy conversion theories taught in elementary school physics.

"Ildkule," Loki said, his tone calm and composed, completely unlike Linnie, who often shouted her spell names with vigor.

As the spell name rolled off his tongue, the magic circle shone brightly, and a fireball the size of a human head emerged. It shot forward like a bullet, striking the boulder with precision.

Boom.

A small explosion resounded, its sharp noise ringing in my ears. The fireball collided with the boulder, reducing it to scorched fragments that burned momentarily before fizzling out. It seemed the cold air had diminished the fire's impact.

That realization made me wonder if basic physics still applied in this world. They hadn't disappeared entirely; they simply went unnoticed because magic dominated as the primary logical framework here.

"This spell can be modified," Loki explained, his gaze now fixed on me, his expression serious. "But be cautious. Altering the incantation can affect the spell's outcome, strengthening it or ruining it. It all depends on your skill and understanding of magic."

I nodded, absorbing every word. "So, modifying it is like tinkering with mathematical formulas or perhaps chemistry?" I asked, drawing comparisons to logic from my previous world.

Loki tilted his head, looking at me with visible confusion. "Mathematics? Chemistry? What are those? What do you mean?"

My eyes widened, realizing I'd let something slip. Quickly regaining my composure, I feigned nonchalance.

"It's just a term we use for trying new ways to see if they yield different results," I said lightly.

"Trying new ways?"

"Yes," I replied casually. "In my village, when someone experiments with cooking differently, using different methods or ingredients, they call it chemistry or mathematics."

"I see..." Loki stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Here, we Jotun mages typically call such things research or experimentation."

I offered a stiff smile, realizing he'd bought my lie. Yet, a small sadness settled in my heart as I acknowledged how lying had become second nature to me in this new life.

Loki smiled faintly. "Well... at least you understand the basics of the magic now. But remember, even the slightest mistake can be fatal."

"Now, I'll show you how to activate magic using the second method," Loki continued, his gaze brimming with confidence.

He raised his hand again, this time without chanting. A magical circle, almost identical to the previous one, hovered above his palm. He turned his gaze toward me, his chest puffed out.

"This is my own method. With just intent and suggestion, I can directly create a magic circle without chanting. All it takes is clearly imagining the magic I want to use and how its effect will manifest."

"Now, it's your turn, Yata," Loki said as he dissipated his magic by cutting off the mana flow. "Try the first method first."

I took a deep breath and repeated the steps. Channeling mana and reciting the incantation: "O flammende ild, samles til små stjerner for å angripe fiendene dine."

Then, the exact same magical circle appeared, hovering above my palm. I targeted a boulder across the cave and did precisely what Loki had done.

Boom.

The same thing happened as it did with Loki. The fireball exploded upon hitting the boulder, shattering it into countless fragments.

"Not bad for your first attempt," Loki remarked, his tone sounding rather satisfied. "Now, try my method."

I closed my eyes, envisioning a fireball in my mind. Drawing from my understanding of energy transformation, I imagined the mana I channeled converting into heat energy and then into fire energy, like a stove turning gas into flame.

When I opened my eyes, a magic circle appeared above my right palm, where I had concentrated a significant amount of mana.

"Excellent work, Yata!" Loki exclaimed, sounding genuinely impressed. "You've got talent, that's for sure."

He patted my shoulder and asked, "Which method do you think suits you better?"

I looked at my hand, still slightly warm, and replied without hesitation, "The second method. It feels more natural. No need to remember incantations, just a solid understanding of how to convert mana into the desired magical output."

"You often say strange words that I don't know the meaning of," Loki frowned and sighed. But then he broke into a wide grin. "No matter, it's not that important anyway."

His gaze softened as he smiled faintly at me. "A good choice. In that case, tonight we'll focus on that method."

The long night passed with relentless practice. I experimented with various beginner spells, from creating smaller flames to attempting to extinguish them with mere suggestion. I also worked on speeding up my suggestions to cast spells faster.

Throughout it all, Loki stayed by my side, offering guidance and corrections with patience. Our voices, sometimes lighthearted banter, occasionally soft laughter, mingled with the rumble of magic that echoed through the cave.

As dawn peeked over the horizon, I was left breathless but satisfied. My hands felt warm, my head dizzy, realizing the toll of nearly depleting the mana within my body. But more than that, I had gained new experience and strength—a newfound mastery of magic taught by Loki.