Discovery

-----Kaede's POV

Yet another thing that's changed about Yui. I more or less know everything about her condition, but now all of a sudden she can use magic?

Back in the training area, I definitely could sense mana building up inside her, but it was only when she was about to cast it, unlike anyone else. I don't know exactly when I could sense mana inside people, but in most cases, it's quite hard to sense unless I'm actively searching for it. Only the headmaster, Lucien, Oboris, and that horned devil gave off an intimidating aura where I could sense the mana even if I wasn't looking for it. But in Yui's case, she's like a ninja, not giving away anything until she starts to use mana. I panicked when Yui wanted to continue since I couldn't tell how much she's exerting herself. I think it's better to wait for Mai and maybe figure out what's going on.

Violet: "Kaede? Hello~"

Kaede: "Ah- Sorry, I was just lost in thought."

I'm currently in the middle of class. Most of the students were practicing their familiar summoning, but Collin and Violet offered to teach me ahead of the class on what they know about other forms of summoning magic.

Collin: "Thinking about Ellen?"

Kaede: "Yeah."

Violet: "You were quite defensive back there, but I won't pry. But to think she can use 2 elements..."

Collin: "I know right? I'm a little jealous."

Violet: "It was incredibly weak though. But I definitely sensed her using magic back then."

So Violet can also sense mana?

Kaede: "Could you also sense it, Collin?"

Collin: "Oh. Nah, Violet's pretty gifted in our family. She figured out how to mana-sense at a young age. I'm still struggling."

Kaede: "Is it something you learn?"

Collin: "Apparently. But I have no idea when sis explains it."

Violet: "Yeah, I've given up on trying, hehe."

Kaede: "How do you do it then?"

Violet: "Hmm? Why you asking me? Don't you already know how to sense mana?"

Kaede: "I do. But it happens instinctively, so I'm unaware of the process behind it."

Violet: "Ah~"

It's not really important, but I'd like to understand myself more if I can.

Violet: "Well, mana-sense is when you emit your raw mana out of your body. When your mana interacts with other forms of magic, you basically can pinpoint where that magic source is coming from. The more mana you have, the wider of an area you can use mana-sense."

Collin: "Yeah~ And I have no clue how to do that first part."

I'm in the same boat as you Collin. I have no idea about the process either. But maybe it's because I'm a monster that it works differently for me? Hmmm~

Kaede: "I'll give it a go."

I don't know exactly what Violet meant by "raw mana" but I guess I'll try something. I close my eyes for extra concentration and begin to imagine my "raw mana" already out of me. Slowly, I begin to imagine it spreading further, and further. Suddenly, I could feel a familiar strong aura coming from within the academy.

Kaede: "I think I can sense the headmaster?"

Violet: "What?! From all the way out here?"

Kaede: "Yeah."

Collin: "Great, sis. Now you just made her even more crazy."

I try to spread it out more, but I can feel it growing thin as I can feel my body start to feel a bit strained, but I managed to cover the entire academy and even some of the buildings around it. The headmaster's aura was the only notable thing before I begin to bring back my mana to a comfortable level, now only covering about 80% of the academy before opening my eyes.

Kaede: "Done."

Violet: "May I ask how far you went?"

Kaede: "I covered the whole school, but right now it's about 80% of it."

Violet: "My god. I guess that's a light user for you, hehe."

Collin: "Anyways, we're a bit off topic, so let's get back to summoning."

Kaede: "Mhmm!"

I end up finding myself too distracted from my mana-sense, so I bring it back to only cover the training area we're in as I begin to listen to Violet and Collin's teachings.

Because the main focus of todays class was familiar summoning, we never actually tried to summon a creature, instead only focusing on drawing the crests and not filling them with mana. Apparently what Violet told me, the summoning crests aren't specific to a creature's sub species. So if I wanted to summon a wolf, I'd draw a wolf crest, but that same crest could summon a baby wolf, all the way up to a dire wolf. It all depends on the mana you put into it. Which leaves me to wonder how dangerous it might be if I actually did try to summon something... Maybe I should do something small like a rabbit when the time comes.

With classes now over, I head back to the dorm room to meet back up with Yui. I just hope she didn't try to use any mana during class, I don't want her to die.

Yui: "How was class?"

Kaede: "Good. I ended up learning more from Violet than the teacher though."

Yui: "So you getting on better terms with her? Nice!"

Kaede: "Mhmm!"

Luna: "What did you learn this time?"

Kaede: "Well, I'm still learning some crests, but I did learn how to detect mana from a distance."

Luna: "Huh? How does that work?"

Kaede: "You spread your mana out, and if your mana interacts with other mana sources, then you can figure out where that mana is coming from."

Yui: "Is that how you detected those spiders back during that B rank job?"

Kaede: "Yeah, but back then I wasn't aware that was what I was doing."

Luna: "Wait. B rank jobs?"

Yui: "Mm! Kaede took us for a B rank job when we were at Azalea."

Luna: "Crazy~"

We finish climbing the stairs to head into our rooms. Actually, I do wonder why Violet doesn't come join us at the dorms... Oh- nevermind, I can more or less figure out why. I forgot I learnt that secret from Collin. Just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine.

Yui: "I'll be back soon. I just want to discuss something with Kaede."

Luna: "Okay. I'll make preparations for dinner then~"

Yui: "Mm! We'll be over shortly."

Seems like Luna is in good spirits, more so than I remembered, even smiling at me as well, causing me to smile back in response.

We make our way into our room, with Yui closing the door behind us.

Yui: "So~ Why did you stop me back then?"

I figured this is what she wanted to talk about.

Kaede: "You know when I talked about sensing mana during our walk back?"

Yui: "Yeah?"

Kaede: "Well, back in that training area and even before then ever since I reunited with you, I couldn't sense mana from you at all. It was only when you started trying to use magic that I started to sense it. So it feels scary to me, not knowing how much mana you can use. What if you try to use magic, only for your body to collapse and potentially die. I don't wanna risk that."

Yui: "I see. But doesn't my vessel continuously feed off of the mana from outside? I think I'd be okay."

Kaede: "We don't know that. Your body's changed now Yui. For all we know, your vessel might've stopped sucking in mana from the outside."

Yui: "Hmmm~ Then maybe we can have Mai take a look at me?"

Kaede: "That's what I was thinking. Actually, give me a moment, I'd like to contact her for a bit."

Yui: "Mm. I'll take the first shower then."

Kaede: "Kay."

She walks into our bedroom to get changed as I sit down on one of the chairs in the kitchen before beginning to contact Mai.

Kaede: "Mai, you there?"

Mai: "Yessss~"

Kaede: "You sound tired."

Mai: "Yess~"

Kaede: "I thought you don't feel tired?"

Mai: "You try walking nonstop while using mana. I might not feel tired physically, but mentally I feel drained."

Kaede: "Do you know how close you are to Yarene?"

Mai: "I don't know. Maybe a third of the way there? Or maybe half? We've made quite a distance now."

Kaede: "How's mom?"

Mai: "Oh, she's doing fine. We still have plenty of food left for her, so I think we can make it before we run out. Oh! But we did see something interesting quite recently."

Kaede: "What was it?"

I start to hear the shower in the bathroom begin to run. It's tempting to just join in with Yui, but I'd like to know more from Mai.

Mai: "Wyverns."

Kaede: "What!? Like a dragon?"

Mai: "Yeah, but wyverns are smaller and only have 2 legs."

Huh. I actually never knew the difference between the two back in my past life. Wait, she said "wyverns", so would that mean she meant there was more than one?

Mai: "Yes. 3 to be exact. They look young so I'm thinking there's a nest somewhere around here."

Kaede: "Are they dangerous?"

Mai: "Hmmm. I'm guessing you mean to humans?"

Kaede: "Yes."

Mai: "They're not as aggressive as dragons. But they are territorial, so if humans were spotted around their nest, then they'll most likely attack."

Interesting. The way Mai is talking about wyverns make it seem like they're not a big deal. But then again, this is Mai I'm talking about.

Kaede: "Okay, thank you. I'm going to go have a shower now. Tell mom I said hi!"

Mai: "Yes. Will do."

Kaede: "Oh also, when you find time, could you check on Yui's body again? I think something might've changed."

Mai: "Alright. But let me get Lilith somewhere safe first."

Kaede: "Kay."

Ending my chat with Mai, I quickly get myself ready to join Yui in the shower. "But wyverns, huh." I'd like to see them sometime. Would be cool to maybe charm one of them, but I doubt I could. I couldn't even charm that stupid spider.