[66] What is Magic?

Aiden flipped open the cover of the first grimoire... the first page was written in a common language.

[Autobiography: Magic Mirror, the Strongest and Most Beautiful Magical Girl in the World Is Me - Side Story: Battle Against the Prince Charming.]

"What is this provocative title? Magical Girl Snow White Battles the Prince Charming? How do they fight? Jousting?" Aiden's mind immediately went off on a tangent, then he flipped to the next page.

The anime hadn't detailed the contents of the first page of the grimoire.

The next page was the table of contents, with just the title of the first chapter catching Aiden's attention deeply.

[Modern Magic That Even Goblins Can Learn: Part One.]

"Is it really that impressive? Even goblins can learn it. Is this using exaggerated rhetoric?" Aiden couldn't help but laugh, but at least the chapter titles seemed sensible.

If even goblins could learn it, it explained why all adventurers with Falna could learn magic through grimoires.

With anticipation, Aiden flipped open the main text. It was also written in a common language, but each line of text was filled with a large string of small symbols between the characters. It wasn't divine script, nor was it any language Aiden recognized.

[Magic can be roughly divided into two types, namely, congenital magic and acquired magic. Let's not talk about congenital magic for now; congenital magic is all about magic related to the qualifications or bloodlines of the subject.]

[Since ancient times, only magical races have been able to practice magic on their own. They can learn magic based on their own potential and qualifications, combined with practice and rituals. Although the magic learned this way tends to have fixed attributes, most of them are extremely powerful large-scale magic with outstanding effects.]

Aiden turned the page.

[As for acquired magic, it began to appear only after the descent of the gods to the lower world. All races can use the Falna bestowed by the gods as a medium to stimulate their own potential, thereby achieving self-realization and obtaining magic.]

[Acquired magic has no rules, only infinite possibilities, and is greatly influenced by experience points.]

No rules? Then what kind of magic would his be? With this question in mind, Aiden flipped to the next page.

And then Aiden was pulled into the world within the book, or rather the world composed of words; the desk, room, wardrobe, and bed all disappeared, leaving only an open grimoire within his field of vision.

What finally caught Aiden's eye was a complex and strange series of symbols, unlike any common shape.

[Magic is about interest. For acquired magic, this factor is especially crucial. Being interested in something, feeling identification, hatred, longing, sadness, admiration, swearing, and longing.]

[The triggering factor is already contained within your own body. Under the Falna, your innermost thoughts are laid bare.]

A passage appeared before Aiden's eyes.

After reading it, the passage disappeared along with the grimoire in his hand.

Next, a floating giant face appeared, outlined in ink strokes, depicting the closed-eyed face of a young boy.

With long pointed eyebrows, a high-bridged nose, and deep-set features.

Seeing a giant face in front of him, Aiden, wasn't surprised; he calmly continued to flip through the pages.

Then the grimoire in his hand disappeared as well. In the boundless space, only that face remained.

[I'm the Questioner. You're the Answerer. There's no one else here, and all you need to do is follow your own heart.]

"No one else? Then who are you? The grimoire? Or me?"

Looking at the face identical to his own, Aiden asked.

[I am you, but you are not me. I am your subconscious.]

Before Aiden could continue questioning, the face opened its eyes. Its ice-blue eyes, composed of words, seemed to see through Aiden, and its thin lips, also made of words, uttered low words.

[Then let's begin.]

As the subconscious dialogue ended, Aiden seemed to fall asleep, his consciousness gradually becoming blurred, relying solely on instinct.

[What is magic to you?]

The subconscious asked.

As the question was asked, Aiden's mind drifted to some anime scenes he had seen before as if he was traveling to that place.

There was a petite girl wearing a pointed wizard hat, wielding a wand high, shouting, "Explosion!" and a meteor of crimson flame descended from the sky.

There was a redhead girl singing loudly, "One who is darker than twilight. One who is redder than flowing blood..."

There was a boy with cherry blossom hair wearing a white scarf, transformed into a phoenix burning with golden flames, shouting loudly, "Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Hidden Fire Form: Crimson Lotus Phoenix Blade!"

...

These were all the types of magic Aiden deeply acknowledged within himself.

Aiden didn't think, nor could he think. He responded instinctively.

"The supernatural ability to manipulate wild winds, storms, lightning, control ice, fire, rocks, and other natural phenomena, to enhance oneself, to heal others."

"The magical power to transmute matter as one pleases."

"The power to create something out of nothing and the power to perform miracles."

[What is magic to you?]

The subconscious continued to inquire.

As soon as the question was asked again, the scene immediately shifted. Aiden seemed to find himself on a battlefield, where the only sights were continuously warring soldiers, countless corpses, severed limbs, shouts of battle, clashing of blades, and cries of agony echoing all around. The air was thick with the smell of burning flesh and the stench of blood seeping through the soles of his shoes, filling his senses with a nauseatingly intense odor. The twilight hues of the setting sun mingled with the raging flames, painting the entire sky a blood-red canvas, heart-wrenching to behold.

What was most needed on this battlefield, originated from Aiden's thoughts and desires?

Power.

"Power, magic is power!"

Aiden immediately responded.

"Powerful strength, the power to remain unharmed, the power to crush all enemies standing in one's way, to overcome all adversaries, to possess the power of freedom!"

"Whether it's the ability to manipulate wild winds, storms, lightning, control ice, fire, rocks, or the ability to enhance oneself, to heal others, the essence of these magics is power."

[What is magic to you?]

The subconscious continued to ask.

At the sound of these words, Aiden paused for a moment, then found himself back on Earth, back in the forest made of concrete and steel.

He stood in a shopping mall, with skyscrapers and bustling streets visible through the windows, along with cars speeding by. Pedestrians wearing modern clothing bustled past him. Ahead, as far as the eye could see, were golden arches, Japanese cuisine, sukiyaki, barbecue, buffet...

All of this stemmed from Aiden's innermost desires.

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