Chapter 4: Reasons

"Wain. How did you start to work as adventurer ".Fay wanted to talk to him so he asked such a question."My parents were working hard as one when I was little. And I happened to have Strength Enhancement skill and good enough fire affinity. I figured I should just be an adventurer too".Fay nodded. If you re born with that particular talent, then just do what's easiest for you.'Fay. Do you really, lost your memory?'.Wain did have some doubts. It felt like something is off.Fay hesitated for a moment. He asked Kyubey if he should tell him the truth. Because he felt like wain is trustworthy.'Just do as you wish', Kyubey said.Fay decides to say a bit about himself."I do remember...".Wain looked at Fay in surprise. He didn't expect Fay to tell him."I just want to have a restart at life. I leave my hometown behind, leaving everything behind. I even changed my name. I ran away. I end up in that forest somehow".Wain hears it with compassion. And he felt closer to Fay now that he opened up to him."Why?".'I just, can't find a way out. No matter what I try... I can't. So, I just... Escape. I want to forget and moves on, living the life that I dreamed of. In a sense I escaped reality... literally...'.'I see'."Umm... If you want to talk about things, I can hear you out". Wain scratched his cheeks.Fay felt touched at the care.'Thank you. I don't really like to talk about them. But... If I need to, someday, I hope I don't trouble you too much""It's fine it's fine. We are friends.". Wain leaned closer and pat Fay's head.'Wain do you, have a girlfriend?'.Fay fidgets his fingers out of nervousness. He did like Wain.Hearing the question, he felt his heart beat a little differently.He broke up with his latest ex a month ago. So, he is indeed single."I am by myself for now". He said calmly, keeping a stoic face'I see ...'.What followed is silence. Wain is wondering should he ask to be his girl- boyfriend(?) [At times he forgot Fay is male and subconsciously treats him like he's a female].Why is Fay silent? He asked the question so... Doesn't he want to be my boyfriend?Wain is getting nervous by the second."Umm... Where do I learn to gather herbs?".Wain is surprised at this question because it's truly out of nowhere. Yes Fay is sooo nervous he had to change the topic."The guild sells a simple guide on it. But you can read them in the library for free".Fay nodded. He told Wain he wanted to go to the library and so, he showed him around town while at it.Wain felt like he had lost the opportunity to tell him he likes him.Wain looks at Fay as he looks around the market he's at. It feels like a date.Wain tails wag for awhile. Spending time like this, he felt quite happy.Fay felt thankful for wain to make him feel more safe and secure in this unknown place.He has no money and no one. It's really difficult than he imagined. He has no jobs and no idea how to make a living. Even the pain he got when the ogre almost killed him is unbearable... He's afraid of such injuries again.But at least he knows he can isolate his consciousness fully in his soul gem so his senses become dull and he won't feel pain anymore.It's not easy still. He was naive."Wain...".Wain looked at Fay."Thank you, for everything". Fay shyly said it."Ah no. It's nothing really". Wain wags his tail more.Wain saw a nearby stall selling flowers. He had a desire to buy them for Fay, but hold himself back because they aren't that close yet, he thinks. They had a one-night stand as it is but that's... Just a one-night stand.Fay looks at Wain. He's such a reliable person. Helped him through things. Guided him. And he's handsome. His ears and tails look cute as well. And he is very hot in bed... Fay fidgets, feeling a bit nervous being with wain.Wain noticed the gaze. They both looked at each other's with some feelings brewing inside.Fay looked away, embarrassed. But Wain felt that Fay do feel the same affection. He had dated a lot of women and know that look.The kind of true affectionate look that is very rare. Only when someone truly likes him that he sees that look. He too knew his feelings, that he does like Fay.But he's afraid to say it really. It's a bit too short of a time to say he likes him. Fay too thinks the same.Wain sent him off to the library. Fay registered and took some books from the shelves.He read on "Introduction to Mana and Magic". And books "Basic to Wind element" and "Basics to Water element".The magic system is basically programming that you chanted, that's what Fay concluded. But Fay naturally has zero idea about programming nor what language is it using.The basic book contains simple spells like Breeze and Blow for the wind element, and Water conjuration and water stream. All of it are useless in combat and only do some soft wind or to make water and is simply the simplest spells to use as an example.Even the most basic combat spell should be bought with money from the nearest branch of Mage association. Knowledge can't be free. After all, those who made new spells need to be rewarded as well. Of course, you can always ask your dear mage friends to teach you no one is stopping your or them really.But it's something people pay and not many are simply giving things for free. It's like asking to share your Netflix account but you don't pay for any of it. People would definitely stop talking to you.When he keeps turning the page, Fay realised there's something wrong.Because he remembers the book perfectly. As if his memory is enhanced ever since becoming a magic user."Kyubey, did my brain become better?".'Naturally. Since as a magic user you need to fight Wraiths, we made durable bodies and faster and stronger brain to process information".Fay nodded. That makes sense. But he still feels a bit weirded out that his body isn't human."Fay. What is your plan in this world".Kyubey suddenly ask. He's genuinely curious. Since he got his wish to live in another world granted, be wanted to ask."I just want to start anew...""You know Kyubey. I had thought about wishing to reset time, to change people, and to control fate. But through the dreams I had, I know it's useless.".Kyubey is silent. While he has no idea how those dreams are relevant, but he knew the reason for Fay's wish naturally. It's because of his last lover, Ryo.Given the circumstances... Ryo took his own life.He blamed Fay for causing him to love him. It's bizarre in Kyubey's opinion. Because if he loves Fay, why would he do that? He really can't understand human emotions."But I realised I can't change it... I might need at least 2 wishes for that to happen as I wanted. And I don't have enough 'karmic potential', whatever that is" ..."So, I just... I want to move on, move away from my past and everyone that contributes to it. And I want to live freely as I dreamed it as. To go doing quests with new friends, enjoying the scenery, enjoying freedom. I know it's selfish of me but... I was done trying really".'I see.'. Kyubey didn't respond much.Fay continued to read the book lighting fast speed.He tried to cast Water Conjuration and conjure water into the space portal. Then tried Breeze, cashing a soft wind hitting his face.He moves on to see an old tattered book.He curiously takes a look at it." Relationship to the elements of the world - fusion magic hypothesis".The topic fusion magic sounds interesting.He reads through and the researcher focused on how the building blocks of the world is created from a combination of basic elements and the special magic in the legends like wood, lava, corrosive, crystal, and ice magic is derived from a certain ratio of elements.Ice magic... He read now it's a combination of water and wind magic. Although the method is unknown to the author, the magic association may have a grimoire for it.He immediately heads to the branch of Mage association. It's basically a library full of books. He went to the old man with spectacle in front asking about the price to get a basic combat spell.It costs 3 silver coins! That's like selling 12 boars!'uhh... Nevermind...'.The old man of course noticed this."If you are talented, we do lend one basic spell for each high affinity you have! You just need to give us your issued identity card".Since all the guilds are pretty much connected, it's easy to chase people to collect debts.But anyways, to prevent the hassle they do lend it to talented ones only since it's more likely they are able to use the skill for work and pay it.Fay retested his magic affinities as the old man nods at the rare dual high affinities. He gave 2 scrolls that contain Wind cutter and Water Bullet. That's 6 silver coins.Fay shuddered at how much boars he had to hunt. 24 boars... Never mind. Given how he can hunt them alone, easier now, it should be relatively simple. And he can do other quests like killing a proper monster.Fay sits quietly and read through them. The chants are instantly imprinted on his mind due to his enhanced brain.After 5 minutes, he stood up and asked the old man again."ummm... Do you have magic for ice magic. Like, wind and water fusion magic".The old man had a thoughtful look. It's rare for someone to ask about fusion magic. Because no one can use them. He knows there's a grimoire passed down thousands of years ago by the Frost Sage. As for other fusion magic, he's not informed much but there should be some passed down by a legend or something."We don't have them here. Fusion magic, while it's not restricted or anything since no one can use them, but it's a rare knowledge. You can get them at the capital. And it's incomplete because it's worn down through time. And it can be very expensive. Not to mention you might not be able to use it. I heavily recommend you stay away from it"The old man knows what the young cute guy is thinking. Since he has wind and water affinities maybe he can use ice magic! - It's good to have a dream but it's not so simple. He only hopes he doesn't waste a few gold coins to buy an incomplete spell he can't even use..."How much does it cost...?".'It should be no less than a gold coin, no more than 10.'.Fay nodded and calculated how many pigs he needed to kill. Too many... He might disrupt the ecosystem."Do I have to return the scrolls?".'You don't have to return them since its just a copy we sell'."But you CAN return them to get some cashback for the paper and ink. It's still cost a bit to copy things so it saves us a bit"."Oh. Okay here". Fay hand over the 2 scrolls he had been given 6 minutes ago."Mmm?". The old man is confused. Why is he giving it back. Did he give up?"If you can't seem to understand them, I can suggest a good teacher for a beginner like you"."no no. I want to sell them back."????'you finished them already?'."uhh. Yes?".???Did he found a new sage like in the legends or is he just too ashamed to admit he can't understand the basic spell."ehem. But you still have the pay for the 6 silver coins alright. We also have interest of 20% every month.".Fay nodded. The old man takes away the scrolls and give Fay 38 copper coins for it.Wait... Is he a fraud that make them lend scrolls, then sell them back to essentially get free money? What is this?He eyes Fay up and down. He looks too innocent for such a scam. Not to mention for a mere 38 copper coins.He shook his thoughts away. He just hopes he pays them otherwise his superior would nag him.Fay remembered be originally wanted to learn about herbs. He forgot about it. So he went back to the library.His brain absorbs things very fast. Kyubey also read along with Fay. Kyubey also requests Fay to take out all books on all elements. He shrugs and just gives it to Kyubey to read.In fact, Kyubey, being a technologically advanced race, can infer from the chants used in the spells based on programming language and he can derive new spells from them based on theory.Kyubey wags his tail as he reads. The foreign energy is called mana. He wonders if it can solve entropy, heat death of the universe back on his home universe.He wonders if the other kyubeys could find a way here. Since they could observe, and therefore, measure, and therefore experiment with the spatial crack across universe, perhaps they could someday. In a sense kyubey is readying himself for that day so he can share his knowledge directly through the hive."kyubey. Have you tried using magic?".Kyubey didn't blink and stared at Fay with his red round eyes."Yes. I can use them".???"Why didn't you tell me"."Because it's not my scope as the incubator. And you never asked. And not to mention, you aren't my contractor".Oh. That makes sense. Kyubey is simply being thrown into the universe. And it's the foreign God who makes a contract with me. Kyubey had zero obligation towards me."so uhh... Why are you around me then".'I don't really have anywhere to go'. He said, blankly staring at Fay."And you don't mind, do you?".'I like your company kyubey. Because you are cute'."I don't have feelings to appreciate the term cute, but thank you.".'So, uh... What element can you use?'."All of it". Kyubey stated as a matter of fact.'You tried?'."Yes".Fay waited for more explanation but there's none."How do you know the spells?".'I derived them from the 2 scrolls you just reads. But it's only basic. I need more access on more spells to make complicated ones as there's lack of information on the language they use'.Fay made an O shape with his mouth. What is this? A magical beast pet of SSS rank? Making basic spells of other elements from 2 basic scrolls? Fay is bewildered.'Wait so you can help me with combat then'."Yes. But I am not obligated to".Fay only sighed. That sounds right."But since you asked, I will. Although I don't care about my life, since I am here I might just live with you.".Kyubey stared at Fay with its round eyes. Fay felt touched and gave kyubey a pet and sniffed his fur. It smells like nothing, literally nothing. Never mind."Thank you kyubey". Fay sent his thanks through his mind."Welcome". Kyubey replied with his neutral tone but cute voice."But there's a problem. I only have one body. If a fatal injury comes, I will 'die'".'You don't have to push yourself too far'."You can give me the magic stone. I can use its energy and the magic residual energy it absorbs from you to create another body. You can give me more magic stones for me to modify my body to be capable of storing and producing more mana as well"."uhh...okay".Fay decides to give kyubey the slightly dark magic stone from the ogre. Kyubey swallows it whole. He stared into the air for a few seconds, before suddenly he split into two smaller kyubeys.???"This will do". Both of the small kyubeys spoke at the same time."Wait so you guys are... The same kyubey?"."We share the same mind, like a network". Said one of the kyubey.Fay opened his mouth again in surprise. He learns something new about kyubey each time. (Author note: oh he would be surprised...)So if he had a thousand kyubeys, who's invisible to the normal people's eyes, isn't that basically the greatest information network.Given that kyubey is willing to work with him of course, since he had said he's not obligated to him. He doesn't want to trouble kyubey too much.One of the kyubey slipped out and went outside."Where is he going?".'Walk around'. Kyubey replied simply.Fay shrugs it off and keeps reading the books.Hours passed. He read on things including monster's encyclopedia, basic to alchemy, geography books and history of Elysia just out of curiosity.There's so many things that Fay want and need to know in this new world. Thankfully, he found new friends quickly just as he arrived here.