Practicing Magic Even Failure Comes

After Sylphiette accepted my request to learn magic as she did with my brother, she reached into her belongings and retrieved a wand, preparing to instruct me.

"So, umm... I might not be as good at teaching magic as your brother was, but I will give it my best shot, Dante."

I nodded, understanding that everyone has their way of imparting knowledge. With sincere anticipation, I watched as she began to explain the fundamental principles of spellcasting.

"First off, you need mana to do magic. If you can tap into it, you can cast all sorts of spells."

Her words hung in the air, filling me with excitement and curiosity. Mana, the very essence of magic, seemed like an abstract concept, yet Sylphiette spoke of it with such certainty.

"So, how do I tap into this mana stuff, Miss Sylphiette?" I inquired, leaning closer to listen to her every word.

Sylphiette smiled patiently, her red eyes gleaming with wisdom. "Well, you need to learn the incantation of the spell first. Chanting it lets the mana in your body gather to your fingertips and turn into the magic you're casting."

I absorbed her words, feeling a sense of wonderment at the idea of channeling mana through incantations. But my curiosity knew no bounds.

"What kinds of magic spells are there?" I asked, eager to learn the different kinds of magic I could employ in future battles.

Sylphiette contemplated my question for a moment before responding, "Let's see, there are three types of magic. We have Attack Magic, Healing Magic, and Summoning Magic."

As she delved into the mechanics of each category of magic, I found myself captivated by the possibilities they showed. She explains that Attack Magic offered offensive capabilities, Healing Magic provided support and restoration, while Summoning Magic allowed the calling of allies or creatures to aid in battle.

"Let's begin with the Attack Magic," Sylphiette declared, explaining this type was divided into four schools, which include Fire magic, Water magic, Wind magic, and Earth magic.

The thought of wielding the four elements to strike down adversaries filled me with a mix of exhilaration and apprehension. Under the elf's guidance, we began my training with water magic, as it was the safest choice for beginners.

"Alright, I'm going to show you the incantation for Water Ball, so watch closely."

"Yes!"

Pointing her wand on a nearby boulder, Sylphiette proceeds to utter the incantation.

"Let the great protection of water be on the place thou seekest. I call a refreshing burbling stream here and now. Water Ball!"

Upon finishing her incantation, a sphere of water manifested at the tip of her wand before launching towards the boulder, slamming into it with a satisfying splash.

"Wow, amazing~!"

"Now, it's your turn, Dante. Point your hand at that boulder and chant."

Feeling rather nervous, I took a deep breath and focused on the incantation Sylphiette had just taught me. With shaky hands, I aimed at the boulder she hit earlier and concentrated on chanting the spell.

"Let the great protection of water be on the place thou seekest. I call a refreshing burbling stream here and now. Water Ball!"

As I spoke the words with resolve, a surge of tingling sensation rushed toward my hand, and a small orb of water appeared, albeit smaller than Sylphiette's. However, before I could shoot the Water Ball, it fell to the ground pitifully. 

"Eh? Where did I go wrong?"

I was confused as to why my magic spell failed to launch forward. Did I chant it incorrectly? Or perhaps I lacked enough mana?

"Oh, right. I almost forgot. You should have set the magic's parameters."

"Parameters?"

Answering my confusion, Sylphiette explained to me that I should have adjusted the speed, size, and strength of the magic spell, meaning my parameters were set to zero.

Understanding her teachings, I focused once more, visualizing the water orb with the desired characteristics. With revitalized determination, I aimed my hand again, channeling mana and adjusting the parameters as instructed.

"Let the great protection of water be... on the place thou... seekest. I call a... a... ugh..."

While chanting the incantation, I felt rather light-headed, and my vision became blurry. Soon, I realized I couldn't continue and collapsed on the ground.

"Dante? Dante! Hey, are you okay?!"

Sylphiette's voice sounded distant as darkness enveloped my senses, and the world around me began to fade into oblivion. As my eyes were slowly closing, the last thing I saw was her concerned expression.

------------------------------------------

As consciousness returned to me, I found myself lying on a soft bed in what appeared to be my bedroom. The faint scent of the afternoon breeze stayed in the air, soothing my senses as I blinked my eyes open.

"Are you alright, dear?"

A familiar feminine voice reached my ears, and I turned my head to see my mother sitting beside me, her expression a mix of concern and relief.

"W-what... happened?" I managed to croak out, my throat feeling parched.

"Sylphiette carried you back inside," she replied softly, offering me a glass of water which I gratefully accepted. "She said you fainted after running out of mana."

"Oh... so I failed then..."

While I was feeling down, my mother's gentle hand rested on top of my head as she rubbed it gently. "No, sweetie. You didn't fail. You just pushed yourself too hard, that's all. Learning magic takes time and practice, okay?"

I nodded, absorbing her words. Yet, I felt a bit disappointed in myself and yearned to try my best next time. 

"By the way, where's Miss Sylphiette?" I asked, realizing that the green-haired elf had gone out of her way to help me.

"Ah, she's waiting in the living room," my mother replied. "You should rest easy, dear. I'll tell her that you're awake."

As my mother left the room to inform Sylphiette of my condition, I took a moment to collect my thoughts. Despite my failure, I felt grateful for their assistance and support, knowing they have my back as I follow my dream to become a hero.

creak...

Suddenly, I heard the door opening and turned to see Sylphiette entering along with my two sisters following behind. The green-haired elf approached me with a warm smile, her eyes reflecting a mix of relief and concern.

"Hey there, Dante. How are you feeling?"

"Better, I think. It's just that I was been thinking about my failure to cast Water Ball earlier."

"Don't worry about it, you can do better next time."

While conversing with Sylphiette, my maroon-haired sister, Aisha, stepped forward holding a small tray with a cup of tea.

"Here, dear brother. I brought you some herbal tea. Mother told me this should help with your recovery," she offered kindly while smiling adorably.

Taking the cup from her, I smiled gratefully in return. "Thanks, Aisha."

While I sipped the tea, Norn, my other sister, then approached my bed, her expression filled with concern as she held my hand.

"Is Dante hurt?" 

Hearing her simple question, I shook my head gently and gave her a thumbs-up.

"Don't worry, Norn. I'm perfectly fine."

As Norn calmed down, she let go of my hand and took a step back, her worry slowly fading away. Her innocent concern warmed my heart, reminding me again of the significance of family and their unwavering support.

Slam! 

Unexpectedly, the door opened once again, but this time, it was my father with urgency on his face upon entering the room.

"Are you alright, Dante? Your mother told me that you had collapsed."

"Oh, welcome back, father. And don't worry, I'm fine."

Father was confused by my nonchalant response, but Sylphiette came forward and filled him in on everything that just happened. After that, he turned to me, still looking concerned.

"Is that so? Then learning magic is fine as long you practice your swordsmanship, Dante."

"Of course, father."

He then turned to leave the room but glanced at Sylphiette and told her one more thing.

"Sylphiette, continue to teach my son magic just like how Rudy taught you."

"I understood, Mister Paul."

---------------------------------------------------

As the door closed behind my father, Sylphiette turned her attention back to me, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

"Don't worry, Dante. I'll keep on helping you in practicing your magic. We just need to work on your mana capacity and other incantations."

"That would be great," I thanked Sylphiette for her devotion to supporting my magic training. However, I turned to my two sisters, giving me a good idea. "But it would be better if Norn and Aisha would be joining me."

"Really?" exclaimed Aisha, her eyes brightening with excitement. "You hear that Norn? We're practicing magic with Dante."

However, Norn is hesitant about the idea, her face tinged with concern. "Is it safe?"

As Norn voiced her concerns about safety, I could see the worry etched on her face. It was understandable. After all, magic can be unpredictable, especially for novices. But fortunately, Sylphiette stepped forward and knelt before reassuring her.

"It's alright, Norn. Magic can be safe as long as we're careful. Besides, I'll be looking after you three while you practice."

Hearing that consolation, Norn considered the offer, yet there was some lingering concern in her eyes. Aisha walked forward and crossed her arms.

"Come on, don't be such a worrywort, Norn. You need to loosen up a bit."

Norn glared at Aisha's provocation and pouted angrily. Yet before things got worse, I climbed out the bed and stood in between my two sisters.

"Alright, break it up, you two. There's no need to fight over my request."

"But brother, you said we would be joining you."

"It's okay. If Norn doesn't want to accept, then we'll just wait for her while we practice magic at our own pace."

Aisha's frustration was apparent as she huffed loudly, evidently disappointed that Norn was hesitating. However, after a moment of inner contemplation, she let out a resigned sigh.

"Fine then," she muttered, her exasperation giving way to reluctant acceptance. "I guess we'll wait for Norn to come around."

Meanwhile, Norn remained silent, her hesitation noticeable as she pondered over the idea of joining us in practicing magic. Despite Sylphiette's reassurances and Aisha's enthusiasm, she couldn't shake off her concerns about the potential risks involved.

Thus, I put my hand on Norn's shoulder and said, "Don't worry about joining us, Norn. We will wait for you if you're ready."

Her eyes flickered as she nodded. "Yes, brother."