Chapter 96: Help wanted ll

"Hmm, yeah, I think you have a firm grasp of defensive magic," Mikoto noted with a satisfied nod as the large moving blue translucent shield around the ship dissipated. Mirabella heaved an exhausted sigh as she collapsed to her knees.

"Do you think so? This quickly?" She breathed out. Mikoto threw her a thumbs up.

"It's pretty impressive. While your barriers are fluctuating from time to time, they're stable enough to take a few head-on attacks. One problem is, however, you aren't equally distributing your mana. While you form the entire barrier with mana, you just reinforce certain sections."

"My mana control is terrible. Just forming a mana construct like this is a pain," she mumbled with a sigh. "Though that only really applies to constructs that have nothing to do with destruction. I could make a sword pretty easily."

"That trait of yours sure is weird," Mikoto commented as he rubbed the chin of his mask. "But that just makes you all the more impressive." She perked up upon hearing his words.

"Impressive? Really?" She asked with wide eyes. Mikoto chuckled, surprised by her reaction. She looked like a little kid that just got complimented.

"That's right. See, even I can see it now. Your mana is extremely disruptive," he started as his eyes scanned her raging mana. Like her hair, it was dark blue in color with a dark outline. Despite her doing nothing, her mana seemed to rage like a wild torrent of fire. "Utilizing magic that takes concentration like defensive magic is actually pretty awesome. And all I had to do was give you a bit of instruction."

"Well, it's no big deal," her face was red at the praise. Quickly, she cleared her throat to hide her apparent happiness at her efforts being recognized.

"Hmm, this might actually progress a lot quicker. With you knowing the basics of defensive magic and barrier magic, we can move on to healing magic," Mikoto said. Her eyes grew wide in anticipation. She was actually making progress. Was having a different teacher really making that much of a difference? "Though after we get the basics of healing in your noggin, we'll move on to something more interesting."

"Interesting? What do you mean?" She questioned.

"You must be curious, right, on how to injure a Von Auerswald with magic," her eyes widened as she leaned in far too close.

"I knew it! So you really can injure those bastards! You gotta tell me how!" She exclaimed, drawing in some gazes from passing crew members. Leaning further back, Mikoto spoke.

"Relax, I will eventually. For now, healing is more important." She looked a bit dejected at that but stayed silent as she leaned back again. Mikoto opened his mouth to begin his next lesson but was interrupted by another voice.

"What are you two lovebirds up to?" Mirabella threw an annoyed glare at the source. Mikoto followed her gaze to spot Victoria surprisingly.

"Ah, to be young again. Nestled in privacy amongst cargo doing the-"

"Shut it, blondie. It ain't like that!" Mirabella was quick to retort, a tinge of red in her cheeks. "And you ain't that much older than us."

"Now, now, I was only teasing," Victoria said with a chuckle. "Besides, I understand your fascination with Mikoto."

"Yeah, it can't be helped. Everyone is fascinated by mwah," Mikoto commented with a shake of his head while flicking a hair bang.

"Charming as ever, Mikoto," Victoria murmured with a smile as she approached the two, elegantly taking a seat on the ship deck with them. "So what are we doing?" She asked with an innocent smile.

"Oi! We ain't playing games here, blondie," Mirabella spat out, but Mikoto provided an answer.

"I'm just tutoring Mirabella on some complex branches of magic," Mikoto stated. "We just got done with defensive magic and barrier magic. She's got a good grasp on both."

"Oh? So quickly too," Victoria looked at Mirabella with an appraising gaze. "Most impressive, princess." Mirabella merely huffed and glanced away at receiving the compliment.

"We're moving on to the healing branch. It's way more complex, but it'll be useful," Victoria hummed.

"Then may I be of help?" She offered. "As I understand, you use healing differently from the average sorcerer."

"Guess so. I have a good idea of my own anatomy. Reconstructing blood cells, bone structure, muscle tissue, or just cells in general is easy for me," Mikoto mulled over his method of healing before seeing somewhat of a problem. "My method is too complex."

"I gathered as much when you healed my mother. You were speaking of terms I could not even decipher," Victoria admitted with a sheepish smile.

"Huh, it never occurred to me. I thought my method of healing was pretty simple," he said thoughtfully. Mirabella could not help but look at the two in confusion.

"Allow me to tutor Mirabella on this subject, though your input would also be appreciated. I am, of course, curious as to what goes on in your mind," Mikoto quirked up an eyebrow at Victoria's offer. It, along with her, came out of the blue, making him question why she even approached the two of them. But Victoria was a rather fickle girl, but once more she was the spawn of the God of knowledge and Alchemy, so maybe she would be a better tutor.

"Have at it," Mikoto relented, noting Mirabella, who for some reason had a disappointed look in her eyes.

"Alright, Mirabella," Victoria chirped, her voice laced with a certain lilt. "We'll, of course, start with the very basics of healing magic. Healing magic, at its core, is about manipulating your own life force, your very essence, to mend another's injuries. Imagine it like a warm current flowing from you, coaxing the other person's body to heal itself."

Mirabella's brow furrowed. "My life force? So, I literally juice myself to heal someone else? That sounds… inefficient." Victoria chuckled.

"Not exactly. Think of it like a wellspring. The more you take care of yourself – good food, enough sleep – the fuller the well gets. And the fuller the well, the more you can share without running dry." Mikoto leaned forward as he gave his own input after Victoria, his voice thoughtful.

"Actually, Mirabella, there's a scientific parallel here. The body repairs itself constantly. Healing magic simply accelerates that process. We can think of it as stimulating the body's natural healing mechanisms." Mirabella blinked, a flicker of genuine interest replacing her initial skepticism.

"So, it's not just waving your hand and saying magic words?"

Victoria grinned. "Not quite, although a well-chosen incantation can focus your intent. But the real power lies in your will, your desire to heal. Now, watch this." She extended her hand, palm facing upwards. With a deep breath, she focused her mind, and a gentle green light emanated from her palm. It pulsed faintly, a warm, inviting glow. "This," she explained, her voice soft, "is the most basic healing current. It's perfect for minor cuts, scrapes, maybe even a sprained ankle." Mirabella frowned again.

"So, it just… glows? That's it? Where's the fancy light show?"

Victoria's smile widened. "Patience, my dear Mirabella. Healing magic isn't about flashy theatrics. It's about subtlety, precision. Imagine threading a needle with your mind, that's the kind of control you need." She gestured for Mirabella to extend her hand. "Alright, your turn. Close your eyes, focus on that warm feeling in your core. Imagine it spreading outwards, tingling in your fingertips."

Mirabella did as instructed, her face a picture of intense concentration. A bead of sweat formed on her brow as she struggled to grasp the concept. Moments ticked by, filled only by the creak of the ship and the rhythmic crash of waves against the hull. Just when it seemed like she might give up, a faint green shimmer flickered at the tip of her finger. It was barely there, a wisp of light more akin to a firefly than the vibrant glow Victoria had produced. Yet, it was there all the same. Her eyes snapped open, a mix of surprise and grudging satisfaction etched on her face.

"I actually did it it." Victoria clapped her hands enthusiastically.

"Excellent work, Mirabella. See, it wasn't so hard, was it?"

("That was way too quick.") Mikoto noted with a small frown of confusion. He narrowed his eyes at Mirabella's mana; it was a bit calmer, barely noticeable though. He glanced at Victoria, but the girl just threw a wink his way.

"Now on with the lesson." The lesson went on with Mikoto providing a alternative counterpoint to Victoria's explanations. He spoke of the body's network of blood vessels, the role white blood cells played in fighting infection, and how healing magic could accelerate the production of these microscopic warriors. Mirabella, surprisingly engrossed, listened intently. The fiery spark in her eyes had morphed into a laser focus, her initial skepticism replaced by a thirst for knowledge. She was a brash one, but when it came to bettering herself, she was not one to lag behind.

Victoria decided to demonstrate a more complex healing technique now that basic healing magic was understood. She concentrated intently, and the green light emanating from her hand morphed and solidified, taking the shape of a shimmering green butterfly. Its wings fluttered gently, the very essence of life pulsing faintly within its translucent form.

"This," she declared, her voice tinged with a hint of pride, "is a Focused Healing Construct derived from restoration. It allows me to direct the healing energy to a specific area of the body with greater precision." With a flick of her wrist, the butterfly fluttered towards a nearby wooden crate, its green glow intensifying as it made contact. A long, jagged crack that marred the surface of the crate began to mend itself, the wood fibers knitting back together at an alarming rate. Within seconds, the crack was completely gone, the surface of the crate smooth and flawless as if it had never been damaged.

"It… fixed the crate? Just like that? No glue, no nails, just… magic?" Mirabella questioned.

"The way I see it, there's a certain basis. Think of it like stimulating the wood's natural ability to grow and repair itself. Trees, after all, constantly mend minor injuries sustained by branches breaking or animals gnawing on their bark," Mikoto provided. Mirabella, her skepticism all but forgotten, was practically vibrating with excitement like that of a child.

"I want to try that! Can I make a healing butterfly?"

Victoria's smile widened. "Of course you can! But it takes focus, control, and a deep well of healing energy. Are you ready to give it a shot?" Mirabella, her eyes gleaming with determination, nodded vigorously. She closed her eyes, picturing the warm green light emanating from her hand, willing it to solidify, to take form. She visualized a butterfly, its wings a vibrant emerald green, its form shimmering with the essence of life. And once more there was a change in her mana; it grew ever calmer. Mikoto tilted his head and once more glanced Victoria's way, but the girl focused on her pseudo-student.

Moments ticked by, filled only by the rhythmic creak of the ship and the distant cries of gulls. Sweat beaded on Mirabella's forehead, her brow furrowed in intense concentration. The frustration in her clenched jaw was palpable. Just as doubt began to creep in, a faint shimmer appeared at the tip of her finger. It wasn't a butterfly yet, far from it. It was more like a formless blob of green light, pulsating weakly. But it was a start, a nascent spark of healing magic yearning to take form.

A wide grin, genuine and unexpected, split Victoria's face. "There you go, Mirabella! You've got the basic idea. Now, focus on shaping that light, on giving it the form of a butterfly." Mirabella took a deep breath, her eyes squeezed shut. She pictured the butterfly again, its delicate wings, its graceful form. Slowly, painstakingly, the formless blob of green light began to morph, taking on a rudimentary butterfly shape. It was small, barely the size of her thumb, and its glow flickered erratically. But it was a butterfly all the same.

Her eyes flew open, a triumphant cry escaping her lips. In her hand, a shimmering green butterfly fluttered its wings weakly. It wasn't perfect, far from the elegant construct Victoria had created, but it was hers.

"Hmm, not bad, Mirabella," Mikoto stated as he focused more intently on her mana. "You got the basics of healing magic down quickly, even learned some branches of healing magic."

"You are most impressive, Princess," Victoria praised, and Mirabella could not help but get flustered at the praise.

"Alright, then..." Mikoto trailed off as he stood up from his seated position. "You should get dressed more comfortably. I'm gonna show you some really cool magic, Mirabella. You're free to join too, Victoria." Mirabella's excitement seemed to grow at his words as she stood up.

"Right, I'll be done in a sec!" The girl exclaimed as she bolted away. For all her brashness, she acted like a giddy child whenever there was something to learn. Though he supposed that was warranted, she was getting to learn spells that did not involve destruction. As much of a novice as she currently was, she was making some surprising progress. Mikoto turned to Victoria with a questioning gaze.

"What did you do?" He asked. Victoria just tilted her head in faux confusion. "Mirabella's mana was suddenly calmer than usual. And she got a basic healing spell down way too quickly and even learned some restoration."

"Oh? And why assume I had anything to do with this?" She innocently questioned.

"It just started happening when you got here," he dryly shot back. She just gave a stupid-looking smile.

"Well, you got me. It's one of my Familial Arts," she admitted easily enough.

"Familial Arts? You can influence another person's mana?" He questioned, but she just shook her head.

"Allow me to demonstrate it," she offered, and Mikoto just waited as he folded his arms. But he grew increasingly fascinated by her face and figure for some odd reason.

Her eyes, the color of a summer sky moments before a magnificent sunset, held a depth that had a twinkle beneath. Long, dark lashes, like a feather brushing against silk, added to her allure. Those eyes were accentuated by a delicate arch of the brow, like a painter's stroke on a portrait.

How her uniform hugged every curve with a luxurious, almost ethereal grace. The black fabric seemed to shimmer with a subtle sheen, emphasizing the hourglass perfection of her figure and her ample bosom. Mikoto blinked as he promptly forcefully lifted the control over his mind. It seemed he had a natural resistance to it, just to the point that he could take note that his mind was influenced. Getting rid of said control was just a matter of pumping mana into his brain to forcefully break the control. Sure, he could create a counter spell, but this was the easier method.

"Oh my, that was rather quick," she commented, heaving, for whatever reason, a disappointed sigh. "I would've liked you to be entranced with my figure a while longer."

"So you influence the mind with that Familial Art, huh? And you influenced my mind just now to be taken in with your body and face?" He questioned incredulously.

"That's right," she answered innocently with a smile. "I just helped Mirabella calm her mana by influencing her mind. Worry not, it shall not hinder her progress. She already has a feel for how to cast healing magic; it is ingrained into her."

"I see," Mikoto mumbled thoughtfully, still a tad annoyed his head was tampered with.

"But I should get dressed more comfortably. Should I wear something a swimsuit given we're at sea?" She asked as if posing a normal question.

"No, wear something that's comfortable for battle or something."

"Aww~ Are you sure?"

"Very."

"Alright, then I shall get dressed appropriately. I look forward to what you shall show us, Mikoto." She gave him a last smile as she walked off. Mikoto watched her leave and could not help but think she was walking with deliberate shaking of her hips. He shrugged.

"So I'm a teacher now, huh?"