Exodia 8: Quick Casting

[I swapped (') and (") around at someone's request. Dialogue is now (") and quotes and speech-marked words are now (').]

Time passed and before either of us knew it, we had only ten minutes until homeroom. For some reason, I felt like Akane was someone I had known for years but, in fact, today was our first time seeing each other.

"So, want to do this again?"

The girl asked, giving me a gleeful smile.

Sometimes, Akane reminds me of those happy-go-to-lucky girls.

I can't lie. I think I'm falling in love over talk.

"That'd depend on you."

I replied.

I didn't know what to say.

"Okay then, why don't we-huh?"

Before Akane finished her sentence, her eyes wandered to me. No, they wandered above me. I could see her break into a cold sweat.

I turned around, only to be greeted by a bombardment of bloodlust and Kuro.

Nervously, I smiled and waved my hand at her.

Her frown didn't ease up.

"H-hey, Kuro..."

I spoke.

"Ma-"

She stopped herself by coughing slightly.

"Shoya, you should've told me that you were going out early."

Kuro scowled.

She glared at Akane and muttered 'harlot' under her breath. Akane looked slightly dumbfounded.

"Ummm... Is she someone you know, Shoya?"

"Yeah. She's the other transfer student, Kuroha. We're friends and-"

Kuro grabbed me from the back and threw herself onto me, with her arms wrapped around my neck.

"-it seems like she doesn't like it when I talk to other girls."

Akane looked indifferent before she flinched a little. A teasing expression appeared on her face.

"Are you two dating?"

I knew that would be coming.

"Don't even joke like that. It's horrible."

I rejected her fantasy in a nonchalant tone.

The black-haired Japanese girl got up from her chair and grabbed her bag. She put two fingers just slightly above her bangs.

'Well, class awaits. See you, Shoya!"

Akane shot her fingers upwards and walked out of the cafeteria.

Once Kuro confirmed that we were alone, she started to talk casually.

"What do you find good about a harlot like her, Master?"

"Maybe the fact that she's actually the same age as me and not a harlot."

I said, jokingly.

"No..."

Kuro whispered from behind me. As I looked at her, I found her in deep thought.

"Maybe it's..."

The girl looked down at her chest.

Ah, I think I get it now. Comparing Kuro and Akane is bust size is like comparing the floor and mountains. Clear contrast.

"Is it?!"

She asked, desperately.

"Uhhhh... N-no. It's not."

--

"Now, can anyone tell me the basics of casting a spell?"

Ai-nee asked the class.

I'm currently in Magic Theories. Magic Laws was decent but I didn't learn anything useful. I was more preoccupied with keeping Tatsuya awake the whole time.

A boy raised his hand.

"Yes, Raiju."

"You need an incantation and mana to create the actual spell."

Ai-nee smiled at the boy's response.

"Nice! How about you demonstrate to the class what a Magnum looks like?'

The boy, Raiju, stood up and laid his hand out in front of him. Before chanting the incantation, he breathed in and out.

"Spirit of fire, maximise, materialise your will, in my hands."

An orange circle appeared around his hand. It changed over the time span of 5 seconds and it finally looked like a magic circle. There was a dragon symbol on the magic circle, as well as intricate patterns all over the circle.

Raiju made an 'L' shape with his index finger and thumb. At the tip of his index finger ignited a flame.

"That is the activation of the basic Fire spell, Magnum. Now we'll have Tatsuya demonstrate a shorter version."

Tatsuya stood up and put his hand forward.

"Anima of fire, materialise your will; Magnum."

A similar magic circle appeared around Tatsuya's wrist. It was smaller than Raiju's. As he put his two fingers out, a flame ignited on Tatsuya's finger.

He did the exact same spell but with less power and time.

"As you can see, Tatsuya did the exact same spell but quicker. Since this is the most common way of casting during battle, we call this way of casting, Quick Casting or Quick Drawing."

I imagined two cowboys in a showdown.

"I want to know what you think, Shoya. What do you notice about Tatsuya's Magnum which is different to Raiju's."

"Oh, ummm..."

I looked at both of them and compared the two spells.

"Tatsuya's one was cast quicker and seems to be weaker."

"How can you tell it's weaker?"

"Well, Tatsuya's magic circle is smaller."

Ai-nee grinned.

"Nice analysis!"

It soon faded away though.

"Though I wouldn't rely on this type of thinking during battle. This, everyone-"

Ai-nee pointed at me.

"-is what is called a small tree in a forest. An innocent mind in battle."

Everyone started laughing and I slowly turned red.

"In battle, when you face your opponent, you won't know how big their mana pool is. Judging the power of a spell from its magic circle would simply be foolish. It could lead you to death."

Damn, I guess my thought process is naive in this place.

"Anastasia, quick cast a Magnum."

"Fine..."

A voice said, lazily.

From the back/top of the class stood a girl. Her hair was long and purple; it was the same for her long eyelashes. Her eyes had the fierceness of a cat. They were flaxen. Finally, she had that mistress vibe about her.

Anastasia flicked back her hair and laid her arm out.

"Spirit of fire, give me strength; Magnum."

The magic circle appeared and wrapped itself around her wrist. As she laid her finger out, a flame ignited at its tip.

"Good, now fire it at each other."

Tatsuya seemed hesitant but still shot at Anastasia. The girl shot at him.

Their shots collided, however, Tatsuya's one exploded first.

"Did you all see that?"

The class nodded.

"There are two things that make differences in every and any spell casting. The amount of mana the caster has and the Word of Will. We'll be talking about both of these today. Buckle up, guys."

This theory lesson... It's really interesting. I want to learn more, even if this stuff may be basic. I've never wanted to learn as much as I do now.

Ai-nee, you better make this more interesting!