[City of Magnolia]
"The next step like I was saying is more personal, it's going to be your magic." Makarov made eye contact with them each
"Now you both should know that not all magics are for you. It entirely depends on you more than anything else. What ideals your hold above others, fighters will lean more towards offensive and defensive magic while non-fighters support or healing. So, while you might have a high affinity for offensive and defensive magic, support magic may be your weak link, and that's ok."
Ivan raised a hand.
"But how do we learn a specific type of magic? Of course, I may have an affinity for defensive magic while Gildarts offensive magic, how do we learn the magics we want to?"
Makarov nodded at the question, though before he could answer Gildarts spoke.
"I have question too old man, how does the emotion stuff you talked about corelate with our magic exactly? Yesterday you both were speaking about it and how it can make your magic stronger, and how there are certain magics that work really well and certain ones that don't, want do you mean by all that."
Makarov look surprised by the question by Ivan thought he saw a hint of joy. 'Both students asking questions, well that's a good sign to any teacher, no matter what world your in.'
Makarov regained his composure rather quickly "Well two great questions. I'll answer yours first Ivan, though with a question of my own. What is my magic?"
Ivan could have sworn he saw a faint smile on Makarov's face
'Giant magic, but where is he going with this? I mean he can use other magics sure, but his main one is Giant, why would he ask me what is magic is though? It makes no sense...ah so that's where he's going.
"Magic doesn't make sense. However, it also is born from sense, you also said that magic is fickle, so if I had to guess you're leading me in the direction that logically you could learn any magic. Though that's where the sense ends and begins, magic is fickle, maybe certain magics won't want to work with you." Ivan paused looking at Makarov who was grinning, "So if I have a high affinity for offensive magic and one day decide I want to learn healing magic, I could, but it would defiantly be a pain in the ass, and I would have zero talent for it."
Makarov's grin had winded even more and he began to clap "Excellent my boy! Just excellent!" he began to laugh, "You thought it through perfectly but let me help you finish off, yes in theory and logically you should be able to learn any magic. But like I've been saying magic doesn't make sense. Going by your analogy your correct, you could learn healing magic, but you would be abysmal at it. So much so that you may as well find a mage who just specializes in it rather than waste your time and effort trying to learn a magic that simply is against you."
"Though you have Giant magic a magic that could fit into offensive, defensive, and support magic groups. You also have other magics I'm sure, do you have any healing magics?"
Makarov smiled "Actually I do not. I have been told by quite a reliable healing mage my talent is so bad that if I even tried to learn it could me decades at most to see any meaningful results."
Ivan paused at the statement 'I thought he would say yes, is he lying?'
"Why? I honestly thought you say yes and have at least one spell that could heal or restore you."
Makarov snorted "My boy I may seem like a simple old man, but I am far from it. There is a reason why I am a part of the Ten Wizard Saints and it is not just for my knowledge or that I am guild master of an old guild." he looked an Ivan with a full seriousness "It is my value in combat"
Ivan looked at Makarov differently for a second, how strong was this Makarov? He was young, in his prime, and even older he was a monster. 'Jeez this world keeps throwing curve balls at me, is this Makarov stronger than in the original?'
"Now this actually goes perfectly with your question Gildarts, what Ivan and I were talking about yesterday was the mechanic of passion in magic. To summarize simply your emotions can be a power source in of itself, though this is easier said than done. Most magics, simple caster and holder magic struggle to do this, only certain magics which can be found under the category of lost magics tend to have this trait. Though I should exercise caution when talking about such magics." Makarov gave them a grave look, "Lost magics are not like regular magics at all, they have been banded for a reason. They are creations of an age long pasted, developed by ambitious scholars who faced an issue we are fortunate not to have, a lack of ethernano." Makarov paused considering something "Lost magics were created for two purposes, to be powerful and to combat the lack of ethernano present in the world, the later was done so by having the mages very being at the disposal of their magic. Dragon Slayers for example were not considered lost magic at the start, though soon the taboo effects were found, and they were dubbed a dangerous lost magic."
Gildarts nodded "So magics that can channel magic aren't actually unfair like Ivan said then?"
"You could say so, I did not want to have to explain these things so soon but since were already here I might as well. Lost magics have a closer bond with their user, but they suffer from their own set of rules which if broken can result in the user's death or in the case of Slayer magic, that be one's humanity."
"So, there's no way to be entirely safe when using lost magic?"
"You would be correct logically speaking, there is no safe way to use lost magics, though that has not stopped some mages from using them and even mastering them. As I've said a hundred times now magic is a fickle thing, sometimes it just wants to be used."
Gildarts seemed to absorb Makarov's words as stood in silent contemplation. Ivan took ran through what the old man had said.
'Ah, that makes sense though and also doesn't, lost magics carry their own rules but sometimes those rules can just be thrown to the side cause the magic feels like it...how annoying.'
"Anyways let's get started on the last thing I'll have you both do today, I want you to begin using your magical power. Simply fill yourself up with it, it'll be slow at first but as you both start using it will get faster." Makarov said
Ivan and Gildarts nodded as they stood and begin channeling their magic.
Ivan reached within his container manually, the motion still alien, and letting magical power fill his body. Physically there was no change, he just felt stronger, he wondered if a normal person would notice anything.
Makarov looked to him and then to Gildarts who had just finished the task "Perfect, now I want you two fight each other."
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AUTHOR THOUGHTS BELOW!