He studied me like I was a puzzle piece that didn't fit where he'd expected. "Your perceptual abilities are considerably sharper than I anticipated. Is that natural talent? Or perhaps a magic entirely unknown to me?"
"Uh, thanks? It's not really magic, but I guess you could say I have good eyes."
'Col. Galahad. I didn't know a character like this either. But his senses seem extremely sharp. Classifying [Insight] as a magic is not entirely wrong.'
However, what interested me more than his analysis was the depths of his knowledge. He was perhaps the highest-ranked officer of the Awakened corps that I had encountered personally.
'I'm not exactly sure how strong he is. But the aura he's giving off is not normal. S rank? A Rank? I'm not sure.'
Both Galahads laughed quietly, and the original looked back at me with renewed attention.
"Good eyes?" he said it as if the words themselves amused him. "I suppose you do. But you shouldn't go around showboating. Others wouldn't be as intrigued as they'd be cautious. And before you know it, that caution will twist into animosity because people would rather fear the unknown than embrace it."
I blinked. "I was indeed careless, but that's only because I didn't expect to meet someone like you here. I'll keep your words in mind."
"Good," Galahad said, tapping the table a few times as he saw me fidget in my chair. "So? What do you want to ask?"
"Sorry?"
"You're thinking that, aren't you? Shifting in your seat, trying to come up with the perfect question that would somehow net you more information from me." Galahad's clone continued and raised his brows, "Being opportunistic isn't bad. The fact that we've met is already a huge coincidence. You shouldn't hesitate to use what you can get your hands on."
I took a breath, then asked the thing that had been gnawing at me since the morning.
"How do you create your own magic? Is it a process that involves the use of will and technique? Or, is it something that comes naturally with practice?"
Both versions of Galahad went completely still.
Not shocked. Just... intensely attentive, like I'd said something far more significant than I'd realised.
Then Galahad broke into genuine laughter, loud enough that it broke the still silence of the library. He didn't bother apologising for the noise. He just looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read, like he was completely reevaluating what he thought of me.
"You're sixteen years old," he said, half disbelief and half genuine amusement colouring his voice. "And you're asking me that question?"
"Fifteen," I corrected automatically.
"That really doesn't help your case," he replied, still grinning.
His clone leaned back in his chair, smiling with what looked like delighted incredulity. "Fate really has a twisted sense of humour."
"What?"
"Don't worry about that." Galahad wiped at his mouth as his laughter faded, then spoke more seriously, though warmth remained in his voice.
"Nobody writes detailed guides about creating personal magic," he explained, "because it's like writing down your most intimate thoughts and handing them to strangers. Magic is identity. It's belief made manifest."
I nodded slowly, beginning to understand.
"And even if someone did document their process," his clone added, "it wouldn't work the same way for you. You'd be trying to wear someone else's skin and wondering why it doesn't fit."
Galahad's gaze held mine steadily.
"The way you create truly unique magic is straightforward in concept," he said. "Enlightenment."
The word didn't sound mystical coming from him. It sounded sharp, practical, like a tool with a specific purpose.
"Magic responds to perception," he continued. "To what you believe is fundamentally real about the world and yourself. Not what you wish were true. Not what you pretend to accept. What you know in your bones to be fact."
He tapped his own chest lightly. "When you believe something completely, all the way down to your core, then magic answers that belief."
I thought of the pen finally rolling across my desk when I'd stopped begging it to move and started simply expecting it to obey. My throat tightened with recognition.
"But you can't fake that kind of certainty," Galahad continued, as if he could read my thoughts. "You can't trick yourself into true belief. Unless you're an absolute master of your own psychology."
The clone's smile turned wry. "Most people aren't."
I swallowed again, frustration creeping into my voice despite my efforts to stay calm. "So I just... wait around for enlightenment to strike?"
Galahad snorted. "That's the work of bygone monks and priests. In our age, we have no time for such complacent conduct. The way we do it is normally by brute-forcing the body and the mind to extreme limits in training or during missions. Of course, this method is not guaranteed to work and can make or break the person entirely. "
"Then. What about cadets who have already created their own magic? How did they get enlightened?" I asked.
"There are exceptions." Galahad sighed, "There are always exceptions. It could be talent."
Galahad paused, a sombre look colored his eyes, and the air grew heavy.
"Or it could also be the fact that they've faced something life-changing. Perhaps an intensely traumatic scenario drew out their latent potential. Stuff like that is more common than you'd think. Especially in young awakened, because their psyche is often too weak."
He leaned forward, elbows on the table, suddenly more intense.
"Before you worry about all this," he said firmly, "you need to become competent with fundamentals. Foundation first, creativity second. But why is a boy like you asking about creating magic?"
"My books barely mention fundamentals," I said, letting some of my frustration leak through. "They discuss mana theory. They cover various methods of control, but they don't really explain how I can use magic. I mean, it doesn't matter how good I am at mana control if I don't know the first thing about using magic."
"You meant using, not creating magic?" Galahad shot me an incredulous look and took a breath in. "So, not knowing how to use magic is your main concern? Why didn't you try some basic spells?"
"Huh?" I tilted my head in confusion, "Basic spells? But how? Like I said, I don't really know what to do."
His brow furrowed deeper. "The Academy's Professors are among the most seasoned awakened officers. Are you telling me in your six months, you've not yet learned the Axis Spells?"
"Six months?" I shook my head quickly, "This is barely my first week."
The clone flinched, and Galahad exhaled, then lifted his hand to his face in defeat as his brows settled. "First....week?"
He broke into a chuckle, and the clone's lips curved into a speechless smile.
"Cadet Noah Reed. I'll remember your name." Galahad gathered himself and rubbed his chin, "Once you graduate from the academy, you should definitely apply to join Squad Three of the Corps."
I was a bit stunned by the offer. I didn't know what he saw in me, but it was definitely pleasing to know that I had potential in his eyes.
"As for your question. The answer is simple. Although it would be something you were bound to encounter in the following weeks of your study, I see no harm in speeding up the process."
He lifted his hand. Far away, deep in the maze of shelves, I heard books shifting.
A grimoire detached itself from wherever it had been resting and glided through the open air toward our table, pages fluttering slightly like the book was impatient to arrive. It settled into Galahad's waiting hand with a quiet slap.
He turned it so I could read the title embossed on the worn leather cover.
-
The Four Axis Spells
[Tags: Fundamental Spells for the Awakened Corps] (Difficulty: Medium)
-
Galahad tapped the cover with his finger.
"The Awakened Corps and the Romulo Academy teach at least four specific spells to every military cadet," he explained. "They are perhaps the most efficient iterations of their type, and without a doubt the easiest to learn by far. Their widespread use by most Awakened has earned them the right to be named Axis spells."
"In short, these four spells represent the most basic category of spells and serve as a cardinal direction for different types of future development."
He opened the book to the first section and pointed to the heading.
"Igrit," he said. "A simple magical shield or ward that helps block attacks."
His finger moved to the next chapter.
"Divum," he continued. "A dash."
Another line.
"Zol," he said. "Think of it as a mana bullet. Simple offensive output."
Then the final entry.
"And Auger," he concluded. " A spell that channels mana directly into your body and physical strikes. Clean enhancement of natural capabilities."
My chest tightened as I stared at the page.
These were exactly the kind of practical, foundational techniques I'd been desperately searching for. Basic building blocks that could actually teach me how magic worked, instead of just describing what it could theoretically accomplish.
"Why wasn't this mentioned in the basic mana book? Or even taught in the first Magic lecture?" I muttered without thinking.
Both Galahads looked at me sharply.
"Mm," he said neutrally. "The Axis spells are useful. However, the purpose they serve is inherently different from what is expected of Academy students."
"Humanity does not lack foot soldiers. Or rather, we've long since realised that the number of foot soldiers will not make an effective difference in the war. The Awakened Corps takes care of the basics. What we really need are elite combatants. Awakened that can hold their ground against the High and Mid-ranking demons."
He nudged the grimoire across the table toward me. "However, the only way to produce those is by relying on the Academy and letting Cadets grow. Of course, we cannot spare the resources for every Cadet. Which is why only a certain number qualify. Even when they do, regular examinations ensure only the best survive and can be tutored. The rest are relegated to other duties."
"Using something like the Axis spells to educate these chosen Cadets could very well dampen their natural curiosity and derail their inherent understanding of magic. The Axis spells are rigid. Their basic nature makes them perfect for a military setting. However, at higher levels of combat, these spells are simply not good enough."
"So the Academy would rather not give it to them, and hope the Cadets figure magic out on their own?" I scratched my head, "Doesn't really seem that good of an idea."
"No, the Academy would have eventually taught you the Axis spells. But just not this early in the semester. Their main goal is to force the Cadets to evolve and create new magic by assigning difficult missions. Those who are enlightened continue their journey, and those who can not adapt are simply expelled." Galahad shrugged.
The clone smiled wryly, "That is the law of the jungle. It's not the strongest who survive, but simply the most versatile ones."
I took the book carefully in my hands and ran my fingers over the embossed title.
Galahad watched me contemplate.
The screech of a chair being dragged back broke my concentration.
A third Galahad sat to my left and looked to the two across me; he nodded.
"Looks like I'm done here." Galahad's clones dispersed, and he slowly stood from his chair. "Be sure to read and practice those spells."
He turned to leave, but stopped a step from the stairs.
"And Noah."
I looked up from the page.
"Don't chase your friend," he repeated with gentle emphasis. "Don't chase anyone else's path. Never forget that"