'I… I can't move.'
Hope stared at the ghastly thing in front of her. With no arms, and a broken mind, the beast dove at her with its maw wide, fully ready to end the fight.
Still sprawled on the ground and shaking in pain, all she could do was stare helplessly as its humanoid fangs came within a feet from ripping her in half.
At that moment she sensed it. The air around her felt different, somehow more alive. As if someone had taken the reins of control and urged it to come alive.
The air under the creature suddenly erupted, launching it high enough to kill it instantly upon landing.
Soon after Hope's body finally collapsed under the strain of falling from the sky and nearly getting beaten to death and entered a comatose like rest.
"Heyyy wake up!"
Hope could faintly hear. Slowly stirring from her sleep, Hope massaged her eyes then finally opened them, not sure what to expect.
Floating in front of her was an adorable fairy-like creature dressed in silk like garbs that resembled wisps of clouds.
"Oi! you've been out for a few days, you fine?"
The fairy pulled puffs of clouds from seemingly thin air and started snacking on them.
Hope replied hesitantly "I think I'm fine. Was dropping that vile thing to its doom your doing?"
Still distracted by its food the fairy grinned, revealing clumps of wisp hanging from her teeth. "Yeah! But you basically did all the work. That thing was more than half dead by the time I arrived"
Hope tilted her head in confusion." And how did you know when to arrive exactly?"
Somehow finding it amusing, the fairy giggled. "Well that wind charm you broke would've attracted anything within a few miles . The energy from those is craaazy!"
Still a bit dizzy hope leaned on the wall. "Guessing you flew us up to the cave?"
The fairy smiled mischievously. "Yeah, you were pretty light so I figured I would. By the way the names Quincy! I'd rather you call me Quin for short"
Likewise, Hope introduced herself. "The names Hope."
Quin paused, looking confused for a moment. "Not the talking type eh?"
Satisfied with her meal, Quin proceeded to barrage Hope with a multitude of questions about magic, race, and how she had managed to survive, but all Hope could answer was. "I don't know."
Quin looked baffled, as if many of these things were common knowledge, which it probably was for anyone but Hope.
"So you don't even know what ether or mana is?!"
Grinning sheepishly Hope replied." My first memory was dropping from the sky, and the only thing I recall are random things that don't fit together."
Somehow putting up an even more shocked face Quin answered. "So again. How in the world did you manage to damage that damned beast and survive against it?!"
Hope stared at her blankly." I don't know."
Facepalming her forehead, Quin spoke. "Well that's alright, I'll just have to give you a basic rundown of everything. From how ether works and what magic type you have, if you happen to have any."
Quin glided to the wall and moved her fingers while controlling the wind to easily carve into its surface. Soon a sketch of the human body appeared, revealing some basic nerves and blood flow.
"Ether is the energy of nature."
She pointed at the brain.
"The only way to wield ether is through sheer will and concentration, shutting out every factor around you except for your mind and your weapon. The most popular way of wielding ether would be the sword aura. Some talented individuals after years of training can coat their blade with a field of ether and allowing them to manifest it as killing intent."
She then turned to Hope and tapped her head a few times.
"Keep in mind, those that lose themselves to this battle trance lose all sense of rationality and go insane.
"Now… onto magic! Magic is the energy of the world, or rather the laws that shape it. Unlike ether, you yourself are the recipient and learning spells allow you to bend the rules just a tad. However, the people who can wield magic are very few across the Isles."
Hope finally inquired. "The Isles?"
Quinn's face visibly shifted to sorrow as if recalling something," Well, it used to be one big chunk of land until the corruption came."
Nodding her to change the subject she pointed back to the wall. "Knowing your affinity for magic or ether is very crucial for survival around here, and those that have no talent in either don't survive for long. Let's go test your mana type and affinity Hope!"
Ushering Hope to enter a meditative sitting form she spoke. "Close your eyes, focus on the things around you, focus only on the strongest tug. Do you feel a pull or attraction to any of the elements?!"
After an awkward pause Hope finally broke the silence.
"It feels weird, I can feel it calling and trying to unite with me, but that part in me feels isolated and cut off."
Quin scrunched her face. "That makes no sense!?"
Hope slowly turned her head, attempting to mask her irritation. "Well, what about ether?"
Quin outstretched her hand past the cave and rustling of wind soon filled its entrance. Before long Hope was reunited with the bastard rock that had failed to save her.
"Why do u look mad?" Quin asked
Hope shook her head and picked up the crude blade. "Nothing to worry about, what do I need to do?"
Quin replied. "Close your eyes and think of yourself in the heat of battle. That sensation that comes with knowing that every action could end the fight instantly, that pure will to overcome your opponent. Then draw it towards your sword and bring it back towards your nerves. Form a connection between you two as if you u were one being."
Soon the dimly lit cave had its shadows instantly driven away as the shard of rock glowed with a pristine radiance. The shine from the bade pierced their eyes like light reflected off a mirror.
"Holy… damn."
Quin glided back, covering her eyes.
"Turn it off! Turn it off!"
Soon the shadows crawled back, and the cave was filled with shade again.
Quin stared at hope for a quick second then sighed.
"It seems you only have talent for ether."
Then quickly grinned. "However, that's definitely the purest will I've ever seen, even from sword masters!"