The party went back to city, they arrived in the morning and without delay, they headed straight for the Adventurer's Guild
As always, the guild bar was filled with laughter, clinking mugs and the chatter of adventurers sharing their stories
"I'll talk with the receptionist, you guys stay here" Auel said
Rikka and Erin nodded and took seats at the nearest empty table while Auel went approached the guild receptionist
"Good morning, how can I help you?" the receptionist greets
"I want to submit this quest" Auel handed over the quest paper with the chief stamp on it
"Well thank you, please wait while I prepare your reward"
"Wait" Before the receptionist went to take the reward stops her "there is something I need you to read"
Auel handed her the scroll Gramm asked him to give to the guild receptionist, she opened it and read the contents carefully. Her expression quickly changed
"Oh… we are terribly sorry about what happens" the receptionist said, clearly shaken "This was beyond the quest handler or even the guild could have predicted. I'll report this to the guild master to arrange the proper compensation. But for now, please take this"
The receptionist handed him a pouch of coins
4 gold coins, not much
"Once again, we sincerely apologize about what happens" the receptionist added
"Yeah, it's fine" said Auel calmly and went to Erin and Rikka's table
"So, how's the reward?" Rikka asked eagerly
Without a word, Auel gave him 2 coins, while Erin a single coin
"Wait, just these?" Rikka frowned
"The receptionist needs to consult with the guild master about the compensation, so just wait for it" Auel explained
Rikka looked at the number of coins that Erin got
"Wait why do I get more coins?" He asked
"You handle the wolf longer that the other, so I gave you more" Auel asnwered
Rikka grinned "Wew, thanks"
After a moment, he stretched his aching shoulder "By the way, I still don't feel great after taking that wolf, so let's take a little break before we take another quest"
"Yeah, I guess so. My body still hurts. So, see ya next week" Rikka waved at them and left the guild, leaving Auel and Erin alone at the table
After a brief silence, Auel spoke
"I surprised you could use root magic"
"Ah… Umm… yeah" Erin replied shyly
"Aren't you used healing magic repeatedly during the battle? How come you still have enough mana to cast another magic?"
"I-I just have a lot of mana, it's nothing special"
"How much mana do you mean by a lot?" Auel asked" Do you have more mana than the magician girl from Gramm's party?"
"I-I don't quite know…"
"Just be honest about yourself, or do you have twice as much?"
"…I-I think so" Erin hesitated
Auel raised his eyebrows, genuinely surprised with that answer "But why don't you try to use offensive magic to attack the wolf?"
"I only know a low tier magic" she admitted softly" And I'm not good at aiming my magic, so even if I use it, I-I wouldn't helped"
"Then why don't you train to get better at aiming?"
Erin fidgeted with her staff "I… don't know how to do it. B-but do you want to help me? I mean you have to get rest after that fight, b-but you can just tell me how aim my magic"
"Agh… To be honest I don't understand much about magic. But… let's try it"
Erin's face brightened "R-really? Thank you"
"But I don't feel to do anything today, I still don't get rest after taking the wolf, so let's just do it tomorrow. Meet me in front of the city in the morning"
"Y-yes, thank you"
They left the guild bar and parted ways shortly afterward
Tomorrow morning, Auel already waiting in front of the city gate. He wore a long-sleeved shirt draped around his neck, his katana secured at his wrist
"G-good morning, a-am I late?" Erin asked as she approached, with a casual outfit and holding her staff, she greets him
"Nope. Let's go" Auel then walked outside the city, followed by Erin
"Where are we going?" Erin asked
"Find some open field where your magic won't hurt anyone"
Erin glanced at his sword "May I ask something, why do you bring your katana?"
"I want to test something, and we don't know if something bad might happen"
"S-something bad?"
"Bandits" Auel replied" They are quite a lot outside the city; they target the farmers or low rank adventures. The bandits usually take their money and their belongings, or worst-case scenario they just kidnap people"
"K-kidnapped?"
"It's fine, I'm used to dealing with them"
Erin hesitated "B-but you still look tired, are you sure you can fight?"
"I'm fine"
Erin looked at the dark spots under Auel's eyes
"S-sorry, but may I ask why do you seem to have trouble sleeping"
Auel paused before answer
"It's nothing. I've had insomnia since I was a child, so it's fine"
They continued to walk and saw a vast grassland with a big tree; they walk towards to the tree. Auel then sat down beneath its shade
"Ok now let's see how you cast your magic" said Auel
"O-ok"
Then Erin lifts her magic staff and started casting magic spell
With a gentle voice she cast fireballs that steaked across the open field
"… Wait how did you do that?" Auel surprised
"W-what do you mean?"
"You cast spells in such a low voice?"
"I-is it strange?"
"How did you learn how to use magic"
"I-just followed what my parents taught me. They told me to memorize the incantations"
"Hmm… did your parents ever mention anything about Gaia?"
"Gaia? No… I don't think my parents ever told me about that"
A magic caster who doesn't know Gaia… that's weird
Auel fell silent
"I-is that really weird?" Erin asked nervously
"Yeah. For someone to be able to cast magic, they have to worship Gaia. But knowing that you never heard about Gaia, that's strange"
"Worship Gaia? Why does someone need to wordship Gaia to be able to cast magic?"
"I don't quite sure, but from what I know for someone to be able to use magic, they have to remember the incantation, and read it out loud. I don't understand why they have to read it out loud, but people said that these magic casters need some kind of permission from Gaia to use the magic. That's why they chanting the incantation aloud so Gaia can hear them"
"Permission to use magic? B-but what is Gaia actually?"
"I don't know. People said Gaia is the creator of the world, but nobody could prove it, and personally I don't believe in this kind of story"
Auel stood up and approached her
"Let's skip about that thing and do something else. Can you cast another fireball?"
"Y-yes" the Erin lift her staff
"But before you do it can you do something?"
"W-what is it?"
"Can you focus on what you feel inside your body when you begin the incantation?"
"Umm… I'll try"
Then she cast the fireballs
"Do you feel it?" Auel asked
"Y-yeah I feel the mana tingling from my body to my arms"
"Ok let's try do it again, but now close your eyes and just says the incantation in your head"
"Close my eyes?"
Then Erin followed what Auel said, she closed her eyes, lifted her staff and read the incantation in her head. But nothing happens
"It didn't work"
"What are you trying to do?" Erin asked
"Have you ever heard of a Silent Magician?"
She shook her head
"It just a myth" Auel explained" People said that there is some magic caster who can cast a spell without chanting the incantation"
"W-wow… that sounds incredible"
"Yes, it is. The worst part of being a magic caster is you have to chant the incantation out loud, which make your opponent can predict your next attack. That's why the wolf that we fought knows when the fireballs are coming. But you can cast your spell with a low voice so it's good. So, let's try something else"
He stepped back, creating distance between them.
"Now try to cast fireballs at me"
"W-what?"
"I'm going to be fine, just do it" Auel said calmly and taking his stances" if something goes wrong, you can just heal me"
Erin hesitated, and nodded
Erin then lifted her staff and cast fireballs, 3 fireballs launces to Auel, and then Auel take his scabbard from his waist
The fireballs are getting closer, then he partially unsheathed the blade only a few inches gleaming in the sunlight. The flames struck, and he intercepted them using the blade before instantly sheathing the sword again
In the next heartbeat, he drew it once more and strike through the air. A blazing arc split the air, launching a steak of fire into the sky
Erin gasped "W-wow! What was that?"
"It just a technique I develop" Auel explained "it allows me to absorb elemental magic through my blade and store it within the scabbard, and then I can use the stored energy as an attack"
Her eyes sparkled with amazement
"That's why I said it's fine for you to attack me with your magic. Now, let's do it again, now try doing it seriously"
"Y-yes"
And so, beneath the morning sun, the two began their training