Magic Training

We spent a while playing with soap bubbles, but it finally seemed time for today’s training to begin.

"The Young Lady will be continuing her magic control training from this morning," Sebas explained. "Lord Ryoma, do you have any specific requests?"

"I’d like to learn attack magic for each of the elements. As I mentioned at the church before, I’ve hardly ever used attack spells."

"Ah, that is right. In that case, the most suitable instructor would be..."

"That would be me," Camille said, stepping forward.

Sebas turned his gaze toward him. It appeared Camille would be my teacher for this session.

"I heard you can use all elements, Ryoma. I’m proficient in all the lower-tier elements, plus lightning and ice. I can’t teach you poison, wood, or any high-tier elements, but I can show you all the beginner magic for the others."

"Really? I look forward to learning from you, Camille."

"The feeling's mutual."

"Well then, Lord Ryoma, I shall see you shortly."

The Young Lady was going to train a little ways off. She gave me a quick nod before heading deeper into the area with the Duchess and their attendants. I watched them leave for a moment, wondering why we weren't just training in the same spot.

When I asked Camille about it, he gave me a wry smile. "It’s for safety, mostly. You’ve heard about the Young Lady’s massive mana capacity, right?"

"Yes, I have."

"That’s why she struggles with control. It hasn't happened lately, but in the past, her spells would often fly off in completely random directions. To make matters worse, a single one of her stray shots had several times the destructive power you'd actually need in a fight."

That certainly sounded like a safety hazard.

"But hey, like I said, that’s an old story. It rarely happens these days. Today is just a precaution."

Camille was being very insistent that everything was fine. Perhaps he felt awkward talking about the shortcomings of the family he served. Not wanting to make him uncomfortable, I suggested we get to work.

"Right. Let's get to it. Now, you said you can use a bit of attack magic, yeah?"

"Yes, but only lower-tier spells."

"Got it. Why don't you show me what you've got?"

"Understood."

I aimed at a nearby rock and cycled through the basic attack spells for fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, ice, and poison: 'Fireball', 'Water Ball', 'Wind Cutter', 'Earth Needle', 'Stun', 'Ice Shot', and 'Poison'.

"Mm, they’re basic, but your execution is solid. At this rate, you’ll pick up the next level of spells in no time. Alright... I’ll demonstrate them one by one, and then you can try to replicate them."

"Thank you. Please go ahead."

"Here we go. First, fire: 'Fire Arrow'."

The moment Camille spoke the incantation, flames surged from his palm, coalescing into the shape of an arrow before streaking toward the rock. The arrow struck the target dead-on, bursting with a light crackle.

"That’s 'Fire Arrow', a lower-tier fire attack. It’s faster and has more piercing power than 'Fireball'. It’s arguably the most versatile and frequently used fire spell. Now, give it a shot, Ryoma."

"Yes, sir."

I recalled the sight of Camille’s spell and focused on reproducing it. I generated flames in my palm just like I would for a 'Fireball', then visualized them being compressed and refined into the shape of a shafted arrow before releasing the tension.

"'Fire Arrow'."

The spell formed exactly like Camille’s. It streaked across the clearing, struck the rock, and dissipated in a burst of heat.

"Wow, first try. You’re a natural."

Wait. According to typical novel tropes, isn't this the part where people start getting suspicious? Maybe I should try to play it off.

"I’ve spent a lot of time with a bow, so the visualization was pretty straightforward."

"Oh, I see. That definitely helps."

"It does?"

"Yeah. It happens sometimes with non-mages. People with high levels in magic-related skills might have developed the technical proficiency just by using magic in their daily lives, even if they've never formally studied combat spells. For them, as long as they have a clear image, they can master a spell with just a bit of practice. Some people pick it up in two or three tries."

So it wasn't a case of "abnormally fast learning" after all. That was a relief. Come to think of it, Eliaria had mastered Bubbly Water after only two attempts earlier. I’d worried for nothing.

Following that same pattern, I worked my way through 'Water Shot', 'Wind Hammer', 'Rock Bullet', 'Stun Arrow', and 'Ice Arrow'. I also breezed through the defensive spells 'Fire Wall', 'Water Wall', 'Wind Shield', and 'Ice Shield'.

However, my progress created a minor dilemma.

"Hmm... I’ve run out of things to teach you. Should we move on to intermediate magic, or just keep refining your basics? Hmm..."

Even if it wasn't "abnormal," my pace was still significantly faster than expected. I had already finished everything Camille had planned for the day. Just as he was pondering what to do, Sebas approached us.

"Is there a problem?"

"Sebas. Ryoma is such a fast learner that he’s already mastered everything I had on the list."

"Is that so? In that case, I shall take over. I can begin his instruction in space magic."

This was an incredible opportunity. Learning from one of the country's preeminent space mages was a stroke of massive luck.

"I’ll leave him in your hands then. Good luck, Ryoma!"

"Thank you for everything, Camille. And I look forward to your instruction, Sebas."

Camille waved as he headed off, and I bowed to Sebas. The butler gave a pleasant smile.

"Let us begin. To start, I must ask: Lord Ryoma, do you know any space magic besides Item Box?"

"I can use Teleport."

"May I see a demonstration?"

"Of course. Here I go... 'Teleport'!"

~Side: Sebas~

Lord Ryoma activated the spell and vanished, reappearing instantly beside a nearby boulder. From there, he executed four more consecutive teleports, weaving around the area with ease before coming to a halt directly in front of me.

Due to the nature of the magic—the sudden shift in perspective and position—it is common for beginners to stumble or lose their balance immediately after a transfer. He did not. It was marvelous. While 'Teleport' is a rudimentary spell, the speed of his activation and the fluidity of his movements before and after showed a deep level of comfort. He has clearly practiced this until it became second nature.

"Excellent work, Lord Ryoma. With that level of proficiency, I believe you are ready for the intermediate spells: the storage spell 'Dimension Home' and the mid-range teleportation magic, 'Warp'."

"Really!?"

"Most certainly. Lord Ryoma, do you know why space magic is categorized as a high-tier element and considered the most difficult to master?"

"No, I don't."

"Then, can you explain the fundamental principle of using space magic?"

"The basic idea is to use mana to interfere with space itself and distort it."

"Precisely. However... that foundational step—interfering with space—is exactly where the vast majority of mages fail. Space is always present, yet those who can truly perceive it as a tangible medium are rare."

Most textbooks on the subject are filled with flowery, abstract descriptions like "enveloping all existence." Because of this, most students fail to form a concrete image, and their attempts at interference remain incomplete.

What is truly necessary is an accurate, deep perception of the very space one inhabits. This isn't something that can be taught with words. Intellectual understanding is insufficient; one must grasp it through their own senses via grueling repetition. Without that sensory grasp, one can never hope to master intermediate space magic.

"It often surprises people when I say this, but lower-tier space magic and intermediate space magic are actually the exact same spells."

"What!?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at his shock.

"In the past, there was no distinction between lower and intermediate ranks. It was said that space magic only truly 'began' once a mage could firmly perceive space. Anything less was simply considered a failure or an incomplete spell. However, as the number of space mages dwindled and the overall quality of instruction declined, the true versions of the spells were elevated to 'intermediate,' while the incomplete versions were rebranded as 'lower-tier' magic."

"So, if I use the same mental image as Item Box and Teleport, I can use Dimension Home and Warp?"

"Yes. While Dimension Home requires a bit more nuance, the principle for Warp is exactly as you described. You simply need to grasp your destination firmly and extend the transfer distance. As long as you can visualize the target clearly, you can travel as far as your mana allows. For example... why don't you try reaching the top of that tall rock over there?"

I pointed to the most distant large rock within our line of sight. The summit was flat, providing stable footing, and even if he fell, it wasn't high enough to cause serious injury.

"Understood. I'll give it a try."

He set to the task immediately. His earnest, straightforward attitude made him a delight to teach.

I found myself reflecting on how many people I had instructed over the years. Born with a talent for space magic, I had spent my youth serving House Jamil, balancing my training with my duties as a butler. My magic proved invaluable during my travels with the previous Duke. After we settled down, I became his right hand... and it was then that I began to be hailed as one of the kingdom's greatest space mages. My constant use of 'Dimension Home' to manage the Duke's luggage in public likely fueled those rumors.

Naturally, the petitions for apprenticeship came flooding in. I ignored the letters, but some went through the Duke, using their noble connections to force me to teach their children or retainers.

I couldn't refuse those requests, so I taught them... but it was a dismal experience. I stopped counting after the hundredth student, but in the end, fewer than ten ever reached the intermediate rank. Most of the noble sons wouldn't listen when I told them space magic couldn't be learned through words alone; they did nothing but complain and refused to practice.

To have a student like Lord Ryoma—one who listens intently and works with such single-minded devotion—is a rare pleasure. When such a student possesses genuine talent, it is even more rewarding. I cannot recall the last time I felt this much genuine desire to teach someone.

While I was lost in thought, Lord Ryoma had closed his eyes, centering himself. He was so still, so deeply immersed, it was as if the world around him had ceased to exist. To possess such concentration at his age is staggering. I find myself wondering what kind of life leads a boy to develop such a focus.

Lord Ryoma has been a "distorted" child from the moment we met. At first, he was just a strange boy living alone in the forest. Yet when we met him, his clothes were remarkably clean for a hermit. He welcomed us with a hesitant but impeccably polite demeanor, and in his modest home, he served us top-tier black tea and luxury honey. His house was simple but constructed with the comfort and amenities of a noble estate—it even had a bath.

But his knowledge and skills are what truly defy explanation. He pursued the study of slimes—a field ignored by everyone else—and used them to create waterproof cloth and revolutionary threads. He revolutionized his own living conditions with cleaner and scavenger slimes.

During our carriage ride to Gimul, he demonstrated alchemy that could purify the toxic rock salt of the Gana Forest. When Lord Reinhardt showed interest, the boy displayed an understanding of commerce that no child should have, noting that small-scale production wouldn't be able to compete with established trade routes.

I still remember the hollow look in his eyes when we first reached the city, and the lethal efficiency with which he protected the Young Lady from those thugs. And now, he has already saved the city from a plague. These are not the feats of a normal child. While he usually carries himself with an adult's gravity, he has recently begun to open up to us, showing glimpses of a boy his own age. He is...

"Sebas."

Ah, it seems I was daydreaming. "Yes, what is it?"

"I think I’ve got it. I’m going to try."

"By all means."

"......Here I go. 'Warp'!"

In the blink of an eye, Lord Ryoma vanished and reappeared atop the distant rock. I immediately teleported up to join him.

"Congratulations. You have successfully cast 'Warp', an intermediate-rank space magic."

"I did it! Thank you so much, Sebas!"

Fufu... his excitement is quite age-appropriate.

"Now, let us move on to 'Dimension Home'. The foundation is the same as 'Item Box'—you open a rift in space and visualize an internal area that you must maintain. I will skip the basics since you already know them, but there is one vital distinction: you must visualize the interior as having the same environment as our world. Unlike 'Item Box', 'Dimension Home' contains air. This allows living creatures to survive and thrive inside. The failure to manifest this environment is precisely what defines the 'Item Box' spell."

"I see. I understand."

Lord Ryoma began to concentrate once more. This was a far more complex spell than 'Warp', and I could see him straining to grasp the nuance. He chanted the name of the spell repeatedly, but only black voids appeared. Those were failures. When I informed him of this, he simply centered himself and tried again. And again.

As time passed, beads of sweat began to roll down his face, but his focus never wavered. He took short breaks, but for hour after hour, he persisted. Finally, as we approached the four-hour mark, he spoke in a low murmur.

"...'Dimension Home'."

In an instant, a brilliant white rift opened before him.

"Congratulations. 'Dimension Home' is yours as well."

"Yes! Thank you! Now I can carry my slimes with me everywhere!"

"I am pleased to have been of service. Should the space ever feel too cramped, you can expand it by repeating the process to 'add' more rooms, though it requires a significant amount of mana. Remember: a black rift is a failure, a white one is a success."

"Got it."

"Then let us return to the Young Lady. The sun will be setting soon."

"Wait... really!? Has that much time passed?"

He hadn't even noticed. Had I not intervened, I suspect he would have kept going until he collapsed. Normally, a mage would have run out of mana and given up long before now, but his reserves truly are on par with the Young Lady’s.

"You were quite focused, after all. Shall we? 'Warp'."

I have many questions about this boy, but for now, I think I shall simply watch over him and see where his journey leads.