"Hey," Neo began, his voice tentative but curious.
"Could you check if I can use magic?"
Licia's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. She propped her bow against the ground, her brow furrowing in thought.
"Hmm, I suppose we could do a simple test," she said, her lips curving into a faint smile. "How about the village square?"
With a light step, she started down the cobblestone path, her golden hair catching the sunlight. Neo hurried to keep pace, calling out to her back.
"What kind of test is it?"
Licia glanced over her shoulder, her hair swaying like a cascade of molten gold. "It's easy. We'll see if you can sense the flow of mana. There's a small magic circle in the square—just place your hands on it. If you've got any mana, it'll glow."
As they neared the heart of the village, the square came into view, its cobblestones stretching wide and open. Wooden houses ringed the space, their roofs adorned with vibrant flowers and creeping vines. At the edge of the square, an elderly elf sat on a wooden bench, engrossed in a book. In the center, a small fountain sparkled, its clear water reflecting the midday sun.
Beside the fountain, half-buried in the ground, was a moss-covered stone disc etched with intricate patterns.
Neo pointed at it. "What's this magic circle for? Is it okay to just… touch it?"
Licia chuckled, gesturing toward the disc. "You're such a worrier. This circle's for kids to test their mana. Anyone can use it. It's mostly for checking potential or practicing basic spells. It's sturdy—don't worry about breaking it."
She strolled over to the fountain and crouched by the circle, tracing its patterns with a finger. Around them, the village elves cast curious glances, their eyes a mix of intrigue and caution.
Neo nodded, scanning the young elves watching from the sidelines. "Got it. So it's like a playground slide for kids, huh?"
Licia tilted her head, puzzled. "A slide?" Then she giggled. "That's a funny way to put it. It's not quite the same, but sure, it's a place for kids to have fun trying magic for the first time. Come on, let's get started. Stand in the center and hold out your hands."
She stood, brushing dust off the circle. Neo stepped into the middle, standing obediently. He extended both hands, palms down, and the circle's patterns began to emit a faint blue glow.
Licia nodded. "Good. Keep your hands out, palms down. Clear your mind and imagine something warm flowing from deep inside you."
"Warm, huh…" Neo muttered. His mind conjured the image of a steaming cup of instant ramen on a cold winter day. The circle's blue light pulsed brightly for a moment, then dimmed, flickering weakly.
Licia studied the glow, her tone thoughtful. "Hmm… Well, you've got some mana."
"Really?!" Neo's eyes lit up.
"Yup. But it's super weak. Like, barely even at a kid's practice level."
The children around the square burst into laughter, calling out, "What's that supposed to do?"
Neo grinned, undeterred. "But it means I can use magic, right?"
Licia shrugged, a teasing smile on her lips as she watched the circle's faint glow. "Technically, yeah. But with mana this weak, you'd probably make a breeze weaker than blowing through a straw. Even a kid's first light orb would outshine you."
"Still…" Neo's voice trembled with excitement. He couldn't help it—magic was real, and he could use it. It wasn't about the glass being half empty; it was half full, and that was more than enough. "I want to try it now. Can I? Do I need to prep or something?"
Licia's eyes widened at his enthusiasm, then she smirked. "You're really into this, huh? With mana that weak, you can only do basic stuff. Hold your hands close to the circle and picture that 'warm something' again. No prep needed—just don't get your hopes up too high, okay?"
Neo nodded eagerly. "Got it. I'm picturing it. What's next?"
Licia glanced at the circle's faint light, waving a hand. "Move your hands closer and breathe out slowly, like a deep exhale."
Neo followed her instructions, lowering his hands toward the circle and exhaling slowly. He pictured the steam rising from his imaginary ramen, focusing on a faint sensation of energy pushing outward. A gentle breeze stirred, just enough to ruffle Licia's golden bob.
"Nice!" Licia clapped briefly. "You did it! It's barely a tickle, but you pulled it off."
The kids in the square giggled, mimicking Neo's breeze by blowing at each other near the fountain.
"That's awesome!" Neo beamed, his voice brimming with awe. "This is unreal. Getting hit by that car was totally worth it."
Licia's blue-green eyes widened, caught off guard by his words. To her, magic was as mundane as fetching water in the morning. But Neo's unfiltered excitement, like a child seeing the stars for the first time, stirred something in her chest.
"You're so dramatic," she said, chuckling and shrugging. "It's just a tiny breeze."
Neo stepped out of the circle, curiosity still burning. "Can I use magic outside the circle, or does it only work here?"
Licia traced the circle's patterns again, shaking her head. "You can, but the circle amplifies mana. Outside it, with your level… it'd probably be so weak you'd barely notice."
"Bummer," Neo muttered. He tried the same process outside the circle, picturing the ramen steam again. A faint puff of air escaped his nose, but the sensation was a third of what he'd felt in the circle. He sighed. "Yeah, that's a letdown."
Licia shrugged, her smile encouraging. "Hey, don't sweat it. Just being able to do something is pretty cool. Most humans can't even manage a breeze like that."
"Can I do anything besides wind?" Neo asked, hopeful.
Licia shook her head, her golden hair swaying. "Nope. Visible magic like fire or light takes way more mana. Wind's the easiest, and even that's a stretch for you. I wouldn't hold my breath for anything else."
"Can't I get stronger with practice?" Neo's eyes searched hers, clinging to a sliver of hope.
Licia's smile turned apologetic. "You can get better at using magic with practice, but the amount of mana you have—your output—is set at birth. Like how tall you'll grow as an adult. It doesn't change. If anything, it might weaken as you age."
Neo's shoulders slumped, disappointment clouding his face. But he quickly shook it off, forcing a grin. "Oh well. Having even a little magic is way better than being a plain old mug—er, never mind. Hey, Licia, show me your magic."
Licia blinked, caught off guard, then grinned. "Alright, sure."
She opened her palm, and a small flame flickered to life, its warm glow dancing in the air. The fireball illuminated the square, drawing gasps from the children. Its light reflected off the fountain, casting a soft shimmer.
Neo's eyes sparkled. Licia's fireball burned fiercely, dwarfing his feeble breeze. It was like a tiny sun. "That's incredible! Can you make it bigger?"
Licia nodded confidently. "You bet."
She raised both hands above her head, closing her eyes in focus. The fireball swelled, growing to the size of a boulder. The elves around the square gasped, and the kids shouted, "Wow, Licia's the best!" The flame's heat rippled through the air, warming Neo's cheeks.
Neo's excitement boiled over. "Bigger! Make it bigger!"
The kids joined in, clapping and cheering, "Go, Licia, go!" The square's attention fixed on her, and Licia, caught up in the energy, flushed with a grin.
"Alright, let's go all out!"
She thrust her hands skyward, and with a roar, the flames spiraled into a towering pillar of fire, as tall as a five-story building. The blaze, nearly two meters wide, painted the daytime sky red and sent waves of heat rippling across the fountain. The kids screamed in delight, and the adult elves stared, awestruck.
Neo, nearly dizzy with excitement, shouted, "That's insane, Licia! Can you make it even bigger?"
Sweat beaded on Licia's forehead as she shook her head, laughing breathlessly. "This is my max! No way I can go bigger!"
Neo's eyes lit up with a sudden idea. He stepped closer to the fire. "What if I add my wind magic? Like fanning the flames!"
Licia raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Your breeze? I doubt it'd do much…"
But Neo was undeterred. He aimed his palms at the fire, picturing his ramen steam and preparing to summon his faint breeze. The kids crowded closer, curious, while Licia watched, half-amused, half-dubious.
Neo exhaled, sending a gentle puff of air toward the flames.
In that instant, the elves' and Licia's expressions shifted—something had changed, and they sensed it.
The source was Neo.
Licia shouted, "Wait!" and tried to douse the flames, but it was too late. The moment Neo's breeze touched the fire, the pillar erupted.
The flames exploded outward, swelling to fill the entire square, their height scraping the clouds. The sky burned crimson, and a scorching wind swept through the village. The kids screamed, adults scrambled to shield them with water magic, and the fountain's water evaporated into clouds of steam. The square was swallowed by a storm of fire.