Chapter 8 (1/2)

CHAPTER 8 – PRACTISING MAGIC

It’s been half a month since ‘the case of the burnt soup’.

Reflecting on my mistake, I decided that I should confirm the power level1 of the spells in the grimoire. At any rate, I was far too excited. In spite of being a five year old child in this world, it was still quite embarra.s.sing since I used to be 19 years old in my past life.

Even if no one knows that apart from me&h.e.l.lip;

At the very least, I should act a little more like an adult. Magic carries a potentially deadly might. Nevertheless, I had the confidence to handle these spells, whatever their effects.

The magic language is j.a.panese, and I was formerly j.a.panese.

There’s no way I couldn’t use magic.

However, as easy as it was to use, I was far from being a master. My first step towards mastery should be to find out what effects an incantation manifests.

And I knew the quickest and easiest method to do so; cast all the spells and record their effects.

“Okay.”

I left the house through the back door and opened the grimoire. On the page, a variety of spells were written in kanji and hiragana. Although I had read it through from start to finish, I had only experimented with 10 incantations.

In all seriousness, how am I supposed to know in what situation I should use ‘Mr Careless’?

I learnt from burning the soup how scary it can be not knowing the effects of a spell; not to mention a spell whose effects I can’t predict at all. No matter what, I will not let the soup’s sacrifice be in vain.

“I guess I’ll practise.”

If nothing else, I should at least try out all the incantations I’m not sure about. I even came to the backyard, just in case.

The backyard was a substantially s.p.a.cious s.p.a.ce. There weren’t any trees or houses, just a large empty expanse. It should reduce the chances of any accidents occurring. Also, it was hidden from the other houses in the village, making it the perfect spot for me to practise unseen.

Just because I’ve been accepted by my parents, I can’t say the other villagers will too. Hence, I decided that it would be better to hide my powers.

“Okay, let’s start with this one&h.e.l.lip;”

It was getting dark.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead and took a deep breath. Naturally, while I managed to test a lot of incantations, casting spells repeatedly really tired me out.

Even though I was still at the stage of using the surrounding æther to fuel my magic, chanting incantations all day is fairly tiring. At least it didn’t consume my internal æther as well, to say nothing of the fact that my body was merely 5 years old.

There’s no way it wouldn’t wear me out. In particular, my throat was parched. I needed water as soon as possible.

“Hah&h.e.l.lip;hah&h.e.l.lip;wheeze2&h.e.l.lip;”

At the moment, I was still unable to sense æther or manipulate my internal æther at will.

I hope I’ll be able to soon. No, I will learn to sense æther.

Once I figure it out, I’ll probably be on the way to becoming a great magician.

“Eurgh&h.e.l.lip;this is bad, I’m so tired&h.e.l.lip;”

I fell flat on the ground, panting. Even though I was exhausted, it felt good. I was filled to the brim with a sense of accomplishment and was about to fall asleep. I can’t fall asleep yet though.