8 Chapter Two End || The Mirror World (2/2)

”Yes, the most valuable considering it can get you basically anything: money, fame, respect and recognition, a home, a living, even life,” Akari elaborated, settling down on her belly.

”Life?” Essairyn softly exclaimed.

”Yes, magic can heal after all. So, it's basically like saving someone,” Akari clarified and then added with a portentous tone, ”And there are more ways to save a life. Hiding their soul, splitting it..”

Essairyn smiled uneasily, making the fox chuckle at her expression.

”Ah, it's only the gods and elementals that can do that anyway, so don't worry. Even then it's extremely hard for them to do unless they're the elemental creator gods,” Akari reassured.

Essairyn's expression perked up at the mention of creator gods. Noticing this, Akari continued, ”Water, light, earth, fire, and ice. They're the gods who created this world. And for a long time too, they lived in this world. But after the Great Elemental War, they disappeared and became part of the world themselves. No one's ever seen or heard them since. Now, people have forgotten how the world used to be…” Akari trailed off.

”How long ago was the war?”

Akari looked at her for a moment before responding, ”Thousands of years ago.”

The fox fell silent and looked at the floor. Essairyn tipped her head in concern.

”Are you okay?”

The fox jerked her head up, eyes wide.

”Y-yeah. For some reason..I always feel a little sad when I'm on the subject.. It's nothing, really.”

Akari glanced out the window, and Essairyn followed her gaze. The forest had gotten even darker since they arrived and talked.

”You have night here?” Essairyn inquired.

”Yes,” Akari answered, ”It's a little different from your earthly night, but it's essentially the same. The world gets lighter and darker at periodic times thus creating the days. But our days are the result of magic in the air transitioning from high energy to low energy. When you cast magic, you see it like light. During the day, magic has more energy, so it's brighter outside. But the amount of magic is still the same, it just flows throughout the world. Creatures with more magical aptitude have a closer connection to the flow of magic and can harness more of its power. It's as simple as that.”

Essairyn was genuinely amazed. Just like how Earth was the biological world based on elements, Sol'h'meyr was the magical world based on magic.

However, Akari hadn't yet explained the difference between regular magic and elemental magic. Apparently, humans were incapable of elemental magic.

”But is the world created based on elemental magic? If so, then how come humans can't use it?”

”It's true that this world was created based on elemental magic. The elemental gods' essences put together essentially formed this world. But humans like you never originated from our world. But since this is a magical world, your existences have to adhere to our natural laws. So some of you can wield magic, but it's never the elemental kind.”

Akari paused in her explanation and stared firmly at Essairyn. ”Heh. Although, I suppose you broke that law. Are you sure you're not an elemental?” Akari questioned through squinted eyes and jumped up to sniff Essairyn. ”But you really do smell like a human,” the fox ascertained after a whiff.

Essairyn gave a little laugh. ”I didn't know you can, uh, smell human. But yes, I'm very sure. I don't even know what an elemental is.”

The fox bent her front body in a downwards stretch. ”Well,” she began, peering out the window again, ”I'll believe my senses that indicate you're a human. So, I'd love to tell you more, but do you have more food here or something? I'm still hungry.”

”Pfft,” Essairyn laughed and walked to the door, ”Let's go find something.”