Now that there was a clean section of the arena thanks to the work of the Eleventh Songbird Squad, I let the fairy group rest there.
"What I noticed is that it's easier to control outer mana when my reserves are completely empty. That's why I cast as many spells as I can until I'm left with no inner mana," I explained, noticing the goblins and the orc girl listening while they worked.
"And that's why you stabbed yourself and used that spell," one of the fairies said. "I thought you were some crazy masochist, but it actually made sense. You'd pass out without mana, and the pain kept you awake long enough for the spell to stay active."
That comment earned several long sighs from the group.
"It's similar to what we fairies do," Antares added.
"How is it similar, Antares?" one of the fairies asked.
"Since we fairies left our physical forms behind, we have no inner mana—we became one with outer mana."
"Then why don't we use that method, Antares?"
"Because, unlike real bodies, these doll bodies don't regenerate mana on their own. We'd die as soon as our reserves ran out."
The fairies hummed in understanding at her explanation.
"Oh! Me, me, I have a question!" an excited fairy said, raising her hand. "Why did you use that sandstorm spell?"
"When I used it, I noticed it changed the outer mana itself. As if the sandstorm, created from my own mana, infected the outer mana and turned it into mine—making it easier to control."
"That's idiotic!" one of them huffed, crossing her arms. "Mana doesn't work like that!"
"Huh?"
"I apologize for her attitude, but she's right, Alen," Antares said. "What probably happened is that the mana from your spell overwhelmed the outer mana in the air, making it easier to manipulate."
"I can't believe someone with such little knowledge is the one who figured out how to control outer mana with a physical body."
"I am still learning about magic, so it's natural I don't know everything," I said, rubbing the back of my neck in embarrassment.
"Also… there's one thing I wanted to ask. A long time ago, using this same method, I managed to skip tiers and cast a tier four spell. Do you know anything about that?"
At my question, even the Eleventh Songbird Squad looked at me like I was telling tall tales.
"That's not possible, Alen. Even we fairies follow the rules of magical tiers. Skipping them is impossible."
"But I—"
"It is possible!" Tinalara's voice cut through the awkward silence.
Everyone turned to her with puzzled expressions.
"In our world, there was an elven trickster known for his deception," she began. "During the day, he was an average man—barely second circle, weaker than most elves. But at night, he was a thief and murderer."
"What does that have to do with skipping tiers?" one of the fairies asked.
"His night persona used tier five spells," Tinalara explained. "The elven defense force tried to track him down using that knowledge, but it was impossible. The potential he showed by day wasn't the same as the power he unleashed at night."
"What happened to him? Was he caught? How did he do it" a fairy asked, her eyes sparkling.
"He was caught because his wife turned him in. As for the method, he fought the defense force, and eventually, was killed in that battle. So how he did it was a mystery"
"I thought it was going to be more epic than that," I muttered, disappointed.
"That wasn't a story, Alen—it really happened. Not every true story ends epically."
"Wait, it was real?! I thought you were just saying that to make him feel better for lying!"
"I wasn't lying!"
"I wasn't making anything up!"
Both Tinalara and I snapped at the fairy at the same time, making her hide behind Antares.
"I have a question for the goblin boy!" another fairy interrupted. "I noticed he chants incantations for spells, but Mister Alen didn't. Is that something about human and goblin culture being different? But I did see that human who tortured us chant incantations..."
"As far as I know, humans also need to use incantations," Sheiran replied. "It shouldn't be possible without the [Great Sage's Left Eye]."
"Is that also a thing in your world?" I asked.
"It is."
"Well… what I do is something I call Fake Incantationless Casting. Basically, I chant the incantation but never actually cast the spell. That way, the spell stays stored and ready to use later." I demonstrated by chanting quietly.
When I finished, I nodded. "And… done. Now it's reserved for later use."
"Your mana flashed when you stored it…"
"Really?" I asked, confused.
"Ugh! You weren't kidding when you said you just wing it. You do all these complex things with nothing but instincts and dumb luck!"
"Why would I lie about something like that?"
"You clearly hide your skills. Why didn't your goblin companions know about this trick? Do other humans know about it?" she demanded, frowning and pointing accusingly at me.
At her barrage of questions, I could only shake my head slowly. "I never told anyone about it."
"Why not?" she pressed, ignoring the other fairies trying to hush her.
"I… I'm weak. I don't have enough power to keep up with everyone else. If what I figure out became common knowledge… I'd sink back to the very bottom."
A surprise factor isn't enough to win—but it's all I have. It's the only thing that's kept me above average. The only thing that got me this far.
Maybe sharing it would help others grow stronger, make the world safer when things get harder…
But that's the thing—I'm selfish. I keep my secrets to myself because I don't want to be weak. Someone like me doesn't deserve the praise I've received.
"The truth will come out eventually, Alen," Antares said softly, her voice pulling me back to the moment. "You have a real talent for discovery. Maybe it's curiosity, or maybe it's your will to experiment. Either way, fighting isn't everything. You could become a great researcher of magic and mana."
"I do like learning all I can about magic," I said with a faint smile, pointing toward the goblins. "Sheiran, Tinalara, Gola… and Clighton. I'll master Krath's Glide because it means something to me. They're my friends."
Right after I said that, two bodies crashed into me, knocking me flat on my back.
"Mister!" both Gola and Sheiran yelled, hugging me tightly as my hair caught in the sand covering the arena floor.
"Don't think flattery will get you far with me," Tinalara said, crossing her arms. "As your boss, I won't give you special treatment." Still, her pink cheeks glowed bright.
As I lay there crushed under the two kids, I heard a faint giggle from Antares.
"What an interesting team you've assembled here," she said.
"They're not the only ones," I replied, standing once the kids released me. "I also have other friends and family I want to protect, no matter what."
"We'll help you get stronger to protect them," Antares promised, reclining on another fairy's lap. "We'll teach you everything we know about the Inner Realm."
"Y-you'd really do that, Antares?"
"Not just me," she said, smiling. "These girls will help too, right?"
The four younger fairies nodded enthusiastically.
"We'll make you the strongest!"
"I can't ignore someone struggling with the basics!"
"He's eager to learn, so I'll give it my all too!"
"Let's learn together, Alen! And you too, Sheiran!"
"I want to learn magic too!" Gola said, stepping forward and raising her finger. "Even if it's just a tier one spell—I want to use magic!"
Seeing the determination in the orc girl's eyes, the fairies couldn't help but encourage her. They all grabbed the orc girl's finger and gave it a firm shake.
"Gola, right? Magic can be used by anyone, no matter how low their reserves are," one fairy said warmly.
That night, in The Pit—the underground arena where I became one of the Cardinal Lords—an unlikely alliance was born.
Goblins, fairies, an orc, a spider monster, and a human.
We came together to grow stronger in this world, each of us chasing something different: survival as the last of a tribe, the search for the Elementals, or the will to defy the world's story and avoid a doomed ending.
...
With a loud and surprised whistle by one of the fairies, we all looked at the arena.
The floor that was covered in muddy, almost quicksand-like floor that was filled with blood, spit, and other bodily fluids finally was looking cleaner.
"Thank you so much, Gila, Sheiran, Tinalara!" I smiled at the three of them. "I'm sorry I couldn't help, but they didn't want me over exerting myself" I said, referring to te fairies that wanted me to rest until I was healthy.
"Next time, don't have us making slave work, got it?!" Tinalara barked at me, her arms crossed and her gaze turned to the right.
"I didn't mind. I got genuinely good practice on my rock affinity magic"
"I also got to move around a lot and get somewhat tired. That's almost impossible for an orc!"
Gola and Sheiran defended me against Tinalara.
"Kufufu..." Antares giggled at the sight of the Eleventh Songbird Squad members arguing. "This is going to get really noisy for us"
"You'll spend most time inside the cloak, so just be ready for that" I joked.
"The inside is surprisingly more comfy than you'd think, Alen"
"I hop it is. I wouldn't like for all of you to have to spend so much time on an uncomfortable place"
"Hey, you fairies!" Tinalara yelled out, pointing her finger at the fairies resting on my hands. "As the Eleventh Songbird Squad boss, I make all five of you official members!"
While most fairies had a more relaxed reaction, one of them reacted with sparkling eyes and an energetic smile.
"Wow! Are we part of a team, now?"
"Yes... it seems we are now" Antares replied softly.