"Growth in Every Form"
The last to complete the training was Bert, though it was understandable"while Loli and Sig were pure magic types, Bert was a hybrid of strength and mana, which slightly complicated his internal flow.
"Seems like you all managed it," said Lua, giving a slight nod and a barely noticeable smile.
"We also got telekinesis!" Loli chimed in with excitement, flashing a bright smile.
"Yes. Though it's a minor and not very useful skill on its own, it's fundamental for strengthening your magical control," Lua explained calmly. She gently raised her hand, and a soft blue aura began to surround it. Before everyone's eyes, a nearby rock lifted from the ground and floated toward her, guided with precision.
Thanks to their newfound mana control, the three of them could now see how the energy flow concentrated in Lua's palm"like a living network that absorbed, controlled, and directed matter.
"In your case, as a talisman maker, this skill will be especially useful," she added, looking at Bert. "You'll be able to throw talismans more accurately… and even activate them from a distance. For now, your range is just about a meter, but it will grow with time and practice."
"I see," Bert replied, his calm tone concealing the avalanche of ideas already forming in his mind.
"Now, let's move on to spells," Lua said, drawing a green rune in the air. It hovered in front of them, slowly rotating as it released a soft current of wind that gently tousled their hair.
"This is the wind rune. Memorizing it isn't enough"you must understand its essence. Magic, as I told you, is rooted in feeling. You can channel it with words, sure… even phrases in whatever language you're most comfortable with. But if you want my advice, always use runes."
"Why are runes better?" Bert asked, curious.
"Runes are the product of thousands of years of research and practice. They're how spirit monsters translated their innate abilities into a language others could use," Lua explained. "When magic emerged, it wasn't invented"it was interpreted. A fire ability could be understood and replicated by a water spirit thanks to a spell… and that's how the magical system was born."
"So that's why we don't learn them like regular skills?" Sig deduced, furrowing her brow slightly.
"Maybe," Lua admitted honestly. "Even I don't know all the details. But grimoires… the books you have, contain runes that replicate the sensations needed to invoke their effects. This wind rune, for example, will last a couple of hours. Use it to feel the wind. Connect that to the books. The rest is up to you."
She spoke calmly, her face always serene, without any rush in her gestures. Once she finished, she observed them for a moment longer, then left without another word.
…
Several meters away, near one of the most devastated parts of the village, more than thirty slimes swarmed the rubble. Although Loli, Bert, and Sig"along with Lua"had already cleaned much of the central area, the settlement was still large, with plenty left to do.
And Edward, the original slime, was still there… tirelessly cleaning, as if his will were on pause, immersed in a mechanical and hypnotic cycle. His body absorbed rotting wood pieces, loose stones, and dust without stopping. Every time he dissolved a certain volume of debris, a new slime split off from him, replicating his behavior and doubling the efficiency of the task.
A soft yet firm voice interrupted his trance:
"Not thinking of taking a break?"
The largest slime froze. A moment later, it took on its humanoid form: a small, translucent emerald-colored youth, and turned toward the voice.
Lua was watching him from the entrance of a half-collapsed house.
"Ah! I… I'm sorry. I was cleaning and didn't want to leave work for the others," Edward said, a bit nervous.
"Don't apologize. You're doing an excellent job. Everyone contributes in their own way, and there are many missions to complete. I just asked if you were planning to rest."
"Well… I guess I could. But honestly, I don't feel tired. Maybe because this body isn't real. I remember reading that the body can rest even if the mind stays active."
Lua observed him for a moment, her peaceful expression unchanged.
"Sometimes… it's not the body that needs rest most," she said in an odd, almost nostalgic tone.
After all, she knew that well. She had gone nearly four hundred years without sleep, without pause or relief. Until the arrival of the players, her existence had been reduced to the automatic maintenance of a dead world. Only now, with the responsibility shared, had she allowed herself to close her eyes from time to time.
"It's just that… cleaning is the only thing I know how to do," Edward murmured. "I never had an interest in fighting."
"Why not?"
"Maybe because I'm… too submissive. Harmless."
"And why do you think that?"
Edward frowned slightly. The conversation was starting to touch on parts of himself he usually avoided. Not because it upset him… but because he didn't know how to respond.
"I never fought for anything. Not even for my old job."
"And why didn't you?"
Silence hit him like a stone. This time, he had no excuse or comfortable answer.
"I don't know," he finally admitted.
"Then… if even you don't know, why are you so sure you couldn't fight?" Lua asked, calmly watching him. "Your body is immune to non-magical physical damage. You could try."
"But isn't it fine if I just keep cleaning?" Edward replied, not raising his voice, but with a slight shadow of frustration.
"As I said, you're doing an amazing job. You can keep going if that's what you want. But our kind evolves by gaining experience. Maybe what you need… is to start moving forward."
With that, she pulled out a large mana stone and placed it gently in front of him. Then, without another word, she turned and began walking away.
"Why do you care about that boy, boss? If he manages to clean the whole village, it'd be amazing…" asked Sia in her mind.
Lua didn't respond immediately. Her eyes remained fixed on the forested path ahead.
"Maybe… because he reminds me a bit of myself," she thought quietly. "Time to restock the mana stones."
With that, she unsheathed the sword Loli and the others had given her long ago… and vanished into the shadows of the dark forest.
…
Ganfall calmly tended to the small mounds of soil, watering them with precision and ensuring the ground maintained optimal conditions. Thanks to his profession skill, he could even detect the nutrient levels present in the soil.
Then, one of the mounds caught his attention. He examined it carefully, and a moment later, a small stem rapidly sprouted. Before his eyes, the plant grew at an unusual pace until its leaves unfolded, vibrant and deep green.
-
🌱 Magic Tomato Plant (Medium Quality)
Type: Edible Magical Plant
Category: Ingredient – Rarity: Common+
Description:
A fast-growing magical tomato plant that produces pure, toxin-free fruit. The tomatoes have a rich flavor and provide light energy, making them ideal for magical cuisine.
Estimated Growing Time:
• Standard Total: 3 days
• Final Ripening: 1 additional day
• An expert farmer can reduce this to 2 days
Growth Benefits:
• Slightly improves soil quality
• If harvested by a skilled farmer, it can reach high quality
Culinary Use:
• Can be eaten raw once fully mature
• In dishes: grants +1 Strength to the consumer for a short period
Additional Notes:
• Can be enhanced with water possessing magical properties
• Does not generate mana, but reacts to its nearby presence
-
"Ah… looks like it's my first plant," murmured Ganfall with a smile, watching as small green spheres began to form"the future tomatoes.
Around him, other plants also began emerging from the soil, drawing a look of genuine satisfaction across his face.
…
Meanwhile, the group practicing magic was focused on drawing runes in the air, trying to maintain a steady mana flow without letting it collapse before completing the sequence.
Loli was the first to correctly finish a sequence. As soon as the last rune was drawn, a small magic circle formed instantly and absorbed the mana. Then, a gust of wind surged forward a few meters before dissipating.
"I did it!" Loli exclaimed with joy, smiling excitedly.
Sig and Bert watched her, which motivated them to try even harder. Loli, focused, attempted to repeat the spell several more times, succeeding in about three out of every ten tries. It was her first time using magic legitimately, and the feeling was wonderful.
At that very moment, Ganfall was approaching to inform them about the crops, but upon seeing them training with such dedication and focus, he decided not to interrupt. His gaze fell on the wind rune suspended in the air, and a mysterious smile appeared on his face.
He stood there watching with interest as Loli repeatedly cast the spell forward. Thanks to the upgraded base, her mana regenerated quickly, allowing her to train without pause. Additionally, the spells had no cooldown time, making the training even smoother.
By the time they managed to cast both spells consistently, it was already late. The sky was beginning to glow with sunset colors, signaling that they had spent the entire day learning to control their magic.
But far from being a wasted day, it had been one of tremendous growth.