Anima, Ch.57: Shining Path

--01-- [Scene: Herba Jungle] <BGM: Tears of Memories>
I knew hundreds of spells in my past life.
Well, now that I have my memories back, I know them all again.
However...most of them just won't work.
Magic operates by a different set of rules here...

--02-- <BGM: Tears of Memories>
So...that old knowledge is mostly useless now.
Maybe I could adapt some of the simple evocation spells to my new circumstances,
and recreate their effects here? It doesn't seem impossible...


--03-- <BGM: Tears of Memories>
The nastier spells, though? Out of the question.
Even if I could make them work, I wouldn't *want* to.
Erinn isn't ready for the kind of magic I specialized in...and I hope it never is.


--04-- [Scene: Maiz Prairie] <BGM: Tears of Memories>
Over the next couple of weeks, while I tried to adapt some of my old spells between magic systems,
Akule and Merlin agreed to teach me some of their own magic
that I'd never learned in Uladh...


--05-- <BGM: Order of Pride>
(Merlin)
Just imagine a big molten ball of rock falling from the sky,
and channel your mana through the staff.



--06-- <BGM: Order of Pride>
I raised the borrowed staff.
I'd seen more destructive things in my life than a huge burning ball of rock...
I formed an appropriate image, and let the power flow...


--07-- <BGM: Order of Pride>
(Merlin)
Yeah, just like that. Now, call it down!




--08-- <BGM: Scene 07/In Flames> {SFX: huge explosion}
In the distance, a blazing sphere fell from the sky, burning a hundred-foot wide area to ashes.
The flames lingered for some time afterward.
...From Merlin's reaction, I think I overdid it.


--09-- <BGM: Scene 07/In Flames>
(Merlin)
Holy hell, and that was your first try?
...
(I think I've created a monster... Or maybe she already was one...)


--10-- [Scene: Cor Village] <BGM: Always Great Spirit>
After some convincing from Akule for them to not try to kill me on sight,
I finally got to walk around among people again in Cor village,
though they eye me with fear, suspicion, and distrust...


--11-- <BGM: Always Great Spirit>
Animals and small children ran at the sight of me.
This world will never accept me as long as I look like a demon,
and there's nothing I could ever do to change it...or so I thought...


--12-- <BGM: Secret of Shamala>
(Shamala)
You smell like a demon, grr.
...I don't trust you...but Teacher asked me to,
so I'll show you how to do this, grr.


--13-- <BGM: Secret of Shamala>
Another of Akule's students taught me a...shapeshifting technique?
It's not enough, though...I can only change into various animals.
At best I could use it to sneak around.


--14-- <BGM: Secret of Shamala>
It takes all my focus to maintain the shapeshifting, so I can't use magic while I do it,
and that's all I'm any good at.
Still, having some way to hide is better than nothing...I guess.


--15-- <BGM: Goddess of the Town>
(Kusina)
I finished this for you...miss dragon...
I, I...I hope you like it...



--16-- <BGM: Goddess of the Town>
Kusina ended up making me something based on an elven wedding dress...
She colored it black, too...it seems appropriate.
At least the open back gives my wings room to move. It'll do.


--17-- [Scene: Rupes Desert] <BGM: A Magical Place>
There's this weird purple place north of Filia; Merlin took me there while I practiced
masquerading as various animals.
He was using the various substances there to...make something?


--18-- <BGM: A Magical Place> {SFX: success}
(Merlin)
A little of this, a couple of those, add a glove, and....there!
Looks like it came out pretty well.
You never know how good these things are going to turn out...
Try it on.


--19-- <BGM: A Magical Place>
He made me some kind of...knuckle, studded with gems, like the one he has...
It's like all of my wands and a staff combined, so I could use all of my better spells,
hands-free...more or less.


--20-- <BGM: A Magical Place>
"Wow, this is pretty impressive...thanks, this means a lot."
Interesting...a focus for advanced evocations, but attuned to all of the elements?
Yes, this is going to be very helpful...


--21-- <BGM: A Magical Place>
(Merlin)
Least I could do.
You rely on magic, right? Something like that ought to be perfect for you.
...You can do more than just cast magic with those too, you know?


--22-- [Herba Jungle] <BGM: Mischievous Soul>
One thing led to another, and with those knuckles, Akule taught me the basics of some
hand-to-hand combat using my fists...
I've never been very...physical, so this was...a bit awkward for me.


--23-- <BGM: Mischievous Soul>
It relied more on willpower, so even with my frail girly physique and flimsy arms,
I could still dish out a little damage, should my magical prowess fail me...
Always good to have a 'plan B.'


--24-- <BGM: Mischievous Soul>
If I end up having to...confront anyone who knew me, they'll remember I wasn't the physical type.
This might catch them off guard. Though I'd prefer not to have to fight them at all...



--25-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
Magic is so different in Erinn.
It's all about willpower and mental strength, not form and rituals.
After more failures than I hoped, I managed to adapt a few spells from my former life to work here.


--26-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
Any wizard from my old world with a few years of practice would've known most of these spells.
But here? All the old tricks are new again.
I'll save them for a surprise; only if I really need them.


--27-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
Merlin had taught me a few new spells too...I think I surprised him how fast I picked them up.
I'm not used to using them though, so I'd best not rely on them...not without more practice, anyway.



--28-- [Scene: none] <BGM: Back in the Happy Days>
After a month or so in the company of Akule, Merlin, and the people of Cor,
I felt that I was as prepared as I was going to be for the task that lay ahead.
It was time to leave.

I wouldn't be back.
--29-- <BGM: Back in the Happy Days>
There's just one obstacle standing in the way...and I hope I won't have to get violent to get around it.
I hope I can talk my way past Morrighan...

But first...I have to say my goodbyes.

--30-- [Scene: Cor Village] <BGM: Back in the Happy Days>
"Well... This is either going to be a one-way trip, or a suicide mission...either way,
I'm probably not going to see you again... So...I guess this is goodbye..."



--31-- <BGM: Back in the Happy Days>
(Merlin)
I wish I could go with you, but...my place is here.
For now...
Good hunting.


--32-- <BGM: Back in the Happy Days>
(Akule)
Good luck, Meara.
I believe you are destined for great things...even if they are not to unfold in *this* world.
Always stay true to yourself.


--33-- <BGM: Back in the Happy Days>
"Thank you...for taking a chance with me...for helping me find myself again.
For everything. I won't forget you."

They waved goodbye as I walked to the mana tunnel, and I went though.

--34-- [Scene: Maiz Prairie]
Having said my goodbyes, I set off...for my final mission...
I exited at the north end on the prairies of Rano, and shifted to look like a mongoose.
I'll never get used to doing this...!


--35-- <BGM: A Credible Roadsign>
I had to take the long way and walk across the plains.
Seeing a mongoose come out of a mana tunnel would raise too many questions,
and the Qilla mana tunnel was always guarded these days...


--36-- <BGM: A Credible Roadsign>
The southern end of Rano Prairie had grown into a city, home to dozens of people,
and even quite a few Milletians.
Houses, roads, and farm fields stretched across much of the plains.


--37-- <BGM: A Credible Roadsign>
It seems like most of the people of Uladh had simply run away to make a fresh start.
I didn't come close enough to see any familiar faces, but I couldn't help but wonder
who I might've found here...


--38-- <BGM: A Credible Roadsign>
I walked around the outskirts of the new town.
Even in this form, I don't dare get close.
Animals don't normally enter towns, so if I did, I'd likely be attacked.
I don't want trouble. Not yet...

--39-- [Scene: none] <BGM: Whisper of Wind>
I approached the boat dock.
Suddenly, the world around me went dark, and time itself seemed to grind to a halt.
I lost my concentration, and reverted to my true shape...

She's here...
--40-- {SFX: explosion}
(Morrighan)
I order you in the name of the Goddess. Stop.



[end of chapter]