After watching the street performance, Aldo and Iris followed Clara, who walked ahead, in high spirits. Once they reached a less crowded area, Clara stopped.
“This spot should be perfect for magic practice—it’s wide and quiet!”
“Magic…! Clara-san! Please teach me!”
Iris bowed deeply, her enthusiasm clear. Aldo, standing behind, crossed his arms and observed his beloved daughter with pride.
“First, I’ll explain the magic system. Magic is divided into six types, but… humans can only use five of them.”
“Wait, there’s a type of magic humans can’t use?”
Iris looked disappointed. In her mind, magicians were extraordinary beings capable of anything. To learn there were limitations felt like a small dent in her dreams.
“Let me explain the types humans can use. First, there’s Red Magic, which governs fire and earth. Then, Blue Magic, ruling over water and ice. Green Magic handles wind and trees, while Yellow Magic controls lightning and light. Lastly, there’s Spirit Magic, shared between humans and spirits. These are the five types humans can wield.”
“Hmm. What’s the magic humans can’t use?”
“That would be Dark Spirit Magic, used only by malevolent spirits. While humans can bond with benevolent spirits to use their magic, dark spirits cannot be accepted by humans. Hence, their magic remains exclusive to them, unusable by anyone else.”
“Wow, that’s fascinating!”
Both spirits and dark spirits are fundamentally spiritual entities. While spirits are harmonious and beneficial to humans, dark spirits bring harm.
“Now, as for me, I can use Spirit Magic, Blue Magic, and Green Magic.”
“Really? But I thought humans could use all five types?”
Iris blinked, confused.
“That’s true, but everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, right?”
“Yeah, like how I’m good at cleaning, but Dad always leaves a mess!”
“Iris!”
Aldo flushed at his daughter’s candidness, while Clara laughed it off.
“Exactly. It’s the same with magic. A single person can only use up to three types. So, Iris, you might be able to use different colors than I can.”
“Wow! I wonder what kinds of magic I can use!”
Iris’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she gazed at Clara. Her curiosity about her potential magic was palpable.
“If you have a knack for Blue or Green Magic, I can teach you those. And since all humans can use Spirit Magic, I can help you with that too. At the very least, you’ll learn one type for sure.”
“Okay!”
Iris smiled brightly, raising her hand in excitement. Clara chuckled warmly.
“Alright, then let’s start by testing your colors. Iris, hold your palms up to the sky.”
“Like this?”
“Yes. Now, take a deep breath.”
“Inhale… exhale…”
“Keep going and relax.”
“Inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale…”
Following Clara’s instructions, Iris breathed deeply, concentrating. Both Aldo and Clara couldn’t help but find her focused expression endearing, though they masked their amusement.
“Good! Now focus on your palms. Picture the mana stored below your navel flowing to your hands. Then release it all in one breath.”
“Inhale… and exhale—!”
From Iris’s right hand, a wave of red energy emerged, while her left hand emitted green.
“W-wow! Amazing!”
Seeing magic flow from her hands for the first time, Iris couldn’t contain her excitement. She beamed, shouting with joy.
“See the colors? That’s your magic affinity. You can use Red Magic and Green Magic. Since I can use Green Magic, I can teach you that one.”
“Yay! Teach me right now—oh!”
Iris suddenly wobbled and felt faint.
“Iris!”
Aldo rushed forward to support her. His quick reaction, despite lacking magical enhancements, was impressive.
“I’m okay, Dad. I just feel a little dizzy.”
“Are you alright, Iris? When you’re not used to using magic, you might feel mana-drunk. It’s harmless and something you’ll adjust to with practice.”
“Got it.”
“Iris, don’t overdo it,” Aldo gently scolded, holding her protectively. Iris smiled softly in his arms before drifting off to sleep, breathing peacefully. Aldo was bewildered.
“She fell asleep?”
“Perhaps she feels safe in your arms. Using mana can sometimes make people drowsy. It’s common,” Clara explained.
“Isn’t magic too much for her? She’s just a child.”
Aldo, unfamiliar with magic, suspected her young age might make it harder for Iris to handle mana compared to someone like Clara, who was 14.
“Age isn’t a factor. Even adults can experience this. In fact, there’s a saying that people who get mana-drunk easily often become the most powerful magic users. Iris might have incredible potential.”
“Really? That’s amazing!” Aldo’s face lit up.
“It’s just a saying—there’s no scientific proof.”
“Doesn’t matter! My daughter might be a prodigy!”
Aldo beamed with pride, the quintessential doting father.
Indeed, Iris possessed extraordinary talent. Whether that talent would lead to greatness or tragedy depended on her upbringing, which lay firmly in Aldo’s hands.
For now, Aldo didn’t know—and didn’t need to know—about such dire possibilities. His love for Iris was all that mattered.
“Clara, I’m sorry. She fell asleep after all your effort to teach her.”
“It’s alright, Aldo. Iris didn’t do anything wrong.”
With Iris sleeping peacefully in his arms, Aldo decided to head home.
The next morning:
“Hey, Dad! When can I see Clara-san again?”
Iris, her hands balled into fists, eagerly questioned Aldo as he prepared for work.
“Uh, when’s the next time…?”
“I want to be better friends with her! She’s such a nice person—teaching me magic like that! No way she could be bad!”
Aldo felt both happy and concerned at Iris’s newfound trust.
“I’ll talk to Clara. Maybe she can watch over you while I’m at work during the day.”
“Yay!”
And so, Iris and Clara began to bond over their shared interest in magic. Their budding friendship painted a bright future—one filled with promise and joy.
