Chapter 42 : Magic Beyond Battle
The sun beat down over the fields, hot enough to sting. Father’s broad back glistened with sweat as he swung the hoe into the stubborn earth.
Each strike dug a little deeper, but I could see it—how his arms slowed, how the curse made his breath catch, how hard it was for him to work like this.
I sat on the fence post, legs dangling, chin in my hands.
Why… why does it have to be like this?
I had seen what magic could do. Fire strong enough to destroy walls, ice sharp enough to cut, gravity heavy enough to crush. But watching Father struggle made me wonder—
“...Is there magic that can help?” I whispered.
The HUD flickered faintly, reacting to my thought.
[Inquiry Detected: Utility Applications of Magic]Glyphs and prompts scrolled across my vision. Nothing destructive. Nothing made for war. Just… possibilities.[Searching…]
[Aqua Ball – Evolution Path Added: Aqua Flow]I blinked. “Irrigation…?”[Requirement: Use Aqua Ball repeatedly on soil until consistent irrigation is achieved.]
I stared at the field again. At Father’s hoe striking dry earth. At the way he paused, hand pressed to his chest, before forcing himself to keep moving.
Slowly, I hopped down from the fence.
If fire could destroy, then maybe water could grow.
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If magic could kill, then maybe magic could heal the land.
I clenched my small fists, determination bubbling in my chest. “I’ll find it, Dad. Magic that makes your life easier.”
The HUD shimmered again:
[New Goal Established: Discover Non-Combat Evolutions]I smiled, the idea of irrigation magic filling me with a new kind of excitement.[Bond Strengthened: Darius Valemont – Inspiration]
Maybe I wasn’t just a monster.
Maybe I could be something more.
The field stretched out before me, dry and cracked. Father’s hoe had broken the soil, but the earth still begged for water.
I waddled forward, puffing my chest out like a great magician about to unleash a legendary spell.
“Okay… let’s try this.”
I raised my tiny hand.
[Skill: Aqua Ball]
[Proficiency: 17/100]
Mana swirled, cool and fresh. With a small pop, a wobbly ball of water appeared over my palm.
I grinned. “Heh! Easy!”
The ball promptly slipped and splattered onto my face.
“Pwahhh—!” I stumbled back, dripping wet, coughing.
From the edge of the field, Lyra covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking faintly. She didn’t laugh out loud, but her eyes gleamed with amusement.
“D-don’t laugh!” I sputtered, wiping my face. “That was just practice!”
Round two.
This time I focused harder, keeping the sphere steady. It hovered above my palm, trembling but intact. I toddled to the nearest patch of soil and tipped my hand.
The ball fell… and bounced.
“Eh?”
Splosh! It hit the dirt and rolled off uselessly, leaving only a tiny wet spot.
“Ughhh…!” I stomped my little foot. “Why won’t you go in the ground?!”
The HUD flickered faintly:
[Tip: Adjust Mana Density for Absorption]
“Mana density…?” I muttered, scratching my head. “Like… softer water?”
I tried again. This time, I willed the ball to feel lighter, like a gentle rain instead of a hard stone. When I tipped my hand, it splashed softly onto the soil, seeping in.
The dirt darkened. The crack closed slightly.
My eyes lit up. “It worked!”
I spun in place, clapping my wet little hands. “I did it!”
Lyra finally let a tiny laugh escape, her voice soft. “…Adorable.”
I shot her a mock glare, cheeks puffed. “I-I’m not adorable! I’m a genius magician!”
But even as I pouted, the HUD blinked with new light:
[Progress Detected: Aqua Ball – Proficiency 30/100]
[Evolution Path Advanced: Aqua Flow]
And for once, the fire in my chest wasn’t destruction.
It was joy.