It's a type of mysterious energy that flows within people, which can supposedly affect the objects and matter around us readily.
It can be molded into different shapes and forms, and blessed with different properties, allowing a load of crazy things to happen. Lightning could appear out of nowhere. You could start a firestorm even in a field of ice. Hypnotism could be used on a crowd, the office windows could just be broken down into a twister of glass to cut anyone and anything. Just to name a few, mana is a wonderful discovery.
If we could manipulate some otherworldly energy we had all the time, magic would probably have become so much easier to control. The matter composition, the properties of the matter and the entire process, all of that wouldn't have needed so much focus, willpower and control. It's like using a washing machine instead of scrubbing the clothes manually. How convenient it would have been.
If only it existed, v.vizards could have become so much more powerful.
How unfortunate. Magic's not that convenient to the point that it can be "automated".
Every time a v.vizard uses magic, one must keep in mind that the person is entering an extreme level of focus to even manipulate the matter around him. To let your guard down even for an instant could prove dangerous.
Of course, since v.vizards weaken themselves if they kill people, one can relax a bit, knowing that their death is their enemy's greatest weakness.
... Or so they think. I'm not sure how some idiots think that 'cannot kill' means 'cannot hurt'.
V.Vizards weaken themselves should they kill others for any reason at all, but hurting and crippling others is a different issue, especially in self-defense.
There would, sadly, always be some idiots that never think that they can still be attacked even if they're not killed.
*** ***
Standing outside a nostalgic door, I heaved a sigh.
It's a no-go.
I calculated the expenses of the v.vizard manual they sold on Airmazon, but I haven't saved up quite enough to be able to buy it without severe consequences yet. Should I get in an accident or should some emergency event occur , I would have about just enough as a safety net, so I really can't afford burning my wallet.
I still can't perform "dimensional fabric folding" yet, so getting my dad's v.vizard diary is definitely not possible right now. I've been a v.vizard for like, a mere day. If I could fold the dimensional fabric to get the book on my very first day, I think I would have been at the level of 'genius' or 'prodigy', and grabbing the book was probably not going to be useful if I was already that good.
The only thing left, is the extensive magic guide.
Problem is, it's at my cousin's house. And to worsen things, it's not just any cousin who would welcome any family member with warm, homely greetings.
Homei has a really, REALLY TSUN character, one that does not even forgive her relatives. Had she joined a club of tsuns, she would be the queen overlord or something. If I placed a block of ice next to her, she could probably refreeze the ice from a tiny cube to a couch's size, given about two minutes.
Ding dong!
I'm not sure if she has even a shred of 'dere' within her. Finding an excuse to enter her house is hard enough, how am I supposed to say "I want to look at my dad's old stuff and find a certain magic guide."? That's insane in itself.
"... Fine. Take it and get out."
Ah... !?! AHH!!! I've unconsciously already pressed the bell and she's opening the door for me! Wha- Did I- Oh my lord... I think I just spoke that out aloud...
Well, she certainly seems rather composed, almost as if she's in a good mood today. I probably shouldn't push my luck and hurry out, though.
... She's still in her adolescent age, and I'm almost twice as old as she is. I dare not imagine the wrath I would invoke had I visited when she was experiencing mood swings, or if her friends came out of nowhere, and called me a pedophile for visiting my lone wolf cousin who's a couple of years away from legal marriage. I'm not sure how she would react, actually. Would she have been livid at the fact that Dad had bothered her and Uncle for placing his things at their house? Or would she have become so emotionless, that she just replies the question with the same monotonous voice?
Besides, what's the probability that she would just coincidentally have friends visiting at the same day, same time that I was coming over? That's a bit too unlucky for anybody, isn't it? They'd probably have to be scripted or something, and pester the both of us. I probably won't mind them, since it's mainly just teasing anyway, but I'm not sure how Homei would take it, since they are her friends, after all. It could go a bit overboard if they somehow bugged me into saying "Please marry me." to her, so the only thing I can hope for is that she won't go berserk from all the rage she's bottled up. Maybe showing up like this is rude too, I should have brought a gift before coming to her house. Tea would have been rather preferable, so I probably should have bought some at the general store near her hou-
? Strange, there's a rather soft sensation across my lower torso and thorax...
... !?! She's... hugging me!? What!? What is going on!?
"... I do."
'I do'? 'I do' what? What did she mean by 'I do'? What did she do?! Or rather, what have I done!?
"I didn't think you thought this way about me too, Vance-onii-chan. I thought you would have been against it with the Minimum Age for Marriage and all, but..."
What? WHAT?! Minimum Age of Marriage? Why bring up marriage? What just happened!?
"I- uh- ah... I... I think-"
"Can I call you Vance from now on?"
... She's hitting on me. Somehow or rather, I believe she's seriously hitting on me. I want to clarify whatever just happened, but I don't even know where to start. What, exactly WHAT, did I do to make her behave like this?
... I remember bowing, and uttering 'Sorry to intrude' when I entered the apartment... Did I?
Or... did I just, by COMPLETE ACCIDENT, MUTTER 'PLEASE MARRY ME.' !? OH MY LORD, THIS IS SERIOUS!!! THIS COULD RUIN MY LIFE AND MY V.VIZARD CAREER! WHAT HAVE I DONE!?
She's snuggling on me...!!! I... I can't, I can't just break up her happiness becuase of my selfishness, that's a strike on my purity! But, if I actually married her, it would progress slowly to consummation, and I'd lose my v.vizard powers completely! I'd lose power either way! I should probably... Probably... Uh, what would Dad have said in times like this?
Would he have said something like 'Gah, it's a bit painful, your ribcage is pressing against me'? Because that's pretty much what I'm feeling right now... No, that can't be. He's a pretty good womanizer, something I don't think I ever got to inherit. He's probably have said something along the lines of "I'll make you as happy as I possibly could, madamoiselle". He likes to throw in those weird French words that's supposed to make the ladies fall head over heels for him.
"Madamoiselle? Vance, you tease..."
... Ara? Did I... just utter my impressions out aloud again?
"Make sure you don't flirt at other girls. Not like this, and not at all. If you do, I'd lop your genitals off."
... Somehow, hearing that makes half of me kind of happy, because that means I'll be able to keep my chastity forever. I think. The other half of me is in extreme pain, though.
"... You're so bold, Vance."
... "Bold?" Huh?
"Yeah, the neighbour outside the door saw us and even dropped her groceries on purpose to tell us to stop hugging. But you just stood there, unmoving. Just the way you were 8 years ago, when you were covering for me, not letting anybody see me pee behind the tree." She then proceeded to rub her head of brilliant, Han purple hair against my 'I'm still a virgin!' shirt.
... I think I was more of oblivious than bold, actually... But yeah, I could somehow see how she misinterpreted my action just now as bold.
8 years ago, huh... That was the final time the whole family went to visit my Grandfather's tombstone before the graveyard was reconstructed into a hospital, and she had to pee behind the tree because she drank too much water on the trip there. I kind of remembered that.
More importantly, she's a cousin of mine, who's always sulked and chided at us for playing too much. But since she's the youngest of the six of us, she's like a delicate ice flower to me. I didn't want her to feel betrayed by me because it would be really bad for both of us, and my v.vizard powers would be weakened even further since I would have been lying to the both of us. I could only accept her as she is, and work from there, I guess.
"Well, to be honest, it's more of 'I wish to consider you as a potential marriage candidate!' rather than an actual proposal, Homei..."
Her hold on me loosened, as she backed away to look into my serious eyes. Wow, I just noticed, but those eyes of hers which we used to smirk at for being too serious actually complements her face really well now. Her eyes are usually half-closed, but when wide open, it really brings out how beautiful she is- What am I thinking!? I shouldn't be encouraging myself to marry her!
"..."
Her lips curled downwards a little bit, just a little more than how she's curled her mouth usually. Oh my lord, she really looks like a cute little puppy that would often greet you happily when you arrive home! It kind of moved my heart that she would open her eyes wide for me, but this kind of psychological attack is just unbearable! I feel like just holding her tight in my arms like how a child would cradle a little puppy...
"Don't worry! You're... You're in the lead! Be, because... I think I may need some time to prepare myself too..."
Homei's face brightened up like fireworks - It lit brilliantly, then faded.
"... Don't suggest marriage when you're not prepared, you womanizer..."
My youngest cousin, whom I may have fallen for just a bit, proceeded to drive a corkscrew blow into the region between my legs.
*** ***
... There's something on my face...
... It's ticklish, and it's moving across my cheek to my chin...
... Oh, it's just a spider. That's odd, usually these would be flies or mosquitoes at my house.
When I came to, I noticed that I was outside that same diamond-patterned door I had went in not too long ago. My head was resting on something elevated, with the words 'Magic : An in-depth study and hands-on guide to the arcane'.
Why was I lying on the ground? Did something happen before I slept? There's still a slight sting on my crotch, and somehow there are grab marks on my arms and my shoulders are stiff. No wait, they were already stiff to begin with. Never mind that one.
... Oh. I told Homei I'd marry her, she was upset at my inconfidence and she fisted my pOnOs pretty hard, causing me to faint. Okay, I think I'm back on track.
I got the book, but there's the issue of marrying her... I don't know. She became 16 a few months ago, and is still a bit far from the legal age for marriage in this country, but I'm sure I'd work something out by then. Now then, the book's in my hands already, so let's practice!
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