by Andur
That's certainly a good advice. “Okay. Though I will make you wish that you had never asked me to teach you. Do you know the coffee shop vis-a-vis the park entrance?”
Adea looks up. “The new one?”
“Exactly. I am the owner. Find me there every day after you are done with your classes. We will go over your homework and your training schedule. I have to know what the academy expects from you.”
And I will learn the skills of this realm. It's always good to know the opponent's capabilities.
She furrows her forehead, but says nothing. So I continue. “First things first. Show me that awful water spell again. And tell me what you intended to achieve with it.”
“It's a meditation technique. We are supposed to levitate the sphere above our hands without losing control. For that purpose...” Adea launches into an explanation of the spell matrix to create the water sphere, and the subsequent telekinesis matrix to hold the sphere in the air. At least her theory is good. She learned it by the book. Unfortunately theory and practical application are two different pairs of shoes when it comes to magic.
“I want to bang my head into a tree.” I answer when she is finished.
That causes yet another furrowed forehead. Probably I am running into communication problems. “Don't worry about my speech. I am not from here. But why are your teachers making it so complicated? First we will train your mana manipulation until you can hold the spell formation despite the interferences.
“Then we train the basic elements until you can summon them in your sleep. Once that's done I'll show you some short-cuts with the spells. If you have control problems, all you have to do is to compress the spell matrix to basic commands. Your teachers are teaching magic by the book, but that's not a good starting point for everyone.”
Adea turns all teary eyed and I already start to fear that I said something wrong. But then she hugs my legs.
“Thank you, thank you... you are such a nice jinn!”
“Gods! Let go of me! And I am not a jinn!”
I am something worse!
5. ~Home sweet home.~
“Hearth magic is the ability to infuse items with your mana. It allows the user to claim a place as his own. A big part revolves around making food with magical effects. Most witches practice this form of magic. The users of hearth magic can't do much without their items or while they are away from their source of power. But challenge them on their own turf and you are in for a surprise.”
The Journey to the Afterlife
Kingdom Newerth, Capital City
Seria
“Seria, why are you always reading newspapers and books about history?” Adea asks me. She is sitting in a comfy corner of my coffee shop. Since I started tutoring her, she is spending a lot of time in my shop. My lessons started two weeks ago and I have to say that I am very pleased with her progress. I won't complain about her presence since it is the easiest way to tutor her while I keep an eye on my business.
Raising an eyebrow, I place the dirty cups in the washing machine. It's a simple box with a rotating cylinder which is powered by magic. Nothing too complicated, but it does the job. “I simply like to know what's going on. Like how the DF is doing with the spirits, or how our country is related to our neighbours. It pays off to know the political situation.”
Adea whistles while she levitates five pencils above her hand, arranging them to different formations. It's a technique to learn control. I am also trying to teach her memory techniques in order to unlock her memories faster, but that would require far more serious training. I am not sure if our relationship is up to that. She is making good progress anyway. As long as she catches up to her classmates it will be fine.
Back at home I would have thrown her into a pit to fight some monsters. There is nothing better than a near death experience to regain some memories.
“I am sorry, it just makes you seem kind of old, Seria. How old are you anyway?” Adea frowns.
I smile and answer cheerfully, “Twenty-four.”
Adea snorts. “You know that's not what I meant. I wanted to know how much of your memory is unlocked?”
I shrug my shoulders. “Don't worry about it. I am sure that once you unlock enough of your memories, you too will avoid talking about them. Now get on with your exercise, or is it already too easy for you?”
“No!” Adea answers and finally concentrates on her exercise. The pencils form a star, then they change positions to outline a cylinder. The point of the exercise is to move them simultaneously without collisions.
When the washing machine is full I sigh and survey the shop. We have ten tables which are separated from each other with sight screens. Another ten tables are in the garden area in front of the shop. I've decorated everything with flowers, but the scent of chocolate and coffee is dominant nonetheless.
The bar is to the left side of the room and behind it is the stairway which leads to my apartment.
Jimmy is outside to serve the customers. So far he is doing a good job. Maybe he found his destiny in this line of work? I am paying him starvation wages, just to keep him alive.
I take a look at our account. We made a small loss during the first month, but I expected that. I find it more surprising that we are almost in the black. Normally a new business has it very hard during the start up phase. Maybe I should take that as a good omen?
Since the academy is nearby we have a lot of young nobles here, that's why I am betting only on high quality food. There are also some businessmen from the surrounding offices, but they are the minority.
It still pays off to simply listen to the people. They talk about their daily lives and current, interesting topics regarding the country.
Newerth is quite big. Maybe they control an area which is equal to a planet? There is also some form of assistance treaty with neighbouring countries. The treaty's main concern is assistance in case of spirit invasions. Something which can turn out quite dire if I trust the rumours.
My thoughts are interrupted when three students enter the shop. Two boys and one girl. They search the tables and immediately head for Adea when they spot her. Adea, in turn, drops her pencils when she notices them.
I grab a kitchen knife and a towel. The mana inside the knife immediately responds to my feelings. Then I follow them, pretending to clean the knife.
“Look who is here? Finally we know where the bane of the class is running off to when lessons are over. Have you forgotten that you are supposed to copy our homework?” The speaker slams his hand onto the table and makes Adea flinch.
So she was investing her time in writing the homework for four people? No wonder that her theory is so good while the application is bad. If she uses all her free time to write, then there isn't much left to practice magic.
“I- I- won't do it any more. I have to invest all my time in keeping up!” Surprisingly Adea shows some backbone. The boy scowls and raises his hand which surprises me a lot.
Before he can hit Adea I tap the boy on the shoulder. “Excuse me, what's your order?”
“We aren't here to order something,” he answers. But a least he drops his hand.
I frown. “Then you aren't a customer? Get out. You are annoying paying customers. That's not happening in my shop.”
“Don't interfere, servant!” The boy shoves me away and I drop the heavy kitchen knife. It responds to the attack by spinning and orienting itself. Once it has acquired its target, the knife accelerates further to add to the force of gravity.
Hearth magic is semi-intelligent and acts on its own once the spell is in place. It is a very stupid idea to attack me inside my own house. I had a lot of time to enchant everything. No matter what form an attack might take, instant retaliation is guaranteed.
The knife lands with a heavy 'thud' point first in his foot. It was of course an accident. The room is completely silent while the boy stares in shock at the knife which penetrated his shoe and sank deep into flesh, pinning him to the ground.
I
hit him before the screaming starts. His nose flattens with a satisfying crunch and he blacks out. To keep him from falling, I grab his collar and retrieve the knife.
Pulling him with me, I realize that I have the attention of all the customers. They are looking at me. I raise the limp body for everyone to see. “He didn't buy anything and was annoying a paying customer. We are running a decent business. The price includes that you aren't annoyed by stupid troublemakers.”
Finally the background noise of talking people and chattering tableware resumes and I head for the front entrance. Once there, I guess the distance from here to the pond which is across the street and behind the fence of bushes. Maybe twenty metres? I toss the troublemaker in a high arc towards the water. He wasn't hit that hard, so he should wake up once he impacts the cold water. A distant splash tells me that my aim was true.
His two friends dash past me to rescue their comrade.
I return my attention to more important stuff. Jimmy is staring towards the park where the hooligan disappeared out of sight. He isn't working, so I flick my fingers. “Jimmy, do something useful and call the authorities. We have to file a report before those idiots run home to tell their parents a totally different story.”
Turning around, I find Adea in front of me. “You will get in trouble for this. Their parents are high ranking nobles.”
I shrug. “What can they do against a full room with...” I hurry to count the people in my shop, “fourteen eyewitnesses. He caused a ruckus and attacked me, right guys?” Most of the people nod.
I'll never again complain to my mother that hearth magic is useless. It may not be capable of outright brainwashing someone, but it smooths the feelings and eases the heart. When used properly, it can even create a strong feeling of loyalty towards a certain place. I make it a rule to enchant all my food and the place as a whole. There isn't a single customer who doesn't leave the coffee shop relaxed and with renewed energy to work for the rest of the day.
To everyone who visited my shop more than once, I am an angel who brings light into their dark lives. I am an oasis of peace and righteousness in a dark and unfair world.
Maybe the fact that the shop is already going so well shouldn't surprise me after all.
“Did I allow you to take a break?” I study Adea's conflicted expression until she yields and returns to her seat.
Two minutes later two officers from the DF arrive. There are a lot of them in this part of the town, so the reaction speed isn't surprising. They start asking questions right away and I hurry to bless them with coffee and a smile. Everything on the house of course. It's not like I am trying to win them over. I am influencing them, just a little.
None of my customers betray me and when the three brats return five minutes later, it is they who are shackled and led away by the officers. I take the chance to fuel myself with some coffee and to take a look at Adea's progress.
But when I approach her, she wears that wary expression of hers. “Who are you?”
I smile. “Seria Havenforst, owner of the Hearth Cafe, your tutor and, according to your wild fantasies, a jinn. You have two wishes left.”
“Why did you help me? It's not like you had to... and they will surely be back,” Adea mumbles.
“I am not so sure of that. And how am I supposed to tutor you when most of your time is consumed by their homework? Aren't your teachers supposed to do something against bullying?”
She presses her lips into a thin line. “Most don't bother with the students. A few care, but they can't be everywhere at once.”
I play with my ponytail and study Adea. It turned out that she is a troublesome pet. “Tomorrow we will start with combat training. You have to be able to protect yourself. At least long enough until help arrives. We should have done this sooner, but I didn't realize that you have them ganging up on you.”
“But I am just one person?” she answers questioningly and without confidence.
“You are supposed to have divine potential. Nobody is able to bully a god unless they are prepared to lay waste to the city. Once you reach that level, all you have to do is ignore them,” I answer confidently.
Adea starts playing with her fingers. “There is something I wanted to ask you.”
“What?”
She looks away from me, avoiding eye contact. “There is a party next week. No, more like a ball. They celebrate the end of the semester. Every student got a free ticket for their parents. My Mom, well, she doesn't want to go since all the adults there will be at least spiritualist rank or higher. I thought that you... maybe... ahem... the ticket is anonymous and they didn't specify that it has to be given to the parents.”
“Okay. I'll go.” What a nice surprise. I'll be able to listen in on the conversations of the nobles and get some first-hand impressions of them. It seems like taking Adea under my wings was a good decision. “Just what is the formal dress code for such an event?”
Adea stares at me as if I just went full demon mode and ripped off my clothes.
“It was a joke. I have a proper dress.” I hurry to correct myself. Jimmy will have to do some research for me. I have to know the code of conduct for such an event. Maybe he can organize some pictures to make sure that I don't violate the dress code.
6. ~Ball.~
“There is no bad weather, just bad clothing.”
The Journey to the Afterlife
Kingdom Newerth, Capital City
Seria
“This is just too much! And how did you even get the car!? Is your shop earning that much money?” Adea looks around, not trusting the peace.
I pat her thigh and smile. “Don't worry about my financial situation. The car is already rented and we have Jimmy to drive for us. I am doing this as much for my own convenience as for yours.”
A low growl from the drivers seat makes Adea retreat a little. Then she whispers, “How did you even meet him. He strikes me more as one of those guys who would ambush you in a dark alley at night.”
“Don't worry. Jimmy is the moody type, but he wouldn't even harm a fly,” I gesture at our driver. I wouldn't know how to drive one of the vehicles of this world even if my life depended on it.
“I still don't know how to thank you for the dress. Originally I planned to go in my student uniform. But I'll make sure to repay you. Though it might take a while.” Adea looks at her green and brown ball gown. I chose it because it fits her green eyes and her brown hair.
I went with a black and red one because it matched my natural hair colour so perfectly. “You would have stood out like a sheep in a pack of wolves. Don't worry about it. I am more surprised that the idiotic system which forced you into the academy doesn't prepare you for such events. And there is just a limited amount of festivities before you graduate. We have to put our best efforts into each and every one of them!”
Adea turns her gaze downwards. “Sometimes you talk like you don't belong here.”
Crap! I have to distract her. “And besides, I put so much effort into propelling you to advanced classes. It would be a shame if you weren't able to sway that prince of yours.” I reach around Adea and rub her back. “You will go and get him, girl!”
Adea turns red and squeals. “No! I can't. Who implanted that idea into your head!?”
“You have no choice. We spent over a day to make you pretty, so the least you can do is to ask him out for a dance. You can dance?” I ask, horrified, as I notice the little dent in my plan.
“Of course I can dance! It's one of the arts. My mother wouldn't allow me to leave the house if I could not,” Adea answers.
I sigh in relief, but at the same time I ask myself just what Adea's mother is teaching her.
“We are there,” Jimmy breaks the silence and stops the limousine in front of a big building. He gets out of the car and hurries to open the door for Adea and me.
We get out and I give Jimmy instructions to park the car and wait for us, then we approach the entrance.
I study the invitation wh
ich I got from Adea. It's not much more than a card which allows the student to invite one to four people. Adea already informed me that it is intended for relatives, but we can always say that I am a distant cousin from her mother's side.
The door steward doesn't cause any trouble for us. He simply takes the invitation and rips it in half, so that it can't be used again. Then both of us register their aura at the glass orb which is placed next to the entrance. In case of wandering outside the building, we can always return to the festivities by identifying ourselves.
I am not so happy about having my aura registered by this device, but there isn't much I can do about it. It simply means that I have to behave so that I don't land on some list for wanted people.
Once inside, I link arms with Adea and we roam through the area. There is a big hall with a dance floor and some tables with chairs so that people can rest. There is also a smaller hall with a catering service in case someone gets hungry. I help myself to a drink with red berries inside, but one sip and it is clear that the drink is something alcoholic.
Our exploration leads to another ballroom. The music in here is more groovy and it is clear that this is where the students gather. A single glance is enough to spot the prince. It's a young guy with a lean face. I can't discern more of his features because he is the centre of a flock of students, mainly females.
“That's him...” Adea mumbles with a dejected voice.
“Good!” I push her forward. “Go and get him!”
She resists. “Are you out of your mind? I can't go in there and ask him to dance! They will rip me apart!”
I shake my head. “They won't do anything of the sort. They are much too concerned about looking good in front of him. If they make a scene and he is as good a guy as you think he is, then he won't forgive them. That's the first test for the new you. If you don't go there now, I'll stop tutoring you.”
“Arg, jerk...”
For a moment I expect Adea to go all tears and downcast on me, but then she storms forward and throws herself into the crowd. A few moments later she is with the prince and talking to him like a shy little girl. She transformed as soon as he set his eyes on her. That woman doesn't know her own powers.