Casual Heroing, Chapter 71, ACT I

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Magic, FINALLY 🧝🏻‍♂️🧝🏻‍♂️🧝🏻‍♂️

Chapter 71 – Magic, Lesson 2

ACT I

‘Lesson 1: Use your natural Mana to create a [Light] spell.’

‘Description: even the stupidest [Mage] can cast [Light]. Even children learn how to do it. It doesn’t matter how humble your profession has been. Whether you are a [Sailor], a [Shopkeeper], or even dumber, a [Politician], it doesn’t matter. Your journey to greatness must start somewhere before you can go and slay terrible monsters and live the mightiest adventures!’

‘Requirement: learn how to produce an inferior [Light] in two days.’

The same ink I saw the last time is there to greet me.

‘You successfully completed the challenge. The Omnium Compendium has adjusted your learning journey to reflect your actual proficiency. Your [Light] was classified as flawless by the standards established by Magister Mulligan, and that earned you a reward!’

“Well, that isn’t half bad,” I mutter.

‘A great prize will be awarded to you for such a great deed!’

“Ok? So, what’s the prize?”

Look, not being zapped to death after ignoring the book for so long is already a prize on its own. But I wouldn’t mind something nice. I wonder if it’s a physical prize this time or a new skill.

Maybe it’s a magical wizard robe?

Or a cape?

Damn.

I would love myself a cape.

‘The prize is an even greater assignment!’

Why do I even bother?

The pages flip, and the book materializes new ink.

‘Lesson 2: Use your natural Mana to create three [Light] spells at once.’

‘Description: Magister Mulligan used to always say that being able to cast a good light spell is the foundation of becoming a, and that’s why so many guard their methods when it comes down to the spell. Therefore, given your previous scarce proficiency with magic, you will be focusing on the fundamentals – manipulating different versions of the spell. The difficulty will increase gradually until your foundations are solid enough to delve into the depths of true magic! For now, you shall focus on the basis until your magic is no longer a reason for shame to Magister Mulligan’s name!’

‘Requirement: learn how to produce three [Light] spells of inferior quality in less than a month.’

It seems like I won’t be doing anything too dangerous, at least.

So, three [Lights] at once.

I’m not able to catch myself in time before saying it out loud.

“How hard can it be?”

And that’s it.

That’s my sentence.

I’m doomed.

But then, I remember what happened just a few hours prior, and that refocuses all my efforts. A dark frown spreads over my face for a second before I can stop myself.

There’s no good reason in the world to go into a spiral right now. Let’s just focus on the matter at hand, Joey.

Still, I could have avoided jinxing it.

Coming from an Italian family, I’m extremely superstitious.

Hell, I could probably teach a college course on everything you need to avoid not making something happen!

For example, whining about something is a surefire method to get it accomplished. If you are losing a match with your buddies while playing video games, or even in real life – such is the power of this technique – you just need to start whining about it and say that you will definitely lose. Then, magically, something happens. Call it luck, fate, or God. It doesn’t matter.

Whining is the best way to go through life.

But now, I’ve gone against the sacred method. I’ve professed my faith to anti-whining; my hybris will cost me dearly.

I sigh.

Let’s get to it.

I’m on the verge of trying to visualize three spell matrixes far from me when I think of something. I look down at the Omnium Compendium and read the description again.

‘Description: Magister Mulligan used to always say that being able to cast a good light spell is the foundation of becoming a, and that’s why so many guard their methods when it comes down to the spell. Therefore, given your previous scarce proficiency with magic, you will be focusing on the fundamentals – manipulating different versions of the spell. The difficulty will increase gradually until your foundations are solid enough to delve into the depths of true magic! For now, you shall focus on the basis until your magic is no longer a reason for shame to Magister Mulligan’s name!’

“This sounds more like a series of insults rather than instructions,” I frown. “Book, can you actually explain to me what the main difference between casting one spell and casting multiple spells is? It seems to me that I only have to repeat the process once.”

I swear on my mother’s panties, the book just scoffsat me. It crumples its own pages, making it sound like a snort!

More black ink appears on the page in a mocking, flowery cursive.

‘Casting one spell is the act of fitting one matrix into the world. You can think of it as a drawing on paper. When you look at it, you can pretty much see the whole image at a glance. It doesn’t matter how big the drawing is; you can just step back and still appreciate it in its entirety.’

‘Instead,’ the books keep manifesting more magical ink, ‘simul-casting is something deeper. You can think of it as writing a book. Whereas a painting will always be manifest in its appearance, a book is different in the way it presents itself: you can never read an entire book at one glance. And it is impossible to grasp every single sentence at once like you could with a painting.’

I look at the complacent book with a frown.

“Ok, can you explain that again but imagine I’m five? Or maybe actually explain what to do instead of using metaphors?”

I feel a prickle of electricity on my skin, but the book does decide to go deeper into its explanation. Flipping to a new page, the Omnium Compendium materializes more ink together with a diagram.

‘Simul-casting complex magic is the realm of true [Mages] who, one day, will be bestowed upon the title of [Archmage]. Only the best of the best can simul-cast multiple spells, especially if they are different. However, [Light] is simple enough that even a {[Great Mage] – Remember to edit this out in the final version so that they don’t actually know how difficult it is} novice – if guided correctly – may attempt such a wondrous feat.’

“Wait, what? What’s that barred text?”

‘Everyone has their own understanding of how to do it. The best way to think about it is that you cannot control the individual parts but only the sum; at the same time, you can manipulate the individual parts, but you will not be able to see their sum in advance.’

That’s it.

I try to ask more questions, but the book merely nails down the same concepts of ‘individual parts’ and the ‘sum of the parts.’

I guess the best way to approach the problem is to try and create the three spells simultaneously.

[Advanced Mana Sense]

I activate my dear spell and try to visualize three matrixes at the same time.

After a few instants, I get why this is insanely difficult.

Most people simply cast spells in quick succession because a spell matrix is not fixed; it’s something you trace at that moment. You can probably attempt a quick cast based on your previous experience, but it would only make for a lesser copy of the spell, not the real deal.

Plus, every spell you activate at the same time affects the other.

I turn off the [Advanced Mana Sense] at once and ask, “Book, how long do I have to learn this?”

‘Description: simul-casting [Lights] is the most appropriate exercise based on your evaluation by the Omnium Compendium! Your last attempt gave birth to a superior [Light] spell. Now, you have to take on one of the great challenges well in advance. Wasting your talent is a mortal sin. And with a mortal [Thunderbolt] you shall be rewarded if you slack off!’

‘Requirement: learn how to simul-cast at least three inferior [Light] spells in a month.’

“I wonder if the part about this mortal [Thunderbolt] is a figure of speech,” I wonder aloud.

‘No,’ is what the book materializes on the other page in huge characters.

...

I need something to defend myself, I think as I stare at the Omnium Compendium’s pages. Sure, basic exercises must be good and whatever, but I need something to defend myself and the people I care about.

The images of powerless Truffles getting struck haunt my mind.

Calm down. Clear your thoughts.

I take a deep breath.

One month?

Nah. Too long. I need some good magic now.

Well, let’s look at the spell matrixes once again; this time, I’ll try to work with two and see how it goes.

[Advanced Mana Sense]

My apartment turns into a world of kaleidoscopic energy, and after closing my eyelids, I visualize two spell matrixes on the other end of it. Even with my eyes closed, I can still see everything since this view is the byproduct of a skill and not my real sight. But closing my eyes helps me focus on the matrixes.

I examine the two changing spell matrixes and start noticing what the book meant. If I wanted to cast these two the same way I did with my first spell, it would probably be impossible. I get the feeling that it would be like trying to draw two circles at once, one with your left hand and the other with your right.

So, that’s probably not going to work, is it? I could maybe learn to do that with two [Light] spells, but it would fail with three, wouldn’t it?

Oh, God, this will be hard. This will be so damn hard.

I can feel it in my bones.

This is some stupid Karate-Kid level of magic.

It is, trust me.

I already told you about the gift I used to have as a child to make extremely accurate predictions. When watching TV shows, it would allow me to call in advance 98% of the clichés, bad tropes, and stupid, cheesy moves.

Sometimes, it still works.

And right now, I’m getting major training-montagevibes.

This damn world and the stupid book are made for someone who loves to grind video games or something. I’m a man who loves to read books and judge people who spend their time at the gym instead of getting coffee with some cutie right by the library.

Sadly, my whining falls on deaf ears.

No one is going to get me out of this.

Now, I’m angry.

For the first time since I’ve come to Amorium, I’m angry.

I have kept out of the way of danger, conflict, and any other trouble. I tried really hard to be nice to people, make friends, and live a tranquil life.

Why, why did it go down like that with the [Soldiers]?

What in their goddamn stupid heads told them it would be a good idea to do that?! Why are people like that?!

I glare at the book, seething with a fresh wave of fury.

This isn't your garden-variety anger, mind you. I'm not fuming because I've got the damn thing, and I'm attempting to glean some magical knowledge from its pages. No, no. I'm thoroughly enjoying the lessons I'm learning. But it's the implications that are driving me up the wall. When you've consumed enough books and binge-watched enough shows, you can predict what's coming next with startling accuracy.

I don’t want to game the system.

I just want to bake and enjoy myself.

But now it’s too late for any rational decisions.

I am livid.

This goddamn world and this goddamn book want me to do some stupidly hard magic.

I pull back the sleeves of the shirt I’m wearing.

I’m doing this stupid fucking magic right now, right here. Fuck the book. Fuck Amorium. Fuck Lucinda and her stupidly tall, fucking magical boyfriend. Fuck the [Soldiers], and why not? Fuck the Elves and their stupid racism.

And I don’t care what they say, I’m having a fucking coffee after this. Even if I have to make a chimp eat the coffee beans and shit them out in front of me.