n

n

n

"Is there anything that helps you in controlling flames? Maybe enabling you to control them from further away or a higher quantity or quality of flame?

"

n

"Now that you mention it, a flame that is contained is far harder to control.

"

n

"What do you mean, like the flame of a candle?

" Eldrian asked and Brazan nodded in confirmation.

n'Mmmh, that is indeed most strange. I can't see how the flames differ unless potential-' Eldrian's eyes widened slightly but he quickly recovered his composure.

n'That must be it; if you consider that he has some type of unwakened draconic bloodline... I don't know. Maybe it is trying to escape, or a dragon's nature is unruly and unconfined?'

n

"I'm sorry, but it seems I won't be able to help you immediately. I will have to do some more research into fire magic.

" Eldrian said though he didn't feel like that would help.

n'I don't get it, it is like the opposite of everything I understand of magic. The elements leaving the flames is the opposite of what I expected would happen. How can he control the flame if what is- Right, mana is just one part of magic. Is this how abilities work?'

n'No, I feel this is more like an aura...' Eldrian was so stunned by that thought that he completely missed that Brazan was not disappointed and in fact happy that Eldrian was taking it seriously.

n'Maybe... Would that be possible? Ceph doesn't have an aura though, so why- Wait, does Ceph have an aura?'

nSuddenly, Eldrian's mind was focused on something completely different.

n...

n

"Ceph, can we talk?

" Eldrian asked when the little Alicorn finally returned home. It was already past seven.

nEldrian had never given Ceph a curfew, and he wasn't going to. And the little alicorn enjoyed being at the other house far more. Where he would meet and play with his friends and there weren't so many people who acted all serious all the time.

n

"What's up?

" Ceph asked, following Eldrian to his study.

nAfter closing the door and doing his best to make sure they weren't being spied upon, even activating the standard privacy array around the study, Eldrian asked Ceph if he had an aura.

n

"Aura, what's an aura?

"

n

"It-

" Eldrian faltered, having no idea how to explain it himself.

"It's like an ability, but far stronger. Like the ice that nearly destroyed the mansion.

"

nCeph thought about the question seriously, brows furrowed and hand on his chin.

"I don't think so...

"

n'Wait! Maybe it is something that all Alicorns have.'

n

"Ceph, do you want to go say hi to your parents?

"

n

"Really!?

" Ceph quickly became hyped and nodded enthusiastically.

nSmiling, they headed for the closest temple and teleported to Duron, the closest city to Avgi. From there the two quickly flew to Avgi, arriving just before midnight.

n'Ceph! Eldrian!' Zamia shouted mentally as she quickly rushed to hug her son. Eldrian let them have their moment and actually decided that he was going to log out and give them the night to catch up.

n...

n

"He's finally out!

" Constantin said with a moan, he and Qiren had waited for him to finish and get out of the game for too long.

nOpening the door, Eldrian was partly disappointed when this time it wasn't Flavia but indeed one of the department heads.

n

"Eldrian, this is Qiren. She is an expert in the mathematics of spells and magic, I'll let her explain everything.

"

n

"Oh?

" Turning to the middle-aged lady, Eldrian listened as she explained her profession.

n

"So you're saying that the math works, but doesn't work on earth?

" Eldrian asked.

nHis back was wet from sweat after hearing her say that it worked for everything but light. 'Luckily, it seems they didn't realize- No maybe it isn't because of that.'

n

"Yes, even if we don't use a spell. If we simply light a fire, or freeze water, or really anything. Nothing we do gives the same answers on earth as it did in the simulation.

"

n'Of course it wouldn't, the elements are missing- Wait, do they not realize this? And does this confirm?' Eldrian wasn't sure if he should share this or not, so instead, he continued to listen.

nAfter getting a better picture of what it seemed Qiren knew and understood, Eldrian asked,

"What level, rather, what type of math is used to derive spells?

"

n

"That isn't a simple question. It isn't just one thing, nor is it just math. The calculations to work out the effects a spell will have takes everything into consideration.

"

n

"Of course, the cornerstones of these are physics and chemistry. In the calculations atoms and such aren't used, the NPCs don't know of them. Instead, they used elements as their baseline for calculations.

"

n

"This leads to plenty of errors, as fire isn't really an element. Rather, it is the effect of combustion; a chemical reaction. It can include many different types of chemical elements.

"

n'But... There is certainly an element of fire, I wonder if it is made out of elements or not. Ah, that is probably why they call them chemical elements. Will become confusion quickly.'

n

"Still, despite this, the calculation is accurate enough to allow them to cast a spell most of the time. Sometimes they need to narrow things through trial and error, but they normally get there.

"

n

"Have you attempted to use-

"

n

"We have, and it works out working backward. We weren't able to cast the spells we derived, we are missing something. But we were able to reverse engineer a spell's calculations, though there too we are missing something. The answers are within the margin of error, but not perfect.

"

n'It is the element of fire, it must be...',

"Did you account for mana?

"

n

"What do you mean?

" Qiren asked, certain that Eldrian wouldn't question if they considered the very thing required to cast spells. If they had missed that for years, then they were certainly useless.

n

"I mean, a flame isn't just a flame. At least, that is the case on Gaia. A flame is a mix of the gasses it is made of, and the fire element.

"

n

"Yes, but that is just gasses,

" Qiren replied not understanding what Eldrian was trying to say at all.

n

"No, I mean that the flame is made up of a flame and mana in the form of fire.

"

n

"I don't follow, what do you mean?

"

n

"Mana...

" Eldrian paused, it wasn't an easy topic to explain quickly, but he had had some practice.

"Think of mana as a free energy we can control through thinking.

"

n

"But, mana does not need to be just a free energy. It can also take on the form of the elements, natural elements. I can't prove it yet with earth, but with the other elements, you can turn mana into them.

"

n

"Wait, isn't it-

"

n

"No, the mana isn't manipulating atoms and stuff to form the spell. Well, it does, but only partly. The mana itself also converts into the said element... And, I think it doesn't do so by turning into the element!

" Eldrian suddenly shouted as he himself realized something.

n'That's it! That's the difference! Mana in the form of an element isn't consumed, but it does end up drained! So it converts into an inert state, which I already knew but just forgot!'

nWhy was this important? It wasn't really that important, but rather what Eldrian realized along with this was.

n'And if mana never turned into the elements, but rather just mimics them, then... Then...

"

n

"I'm missing something...

" Eldrian mumbled as he quickly became deflated after finding his inspiration cut short just shy of the answer.

nAN: Remember to vote to show your support and comment to share your insights!

n