[City of Magnolia]
Ivan found the guilds library to be quaint.
The space was small, though a ton of books filled it, with most on the shelves, others on the center table, and a few on the floor.
Yajima seemed to disapprove at the libraires current condition, his eyes scanning over the small room with only the hints of annoyance at the mistreated books.
Ivan looked around the library for a moment while Gildarts having one destination in mind, made his way to the nearest seat.
Yajima picked up a book from the floor, dusting it off "Well, this place has seen better days," a simple wave of his hand all the book on the floor began to float, returning to their shelves.
Gildarts whistled at the magical display "Magic to clean, never thought of that."
The older man made his way to the table picking up a few books and flipping through their pages while Ivan took his own seat next to Gildarts. Yajima put the book down and looked at the two with a nostalgic air.
"I am to assume Makarov has taught you both the fundamentals, correct?" Yajima asked
Ivan and Gildarts nodded.
"The old man has been cramming a ton of knowledge into our heads about how magic is fickle and doesn't make sense. It's nice and all, but he hasn't mentioned anything about how were going to learn magic." Gildarts rasped out his voce dejected
Yajima smiled and nodded "As I assumed, there is a reason for that though my young friend, you would have no use for it and it might have done more harm than good for when you were awaking your magic," Gildarts cocked his head "For you see when you awakened your magic you connected with natures energy, what we call ethernano. If Makarov had been too lax in his teaching, he might have made far more confusing and less simple than it actually is. Telling you what magics would best fit you would narrowing your own view and effecting your emotional state making magic much hard to sense and limiting your potential."
Ivan thought slowly 'I never thought about it like that. So, mages have really delved into all the magical mechanisms of this world, interesting, I wonder what made them do that. From what I understand magic is the result of connecting to natures energy, which is ethernano or the world magical power? By connecting with it we begin absorbing it into are magical containers, as it enters are bodies it must interact with our soul at some point, that's where passion comes into play and are own affinities shine,' Ivan smiled 'It's nice that I can understand and remember all this, wish I had this kinda interest when came to advance math and sciences.'
"So, the geezer was helping us by teaching us slowly?" Gildarts asked
"Precisely, how fast you learn magic is negligible when your entire potential is on the line. The way you learn magic and how you view it can affect your future far more than you think."
"So how we view magic is going to affect our potential in magic?" Ivan asked
Yajima paused scratching his chin "When teaching students of my own I have found that their own view on magic can affect how they use it and its potency. Most wield magic as an extension of themselves, a fire mage that views fire as a part of them will be far stronger than a fire mage who just uses it because they have to."
Gildarts nodded thinking for a moment "But that makes sense. If I can't see myself using a certain magic, it's not going to work with me."
Yajima nodded "You are right. If you can't see yourself learning a certain magic than why would it want to work with you? Though even if you can see yourself using a certain magic, sometimes a mage just does not have an affinity for a magic, some are even antithesis to certain magics."
Gildarts nodded "That goes back to what gramps said about magic being tricky and how it needs to connect with you, letting you learn it."
"Quite the scholar you are Gildarts," Yajima chuckled "Yes, as you have heard from Makarov magic is tricky for a variety of reasons, one of which is if it connects with you," the older man's eyes rose "Ahh, it seems I have the perfect example for you too, a little something I have been able to work with the magic council on."
"You work with the magic council?" Ivan asked a hint of surprise entering his voice, though he already had a feeling of Yajima being a part of the council.
Yajima looked at Ivan for a moment surprised by the question "I do, currently I am a part of a research team the council has created. Though I also serve as a teacher for those with potential in magic, that choose to join the councils ranks."
Gildarts face turned sour "The council? Ahh, whatever what were you going to say old man?"
Yajima smiled at Gildarts "Most mages who use offensive magic have no healing magic they have begun to look for alternatives, one being the elements," Yajima paused for a second looking at the nodding Gildarts "Elemental mages now are trying to become proficient enough with their magic to transform into their elements."
Gildarts eyes widened and his eyebrows shot up "That's possible? Since when can mages turn into their elements?"
"Calm down oaf, he said it's a new thing that they're still working on, meaning it's not perfected yet, right?" Ivan asked
Yajima nodded "Indeed it's not perfected yet, though what I was going to connect it to was magical affinities. The council has many mages who can use fire magic, but from what are data suggests not all of those mage's are going to be able to turn into their elements. Would you two care to guess why?"
"Their potential in magic is too weak?" Gildarts asked
Yajima shook his head "Not exactly though that does have a part to play, Ivan?"
Ivan thought for a moment "Connection to their magic. They don't have a strong enough affinity to fire magic," Yajima nodded though Ivan continued "But that is for now. I have feeling that given more time, those mages could develop a stronger connection to their magic and succeed in becoming their element."
"Correct, it has to do with their connection to their magic. Though I would not say your correct about the second part, while they could indeed strengthen their connection overtime, we are not sure if they could fully become their elements. Our theory for now is that the magic itself decides whether or not."
Ivan huffed out a sigh "And that goes back to magic being weird, right?"
"Exactly! Makarov really has taught you well hasn't he." Yajima chuckled
Ivan had remembered a few mages from the anime who has such abilities, friends and foes both. He reinforced his own choice or idea of what magic he wanted to learn and smiled internally at a certain idea.
Yajima cleared his throat as he began to speak "Well while I would love to share all the wonders I have done with the council I digress, we should focus on what you both came here for and I myself have, your magic."
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