Three Days Later - France
------------------
(Michael's POV)
I sat cross-legged on my bedroom floor, Grandma's notebook open in front of me.
It was filled with diagrams, explanations, and hand-drawn magic circles all written in her neat, precise handwriting.
This thing is a goldmine.
For information Jeanne wasn't here today. She was at home preparing for the sleepover she'd asked about packing her favorite toys, pillows, snacks, probably enough stuff to stay for a week even though it was just one night. But u ain't complaining.
Since it meant I had some time for myself.
That is practicing magic without anyone watching.
Perfect.
I flipped through the pages, reviewing what I'd learned so far.
Grandma's notes were incredibly detailed. She'd simplified the note for a five-year-old, but even if simplified, the depth of information was impressive.
Okay.
Let's start with fire magic.
I stood up, took a breath, and focused.
Visualized the flame. Felt the warmth in my core. Let the energy flow down my arm into my palm.
I spoke the incantation short, simple, and moved my hand in the proper pattern. Thr incantations helped me create a more concentrated flame.
A magic circle soon appeared above my palm, spinning slowly.
A small flame flickered to life.
I held it steady for a few seconds, then let it dissipate.
Good, let's do this again.
I repeated the process.
Summoning it multiple times.
Training to use spells increases the proficiency quite a lot.
The more I practice, the faster and more efficient I get.
Not to mention turned out, that the amount of mana someone has is also based on how much you often use spells,or magic, since the body will try to adapt to that. Another factor on someone mana is based on where they're from, which leyline actually exists here as well.
So someone who lives in a major leyline has a higher chance of having a bigger mana capacity.
Though overusing spells can basically kill you. So it's basically similar to doing exercise, doing things slowly will help your body time to adapt. And overdoing it or doing extreme things will injure you more than helping you.
It's like training muscle , but for magic.
I created another flame, this time making it slightly larger,then smaller.
Then shaped it into a sphere.
Control is something very important.
After about ten minutes of practice, I sat back down and returned to the notebook.
Alright.
What else did Grandma write about?
I begin flipping till near the end of the book.
[Advanced Magic - Spatial Manipulation]
My eyes lit up.
Seeing the title.
Spatial manipulation, I begin reading the page about this one, this talk about different spatial spells.
Like teleportation.
Grandma had included notes on teleportation spells, complete with diagrams of the magic circle required and a breakdown of the formula.
Though at the bottom of the page, she'd written in large, underlined letters:
DO NOT ATTEMPT UNTIL YOU ARE OLDER. TELEPORTATION IS DANGEROUS FOR BEGINNERS.
YES I KNOW YOUR READING THIS.
...
Damn.
I sighed.
Yeah, I figured.
Also does grandma have clairvoyance.
Considering she had written this down, knowing i was probably going to flip the pages.
But in grandma defense it's understandable, since well if you ness up a teleportation spell there's a chance your going to be six feet under,or it means getting stuck halfway between locations, with only your upper half.
Or appearing inside a wall.
Or worse.
I'll save that for later.
Still, I studied the diagram carefully, committing it to memory, since well it would be useful to learn the theory first.
Her magic circle designs are really good.
I should probably develop my own eventually, but for now, using hers as a reference is fine.
I flipped back to the previous section.
[Types of Magic]
Grandma had categorized magic into several broad types:
• Elemental Magic - Fire, water, earth, air, ice, lightning, etc.
• Spatial Magic - Teleportation, dimensional storage, barriers
• Time Magic - Temporal manipulation
• Healing Magic - Regeneration, recovery
• Summoning Magic - Calling creatures, objects, or familiars
• Defensive Magic - Shields, wards, protective barriers
• Offensive Magic - Attack spells, destructive magic
• Enhancement Magic - Strengthening objects or people
• Enchantment Magic - giving a property to an object
• Light Magic - Manipulation of Light
•Rune Magic - Inscribing symbols that has different properties
• Clairvoyant/Seers Magic - Allowing Someone to see the Future
With many more types of magic like
• Illusion Magic
• Black magic
• Fairy Magic
The next page is they're Difficulties
At the bottom of the title, she'd added a note:
This classification is my own. Official magical organizations may categorize differently.
I nodded to myself.
Makes sense.
Magic isn't standardized.
Since Different traditions and cultures mean different methods and different results.
But one thing caught my attention.
That is Healing Magic.
Healing Magic - One of the Highest Class Difficulty
I read the section carefully.
Apparently, healing magic was one of the hardest types of magic to master in this world.
Simple wound closing? Manageable with training.
Regenerating lost limbs? Lost artin some way,and pinnacle of healing magic. Requires forbidden techniques with severe side effects.
Why is it so hard?
Grandma had written some theories:
- Uses the caster's life force or the patient's lifespan
- Requires enormous amounts of energy
- Extremely complex calculations and precise control
Hmm.
I thought about it, my scientist brain kicking into gear.
What if you didn't use the caster's life force?
What if you used... external life force?
Like a leech spell.
Or in gaming term life steal.
Though i had an idea that would make it less well evil. Which can't someone using a leech spell or lifesteal.
That is to absorb ambient life energy from plants, insects, microorganisms in the area, and channel it into the healing process.
Since they're still technically living beings, while maybe having less life enegy than humans or animal wouldn't it be still possible.
I grabbed a pencil and started scribbling notes in the margin.
Theoretically possible.
But ethically questionable.
And probably really hard to control.
You'd need to make sure you're not draining too much from any one source, or you'd kill everything around you.
But if you could distribute the drain evenly across a wide area...
I paused, staring at my notes.
Am I really thinking about creating a life-draining healing spell?
At age five?
...Yeah. Yeah, I am.
I shook my head, smiling slightly.
Grandma probably didn't think I'd already be theorizing about custom spell creation.
But here we are.
I closed the notebook and leaned back against my bed.
Magic is amazing.
It has so much potential.
So much to learn.
I glanced at the clock.
Still had time before Jeanne arrived.
Alright.
Let's practice a bit more.
I stood up, raised my hand, and began casting again.
Over and over.
Building proficiency.
Getting stronger.
One spell at a time.
-----
Meanwhile - Great Britain
-----
(Lavinia's POV)
I sat in the garden behind Grandma and Grandpa's house, a blanket wrapped around my shoulders, watching as Grandma set up what looked like a small outdoor classroom.
She'd brought out a table, some books, a chalkboard, and several objects I didn't recognize.
"Alright, Lavinia," Grandma said warmly, sitting down across from me. "Are you ready for your first magic lesson?"
I nodded eagerly, clutching Mochi. "Yes, Grandma!"
She smiled. "Good. Then let's begin."
She held up her hand, and a magic circle appeared above her palm ,it was elegant, spinning,and beautiful.
"Magic," she said, "is the act of using your internal energy to influence the world around you. Everyone has some amount of magical energy. But not everyone can use it effectively."
I watched, mesmerized.
"You, Lavinia,also have a sacred gear a gift that gives you access to incredible power. But that power needs training. Control. Otherwise, it can be dangerous."
I nodded seriously. "I understand."
"Good." She gestured to the objects on the table a candle, a cup of water, a small stone.
"We're going to start simple. Sensing your energy, controlling it, and then, eventually, casting basic spells."
She looked at me gently.
"This won't be easy. But I know you can do it."
I took a breath and nodded.
"I'll work hard, Grandma."
"I know you will."
And so, my first magic lesson began.
---
Back with Michael
---
I held up my hand and focused again.
This time, instead of fire, I was visualizing water.
A magic circle appeared, and a small sphere of water materialized above my palm hovering gently.
Meanwhile i begin modifying my magic circle and the ball of water begin spinning taking the shape of a saw blade.
Nice.
I moved my hand slightly, and the water saw followed, floating through the air like it was weightless.
Can I manipulate it further ?
I concentrated, and the saw blade changed shapes into a sphere again but with spike.
I then modified it again,and it elongated into a stream.
Then reformed back into a sphere.
This is so cool.
I let the water dissipate and sat back down, flipping through Grandma's notebook to the section on water magic.
Water Magic - Manipulation and Control
Water is one of the most versatile elements. It exists everywhere in the air, in the ground, and in living organisms. A skilled water magician can draw moisture from their surroundings and shape it to their will.
I nodded, reading further.
Advanced practitioners can manipulate water in all its forms—liquid, solid (ice), and gas (vapor).
I paused reading it.
Speaking of water.
Water is everywhere by definition.
It's in the air as humidity.
It's in the ground.
It's in plants.
It's a fact that water practically exist inside all living beings.
And of course my brain immediately started running calculations.
And it's in the human body about 60% water by mass.
So theoretically...
Could a magician use a spell to extract all the liquid from a person's body?
Making them Instantly dehydrated.
Or making them dry as a mummy.
I blinked.
Okay, that's horrifying.
But my brain didn't stop there.
What about other liquids?
Oil? Could you manipulate oil-based substances? Which you can practically manipulate the sebaceous glant, considering it's where sebum is formed, doesn't that mean you can potentially use it. Like making the sebum become needles that would prick the entire body or freeze the person sebum to practically cover a person and give them a hell.
I think i just made a new torture method using magic.
Heck you probably also could use the sweat that is formed in the sweat glands to destroy the glands,and destroying them would practically kill someone via heat stroke since they can't cool down anymore.
I then thought of Blood?
Blood is partially water.
And considering that it is somewhat common knowledge blood sometimes are use in rituals. So in a way blood is still water but with the parts of someone or something.
So basically water of life. So does that mean i can use the blood to control someone like bloodbending from Avatar.
Another idea is the brain,more specifically
The cerebrospinal fluid? it's 99% water,If you pulled that out,or remove the important nutrients doesn't that basically kill or injure someone's brain. Which manipulating it not to reach some areas of the brain would clearly be dangerous,or just making the fluid pour out of their mouth or nose.
Also would it be possible to change the fluid into a different type of substance like turning it to Vinegar or Wine.
Heh making someone brain full of wine.
Heck you probably can even make their stomach acid, burst out.
Not to mention can i use a teleportation spell to flood the brain with their own stomach acid. That would be gruesome as hell.
On a side note what about supercharging the bacteria someone drink, dropped a few dangerous bacteria and then used an age dpell with a timer if that exists and someone then drinking it,and then when the spell activated,the bacteria will breed quickly and giving a person disease or fatally killing them and there's no trace of it
...
...
I stared at the notebook.
...My brain is really dangerous.
I'm five years old (physically )I'm already theorizing the most horrifying combat ororapplications imaginable, that would make even mortal kombat developers impressed.
What is wrong with me?
But then I thought about it.
Actually... this makes sense.
(Yes it does make sense)
In my past life, I was an avid reader of manga, anime, light novels, and fanfiction.
I'd consumed thousands of stories across multiple fandoms.
And a lot of those stories in some case involved creative, terrifying, and scientifically questionable applications of magic and superpowers.
I've read stories where people weaponized blood manipulation, making them choke in their owm blood.
Stories where magicians could freeze the water in someone's brain.
Stories where telekinesis users crushed internal organs.
My brain has been trained to think outside the box.
And considering i was a scientist in my past life,it gave me a lot of knowledge about the building blocks of the world.
And because of that by applying science to magic it helps me in doing magic more efficient and also ethically questionable and terrifying in the best(or worst) ways possible.
I shook my head.
Okay, moving on.
I turned the page.
The next page was about Ice magic.
...
Could you use ice magic to stab someone from the inside?
Like, freeze the water in their bloodstream or sweat glands and create internal ice spikes?
I paused.
Stop.
Stop thinking about murder applications Michael.
You're FIVE.
I took a breath.
Alright. What about electricity ?,i then flipped to the electricity//ightning magic page.
The human body uses electrical signals for nerve transmission. They move due to the body firing electricity at its neouron.
Could you manipulate the electricity in someone's neurons?
Can that mean controlling their movements? Paralyze them? Destroy their memories/ cripple them,overload their brain? or...
I stopped myself.
OKAY.
I REALLY need to stop.
This is getting out of hand.
I closed the notebook and rubbed my face.
Maybe I should focus on non-lethal applications for now.
Like... making ice cubes for drinks
or a spell that would accumulate water for plants.
Nice, wholesome, non-homicidal and mutilating magic.
...
Then I heard it.
A sound that could only mean one thing.
"MIIIIIICKEYYYY!"
Oh no.
The front door burst open with a bang.
Jeanne's voice rang through the house, full of energy and excitement.
"I'M HEEEERE!"
I heard rapid footsteps
Thud thud thud thud
coming up the stairs.
My bedroom door rhen flew open.
Jeanne stood in the doorway, grinning like she'd just conquered a city,pillage the hell out of it,and loaded it inside the bag she was carrying with her.
Her arms was loaded with bags, pillows, and at least three plushies.
"I brought EVERYTHING!" she announced proudly.
I blinked at the sheer volume of stuff.
"Jeanne... it's one night."
"I KNOW!" She dumped everything onto my bed. "But I needed options!"
She rummaged through one of her bags and pulled out a handful of snacks cookies, candy, chips.
"And look! I brought snacks!" She grinned mischievously. "I may have secretly taken these from my parents' stash."
I raised an eyebrow. "You stole snacks?"
"I borrowed them," she corrected. "Without asking,or telling them."
That's stealing. Though it's likely her parents know.
But before I could say anything, she grabbed a cookie and stuffed it toward my mouth.
"Open your mouth!"
"Jeanne, wait-"
Too late.
She stuffed the cookie into my mouth.
I coughed, chewing quickly, trying not to choke on it.
"Mmph- Jeanne!"
"Good, right !?" she asked, beaming.
I swallowed.
"Yeah, but you can't just-"
She shoved another cookie at me.
"Here's another!"
"HMMPHH!!"
Damn it Jeanne, I continue try to say something, but considering Jeanne is practically shoving me, i was only making choking sound.
"Shuush Mickey if you try to talk you'll choked" Jeanne put her index finger on my mouth to gesture me to stay quiet.
Isn't that your fault !?
I gave up trying to talk and ate the second cookie.
Why is she so strong anyway like i can't stopped her when she stuffed my mouth with sugary food?
Seriously, she's five, though I'm also five but what i meant is, how does she have this much energy and physical strength? Compared to me.
Does she have some kind of special ability or something.
I wouldn't be surprised at this point.
Considering the events that had been happening with me.
Jeanne plopped down on my bed, and roll around my bed while being surrounded by her mountain of stuff, looking extremely happy with herself.
"This is gonna be the BEST sleepover ever!" she declared.
I sighed, but I was smiling.
"Yeah, it will be."
-------
Meanwhile - Great Britain
-------
(Lavinia's POV)
I held out my hand, just like Grandma had shown me, and focused.
Feel the energy, and let it flow.
A faint magic circle appeared above my palm,it was wobbly, unstable, but it had appeared.
A tiny flame flickered to life.
I gasped. "I did it!"
Grandma smiled warmly. "Excellent, Lavinia. That's very good for your first try."
I stared at the flame, my heart swelling with pride.
I can do magic now, actual magic that grandma taught me.
The flame wavered and went out.
But I didn't care.
I'd done it.
And I will get better.
I'll work hard.
I'll get stronger.
So I can protect the people I care about.
I looked at Grandma, determination shining in my eyes.
"Can we try again?"
She chuckled. "Of course dear, let's keep going."
----
Later
----
(Michael's POV)
Jeanne sat at the dining table, absolutely demolishing a plate of pastries Mom had made.
Her cheeks were stuffed like a squirrel collecting nuts for the winter, crumbs scattered everywhere around her plate, and she looked like the happiest person in the world.
Mom watched her with obvious affection, reaching over to pinch Jeanne's cheek gently.
"You're so cute, Jeanne," Mom said warmly.
Jeanne swallowed her mouthful and beamed. "Thank you, Mickey Mom!"
Mom chuckled. "You're always welcome here, sweetheart."
I sat across from them, eating my own dinner at a much more reasonable pace, and observed Jeanne quietly.
I soon stuffed some macarons, while thinking something.
Thinking about it...
Jeanne appearance is really similar to Jeanne d'Arc of this world if she was a 5 year old. What i meant is the fact both have blonde hair,blue eyes...so yeah im counting it,and they also have somewhat a fierce personality. And her birthday is may 30th for God sake.
The day Jeanne d'Arc was burned at the stake.
Is that a coincidence ?
Like come on.
I frowned slightly.
Though it's pretty clear I'm not in some kind of alternate Nasuverse for obvious reasons even if from what the stories about this world Jeanne d'Arc and her recorded appearance is similar to her fate counterpart.
Which i pretty much don't mind, since if i was in the nasuverse it that would be both good and bad.
Mostly bad, considering the apocalyptic threat level of that universe. And i would rather be not involved even if there some good things about it, since the bad things outweighs the good thing by ten fold or more. So yeah thank god my universe is not going to be in danger or anything bad from my observation.
But still...
I felt that nagging sense of déjà vu again. When i sometimes see Jeanne face,i had the same feeling I'd gotten when I met Lavinia.
Same when I saw the ice doll,or when i meet sister Griselda,and Miss Gabriel.
Why do I feel like I've seen all of these people before?
Like I should know them?
I hate déjà vu so much.
I actually experienced it constantly in my past life walking into a room and feeling like I'd been there before, hearing a conversation I swore I'd already heard.
But this felt different.
More... significant actually.
Which makes me think am I missing something?
Is my Mind screwing with me?
I shook my head, pushing the thought aside.
Focus, Michael.
You're probably overthinking. And also atleast enjoy your current life.
Jeanne meanwhile soon finished her last pastry her eighth pastry and wiped her mouth with a napkin.
"That was SO good!" she declared.
Mom smiled. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. You're welcome to more anytime."
"Really?!"
"Really." Mom replied with a smile.
Jeanne looked like she'd just been given the keys to a candy store.
She really loves sweets things.
Cookies,pastries,candy,ice cream,and etc.
Classic five-year-old.
Which my current taste bud really make me love sweet things again,so i can't complain about that.
Before I could continue my train of thought, Jeanne grabbed my hand.
"Come on, Mikey! Let's play!"
"Wait Jeanne!-"
Too late.
She dragged me away from the table,and i was unable to grabbed another pastry and went into the living room, where she'd already set up the game console.
I stared at the setup. Since she had inserted the game console,the cables,and also some accessories.
How the hell does she keep doing this?
She's five,no offense.
Since When I was five in my original life, I could play games,press buttons,and play what it was intended,i can move the characters, race in game like mario kart on my dad's laptop,but I couldn't set up the console myself.
That sometimes required plugging in cables, connecting to the TV/Laptops, entering the game and navigating menus...
And Jeanne just... does it.
Casually.
Is she secretly a genius?
Or am I just underestimating five-year-olds?
Jeanne plopped down on the floor, controller in hand, grinning.
"Alright! Let's play!"
I sat down beside her. "Are we playing Hero Quest again?"
"Nope!" She shook her head excitedly.
"Different game this time!"
She pointed at the screen.
The title appeared: Legends of the Realm
"It's still a fantasy game," Jeanne explained. "But this one's different. You make your own character! Like... like those dice games Papa told me about!"
I blinked. "You mean like D&D?
"Yeah! That!" She bounced slightly. "You pick your race, your class, your skills everything!"
Oh.
A character creation RPG.
Nice.
The screen prompted us to choose our race.
Like Human,Elf,Dwarf,Orc,Beastkin,Demon,Spirits. Which the race we choose also effect on the gameplay specifically it's lore,and the campaign.
Jeanne immediately selected Human.
I glanced at the stats for the other races.
-Elves had higher magic affinity but lower physical strength.
-Dwarves had higher endurance but slower speed.
-Orcs had high strength but lower intelligence.
-Beastkin had balanced stats with agility bonuses,but with some debuff that somewhat nerfed it.
Humans had... average everything.
Jack of all trades, master of none.
While not the best it's the most flexible for builds. And I love a flexible build,and jack of all trade, since i can't Keep myself stay in one role.
Also I'm a human
Of course i selected Human as well.
Don't complain.
"Yay! We're both humans!" Jeanne cheered.
Next: Class Selection
The options appeared:
Warrior
Knight
Archer
Magician
Cleric
Rogue
Paladin
Assassin
And then: Secondary Role (optional)
I stared at the screen.
Hmm... I begin thinking on the main class and secondary class
A hybrid knight magician class.
Perfect.
I selected Knight as my primary class. And then pick magician for secondary
A classic, it's Very versatile.
...
I'm not apologizing for picking the boring but efficient build.
Jeanne hummed thoughtfully, scrolling through the options.
Then she grinned and selected Knight as well..
For her secondary role, she chose Banner Bearer.
I blinked. "Banner Bearer?"
"Yeah! It's a support class. I can buff the party and inspire allies!" She looked proud. "Like a leader!"
Oh.
That's actually really fitting...
And really coincidental.
Considering ... it's like Jeanne d'Arc.
I thought about it.
And then proceed to curse the universe for basically pranking me.
Since as i mentioned
The Jeanne d'Arc of here has blonde hair and blue eyes though her reputation here for being a military leader and also fierce and righteous and a symbol of hope is still the same.
So yeah the Universe definitely is laughing or trying to do a prank on me
"Cool choice," I said.
"Thanks!" She beamed.
We finished customizing our characters appearance, stats, starting equipment and loaded into the game.
The opening cinematic played,as the cinematic showcase a fantasy world at war. Monsters invading,heroes are needed to fight these invasion.
But as we started playing...
This game is way more complex than Hero Quest.
There were dialogue choices, branching story paths and as i said were playing as the human faction. So we're mainly defending and doing counteroffensive.
Tactical combat also is important same with positioning and terrain effects,and even the morale and the npc are important. Not to mention on the battle will be different each time,and the impact of what happened in the game is very important.
This is basically a full on dreams of some gamers.
How does this game even exist. Since I know for a fact i would pay for an arm and leg for this type of game.
Considering games in my old world cost 70-90 dollars.
And the consoles was in the 800 tothousand of dollars,heck getting pc was horrifying.
And it stopped getting cheaper and actually increased month by month.
Which back to the game, considering the game complexity can jeanne even handle this?
I glanced at her.
She was completely focused, eyes locked on the screen, fingers moving expertly across the controller.
Wow... she's really determined at this.
We entered our first battle a group of monster attacking a village.
Jeanne's Banner Brearer Knight charged forward, with her banner and sword.
My Magic Knight followed, casting a fire enchantment on my blade before slashing at an enemy.
Jeanne used her Banner Bearer ability, and a golden flag appeared above her character, buffing our attack and defense, and increasing morale for the troops.
"Nice!" I said.
"Teamwork!" she replied, grinning.
We fought through the battle, coordinating attacks, covering each other, using our abilities strategically.
And somehow... We won on our first battle
"We're awesome!" she declared while raising her ahnd with her controller.
I smiled. "Yeah. We are."
We kept playing, losing track of time, completely absorbed in the game.
And for a while, everything else faded away.
------
Later....
------
Ok I'd like to make this clear.
The RPG campaign somehow had become more crazier gameplay,and I'm not joking
What started as a simple "clear out the monster" quest had somehow evolved into a full-scale military operation.
Jeanne's Holy Knight had recruited an entire battalion of NPC soldiers through a series of persuasion checks and side quests.
Now, she stood at the front of a massive army knights, archers, infantry, all rallying under her banner.
"CHARGE!" Jeanne shouted, both in-game and out loud, slamming the controller buttons.
Her character raised her sword, the golden banner glowing brightly, and the entire army surged forward toward the enemy fortress. As arrows and spells begin firing towards them.
I, meanwhile, hung back with my Magic Knight,and the mages positioned on a hill overlooking the battlefield. Taking my sweet time.
Which currently I'm in a perfect vantage point,to basically bombard the inside of the fortress.
I cycled through my spell list and selected the most devastating area of effect magic available.
Meteor Storm, Lightning Barrage, Earth Tremor,and other spells.
My character and the other mages begin raising their staff, as the sky darkened.
Flaming meteors began raining down on the enemy forces, and explosions erupting across the battlefield.
And lightning begin striking down the people guarding the fortress.
While the Ground begin to shake collapsing part of the fortress.
Which the screen shake to the spell effect.
"WHOA!" Jeanne's eyes went wide. "That's so cool Mickey!"
"Thanks," I said, grinning. "You focus on the melee, I'll continue handle giving the enemy hell."
"Got it!" she cheered.
The battle rages on the screen.
Jeanne's army clashed with the enemy forces in epic, cinematic combat.
Her Banner Bearer Knight cut through enemy lines while my Magic rained destruction from above.
The game developers really went all out on this.The animations are incredible,way too advanced for what I'd expect from this era's gaming tech and the price.
But I'm not complaining.
We fought our way through wave after wave of enemies, coordinating perfectly,Jeanne's close-range dominance combined with my long-range magical bombardment.
Finally, the enemy commander fell.
Victory music played.
Jeanne threw her hands up in triumph. "WE WON!"
I leaned back, smiling. "Yeah. We did."
She turned to me, grinning so wide her face looked like it might split. "That was AWESOME! Did you see how many soldiers I had?! And your meteor spell was SO COOL!"
"Your charge was pretty epic too."
"I KNOW!"
We high-fived.
Then the in-game clock caught my eye.
Wait.
I glanced at the actual clock on the wall.
11:00 PM.
Oh god how long have we been playing the game.
Jeanne didn't seem to notice.
She was already loading the next quest, clicking through the menus .
"Alright! Next mission! Let's-"
The door to the living room opened.
Mom stepped in in her pajamas, looking amused and tired but still firm
.
"Alright, you two," she said gently. "It's time to sleep."
Jeanne looked up, controller still in hand, eyes wide with protest.
"But we're in the middle of a campaign!" she said. "We just liberated a whole kingdom! We can't stop now!"
Mom smiled. "The kingdom will still be there tomorrow, sweetheart. It's eleven o'clock. Way past bedtime."
Jeanne looked at me desperately, as if I could somehow convince Mom to let us keep playing.
I shrugged. "She's right. We should probably sleep."
"But-!" Jeanne started.
"Jeanne," Mom said, her tone still kind but with that unmistakable Mom finality to it. "It's Bedtime."
Jeanne tried to argue but her body told her no,so she slumped,and her shoulders sagging in defeat.
"...Okay," she mumbled.
She reluctantly set down the controller and stood up, stretching.
Mom walked over and ruffled both our heads. "You two can play more tomorrow. But right now, you need rest."
"Okay, Mom," I said.
Jeanne sighed dramatically. "Fiiiiine."
Mom chuckled. "Come on, let's get you both ready for bed."
A Little Later...
We'd brushed our teeth, changed into our pajamas, and set up Jeanne's sleeping area in my room.
She'd brought a sleeping bag, pillows, and of course her collection of plushies, which now formed a small mountain beside her makeshift bed. Though i did give her some pillow and roll pillow.
I climbed into my bed while Jeanne settled into her sleeping bag on the floor.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then Jeanne spoke.
"Mikey?"
"Yeah?"
"Today was really fun."
I smiled. "Yeah. It was."
"Thanks for letting me come over."
"Anytime."
She shifted in her sleeping bag, hugging one of her plushies.
"You're my best friend, you know."
"You're my best friend too, Jeanne," I said quietly.
She giggled softly. "Good. Because you're stuck with me now."
"I can live with that."
There was another pause.
Then Jeanne yawned. "G'night, Mikey."
"Goodnight, Jeanne."
Within minutes, I heard her breathing slow and even out and she then soon fa asleep.
I lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling.
I smiled to myself.
Yeah.
I can get used to this.
And slowly, I drifted off to sleep too.
Meanwhile in Great Britain
(Lavinia's POV)
I was currently inside my new bedroom.
my bedroom, not a guest room, not a temporary space, but mine, which it was really comfortable,and big,not to mention grandma having brought her to do some shopping.
I continue to hold Mochi and staring at the ceiling.
Today had been exhausting.
Magic training with Grandma.
Learning to control my energy, practicing basic spells.
But it was also... amazing.
I can do magic.
Real magic.
I hugged Mochi tighter.
And I have a family now.
Grandma and Grandpa.
And soon... Michael's family too.
I wondered what Michael was doing right now.
Probably sleeping.
Or maybe playing games with his friend.
I hope I get to see him soon.
I closed my eyes, feeling safe and warm for the first time in what felt like forever.
Thank you, Grandma.
Thank you, Grandpa.
Thank you, Michael.
And with that thought, I fell asleep.
_____________
Yes, I may have let out out my intrusive thoughts for this chapter.
How did you know ?
Ok,in my defense, consuming a gore amount of different types of fandom, tend to do that..... WH40K,SCP,and learning about histort doesn't help as well.
Not to mention reading on what happened to people, like dying or being tortured to the most horrifying and cruelest way,kinda help.
Also i already have other spells that i have ideas for, though thankfully not gruesome.... I think
Ok see ya in the next chapter 👋
- AgentByteGOC