(Lefiya POV – Hestia Familia Home)
"This… this is the place, right?" I ask, though my voice lacks conviction.
The building looms before us… an old church in disrepair. The roof sags, the stone is cracked, and the door looks like it might fall off its hinges if the wind blows too hard.
There is no chance another church in Orario is this run-down.
'So it really is here… that man lives here. This… this disgrace of a building matches him perfectly.'
"Mhm." Ais nods, golden eyes fixed on the entrance with her usual calm focus.
I grip my staff tighter to my chest as heat rises in my stomach. Anger, frustration, indignation… all swirling together into a burning mass.
'How dare he corrupt Ais like this?! He barely met her and she's already curious about him! Why is she curious?! What's so interesting about him?! I won't forgive him!'
I glare at the door as if I can burn a hole through it with pure hatred alone.
Finally, I force myself forward and knock. The sound echoes loudly down the empty morning street.
I wait.
…And wait.
...…And wait.
My eyebrow twitches.
"Why is he taking so long?" I mutter through clenched teeth. "Honestly… If it weren't for Lady Loki and Lady Riveria insisting I do this…"
Another moment passes as irritation continues to boil in my chest.
I feel the urge to kick the door in, blast him awake, and lecture him for making Ais and I stand outside like this.
But Lady Riveria specifically told me not to be rude. Lady Loki told me not to 'cause trouble just because I dislike him…'
So I raise my hand to knock again—
But the door flies open first.
I freeze.
"…You." The word leaves my mouth slowly.
Riven stands there, blue eyes steady, looking completely unbothered.
He lifts an eyebrow. "Who else but me?" He smirks, and my blood pressure spikes.
But then his gaze shifts to Ais.
"Good morning, Ais. I didn't expect you to come too."
'Don't talk to Ais!' I scream internally, immediately stepping in front of her like an Elf shield.
But Ais simply steps around me with unbothered grace.
"Morning." She says quietly, before falling silent again.
I can feel her attention focused solely on Riven, and it makes my insides twist. Clearly he's already corrupting her… no, distracting her… no, worse, making her curious. Ais shouldn't get curious about random men!
I narrow my eyes at him. He even pretends not to notice my hostility.
"So…" He says. "You're gonna teach me about Elven Magic, right? Are we heading to the dungeon for a demonstration, or do you have another place in mind?"
I gape at him.
Not even a "Hello," "Good morning," or a nod of greeting.
Straight to magic lessons.
'He's so rude. A terrible human being. Who cares if you greet me or not… but still!'
His tone is annoyingly casual, and from the faint amusement in his eyes, I have a sinking suspicion he enjoys how irritated I am.
"I'm ready to go." He adds easily. "Let me just wake up my Goddess."
He disappears back inside.
I exhale sharply through my nose. Ais stands beside me calmly, watching the door.
Ten seconds pass.
Then—
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" A long, wailing shriek explodes from within the church, echoing down the street like a tortured banshee.
My entire body jolts.
"No more! I can't take any more! I need rest!"
Then silence.
Dead, eerie silence.
I take one step back. Cautiously.
"A-Ais… what… what is happening in there…?"
She tilts her head. "Training?"
"Th-that didn't sound like training!"
Before I can analyze whether or not we should run for help, the door opens again.
Riven steps out as if everything inside is perfectly normal.
"Everything's sorted." He says calmly, holding something in his hands. "Also, I brought this for you two."
He extends what looks like…
'A small, fluffy white cloud?'
Ais blinks. "Cloud…?"
"That's not a cloud." He says, chuckling a little. "It's a dessert called Cotton candy."
'He's bringing out suspicious, fluffy poison?! No—wait—cotton what?' I squint at it suspiciously.
"You expect us to just trust—"
Before I finish, Ais gently takes the cotton candy from his hands.
"AIS—?!"
She bites it.
My soul leaves my body.
"A–AIS?!! WHAT IF IT'S POISON?!!"
I rush to her side, patting her cheeks, checking her pupils, ready to cast a detoxifying magic…
But Ais just chews quietly, her eyes sparkling.
"…Sweet." She mutters.
She takes another bite.
I stare.
"You're… fine?"
Riven rolls his eyes with exaggerated disbelief.
"Why would I poison you?" He asks flatly. "Especially when you're supposed to be teaching me soon?"
"I—!"
I open my mouth to retort, but nothing comes out.
…Because he's right.
And I hate that he's right.
My cheeks flush pink, and my hate for him intensifies instantly.
'How dare you embarrass me in front of Ais?! I'll make you pay…' I think, glaring at his stupid face.
(Riven POV – Dungeon, Floor 4)
'I really hope Hestia actually wakes up and goes to work.' I almost laugh, recalling her screaming, thinking I wanted another round.
The thought drifts lazily through my mind as we descend onto the fourth floor of the Dungeon.
The air is cool here, and the faint echo of distant monsters crawling through the tunnels is like background noise.
The three of us move deeper in, weaving through corridors until we find a wide stretch of open ground, free of other adventurers.
"This should do." Lefiya says curtly, stopping and turning to face me.
Ais hums quietly beside me, sadly staring at and holding the cotton candy stick. She liked it much more than I expected, as she started taking slow, careful bites once she realized it was finishing. She savoured the flavour and texture with seriousness not seen except when she trains.
Watching her enjoy modern food is… oddly satisfying.
'If I weren't pretending I don't have spatial storage, I could've given her more.' I sigh inwardly. 'But that secret's not worth exposing just to spoil her.'
"This is good enough." Lefiya repeats, sharper now. "Pay attention. I'll explain first, then I'll demonstrate."
She plants her staff into the stone like a strict professor, demanding her class' attention.
'Is she still mad?' I suppress a smile. 'Good. If you're going to hate me anyway, I might as well give you a reason.'
Outwardly, I straighten and give her my full attention.
"Elven Magic is innate to elves." Lefiya begins, chin lifting ever so slightly. "Obviously."
She shoots me a smug look, waiting for a reaction, but I give her nothing.
Her eye twitches.
"…Unlike magic granted through Falna…" She continues, irritation bleeding through her pride. "Elven Magic is cultivated through long training and systematized chants passed down from ancient times."
She gestures vaguely, as if motioning to centuries of history.
"It allows us to draw out our own magic naturally, even without the divine blessing. The drawback is that it tends to be weaker than Falna-based spells."
The explanation continues.
And continues.
And continues.
I get a thirty-minute guided tour through elven history. Ancient sages, lost traditions, the brilliance of elven ancestors, how miraculous it was that such magic even survived—
Ais has completely checked out.
She stares ahead blankly, sword occasionally flashing and mincing monsters that wander too close, dispatching them with effortless precision before returning to her silent vigil.
I keep listening.
Not because I'm fascinated.
But because there's always a chance, however small, that Lefiya might mention something useful amidst her babbling.
And eventually, she finishes.
Her chest rises slightly, breath uneven, not from exhaustion, but from the satisfaction of having finally unloaded all of that knowledge.
"Now that you understand its significance… it's time for a demonstration." She says, visibly pleased.
'Finally.'
She steps forward, closes her eyes, and lifts her staff.
The chant begins. It's long and archaic, the words heavy with intent. The mana in the air shifts, thickening, responding not to Falna, but to her will alone.
When she finishes, a blazing fireball erupts from her staff and slams into the dungeon wall, scorching the stone and filling the air with heat and smoke.
I raise a brow.
For something supposedly weaker, it's… quite impressive.
Likely a result of Lefiya's own talent.
I focus on her, like a kid awaiting a reward for their hard work, and…
Nothing.
'…Huh?' I blink.
My brows knit together.
'Why didn't I get it?'
Lefiya's magic, Elf Ring, allows her to use any elven magic she's seen, knows the chant to, and understands the effects of.
'So shouldn't GS have copied it already?'
A moment later—
[Answer: Lefiya's magic, Elf Ring, allows her to use magic she has witnessed an Elf use, provided she understands its chant and effects.
The demonstrated spell appears to be Elven Magic she personally learned through training, not Falna-derived magic. Therefore, the condition was not met.]
I blink.
Slowly.
'…Fuck.' I exhale through my nose. 'I misunderstood the activation condition.'
Which complicates things significantly.
On one hand, this massively broadens the pool of magic I can steal.
On the other…
'Getting her to demonstrate Falna-based magic from other elves, when I specifically asked for Elven Magic, is going to be a pain.'
I glance at Lefiya, who's still wearing that self-satisfied expression, clearly expecting praise.
'It doesn't matter much anymore.' I think. Any magic I could copy through that skill, GS could copy on her own, even without the chant.
[Notice: Skill acquired — Fairy Canon.]
I pause, before straightening slightly.
'…Oh? She did have such a skill.'
It increases the effect of magic. And when applied to offensive spells, it doubles their effect.
'…I came looking for copper and found gold.' My gaze snaps back to Lefiya, and she notices immediately.
Her shoulders stiffen, while her grip tightens on her staff. Her face twists somewhere between revulsion and alarm as she takes an instinctive step back.
"W-why are you looking at me like that?" She demands. "S-stop it!"
I don't laugh.
I don't mock her.
If anything, my expression softens.
'You're a good elf.' I decide. 'You deserve a reward.'
'GS.' I think calmly, never breaking eye contact with her. 'How does Elven Magic actually work?'
[Answer: Elven chants function as formulaic scaffolding, unconsciously reshaping and transforming magical power, while the caster supplies the magic power and keeps it stable. However, the chant is imperfect for the task it's performing, leading to reduced efficiency. Hence why Falna magic, with accurate chants, perform better as a whole.]
GS elaborates further, answering any additional questions I have.
But the core of it is simple.
Ancient elves didn't truly understand magic.
While they could innately manipulate magic, they were equivalent to a child counting with their fingers, vs GS who is quite literally a supercomputer capable of complex calculations.
Even if you reach the same answer, the amount of effort (magic power), used will be vastly different.
'GS, do I ever tell you how amazing you are?'
[Answer: Yes. Quite often.]
'Well, you're amazing!'
A slow smile curls onto my face, and Lefiya flinches.
"…S-stop smiling like that." She mutters, backing away again. "It's creepy."
'I should stop.' I think.
Then again—
'…No. I really shouldn't.'
"I understand it now." I say calmly. "Mind if I give it a try?"
'GS is me. So if she gets it, so do I.'
She blinks in confusion.
Then her lips curl upward, eyes lighting up with thinly veiled delight.
"Of course." She says with way too much enthusiasm. "Please, go ahead. Show us everything you've learned."
She turns sharply. "Ais! Riven's about to demonstrate Elven Magic. You should watch."
'There it is.' I click my tongue inwardly. 'She wants me to embarrass myself.'
Ais steps closer without comment, her eyes filled with genuine curiosity.
'Still…' I smile faintly. 'Let's punish her just a little.'
'Partner…' I think. 'Let's boast a bit, and traumatiz—I mean educate, this naughty elf.'
[Answer: Affirmative.]
"I've never used Elven Magic before." I say modestly, raising my hand toward the same wall Lefiya targeted earlier. "So forgive me if I mess up."
Her nose wrinkles in disdain, smug anticipation practically radiating off her.
I decide to twist the knife.
"I don't really understand why chanting is necessary, though." I add thoughtfully. "Isn't that just for people who can't properly shape their magic?"
Her face darkens instantly.
"Did you even listen to my explanation?!" She snaps.
"I did." I reply mildly. "I just thought it could be improved upon." I shrug.
She looks like she's about to attack me.
So I do it first.
"Like this?" I ask innocently.
Mind gathers quickly and fluidly.
It coalesces into a massive fireball that blooms into existence above my palm. It's brighter, denser, and more stable than Lefiya's.
'About 30% bigger?' I estimate, then flick my wrist.
The projectile tears through the air, slamming into the dungeon wall with violent force.
The explosion shakes the corridor.
Stone cracks, and dust rains down as a shallow crater is blown into the wall where smooth stone once stood.
Silence follows.
'…And it barely used any Mind.' I note idly. 'Fairy Canon is such a cheat for any mage.'
And it applies to all magic. I can't wait to experiment with it once I'm alone, but for now…
I turn back, and see Lefiya standing frozen.
Her eyes are wide, mouth agape, and hands clenched so tightly around her staff that her knuckles have gone white.
She looks like she's about to pass out.
Ais, meanwhile—
Clap.
Clap.
"…Good?" She says more as a question than a statement as she tilts her head.
I almost laugh.
'I would stop… but this is extremely fun.'
"Huh?" I tilt my head innocently. "That was much easier than you made it sound, Lefiya."
"N-no…" She stammers. "That's… that's impossible…"
"Not really." I say cheerfully. "Your chant's fine, but it's inefficient for the spell. If you adjust the pronunciation here, and swap out these words like this…"
I gesture casually, lecturing her with the same enthusiasm she inflicted on me earlier.
I almost see her worldview shatter.
A human using Elven Magic better than an elven genius, then lecturing her on it, and actually improving it…
I smile warmly.
'Helping an elf improve her magic…' I think proudly. 'I really am a good person.'
**********
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you all? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
So, this is the chapter. Overall, I tried to focus on getting Lefiya's personality right. It was a bit interesting, ngl, and overall, I think I did it alright. A bit of an issue I had was the exact mechanics for the magic, but hopefully I explained it properly.
In essence, I'm going with the idea that chants just shape magic and transform it, while the mage needs to channel it and keep it flowing smoothly. With Falna being stronger because of its exact chant being known (but exclusive because maybe that chant is based on the person specifically). And GS just being awesome.
As for the description of Elf Ring... I had personally gotten it wrong, and realised when I got to that part, and just thought... "Hmm. Wouldn't it be interesting if Riven had also been wrong?" And went ahead with that idea. He got Fairy Canon though, which is broken AF as it applies to all magic. Including Ariel.
She's got 1 more skill I want to steal, but it'd probably be impossible in the short term. Breaking an elf's pride was a bit overkill for him, but she kinda deserved it, and it'd motivate her, right?
Overall, it was quite productive, despite the misunderstandings. And is feeding Ais food a nice dynamic? She is a love interest, and I think this is a good way to develop their relationship and get him to open up. So hopefully it's going well.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
But, I don't have much to say, so that's all from me. I hope you all have a great rest of your day/night😁