Not long after, the four of us heard a loud thud from behind.
"I'm sure that was Big Sister."
The giant snake we had seen earlier was flying, or perhaps flung high into the sky.
The four of us stopped for a moment, watching the snake as it floated.
Bestie guessed it was her Big Sister's doing; she probably hit the snake and sent it flying.
"Your Big Sister is truly a monster, hahaha."
"That's not even half of it."
Hmm, so that's not even half of it, huh? Could it be just a small fraction of her brutality?
She continued.
"Big Sister often says during training: Chronicler Sigma is far stronger and more destructive."
"Well, I can understand that, because my mother often compares herself to Chronicler Sigma."
Ah, I see. Listening to Big Sister and Bestie's conversation, I tried to follow along. I tried to take a book out of my bag.
So you're here.
A small dog's head emerged from inside the bag. She had been in there all this time, and I had only just realized it. I thought she had left when we hid, but apparently not.
My position wasn't good enough for writing, because Bestie was always moving, but this was better than writing while walking.
"What do they think of my teacher?"
I asked them to look at the book. Bestie turned her head, Big Sister came closer to read it.
They both stopped and thought.
"Hmm..., Big Sister once said. Chronicler Sigma is her martial arts teacher; she learned fighting techniques and enhancement from Chronicler Sigma."
Ah, that's why I felt familiar when I first saw her. Her aura was similar to Teacher's.
"Although, at first glance, Big Sister seems more brutal, that's only because she doesn't hold back, unlike Chronicler Sigma."
She knows a lot. I guess Alpha Annihilation must have told her a lot about Teacher. What about Big Sister? Bestie and I glanced at her.
"My mother, well..., she talks a lot, like comparing her rigid magic to Chronicler Sigma's flexible magic."
"Rigid and flexible? What does that mean?"
Bestie asked, probably confused because magic wasn't her specialty. And it seemed Big Sister was talking about its application.
"Magic is generally rigid; we can't use it freely."
Beta suddenly spoke up.
"Magic has many types: attack, defense, healing."
"This will be your first lesson on magic."
Sister asked me to focus. Seeing Beta's serious expression, Bestie, my Sister, and I sat on the ground, with Beta standing and explaining.
"Then there's also enhancement type, like what you and Alpha Annihilation master."
Beta referred to Bestie.
So that's what makes her physique so strong. I wondered if my physique could become like Teacher's if I mastered it.
"Not everyone can use magic."
That dashed my thoughts of learning, because Teacher once said it was impossible for me to master magic.
"You must have enough energy for it, for example, elemental magic. You must have energy and an understanding of the elemental composition, what creates water. What water consists of, and what its properties are like. Your imagination and thinking ability must be extraordinary for that."
"And for enhancement magic, you must understand anatomy, and also train your physical and mental aspects. Your muscles must be strong enough to withstand the effects, and your mind must be ready to withstand the side effects."
"All of that must be balanced with sufficient energy or mana."
My Sister interrupted.
This is impossible for me, and perhaps this is why Teacher never allowed me to learn magic. "No need, it's useless. It's not useful for you," that's what she used to say.
"Now, for healing magic. You must master both: nature, mind, body, and mental. Those who master them can heal."
This made me confused. If that's the case, isn't Beta very strong? She can heal, so why does it seem otherwise?
"Then why are you weak?"
I wrote to her. She scratched her head and replied.
"I master it, or rather, understand it. But..., my energy capacity, the mana in my body, isn't enough. I can still use basic spells."
Something appeared on Beta's palm. I saw a small fire, water, rocks, and a small whirlwind. They all spun on her palm.
"Healing magic doesn't use energy from within the body, but the opposite. It borrows from the surroundings, from nature."
This is very complicated, in my opinion. Someone might learn or master one of the three magics, but to master all three, that must be truly extraordinary.
"Whoosh.... Boom!!!"
A shockwave hit, followed by a thud.
"Hold onto me."
Bestie gripped my hand.
Once again in the sky, we saw something floating. A tree monster flying in the distance.
"We have to move."
Big Sister stood up after the shockwave disappeared.
"Where's Beta?"
She had disappeared, and Bestie immediately noticed it. I looked around, searching for her.
I pointed up into the tree.
"What is she doing up there? Hahaha..."
Bestie climbed the tree, bringing Beta down from above.
"She fainted."
"Carry her, let's move."
We continued our journey, although we didn't know exactly where we were going or what our destination was. Calling it a journey, but in reality, I wasn't walking. I was mostly carried by Bestie or Big Sister when Beta fainted.
Not long after, and not far ahead, I saw a group of men. They stood in a line, blocking the road. I thought they were bandits or robbers.
Big Sister and Bestie were ready in case they tried anything, but in fact, as we approached, the men opened the way, moving to the side of the road.
"They're afraid of me, hahaha..."