The Eastern Forest of Magnolia, if Lyla remembered correctly, this was the very same forest Natsu and Lisanna used to play in when they were kids.
Lyla and August had come here together, and along the way, Lyla spotted all kinds of curious magical creatures: tiny bats flying through the air, blue turtles with rooster-like crests along a riverbank, and a strange beast with a prism-like shell shimmering in all colors of the rainbow.
As they ventured deeper into the woods, a massive tree gradually came into view, and just as expected, a wooden house had been built inside of it. A small window peeked out beside the front door, and stairs led up to the entrance.
August and Lyla stood at the door. August knocked a few times and waited, but no sound came from within.
Lyla pressed up against the window, peeking inside. The interior was simple but tidy, shelves lined with magical tomes and potion bottles, an alchemy table covered in brewing tools. But the person they were looking for, Grandma Porlyusica, was nowhere to be seen.
Thwack!
August tapped Lyla lightly on the head with his staff.
"Quit peeking. It's rude. Looks like she's out on a long trip. Let's come back another day."
With nothing else to do, August decided Lyla would spend time training in the forest instead. Practice wasn't something you did just to pass the time, it was a foundation for growth.
While Lyla went off to find magical beasts to spar with, August sat by a nearby river, fishing rod in hand. He closed his eyes and wore a contented smile. The sunlight streamed down gently, the river murmured as it flowed, and the breeze rustled the leaves above.
From time to time, August glanced toward the ripples in the water or the shimmering forest beyond. The peacefulness of nature wrapped around him like a warm blanket, slowing time itself.
Eventually, something caught his eye,
A monstrous red-scaled fish, over three meters long, with gray fur along its gills and bright yellow fins, broke the water's surface.
"Hmph. Big enough for that kid to eat. Guess he should be back soon."
"I'm back," came Lyla's muffled voice behind him.
August turned around, and burst into uncharacteristic laughter.
Lyla's face was a mess: bruised, scratched, and puffy.
"You old geezer! What's so funny?" Lyla snapped, flustered. "That Glian beast was just a filthy monkey! Next time I'm gonna beat its stupid butt flat!"
He crossed his arms in frustration. "If I just knew an offensive spell, it'd be toast."
August simply chuckled harder.
"Hmph. That giant fish, did you catch that?"
"I did. We'll roast it later."
"…Then I've decided! I'm finally going to learn that magic!"
"Arc of Embodiment, huh?" August raised a brow, intrigued. "Now that's an interesting choice."
He began explaining the nature of the Lost Magic Lyla had chosen.
Arc of Embodiment allowed the user to materialize anything they could imagine into reality. However, it required significant concentration, and came with two drawbacks.
First, the magic consumed massive amounts of energy. The more complex or powerful the creation, the more it drained both stamina and magical power.
Second, it placed a burden on the caster's mental stability.
As such, August laid down a strict rule: from now on, Lyla had to meditate every night to maintain a calm mind and avoid overexertion.
But Lyla wasn't worried. After all these months of training, his body had been steeped in magic. His control over mana was precise, and strangely enough, his mental state felt unusually clear.
Once Lyla officially mastered Arc of Embodiment, he tested it by summoning a small fire lizard, along with a full barbecue setup, seasonings, grilling rack, everything. Then, he casually materialized the nodding chef from Super Express, complete with tall forehead and mustache, to prepare the meal.
Needless to say, dinner that night was phenomenal.
After their training, Lyla went to MAGNoRIA, the only bathhouse in Magnolia. Not only did it relieve fatigue, but it also helped restore magic power. He brought his toiletries, entered the men's bath, and afterward cracked open a chilled mixed fruit milk.
Ahhh... full recovery.
For the next two days, Lyla and August continued training in the forest while also waiting in vain for news of Porlyusica's return.
On the first day, Lyla tried something bold,
He attempted to summon August using Arc of Embodiment.
But the moment he tried imagining him, the spell failed.
"Is it a magic issue? Grandpa's just too strong. I can't visualize him properly... Okay then, let's start simple."
August, watching from a distance, could already tell,
This magic was a perfect match for Lyla.
Not only had Lyla chosen this magic, but the magic had chosen him.
After a while, Lyla successfully summoned a cat and a mouse, the moment they appeared, they hugged each other in bewilderment, their little eyes blinking at the world.
"Ohh! They actually showed up! This is amazing... wait, I can watch cartoons like this now?"
He laughed and patted the two critters.
Tom and Jerry looked around nervously and hugged tighter.
"Too bad their combat stats are garbage. Hardly used any mana at all. I guess I'll have to test their physical capabilities next time." With a wave, he dismissed the summon.
"Now then... come forth, Super Saiyan!"
Lyla closed his eyes and focused. A figure appeared before him, Son Goku.
Unfortunately, it was just base form. Lyla tried summoning Super Saiyan Goku next, but the mental strain was intense. He realized he was hitting the limits of the world's tolerance.
Even though he succeeded in summoning Goku, saying the iconic techniques out loud felt way too embarrassing, Lyla blushed and covered his face.
"Alright, Goku! Time for some good old-fashioned revenge."
Using his Ancient Text Magic, Lyla uploaded basic information about this world directly into Goku's mind. A progress bar floated above Goku's head. Once it hit 100%, Lyla led him deep into the forest, toward the beast that had bruised his beautiful face.
August observed everything calmly.
The strange summons Lyla created... he couldn't see through any of them.
First the bizarre cat and mouse.
Then this seemingly ordinary human, no mana flow, yet emitting an unfamiliar energy that pulsed like living aura.
"Monkey freak! Come out and fight me! I'm gonna make you wear a toilet on your head and kick you all the way to Hakobe Mountain to chill with the snow monkeys!" Lyla shouted into the forest like a madman.
"I'll smash you!"
Glian dropped down from above, but Goku stepped forward, blocking effortlessly.
Then, boom.
One punch. Glian was launched like a rocket.
"Whoa, that was insane. Nice hit, Goku."
"Haha, no biggie. That monster was way too weak," Goku laughed, rubbing the back of his head.
...Ouch.
That casual line pierced someone's soul.
"…Hey, Goku," Lyla muttered, head bowed, "can you teach me how to train my body and master ki?"
A metaphorical arrow, labeled combat power: 5, trash-tier, stabbed Lyla square in the back.
Lyla forced a calm smile and looked up seriously.
"I'm afraid not," Goku replied gently. "Even if I teach you how to sense and use ki, this world will reject it. Your bodies have adapted to magic. There's no space for ki to take root.
I can use it because my physiology is different. But I can help you with physical training."
At that moment, Goku looked every bit the martial arts master.
After a brief exchange of knowledge, he hit the nail on the head.
"What kind of training do you recommend?"
"I'll teach you some of Master Roshi's martial arts," Goku said. "As for training... move your body, learn new things, play hard, eat well, sleep soundly, and live joyfully every day. That's training too!"
"I'll remember that. Thanks for coming to help me. Until next time."
Lyla could feel it, his mana reserves were nearly depleted. He could no longer sustain Goku's presence.
"Next time, I'll train you properly," Goku said, his form slowly fading into golden light.
His voice lingered in the air.
<150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter>