Staring at ceiling 30 seconds already. Thoughts race fast from glad I have 4 years practice in masking and self-control! So screamed everything I think—in my head. To scraps I picked up watching epic Fate battles on YouTube couple times and out of curiosity couple 7-minute reviews of this world.
Listened and dropped, 'cause world is crap—such mishmash of nonsense and gimps I hadn't seen in ages! Straining memory, recalled watching this anime in childhood, but which part? And damn long ago, like... hm, 15 years back from past life, though not sure—stopped being Otaku by then 10 years, so scatter 10-20 years. And here 4 years already, so recognizing it at all—fucking miracle.
Hmm, let's gather all intel I remember on this world—Magic is gimped, some faith energy and human mana alloy. Seems territory-bound, like Celtic runes work stable in Norway or wherever Celts are? Doesn't matter—so in Norway all good, believe in runes and some historical lore—then same runes in Japan glitch and work 1/10. Or example—you Siberian forest druid—in Europe/England your Magic still works, 50/50. 'Cause they still remember hermit druid legends when Romans conquered German/Anglo tribes.
Recall popular in my world Asterix and Obelix movies/cartoons—mostly basing on them, 'cause popular. And popularity/fame here equals Magic. Maybe not, but good example. And say in India/Africa—such druid does zilch 'cause don't even know word—Druid. Ties witchcraft schools to historical homelands.
Plus, fact that pissed me once—little Magic in world, fewer mages per area, stronger they are. Leads to fun where one magus family controls couple cities, kills all outsiders. Magic scarce—theirs scarce. Means first-generation magus—potential corpse. And hi, Family magic from Harry Potter fanfics and magus aristocracy.
Question where newbie gets magic knowledge? Fuck knows. Only thing coming to mind—religion. Local Catholicism—collection of weakling mages—though relative, Catholicism known even in Japan for couple centuries. Known world-over conditionally, so Catholic mage can witch anywhere weakly, and faith-tied—Catholics aplenty, so shouldn't bother much, enough power for all.
Mulling Catholics, even idea to find Catholic church in my city and risk begging in, hoping touch Magic. But past life experience and aversion to religion general and Christianity particular—all manifestations: Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, Protestantism and seems Reformism too, or psyche twist? Nah, exists, khm—so all my being twists at thought becoming conditional Novice in church.
Thought of local temples with dubious papers, creepy godlings—and though monk doesn't stir emotions and I'd go to Tibet no question—'cause reincarnation not just believe, I AM proof!—to locals, nah—Japan, and for those in know—end of story.
And don't believe paper talisman power—like metal iron ingot with epic Rune carved—yeah, that I'd believe. Feels reliable, thin paper with calligraphy crap—not serious. Yeah prejudiced, probably works great in Japan, but can't help—turns stomach.
And that's just ways to access magic knowledge. Thought I might not be mage—trying not consider. And all this—tip of iceberg—lost "True Magic"? Dropping pompous crap, boils to—you use only invented stuff, only for your conditional Origin.
Ooo, Origin—separate topic. Back to Magic, twist however—no new spells. Sounds not scary at first. But nah, take fireball. Classic all sides—but nuances, can't tweak spell anymore—ball only, period. Turn to fire arrow for speed—no. Add homing—no. Boost power—probably no.
Sure such spells exist, fire—most popular element. But lightning? What could human invent? Simple Sith bolt maybe chain lightning—all, world's entire lightning Magic. Or Teleportation? If not invented—NONEXISTENT, can't create/invent no matter. Not what I want, deep down burns desire invent something own, unique.
Add Origin—gets sad. Broadly—Origin is magic inclination. Say yours—Water manipulation, basics like light fire, repair thing, air gust—you might manage if find. But water spells easier/stronger/faster for you. Logical, but recall earlier inventions—nuances, find school with those spells EXISTING. School with historical tie to your turf—or move.
Say you join local temple as Novice, they specialize earth Magic and paper talismans, water Magic only some stream—congrats—you shitty earth mage tossing couple stones, draw talismans—conditional neutral-territory Magic, average 'cause insane belief here. And from inclination only that stream in temple, but you're genius there.
And that's water example—what if exotic? Say Mercury manipulation like one magus in recent Holy Grail War—cool power, defense, attack, conditional movement on surfaces. But hereditary magus—all his Family magic, spells made by family when spell creation possible. Conditional newbie never heard of family—limit vibrate thermometer. And maybe shuffle words/gestures, strain hoping result—chance it matches and works... same as me past life rolling fireball—ain't.
Realizing all this, local Magic ain't my dream limit. At all. World's features popping worsen spoiled mood—what about mysticism? M? Vampires here too, nuances but still. And apocalypse thought flickers somehow tied to Holy Grail War and apocalypse. Mmm... demon in Grail? Or nah, can't recall—but apocalypse def there. And some nasty twist in that war. Or not this reality? Which reality am I in anyway?
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