Myth & Curse

"What?" Nagisa remained clueless.

"It is believed to be a myth, no one has seen or heard of Arcane Magic for centuries," Risa explained.

This made Nagisa genuinely smile broadly like he has not in years.

"I am glad that it is to your liking," she halfly giggled.

"Is it any good? Will I be able to be strong and never feel defeat again?"

Nagisa hurriedly posed a rising question all excited.

"Umm… well… the problem with it being a myth… is no one knows much about it!" Risa scratched her cheek with one finger and then crossed her arms and tried to think for a second.

"I do however believe, the last one who was an Arcane user was really overpowered, I think they tore the entire historical library at the Magic Academy about the last Arcane awakening," She tried her best to remember.

However it was all shrouded in mystery.

"But what does the glow mean?" Nagisa threw away another question Risa's way.

"I think… it means the properties have been enhanced, since the magic is greater now in yours than it is in mine?" Risa guessed based on observation.

"Does it mean I will have some kind of upper hand now if we spar?" He kept going.

"Maybe, but I only used my physical abilities, not my magic ones. These swords help manifest smaller amounts to not fatigue your physical properties, so the tree's magic is only good for light sparring, which means it is designed primarily for beginners," Risa explained.

"So I lost, because I sucked at it, just like I said!" Nagisa stated.

"Yeah I guess so," she giggled once more.

"You will have to find out on your own about Arcane through manifesting and experimenting with it, but for now, let us work on your Wind Magic," Risa stopped her laughter and resumed a more serious tone and gesture.

Nagisa gulped. She put her hand over the wooden sword and spoke.

< Engulfing Flame >

The wooden sword was coated with a strong red flame.

< Engulfing Exterior >

More flame was created, however it lightly coated Risa instead, almost like an aura from a manga book.

"For example, these are types of magic I can use, Fire Magic," Risa stated and

Nagisa was nodding eagerly to see more.

"Every magic ability has a different kind of coating to yourself and how you may imbue it onto your weapon, or use it outwards," Risa began to explain.

"For instance, it heightens your speed…"

Nagisa lost sight of Risa and her whereabouts for a split second, until she poked the back of his head.

"And your reaction time. Then also the coating of your weapon, at higher levels, you may manifest it outwards," she continued and began manifesting her powers outwards.

< Phoenix Breath >

Risa swung her sword upwards as she chanted and a flame in the shape of a Phoenix soared into the sky and then dispersed.

"The magic coating also helps you the higher level you are to be more durable against magic in general to fully block physical properties or reduce magic damage done to you greatly," Risa concluded.

And the explanation came to an end.

"So I lost to you since you did not skip your physical practice? Well, that and both skill and experience, but you did not use any magic? Nagisa asked and she nodded.

"What can Wind type magic do or coat?" he asked right away.

"Only speed, at slightly above if extremely honed but usually about the same as Fire Magic, but in most cases way less," Risa answered.

"So Fire gets two enhanced properties, but mine is subpar in terms of speed?"

A furious Nagisa expressed his displeasure.

"Fire Magic is just way more potent, and their users are usually more gifted in both skill and aptitude," Risa replied and Nagisa cursed out loud.

"Fuck!" Nagisa was not happy about Miyuki being his supposed counter.

"However, there used to be a time Wind Magic was well known through a century, he was the strongest mage at the time. His famous quotes were, 'magic is as equally potent as a sword, it all depends on its wielder', and then the second quote, 'if you find yourself at a disadvantage, make sure your mind makes up the difference'," Risa tried her best to encourage him.

"So either practice hard and it might work out, or outsmart your opponent?"

Nagisa summed it up.

"The point was, do not give up, hone all three, your body, magic and mind. Besides you have yet to figure out your Arcane attributes?" Risa smiled.

Nagisa immediately cheered up.

"You are right! Thanks Risa," he grinned.

Nagisa swung his sword in goodwill.

"Let's practice Wind Magic now, shall we?" Risa suggested.

And this was met with an immediately enthusiastic nod given by Nagisa.

Risa began to explain how to try and channel one's magic. Envisioning it flowing through you on the inside, and drawing in magic around you seemed basic. Risa explained that in reality, there was no proper method other than finding whatever practice works best for yourself as an individual.

Nagisa closed his eyes and tried to focus on feeling the magic flow inside him. Risa gave a short explanation to imagine that you are inhaling oxygen, but think of them as unique magic particles.

He sat quietly down on the grass, and began to approach a similar state if one were to meditate in order to find his inner channeling. Risa did not interrupt, one of the key fundamentals was to awaken both, how to feel and harness your magic, and over time it would get easier. The first time would signal the greatest challenge in this step process.

Little over an hour had gone by, and Nagisa tried his best to focus and not let his frustration overtake him. Just as he was ready to vent, he made a breakthrough and could feel the magical bonds within flowing through him.

"I can feel it! Risa, I can feel the magic flowing!" A lively Nagisa spoke and Risa put on her gentle smile.

"Good for you, Nagisa, you have now reached Stage-0," Risa congratulated him on his efforts.

Nagisa looked at her regarding the last remark.

"Now try to coat yourself or your weapon if possible, that is how one enters Stage-1," Risa instructed Nagisa on his next step.

Without further instruction, she proceeded forward onto giving Nagisa his next task. Risa gave a metaphor to try and pull the magic out from inside yourself and imagine slowly covering the surface on the outside. The weapon was also to be viewed as an extension of an arm.

Nagisa focused with his eyes closed and after some time with them open, afterwards he could maintain the magic surge inside of him at a constant.

Nothing happened and time went by. Neither himself nor his sword were coated with magic. The only thing that seemed to work was the enchant that had lingered on the sword from his Arcane Magic trait.

"... Risa, this is not working out as supposed, is it?" Nagisa turned to Risa with a facade of a cracked smile, clearly annoyed.

"Well… magic is not supposed to be an easy thing to improve on, unless…"

Risa slipped up.

"Unless you are gifted with aptitude or a better base? Thanks, got it! Just admit this is abnormally slow!" Nagisa fussed around.

"Yes, it is unusually slow to not be able to adapt the first level of coating once awakening Stage-0. However with time you will improve, and remember you have a dual trait," Risa tried to encourage Nagisa again.

Nagisa nodded, she was right.

"I am sorry, it is just, there are some people out there that would enjoy this scenery of me," An apologetic Nagisa scratched the back of his head.

Risa hugged him, "It is alright, I believe in you," she let go of her arms and smiled as always.

"Thanks, I appreciate your help!" Nagisa grinned back and went back to practicing for a little while longer.

No progress was made, however Nagisa refused to complain, it was time to evolve, even if it was by a turtle's speed.

They headed back home and Nagisa cooked dinner. Risa was amazed and could not stop eating and complimenting him.

"Stop it!" Nagisa pleaded Risa to stop her bombarding compliments.

"Okay, but you will always be on meal duty from now on, your cooking is too addictive!" Risa said while still eating.

Nagisa laughed at how much of a child she was at times in comparison to her usual self.

"You teach, I cook, that was the deal, was it not?" he asked and she nodded with her mouth full.

The evening and night quickly went by and they went to bed. Risa teased Nagisa to watch while she changed into her nightgown, but he knew better, she was probably half-serious.

Furthermore the serious part would beat him to a pulp. The second night, Nagisa came up with a plan, if Risa crossed over, he would not turn around, the temptation of two soft things pressing on his back was but a trap before the death's embrace.

After some time it happened just as assumed. Nagisa tried his best to withstand the softness and temptation at hand. However just as he was about to overcome it, something pulled him forcefully on his other side and launched him straight in.

"How… why… fuck…" Nagisa pondered as everything faded and blackened.

The morning came around and woke them both with the sunlight beaming through the window. They resumed breakfast and headed back to training.

For the next entire three months this became routine, Nagisa would practice and Risa would be there unless she was out buying groceries in town. They practiced sword dueling, endurance and speed training as well. Risa said to keep one's physical and sword skill linear to one's magic level in order not to rely too much on magic to cloud one's mind and arrogance.

The two of them almost grew almost inseparable through all the training and all the talks over dinner, not to mention Nagisa's closeness to Risa every time bedtime came around to clock out heavenly in a scary yet soft fashion.

Risa helped Nagisa study their language, learn the basics of combat, and further his magic training. On the other hand, Nagisa cooked and taught Risa how to cook simple things for when he would be away at the academy.

They became the talk of the village, and everyone had fully accepted Nagisa as one of their own, hence Risa was the village's hidden gem. Some even joked about when Nagisa would man up and take her out on a proper date which always made Risa blush and sometimes gets mad at their remarks, especially if Odo pointed it out.

However Nagisa would always calm her down, clueless enough and Risa would have a long sigh and smile back at him. Whenever Nagisa would turn around, she would always be there unless she was running errands.

Three months in, Nagisa started to feel a breakthrough was around the corner.

"I did it! Risa look!" Nagisa excitedly screamed out.

He finally managed to enchant both himself and imbue his weapon with Wind Magic coating them for the very first time.

Nagisa looked around and could not seem to find Risa and went looking for her. An exhausted Nagisa felt something was amiss, the fatigue from coating both himself and his weapon felt like it took its toll. However it all vanished in the spur of the moment once he saw and followed an uneven trail of fallen leaves to its end.

"Risa?!" He found her behind some trees, passed out and blood on the grass and her mouth.

"Hey, Risa! Wake up! Did you cough up blood? No this looks more like vomiting! Hang on, I am taking you home!" A scared Nagisa tossed everything of weight aside.

Proceeding to removing Risa's equipment and the bag of groceries in her hand.

"Nagisa? I am o…" Risa opened her eyes then passed out.

Nagisa cried and put Risa on his back and sprinted home as quickly as humanly possible. He put her into bed and changed her clothing with his eyes closed, removed her shoes and pulled the sheet over her.

Nagisa rushed and got a hand cloth and cleaned her up, then put a second on her forehead to make the fever go down. The fever was something he noticed while carrying her, that she was perspiring too much and her body temperature was running high. Lastly, he opened the window slightly for some fresh air, as it was summer and then sat by her side, holding his hand.

"Nagi...sa?" Risa awoke and opened her eyes slowly.

"I am here, do you need anything?" Nagisa spoke calmly and held her hand still.

She shook her head and smiled, then went back to sleep. They skipped dinner and Nagisa fell asleep at her side, besides the bed. Morning came and Risa was still asleep, luckily her temperature and fever had started to go down.

"I am going to see if I can catch Odo, just wait for me, alright?" Nagisa said quietly then stroked the side of her head and hair, then down her cheek.

Odo was a blacksmith and had some medical knowledge. He hammered away at his anvil much like most mornings.

"Young Nagisa, What brings you here?" Odo asked and Nagisa informed him briefly on the matter.

"Ah Risa, I told her to stop using magic!" he reacted.

Both of them headed home straight after. Odo refused to fill Nagisa in who had asked about what his remark meant earlier.

"Risa! Why did you practice magic? You know you have been cursed!" A furious Odo barged in and forcefully woke her up.

"For Nagisa," Risa gave a faint answer.

Odo shook his head, "Let bygones be bygones, do not fixate on the past!" He lectured her and pulled out a small dark vial from his inner pocket.

"It is not the past, it is the futu…" Risa tried to speak up then immediately vomited blood.

Odo and Nagisa rushed to her side, and Odo poured down the vial's substance down her throat. Risa settled down.

"I am sorry, so sorry," she sobbed heavily like a child and Nagisa immediately embraced her tightly.

"It is okay, I am here, you have nothing to worry about, I will make some breakfast for you, alright?" Nagisa stroked her hair and she nodded.

They cleaned the mess up and sat on the bed for breakfast.

"Why have you not told him? And you know better than to talk about it!" Odo shook his head and sighed heavily.

"Told me what?" Nagisa inquired.

"A curse, boy, she has been cursed," Odo replied.

And it drained Nagisa's face colorless and pale.