Basic magic training is dull, and worst of all, it’s hard to tell if I’m even making progress.
When I first learned Air Cutter, it took over a month before I could use it, and I was so close to giving up.
But this? This is even worse.
If it were still winter, maybe I coulda toughed it out a little longer.
“But it’s spring! I wanna practice for the summer festival! I’ll give up playing the flute, I promise!”
After a week of self-restraint, I couldn’t take it anymore. I stomped my foot and whined at Selina.
“What does spring have to do with anything? You haven’t even infused the harp with magic. And don’t you have a field to take care of?”
“Well… I did manage to get a bit of magic into my fingers.”
It’s still hard not to accidentally put magic into my breath when playing the flute, but I have gotten better at channeling it into my fingertips.
“You’ve still got a long way to go.”
Selina glances at the harp and dismisses my progress outright.
“I don’t think this harp is ever going to become a proper magic tool.”
The magical harps used by the Troubadours of the fallen Shazane Empire were probably made from super rare materials… not like what I got.
I’d never say it out loud, though. Selina would just go on and on about how expensive it was.
Until the harp becomes a proper magic instrument, Selina won’t let me go to Lang Village. Which means: I gotta pour a lot more magic into it.
I focus magic into my fingertips. They feel just a little bit warm.
“Might as well practice a tune while I’m at it!”
Over the winter, I learned to pluck simple scales on the harp, and now I can play some easy songs.
While playing, I remembered a tune from my previous life and tried to play that instead. But the moment I got too into it, I forgot to focus on my fingers, and the magic slipped away.
Even so, the more I practiced breathing in mana from the air and circulating it through my body, the easier it got to gather it in my fingertips.
But! While I’m getting the hang of gathering magic, not putting it into my breath is still super tricky.
It’s way harder to not do something than to just do it!
“What am I supposed to do? At this rate, spring will be over before I get anywhere!”
The summer festival’s held on the summer solstice. That’s June!
Spring comes late to Lang Village, but it’s already May! I’ve only got a little over a month left!
Panicking, I stop channeling magic into the harp and start playing the flute instead.
I’ve used quite a bit of magic just now.
“Hmm? That’s actually pretty good.”
Nothing’s going flying. No herbs raining from the ceiling.
“Oh! I know! What if I use up lots of magic before going to Lang Village?”
Though I’d need to save enough to activate the Waymark. That part’s important.
“Selina, what if I drain most of my magic before I go? That way, I won’t accidentally infuse the flute.”
She sets down her book and lets out a big sigh.
“If you don’t play the flute, I suppose it’s fine… but magic does regenerate, you know. This isn’t really ideal.”
“But, but… It’s my very first summer festival!”
I’m pleadin’! I’m beggin’!
The next day, and the day after that, I kept pestering her until she gave in.
“Agh, enough already! Before you keep whining, at least master your magic control!”
I am trying! I really am! But no matter what I do, I just can’t not put magic into my breath!
“I’m just breathing normally, and somehow magic’s still coming out. What do I do about that?”
Selina keeps giving back the same answer.
“Because your magic control still isn’t good enough.”
And so, for the next week, I kept pestering her nonstop.
“When I’ve got barely any magic left, I don’t accidentally infuse the flute!”
I can almost play it normally now! Just a little bit!
Selina’s not exactly the most patient person. She can be a bit mean sometimes too, but this time, she caved.
“Fine, fine. But make sure you don’t let any magic slip into the flute.”
“Yay!!”
I bounce with joy.
“I’m off to Lang Village!”
With my flute in hand, I start dashing toward the village.