Mushoku Impact

"You're telling me the 'secret' to increasing a persona's aggregate mana and becoming a powerful Mage is to simply 'keep casting' until they run out?"
A day after her initial encounter with Paul, Roxy had met up with him early the following day to continue their discussion from the previous night. He had promised to disclose to her the 'secrets' of Magic, so she had stayed up the entire night awaiting their chat.
Before answering Roxy's question, Paul emptied the contents of his coffee cup, a contented sigh escaping his lips before he adopted a relaxed smile and said, "It's a little more convoluted than that. The important thing is to start training at an early age, preferably during your developmental years. If you need proof, look at your own situation. I'm sure you can cast many more spells now than when you first started, right?"
"..."
Though she couldn't refute Paul's words, Roxy refused to believe that the secret to becoming a powerful Mage was simply casting more Magic. If that were the case, people would have figured it out a very, very long time ago. Right...?
Understanding Roxy's confusion, Paul said, "Don't misunderstand. Talent and aptitude are tremendously important. However, even they take a back seat to things like general knowledge, intent, and imagination. So long as you understand the physical process of what it is you're trying to do, you can even forgo things like chanting entirely."
Demonstrating his point, Paul held up his right hand to chantlessly cast a Beginner Rank Healing Spell. He wasn't particularly gifted at Magic, but it had become easier ever since he started taking it easy during his training. He imagined his proficiency with Touki was slowly decreasing, but he was confident he could surpass his previous level with relative ease so long as he made an effort.
Seeing Paul use chantless Healing Magic, surprise colored Roxy's face as she asked, "You can cast Magic chantlessly? Weren't you supposed to be a Swordsman?"
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul allowed his spell to dissipate as he answered, "Yeah. To be perfectly honest, I'm pretty terrible at controlling my magic power. Despite that, I can still cast a handful of spells without the need to chant. If that isn't convincing enough, you just need to look at people like Lisa and Xiangling. They're able to cast Intermediate and even a few Advanced-Ranked spells without chanting."
"..."
Though her instinct was to refute what Paul was saying, Roxy doubted he would attempt to fool her with such a brazen statement. After all, it wasn't exactly difficult to confirm if he was telling the truth. She just needed to ask Xiangling or Lisa to perform Intermediate or Advanced Magic without chanting.&nbsp;
"Okay, let's presume you're telling the truth. What's the most effective way to go about increasing my Mana? I may look like this, but I'll have you know I'm not a child."
Seeing Roxy adopting a somewhat grumpy, ostensibly threatening look, Paul couldn't help smiling as he said, "I'm well aware of that. Still, based on what I've been able to gather, your race's developmental phase should be between the ages of twenty and forty. We somewhat confirmed this with the twins I told you about previously, Rowena and Rianon. It wasn't easy getting them to a point where they could cast even Beginner-Ranked spells, but they managed to advance to the Intermediate Rank after half a year."
Furrowing her brows, Roxy asked, "Half a year? That seems more than a little exaggerated. Where are they now?"
Shaking his head, Paul countered, "It really isn't. All it takes to advance to the Intermediate Rank is time, effort, and access to resources. Since their sole responsibility was helping oversee the Silkie farm, the twins had a lot of free time to practice Magic. They were also provided delicious food and ample time to rest. It would be weirder if they didn't make progress."
"..."
Lowering her head, a pout formed on Roxy's face as she considered Paul's words. She didn't like how casual he was about it, but his words did make a lot of sense if viewed objectively. There was still a chance he was lying to her, but she had witnessed several Beast Race children making use of simple spells.
While Beast Race Mages were not unheard of, they were rare enough that you could live your entire life without encountering a single one. It could be assumed they would be a little more common in a place like the Magic Triumvirate, but they would have eventually spread their influence to the rest of the world.&nbsp;
"It just can't be that simple..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul replied, "You'll find out soon enough. I told you before, but you're free to eat to your heart's content now that you're a part of our group. You should cast something like Water Ball over a bucket and exhaust as much of your Mana as you're comfortable with expending. If you keep a record of how many spells you cast, you should notice the number increasing on a near-daily basis. Eventually, you'll get so bored of repeating the chant that you're able to forgo it entirely."
"..."
Imagining herself standing over a bucket and casting the same Beginner Ranked spell dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of times a day, Roxy was starting to understand why most Mages didn't pursue such a route. It must be incredibly dull to repeat the same thing over and over again like a muscle-brained Swordsmen...
Noticing the disappointment in Roxy's countenance, Paul asked, "What's wrong?" in a curious tone.
Shaking her head, Roxy replied, "I just thought there would be more to mastering Magic than simple repetition..."
"Ah...that's just a gatekeeping tactic of the magical community. If there were a bunch of powerful Mages roaming about, it would be even harder to acquire already limited magical ingredients and resources. By making people believe that Magic is rare and limited to a privileged few, they're able to maintain a monopoly over it."
"Hmmm..."
Though she felt like Paul's words were a gross oversimplification of the truth, Roxy didn't call him out on it. Instead, she asked, "Is there anything else I should be doing? As vital as mana capacity is, there must be other requirements to becoming a powerful Mage."
Shaking his head, Paul argued, "With sufficient magical power and control, something as simple as a Stone Cannon can pierce through rampart walls and smash Saint-Ranked Barrier Magic. If you think that sounds ludicrous, you simply lack imagination."
In an effort to prove his point, Paul activated his Lesser Regeneration, a pale green aura exuding from his body as he explained, "This is a version of Healing Magic that can last indefinitely so long as the person casting it has a sufficient supply of Mana. In this state, anything short of destroyed organs or severed limbs can be healed automatically."
Befuddled by Paul's words, a look of disbelief marred Roxy's expression as she asked, "Where did you learn such a spell? I've visited the capital city of the Holy Country of Millis, and I've never seen or heard of such a convenient spell."
Deactivating the spell, a fairly smug expression developed across Paul's face as he replied, "I didn't learn it, per se; I helped to create it. So long as you understand the process of what you're trying to do, creating spells is surprisingly simple. I just prefer swordsmanship over Magic, so I never really got into it."
"..."
Instead of verbally responding to the ridiculousness of Paul's statement, Roxy took a moment to massage her forehead as she considered what he was saying. Even she could tell that Paul didn't really have an aptitude for Magic, yet, as if it didn't matter in the least, he was able to perform feats even Intermediate Ranked Mages would struggle with.
Taking advantage of Roxy's silence, Paul suggested, "For now, you should focus on confirming whether or not you can increase your Mana using the method my group has pioneered. Once you acknowledge that I'm not just pulling your leg, we can go over deconstructing real-world phenomena to create powerful spells and amplify existing Magics. If you prefer magical research, that's where things should become super interesting."
Hearing Paul speak with such confidence, Roxy couldn't help thinking he knew what he was talking about. Nearly everything she had been taught contradicted what he was saying, but his handsome face and seemingly genuine smile helped to clear most of her doubts.
Noticing Roxy staring at him with an unblinking expression, an awkward chuckle emanated from Paul's throat. He knew she was pushing thirty, but she sure as hell didn't look it.
Realizing she had been staring, a faint blush colored Roxy's cheeks as she averted her eyes and asked, "Is there anything else I should be doing? I would feel guilty if I was just leeching off of you and your group..."
Shaking his head, Paul answered, "Not right now. I was thinking of asking you to help out at the school we're working on, but that can wait until you have confirmed whether or not I'm telling the truth. Also, never consider yourself a leech. If anything, I'm being pretty selfish by asking you to join us and simply trusting what I have to say. Thanks for that, by the way."
Not expecting Paul to suddenly thank her, much less with a borderline smoldering look on his face, Roxy found herself at a momentary loss for words. Her face had become redder than a cherry tomato, but she was too dumbfounded to avert her eyes or attempt to conceal it...
...
..
.
After an extended breakfast, Paul accepted Roxy's invitation to observe her first bout of mana increasing exercises. Ei came with them, but Roxy did her best not to ask why as she held her hands over a large bucket and chanted, "Let the great protection of water be on the place thou seekest. I call forth a refreshing, burbling stream here and now. Water Ball...!"
Removing the component of the spell that propelled the water forward, Roxy did her best not to blush as the water from her Water Ball sloshed pitifully into the bucket below. If other Mages were to see her 'failing' to execute such a simple spell, they would invariably laugh at her expense.
Fortunately for Roxy, Paul had a general understanding of when he should and shouldn't compliment women, saying, "Not bad. The rate of formation and general stability of your Water Ball is excellent. I'm guessing you have an affinity with Water Magic...?"
Though she was momentarily surprised to receive Paul's praise, a faint smile soon developed across Roxy's face as she answered, "Indeed. I'm able to use Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Healing, Detoxification, and Barrier Magic, but Water is my element of choice."
Recalling something Paul had said the previous day, Roxy's smile quickly turned into a frown as she supplanted, "But you already knew that...didn't you?"
Instead of playing innocent, Paul nodded his head, answering, "Yeah, but only via word of mouth and some insider knowledge. Even then, you never truly know something until you see or experience it for yourself."
"Hmmm...true enough..."
Deciding to trust Paul, Roxy shifted her focus to the half-filled bucket and began chanting a second Water Ball spell. She didn't know what her limit was, but she was hoping to hit at least twenty before collapsing. It was a slow and repetitive process, but she did her best to remain focused so as not to embarrass herself in front of Paul and Ei.
When Roxy initially invited Paul, she was hoping to have him take care of her after she collapsed. The presence of Ei made that less likely, but she did her best not to let it bother her as a feeling of weakness and fatigue quickly spread through both her body and mind.
...
..
.

Though her progress wasn't nearly as extreme as Paul suggested it might be, Roxy couldn't deny there had been results.&nbsp;
Over a two-week period, Roxy went from being able to cast an average of 22 consecutive Water Balls to a maximum of 27. While this might not seem like a lot at first glance, it indicated that her Mana Capacity had increased by roughly 27% in a relatively short period of time.
Using the Water Ball spell as a baseline, Roxy estimated her aggregate Mana to be around 240 when she started her training. If she experienced comparable results every two weeks, she would have more than doubled by the end of the following month.
Though she expected to hit a bottleneck at some point, Roxy couldn't help feeling excited by her progress. She had fallen in love with Magic from the moment she successfully cast her first Water Ball. Now, using that very same spell, she was strengthening herself with each passing day.
If the increase in her Mana Capacity wasn't enough of a reason to be grateful towards Paul and his Party, Roxy had been learning Magic from Lisa and Fischl. Lisa, in particular, had previously been invited to become a Professor at the Ranoa Magic Academy, so she was a veritable fountain of knowledge with an extensive collection of books.
Whenever she had questions, be they personal or academic, Roxy could always count on Lisa for the answer. The only downside was that she had to endure the mature woman's constant teasing.
Due to her appearance, Roxy had been forced to become accustomed to all manner of teasing. Migurdians didn't have the pointed ears or peculiar complexions typically associated with members of the Demon and Magic Races. Their only racial characteristics were their diminutive appearances and blue hair, traits not infrequent to other races. They could also live for several hundred years, but most humans couldn't really wrap their heads around such a concept as they lived much shorter and transient lives.
Fortunately, as much as Lisa teased her, Roxy quickly learned that it had little to do with her appearance. Rather, Lisa teased just about everyone she interacted with, be they young children, veteran Adventurers, or the members of Paul's group.
Speaking of Paul...
...
..
.
As it was rather conspicuous seeing women like Ei and Eula constantly following Paul around, Roxy eventually summoned up the courage to ask him, "Just what is the relationship between you, Ei, and Eula? The three of you seem pretty close..."
Since it was as good a time as any, Paul decided to be honest with Roxy, answering, "It isn't just Ei and Eula. Xiangling, Fischl, Ghislaine, Lisa, and even Amalie. I'm 'pretty close' with all of them..."
With Paul naming off just about every member of his group, at least the members she had met, Roxy couldn't help staring at him in disbelief. He had been very nice to her thus far, never once mentioning her height or drawing attention to her 'youthful' appearance. She had kind of hoped he was different from the other human men she had encountered, someone who looked past appearances and saw the best in people.
Realizing that Paul's behavior could be an indication he simply didn't care about her, Roxy's mood diminished considerably as she slumped her head and shoulders, muttering, "I see...you're a lucky man to be surrounded by so many mature and attractive women..."
Though he could tell Roxy was disappointed with him, Paul nodded his head, appending, "You're right. Not a day goes by that I do not feel like the luckiest man in the world. It's one of the things that keep me moving forward, regardless of what this world may throw at me."
Hanging her head even further, Roxy repeated, "I see..." in a voice that was barely a whisper.
Adopting a wry smile, Paul resisted the urge to pat Roxy's conveniently placed head. He got the feeling she would become even more depressed if he did, so he waited a few moments before asking, "What's wrong? You look like you just found out your puppy died."
Exhaling a sigh, Roxy moved to stand up and walk away, but Paul grabbed her sleeve, saying, "Talk to me, Roxy. We're on the same side, remember?"
Shaking her head, Roxy refused to look back at Paul as she said, "I'm just feeling a little under the weather. Don't-"
Interrupting before Roxy could finish, Paul stated, "I've been nothing but honest to you. If you're going to lie, at least look me in the eye as you do."
"..."
Feeling a little guilty, Roxy suppressed the urge to pull her sleeve free from Paul's grasp. Instead, she hung her head for a few seconds before muttering, "I just want to be alone right now. I need time to organize my thoughts..."
Releasing his hold on Roxy's sleeve, Paul said, "If that's the truth, I won't stop you from leaving. However, if you need someone to talk to, I'm right here. I might not have all the answers, but I'm a pretty good listener when I need to be."
Looking back, Roxy found Paul staring at her with a comforting smile on his face. At the same time, she inadvertently revealed the fact she was on the verge of tears.
Having accumulated a considerable amount of experience dealing with all kinds of women, Paul's expression softened as he softly pointed out, "You don't look like you want to be alone..."
"..."
With Paul extending his hand to her, Roxy just stared at it for several seconds before asking, "Is this one of the tricks you use to make women fall for you?"
Instead of refuting Roxy's words, Paul chuckled lightly before answering, "Something like that. If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears."
"..."
Not expecting Paul's 'shamelessness,' Roxy briefly found herself at a loss for words. Her mind was racing, but she couldn't think of anything to say in response to such...brazen behavior.
Raising her hand, Roxy made as though she was about to place it into Paul's but stopped halfway, asking, "What happens if I let you grasp my hand?"
Instead of answering Roxy's question, Paul left her feeling at an even greater loss as he raised his hand and closed it around hers. Then, as her brain attempted to process his shamelessness, he answered, "That's up to you. Just make sure you don't have any regrets..."
With a crimson hue creeping up her neck and spreading through her face, Roxy retracted her hand from Paul's as if it were a hot stove. Then, even though it drew a lot of attention, she squatted down and covered her face as a variety of emotions assailed her.
Seeing how small Roxy was when she balled herself up, Paul briefly felt that he was tip-toeing a line he shouldn't. He had a sudden urge to slap some sense into himself but promptly disregarded it as he bent down to pick Roxy up, saying, "Don't scream. I'm carrying you back to the bakery, not some random alleyway."
Hearing Paul's words, the scream threatening to escape Roxy's throat got stuck. For a brief moment, she even forgot to breathe as Paul carried her towards Amalie's Bakery like a Princess or a bride.
"You good...?"
Noticing Roxy's face turning purple, genuine concern appeared in Paul's expression as he stared down at her. This was enough to bring Roxy back to her senses, a rather severe pout replacing her befuddled expression as she asked, "Just what do you think you're doing...!?" in a whispering shout.
Without missing a beat, Paul answered, "I already told you. I'm carrying you to the bakery. You'll feel better once you warm up and get something sweet in your belly."
Though she couldn't refute Paul's words, that didn't stop Roxy from trying to wriggle out of his embrace as she exclaimed, "Put me down! I can walk on my own!"
Catching the diminutive Magus by surprise, Paul slowed to a stop, asking, "Are you sure...?" before preparing to set her down. He wanted to make it transparently clear that she still had some semblance of control over the situation. If she didn't want him to carry her, he wasn't going to force the matter.
Realizing that Paul was serious about setting her down, a conflicted look promptly replaced Roxy's fretful expression. There was something about how willing he was to set her down that annoyed her...
"I changed my mind. Carry me..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul returned a smile and said, "If you say so." before continuing toward their destination. As he did, several members of the Beast Race community greeted him while absolutely none questioned why he was carrying Roxy in his arms...
...
..
.
Recalling the previous day's events, Roxy briefly lost focus in the middle of trying to cast a Water Ball chantlessly. She realized it was happening and attempted to rein the spell in but ultimately failed, the head-sized ball of water exploding and soaking her entire body.
"..."
Having made a habit of accompanying Roxy during her afternoon training, Paul witnessed the uncommon phenomenon first hand, compelling him to ask, "Are you okay? Want to head back and grab a fresh pair of clothes...?"
With her back facing Paul, Roxy did her best to conceal the glowing of her face as she replied, "I'm fine. There's no sense in going back early when I only have a few more casts to go."
Though Roxy couldn't see him, Paul nodded his head and said, "So long as you don't catch a cold, it's fine. Good luck."
Returning a nod of her own, Roxy raised her hands and attempted to cast another Water Ball chantlessly. Things went a lot better this time around, but the size was much smaller than usual, roughly the size of a grapefruit despite expending a comparable amount of Mana.
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Roxy regained a bit of her usual confidence as she attempted several more Water Balls in quick succession. Paul had already informed her that chantless magic was weaker than traditional magic, but it had the benefit of being much faster. More importantly, it gave an absolute advantage against enemy Mages and people that had memorized specific incantations.
In a world where competent Swordsmen could easily shatter the sound barrier, being able to cast a handful of spells without chanting could be the difference between life and death.
Feeling the last of her Mana leave her body, Roxy suddenly became distinctly aware of the frigid temperatures. At nearly the exact same time, a thick overcoat plopped onto her shoulders as Paul asked, "Need me to carry you...?"
"..."
Though she felt compelled to refuse, Roxy's heart and body refused to listen to her commands. As a result, she soon found herself scooped up by Paul, a smile developing across the latter's face as he said, "Let's get you warmed up."
Since it was already too late to refuse, at least in Roxy's mind, she just nodded her head and intoned an affirmative, "Nn." She truthfully didn't know what she wanted from Paul, but she enjoyed his concern and the time they spent together. If he didn't have an evidently massive harem, she might have already confessed to him...
Noticing Roxy's unblinking stare out of the corner of his eyes, the smile on Paul's face became slightly strained. Despite his considerable experience, he wasn't very good at dealing with the before and after of a relationship. He was more than a little apprehensive about laying a hand on her, but a growing part of him wished Roxy would just make up her mind.
Fortunately for Paul, not that he was aware of it at the time, Roxy would be forced to make her decision pretty quickly as, around the time he was carrying her to Amalie's Bakery, a peculiar trio was trying to gain passage through Sharia's Western Gate...
...
..
.

Seeing Roxy kicking her feet and enjoying a crepe with an almost silly smile on her face, Paul couldn't help asking, "You like sweets?"
Broken from her sugary reverie, Roxy adopted a somewhat offended look as she replied, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Contrasting her words, Roxy finished off her crepe with several large bites before asking, "About what you said earlier, the whole 'looking forward to meeting me' thing. What did you mean? How does someone as famous as you know someone like me?"
Though she would ordinarily feel worried about being alone with someone like Paul, Roxy's curiosity far outweighed her suspicion. It helped that everyone they encountered seemed to genuinely respect and admire him.
Having already thought about what he wanted to reveal, Paul was able to sound fairly convincing as he replied, "Back when I was the Heir Apparent of House Notos, a couple of Migurdians came into my employ. I've always been curious about the world beyond the Asura Kingdom, so I ended up nagging them quite a bit about the Demon Continent and the village they originated from."
Understanding what Paul was insinuating, Roxy's mood diminished quite a bit as she asked, "You learned about me from them? What did they say...?"
Since he had actually inquired about Roxy from Rowena and Rianon, the twins Ningguang had hired to tend to the Silkies; Paul didn't have to make things up as he answered, "They said you were a quirky but exceptionally talented girl. That you were unable to use your Race's telepathic abilities but possessed an aptitude for Magic unheard of among your people."
Adopting a self-deprecating smile, Roxy lowered her head as if she were about to nurse her hot cocoa, rebutting, "I'm not 'that' talented. I started practicing Magic more than thirteen years ago and have only reached the Intermediate Rank in Water Magic..."
Resisting the urge to ask Roxy's actual age, Paul struck at the heart of the matter by asking, "Yeah? And who taught you how to master Intermediate Ranked Magic? Who provided you with the funds and resources to grow?"
"..."
Taking advantage of Roxy's silence, Paul went on to add, "According to my sources, you managed to grasp Beginner Ranked Water Magic in less than a week without any prior training. After that, you went on a journey at what, age thirteen? While most Migurdians spend their entire lives in the villages they are born in, you journeyed across the most dangerous Continent in the world as a teen before eventually making your way here, the literal opposite side of the world. If you're lacking in talent, it certainly hasn't stopped you from accomplishing your goals..."
Not expecting such heavy praise from someone she had just met, Roxy became a little teary-eyed as she lowered her head in a vain attempt to conceal her beet-red face. She hadn't felt this embarrassed and happy in a long time.
Not wanting to lay it on too thick, Paul paused to give Roxy time to collect herself. One of the things he had never fully gotten used to was just how 'expressive' people could be in a cel-shaded world. Paul had seen women blush back in his previous world, but it was nothing compared to watching a person's face become borderline incandescent. He was half-expecting steam to begin rising from Roxy's head...
Realizing what Paul was doing, Roxy felt a mixture of gratitude and even great embarrassment as she recalled which of them was supposed to be the child. Paul may look like he was in his early twenties, but he was still just a twelve-year-old boy...
After rubbing her cheeks in an attempt to massage the red out of them, Roxy raised her head to meet Paul's gaze before questioning, "So? What, exactly, do you want from me? If you've been looking forward to meeting me, there must be a reason, right?"
Nodding his head, Paul answered, "There is more to it, but it goes back to what I said before. I genuinely believe you have what it takes to become one of the most powerful Mages in the entire world, so I'd like you to join our group. I can't go into the details unless you agree to join us, but I can promise you won't regret it."
Forcing a skeptical look, Roxy asked, "Oh? And what does your group plan to accomplish? My goal is to become a great Mage and continue traveling the world. I have no intention of becoming enthralled in politics and other complicated affairs."
Raising his brows, Paul countered, "Do you genuinely believe it's possible to become powerful without garnering the attention of Nobles?"
"..."
Unable to refute Paul's words, Roxy stopped to consider her next question before asking, "Then let me put it like this. What kind of risks and rewards can I expect from joining your group? As you pointed out before, I'm more than capable of succeeding independently."
Instead of refuting Roxy's words, Paul nodded his head and said, "You're right. To be perfectly honest with you, my reasons for asking you to join us are entirely personal. I'm genuinely curious to see just how far you can go with the appropriate knowledge and resources. However, if you would rather attend the Academy and pursue a path of your own, I'm not going to try and stop you. Rather, you have my full support."
Pulling out a letter he had secured from the Principle of the Ranoa Magic Academy, Paul passed it over to Roxy, explaining, "I've always been a big supporter of education. Within that envelope, you'll find details related to a full scholarship at the Ranoa Magic Academy. There are no contracts or anything else for you to sign. You simply need to present that letter to the admissions office, and it will cover everything from your book to boarding fees. You'll also receive an allowance of 4 Asura Gold Coins a semester to cover any miscellaneous expenses."
Hearing Paul's explanation, Roxy stared at the envelope in her hands with mixed feelings. She should have been over the moon with excitement, but a strange sense of unease permeated her chest as the envelope seemed to grow heavier in her hands.
Setting the envelope on the table, Roxy returned her gaze to Paul, asking, "And if I choose to join you? Then what...?"
Adopting a smile, Paul left Roxy feeling taken aback as he replied, "That's up to you. It's not like I was planning to force you to follow me and do my bidding. Joining my group just means you'll have access to a few secrets that may jeopardize your life if the wrong people discover you're aware of them. As for the benefits, well, let's just say you'll have access to the type of knowledge and information that countries would fight wars to obtain or keep secret..."
Noticing the seriousness in Paul's eyes, a stark contrast to the casual way in which he provided his explanation, Roxy found herself swallowing hard. She got the distinct impression she was being asked to join a cult or some sort of secret society...
Unfortunately, Roxy's curiosity had often gotten the better of her. Even if Paul's group was a cult, it didn't matter so long as the knowledge and information they provided was accurate. So long as he didn't start asking her to participate in blood rituals and sacrifices, she didn't mind keeping their secrets.
Catching Paul by surprise, Roxy suddenly adopted a serious expression as she said, "I'm in. Let me join your group."
Instead of asking if Roxy was sure about her decision, Paul exhaled a sigh of relief before adopting a genuine smile and saying, "For a moment there, I was afraid you would refuse. It wouldn't have affected our plans, but I'm happy to have you with us."
Reading a little too much into Paul's words, a fairly conspicuous blush spread through Roxy's cheeks as she meekly inquired, "Now what...? I recall you mentioning something about a magical contract..."
Shaking his head, Paul admitted, "To be honest, that was just to gauge your reaction. There is a contract, but it's not the magically binding type. As I mentioned before, I'm a fairly decent judge of people's talent and character. At the very least, there are a few individuals I feel I can trust more than others. So long as I don't betray you, I'm sure you won't betray me."
Following his words, Paul produced his Dendro Vision and explained, "This is what will seal the covenant between us. I'll go into the specifics later, but the most important thing to know is that this object has the power to draw out the potential of those with grand ambitions. They are extremely limited in supply, but I plan to entrust one to you in the near future. I just don't have the correct element right now."
Having given away several Visions, Paul had confirmed that the average person could only bond with a single element. He could ask Lisa or Fischl to let Roxy borrow theirs, but that would prevent her from bonding with a Hydro Vision in the future.
Staring at the grass-colored crystal in Paul's hand, Roxy remarked, "I've never heard of a magical item that could draw out a person's potential. At the very least, not without a considerable drawback..."
Recalling the rumors regarding Paul sacrificing his lifespan to increase his power, a frown marred Roxy's expression. She wanted to become more powerful, but offering her lifespan was taking things a little too far. Her species may live upwards of three hundred years, but some lines should never be crossed.
Understanding what Roxy must be thinking, Paul shook his head and asked, "Remember what I said about people tracking your down and countries going to war? These Visions are the reason. As difficult as it may be to believe, there are absolutely no drawbacks to using them. So long as your ambition remains, it will even prevent you from getting sick and aging..."
Scrunching her face even further, Roxy retorted, "Impossible..." even as her interest in the Vision grew. If Paul was telling his truth, he had in his hands one of the most powerful magical artifacts in the entire world. If rumors regarding its abilities were to spread, Kings and commoners alike would stop at nothing to try and obtain it.&nbsp;
Recalling what Paul had said previously, Roxy became even incredulous as she added, "Assuming what you said is true, you plan to just give me one of these? There has to be a catch..."
Nodding his head, Paul admitted, "Quite a few. They just have nothing to do with the Vision itself. Your biggest concern would be protecting it from the people that will invariably try to steal it from you. Visions only respond to their original user, but that won't deter people from attempting to steal and research them."
As she would also like to research the Visions, Roxy couldn't really refute Paul's words. Instead, she asked, "Where did you obtain your Vision? How many are there? You mentioned something about elements...?"
Amused by Roxy's sudden intensity, a light chuckle emanated from Paul's throat as he returned his Vision to his belt and answered, "We'll talk about the specifics later. Amalie's Bakery is pretty secure, but some matters are best discussed under increased security. For now, why don't you finish up your meal so we can discuss where you'll be staying? You're free to enroll in the Ranoa Magic Academy if you want to, but I imagine that will be the least of your concerns once you hear the rest of my explanation. After all, the Visions are just the tip of a very large iceberg..."
Swallowing nervously, Roxy decided to follow Paul's advice by taking a large gulp of her cocoa. It had long grown cold, but the sweetness of the chocolate had a calming effect on her body and mind. At the very least, she could feel her tensions melting away as a very prominent feeling of excitement began to swell from the pit of her stomach...
...
..
.

Chapter 85: MI85: The Secrets of Magic