Chương 19: The Layer Formation Ritual

Walking through the forest as the sun began to set was probably the first time Jonny realized exactly how magical this new world was. Even while literally learning magic, and witnessing people regularly using it, it just never quite felt real until now. Or rather, he never realized exactly how pervasive magic was until now. Before, when he was in the forest, it was to rescue Tommy. He had been so focused on finding Tommy that he didn't really have the mental bandwidth to look around.

Now, everywhere he looked, he saw something cool. To his left, he saw a pair of birds flitting around a tree, one moment blue, the next green, then yellow, then violet. Nearby there was a squirrel crawling up a tree, mouth stuffed full of nuts, and even more nuts hovering in the air behind it. Far beyond the tree with the squirrel, he swore he saw a fox walk right through a solid tree as if it weren't there. On his right, he saw a patch of moss slowly creeping around a tree like a sentient blanket.

A bird landed on the bark beside it and tried to rip a piece off, but the moss recoiled away from its beak. Angered, the bird tried grabbing it again and again, but the moss kept backing away, silently wrapping around behind the bird until suddenly, it enveloped the bird's feet. Jonny did not see what happened next, because they got too far away. Overhead, a low cloud drifted.

At first, Jonny had paid it no mind, until he realized that it wasn't moving with the wind, and in fact seemed to be changing direction to circle over an area somewhere ahead and two his right. When he squinted, he could have sworn he saw a dark, winged shape in its center.

"It's a cloud hawk," said Igrette, catching his gaze.

"Fairly intelligent magic beasts. They are big enough they could pick any of you off and take you away to feed you to their chicks, but they're smart enough not to mess with humans. Which is good for both us and them."

"Magic beasts?" said Jonny.

"Do beasts form core layers too?"

"Not quite in the same way that humans do, but yes. That cloud hawk is most likely a first layer beast, though more mature ones can reach second or third."

"How do they form their core layers?"

"Beasts have what we call 'formation season,' similar to mating season. It's usually during the winter. They'll create a nest, or a den, or somewhere else that they feel safe, and they will sit and instinctively cycle and absorb mana until either the instinct fades, or they add a new layer to their core."

"Isn't that the same as the way we do it?"

"At its base, yes," said Igrette with a shrug.

"But we humans are able to optimize better, and study and research and teach each other, while beasts only have themselves and their small herds or flocks or whatever their groups are called. They rely on instinct alone.

"In a way, though, that can be considered a kind of strength. Many magical breakthroughs for human magic were discovered by studying the way magic beasts function. In fact, most spells in use today were either inspired by, or directly copied from magic beasts. And while we have optimized many ways to use magic, even our human instincts often surprise us. Everyone's body is different. Everyone's mind is different.

Sometimes, when a method that works for others isn't working for you, following your instincts will work out better than stubbornly trying to follow someone else's methods." Jonny nodded. That made sense, especially with what he knew from fighting. Proper form could be taught, strength and cardio could be trained, but a lot of the intangibles just couldn't be learned that way. Reading opponents' body language, gauging their stamina and injuries, finding openings in their defense…

Sure, you could point them out on film, but actually seeing and exploiting those things during a match was something else entirely. You couldn't teach that. It was what made fighters different. Different fighters were good at different things. Some just couldn't keep up when it came to striking. Even after years of training, the best they could do was endlessly defend. But when it came to grappling, they would be savants, seeing five moves ahead, never at a disadvantage. Or vice versa.

A fighter could be hopeless at grappling, only knowing enough to keep from being submitted, but were unbeatable when on the feet. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. It made perfect sense that it would be the same with magic. Though he began to wonder what that meant for him. Everyone's bodies may have been different, but he doubted they were as different as his. Was he then going down the wrong path trying to copy ordinary people?

Was adding layers to his core even possible? While they walked, he tried diving deep into his own instincts. He was full of mana at the moment, and actively cycling it to keep it condensed. He tried speeding up the cycling, and that felt right. It wasn't gathering around his core… but that also felt right. What did that mean? Was he not supposed to form layers like everyone else? What then? Just endlessly cycle and condense his mana until he couldn't condense it anymore?

Learn to keep it going while he slept so he wouldn't explode? That didn't quite seem right. He couldn't say exactly why, but he could tell there was something crucial he was missing. He was shaken from his musings when ahead of him, Helen and Tommy began to slow. They had arrived at their destination, and it was a lot more ritual-y than Jonny expected. There was a ring of broken stone with a circular stone platform six feet across in the center.

The stones were all smooth and weatherworn, with moss growing up the sides and into their cracks. From the little that was still visible through the moss, Jonny saw hints of old carvings, but whatever they might have said, he had no idea. He could barely read English correctly, let alone whatever ancient language that was.

"Do you feel that?" asked Helen.

"The mana?" Jonny focused on his mana sense, and realized that it was indeed different. It was much denser here than it had been in the rest of the forest. He had been too lost in his thoughts to notice, but it must have been getting denser as they got closer. If I could just absorb this…

"I feel it," said Tommy, closing his eyes and spreading his hands.

"I like it."

"Most do," said Helen with a smile.

"Even the ancient people of this land did, which is why they built this place. We believe it was designed for layer formation rituals just like this one.

"But as much as we like the mana here, magic beasts do too. They actually like it more than us, and like to try to claim it as their territory. Sister Igrette and the local hunters have spent the last week making sure that there were none in the vicinity, but there will be a few who are drawn by the layer formation. You may hear sounds of them approaching, howling and screeching to try to get you, but you just have to ignore them. Sister Igrette is strong.

Even if every magic beast in the forest tried to get to you at once, they wouldn't be able to set foot near you, so no matter what you hear, don't stop the process. Understand?"

"Yes, Abbess Helen," said Tommy, nodding seriously.

"Good. Now get up on the platform and prepare yourself. It's nearly sunset." Tommy nodded, then scrambled up onto the platform and sat down cross-legged in the center. Abbess Helen ascended more gracefully stepping upward onto seemingly nothing, like she was walking through the air. She sat behind Tommy, placing a hand on his back.

"Control your breathing. Deep in, deep out. Begin cycling, but not too quickly. Just get yourself warm. This will be a long process. Don't wear yourself out before we even begin. Slower. Steady…" Abbess Helen continued to guide Tommy in his preparation for the ritual, and Jonny quickly lost interest. The situation was tense, but he found his attention drawn more to Igrette than to Tommy and Helen. For the first time since the day they met, she had removed her mask.

It was now hanging at her hip right over her sword sheath, while the sword itself was stabbed into the ground with Igrette's hands resting on the pommel. She was facing away from the stone platform, looking deeper into the woods. She noticed him staring, and turned to meet his gaze, her one good eye brighter and clearer than he had ever seen it.

"You want to learn to fight?" she asked.

"Yes."

"You want to do that despite knowing your condition?"

"I'm going to be the strongest."

"What if it's not possible?"

"I'll try anyway."

"Fighting is dangerous. You could get hurt. You could die."

"I still want to do it."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes." Igrette turned away from him again, facing the woods.

"We are going to be attacked tonight," she said.

"Beasts always come when a human forms a core layer. When they do, I will kill them. Watch if you want. Turn away if you can't. When the night is over, I will ask you again if you want to learn to fight. Whether I teach you will depend on your answer."

"It will be yes."

"We will see."

"We're about to begin," announced Helen.

"Igrette, are you ready?"

"Ready," said Igrette.

"You'll have nothing to worry about."

"I know. Tommy, you may begin."