The next morning, I collect Ilina, Alto, and Zara, and I teleport them with Nina to my training area clearing. I am completely buzzed about this. It's finally time to learn the item box spell. First, let's get the brawlers squared away.
"Zara, we'll take care of you first!" (Mizuki)
Zara's eyes sparkle with excitement, and she steps forward.
"Yes, what magic will you be teaching me?" (Zara)
Oooh…she's going to be disappointed if that's what she thinks is happening here. I direct an apologetic gaze at her.
"Actually, for now I think the best thing for you would be actual combat practice with your new weapon. So, since I'm not really a sword or weapons expert, you'll be sparring with Nina. Try to get good enough to beat her while you're on equal physical footing, and then I can get you a real sword teacher. I can teach you a fireball spell or whatever magic you're interested in another time." (Mizuki)
Zara's excitement seems to have dampened a bit, but she's still looking at Nina with anticipation.
"Fufufu…yes Zara, come with me and let's get started. Mizuki, can you send us to my old nest, so we have plenty of room?" (Nina)
I nod at her and quickly teleport them to Nina's clearing, then return to the elves. When I return, Ilina is staring at me intently.
"Mizuki…did you just casually mention teaching that wolf-kin girl elemental class spells? I assumed she was an alteration class like pretty much all wolf-kin?" (Ilina)
Oh yeah…I guess I've never explained by theories on magic to Ilina. Wait…what was that last part?
"Uhm…yeah, she is, but what do you mean 'like pretty much all wolf-kin'?" (Mizuki)
Surprisingly, Alto speaks up.
"The class proportions in the population vary between races. For example, relative to humans, elves are mostly elemental class and there's also an enrichment of dark class users, but there are almost no alteration class. By contrast, the wolf-kin are almost exclusively alteration class." (Alto)
Huh…that's interesting. On the surface, that suggests that magic class has a genetic or biological component. Meanwhile, I've been thinking it was purely about what kinds of natural phenomena are most intuitive to you. However, those different races have drastically different cultures, too.
The elves fancy themselves scholars, while the wolf-kin value strength and are very in tune with their bodies. So, their class biases make sense for their different upbringings. In that case, I may still be right, or at least partially right.
At this point, Ilina continues her questioning.
"That's right, Mizuki. If she's alteration class, why do you think she can learn spells from the other classes?" (Ilina)
"Right, sorry, I forgot to mention this. Essentially, I think that the people of your world have some misunderstandings about how magic fundamentally works. I think magic is just a form of energy you can use to alter the natural world through visualization, and I think classes are just people's different natural talents, not an inherent limitation. If I'm right, I can teach people any kinds of spells they want with enough study." (Mizuki)
Ilina looks surprised and skeptical. She glances at Alto, who shrugs.
"He said the same to me, and I think he may have a point based on what he's told me about his home planet. Also, if our world's magic tests concluded that he couldn't use magic, we obviously don't know as much as we thought we did." (Alto)
Ilina seems to think that over, conflicted. Eventually, she seems to make up her mind, and she looks at me hopefully.
"M-Mizuki…in that case, do you think you could teach me new spells? Ones where I would be able to defend myself? When you commented on my magic power the other day, you were correct, but you were wrong in assuming that I have any combat ability. I can only use my appraisal and item box spells…I have no offensive magic." (Ilina)
Ilina looks down at the ground, seemingly embarrassed and frustrated. No wonder…all that magic power and she still feels helpless without combat spells. I smile at her warmly.
"Sure, how about we start with that, then?" (Mizuki)
Ilina's head snaps up to meet my gaze. Alto can be heard chuckling.
"Mizuki, do you mean it!? You really think I could learn combat spells, so I won't be so helpless!?" (Ilina)
I nod at her and continue.
"Yes, I do. Also, given your magic power level, and if your item box spell works in the general way I think, you could become monstrously strong soon. Teleportation, flight, spells that pin your enemies to the ground and crush them. You could even learn to slow time itself. I think those spells may be related to your item box spell." (Mizuki)
Alto and Ilina just look bewildered. Ilina speaks first.
"Mizuki, that's absurd. What does an item box have to do with flying or slowing time?" (Ilina)
Yeah, without the theory of general relativity and the concept of spacetime, I guess that does sound absurd to her. Still, I'm only guessing that the item box is spacetime manipulation, so let's confirm that first. I smile at Ilina and shake my head.
"Like I said, the people on my planet had learned quite a lot about the natural world, and to me, all of those abilities seem like they affect the natural world in a similar way. I'll explain this to you later, but first I need to confirm that I'm right about your item box spell. After all, if I fully understood how it works, I'd be using it already. So, why don't we have you teach me the spell right now, and go from there?" (Mizuki)
Ilina nods and gestures for me to come over to her. I walk over, and then she nods and begins her incantation for the spell.
"Part thyself, cosmic cloth, and accept my treasures!" (Ilina)