Volume 1. Chapter 35

The forest trail stretched before Ken and Lily, leading them further away from familiar places and deeper into the unknown. Tall trees with wide-spreading canopies blocked most of the sky, letting only thin bands of sunlight through, which danced across the leaves. The wind rustled gently through the branches, giving their walk a peaceful, cozy feeling.“So anyway,” Ken began, breaking a twig to mark the path behind them, “just imagine - if there were magic in my world, I’d probably just use it to heat up tea. That’s it. No magical saving-the-world nonsense.”Lily laughed, picturing Ken standing in front of a huge magic circle, muttering a spell just to boil water.“If everyone had magic, I’m sure people would use it for little things like that,” she agreed. “But in our world, it’s not that simple.”“Oh, really?” Ken perked up, eager to learn more. “Tell me about magic here. What kinds are there?”Lily paused, thinking back on what she knew.“There are seven main types of magic: water, earth, fire, wind, lightning, light, and darkness,” she began, counting them off on her fingers. “These are considered the basic elements, and all other magic is somehow related to them.”“Sounds impressive,” Ken said, trying to sound serious. “Any cool ‘non-basic’ magic?”“Of course,” Lily smiled. “There’s healing magic, detection, enhancement of the body or senses - sight, hearing, smell. But those are more like supplementary skills. I’m sure there are lots of other variations I don’t even know about.”“Wait,” Ken raised a finger, as if he’d just realized something. “You’re saying everyone has access to all these kinds of magic?”Lily shook her head.“No, it’s more complicated. Each person has a natural affinity for only one or two basic types. Sometimes… none at all.”“None?” Ken was surprised. “I figured if magic exists, anyone could use it.”“If only,” Lily said with a trace of sadness. “Magic is something you’re born with. Some people can only learn the basics, others become real masters. But if you don’t have an affinity, you can’t use magic at all.”“And you?” Ken raised an eyebrow.“I do,” Lily nodded. “I can control water and wind. I’m around five or six out of ten with water. Wind is weaker - more like a three.”“Six out of ten?” Ken whistled. “That’s impressive. You’re practically a magical master!”Lily blushed and shook her head quickly.“No, no, I’m far from that. Levels above eight are nearly impossible to reach without natural talent.”“So talent decides how far you can go?” Ken asked.“Yeah,” Lily confirmed. “If you have an affinity, you can train and improve your technique, but you can’t surpass your natural limits. Magic levels are ranked like this: one to four is weak, five to six is average, seven to eight is strong, and nine to ten is mastery.”Ken nodded, taking it all in.“Sounds like there are a lot of limits. Kinda like a video game - skills can level up, but there’s a max level you can’t go past.”Lily smiled at the comparison.“Exactly. Having an affinity for even two types of magic is considered lucky. Most people only have one.”“Has anyone mastered all seven?” Ken asked, intrigued.Lily laughed, as if he’d told a joke.“That’s impossible. Even the legends sound like fairy tales. Usually, even the greatest masters only excel in one element.”“So you’re a rare case, huh?” Ken teased, winking. “That makes you special.”Lily blushed a little but kept her composure.“Maybe,” she replied softly, turning away to hide her smile.Ken kept asking questions, and Lily explained more about magic with each step. She told him that magic required not just natural ability, but energy drawn from within. Using magic drained a person’s strength, so even the most skilled mages couldn’t cast spells endlessly.“What happens if a mage overuses their energy?” Ken asked.“It’s dangerous,” Lily said seriously. “If you push yourself too far, you could die. That’s why we’re taught to always know our limits.”“Yikes,” Ken muttered. “Good thing I’m just an ordinary guy who can stick to jokes instead of risking my life.”“But sometimes jokes can be dangerous too,” Lily replied with a sly smile. “Especially if you tell them at the wrong moment.”“Oh, sorry!” Ken raised his hands in mock surrender. “My dangerous joke is ready. Watch this!”He stopped and pretended to cast a spell, waving his arms like an over-the-top stage magician. Lily laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.“You’re ridiculous,” she said, looking at him with a warm smile.Ken grinned, happy to see her laugh. He loved how her face lit up when she smiled, like sunlight breaking through the clouds. The forest continued on around them, but in that moment, it felt like the whole world was just the two of them.