The Moonlight Swordsman



The Potion Shop,

In the depths of her study, surrounded by enormous bookcases crammed with antiquated texts, Aizel and Shelly joined Vespara. 

"Are you okay, Shelly?" Aizel asked.

"I never felt much better now, thanks to the Vespara potion. Don't worry about me; I heard your trip was a successful one," Shelly replied.

Vespara has told her not to let Aizel know about that day, or he will lose his shit again.

"Yeah, it was. I would not like to talk about that. I can't still wrap my mind around that."

"Now don't get distracted and remember why we are here," Vespara said, catching their attention.

"After teaching you everything, today is the day Shelly, you will form your core and your power and affinity will be revealed. 

"But don't you need to know which power or element you are most suited with to easily create the magic core?" Aizel asked.

"Yes, but we tried everything, and it seems Shelly isn't suited for anything. Even she can't grasp or understand any power. 

"So I have a way that an oldie taught me a long time ago."

Interesting," Aizel thought.

"Now sit down where the magic circle is inscribed, Shelly," Vespara said.

"It won't hurt, right?" She asked.

"Don't worry; you won't even know a thing," Vespara replied with a smile.

To Shelly, that smile looked more like a witch smiling at her subject.

She looked towards Aizel, who quickly turned his head away and started whistling.

She sighed.

Shelly positioned herself in the center of the magic circle, her posture was composed and expectant. 

Vespara positioned herself on the border, all set to begin. The silence in the room was thick with expectation.

She took a vial out of her ring, the contents of which glimmered in the dim light. She began slowly pouring the silver liquid over the delicate lines of the magic circle, paying close attention to every detail. Aizel's keen eye saw how plain the potion seemed.

When the liquid reached the magic circle's sharp corners, a minute reaction took place. The lines seemed to radiate a soft light as if they had been given fresh life.

Vespara produced a multitude of shimmering magic crystals, their radiant hues casting a captivating glow in the dimly lit room.

Their radiance decorated the edges of the magic circle like stardust.

"Now listen closely Shelly; when I start this process, this will forcefully let you focus on your specific power and element. 

"Whatever started to come to your mind again and again, feel it and conjure it into a magic core in your stomach area, just like I taught.

Shelly nodded and took a deep breath.

"Don't worry Shelly, you can do it easily," Aizel cheered from the sidelines.

"Ready?"

"Yes,"

Vespara's eyes lit suddenly, and a wave of energy swept through the room as her focus fell on the perfectly organized magic crystals. In unison, the crystals' lights began to dance with ethereal brilliance.

Aizel felt a change in the very nature of reality as if the mana of her immediate surroundings had responded to Vespara's order. 

The room's mana whirled and merged, focusing on the magic circle at its center. 

Pure mana essence radiated from the magic crystals, which were now glowing with a brilliance that surpassed description. 

In response to Vespara's command, the magic circle shimmered with golden light.

Shelly sat at the center of the room, bathed in a heavenly tidal wave of light that rose up from the floor's intricate patterns. The golden light surrounded her, bathing her in an ethereal, magical air from long ago.

"She isn't reacting; is everything okay?" Aizel asked.

"What were you expecting? For her to shout crazily like a monkey?" 

Yes, that's what I thought. From what I know, I thought she will definitely scream in pain, blood will start to pour out of her body, and then she will receive some sort of blessing or magic power type of shit," Aizel thought.

"This arcane magic circle process is helping her to tap her real potential. The more time she takes, the more potential power she might have," Vespara said.

And just like that, five hours went by.

Aizel and Vespara sat down, their eyes fixed on Shelly with unyielding intensity, and silence fell like a heavy tapestry over the room.

"Oye hag, it is working right?" Aizel asked.

"Either she is going to have to surprise us both with her power and element, or she will have nothing," Vespara replied.

Shelly's eyes sprung wide suddenly, and a flash of luminous energy radiated from within her, spreading outward in a gentle wave. The magic circle's formerly brilliant golden light dimmed until it no longer shone at all.

"So what do you feel? Did you succeed?" Vespara asked.

"How is it possible?" Shelly asked.

"What do you mean, Shelly?" Aizel asked.

"I don't know but I feel very weird. I can sense the magic core inside my body, just like you taught. 

"But I don't know what it is. And I'm feeling a lot weird now," Shelly replied. She started to look a little worried.

"Don't panic and explain everything to me," Vespara said.

"It's like your voice is sometimes sounding too fast and sometimes very slow.

"Even the same is going with my movement," Shelly replied.

"Do you think this is related to speed type ability or power?" Aizel asked.

"It's possible, but we have to test everything first. Let's head somewhere where we can go all out." Vespara said.

Leaving the confines of the shop behind, Aizel, Vespara, and Shelly ventured into the desolate expanse of the barren land. 

It was a place where Aizel had spent countless hours honing his skills alongside his loyal spirit weapon, Sekki. 

"Now try to run Shelly. Make sure to use your core energy for it," Vespara said.

Shelly nodded.

Her heart hammered with excitement as she pushed herself forward, her feet pounding the ground.

With every step, she drew on the boundless strength of her innermost being. However, no matter how hard she tried, she still felt empty inside. Neither did she feel a burst of magic or incredible power.

Both Aizel and Vespara's eyebrows furrowed in concern as they watched. 

"How did you feel?" Aizel asked.

"It was like sometimes I was running super fast, while sometimes I was moving slowly like a snake," Shelly replied.

"Aren't you able to see?" She asked.

Both Aizel and Vespara looked at Shelly in astonishment.

"Holly Molly, she is going to be one hell of a mage," Aizel said.