This staff really is a magical tool.
Watching Jellal raise the wooden staff, Moen wasn't surprised. Magic staves were considered fairly common Holder-type magical items.
In Earthland, magic could broadly be divided into two categories: Holder Magic and Caster Magic.
Holder Magic, to put it simply, was magic that required a medium — a weapon, a tool, or an artifact — combined with the mage's own magic power. Without the tool, the magic could not be used.
"I can use hypnotic magic. No beast can harm us."
Jellal spoke calmly. As his words fell, his staff gleamed with light. He cast his strongest spell.
"Mistfall Illusion!"
Faint, eerie light shimmered. Wendy instantly collapsed face-first onto the ground, falling into slumber like only a child could — fast and deep.
Moen's own eyelids grew heavy. His mind began to sink into drowsiness. This was unconscious; he hadn't realized what was happening. All he wanted was to close his eyes… and sleep.
"—Hummm!"
From the starry sky above, the constellation of Pegasus flickered.
Moen's eyes snapped open wide. Magic flared violently within his body. Starlight, as if fallen from the heavens themselves, poured down and wrapped around him, tearing through the suffocating shroud of hypnosis.
"So strong?!"
Jellal's eyes widened in shock as he saw Moen resist the spell. This was the first time he'd ever encountered someone completely unaffected by his Mistfall Illusion.
Normally, it was flawless — whoever he cast it on fell instantly asleep. It was his greatest trump card for surviving alone in this unfamiliar world.
"You bastard! Don't just cast magic on people without warning!"
Moen regained full awareness, his teeth clenched in irritation. Even now, his heart pounded. That loss of control, that overwhelming desire to just sleep and never wake — it had been terrifying.
Fortunately, his willpower was unyielding. The moment he felt danger, his survival instinct had ignited. His inner cosmos surged, awakening the Pegasus constellation within him. That burning sense of crisis helped him shatter the hypnotic state.
"I'm sorry! I meant no harm. I only wanted to show you what I could do…"
Jellal quickly released the magic and apologized sincerely. His Mistfall Illusion was not meant to kill — at most, it put people into a comfortable, dreamlike slumber. That was why he'd used it so recklessly.
Moen shook his head hard, stabilizing the power within him. Just now, he had clearly touched the Pegasus star map again. Though it was only for an instant, it had saved him from being overwhelmed. The feeling was fleeting… and frustratingly elusive.
"That staff of yours… is it a special magical tool?"
Moen, setting aside his annoyance, studied Jellal curiously.
From the sensation earlier, Jellal hadn't used any magic power of his own. The boy had no internal magic reserves at all. The hypnosis spell had been drawn entirely from the staff!
That was completely different from standard Holder Magic. Even Holder-type mages still possessed their own magic — they needed it to channel through their tools. Without it, the items would never activate.
Strictly speaking, Jellal's magic wasn't Holder Magic at all. It was something entirely foreign.
"Yes. There's a magic crystal inside the staff."
Jellal admitted without hesitation. His body contained no magic. His ability to use spells came solely from the crystal set within his staff.
"That really is unusual…"
Moen's eyes narrowed. Magic items embedded with lacrima weren't rare, but for one to produce this level of effect was extraordinary.
Typically, lacrima-based items were civilian conveniences — film projectors, magic lamps, that sort of thing.
Weapons, on the other hand, rarely relied on lacrima. Mages already had magic power of their own. Using that was far more reliable than constantly charging a crystal.
Besides, lacrima storage was limited. Overcharging one could turn it into an unstable bomb — "Exploding Lacrima," single-use magic grenades used in combat.
Battle magic consumed tremendous energy. Relying on lacrima meant the user had to recharge it frequently. That was expensive… and dangerous.
Most importantly, lacrima itself was not cheap. Creating and maintaining such a staff was far beyond what ordinary people could afford.
In short, this kind of magical tool was exceedingly rare in Earthland.
"With a tool like that, you probably can make it out safely… Do you still have enough magic power stored in the lacrima?"
After witnessing Jellal's spell, Moen no longer insisted they travel together — provided, of course, the staff still had energy to spare.
"It's fully charged."
Jellal replied confidently, without hesitation.
"Good. Give me the map; I'll draw the route for you."
Moen nodded, asking no further questions. He reached out his hand, waiting for Jellal to hand over the map.
"A map? I don't have one."
Jellal's expression became slightly embarrassed. He was new here — of course he wouldn't have a map.
"No map at all? You really dare to venture in here, huh? Bold and reckless, I see."
Moen rolled his eyes, unable to hold back a remark. Where did this pampered rich kid come from? he thought.
Such a powerful magical tool was certainly expensive. Only someone wealthy could afford it, and judging by Jellal's manners and speech, it was obvious he came from a highly disciplined background. Moen didn't need to think twice to know this boy was no ordinary person.
With no other choice, Moen pulled out a spare map from his bag and carefully drew the route to the forest exit. This was the path he had personally scouted — relatively safe and easy to follow.
"Here. Next time, come prepared. I really don't know what you packed in that huge backpack of yours — not even a map."
Moen tossed the marked map to Jellal, unable to resist another jab. He looked at the giant green bag Jellal carried — almost like a turtle shell — and assumed it was filled with necessary supplies. Clearly, it was more for show than practicality.
"Thanks… um, that's…"
Jellal took the map with a grateful expression. He didn't turn to leave immediately but lingered, seeming hesitant to speak.
"What is it? Something else?"
Moen had repacked his own bag and slung it over his shoulder. Watching Jellal fidget, he frowned and asked.
"…Can I know your name?"
After a brief hesitation, Jellal finally voiced the question.
He seemed socially awkward, the kind who didn't make friends easily. Moen had already noticed this, Jellal spoke with some difficulty, almost as if he had a mild communication barrier.
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