I left the task of increasing the number of resident mages in Carvahall to my parents.
Meanwhile, I returned to my research on spells. Based on my previous tests, I reached a conclusion: magical circles work in this world—but poorly.They are inefficient in both energy consumption and casting speed.
So, I abandoned that path.
Now, onto the second thesis: gestures combined with words, in a Harry Potter–style approach.
My first hypothesis: use gestures to draw runes, and words to direct the effect.My only issue would be with the words—I don't want to bind the magic to a spoken language, as that could cause errors if a word is pronounced incorrectly.
What if the words serve only as an anchor for intent? That way, I could use any word, as long as it helps me maintain the intention of what I want to achieve.
Yes! That makes sense. That way, even if my mind were attacked, the word would keep the intention anchored.
Now, on to the tests.
I will try the wind cut that I attempted with magical circles.I will use my fingers to draw the wind rune, pronouncing the word blade to set the intention.
Channeling magic into my fingers, I begin to draw while simultaneously saying:"Blade."
What happened made a smile appear on my face. When I finished the rune, I felt a small amount of magic being consumed—almost nothing, really—but the result spoke for itself.The stone I had aimed at was split cleanly in half. A clean cut, no cracks, just a single slice.
A new path is forming now. Could I recreate spells from Harry Potter?
Let's start with the classic levitation spell.
I will use the gravity rune and the word levitate.
"Levitate."
The small pebble I targeted began to float and moved according to where I pointed. That gave me further proof that this method is more efficient.I am spending one-tenth of the energy I used with "Stenr rïsa."
This has already exceeded my expectations.
I created a few more spells, mainly elemental ones such as fireball, earth wall, water whip, wind bullet, and so on.
I began to notice a certain peculiarity about the elements—a feeling they transmit when I use them. Fire conveys agitation and ferocity; water conveys calm and control; earth conveys firmness and confidence; wind conveys freedom and urgency.
It seems the phrase "everything in this world has a mind" is more than accurate.The kind of mind they possess may be different from ours, but it is still a mind.
So I theorize that it is possible to create a bond with them, or at least facilitate communication, similar to how druids commune with nature.
I will have to set this theory aside for now. I want to delve deeper into spells first, test their limits before jumping into another line of research.I also need to give some attention to Gilbert and Elena; my parents must have already told them a bit.
Tomorrow, we will show them what we have built.
Even though I am certain we can trust them, I still feel a chill run down my spine.
I arrived home and my parents were already there.
I sat at the table and asked how the conversation went. My mother perked up and began to talk about how excited Elena was, and how she asked about me.
"You should have seen her smile when she found out you were busy with magic instead of another girl," my mother finished, looking at me attentively as I tried to hide my embarrassment.
"Right! And what about Gilbert? What did he think? Do you think he accepted it well?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
"He seemed a bit cautious, but when we talked about the potion that saved me that day, he relaxed a little. It wasn't acceptance, but it's a start," my father replied, thankfully not pressing my embarrassment further.
"Yes, but I bet that once we explain how magic works, he'll accept it easily. Your books explaining what magic is and how it affects things help dismantle all the negative ideas we've heard," my mother added in a carefree tone. I was even surprised by her confidence.
"So how do you plan to approach Gertrudes? Will you just talk to her first, or show her some potions right away?" I asked, wanting to know their next steps.
"I think it's better to wait a bit longer—wait for Elena and Gilbert to awaken magic. And if not everyone manages it, it's best not to rush," my father answered cautiously.
"On that point, I'm almost certain that with enough meditation, anyone could awaken magic. But it's better to go slowly. We're basically going to be teaching them, so limiting things at the start is a good idea," I concluded, reinforcing my father's argument, as I saw my mother ready to object. She looked a bit sulky, but she had no counterargument.
"Alright. But you'll be responsible for teaching Elena," she said with that maternal smile I know I can't escape.
I sighed and let my shoulders drop in defeat. I knew this would be a lost battle—and it's not as if it were a great sacrifice.
When I woke up, I could already hear voices in the house. It seems they arrived early.
My mother must have noticed I was awake, because I heard her shout from the kitchen.
"Geralt! Get up already, Elena is here to see you!"
I dressed slowly, mentally preparing myself for a flood of teasing. Thanks to the meditation I've practiced for seven years, I can control myself fairly well—but my adolescent body still has some involuntary reactions.
"Geralt, hurry up, we need to go soon," I heard her say again.
I entered the kitchen and saw everyone seated at the table—Elena and Gilbert side by side, and my parents at each end. Elena had a blush on her face and was looking at her plate, while Gilbert stared at me with an intensity that sent chills down my spine.
"Good morning!" I said, trying to erase any awkwardness from my voice. I looked at my mother, but she only gave me a smile, as if she were innocent.
"Good morning, son! You kept Elena waiting—were you so excited that you couldn't sleep?" my mother commented casually. My father coughed to hide the laugh that almost escaped, and Gilbert's gaze sharpened.
"Just tiredness. Yesterday I made a big discovery and got a bit carried away," I said, trying to steer the conversation toward safer ground.
We finished eating and headed to the hideout so we could talk without the risk of being overheard.
My parents stayed outside so they wouldn't panic when they saw me disappear in front of them.When I added them to the protections, I saw Elena's jaw drop. Gilbert tensed his muscles but showed nothing more. From what I could tell, he already has strong mental fortitude—unlocking magic should be easy for him.
"Welcome to the little cave!" I said to snap them out of their shock. My mother let out a small laugh, probably at the name, but I achieved my goal.Elena blushed when she realized the expression she'd made in front of me, but I pretended not to notice.
"Let's go in. Even though it looks like just a big rock, it's quite cozy inside," I said as I walked toward the entrance.
When we entered, Elena asked,"Did you build this?"
My mother shook her head. "No! This was all Geralt. It was the beginning of this path for me and Robert," she finished with a gentle smile.
Gilbert looked around the room and finally spoke."Your parents said that magic isn't what we hear about in the stories, and that you were the best person to explain it." I started to speak, but he gestured that he wasn't finished, so I waited."I've watched you grow up. I've known your parents for a long time. I know they wouldn't deceive us—but don't expect me to allow Elena to follow anything that might pose a danger to her."
He spoke firmly. I sensed his concern, and to ease those fears, I began explaining what I had discovered and my views on the matter.When I explained that mages are nothing more than people who can influence the world—not command it, but influence it—Gilbert relaxed a little, though I could still see concern.I went on to explain how mages function, and I saw understanding appear in his eyes. Now he knew that a mage needs energy, and that this energy is tied to physical endurance.
People fear what they don't understand, but once they perceive limits, that fear begins to fade—that's what I saw happen with Gilbert.
While explaining the need for physical endurance in a mage, I had my father use one of the levitation platforms with several stones on top, so they could see that he grows tired over time. I didn't use myself as the example because my energy reserve is almost three times his.I briefly explained the runes that reduce energy consumption somewhat, and that if a mage tried to do what my father did using only magic, exhaustion would come much faster.
"That's the basics. The rest are my theories and discoveries. There are the potions, in which my mother already surpasses me, and now the spells I'm still discovering."
"Can you show us a spell?" I thought this question would come from my mother, but it was Elena who asked. There was a spark of curiosity in her eyes, and her posture leaned forward, showing her excitement.
I smiled at her enthusiasm and used the Light spell. A sphere of light appeared above my palm. She seemed enchanted. Gilbert merely looked at her, then at me.
"From what you said, mental strength is required to unlock magic. How do we know if we have this mental strength?" Gilbert asked.
"It must be the meditation you talked about, right?" Elena said before I could answer."Yes. Through meditation, we train the mind, and consequently mental strength. I see you learn quickly, Elena," I replied with a smile. She smiled shyly back at me."So, do you want to enroll in the Carvahall School of Magic?"
"What school?" my father asked, amused.
"This one. Unfortunately, we only have three teachers—but I can guarantee they're the best," I replied.
My mother let out a small laugh and explained everything to the two who were completely lost. It seems my joke didn't land—well, you can't win every time.