Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 49 (Part 2)
Lant lifted Drok again. Despite Drok’s considerable size, Lant didn’t seem to struggle much.
“Let’s keep it a secret that we used the potion.”
“Sure. By the way, Rodin, can you use healing magic? Darren couldn’t. Even the mages attached to the Knights couldn’t use it.”
Some mages were particularly poor at certain types of magic. It was usually a matter of disposition, and healing magic was often the case.
Mages who were good at healing magic often struggled with combat magic. Even with the same amount of mana, the power just didn’t manifest as effectively.
Conversely, mages proficient in combat magic often didn’t align well with healing magic. Some couldn’t use it at all, while others could but with significantly reduced effectiveness.
“It’s a matter of disposition. It’s rare to be good at both combat and healing magic.”
“What about you?”
“I taught myself. I guess my disposition suits both. Let’s go. I’m tired.”
“Okay.”
* * *
Fortunately, the treatment was effective. The rot did not spread, and the skin turned a healthy pink.
Three days later, Drok was walking around with a wooden crutch he had acquired from somewhere. His expression was much brighter.
On the tenth day after the treatment, he was walking fine without the crutch. Although he still limped, he was almost back to his old self.
Rodin returned to the dormitory after his daily routine. Drok, who had been playing with Hedler and Lant, jumped up.
“Rodin! You’re back.”
“Yeah. I’m back. You were here again?”
“I thought you might come. Hehehe.”
Since the thigh treatment, Drok had clung to Rodin excessively. Though he knew it was out of gratitude, it was quite annoying seeing him every time.
“You’re too much. Hey! Drok. Let’s just be thankful in our hearts from now on. Don’t keep coming to find me, okay?”
“I enjoy it.”
“You might enjoy it, but I don’t. It’s very uncomfortable for me. So, stop it. Got it?”
“It’s late. See you tomorrow.”
Drok disappeared with a bright face. He clearly didn’t understand.
“Hedler, do you think Drok will stop?”
“No.”
“Lant, what do you think?”
“He’ll stay the same.”
Rodin shuddered in disgust.
He couldn’t hit someone who was approaching with good intentions, but leaving it as it was gave him goosebumps every day. There was no clear solution.
“This is driving me crazy.”
“He’ll stop eventually. He can’t do this forever, right?”
“Let’s hope so. Ah! Take this.”
Rodin took out two bracelets from his pocket and handed one each to Hedler and Lant.
Hedler looked at Rodin with curiosity as he received the bracelet, while Lant immediately put it on his wrist.
“Hey? A magic bracelet?”
The bracelet on Lant’s wrist shrank to fit perfectly. It wasn’t too tight nor too loose, just right.
“What? Is it a magic bracelet?”
“Yeah. I made it. Wear it.”
“What does it do? You have to tell us what kind of magic it has.”
As he asked, Hedler also put on the bracelet. The snug fit felt good.
“Hedler, your bracelet has a non-attribute shield spell. It reacts to the trigger word ‘shield’, so just infuse a small amount of aura into the bracelet and say the word. The amount of aura doesn’t matter. It’s just a signal that you’re about to say the trigger word. Just infuse a tiny bit of aura and say the word. It will create a shield in front of you.”
“Can I use it often? Is it strong?”
“It’s hard to say about strength because it varies by person. It’s like a 2-circle spell. So, it’s not super strong. After using it, it takes about six to seven hours for the mana to recharge.”
“Oh, that’s great. I can use it up to four times a day.”
Hedler stroked the bracelet, satisfied.
Lant, while also wearing the bracelet, looked at Hedler with envy.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Can I try it?”
“Yes. Try it. You should test it.”
“Then I’ll try. Shield.”
A transparent shield formed in front of Hedler. It was hard to see, but Rodin could sense it.
“It’s not very visible.”
“Yeah. I made it without attributes on purpose. It seems better for a swordsman if it’s less visible.”
“Yeah. It’s good. I’ll use it in crucial moments.”
“Don’t use it recklessly. In a fight, you know those moments when you feel like this is the deciding moment? Use it then.”
The shield wasn’t completely invisible. Rodin tried to make it as transparent as possible, and this was the limit.
Even now, it was hard to see the shield unless one looked closely. At night, unless the opponent was exceptionally sensitive, it would be hard to notice the shield.
“Is my bracelet the same?”
“No. Lant, your bracelet has Haste, and it’s specialized for the legs.”
“Haste? What’s that?”
“It makes your legs faster for a certain period. Not exactly, but about twice as fast, I think?”
Rodin had struggled to test the bracelet in the not-so-spacious advanced third archive. He almost ran into the walls several times. Since he only tested it in a narrow space, he wasn’t sure about its performance.
“How long does it last?”
“About ten minutes. But there will be individual differences. I had ten minutes, but it might not be the same for you. It depends on your constitution, so you need to check it yourself.”
All artifacts have performance variations depending on the user’s constitution. The difference wasn’t huge, but it was there. Even potions had different healing effects on different people.
“Should I try it now?”
“Of course, you should try it now. Don’t use it in front of others. Even if it’s discovered, don’t say I made it. Just say you got it during a mission.”
Artifacts, especially activation-type artifacts, were rare. There were few people on the continent who could make them.
If it became known that he had made two kinds of activation artifacts, it could become troublesome.
The committee members, in particular, would undoubtedly press him for more money.
“The trigger word is Haste?”
“Yes. The method is the same. Infuse a small amount of aura and say the trigger word.”
“Haste.”
Lant activated the bracelet and took a step. His legs moved noticeably faster, making him smile foolishly.
“Hehehe. My feet feel light.”
“Of course. Test the duration and speed yourself. You need to know to use it well.”
“Okay.”
In the cramped dormitory corner, Hedler tested the shield’s strength while Lant was busy measuring his speed from corner to corner.