Blade Over Magic

Abrupt ”Assistance”

At the very top of the page, a set of words were outlined that seemed to strike Aubrey’s very soul.

[To observe is to build the library. To compile is to build the world. Yet, a shadow on the wall can never truly grasp the warmth of the sun.]

Following this was the actual information and instinctual knowledge as well as the optimization of the new spell, information Projection. Outlining how it worked as well as its limitations.

Aubrey closed her eyes as she took a few moments to digest it all, and when she reopened them, she exhaled.

”The second page is called the Ledger of Manifestation, and like the previous page, it more or less just optimizes the use of Information Projection, but it also outlines some of the limits.” She explained.

This made the boys’ eyes light up.

”You unlocked the second page? Great! So that’s two birds with one stone.” Xander was clearly happy about the news.

”I’m just glad I was helpful.” Curtis smiled softly, and Aubrey nodded at him before she began explaining.

”So it kinda builds upon the previous page, the Ledger of Certainly. You know how the previous one pretty much allows the corresponding information about something I’m looking at to appear in my mind in a comprehensible manner? Well, if I want to project information, I simply need to think about what I want and the corresponding info will appear from the book it’s in.

Moreover, I can automate the process using my Information Clones, and depending on the thing i want to summon, I might need more or less Clones.” She raised a finger.

”As for mana cost, it seems like depending on the complexity of what I project, it first takes a large amount of Mana in relation to what I’m projecting, then a lesser stream of Mana to keep it projected. And that thing retains most of the properties of the original thing, but it isn’t perfect either.” Hearing this, Xander rubbed his chin.

”In what way?” Aubrey hummed.

”Simply put, I need the exact amount of information from something to project it in its entirety. If I don’t, the the Projection will be weak and fragile. For instance, a powerful magic artifact with all sorts of runes and magical inscriptions. In the first place, such an item already contains large amounts of information. If I can’t record all of it, then if I attempt to project it, the Projection will be incomplete. It’s even worse with living creatures. Besides the fact that a creature’s information isn’t static due to the obscene amount of moving parts inside of them, living things are just inherently more complex than non-living things, so I’d have to dedicate quite a number of Information Clones just to summon one decent living creature I have recorded.

There’s also the aspect of a soul. I have no way of recording a soul’s information, so even if i manage to perfectly project a creature, it will lack a soul and therefore act akin to a husk that I and my clones must control manually.” When she listed out these limitations, Xander nodded slowly.

It made sense. For something as wild as Information Projection, there needed to be clear-cut limitations as well.

”Hm, so are the projections themselves Mana? Or is that what keeps them manifested?” Curtis asked while looking at the chair.

”The remain real as long as I continue to supply them Mana, even if they get broken. So if you shatter that chair, it will splinter and fall apart like a normal wooden chair. It will only disappear when I end the Mana supply.” Curtis nodded at the explanation.

”Interesting. Seems like you need to be very strategic with what you do and don’t summon, then. And raising the number of Clones is also important if you want to control living things better.” Xander mused. ”That said, for the issue of projecting a living creature in its entirety, I think rather than doing that, projecting it in only a specific state would make more sense at your current level. For instance, instead of trying to project a copy of me in its entirety, you only project a version with one or two sword styles. Or something like that. Make sense?” Aubrey’s eyes lit of at that.

”I see what you mean. Essentially selective Projection. Rather than pushing myself to project the whole thing, only project an aspect of it which is useful in my current situation.” Xander snapped his fingers.

”Exactly.” At this, Aubrey exhaled.

”Alright, then. In that case... I’ll get to practicing.” Without further ado, Aubrey walked off to the side an obvious spring in her step as she went off to play with her newly unlocked abilities.

”... I guess that leaves just me.” Curtis fidgeted a little, but he was still smiling.

”Indeed.” Xander nodded and hesitated for a moment, then he spoke.

”So what I have in mind... may or may not be a touchy subject.” Curtis blinked, then a look of realization dawned on his face, then his smile turned awkward.

”Ah... that.” He said, his voice sounding smaller.

Naturally, Xander was referring to his Lycan nature.

Xander rubbed his nose.

”We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” He offered, and Curtis looked like he wanted to take the offer, but then he closed his eyes tightly and shook his head.

”... Let’s do it. The next full moon is close anyway... I can feel it. If... If I could learn how to control it, then that would be ideal.” The words seemed to take something out of him, but when he reopened his eyes, they were surprisingly resolute.

Xander regarded him silently for a few seconds, then he nodded. He didn’t say any words that would appear like handouts. Rather, he spoke objectively.

”When you used that spell on the Frontline and had your own version of Mana burnout. I’ll just call it frostbite. It was pretty much the same issue as Falael but with the opposite result. Your body can’t handle the full extent of your own output.” Curtis nodded slowly, and Xander continued.

”I initially wanted to have you do body conditioning with them, and I still do, however, when we fought the night you transformed, one of the more defining traits I noticed was the size of your Mana pool larger, you were also using your magic at an output that, prior to creating the ice diamond, would have given you Mana burnout in record time. Yet you fought like that with wild abandon with no repercussions.

Not to mention the other things, like the huge spike in your physical capabilities. Speed, strength, durability, and so on. You were like a very agile and powerful environment altering tank. If you could somehow learn to control that form, you’d become far more dangerous. Heck, if you could somehow learn to partially transform, that alone would make you far more dangerous.” He pointed at Curtis.

”The issue is how.” He sighed.

”In truth, the only way I think we can more accurately look for solutions is through trial and error. In short, making you transform over and over to see what we can do. But the issue of control aside, the actual transformation part is a bit problematic. I don’t suppose you can do it at will?” Under Xander’s stare, Curtis squirmed. The prospect of willingly transforming and likely losing his rationality was terrifying, to say the least. But if they could indeed learn to control it...

”... If I too emotional. Angry, to be specific, then I don’t need the moon to transform.” Curtis mumbled out.

’Well, that’s that option gone.’ Xander scratched his head. As much as he cared about Curtis, he had to admit that it would take a LOT to get him angry, and up till now, the only time he’d seen Curtis snap was when Aubrey was calling out his oddities on that fateful night. And even then, it was less anger and more desperation.

As he was considering this, Mia suddenly appeared besides him, startling both of the boys.

”... Yes?” Xander looked at her carefully. She just looked up at him and said.

”If it’s a full moon he needs, then we’ll give him one.” Xander and Curtis blinked.

”What does that mea—”

Snap.

Mia snapped her fingers, and both of them tensed, waiting for something to happen. But nothing really seemed to change.

...

And that’s when they noticed the surrounding moonlight increase.

Both of them looked up, and Xander’s eyes widened while Curtis’s face went pale.

’... Seriously?’ Xander forced a smile.

The moon, which had been only half visible, had somehow become a full one.

”A-Ah!” Curtis gripped at his chest and doubled over.

Unlike the last full moon where it was gradual and he had time to prepare his mental state, suppressing the transformation, this had been both abrupt and surprising, effectively catching him off guard.

Hence, he had no time to attempt resisting as cold air erupted from him, Mary immediately creating a box of wind that sealed everything in as his body became encased in a pillar of ice.

Xander suddenly had a feeling of deja vu as the ice began to fall apart, and from it, the familiar visage of a large white wold could be seen.

’... Haah. What the hell?’ That was the first thing he thought as Curtis rammed face first into the wind sealing him.