D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

Chapter 574: Affinities Finalised

”Hey Lily…” said Sylvie considering the combination of powers Lily had decided on. ”Could you use shadow magic to write on the paper you summon? If you can… can you combine them together with that writing?” Everyone in the room got extremely quiet and thoughtful at that.

*Nothing Iʼve seen suggests that something like that is even remotely possible… but I have a gut feeling that it would work. Perhaps not exactly as we might wish… but in some capacity at least. Perhaps is she drew shadow creatures they could be stored in paper for a minor cost? Maybe just shapes? Could she make spike traps out of them?*

”I donʼt know,” said Lily. ”Nothing that I was able to get from the system even hints at the possibility of combining magic like that. Oh sure you can use them together, like wind and fire magic to get more powerful fire… but you couldnʼt use say… ice and fire to make cold fire. Your fire would melt your ice unless youʼre Kat of course.

”Still… the idea of combining them together is nice but I still donʼt have a final magic as a powerhouse magic. The one that I can use to really burn mana and make a difference when itʼs called for. So far we have gravity, space, and time, though I might argue that space is more support unless you can alter the space inside of people and get them that way. I doubt itʼs possible but you never know”

”I rekon that at the highest levels anything can be a power house magic” said Vivian in response. ”I mean I get the idea that there are certain affinities that are only good later. I just… find it hard to believe that any of them are truly the best when it comes to the stronger stuff or everyone would go for it. I know affinities play a big role but I believe you can still use magic you are unsuited for correct?”

”Thatʼs a little unclear,” said Lily ”I think maybe, yes? But you have to be better at whatever your affinities are before you try. It causes issues to try and grow a magic past your natural affinities from what I can tell but thatʼs another thing the system wonʼt really tell me”

”Perhaps looking more at what weaknesses you might want to shore up,” said Callisto. ”While I think space, if you do count it as a powerhouse affinity, would suit you best for reasons I can explain if you wish, perhaps it is not what you truly need. Healing would still be a good option, or if you chose to forgo that particular power then I think earth as a proper defensive magic might be a good option. Lightning for more speed and agility could work if you want to focus on dodging instead. Though Iʼm not sure how safe that would be… perhaps no lightning”

Lily thought on that for a moment. Really, if she was creative enough, she didnʼt see paper or shadow really letting her down. There might be things it they couldnʼt do, but none that were terribly crucial. Healing or space were both good options. Space for its various potential tricks, and healing for helping others after a fight something that Kat wouldnʼt need but others might. She was torn. ”I think healing or space for me. I just donʼt know which one. I could look further afield but weʼd be here for a long time debating it. So, letʼs just think about those two alright?” requested Lily.

Everyone looked thoughtful at Lilyʼs request as they tried to consider which would be best. Sylvie spoke first though, knowing what answer she thought was correct. ”I think space is my suggestion, Lily. You can probably use shadows or paper to do some basic first aid. Bandages of paper, pulling bones back into place with shadows and then holding them there. It wouldnʼt be life saving of course, but perhaps enough to get you to a healer. Certainly, enough to hold off death”

Vivian nodded but her words werenʼt in agreement. ”I donʼt know about that. Healing seems like something that suits you well. Youʼre a very sweet girl Lily and Iʼm sure youʼd love the chance to help others. Healing would be a good way to do that.”

Callisto looked over at Vivian and shook her head. ”Perhaps it would be but healing would likely be a late pick for Lily, after both shadow and paper have been practiced. At that point she would be powerful and could perhaps investigate a bit of light healing magic on the side. It would not need to be a main affinity. Even if it was slow or not quite as good as a full healer, if she has mana to throw at the problem, I do not think it would matter”

*I hadnʼt considered that angle. The idea that healing while good… would be something better to pick up on the side. If you arenʼt directly in combat the mana cost isnʼt as big of a deal. With her robust knowledge of the human body or at the very least the ability to research it she could likely be a decent healing without the affinity. Though… I wonder how much that would limit her to humans. How similar are the other races?

Actually… what does my body look like now inside? Iʼve been cut up enough to know I bleed black. I know I still have bones but not what colour they are… but depending on what my horns are made of… they might be the same colour. If my horns are bone, my bone is black as well. If they are more like fingernails… well then, I donʼt really know what that means considering my fingernails still look normal. Of course, I know I can use them to slice through metal so they canʼt be normal anymore.

I wonder what my stomach looks like? Do I have stomach acid still? No I canʼt. I donʼt use the bathroom anymore and I hardly need to drink anything. Water is a nice thing to have with food… and while food does seem slightly necessary thatʼs exactly how it is. Slightly. Something I could make do without for a while if it was truly necessary.

I have to have lungs at least. I know I still breath, and while I can hold my breath that costs me energy. I can feel my lungs when I breath. I must be missing at least some organs though. I wonder if I have any new ones? Questions that would be hard to answer. Still, it does mean that healing anything that isnʼt human might be an issue if she tries to rely on Earthʼs medical knowledge. Still… I think Callisto has the right idea. Even if she does have to research the biology of other races that sounds like something Lily would do for fun.*

Kat noticed that during her lapse into thoughts all the eyes in the room had turned to her, awaiting her answer. Lily in particular seemed particularly interested in that answer and Kat knew that Lily, in this moment, would almost certainly defer to whatever judgement Kat rendered. *Iʼm glad I thought this through before I spoke instead of as I did.*

”I think Callisto is right. With a lot of mana and probably a bit of research you can manage healing well enough. If you donʼt want to take it as a primary affinity then itʼs probably best you leave it to the side. I do however, think youʼll be rather busy with the three youʼll be picking out so I donʼt think youʼll get to healing for a long long time… but itʼll be an option. Perhaps by then you can even pick it up as an extra affinity somehow,” said Kat

Lily nodded and blushed before looking around the room. To Katʼs eyes she looked to be agonising over a decision. Kat leaned in to ask her what was wrong, but that must have been some sort of a signal to the smaller girl because she leaned over and gave Kat a light peck on the cheek before sliding away ever so slightly. Not actually enough to stop touching Kat, just enough to not be completely pressed against her anymore.

Vivian grinned at the display. ”T-thanks” mumbled Lily. ”I… I think you all made good points and thanks for h-helping my decided Kat. Healing would likely be the m-most interesting to research. Other magic would be cool to look into as well but… youʼre right exploring the main three I chose should be more important. Thatʼs where the core of my combat will be. Iʼll start with paper and refine that. Then Iʼll take up shadow and see how it can fill in the gaps. Then finally Iʼll have space to do things that the other affinities can hardly manage. Even if it might be a bit niche.”