A Dark Fantasy Spy

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Flame.

Cleanliness, passion, immortality.

Earth.

Stability, life, roots.

Two opposing forces collide. Sorcery shakes the earth and seizes space, while magic burns the sky and heats the air.

Camila, igniting flames, set the void alight. As Fatima stirred the twisted earth with sand, the fierce blaze was greatly subdued.

Fire and sand, sorcery and magic.

On the battlefield, the magician and the shaman exchanged blows, seeking each other’s weaknesses. The target: their lives.

“Not bad.”

Fatima, entwined with beastmen, pulled her right foot back. As her sorcerous hand struck the ground mixed with concrete and sand, the sand shaped like a serpent lunged forward at a fierce speed.

The quaking debris and writhing earth. As Camila flew up, stepping on an abandoned vehicle, flames erupted from the air.

The shaman nonchalantly dodged the magic.

The earth was the domain and servant of the Earth Element Shaman. The sand did not sit idly by while its master faced peril.

“Impressive skills. You’ve got guts. But is that all there is?”

A provocation that pricked at pride followed. Like a surfer riding a wave, Fatima’s lips began to trace a line across the sand.

Camila said nothing.

“……”

Curved fingers. Four fingers from the index to the pinky were gently covered by the thumb.

Dipping her fingertips in water, she adopted a posture to flick droplets away—a gesture reminiscent of foolish children’s pranks.

Yet, there wasn’t a hint of mischief in Camila’s expression.

With bent fingers, she extended her arm and aimed.

The playful gesture belied a serious attitude, and to prove her sincerity, the magic power contained at her fingertips was formidable.

She inhaled, drawing in magic, and exhaled, casting the air out. Magic flowed like a river.

A flurry of flames was shot forth in a fan shape.

Episode 16 – The Six-Million Dollar Man

A bright red light illuminated the world. It was flame infused with scorching heat.

Fire alone instills awe, instilling fear in those who behold it.

But what’s truly terrifying is not the fire itself.

-KWOOM!

A chunk of shattered concrete hurtled through the flames and smashed the vehicle. The ground swelled beneath the contorted blue car, and tons of metal floated into the air.

Sand slipped through the cracks of the split iron plates, tickling the nose. As she covered her nose and mouth with cloth and grimaced, laughter filled the air. Camila sidestepped to the left and hurled a fireball into the thick dust.

Hair down to her shoulders danced in the air. The chilly desert wind wiped away the sweat, covering her skin in tiny particles.

Though her movements weren’t extravagant, the magic was powerful. The flames sprouting from her fingertips illuminated the darkness and swiftly chased her target.

She missed.

“Ha!”

The shaman glided over the ground. The sand enveloping her foot shifted, steering her away from the flames. The debris that rose up blocked the incoming fire.

The shaman, leisurely dodging attacks, wore a smile. As if the situation itself was delightful.

The matchup was unfavorable. Of all elements, sand. Even Camila’s fierce flames faltered when they met the shaman’s sand. Unlike water-affiliated shamans, Earth Element Shamans had reached a supremely high level.

As the shaman waved her hand, immense amounts of dirt and sand surged forth. The scattered soil was richly soaked with groundwater.

Camila’s gaze darkened as she observed this.

Conscious of that gaze, Fatima smirked.

“What’s wrong? Not going as smoothly as you hoped? You seem unfocused.”

And it was true.

Camila was all too aware that she couldn’t concentrate.

She exerted even more effort to gather her dispersing focus. Yet, she still could not reach her target.

“Huff—”

Inhaling, she gathered her magic. The natural magic that had entered the air flowed into her body.

Oxygen transported along her veins. In a similar motion, the magic within her seeped along an intangible path.

She steadied her mind.

Like morning dew on her fingertips, magic gathered at her tips.

With her thumb pressed down on her finger, she flicked—

“…Bang.”

An explosion shot out in a fan shape.

Light flooded the space where darkness had receded. A dazzling flash and a ferocious intensity.

The shaman was unsteadily wavering within the shadow.

Fatima clenched her teeth and struck her hands together.

‘Damn it!’

The flames that tore through the air surged towards her.

The deepening darkness and the flickering radiant flash. The advancing fire produced a dance of light and shadow. The sorcery birthed from her grasp splattered deep hues across a world laden with shadows.

As if an earthquake struck, the ground began to sway.

Debris poured down while the earth heaved. Just before the soaring flames reached her, Fatima, barely completing her sorcery, could see the towering column of fire rising high into the sky.

*

There were various methods to enhance the power of magic.

A prime example was the amount and purity of magic power.

‘The power of magic varies greatly depending on the quantity and purity of the injected magic. Let’s look at an example.’

With a twirl, a small flame blossomed from her palm. The magician had conjured up a red flame. Observing this, the woman began to chant her magic.

The flames birthed from her hand were not significantly different from the magician’s. At least, in terms of size, both flames were similar.

However, one burned with a dark red hue, while the other blazed in blue; Camila, possessing scientific knowledge that the flame burning brightest is less hot than the fainter blue flame, clapped her knees in realization.

‘It’s like the difference between premium and regular gas. Am I right?’

‘……’

‘…Or not?’

The instructor, stunned by her disciple’s words, lamented.

It was rather disheartening to have the profound principles of the greatest academic theory—the truths and rationalities of the world—compared to something sold at a gas station. Yet, it wasn’t outright incorrect, so she chose to let it slide.

‘Indeed. Even if it’s the same type of magic, the power varies depending on the amount and purity of magic injected. Just like how premium gasoline enhances fuel efficiency.’

Duchess Alexandra Petrovna took in Camila, who had no background in magic.

Teaching a student with absolutely no background would usually cause reluctance even in the most decent of instructors, but the duchess willingly shared everything with her from the ground up.

Though she spent most of her time teaching the fundamental aspects of academia, the most valuable lessons transpired beyond the classroom.

Resolving curious minds was the duchess’s highest priority.

Learning without questioning cannot truly be called learning, and blind adherence blinds the eyes and ears.

Thus, whenever Camila rushed in, books in hand, to ask about something she didn’t understand, the duchess would always respond with a smile, no matter the time or place.

In fact, there were days when, if Camila hadn’t asked any questions, the duchess would come visit before bed, asking if she had anything on her mind; she could indeed be described as quite enthusiastic about education. Or perhaps a doting old person fond of a girl who was effectively her great-granddaughter.

Regardless, the time spent teaching and learning magic brought satisfaction to everyone involved. Both Camila, who studied, and Alexandra Petrovna, the duchess who taught her.

One day, however, the duchess received a peculiar question from her disciple.

‘Professor.’

‘What is it?’

‘Are there other ways to enhance the power of magic? Excluding the amount and purity of magic, of course.’

The duchess pondered for a moment at the question.

It wasn’t because Camila asked something too obvious. She understood that what was self-evident to her might not be to a child.

Rather, she couldn’t grasp the intent behind the question.

‘Talking about the power of magic, I don’t know exactly which spell you’re referring to, but if we’re discussing magic meant for combat, then…’

The Archmage closed her eyelids, her thoughts trailing off.

‘It’s definitely emotions.’

The age of knights and heroes had drawn to a close.

The era of magic and science began to unfold, and the mysteries began to unveil.

Divine, magical, mystical. Things deemed beyond human comprehension started to be deconstructed at the foot of intellect.

Magic, once the domain of magicians, had seamlessly woven itself into the fabric of society. A world had arrived where even non-magi could utilize magic by leveraging machinery.

People referred to it as Magical Tools.

‘To enhance the power of magic infused in a Magical Tool is to increase the quantity and quality of the magic. So we develop batteries that can contain more magic and purer magic with superior magic stones. On the other hand, the best way to boost the power of magic wielded by a non-mechanic is emotions.’

‘Emotions?’

‘Yes. Emotions.’

Joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, love, hate, desire. The seven emotions possessed by humans.

The duchess explained how these could serve as the driving force for a magician to wield even more potent spells.

‘Learning and experience are crucial for enhancing magical prowess. A building constructed without a foundation will collapse even from the slightest breeze. However, my child, merely knowing a lot doesn’t make for an excellent magician. No matter how desperate and painful the situation, one must have the will to take another step forward.’

Camila asked.

‘Um… Do I have such will?’

‘Of course. Everyone possesses will. I’m sure you will too.’

‘I’m not sure. It feels rather distant, if I’m being honest.’

My child.

A gentle voice tickled her ear, and a warm hand rested upon her head.

The Archmage smiled softly as she placed her hand on the magician’s head.

‘You must be troubled by something.’

*

Crossing her thumbs and clapping her palms together echoed a sound beneath the earth, and the walls came rushing forward from the front and back.

-KWARUNG!

Camila barely leaped out of range of the shaman’s magic. The walls, charging to crush her, collided.

Bricks and dust flew everywhere. She spun her wrist and hurled flames high into the sky.

Whoosh! The elongated red tail trailed as the flames erupted in a parabola.

“…!”

Fatima quickly stooped as she saw the magic coming towards her.

With a crunch, the sand crumbled and she sank halfway into it. In the blink of an eye, the ground collapsed, forming a pit.

The sand pushed aside from the excavation took the shape of a hemisphere, enveloping the pit. Just then, the flames pouring from the sky collided with the sandy roof.

“Phhht!”

The shaman, emerging from the pit, spat out the sand that had entered her mouth.

Though she suffered a gunshot wound to her abdomen, she remained calm. The source of her composure wasn’t her own skill, but rather her understanding of her opponent’s limitations.

“Getting tough, huh?”

It was a question directed at the magician. The shaman added.

“You’ve been throwing out magic like there’s no tomorrow since the start, but it seems like your speed suddenly dropped at some point. The intensity too.”

Her slender fingers began to tremble.

A smile curved on the shaman’s lips.

“Running low on magic power?”

Her fingers—no, her whole hand, were shaking. Her arms trembled slightly, and her legs that supported her body shivered minutely.

The initial symptoms of magic depletion.

Understanding Camila’s condition, Fatima replenished her magical power and brought her palms together, rotating her wrists.

“Your skills are good but it seems you’re inexperienced. You threw magic around without knowing your own condition.”

“……”

“Then you should have considered what would come after using your magic.”

It was unclear whether it was intentional psychological warfare or mere mockery. Fatima continuously provoked her.

Camila gazed at her opponent through bleary eyes. To be precise, she looked beyond the shaman to a person who was now far across the sea.

She asked.

‘Am I troubled by something?’

‘Troubled? Me?’

The mystical silver hair and blue eyes. The duchess, her eyes sparkling like sapphires, bent slightly with a smile.

‘Yes. I’m talking about you.’

-Whoosh!

Flames flickered and sand danced. The sand, under the shaman’s control, approached from below. The ground writhed and flame beams scattered like raindrops onto the writhing surface.

Fatima clicked her tongue and rejoined her thumbs.

‘Um… Well… I don’t really have anything to be troubled about?’

‘Do you truly believe that?’

‘Yes.’

‘Really?’

-BANG!

A fist imbued with sorcery slammed against the wall. The fist, cloaked in a sinister hue, struck the exterior wall, causing cracks to sprout.

Magic seeped through the cracks. The foundation of the building resembled a Jenga tower.

While both Jenga and a building shared the characteristic of being prone to collapse, the difference was size.

The shaman, bound by beastmen, whispered her incantation, swinging her arm wide to strike the splintered building.

In that moment, jagged pieces of concrete shattered above Camila’s head and began to tumble down.

-KUUUUUUU…!!

Camila rolled on the ground, narrowly escaping death. However, the shaman’s aim wasn’t her demise.

As the building crumbled and dust swirled, visibility was obliterated. Camila, risen from the debris, frantically scanned her surroundings, but her opponent was already close by.

“I found you.”

With her legs buried in sand, the shaman traversed the debris like a snake’s head with a person riding atop.

Having made her way over the building, the shaman locked eyes with the magician. Unlike earlier, when she was agile and evasive, now, the girl stood completely still.

This time, she could definitely catch her.

The shaman wore a deep smile as she dismantled the sorcery encapsulating her feet in the sand. Gathering her hands, she began reciting a new spell.

“…….”

Her body did not move.

To be precise, it moved very slowly. As if she were trapped in the flow of time.

Falling dust and debris, sand trickling down the slopes like a valley stream, flickering sparks, fingers intertwined slowly.

Amidst the glacial passage of time, Camila gently closed her eyes. And the memories awakened.

Long ago, the duchess had asked her a question.

‘My child. What do you fear?’

The blue eyes dimmed out of sight.

Camila parted her lips.