Chapter 8: Open the Gateway to Another World!
Chapter 8: Open the Gateway to Another World!
"Good morning, Mira, Laki."
When Rod arrived at the guild, Mira and Laki were already busy wiping down the tables. Even though they had cleaned them the night before, they still needed another wipe before the guild opened for business.
"Good morning, Rod."
Mira's smile was as bright as ever. "And please, drop the formalities. Just call me Mira, like everyone else."
"Same here, call me Laki," Laki added.
"Mira, Laki?" Rod tried the names out, speaking politely. "I hope it's not too presumptuous."
Mira corrected him, "This situation doesn't call for the word 'presumptuous' yet."
Laki, cradling her face with her hands, her purple hair covering half of them, looked almost narcissistic. "Maybe Rod is treating us like princesses or queens?"
Rod quickly denied, "Sorry, that's not the case."
After helping out a bit, Rod sat at the bar and enjoyed his breakfast—plain milk and a sandwich. It was much cheaper than the curry he had yesterday, but it tasted great. It might have been his imagination, but the same food seemed to taste better when he was hungrier.
While leaning on the bar and enjoying his breakfast, Rod watched as more members of the guild trickled in. The fashion in this world was incredibly diverse, ranging from Chinese cheongsams and mandarin jackets to Japanese kimonos and yukatas, and even European dresses and tuxedos. Modern, simple, and casual outfits like the one Rod was wearing were also common.
There were also some quite unique outfits. For example, a pretty girl with a pair of horns on her head, wearing a tiger-striped, high-slit dress, tiger-striped arm warmers, and tiger-striped boots with claw-shaped soles. She looked like a small tiger with horns, exuding a wild beauty.
"That's Miji, Miji Kijintiger," Mira introduced. "She has the nickname 'Ghost Princess.'"
"Ah?"
"Rod has been staring at her since she came in. Could it be that you're …" Mira's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she suggested, "Miji loves fighting. If you're interested, why not challenge her to a match? If you win, she'll definitely look at you differently."
"No, that's not it …" Rod had to think for a moment to organize his thoughts. "I just find her outfit unusual, and … aren't we all mages? Why would she love fighting?"
Mira looked puzzled. "Don't mages specialize in combat?"
"Ma—"
Rod fell silent. Was it his understanding that was off? Reflecting on his time in the guild, he realized that fights often broke out, with people landing punches and kicks.
Yesterday, he even saw the guild master punch two guys who had overturned a table, embedding them into the floor.
Could it be that the mages in this world follow a warrior-like path, mixing magic with physical combat?
The morning at the guild was usually not too busy. Once Makarov arrived, Rod began his first magic lesson.
"Generally speaking, to use magic, you need something called magic power."
"Magic power is a special kind of 'energy' that exists both within our bodies and throughout nature."
"When the energy within our bodies resonates with the energy in nature, magic manifests."
"To achieve this, you need a considerable amount of mental strength and focus …"
Since Rod knew nothing about magic, Makarov had to start from the very basics.
As for the more profound theories—about emotions, the soul, and the power of the ‘heart’—those will have to wait until Rod’s magical training reaches a certain level, or until he discovers them on his own.
“Do I have magic power inside me?” Rod had always been worried about this, considering he wasn’t even from this world.
Fortunately, Makarov reassured him, “Of course you do, it’s just not very noticeable yet.”
“Ordinary people find it difficult to discover and enhance the ‘energy’ within them. Generally, the method used is meditation.”
“However, in your case, you can start by feeling the magic through another method.”
Rod asked, “What do I need to do?”
“First, focus your attention on the pendant. Try to call to it from your heart. Then, try the spell I’ve adapted from Celestial Magic.”
Makarov taught Rod the spell, word by word, and Rod repeated it like a parrot.
“Now that you’ve memorized it, give it a try.”
“Here?” Rod looked around the guild hall, worried about his comrades, “Will it cause trouble?”
Makarov replied, “Don’t worry. With your current magic power, you won’t be able to summon anything too powerful, and even if you could, you wouldn’t be able to sustain it.”
“…” Rod didn’t like that answer at all.
But since the Master said it was fine, he decided to go ahead.
He gripped the pendant, staring intently at the golden and blue emblem. After a few seconds, he felt a genuine connection to it.
Rod quickly recited the spell, “I am the one who bridges the realms. You, creature of another world, answer my call and cross the threshold!”
The pendant emitted a golden and blue glow, and magic began to gather in the air. Rod clenched the pendant and shouted the final words:
“Open, gateway to another world!”
A deep, resonant sound filled the air, and a swirling vortex of blue light appeared in front of Rod, shimmering with specks of starlight.
Through the vortex, one could feel the cold air and hear the howling wind from another world.
In the midst of this cold and eerie atmosphere, a figure leaped out from the vortex.
The magical light and sound drew the attention of most of the guild members.
It must be a powerful and cold creature! Everyone thought so, and Rod thought so too.
But when the vortex disappeared, all that appeared on the ground was a palm-sized, fluffy white object.
“Wulu?” The little creature made a curious sound, seeming a bit confused.
But soon its gaze fixed on Rod, and it wagged its long pink tongue, waddling over to him on its short legs and hugging his leg.
Rod was a bit stunned. He looked at the small, fluffy ball and felt a sense of familiarity. He bent down to pick it up and examine it closely.
Black, beady eyes, a round, plump body, and woolly white fur like a sheep. It had a pair of curved horns on its head and a long tongue like a puppy.
Rod placed it on the counter and gently patted its head. The little creature purred contentedly, flipping over to reveal a heart-shaped pink belly.
“Poro?” Rod recognized the cute little creature from his time in the Howling Abyss.
“Wulu~” The little Poro’s voice was filled with joy, as if it had found its new meal ticket.
Rod: “…”
The creature summoned by this magic was not what he had expected at all!
(End of Chapter)
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