That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Overpowered Elf (Tensura x OC)

(2) Spiritual Bindings

The days passed as I traveled in and out of the library. Aria had allowed me to check out books to bring home, so long as I didn't forget to return them or damage them. Because of this, I was able to practice magic at home in the backyard. I started with the element that I'd been introduced to at the library: Fire.

I'd found myself learning far more from experience and experimentation than simply reading. Was it dangerous? Absolutely. Fire typically isn't something that's meant to be toyed with, but with Nereid breathing down my neck at every turn, any incidents were swiftly dealt with before a verbal assault from the water spirit (which I didn't pay attention to).

Speaking of Nereid, after getting dowsed in water for perhaps the 20th time that week, I got an idea. Water was an element, so perhaps I could learn to use it as well. I turned to Nereid while she was in the middle of her annoyed muttering and glaring and asked her if she could show me how she does it. But that just got me more intense glaring, so I opted to learn on my own.

I tried to manifest water in the same way that I did fire, but nothing came to me.

'The embodiment of an idea...'

Water is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance... What kind of idea does that generate though?

A transparent, tasteless and odorless liquid...

At that, I felt an blob form in my hand. I'd successfully summoned water.

'Now, on a larger scale...'

I then remembered the first instance of magic that I'd witnessed. The bubble that Nereid created.

'So maybe if I...'

I slowly expanded the blob, till eventually I was holding onto the side of a sphere of water dozens of times larger than myself.

'YES~!!'

I celebrated my success, of course, but that ended once I realized that the orb had yet to disappear, and in my rejoice I'd let go of the orbs side.

It was then I learned that the water was not weightless, and the second I released it, it plopped to the ground and burst... not really. It did burst, but before it could spread out across the kingdom Nereid used her own magic to return it to its spherical shape.

"I will admit, it's surprising that you could muster up something like this, more so without a chant. The amount of magicules expended is impressive. Where is all of it stored, I wonder."

That was the first time that something Nereid said interested me. I'd read about these 'Magicules', and understood that it was the energy expended when a spell is cast, as well as the building blocks of spiritual and demonic life, but past that it was a mystery. I'd also been wondering about chants. Obviously, it was a phrase necessary to cast magic, but I'd succeeded in casting my spells without one.

Chantless casting is typically a characteristic of Spiritual Magic, but the magic I'd been using thus far was Elemental. Another mystery that I aim to uncover.

"Radriel?"

Aria's voice called from inside the house. Her voice grew louder as she approached, eventually making her way to the backyard, a cheerful smile on her face.

"Oh, there you are El--- Uh...!!"

Her expression shifted as she looked up at the giant orb of water suspended in the air by Nereid.

"Hello Aria."

"Nereid, would you mind explaining to me, WHAT THE HECK IS THIS ABOUT?!"

"It appears that your spawn is rather proficient with magic. As of now, he has proven capable of both Fire and Water magic."