It's Pretty Damn Efficient

Mama never really learned how to live by herself

Lucas, after calling Athanasia sad (that still kind of offends her), decided to drag her all over the kingdom to speedrun her first day off.

They had done knitting, sewing, pottery, acting, yoga, karaoke (they were kicked out of the local tavern for that one), croquet (which Lucas struggled greatly in), and now, they were practicing the big bad of the hobbies Lucas laid out.

"None of the others caught your attention," he huffed. "This was a last resort, because I was 90% sure you would use it for work."

"I will neither disagree nor agree with your statement." Athanasia popped her fingers, before sighing. "What's next?"

"Magic."

Oh.

This will be interesting.

Magic, to Athanasia's understanding, is fairly complex. Originally, she had none, leading her to simply ignore it.

But something seems to change, every time.

That is still something to think about.

"So, to start, we need to meditate." Grunting, Lucas sat down on the ground. "Magic has a lot to do with divination, the stars, and your inner body. Your magic and mana will reflect your current state of mind."

Athanasia hummed, sitting down next to the magician and closing her eyes. She, admittedly, has no clue what she's doing.

Mana, she chants in her mind. Magic, magical powers that came with dying, please show yourself.

~

Upon opening her eyes, Athanasia finds herself in a pitch-black void on a wooden deck. It looks nothing like Lucas's- although he said so himself that it wouldn't.

Everyone's different, fool. He had said. It's not going to look the same.

Walking over to the railing surrounding the deck, Athanasia stared up at the white disc floating in the sky. It didn't look like the moon, instead like a light that's failing to do its only job.

Looking backwards, she finds herself taking in her surroundings. It looked a bit like the luxury boats she had occasionally seen floating in the harbor as Amaryllis.

Glancing back at what she assumed to be the open sea, Athanasia frowned. It's terrifying, and so empty.

Who knew what could be in there?

Athanasia closes her eyes.

~

Opening her eyes once more, Athanasia yelps and jumps up. Effectively headbutting Lucas.

"OW! Fu- why?!" Lucas recoils, groaning and holding his forehead.

Athanasia snorts. "You'll live."

The magician grumbles angrily. "Yeah, doesn't stop it from hurting though. Did you even see anything?"

The deck.

The pitch-black sea.

"No, not anything noteworthy."

~

Lucas was absolutely right.

Athanasia has been passing out for multiple hours at a time, trying to make sense of the evernight that is her mana.

It's gotten to the point where all her coworkers, and Felix, are concerned.

("Athy, my darling daughter, are you alright?"

"Felix??")

And yet nothing ever changes. It remains a void, with nothing except that deck there to keep Athy ashore. As if something horrible will happen if she jumps over the railing into the extent of her magic.

Athanasia is too scared to jump, for it will feel too much like the death she is well too acquainted with.

~

Anastacius looked outside of his window.

"How are you feeling?"

The man scowled, turning towards his captor. "I think you know fully well how I feel right now."