General Mahamatra in Villains World

Chapter 2 🦁: Magift's Meeting

"*knock* *knock* Head mage, please excuse us." As the group enters Crowley's office. "Ah. Thank you all for coming. I'll get to the point. Now that the Heartslabyul incident is behind us... I wanted to give you a proper debriefing on the matter. To become mages, you must fully understand the malady that befell Mr. Rosehearts." Crowley spoke with a serious tone. "You called it 'overblot', right?" Deuce asks. "Yes, that is correct."

"My aniki told me a little about that. He said that could happen to anyone who builds up too much blot. Sound like Cater was pretty much on the nose with 'berserker mode.'" Ace provided some additional information about the overblot, but it still doesn't fully explain why an ordinary person can transform into a monstrous being with unlimited power that can ultimately result in their demise. "Yeah, but what is 'blot', anyway?" Grim asks. 

"Ah, indeed. For your and Cyno-san's sake, it would behoove us to start with the basics. I shall teach you all you need to know. Charity, thy name is Crowley!" Cyno gives him a 'friendly' look, causing him to sweat a little bit. "*Ahem* Now, 'blot' is a form of waste that is created as a byproduct of using magic. Just as cars run on gasoline, and in the process expel dangerous gases as exhaust... Casting spells consumes magical energy, and in the process, expels blot. Research into the nature of blot has been conducted since time immemorial. And yet, we still understand little about it. All we know for sure is that it is terrifically toxic, and excessive amounts can wreak havoc on a mage's mind and body."

"I guess that's why Baa-chan was always naggin' me to not overdo it with the magic, huh? Here I thought she just didn't want me to break stuff." Ace comments, Crowley then continues his explanation: "Power and peril are two sides of the same coin. Even the greatest of mages cannot cast spell after spell without consequence."

"So you're telling' me I'm gonna get sick if I keep usin' magic whenever I want!?" Grim is shocked to realize that magic is an everyday tool used to display one's strength. Cyno can't fathom the consequences if magic were to vanish. "Not necessarily. Hm. Perhaps a demonstration would prove more efficient than a mere explanation. Ghost, assemble! I have a job for you!" A ghost suddenly appears next to Ace making him startle a little bit: "Huzzah! You summoned us, Headmage?" 

"Would you be so kind as to help me put these young students through their paces?" Crowley asks the ghosts. "T-this seems like a bad idea," Deuce says still unsure about the decision of the headmage. "Yeah, okay. We'll go around or two with 'em." Cyno just gives them a glare making them sweat a little starting to think if this is a good idea or not. "Now, students, beside Cyno-san, ready your magical pens. Prepare to receive a special lesson from your headmage!" As the ghosts approach, the trio readies themselves for battle, with Cyno standing by, arms crossed in amusement at their familiarity with such encounters.

.

.

.

.

.

~ 7749 spells later ~

"Hey, Headmage, what's the deal? What do fightin' ghosts get to do with blot?" Grim asks angrily. "Direct your attention to the magestone on your collar, Grim-kun," Crowley says ignoring Grim fuse. "Ffgna!? My magestone looks all grungy now... FFGNA!? It won't rub off!"

"Precisely. That's what happens when you use your magic. That inky black stain is the byproduct spellcasting known as 'blot'." Crowley explains that, so Cyno's hypothesis was correct, the magestone acts like a limitation of a mage's magic. "Is there a way to get rid of it?" Cyno who has been silent the whole time asks Crowley. "There is," Crowley answers making the trio sigh in relief. "With sufficient rest, blot will vanish from your magestone. This is why a magestone is so valuable to magic users. Not only does it aid your casting, but it also serves as a lightning rod of sorts, to prevent blood from accumulating within the caster."