Osmanthus (TWST X F!Zhongli Mc)

❤️07. Studying (mini)

I had already known that none of the supernatural residents of Ramshackle would be sleeping tonight, Xiao and I included.

As such, I had borrowed a few books from the library before we explored campus this morning.

Xiao was currently sitting on the roof of the dorm, having gotten there through the window.

I could tell, as his presence was easier to detect compared to the others of this world.

I retrieved both of the books from the table next to the front door before taking a seat in the lounge.

I had taken a slight interest in the magic of this world, as according to the Mirror, Xiao was capable of it.

And if Xiao was capable of such a feat, then perhaps I would be as well.

Of course, most here would find it unusual for someone to ask how to use magic, so a book was my best option.

Turning the pages, I read at a rather fast pace, memorizing as much as possible.

It seemed that there were various types of magic, ranging from basic, advanced, and master levels.

There were also spells without an attunement to any element, to elemental magic, which did roughly the same thing as a vision would, except there were extra variations.

The variations interested me a bit, as when one had a vision, they could only usually use two or three different abilities with it.

But here, it seemed that anyone with an affinity for it could cast various renditions of the same element, which were considered separate "spells."

Going over the basics of casting, it seemed that to start, you needed to know the name of the spell and picture it in your mind.

That part seemed simple enough.

It gave an example of a simple color changing spell as a practice spell as well.

Looking around a bit, I picked up a flower that had fallen off of one of my plants.

"Make it blue!" I said, as it then faded into a deep blue color.

I hummed in interest at that.

It seemed that I was no longer only capable of adeptal magic and the manipulation of geo, but also this world's typeless magic.

However, what truly interested me was if they had magic akin to the element of Geo.

And, if so, would I be capable of using it?

I had come across an entry about the gemstone pins that everyone seemed to wear here, which said something about "blot."

It seemed that blot was similar to karmic debt, but with some aspects of abyssal corruption thrown into the mix.

Blot was the accumulation of magic residue that, if overexposed to in contact with negative emotions, could transform a mage into a monstrous creature.

It now made sense how, while Xiao's karmic debt was lessened here, it wasn't entirely gone.

It had been substituted for the next closest thing, which was blot.

Though this was merely a theory of mine at best, I had no intention of testing it on him.

But, this raised another question.

Were we, beings from another world, who used foreign energy, also susceptible to blot?

If Xiao's karmic debt adapted to this world, perhaps so too had our powers.

But, in the few instances of using my own, I had felt no difference.

Perhaps asking Xiao about this later would be best.

I sighed as I shut the book, putting it down on the table beside me.

"This world is truly unusual... Perhaps it is best we remain cautious of using our powers until we know more..." I said with a slight frown.

Looking out the window, I saw Xiao was now sitting in a tree in the yard, having moved down from the roof.

No doubt he was keeping watch.

"Old habits do die hard, I suppose..." I said, shaking my head as I sighed.

If I recalled correctly, Xiao had once told me that during his time as a Yaksha, he would often take the role of lookout, as he could get to higher locations easier, and didn't require sleep as much as the others.

That's what he had said anyway.

But I believed he did it out of care for the others, as he saw them like family.

I smiled at the thought.

Xiao was indeed a soft hearted boy deep down. He simply had the exterior appearance of an angry person.

With that thought, I went upstairs to rest until morning.