Re: Life In The Original World From Zero [A Re:Zero Fiction]

Chapter 96: Modern Day Life Graduation Part Ten

A/N: Chapter 96 and part 100!!!! We've made it to 100 parts!!! That's crazy holy shit XD Never thought I would come this far with this fic, but we've done it!!! I'll make this chapter another good one!! Please enjoy!!!

As Beatrice worked on her new idea in the girls' room, Hinata, Aki, and Haruka resumed their magic practice with Puck and Rem on standby. "What you should do now is try lowering the intensity of your magic and increasing the time you hold it. I believe this follows the same logic as your workout trainings in this world. When you are a beginner of something, you improve your performance by starting with lower difficulty but longer periods of time so your body can gradually build up more muscles and get used to the intensity. Practicing magic works the same way. Previously, you tried to push your magic to your limits, which is good as it allowed us to gauge the maximum levels of magic that you can currently control. Now, try again with less mana and take it easy. Just let your bodies feel it and see how long you can maintain magic at lower mana intensity." Puck finished his mini-lecture, and the three nodded in understanding. Spreading out again, the three got into position, and with another cry of the respective incantations, they began their practice.

"Keep it low, keep it low, keep it low...!!!" They heard Hinata mutter as wind started to swirl around his palm. Next to him, Haruka was holding a water sphere in shape, her face showing nothing but concentration. As for Aki, he made one chunk of earth float up to his hands, twirling it around his fingers. About twelve seconds later, Aki and Hinata appeared to be starting to lose control over their magic, and at the seventeenth second, the magic disappeared and they both let out a gasp. Between them, Haruka's water sphere was still there, although the expression on her face told them that she was about to reach her limits too. Twenty five seconds later, her hands gave a twitch, and the water sphere was gone too. "Wow, you're ten seconds longer than before, great job!" Puck said encouragingly. "And you two were able to hold it longer too. Not by much but longer, so that's a good start. Well done." He added to the other two. "Now, hands, please." He gave the order, and the three held out their hands. "Hmmmm, there are still some signs of the rebound, but it looks better now that the intensity is lowered. We should ask Roswaal if your magic at lower intensity could achieve the same synchronizing effects in our next contact." He said after examining their hands. "Puck-san, I have a question." Haruka said, raising her hand, and Puck nodded at her. "You say the Water attribute is the one that can do healing magic, right? Is it possible that I learn it and use it on us as we do the magic?" She said, and Puck shook his head.

"I don't think it's possible. Healing magic is a more advanced form of magic, not suitable for beginners, and with your barely understanding mana and magic and our tight schedule, it is quite impractical to do something like that." Puck answered. "Tsuyumi-san, Rem sympathizes with your intention, but that would be jumping too many steps and going too fast at the same time, ending up a jeopardy to your progress. However, Rem can guide you on getting a better control on your mana. Let us do that instead. What do you say?" Rem said. "Thanks for saying that, Rem-san. I agree, I was trying to go too fast. Let's do that." Haruka agreed. "Yes, minna, I'm a living example. I messed around with magic too hastily and broke my Gate. Don't end up like me, hahaha." Subaru chimed in, laughing, and both Rem and Emilia pinched him on the ears. As Subaru yelped in pain, Aki and Hinata threw another question at Haruka. "How were you able to hold the magic that long though? We did you do differently?" They asked, and Haruka folded her arms. "It was... sorta like pacing your breathing when you're jogging." She tried explaining, and Hinata let out a small sigh. "Ah man I'm not really good at that..." He said with a frown.

"Natsuno-san, Water magic covers life and healing, which means that when the caster matches their mental image with the cycles their body naturally undergo, it improves the magic performed. Wind magic, however, functions outside the bodies of living things, so try forming your mental image based on something external. Try feeling the air around you and the airflow. Picture their movement, and make yourself part of it." Ram explained, and Hinata nodded slowly as he absorbed what she said. "As for Earth," Puck said and Aki focused to him. "It's really what I told you earlier. Earth magic functions within the bodies of all living things, so imagining the control as a part of your muscles, your bones, as the structure that makes up you, is basically the direction you need to go to. I know this concept might be harder to apply to earth and soil, which are non-living things, but when you look at them as a whole, as part of what constructs this world full of living things, it really isn't too different. Try opening up your mind, that would most likely help you improve faster." Puck said, and Aki's mouth was hanging open slightly. "Wow... didn't know it could get this philosophical... I'll try." He said, looking back to the soil that he was practicing with.