The Adventures of Big Hat Ryan X -The End of a Trilogy- Collapse of a Nation

Chapter 2 -The Most In-Depth Explanation of Practical Magic in the World!!!-

"I hope you're ready..." Big Hat Ryan uncaps his blue expo marker and begins to draw a magic circle on the board while Resferia looks on intently just a short distance away, pen and notebook in hand.

"Now then, what is magic?"

"The channeling of spiritual energy through living beings."

"True, but if that's the case, why is it that only a select few can wield magic?"

"What do you mean? It was my understanding that everyone is capable of using it."

"Oh, what, yeah you're right actually... where was I even going with that?"

"Jeez are you going to teach me anything or what?"

"Um... so yes everyone is capable of conjuring magical power, for it is in fact an innate power to all living being; however, it takes skill, delicacy, and an active understanding of the craft to effectively wield it. What's more, is the user's ability for intricate creativity." He taps his pen on the board. "This here magic circle is a pentagram, a five sided magic circle, allowing for five outputs of magical energy. There exists two conduits for magical energy: the voice and the magic circle."

"First off, we'll explore the voice. There are 277 total words for magical incantation. Each of these words are tied to a specific magical energy; therefore, a chant is something like putting together a puzzle. Before we go any further, I trust you know all of the schools of magic."

"Yes! Fire, water, earth, wind, electrical, dark, light, and restorative. There is also neutral magic which is the basis for most sorceries. It contains no discernable elements and is thought to be the channeling of pure magical energy."

"Yes, yes. In any case, we can separate those 277 words in schools of magic. Words starting in a are that neutral magic, v is light, t is electrical, z is dark, m—wind, d—fire, e—water, and f is restorative. Combining these words in a chant is the basis of spell creation. Combining them with respect to their schools is the basis of advance spell creation. Furthermore, combining individual words with respect to their magical energy compatibility is the basis of catastrophic spell efficiency."

"I see. I've never learned that before."

"Haha, but of course. I'm the only one advanced enough as to know the intricacies of combining the words on the basis of the energy."

"Let's start with neutral magic... Al is a common word used in spells. Because its compatibility with almost every spell word, it serves as a means to link parts, especially those of different schools. So take this spell here: Aem Aies alem al, dix drei dreum." A sword of pure magical energy clad in a blanket of flames is summoned into Big Hat Ryan's hand with a small magical circle.

"I see, you used al to perfectly combine the two states of neutral and fire magic."

"Precisely. The other words help to make up the magical behavior of the spell. For example, Aies is the word for a sharp magical behavior, hence the formation of the sword while dreum is the word for wrapping which is why the flames surrounded the blade."

"But how do you know the syntax of the spell? Do you just throw the words with the desired effects together?"

"Oh no, not in the slightest. The spell must be compatible all around; as such, it is often the case that certain words are used for cancellation. Observe: Aies alem Aem al, dix drei dreum." The magic sword is reconjured, however this time the flames are much larger and rampant, disrupting the base neutral magic that makes of the blade. "The words Aies and drei are more effective in correspondence as opposed to alem and drei."

"I see... there's much more to magic than I would've thought."

"Oh and this is barely scratching the surface. After memorizing the properties and compatibilities of each word, you'll have to be able to understand the physical chemistry of magic to create better efficiency." Big Hat Ryan produces a book from his coat. "Here you are, 700 pages detailing the properties of each individual word... and you thought I was being negligent; I've spent all that time compiling this."

"Ahh! Another book!?"

"So is the life of the scholarly mage," he laughs hysterically at her misfortune. "Once you memorize that entire book, we'll have our next lesson, but first I'll teach you the basics of magic circles."

"Oh the little intricacies. While one may summon the properties and forms of magic with their voice, a spell will not work unless the mage conjures an equally resonant magic circle. However, there are trillions of symbols to which a magic circle could use. The basis is the amount of points. Five words, five points; simple enough?" Resferia nods. "Zwei zechi al, due deci." So a contained black flame is summoned into Big Hat Ryan's hand.

"Dark and fire magic!"

Big Hat Ryan draws a magic circle with a perfect square inside on the white board. "This spell contains four sides."

"But why, there were five words weren't there?"

"Yes, however, since al combines the two properties, it is omitted as a point and therefore..." he draws another square inside of the first, connecting the four vertices of the inner to each side of the outer. "Al is this entire inner portion. This is the base form for that incantation, but for a more effective, stable, and powerful version, there are thousands of millions of other parts that can be added."

"Don't tell me..."

Big Hat Ryan smiles and begins laughing. "That's right." From his coat he pulls out another thick book, with so many pages it looks to be an accordion.

"How did you even fit that in your coat!?"

"Magic?"

"Hmm—?"

"So yeah, you should probably memorize that one too."

"Is that even possible!? There's at least a million pages in here and that's not even a hyperbole!"

"Well, if you have any questions, you know where to find me."

"Huh! No I don't! The only time I ever see you is when you happen to teleport in front of me. It's impossible to find you; you're the most elusive man in the entire kingdom."

Hewalks out the door with a smile. "Class dismissed."