(37) This Would Be The Beginning

“You are slacking,” Nephthys declared.

“Huh?” Tara replied lamely, more concerned with weaving through the crowd than listening to what Nephthys was saying.

People parted like water around a stone for Nephthys, yet she had to slither through those same people like a snake.

“I have been using minor magic this whole day, yet you have never once identified even the castings, let alone the spells,” she said, glancing at Tara over her shoulder.

“…You want me to circulate mana? Right now?” Tara questioned, likely thinking she had inferred incorrectly.

“I want you to be cycling it always, not just right now. It must become like breathing to you. Without constant use, it becomes a catch-22. You cannot see magic without circulating mana, but you will not know there is magic to see unless you are already doing it,” Nephthys explained.

“What’s a catch-22?” Tara asked, her head tilted slightly.

“Go on. Circulate your mana. I will wait so you can focus,” Nephthys said, stopping suddenly.

People continued to flow around her, but now they cast annoyed glances at the pair as they did so.

Tara looked around, probably embarrassed about the situation, which was good. This would be good practice for using magic while under pressure. The heat of battle was not the only time when casting could become difficult.

“You, there! I’ve finally found you! I saw you in the guild! I know you’re strong!” a man called, growing closer as he bellowed.

“I challenge you to—” he called.

Vrump!

The man vanished, the sudden opening in the crowd the only indication he had been there to begin with.

He can use the walk back to town to reconsider his priorities. Should take about twenty minutes.

“Did you just…teleport someone?” Tara asked, wearing an inscrutable expression.

Nephthys’ head snapped to her, and she looked Tara straight in the eyes.

“You would have seen for yourself had you begun circulating when I instructed,” she chided, making a sort of ‘hurry up’ gesture.

“Circulate mana…sound so easy…” Tara grumbled, closing her eyes to concentrate.

The corners of Nephthys’ mouth twitched. She had always enjoyed training new employees. This was somewhat similar, but she did not need to be as guarded as she was at her job. There was no HR to come down on her for swearing in front of customers or any other such trivialities.

Not that she derided HR. However, she had always hated the imbalance between customers screaming obscenities at her while she had to bite her tongue.

Tara’s eyes opened, and though they looked unchanged to normal sight, Nephthys could see a slight glow in them. Tara seemed to be making progress, as an external mana manifestation likely indicated an intense concentration in her eyes.

She would have to work on that, eventually. It was a little obvious, but that was a problem for later. Make the thing work first; refine it later.

Nephthys nodded as she turned, starting forward again. She walked in silence for a few minutes, allowing Tara time to acclimate to walking through the crowd while concentrating. She bumped into a few people, but she was doing well overall.

“Ah!” Tara suddenly squeaked.

“Hmm? Try words and sentences, dear,” Nephthys replied.

She could not help but rib the girl. She was doing so well, but she was fun to tease.

“I-magic-you…” Tara stuttered.

She took a deep breath and walked in silence for a few seconds, gathering her thoughts.

“I saw the magic you used. I couldn’t tell what it was, but it went up. You shot it up above you,” she said carefully.

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