Chapter 6: Lay Waste To The World With A Spark / The Forest

They left the party and walked around the gardens.

“Hey, look. A forest.” Evan said

“I know what all of us are thinking, let’s just go check it out.” Suika said, grinning

“Hold on, give me a second to change my clothes. This dress isn't exactly the best choice of clothing to explore in.” Lime said

Evan had pulled items from his inventory and put others back in

“How exactly did you do that?” Lay asked, pointing at the giant circular hole which Evan was taking things out of.

“Wait, lay, what family are you from?” Evan asked

“The Rize family. They aren’t very famous or important. My dad is just friends with the lady of this house. She gives him invitations to certain parties and stuff. She’s like an aunt to me.” Lay said

“Huh. Seems fine to tell you, I guess.” Evan said

“What? Is it some sort of secret that I have to promise to keep or something? If so, I am most definitely not the one you should tell.” Lay said, forming an x with his hands and shaking his head

“It’s not that, it’s just that it's not common knowledge....fine... not many people know about it, but it is okay to know about. Does that make more sense?” Evan said

“Oh, In that case it doesn’t matter too much, yeah.” Lay said

“Well, it’s magic.” Evan said

He made a fireball hover above his hand.

“Cool, right?” Evan asked

“Uh... huh. Hold up, lemme try something.” Lay said, studying the fireball.

He successfully made a large spark appear in his hand.

“Darn. Thought I could do it.” Lay said

“No, that's impressive, Lay. Did you do that instinctively?” Evan asked

“I... have absolutely no idea what that word means. I slack off when I study.” Lay said

“Oh, right. Basically, did you just try to use that feeling that you probably got when I conjured the fire to make a spark?” Evan asked

“Um.... Uhhh... Yeah, I guess so.” Lay said

“Huh, that’s cool. Lay, give me your hand for a second.” Evan said

Evan checked his mana valves

“Wow, your mana valves are naturally in perfect working condition. I guess it’s not too surprising that you could do that, then.” Evan said

“Meaning?” Lay asked

“You can use magic. Only If you train, though.” Evan said

“Wait, seriously? I can use magic? Dude, sweet!...........wait…..How do I do that?” Lay asked

“Hm. Lay, what middle school are you going to?” Evan asked

“There’s like, only one public middle school and one public high school in the entire area, which one do you think I’m going to.” Lay said

“Perfect. We’re going there, too. We were going to train once we got into middle school.” Evan said

“Aw, man. So I have to wait, what, six years to practice?” Lay asked

“Kinda. In these six years, if you want to practice real magic, you will be training your body. I’m also going to be helping you guys with feeling and storing mana.” Evan said

“Storing? What about releasing it?” Lay asked

“That’s for actual magic practice. Stockpiling it for 6 years will give you quite a large max mana capacity, as well as storing quite a lot of it in the process.....stockpiling means increasing, Lay.” Lime said

“Huh? Why did lime answer?” Lay asked

“My husband is horrible at explaining things.” Lime said

“Hold on. Your what?” Lay asked

“My husband. Evan. That person right there.” Lime said

“I-I...what?” Lay asked

“Lizzy told me this solid piece of advice. Just pretend you never heard it.” Suika said

“But… wait, why is it considered wrong?” Lay asked, thinking really hard

“Dunno.” Suika said, shrugging

"It has to do with genetics, but it doesn't apply to vampires, so it's a moot point for us. Unfortunately, due to traditions and customs of normal humans rooting deeply with vampires, the same scrutiny applies in our species. Basically, for us theres literally no problems other than the fact people think it's wrong. Otherwise, it's complete stupidity to fall in love with family, I admit. Which is why it's seen as wrong in the first place....blah blah blah blah." Evan rambled on

"What did any of that mean?" Lay asked

"I agree with lay, I understood none of that. Oh, right." Suika said, reaching into her pocket

“Lay, here.” Suika said, handing lay a card

“Huh? What’s this for?” Lay asked

“It has our contact information. You can use that to reach us.” Suika said

“Oh, sweet. You mean like phone numbers and stuff, right? Wait, do you guys have phones?” Lay asked

“Yeah, why? Ohh, right. We’re still kids.” Evan said

“Lucky. My mom says I’m not old enough for one. She said that she might allow me to have one, if I can find a way to afford the phone itself. She said she would pay the service fees if I did. Cool, right?” Lay asked

“Dear?” Lime asked

“Yeah, I know. Lay, here.” Evan said, handing him a phone

“Huh? No, I’m good. I’d rather buy it myself.” Lay said, shaking his head in denial, and putting up his hands in refusal

“That’s not why. It’s for protection. Of course, you can use it as a normal phone if you want... I have an idea, actually. Take this for now, buy the phone you want, and I’ll have my husband upgrade that one. You can give this back then.” Lime said

“Protection?” Lay asked, inspecting it

“I’m going to guess that your mother is more worried about you being able to take care of the phone than she is about you just having one. There’s a lot of weird people out there, lay. This has a lot of features that will prevent anything bad from happening. You don’t even have to turn it on. Just act like it’s some weird rock in your pocket.” Lime said

“Um. I don’t really know what most of that meant. I do remember being warned about anyone who seems weird though.” Lay said

“Suika, before I forget, do you mind letting my husband upgrade your phone? It only takes a few minutes.” Lime asked

“Oh, sure. Here.” Suika said, handing evan her phone

“K, gimme a sec.” evan said, pulling lots of different tools from thin air

“Here.” Evan said, handing Suika back her phone

“Cool.” Suika said

“Hey, lime. I think I still want to give this back. My mom would probably take it away if she found out I have this.” Lay said, handing lime the phone

“Hm. Alright. Then… do you always wear that necklace?” Lime asked

“Yeah. It’s special to me. Why?” Lay asked

“Do you mind if my husband makes it so that your necklace has the features I was talking about?” Lime asked

“Is it.. really that important? Well, now that I think about it, my mom always worries about that kind of stuff when I go outside alone. I guess it's fine. As long as I don’t have to take it off.” Lay said

“Here, tap this against your necklace. It should attach itself as another one of those pendants invisibly.” Evan said, handing lay a silver disc around the size of a quarter.

Lay brought the disc to tap it against the necklace, but it seemed to transform a little bit, attaching itself to the silver chain and going invisible.

“Woah!” Lay said

“Yeah. My husband is the best with both magic and technology!” Lime said, smiling

“I’d say that that’s an understatement.” Suika said

"Agreed, this is awesome! But it's not doing anything." lay said

"It's a passive defense charm. It activates when you get into trouble." Evan said

"Oh! I know that word. It was on a test I had.... something about backgrounds.... oh. right. Always active in the background or something, right?" lay asked

"Why was that on a test you ha-Nevermind. Anyway, lay, just keep that on. It will protect you." Lime said

"Got it!" Lay responded

"Theres someone coming over here." Lay said, pointing