Chapter 2: Then She Teaches

Celes was kind enough to prepare lunch for them both. Using his chopsticks, Jude cut his meat and vegetables as well as carry the food to his mouth, all without touching the wooden spoon she gave him.

There was even some type of meat involve, sparking his curiosity to ask, but he held his tongue inside. If he ever figured out what was inside her pot, he was positive he would regret knowing.

“What are you looking at?” Celes asked and gave Jude an odd look after she caught wind of his stare.

“Nothing…” Jude paused while staring at her, mesmerized by the way she handled her food.

Nothing indeed, except for the fact that watching her eat was one of the most erotic act he had ever seen in his short life. Her lips rounded in a luscious pucker as she bit neatly into the fresh vegetable she pierced with her fork.

Hallelujah!!

Jude choked a little, unconsciously slurping his hot soup and swallowed. It was flaming hot, but his taste buds did not care. He sat uncomfortably on the log while his thoughts were filled with vegetables and pinkish lips.

“Don’t jog the log, stupid,” Celes protested as she reached out a cup of water to Jude.

Jude took the cup from her outstretched hand and gulped the water in one go. “Whew… That’s better.”

As they resumed eating, Jude noticed how Celes kept a free space on the log they were using to sit on. She nodded and smiled on that empty space, giving him the idea that someone was sitting there.

To Jude, who refused to believe in the superstitious, it looked weird. Then again everything that happened so far had been weird. Screw everything, Jude thought. It was time to explore the unknown.

“So… you have a friend sitting over there?” Jude asked while keeping his sanity in check. He knew how ridiculous his question sounded, but he was inclined to ask.

“Oh, this?” Celes shifted to her left. “I’ve almost forgotten, but you can’t see spirits, huh?”

Jude shrugged. “Spirits? Like the souls of dead men?”

Celes paused, then looked at him with deadpan eyes. “Hmm… you’re making fun of my race, aren’t you?”

Jude blinked. What was she talking about now? “No. How could I even… I don’t even know what race you are.”

“Okay, there’s a limit to how ignorant you can be.”

“I’m telling you, I don’t know.”

“You promise?”

“I promise. Wait, why do I always have to promise when things get out of hand?”

“Well then, allow me to explain so that even your bird sized brain can comprehend.”

“No, listen to me…”

“No, you listen to me.” Celes cut him off and pressed a hand on her chest. She began to explain in full detail without paying attention to his bewildered face.

A being called Effu, that was what she was. Distinguished by their long and pointed ears, Effu is a race that far excelled in terms of beauty and lifespan. They loved to live in peace and solitude. A lifestyle that Jude adored to live himself.

Puffing her chest out, she continued. “Even the secrets of the world lies in our library and no matter how much you humans try to imitate us, you will never surpass our ancient knowledge.”

“In short, a bunch of arrogant fools that dislike to advance with technology,” Jude said in a tone that it was barely whisper. Although he commented something harsh, he did not hate her. She was, after all, nothing but an innocent girl proud of her lineage.

“Did you say something?” asked Celes, blinking her bright hazel eyes.

“Nothing.” A part of him was glad she didn’t hear. “So, what are spirits exactly?” Jude asked and returned the topic before they got sidetracked.

Celes nodded. “Hmm, I’m glad you asked. Spirits are the form of purified energy that’s gathering all around us.

Jude understood. It was an easy task for a gamer like himself. “So these concentrated forms of energy turn into spirits which then somehow come into existence?”

“Hmm, you’re quick.”

“But what do spirits do actually?” Jude probed with a voice filled of enthusiasm. Learning the principles of magic was one of the many joys he had while playing a game.

“Well, depending on the spirits purity and element, they will allow you to manipulate their purified energy to a certain extent. And with it, you can do many different things. Watch.”

Celes closed her eyes for a moment and hummed a short melody. As Jude relished her soothing lullaby, a gust of wind - visible enough even for Jude to see - accumulated around her. The gust carried leaves into the air and they danced around freely as Celes moved her hand.

Jude clapped his hands in pure amazement. “That’s really beautiful… Is it possible for me to do the same?”

Witnessing her perform that feat flared the inner child inside of him.

Celes smiled after seeing his excitement. “It’s possible, but you have to make a contract with a spirit first.”

“Umm, isn’t that quite contradicting? How can I make a contract if I can’t see them?”

“That’s a secret~ As if I’d actually tell you~” Celes laughed, and Jude wished he did not asked. “Well, if you’re talented enough, you could also use magic without having a contract. After all magic power is based from a person’s soul.”

Celes then pressed a hand on his chest. “Some others it is their heart, some others it is their blood. Magic is the manipulation of purified energy. Imagine some sort of power is running in your blood veins. And imagine that power traveling to your fingertips. If you could successfully do that, then you too could use magic.”

Jude pressed the hand on his chest. “I see…”

“Hey… Let go of my hand first…” Celes pleaded with a weak voice, refusing to look at Jude.

Jude blinked and let go as she asked. He dropped his empty bowl on the ground then imagined the power running in his blood veins. He searched for that connection deep inside him.

If magic meant imagination then Jude was convinced he had plenty, and more to share. In his head he imagined a gun. And soon he felt it. It felt warm; there was a warm feeling that started in his heart and with a single pump, it moved. Directing that energy, he guided it into his hand then to his index finger. As Jude opened his eyes, a white light flared on his fingertip.

“So this is magic?” Jude murmured, shaking in excitement.

“No way.” Celes gaped at him, wide-eyed. “To manipulate mana on your first try…”

Jude stood up and clasped his hands together, extending his index finger perpendicular to it acting as the barrel. He pointed his makeshift gun to a tree branch at least seven meters away. The moment he released his imagination, that light traveled and shaved his target spot on.

“I think I get it now.”

“Oh really?”

“Of course, would I lie? Basically, magic power is something that’s already pre-determined, whether at birth or at a certain age, right? Anyways, for one to use magic, you first need to establish a contract with a spirit. But, like you said, it isn’t as easy as it sounds. Since, after all, spirits are invisible to the untrained eye. So that only leaves me with a question of: How can I see spirits? Other than contracting a spirit, we could also use the magic power running in our blood veins through the use of our imagination?”

Celes was unable to reply, and her silence told Jude that he got her wondering with his explanation.

“Am I so right? Will you please tell me if I’m wrong?” Jude teased her even further.

It was an unnatural feeling, but having her presence with him in that forest made him feel relaxed and comfortable. Just seeing her face, whether smiling or not, filled his chest with a fluffy sensation. That was why Jude could not help but bring out more emotions from her.

“Okay, you’re right! Acting so arrogant just because…”

“This soup tastes good. Thank you.”

“W-What?!”

Jude reminded himself to stop teasing her before she explodes, but he could not resist the urge.

“Well, I’m grateful for the meal nonetheless,” continued Jude.

“Hmph.” Celes reverted to her normal face and shrugged off his teasing with a superior voice.

After that Jude silently enjoyed his meal.

* * *

Taking advantage of the fading light of the sun, the two pressed on and headed west toward the city. He did not know how Celes could properly identify their current location, but she seemed to have method for that. When Jude asked, Celes shrugged him off.

“I listen to the trees,” she said, as she closed her eyes and her elven ears began to twitch.

Jude tried to do the same by mimicking her, but all he could hear was the usual sound of the leaves rustling. Then, while Jude was busy meditating, a whipping palm met his forehead. “Ow?”

“Are you making fun of me?” growled Celes.

“No, I just wanted to try,” Jude whimpered, knowing it was a special trait not available to him. As they resumed their walk, Jude paused once more and asked Celes about any monsters inhabiting the area.

“No need to fret,” she answered. “You’re currently in the range of my protection spell.”

“I see. Anyways would you like me to carry your luggage?” Jude proposed.

Celes frowned. “Why?”

“Well, my manly pride…”

“Hmph, have it your way then.” Celes stopped fully and hissed through her teeth when she saw the contents of his full toothed all american boy smile. She threw what she was carrying to Jude and stomped on her feet away from him.

“Damn, heavier than I thought,” complained Jude as he caught her backpack. He looked up and noticed Celes already marching away. “Celes, wait for me!”

* * *

More than half a day had passed since they started walking, but there were still no signs of the merchant city Celes had talked about. Whether it was due to his slow pace or something else, Jude did not know.

“We’re not lost right?”

“O-Of course not! I know this forest like its the back of my hand!”

Right, thought Jude. It was an obvious lie, nonetheless he trudged a few more steps before asking another question. “Is your friend still around?”

“No. She’s doing something for me. She’ll be back soon.”

“I see. But we should hurry.” With the sun setting, the forest had also turned creepy and Jude knew firsthand how dangerous a forest could be at night.

“No need to remind me.”

“Okay then.”

Minutes later, like what he had suspected, the fog had settled in. With every step they made, the fog grew thicker and thicker, limiting their visibility.

“S-Seeing you unfazed after walking for so long is really surprising,” stuttered Celes.

“Well, if I had something that I’m proud of, it's my stamina. If you’re getting tired, should we form a camp after all? It wouldn’t be good if we continue with this fog anyways.” Jude asked Celes beside him, who was showing hints of fatigue written on her face.

“I’d prefer us to continue,” she replied. “The closer we are to town, the less danger the forest will be to us,” she explained, but Jude knew it was nothing but excuses. Celes tried hard to hide it, but he could see her feet shivering.

“Celes, are you perhaps…?”

“NOOO! Who would be afraid of something so silly?”

Because she rebutted it so strongly, Jude decided not to poke his finger where it did not belong.

Soon afterwards, eyes began to glimmer inside the tree hollows. Jude, in particular, did not mind the darkness himself, but his traveling companion was different.

“Celes, if you’d like—”

“KEEP WALKING!”

Even though he knew very well what was troubling her, Jude did not say anything else. He could only scratched his head after seeing this strong willed girl reduced to a pitiful sight.

But what could he do? Proposed a solution and it would damage her pride. There was no fair option.

“Umm, Celes… do you want to hold my hand instead? From where I came from, holding another person’s hand is also a type of spell that makes you feel calm,” he babbled whatever nonsense that came to mind.

“……Okay.”

Albeit reluctantly, Celes still agreed. So Jude gently took her hand, slid his fingers to hers, and continued walking. She was surprisingly meek and her face was scorched with embarrassment. But he was not an ignorant boy to not notice. Holding a stranger's hand, how could he keep a straight face himself?

“Just go straight ahead, right?”

“………”

No doubt his action and words had eased her mind. Celes did not say another word and kept her eyes locked down as they continued to move forward.

After an eternity of walking in silence, the fog dissipated along with the darkness and Jude could begin to see what seemed to be giant walls. The tension was broken and they both felt relived. Passing through that side of the forest really gave him a few grey hairs.

“Umm… Can you let go of my hand now?” she requested meekly.

“Ah, yeah… Sorry, I didn’t mean to hold it for that long.”

Now the atmosphere became awkward. Jude closed his eyes and prepared himself for the worst. He counted to three. He counted to five. He counted to ten.

Nothing?

When he opened his eyes to confirm, Jude saw Celes with her head tilted sideways, and her long and pointed ears twitching for him to enjoy.

Damn, I think I might develop a fetish for elven ears…