"I realized that this world is different from mine. So, there’s a chance magic exists here," explained Gideon.
Mitsuko fell silent for a moment, then smiled and nodded slowly. She stretched out her hand, gathered the energy of nature, and formed a simple ball of water from her palm.
Lyra, Lena, and Gideon jumped in surprise. They stepped forward, watching it happen right in front of their eyes. No doubt about it—this water ball was magic, shown by Mitsuko.
"Not everyone is blessed with magic. The wolf folk don’t have magic talent, but they have strength and great endurance," Mitsuko said.
"This is an example of magic from the kitsune race. It’s simple at its core—each person’s affinity is pushed to the point where they can control the natural energy around them."
"By balancing the heart, mind, and imagination," Mitsuko explained.
Lyra furrowed her brows, and so did Lena and Gideon. Mitsuko’s words sounded easy enough to say, but hard to do.
They were used to things being scientific and tangible, and they couldn’t fully grasp what the kitsune woman meant.
"What happens next?" Gideon asked her.
Mitsuko smiled, raised her hand toward the sky, and launched the water ball forcefully. The three of them watched it fly through the air and then explode above the village, causing rain to fall in soft pitter-patters.
Lyra was amazed. She had never imagined such a powerful and beautiful force like magic. She had watched Harry Potter before, sure—but that was fiction, made up by a writer.
But today, in another world, she saw it, felt it, touched it, and admired it. Gideon and Lena were impressed too, but their minds were already working on how to understand and break down this magic.
Raindrops touched their skin and hair, making their clothes slightly wet. But the rain didn’t last long—only a few seconds.
Then something stranger happened. Their wet clothes dried instantly, as if the water absorbed by the fabric had simply vanished.
The three of them could only stand there, stunned and speechless.
"That is magic," Mitsuko said.
"C-Can you use fire magic? Wind? Light? What about portal magic? Healing?" Lyra asked rapidly.
Gideon patted Lyra’s shoulder, snapping her out of her excitement. Magic was new to them, yes, but Gideon worried it could be dangerous, too.
"Let me speak with her," he said. Lyra nodded and took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Sorry, Lyra’s just a little too excited. This is all new to us."
"Do you want help? I can check your affinities," offered Mitsuko.
She turned and looked closely at Lyra and Lena. Lyra nodded enthusiastically—the image of her being the quiet girl disappeared when faced with the beauty of magic.
Lena responded more calmly, clearing her throat.
"Sure, if you don’t mind."
"Alright. I’ll prepare for it shortly. Wait at my home," said Mitsuko.
The kitsune woman went back into her home. Gideon turned around and looked at the others carefully.
"We’re going to learn magic?" Lyra asked.
"If we have an affinity, then maybe we can learn a little."
"I’m not really interested in magic. It sounds boring."
"If healing magic exists, then what’s the point of everything I’ve studied?" Lena said casually.
"For now, let’s just see the results of the affinity test," Gideon replied.
"Should I go get Luke?" Lyra asked.
She nodded and left the kitsune village, leaving Lena alone with Gideon. Lena still refused to study magic, for reasons of her own. Gideon was curious about her stubbornness.
"Because magic is useless. It defies logic and reason," Lena said.
"You can’t kill a virus in someone’s body just by waving around natural energy or whatever."
"But magic might be our only way out of this world," Gideon replied.
"I’m not denying that. But healing magic? Come on!"
"If healing magic worked, then they’d be able to cure lupus patients easily, right?"
"But what happened? People were cured because of science!"
"Calm down," said Gideon, trying to soothe her.
A kitsune approached them. She came to tell them that Mitsuko was ready to help detect their affinities. Gideon had no choice—refusing the offer would feel rude.
He invited Lena to come with him. They walked inside and climbed to the second floor—Mitsuko’s private room.
When the door opened, Gideon and Lena saw two people inside: Mitsuko, and one of the village elders.
The elder held a glowing blue orb, about the size of a basketball. It looked like glass, with soft blue light swirling inside.
"Welcome. That is an affinity-detection orb. We have one," said Mitsuko.
"So how does it work?"
Mitsuko stepped closer to the orb and placed her hand on it. Slowly, it lit up brightly with blue light, surprising Gideon and Lena.
"Where’s your other friend?" Mitsuko asked.
"She’s calling our fourth companion. The four of us came to this world together."
"Alright. I’ll explain first."
Mitsuko explained how the orb worked—just place both hands on it. If your body has any affinity, the orb will glow with the corresponding color.
Clear and easy to understand. Gideon and Lena had no trouble following her.
"Who wants to go first?"
Gideon turned to Lena. She shook her head. She was afraid of finding out she did have an affinity—and being forced to study something she hated.
’No! I don’t hate magic... maybe it can help people sometimes...’
’But I hate anything that works without scientific logic.’
’It makes everything I’ve studied feel pointless.’
Gideon stepped up first. He placed both hands on the orb. It felt cold to him.
"Wait a few seconds. The light will appear," Mitsuko said.
"What if it doesn’t?"
"Then you have no affinity. No affinity, no magic."
He narrowed his eyes and focused on the orb.
Five minutes passed. Then something happened that made Mitsuko speak up right away.
"HAHAHA!" Lena burst into laughter at Gideon’s failure. Her loud voice drew glances from Gideon, the elder, and Mitsuko.
She was thrilled to see that Gideon couldn’t awaken magic—no matter how hard he tried.
"What?" Gideon asked.
"Nothing. It just means you’re not gifted, captain."
"Really? Why don’t you try, then?" Gideon challenged.
"I’m not touching that orb."
"Ehh? Scared you might be more gifted than me? That’s a weird attitude."
Lena clicked her tongue in annoyance. Gideon was good at twisting words to make her feel cornered.
She finally stepped up to the orb and gave it a try. Mitsuko waited for several minutes—but no light appeared.
"Don’t make fun of each other when neither of you has talent."
Lena wasn’t angry. In fact, she felt relieved and happy that she didn’t have any affinity.
’That means I don’t have to learn lazy knowledge like magic.’
"Nope, I’m proud to be talentless," Lena said smugly.
Soon, Lyra and Luke arrived, guided by a kitsune attendant. Gideon turned to greet them and explained what had happened.
"WOAH! Magic? We’re really going to use magic?" Luke asked excitedly.
Gideon nodded. He explained the orb again—showing affinity is the only way to use magic.
Luke got just as hyped as Lyra. He stepped forward and touched the orb. He waited for several minutes, watching closely—but nothing happened.
"HAHAHA!" laughed Gideon and Lena, pointing at him and startling Luke.
"Looks like you’ve got no talent," said Gideon, chuckling.
"Hah? What about you guys?"
"None for me, none for her either," said Gideon.
"Then stop laughing—you’re no better," Luke muttered.
His excitement faded when he didn’t get a magical affinity. He felt a bit sad, but he hadn’t put all his hopes on magic anyway.
Lyra was the last to try. She placed her hands on the orb—but no light appeared.
Disappointment settled in. Her smile faded. The quiet version of herself returned.
"Congrats. We’re a whole squad of talentless people," Luke joked.
Lyra sighed and shot him a sharp look. "Shut up."
Mitsuko stepped forward with the village elder. She said this kind of thing was rare—everyone was usually born with some natural affinity.
It confirmed to her that Gideon and the others weren’t from this world. She believed they came from a world where technology advanced in ways that seemed magical.
"There’s no affinity in any of you. I can’t help much," she said.
Gideon nodded. "That’s alright. Magic isn’t exactly our specialty anyway."
Mitsuko turned and told one of the elders to bring a map. He understood immediately.
He returned with a scroll map. It showed the entire continent—including the exact locations of the three human kingdoms.
Gideon unrolled the map. It didn’t just have kingdoms—it also listed villages from different races: orcs, centaurs, lions, and more.
There were even ocean regions marked as mermaid and seraphine territory.
"You’re giving this map to us?" Gideon asked.
"Non-human races won’t have the information you need," Mitsuko replied.
"The only way to get the answers you’re looking for is to go to the human kingdoms."
"The Kingdom of Moko is the closest," she added.
Gideon fell silent. Lena, Lyra, and Luke leaned in to look at the map. A new excitement sparked in their eyes, ready to follow Gideon’s next plan.
"Alright. Thank you."