22 Chapter Five - 5 || Magical Authority

After explaining this, Lachlan continued with supplementary knowledge.

"All living creatures have excess magic which makes them alive. This excess magic is enumerated by regular m'u. Anything living which has less than ten m'u risks death. Fifteen m'u is best for survival, and twenty is adequate for everyday living.

"Each day, you regenerate your quantity of regular m'u up to a limit called a magic capacity. This is essentially the amount of the magic you can store inside your body before it dissipates into the air.

"For humans, the amount is roughly double of your regular m'u. And with each magic class increase, it's double plus another half. Therefore, S classes can theoretically store four times their regular m'u.

"For elementals, it's the same except they can store four times plus one for each class level. Demons and spirits below third tier cannot store any magic besides their regular m'u, and those that can store the same way as humans.

"Additionally, you can handle or cast an even greater amount of magic than your magic capacity. This quantity, called your magic control, is double of your magic capacity. For demons and spirits, it's also double, but for elementals, it's quadruple.

"And lastly, anyone can store items in their personal magic cache. But people with higher regular m'u can store more items as well as larger ones. It's a rather simple and handy inventory system.

"Of course, inventories can also be synthetically produced inside gemstones with large magical capacities. These are the same stones which are commonly used by mages as amulets for storing m'u.

"Now, the quantity of regular m'u someone has is initially innate, but it can be increased through physical or magical training. Of course, the rate at which m'u increases varies by person and will naturally be easier for some and harder for others. Magical ability can be strengthened in the same way; however, it relies more on inherent talent."

Lachlan paused in his explanations to gesture toward Darren.

"Take you for example, you have a sizable amount of regular m'u already, but your magical ability was overwhelmed in the presence of Essairyn's that I detected it only after being near you for some time. She also has a higher regular m'u as most with considerable magical ability usually do.

"You would typically be considered a nonmagical human; although, most nonmagical humans don't even have a trace of magical ability as you have. With training, you could increase your magical ability to be able to cast basic spells."

Darren listened with slightly scrunched brows and nodded in understanding. Since humans in general lacked substantial magical ability, he wasn't surprised to hear that he couldn't use magic. It made sense that humans would have the least amount of magical power as they originated from the magic-less Earth.

Although, in a similar fashion, demons and spirits which had evolved from humans shouldn't innately have much magical ability either. Lachlan attributed this apparent inconsistency to demons and spirits having been born in a magical world.

And further substantiating this speculation, the percentage of humans with inborn magical ability increased slightly from generation to generation. Children became stronger than their predecessors.

Nevertheless, Darren was still a little disappointed, but he felt better knowing that he could eventually strengthen his magical ability to be able to cast spells.

However, that did make him question why Essairyn could wield magic so naturally. He wondered if her enthusiasm about this world and nonchalance about leaving their world had anything to do with it. Or if certain humans were brought over to Sol'h'meyr for a reason. He asked Lachlan about this.

The man pondered a moment before answering, "Originally, the humans were forced into Sol'h'meyr during the Great Elemental War, so it would seem that it was just an unfortunate, unseen consequence.

"However, some travelers have acclimated well and are almost glad to have left Earth. Of course, others haven't and became distraught, but then they're brought to Neu'arth and soon feel right at home because of its similarity to Earth.

"Not to mention, we get travelers from various cultures and time periods, so there's a place in Neu'arth for everyone. And because of its magical barrier, people can live in Neu'arth without worrying about stray magical creatures or other dangers. That also includes a health care system that can treat any kind of illness."

Essairyn's mouth opened a little upon hearing of Neu'arth's magical barrier and health care system. "That's amazing. So you can't use magic in Neu'arth? But they can treat any kind of illness?"

Lachlan nodded. "The magical barrier prevents any kind of magical discharge, so upon entering Neu'arth, you automatically agree to these terms. The only ones who can use magic are the Secret Service Protection Agency, or the SSPA, who protect Neu'arth.

"And when you become a citizen, you give up any magic generated beyond your regular m'u. In return, you receive free treatment whenever you get sick. Not to mention, magic combined with human technology has greatly increased the standard and ease of life."

"Wow," Essairyn gasped, "so magic can be used in such a way in society."

Lachlan smiled with a shade of stoniness. "Yes, it's quite an example for the rest of Sol'h'meyr. However, not everyone will agree to such a construct of society in a world of magic."

Essairyn knitted her face disconcertion. For sure, it was counterintuitive to bar magic in a world where everything was composed of it. Humans were also the foreign race in a land where the elementals had lived for thousands of years prior. So, some elementals were bound to find Neu'arth distasteful, to say the least.

Thus, no matter what kind of world it was, she deduced that as long as intelligent beings resided in it, power struggles were certain to transpire. And for Sol'h'meyr, magical prowess was authority.

"All that aside, what are you two going to do now?" Lachlan posed.

The two looked at one another, and Darren spoke first.

"I guess there's no way to return to Earth?"

Lachlan shook his head. "I'm not actually positive about that. The portal apparently still exists in the heart of Sol'h'meyr. But even if you could find it, there's no way to ensure you would return where and when you had left Earth. Space-time itself would likely prevent you from ever setting foot within millenniums of your original time."

"In other words, it's hopeless." Darren half sighed, half scoffed. He leaned back in his chair and and looked up at the ceiling. The remaining trace of floundering hope in his heart drowned in the somber, swelling reality.

The receding light in the boy's eyes pricked Essairyn's conscience. "He just arrived a couple hours ago," Essairyn softly informed Lachlan.

The man turned his impassive gaze toward her. "Then you have already accepted that you can't return to your time?"

Essairyn smiled enigmatically. "Yes, I have."

Lachlan scrutinized the girl's face. It was confident and unwavering, and yet it also held a barely perceptible melancholic air. But, he wasn't sure if it was due to leaving her world or something else entirely.

"Well, if you have no set plans, I suggest traveling north to the city of Byar'non. The Academy campus there has a knights facility while Reisparte only has a standard educative school. It's a short distance and can be traversed by foot in less than a day. I also recommend eventually going to the main campus right outside of Neu'arth if you wish to practice your magic and learn more about Sol'h'meyr."

Lachlan paused to gauge Essairyn's possible response to his next words. "And be careful showing your magic in public places; a shady group has been causing trouble around As'pyze lately, and they seem to target mages. As long as you don't use magic though, you should be safe."