-Get up, I didn't just come here for nothing. My services aren't free, you know.

  Kalidonia, overcome by intense phantom pain, rose to all fours and grimaced. The feeling of being nearly killed still weighed heavily on her body. Breathing heavily, she rose to her feet, swaying slightly. It seemed as if every movement was accompanied by immense pain, even though her body was completely healed.

  -Then what should we do? Tree.

  -Please, call me Mikua, not tree. I don't like it when you compare me to lower plants.

  -Tree. What do we do next?

  Mikua merely sighed and stepped closer to the girl with his needles. His enormous shadow completely eclipsed Kalidonia, leaving not a shred of light for her. If he had come any closer, his needles might have pierced her, but fortunately, he knew better.

  -First, I'd like to test your magical abilities. With them present, we can better adjust your training, understand?

  -Magic? W-what is that?

  -Exactly! You grew up in the forest. So it's no wonder you don't know. I can help you fill that hole in your knowledge. Magic permeates everything living and nonliving. It's everywhere and always, it can manifest under certain conditions, while at other times, on the contrary, it can be depleted. As a representative of plants, I have seven Mana Sanctuaries. Two active and five passive. The passive ones produce mana, store it, and transmit it through magical veins to the active Sanctuaries. The active ones, in turn, release this mana as magic, or, due to an excess of magic, it is released into the surrounding environment. Magic can also be produced from the surrounding mana, but this can cause a mana deficiency in some area.

  -Ah. What. Is this? Can you tell me about magic? What's the meaning of what you told me?

  -You just understand... If you didn't know this, then how could you not understand everything? You understand? These are just the basics that everyone should know, because without this...

  -YOU can! Tell me what magic is, and not drag out this useless thread. Just tell me why I need magic!

  -Tsk... I just wanted to teach you the best way... brr... Fine, magic can do anything.

  -Well? For example?

  -Everything.

  -If I had the power, I would... Tell me more specifically, please?

  -Heh... Since you so desire, I'll share my wisdom... so...

  -...

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  -Basically, with magic, you can create matter, fire, ice, water, strengthen your body, curse an enemy's body, use your blood as a weapon, and so on down the list. Basically, an indispensable thing in today's world.

  -S-so you're saying magic can make me stronger? This is simply wonderful...

  -Hah... I knew you'd like this news. Besides, to find out what kind of magic you're predisposed to, all you have to do is open the system and say which... Right. I forgot.

  The girl stood in front of a huge tree, looking at it. Suddenly, the enormous tree began to move. Kalidonia had to move out of the massive force's reach. Dodging to the right, she saw the tree... Sitting? Its branches supported its head, and its legs were straight out in front of it. Its current state looked more like a huge pile of fallen needles.

  -What are you doing? Hey! HEY! What are you doing? You're scaring me.

  -Shh! Let me concentrate and think. Hmm...

  -Well, while you're thinking. I can finally rest... I thought there was going to be some kind of intense training and I wanted to appear strong... But apparently I can't even pretend. Okay...

  Kalidonia walked over to the nearest tree, not Mikua's, and leaned her back against it. She didn't want to sleep, but her body forced her. And then, literally a couple of seconds later, sleep took her.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  -Wake up. I remembered. I remembered a way to understand what magic you can use. You see, if you had a system, the first spell you receive would always use the best magic for you. But what does this mean? It means that each person has mana that connects best with your body. So we can try simply using a spell, and the one that resonates most with you will be best for you. This method was popular about 1,542 years ago, but with the advent of the system, it no longer makes sense. Let's try it. Watch and repeat after me.

  The tree selected its smallest branch and began drawing symbols in the air. A red trail remained behind its branch. As if magic itself was drawn to its symbols. There were three symbols in total, none of them very complex. One looked like a drop of water, the second symbol was an equilateral square, and the third was a cross. After all the writing, a small magic circle with various strange writings appeared near its branch. It swirled and looked eerily beautiful. Eventually, a small amount of water poured out of this circle onto the ground.

  Kalidonia stood close enough to Mikua to observe his every move. And yes. The water that flew out of the magic circle was crystal clear. After it landed on the ground, it seemed like the plants in that spot began to grow faster than the surrounding ones.

  -If this is possible with magic, then I dread to think what else can be done with magic... I want to do the same! Teach me! If I can create water out of nothing... I'll become the strongest!

  -You just saw everything you need to do, so try it and you'll definitely succeed. It's really not that hard.

  With great anticipation, she extended her hand and began to move it through the air. She closed her eyes to concentrate on her hand. After drawing three symbols, she opened her eyes...

  -What the hell!? Where's my water? I did everything right, didn't I?

  -You see... Your Signs were a little... Okay. Very poorly drawn. Did you even watch how I drew them? Besides, did you really think that just waving your hand through the air would work? Of course not! You need to let a thin thread of mana trail behind your hand. Without it, you can't do it like that. See those red lines? That's my mana. It's continuous and viscous. It's like I'm drawing with it. Try it too. Focus on your hand and you'll succeed. I believe in you, little one.

  Inhaling and exhaling, Kalidonia set to work. With her eyes closed, she concentrated on the sensations of her body, searching for her thread of mana. And it seemed that something, yes... something, had yielded to her. She slowly began to draw the Signs.

  -So... So... And like this... NOTHING? You're deceiving me! I... I can't do anything...