In order to use mana expression, I hardened my mana with a mental image similar to applying strength to my muscles. However, I have no idea of what kind of feeling I should have in order to move mana outside of my body…
"How can all of you even do this so well?! There was nothing like magic in my world!" I finally say, frustrated, after not having any progress during training.
"Ahaha… I can move the mana around since it`s similar to using PK... But I also have no idea of how to convert it into something else…" Owari says, while trying to calm me down by pretending he isn't good at something he clearly is...
"PK?"
"As I thought, your world really didn`t have any ESPers, huh, Fumiko? PK stands for psychokinesis. It`s the act of moving objects without the usual physical interaction."
"'Espers'…? I think I`ve seen that term in a manga or something… But I`ve never seen anything related to that in reality… But then again, I can`t really say I'm surprised since we're here."
"Hmmm… I was a little skeptical at first about the idea of parallel Earths, but with this… What if this isn`t a different world, but just another parallel Earth…"
"Huh… What?"
"E-either way, I'm still trying to get used to this world without ESP, but I can't even begin to imagine growing up in one like you… But maybe I would have related better to an Earth without ESP, magic or anything of the sort than my own… Even though I could use telekinesis, it was very weak. Just lifting a pencil was already hard enough… Compared to what the others could do, I might not even have had any ESP… In truth, I was nothing at all…"
"Pft! I guess there are some things about us that simply don`t change no matter where we go."
"H-harsh! Isn't this the point where you should say something nice about me, to make me feel better!? Or rather, now I'm curious about what kind of impression you even have of me, Fumiko!"
"Hmmm… Unreliable…? Wimp?"
"Uhhh!?"
"But… Also a nice person, a caring friend. You always tiptoe around other people's feelings before you act. You have many bad points and many good ones." I look straight at him. "What I know for certain is that you are not 'nothing'."
"Now I'm not sure what's worse, being called a wimp or being seen as a nice person through your distorted view of the world…"
"Hah!? Dafuq YOU just said---!?"
"Ughe!" "Bughe!" A sudden impact courses through my head, and Owari's as well it seems.
"You kids, what did 'I' just say to you…?" Mr. Brownie interjected, after hand chopping our heads. "Back to training! I won't move away from here anymore!"
"Yeah, yeah…"
"Y-Yes! We're sorry!"
"But how was your talk with that evil woman?" I ask him before heading back to training.
"Eh…? And look who's talking, Fumiko…" Owari makes a fast retort…
That's it…
"If anything you have some sharp retorts, Owari. But it's funny how you don`t seem to fear pain." I crack my knuckles.
"lol lol" He runs and takes cover behind Mr. Brownie…
"E-evil woman!? Well, Commander Alice might be a little rough around the edges sometimes, but I'm positive we couldn't find a better Commander even if we searched the whole world. Did you know our Goddess trained her directly? …Though, it is a shame that Commander Alice just ignored me and sent me away now when I tried to speak to her…"
Case in point…
"Anyways! Enough of other people's problems!!! It's time for training!!!"
"Ugh!"
"Y-yes!"
And so, once again, the training went on until we couldn't move anymore…
…
…
…
Inside Sherwood Forest, under a clouded sky, Goddess Ilias was searching for something. She was followed by one of her spies, Spring, dressed with a mask and deep green camouflaged clothing.
"This is the exact location in which I last saw him, my Goddess. His body slowly faded as he walked, and finally disappeared once he stepped there…"
"Silence. Don't bother me with your excuses; I've already seen in your memories what has transpired."
"I-I'm terribly sorry, my Goddess…"
…
"I can feel the presence of those useless beings… He must've walked right into their dimension…"
"Then, your Divinity knows where he went!? Please, enlighten me and I shall follow him as ordered!"
"*Sigh*… Is there even a point in explaining…? They are born and die in the blink of an eye, and in the end, everything that remains for their descendants is their ignorance,,," The Goddess speaks to herself.
Spring merely continues to silently kneel with her head bowed.
"Not even I may waltz as I please in the spirits dimension…"
"!!!"
"That's just how it is. Either way, in case the boy returns, he should reappear back in this Forest, so you may continue to keep watch until then. How inconvenient that I cannot see well neither the heroes nor the inside of these woods."
Ilias then takes a quick glance at Spring.
"For this and other reasons I told you to keep them under surveillance… Next time, do try to stop him before he enters a different dimension."
"Y-yes, forgive my foolishness, my Goddess. I was unsure of how to proceed at the time…"
"Now you know."
"… However… What if he doesn't come back, my Goddess?" Spring risks a question.
"Physical matter is an alien concept in there; as such it will eventually be expelled. It is only a matter of time. All that is left is to wait patiently, no matter how long it may take. It is your duty, since I must confirm his body... Isn't it convenient for all of you that your wait may end in a hundred years at most?"
"…"
"I wonder how long it`ll take for me..." Ilias closes her eyes for a moment. "But I digress… Spring." Spring finally raises her head to meet the Goddesses' expressionless face. "It is your duty."
"It shall be done, my Goddess."
"Now I wonder about what I should do with the girl…" Ilias walks away and suddenly disappears into thin air.
Does immortality eventually leads to… This…? Spring begins to ponder as soon as the Goddess has left. But she quickly closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, before turning her focus back to the mission. She had to continue her duty of observing the Forest… Until her own death, apparently…
"I must believe that my mission is the best for our people…"
Spring stares into the sky, as the clouds grew, converged and turned darker and darker. The Goddess apathetic face is the first thing that comes to her mind.
"For our people, right…?"