Chapter 12: The Magical World Is Just That Cruel
Magical meditation was a vital form of training for any wizard.
In battle—whether it was a duel of spells or close combat—magic power played a crucial role.
During melee, wizards could release magic outward to form a protective barrier. This "magic shield" was a basic defensive method, not unlike the external projection of inner energy in martial arts, shielding the user with raw force.
This was the simplest use of magic power—no complex defense spells needed. It was less efficient and consumed more magic, but it suited wizards with immense reserves of energy and overwhelming strength.
Like Moen.
Like Laxus, Erza, and even Natsu.
All of them were natural-born prodigies with vast magical power from a young age.
Laxus's strength didn't come solely from his Dragon Slayer Crystal—that artifact merely allowed him to unleash the power he already possessed. His magical reserves were monstrous, even to the point where his own body struggled to contain them.
The same went for Natsu. His Dragon Slayer Magic wasn't what made him stronger than his peers. It was his innate magic power.
And then there was Erza—wielding the most basic Requip Magic, yet surpassing others who relied on seemingly stronger spells.
That was talent.
That was raw stats.
There were no "weak" types of magic—only weak mages. No matter how powerful a spell may be, without sufficient talent and stats, you couldn't even cast it in the first place.
That's the reality of this magical world.
Brutal and unforgiving.
Of course, while innate magic power was largely determined by talent, it wasn't immutable. Through rigorous training, a mage could gradually increase their magic reserves.
But it was a slow, painstaking process.
Magic meditation was all about patience and focus—squeezing out your body's potential and gradually expanding your "magic pool." At the same time, you'd draw in ambient magic from the environment, filling that pool to its brim.
A long, slow grind.
Buzz…
Magic swirled through the air. Sitting in quiet meditation, Moen focused on the swirling vortex within his core—a spinning galaxy of magical energy. Tiny azure specks of magic essence trickled inward, expanding his internal reservoir bit by bit.
This slow but steady growth—this tangible sense of becoming stronger—was deeply comforting.
In the study room, Levy sat watching Natsu scribble away with fierce determination. But her gaze occasionally drifted toward Moen, who was seated cross-legged nearby in complete silence.
Levy's own magical talent was nothing to boast about—at least, not when compared to Moen or the other elite kids in Fairy Tail.
Yet even so, she could clearly sense the magical presence radiating from Moen.
To her, Moen's entire being felt like a powerful vortex, greedily absorbing all the ambient magic from the air. The energy around him was so dense it almost looked visible, as if the very air was bending around him, sucked inward and devoured.
"Moen is incredible..."
Levy couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Compared to most mages her age—or even many adults—she was already quite gifted. But within the Fairy Tail guild, her talent seemed so… small.
Thankfully, Levy made up for her limitations through hard work—and a deep understanding of magical theory. Her Solid Script Magic suited her perfectly. She believed in "diligence over talent," and her knowledge of magic was already quite impressive despite her young age.
"If I tried to meditate right now… I probably wouldn't absorb even a speck of magic."
She sighed inwardly as she glanced once more at Moen.
Among the new generation of Fairy Tail, Moen was undeniably the central figure—the king of the kids. Most of the orphans in the guild had grown up following in his footsteps, quite literally.
Back in the early days, Laxus used to play with everyone too. But as he entered adolescence, he grew increasingly concerned with how others perceived him, gradually drifting away from the group. The gentle big brother slowly turned into the cold, aloof tough guy he was now.
When Laxus was still that kind and caring "big bro," most of the younger kids were either too little to remember, or hadn't joined the guild yet. That's why, to most of the kids in Fairy Tail, Moen was the real gentle big brother—the one who radiated light and warmth.
"I'm done!"
Just as Levy was sneakily stealing glances at Moen again, Natsu suddenly shouted at full volume, startling her so badly she nearly jumped out of her chair.
"Eh? Where's Moen-nii?"
Looking up at Levy in confusion, Natsu blinked. He had been so laser-focused on his assignment that he hadn't even realized the supervisor had changed. Then again, that was par for the course with this single-threaded brain of his.
"Moen-nii is meditating. I'll check it for you."
Levy let out a soft breath of relief. Thankfully, Natsu hadn't noticed her daydreaming just now. She straightened her posture and put on a serious face as she picked up Natsu's notebook.
"Umm…"
One glance at the chaotic scribbles on the page, and Levy's face instantly went dark. As a literature girl, trying to decipher these chicken scratches was actual mental torture.
"Let me handle it, Levy. Thanks for covering."
Just as she was squinting at the mess, Moen's voice rang out. He reached out a hand, gesturing for her to hand over the notebook.
"Huh? Moen-nii, you finished meditating?"
Levy squeaked, hastily passing him the notebook. Her heart was racing.
Did he notice me staring at him the whole time?
No way, right? Even if he did… it's not like it matters… But still, that'd be kind of embarrassing...
"Yeah, I was doing fine… until someone shouted."
Moen chuckled and ruffled Levy's hair.
Wow, she really has a lot of hair...
"I didn't mean to!"
Natsu muttered, scratching his head awkwardly—then immediately changed the subject.
"Anyway, hurry up and check it, I'm ready to leave! This room's giving me the creeps. All these books and fancy writing—it's not my thing!"
The room was practically steeped in literature, and that made Natsu feel like a caged beast. He just wanted to get outside and burn off some energy.
"Canyoueven read this?"
Moen took one glance at the notebook before tossing it right back to Natsu. The truth was, he couldn't make heads or tails of it.
"Of course I can!"
Grabbing the notebook, Natsu proudly began reading his work out loud, word by word, with exaggerated seriousness.
Both Moen and Levy gave him suspicious looks.
Could it be… he really can read this mess?
"…Alright, fine."
After Natsu finished reading, Moen gave a skeptical hiss through his teeth, then reluctantly gave the pass.
But just as Natsu turned to bolt for the door, Moen grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back.
"Not so fast. Youpromised. Next up—meditation."
Without letting go, he planted Natsu firmly on the floor in a sitting position. This guy was way too hyperactive—it was like he had an endless energy meter. You couldn't leave him unsupervised for a second.
"Meditation, huh…"
"But I don't need to meditate, Moen-nii! I just eat flames and get stronger!"
Natsu squirmed like he had spikes on his butt, unable to stay still. Meditation bored him to tears. Compared to this kind of mental training, he'd much rather train his body through brute force.