Teaching Elena was a different experience. Her curiosity, as well as her intelligence, challenged me in a way I cannot quite explain.Now I understand that saying: "Teaching is a form of learning."
Her questions—and the answers she reached from a single question of mine—often made me look at what I was teaching from a new perspective.
A year has passed since Elena and Gilbert were introduced to magic. Gilbert reached the magical barrier in just six months, but he has not yet managed to access power itself—though he is getting close. Elena, on the other hand, took eight months to reach the barrier, but managed to access her power in just one additional month.
She spent the last month learning the basics: runes, potion-making, and now we have moved on to spells.
My mother now has a companion in the study of potions.
Gertrude has also joined the group.
It was quite easy. When she saw the potions in action and received a brief explanation of how they were made, we did not even need to invite her—she invited herself.
The library has grown considerably. With the help of meditation, I was able to recall many subjects, so I transcribed everything.
There is now a section dedicated to topics from my world: general knowledge, physics, mathematics, and so on.
Everyone became very enthusiastic about this knowledge. I did not write any books on botany, however, as my knowledge in that area is of no use in this world.
I left that part in the hands of my mother and Gertrude.
Little by little, the library continues to grow. Even Gilbert contributed—he managed to improve the Chinese boxing exercises I used to strengthen my body.
While experimenting with spells, I realized something important: the caster's knowledge greatly influences the result.
For example, if a mage who sees earth as nothing more than dirt uses an earth-wall spell, only a simple wall of earth will rise. But a mage who understands that earth is composed of various sediments—iron, silica, and others—and that its compaction affects durability, can create a wall with different levels of resistance by shaping layers. For instance, a layer of silica in front to disperse impact, with a layer of iron and carbon behind it for stronger defense.
Thus, the spells I created are not fixed; they depend on the mage's knowledge and creativity.
This is excellent. In this way, we must understand the secrets of the world, not merely follow a ready-made recipe.
When I showed this to my father, he asked a question I had not yet considered:
"Would this work when inscribing runes?"
When I heard that, it was like an epiphany. And what if this logic also applied to potions?
That marked the beginning of another experiment. My father tested it with enchantments, my mother with potions, and Elena and I with spells.
The conclusion was yes: knowledge does influence the outcome, but in different ways for each field.
With spells, it worked exactly as I had observed.
Enchantments function in a similar way, but they require me to maintain a clear intention while applying the runes. The better the understanding of a rune, the better it interacts while performing its function, reducing the magic consumption when using the enchanted object and allowing small modifications—such as using a wind rune for propulsion and regulating its force without needing to add a new circle.
Potions were different. Understanding the ingredient helped the process: reducing heating time or required temperature, improving potion potency, and—by sacrificing some of that increased potency—saving ingredients.
As for the village, not much has changed. Some people still look oddly at my parents' rejuvenated appearance, but it was not a drastic change—just fewer wrinkles and better posture.
Gertrude began using some of my mother's potions, so most people are quite calm about it. For now, they believe it is just a mixture of herbs, not magic. This will serve as a bridge for them to understand later, rather than panicking when they discover that we use magic.
Recently, Elena brought up a topic I consider important, though I am not sure we are ready for it yet.
"What do you think about creating a school to teach the children of Carvahall how to read and write?"
I stopped what I was doing and looked at her. She seemed serious, so it was not a casual question.
Seeing my silence, she explained:
"I know not all parents take the time to teach their children, and you always said that ignorance is fertile ground for fear. This could bring the village closer together."
Her argument has merit, but it is not something we can decide alone.
"You have a point. This needs to be discussed with everyone. Prepare a proposal and present it for a vote. The decision must be unanimous."
I did not want it to be that way, but we cannot abandon caution. Tax collectors still come through here, as do merchants. I do not know how the outside world would react to this.
Elena acted quickly. In two days, she already had the proposal ready, and we scheduled the meeting.
"Good morning, everyone. This meeting was called to analyze a proposal made by Elena. This concerns the entire village, so we need everyone's opinion and agreement."
I see Gertrude looking at Elena; her father merely nods—she had probably already spoken with him. My parents simply wait.
"My proposal is to create a school to teach those who cannot read or write."
She pauses and looks around. She is nervous, but does not want to show it.
"I made this proposal so that, by gaining knowledge, it will be easier to accept magic, and also to improve the village itself. I have seen many villagers deceived by merchants."
Gertrude nods. Everyone there has seen it happen, but interfering is sometimes worse.
Gertrude stands to speak.
"I agree with your idea, child, but I do not know if this is the right moment."
I look at her and ask,
"Why?"
"A stranger has moved into the village. I do not know much about him, but he does not seem like an ordinary person."
She finishes. My parents grow more alert; they remember my fears.
I think I know who it is. I just need the name to be sure.
"Do you know his name? Where he came from?" I ask.
She shakes her head.
"He arrived today, but from what I heard, he plans to stay. They say he is a storyteller."
So it is him. Brom has finally arrived. Now all that remains is to see whether we will be discovered—and, if that happens, how he will act.