"Alright, so basically, here's how it works," Clover began, holding up four fingers as they walked. "There are four main types of energy—which I assume is what you meant by 'magic.' Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind."
"Whoa! So I can throw fireballs or shoot gusts of wi—"
"Let me finish."
"Right, sorry…"
"Anyway," Clover continued, "besides those four, there are also a few special types. These are Thunderbolt, Brute, Healer, and… Aphrodisiac."
"Aphrodisiac? What the hell is that supposed to be?"
"It's basically the manipulation of air to alter its chemical properties. Like, you can put people to sleep by making them breathe a specific mix. It's actually super useful in battle."
"That's… kinda awesome."
Hajime's eyes gleamed with curiosity as he absorbed every word.
"So, hold on. How does magic actually work here?" he asked eagerly. "Do you chant spells or something? Or is it more like a natural ability?"
Clover snorted. "You think we're out here yelling 'Fireball!' No. It's nothing like that."
"Oh…" Hajime muttered, slightly deflated.
"Energy manipulation works differently depending on the type," Clover explained. "Some people are born with an innate connection to an element. Others have to train for years to even get the basics down."
"Wait—so you can train to use energy even if you weren't born with it?"
"It's not like you don't have energy it's only that in normal people the energy it's sleeping but you can awaken it. But it's way harder. Those born with elemental affinity can wield it as naturally as breathing. For everyone else, it's like trying to learn how to move a third arm that doesn't exist. Takes years."
"That makes sense, actually…"
Clover gestured to a small flame flickering at his fingertips.
"See this? Fire energy works by manipulating heat within the environment, pulling it toward the user's body, and then shaping it however we want. Most people think it's just about burning stuff, but it's way more complex than that."
Hajime leaned in, fascinated. "What else can it do?"
"For starters, temperature control. A skilled fire user can regulate their own body temperature, even survive in freezing climates. Some master-level fire wielders can even generate explosions, forge weapons from concentrated heat, or create flames so intense they melt through steel."
"Holy crap."
"And that's just fire. Water users, for example, can manipulate liquid in all its forms—ice, mist, even the water inside living organisms. Skilled practitioners can extract moisture from the air, freeze opponents solid, or even heal wounds if they've mastered it enough."
"Healing? So water can be used like a support ability?"
"Pretty much. It's the element most associated with healers. Earth users, meanwhile, are the most physically resilient. They can harden their bodies, increase their density, and reshape the ground itself to create walls, weapons, or even armor."
"That's insane…"
"And then there's Wind energy." Clover smirked. "Fast, unpredictable, capable of slicing through anything if controlled properly. Wind users are usually the speed demons of combat—they can manipulate air currents, increase their agility tenfold, and even create razor-sharp gusts that cut through steel."
"This is way cooler than any magic system I've ever seen…"
Clover chuckled at Hajime's enthusiasm.
"Then we have the special types," he continued. "Thunderbolt energy is exactly what it sounds like—it's rare, and it's destructive. Brute energy enhances strength beyond human limits. People gifted with brute energy can shatter boulders with a single punch or lift things three times their own weight."
"Like super strength?"
"Yeah, but even crazier. Then there's Healer energy, which is pretty self-explanatory. But what makes it unique is that healers don't just mend wounds—they can also boost someone's physical abilities temporarily. Speed, strength, endurance—it's why battlefield healers are so valuable."
Hajime nodded, absorbing every detail.
"And lastly, Aphrodisiac energy," Clover continued, rolling his eyes slightly. "Despite its ridiculous name, it's actually one of the most strategic abilities out there. It lets the user manipulate air composition, altering how people breathe. You can knock someone unconscious, calm their nerves, even disrupt enemy formations by making them lose focus. It's not flashy, but it's effective."
"That sounds kinda broken, honestly."
"Oh, it is. But it takes insane control. Most people who awaken it don't even know how to use it properly."
Hajime let out a deep breath, still trying to process everything.
"So… how do you figure out what energy someone has?"
Clover shrugged. "If you're born with it, it usually manifests naturally. Otherwise, you've got to go through an energy awakening ceremony to see if you can even wield it."
"A ceremony?" Hajime repeated, intrigued.
"It's a ritual where you're exposed to pure elemental energy to see how your body reacts. Some people discover they have affinity for an element, while others realize they can't wield anything at all."
Hajime swallowed.
"So… do I have energy?"
Clover raised an eyebrow. "You do, but I don't know if you are capable to manifest your energy"
"Now, lastly, we have the Specialists."
"Hmm? Now that sounds interesting."
"They're the rarest of the rare. There are only two classes: Light and Darkness. They're so powerful that people say if you ever face one in battle… you're already dead."
"G-Gulp…"
"But relax," Clover laughed, waving off the fear in Hajime's face. "Meeting one is basically impossible. So don't worry."
"R-Right…"
Hajime nodded, though the weight of Clover's words lingered in his mind. Light and Darkness… What kind of people wield those powers? He had already learned about the four elemental energies—Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind—and the special classes like Thunderbolt and Brute. But these… these sounded different.
Something far beyond what normal magic was capable of.
Before he could ask more, Clover suddenly perked up.
"Ah—look." He pointed ahead with a small grin. "We're here."
"Oh, okay. Huh?"
Then everything stopped.
Hajime barely took in the building ahead because his gaze had already locked onto something much more disturbing.
Not far from where Clover had planned to take him, a grotesque sight brought the world to a halt.
Four bodies.
Hanging.
Their lifeless forms twisted unnaturally in the breeze, their eyes bloodshot, frozen in terror. Their faces told stories of final moments spent in unimaginable agony. Beneath them, the pavement was stained—not just with blood, but with spit, with tears, with the silent echoes of whatever suffering had led to this.
Clover let out a heavy sigh, averting his gaze toward the ground, unwilling to look.
"I really didn't want you to see that..."
"Ah... AH—"
Before Hajime could scream, Clover clamped a hand tightly over his mouth.
"Keep your voice down unless you want to get us in trouble."
Hajime's eyes widened, his breath caught in his throat. Why? Why was this happening? Why did no one else seem to care?
He felt sick. His pulse roared in his ears. He wanted to run, to wake up, to do anything but stand there and witness such a brutal display.
Clover didn't give him the chance. Still gripping him firmly, he dragged Hajime into a nearby building, stepping quickly inside and shutting the door behind them.
Only once they were safely concealed did he release him.
"Gah—Gah—What the he—!"
"Idiot! You almost got us killed!"
"What's going on out there?! Those people were—they were—Oh god... oh no..."
His voice broke. His body trembled violently as the weight of what he had seen crashed down on him.
Then, a surprising warmth.
Clover's hand on his back, gentle despite his usual rough demeanor.
"I know… It's a lot," he murmured, his tone softer now. "Just breathe."
Hajime sucked in a deep breath, his chest heaving. It wasn't enough.
"No! That's not—! What the hell is happening here?! Why—why were they—who did—?"
"Take it easy... Just breathe... Take your time."
"What... gulp... What the hell is going on in this place!?"
"Clover!"
Both turned at the sudden voice. A girl stood at the far end of the room—her pink twin ponytails bouncing as she stormed over. She was stunning. Her hair shimmered like a blooming sakura tree under the sun.