It was nearing nighttime, so Kiori and I agreed that magic lessons would start tomorrow, on the 1st day of our 3-day break. I didn’t have the mental energy to focus and pay attention, and Kiori didn’t look any better off. Our first priority was a much-needed shower, before calling it a day.

  I volunteered to unlock it with my key so that he could get a change of clothes while I created a folded set of a t-shirt and shorts, and a towel for drying off.

  I never talked to anyone while taking a shower, mostly because the water blocked out any sound, and conversing with someone who was also showering felt like talking to a stranger while both of us were using urinals. It’s just not something you do, even though you could. A social taboo among men. We also used the bathroom to take turns relieving ourselves, not wanting to get up at night just to empty our bowels and bladders.

  The convenient thing about my power I didn’t have to worry about where to store wet towels, among other things that can be a hassle to handle. I could just make them disappear and remake them whenever I need to. So after thoroughly drying myself, the towel vanished at my command.

  “Your powers are weird.”

  “I say it’s convenient.”

  After Kiori unlocked the door and I closed it behind him, we just lay down in our respective beds, waiting to naturally fall asleep.

  It was silent.

  A few minutes passed as I lay in bed. I tried closing my eyes, but I didn’t feel myself falling asleep. Instead, so many questions still ran through my mind.

  Why did that man, Korons, attack the town?

  What is the ultimate purpose of this school?

  Why is summoning illegal?

  Is Mr. Draco planning on protecting Kiori from the ramifications of the law, or planning on reporting it?

  “You up?” I heard Kiori’s voice.

  I sat up and saw he was mirroring my position.

  “A little hard to sleep with everything that happened.”

  “How are you feeling about all of this?”

  “Me being in school? Well… can’t say everything that happened is something I’m happy about. I’m a bit nervous about 4th and 5th period, since they cover magic.”

  “What’s there to worry about? You’ve got power. It’s not like you don’t have options.”

  “Mr. Draco said a lot of the things I’ve done can’t be explained by the conventions of magic.”

  I know I’m capable of more, but if I must elaborate on why I haven’t used my power as much as I should have, or why it feels like I’m underutilizing it, it might be because I’m afraid of getting the attention of the wrong person.

  Or it’s because I want to avoid acknowledging the more disturbing applications of my power.

  Erasing someone from existence. Bending their bodies like a child playing roughly with a Barbie doll. Transforming a person’s limb into a different state of matter.

  I know what I asked for the moment I declared that power to the God that reincarnated me, but I also don’t want to become so obsessed with using it that I end up crossing boundaries and attempting those applications.

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  And I want to use this second chance at life to not feel disappointed in myself, compared to my previous life.

  If I want to wield my power proudly, I need to surround myself with people I want to make proud. Might be the attention-seeking part of me, but I’d like to show off without it being my sole-defining personality trait.

  “I’ve noticed. I thought you were given a unique attunement, but after you’ve made so many things, and your fight with Alicia, I’m starting to wonder if you had an otherworldly power.”

  “How certain are you on that train of thought?”

  “Train?”

  “Basically, a series of thoughts that lead to a conclusion. Do you do ‘line of thought’?”

  “I know you meant ‘line of thought,’ but what’s a train?”

  “Oh, it’s this!”

  Above my land was a simple wooden train toy. The locomotive and attached train cars were levitating as if they were on a flat railway. Next to that was a bullet train I vaguely remembered taking in Japan. My family even got miniature models as souvenirs.

  Kiori only looked more confused.

  “Let’s just go with ‘line of thought.’ We'll talk about this another day.”

  “Wait!” I saw him stretch his hand toward the trains. “Uh, keep those. I’d like to see the smaller one.”

  Kiori was referring to the miniature model of the bullet train.

  “Sure.” I twirled my finger, and the smaller train slowly levitated toward him.

  He brought the model close to his face, carefully inspecting the design.

  “This is a ‘train,’ right?”

  “Yeah, and most of the time, a bunch of other cars are attached. Usually goods or passengers, depending on what it’s designed for.”

  “Cars?”

  “Carriages that are pulled along by the locomotive, the front of the train. For much longer trains, multiple locomotives are used, sometimes placed at the end of the line to push.”

  Though it was dark, the moonlight reflecting into the room shone on his face. His expression shifted from curiosity and awe to the face you make when you’re deeply worried about something.

  “How do you know all of this?”

  “I learned about it like everyone else.”

  “I mean… where did you learn about all of the things you’ve made?

  I’ve never tried hiding the fact that I’m from another world. Just look at all of the things I’ve made. Most, if not all, of them have been very situational with their usage.

  Well, if my existence threatens his being sentenced to death, knowing my past wouldn’t hurt him.

  “I’ve come from another world, and a lot of the things I’ve made had taken inspiration from there.”

  “What’s it like?”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “What are the mages of your world like?”

  Hmm… that’s a tricky one. Yes, pretty much all superpowers are relegated to either religion, myth, or fiction. In reality, nobody in the world wields supernatural abilities. If there were, they’re either really good at hiding them or have died. Either I tell him that, or talk about one of the many fictional characters I’ve come across.

  “We don’t have mages.”

  “Huh?”

  “There’s no one in the world who wields the power you’re thinking of.”

  “If that’s the case, then what about your power?”

  “Something I realized I have when you summoned me. Not sure why, but I’ve got powers now.”

  I’m not telling him I got my powers from god. That just seems like a bad idea. I can’t call myself an atheist anymore, but if I had to, I would do it if that entity demands it from me. No ‘look for a sign’ bullshit.’ Besides, I’m sure god has a way of messaging me.

  Also, I’m not sure how he’d feel if he learned I met a god.

  “I see. So what does your world have?” He looked at the train in his hand as he spoke.

  “Well… what’s your guys' current method of transportation? I’ve noticed horse-drawn carriages, but from my impression, that’s a luxury.”

  “Pretty much that. If you want to go to another town, or just hate walking, you can use some Qiliq to get a carriage. Prices range depending on what you want, but they’re often used by nobles, merchants, or whoever’s entering or leaving town.”

  “Hm.”

  Makes sense.

  “What about you? What was that thing you were controlling?”

  “Oh, just a Segway hovercraft.”

  Honestly, the thing looked like it came out of a sci-fi show or movie. It looked like it harnessed some blue, alien energy to function. A realistic version would likely just use giant fans to generate lift, and even then it wouldn’t be several inches in the air.

  “‘Just a Segway hovercraft.’ It’s literally the first anyone has seen.”

  “Sorry to say, but it’s not an actual vehicle in my world. I just made it on the spot.”

  He stared at me, dumbfounded, like I had just said something unbelievable.

  “‘Just made it.’ Nolval, you just made it? Like this?”

  Kiori produced a strand of string.

  “How would you react if I said yes?”

  “Nolval, if what you said is true, then you might be the mythical multi-attunement mage!”

  “Multi-attunement? What’s that?”

  Kiori opened his mouth to speak, but his ranged from excitement, contemplation, hesitation, before returning to his usual.

  “Let’s talk about it tomorrow. We need sleep, and I don’t want to waste my break sleeping in.”

  He lay back down on his bed and I lay down after.

  I stared at the ceiling, letting thoughts occupy my mind before drifting asleep.