Luke, Oliver and Diana (Part 2).

There was one more thing I wanted to talk to Luke about. For a moment I considered doing it in private, but really there was no reason to keep Diana out of it. It was only that she might feel a bit lost because… Well, it was about magic.

“H-Hey, Luke? There’s something I’d like to know, if you wouldn’t mind telling me.”

“Of course, Oliver. Anything.”

“The world of the supernatural… There are people with powers that have no relation to spirits, right?”

“Hm, that’s right. We call the energy that fuels magic ‘aether’. The theory is that humans were once able to wield aether naturally, but the ability was lost with time. Like muscles gone unused for centuries, the ability began to disappear. Sometimes, however, people are born with magical power.”

“But… isn’t that like one in a million or something like that?”

“I’m not sure of the concrete numbers, but yes,” Luke nodded. “If it remained as such, then we wouldn't have the underground society we do now. There are two things that help the spread of magic abilities. One is that ordinary people can awaken the power dormant in their souls. They CAN learn to use aether, but the process to do so is dangerous. We’re talking about direct stimulation of the soul, after all. Someone else has to do it to you, and any mistakes can lead to serious permanent injuries if not ****. There ARE safer, consistent methods, but they are related to the second cause of spread. See, when aether awakens in someone, the chances of them having a child that is naturally born with it is higher. And if they aren’t born with it, awakening to it is a lot simpler. That’s how families with magic lineages either form or have continued for generations. Then, of course, there are the odd ones out, like you and me. People who have come into contact with the supernatural and can wield powers thanks to that. In our case, it’s the spirits living inside us.”

“...”

I was conflicted. I wanted to ask him directly, but I felt like I both shouldn’t inquire directly about his powers nor reveal too much about mine. But then again, going about it with roundabout questions felt as bad as lying, so…

“Has your spirit ever told you that you’re awakening your own power? Magic other than his?”

Diana remained quiet, though at this she did raise an eyebrow. Luke, on the other hand, looked thoughtful. He didn’t answer immediately, instead taking the time to think things through.

“I know the possibility is there, but it hasn’t happened to me, no,” he admitted. “My powers are, to put it simply, still reliant on Danglars.”

“I see… Thank you.” It wasn’t hard to imagine how important of a revelation this was. Luke had enemies, and if they knew they could take away his powers if they got rid of Danglars, their source… Not that I knew if such a thing was possible, but it still felt like sensitive information. And on that note… “Frey says I might be awakening to my own. I’ve been… feeling strange lately. It’s like… that hunger we talked about, but even more intense. She says part of it is because my awakening was influenced by the nature of her own magic, so…”

Luke nodded. “So you’re awakening to sex attuned aether instead of what would normally be neutral in nature. Your aether and Frey’s are clashing and… No, clashing is the wrong word. There’s no opposition here. It’s… an overflow. Yes. Okay, I think I understand. But… it’s odd. In theory, you should be okay if you use your power and fulfill your desires. You’ve been working with us on the elixir, so you HAVE been using magic. That just leaves the matter of desires. Is there something you want that you can’t have?”

“Oh.” Dianna muttered in realization.

“‘Oh’? What’s with the ‘oh’?” Luke asked as I felt my own cheeks burning.

“Um… Will he be okay if he stays like that for a couple of days or will he suffer and get worse?” Diana asked.

“Hm? Considering his current condition, he should be fine,” Luke said. “He seems like he’s holding out well enough, and if his aether was getting out of control or something, I’d sense it. That said, I wouldn’t recommend holding onto that for too long, but…”

“I’ll be fine,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s not a big deal. I just… figured I’d ask, since you know a lot more about this stuff than I do.”

“I do know more about this than you, and it is a big deal,” Luke said, his smile growing. “Oliver, if you’re awakening to aether of the same nature as the spirit inside you, there’s a chance you could grow incredibly powerful. Things once impossible could now be within reach.”

“…” That was in line with what Frey said before. Still, it differed in something important. “I… I don’t want to grow all powerful or something like that. I really don’t think I’m fit for all this supernatural stuff, and if I get as powerful as you, I bet I’ll also be making enemies.”

Luke frowned. “That’s… not impossible.”

“That said, I do want to grow stronger, at least a bit. Frey enjoys theorizing about magic and developing spells. Usually what she makes is something we can… play around with.” Diana blushed and turned away. “If growing stronger gives Frey more options, then I’ll do it, but I want to keep it at that.”

Diana smiled at me while Luke sighed with a resigned smile. “Seems like a waste to me, but it’s also possibly the smartest choice anyone with powers can make, and not one many do.”

“So… You wouldn’t know how to train to get the hang of this, would you?” I asked him.

“Not at all,” Luke said with a shrug.

“Oh, really?” Diana asked him, arms crossed. “I thought you knew a lot about magic.”

“I do, but need I remind you that I spent five years looking for someone with powers like his? The nature of his aether is exceedingly rare. I wouldn’t know where to start on training something as complex as that. Besides, he already has the best teacher he could ask for, doesn’t he? A real succubus in his head, the undisputed masters of sexual energy.”

Diana sighed. “All of these magic terms make my head spin…”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up,” I told her.

“Relax, I’m just complaining for the sake of it. Just… Tell us if it gets too unbearable, okay? The point was never to make you suffer.”

I chuckled. “Hey, we’re 2 days away from prom. Might as well see it through.”

“Seriously, what IS it that has you this way?”

I groaned. “I haven’t had sex, Luke!” I told him bluntly.

“O-Oh…” He frowned. confused. “But WHY!?”

It was my turn to sigh.

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