Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

"I think maybe they're the ones who deserve to be called magicians, while we're just spellcasters," Winters said in self-deprecation. "I think that's what the generals at the Department of the Army must think too, which is why they refer to us as 'spellcasters' and not 'magicians.' We're nothing but mass-produced magical war tools for the Alliance."

"Don't put yourself down, magic must be of great use on the battlefield." Although Aike had never been to a battlefield, it was obvious that he was a firm supporter of the Army's spellcaster policy: "Otherwise, why would the Army place so much importance on spellcasters? Magicians are the Mad King Richard's most trusted executioners."

"That has to be an extremely, extremely powerful magician though, there isn't a spellcaster in the entire Alliance now that can match the court wizards of the Mad King." Winters cupped his hand by his mouth, making a megaphone shape: "If I really get to the battlefield, I'm just a human megaphone. You know, the kind made from tinplate, shaped into a cone, with the tip removed, the kind the drill instructor holds every morning to yell at people."

Aike didn't understand what Winters was talking about, and Winters said bitterly, "I'm not the one who said that, it was General Taylor. He came to inspect last year and spoke to the spellcaster cadets alone."

Getting excited, Winters imitated General Taylor's hoarse duck voice: "The most useful spell in battle is the Amplification Spell! This Amplification Spell is really good for commanding troops. It doesn't get drowned out by gunfire, even made little drums obsolete. You guys definitely have to practice your Amplification Spell well, and cut down on those other useless, fancy tricks."

"Just listen to how the top brass of the Provincial Army values spellcasters, useless fancy tricks?" Winters suddenly had a ludicrous thought: "If there were portable fire starters, Fire-type spells would be rendered obsolete. And if someday someone invents a device that can amplify voices without magic, army spellcasters might just all be out of a job."

"What 'tool people,' you guys are the treasures of the military!" Aike pondered for a moment before making up his mind to tell Winters: "Have you ever heard of the 'Decade Personnel'?"

Winters thought carefully for a moment, then shook his head.

Aike explained: "It's normal that you haven't heard of it, it's something those of us without magical talents discuss. If army officers want to be promoted, apart from serving time, there must also be a vacancy, right?"

This was common knowledge among all army officers and prospective officers, so Winters replied without hesitation: "That's correct."

"But there are many officers in the military who, even if they have served enough time, can't get promoted and just continue to accumulate seniority." Aike's tone was also uncertain: "However, many people say that spellcaster officers will definitely be promoted once they have served enough time, so within ten years they're sure to make major, and within twenty, colonel."

This was the first time Winters had heard about this unwritten rule within the Army, and he was shocked. Naturally, just as nobody discusses a bully in front of the bully, which classmate would talk about spellcasters in front of spellcasters?

Aike's words made Winters feel his cheeks burning because he realized he was a beneficiary of an unfair system, while his good friends and classmates were being oppressed by it.

"If there really is such an unwritten rule, then it's blatant discrimination and unjust." The education Winters received since childhood emphasized fairness and justice, and such a policy of the Army obviously contradicted the principle of fairness.

He said sincerely: "Military promotions should be based on ability and merit, I don't believe that a talent for spells holds any special value for commanding troops, that's just mismanagement by the Army."

Aike realized his words had made Winters feel guilty, and he quickly said, "Don't take it too seriously, it's not a big deal. Officer promotions definitely won't only look at magical ability, but considering everything, having magical ability as a bonus is reasonable."

Aike then mentioned another example of even less fair treatment: "What about those officers who come out of 'crash courses' and can't even become field officers in their lifetime, aren't they even more discriminated against?"

Seeing the topic veering towards a critique of the Alliance Army's decision-makers, Aike now particularly regretted bringing up the subject of the 'Decade Personnel' with Winters. He hurriedly brought the conversation back to magic: "You were just saying that Fire-type spells are useless, but how can fire magic be useless? Isn't controlling fire quite impressive?"

"Fire-type magic isn't about controlling fire, but using magic to achieve some effects in place of fire. For example, with a non-flammable material like stone, no matter how much magic I use, I can't make it burn," Winters hurriedly corrected Aike's misunderstanding about magic.

"But to tell you the truth, my Fire-type spells might not even be as powerful as just using a torch," Winters said reluctantly: "I can barely vaporize a bit of water at full strength, but with a torch, you could quickly dry out the water."

"Sound-type spells don't require casting materials, and the Acceleration-type just needs some hard objects. Whereas most Fire-type spells rely on casting materials. If we really were on the battlefield, you'd have probably taken me down with your sword before I could even get my casting materials out."

"How could that be? Didn't you just burn a hair just now?" Aike said with a smile: "If we really got into a fight, can't you just figure out how to light my hair on fire and win?"

The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was intentional. The suggestion struck Winters like a bolt of lightning: "I actually never really thought about using the Fire-type spells to set an enemy's hair ablaze."

Winters thought more and more that the idea was interesting. He stood up excitedly and said to Aike, "Your idea is really so dirty, I love it, I'm going to note this spell down in my spellbook."

"Haha, now you have your own original spell, how about we call it Axel's Hair Burning Spell?" Winters paced and said, "Hair Burning Spell doesn't sound imposing enough, how about Axel's Scalp Scorcher? Face Flamer? Hair Annihilator?"

"Is this really considered inventing a spell?" Aike said with a wry smile, "Isn't this a bit too childish?"

"Why wouldn't this be considered inventing a spell? You've invented a unique usage for fire-type magic." Winters argued earnestly, "It's all about waving arms and wielding swords, which can be broken down into so many stances and moves. So why wouldn't inventing a unique usage for a spell be considered inventing a spell? Do you think fire-type magic spells are categorized together because they all follow the same principle, differing only in their application?"

"Alright, alright, let's just call it Hair Burning Spell then," Aike answered offhand.

"Although it's not tested yet, this approach is really novel. We need to find some actual hair to practice with a few times to see how to make hair burn faster and more fiercely." The more Winters thought about it, the more interesting it became, "I finally understand why the general said, 'There are no useless spells, only foolish spellcasters. A spellcaster must first be clever and only then can one be a spellcaster.'"

"I've been too rigid in my thinking, only considering Flash Spell for actual combat, but you've opened my eyes," Winters said emphatically. "Aike, you really are a genius. If you had magical talent, you'd definitely be a hundred times stronger a spellcaster than I am."

"It's not that amazing, don't flatter me," Aike felt that Winters was making too much of a fuss, "What if I shaved off all my hair then?"

"That…" Winters's breath hitched, "…then I would have to resort to using Flash Spell again."

Aike burst into laughter, but after his laughter subsided, he spoke to Winters with a sincere and yearning tone, "I really want to become a spellcaster, even if I were the worst one. Even if I could only manage the most basic spell of the fire-type spells you despise. It's not because of any 'ten-years goal' that I want to become a spellcaster, I just genuinely want to be one. I really want to know what it feels like to use magic."

Winters could understand the sentiment Aike expressed; who hadn't fallen asleep with fantasies of becoming a knight or a magician in their younger years? When he'd learned he could study spells, he too was so excited that he could hardly sleep all night.

It's a shame though, for the magical abilities of an untrained potential spellcaster were like tiny sparks. But if one wished to make flames roar, one at least needed those sparks to begin with. How could you light a fire without any sparks?

"Is it so devastating not to be a magician? If you really experienced it, you'd probably think it's 'not a big deal' and be greatly disappointed. Plus, I'll tell you, ever since I started my spellcaster training, I've been particularly sleepy; I seriously suspect it's a side effect of learning spells." But Winters still tried to console Aike:

"If I could, I'd rather trade my spellcasting ability for your swordsmanship prowess. Do you know how painful it is that I've never beaten you? Do you know I hide in the bathroom every day, washing my face with tears? Besides, court magicians might be different, but us spellcaster officers, we're really just tools."

This absurd rambling brought a smile to Aike's face, "Your love of sleeping has absolutely nothing to do with being a spellcaster, you just naturally love to sleep in. Enough about the impossible. Tell me more about what it feels like to use magic. Is it just extremely painful when you use magic?"

Winters thought carefully again about the sensation of using magic, his face flushing as he said, "It's really extremely painful, like being tortured, but besides that, it's also extremely... exhilarating. It hurts while bringing joy, at least that's how it feels to me. And I often feel a bit empty after I stop casting, I suspect it might be a sign of addiction."

"Using magic can also be very exhilarating? Exhilarating to the point of addiction?" Aike was stunned.

"Yes." Winters's face reddened even more.

Of course, using magic could be addictive because it was exhilarating, but the spellcasters of this era did not know the deeper reasons. Later researchers, through MRI technology, discovered that when spellcasters used spells, almost their entire cerebral cortex became intensely active, and the activation pattern was very similar to the brain rewarding human reproductive behavior. This kind of cerebral fireworks surely brought intense pain and pleasure similar to the rewards for human reproduction.

Without this kind of compensation, humans wouldn't be able to endure the additional pain brought by casting spells. Later researchers even found that the physical structure of spellcasters' brains differed from that of regular people, with spellcasters having a thicker cortex and smaller medulla.

"How exhilarating is it?" Aike asked seriously.

"Very exhilarating," Winters answered earnestly.

"It's not because of some particular type of desire you have?" Aike asked skeptically.

"I am not a masochist!" Winters retorted angrily.

"No need to talk any further, let's not wait until tomorrow, let's do it today." Aike gripped Winters's hand tightly, "After class, hurry and take me to see whatever his name was... Christian, the teacher, to get tested. I feel now... that I might very well be a diamond in the rough!"