American comics farmer: start by adopting the villain savior.

Chapter 124 Explosion & Recovery. Salafir and the Divine Capital: The Rules-Defining Force.

The hustle and bustle of the day gradually subsided.

The setting sun painted the sky a warm orange-red, bringing Smallwell's harvest season celebrations to a perfect close.

But at Kent Farm, the real celebrations were just beginning.

The spacious courtyard was brightly lit.

Two long wooden tables were put together and covered with a classic red and white checkered tablecloth.

It was covered with a variety of delicacies that Martha had carefully prepared.

The golden, crispy fried chicken glistened with oil, and the potato salad piled high like a small mountain was delicate and tempting.

The perfectly roasted beans exude a sweet aroma, along with a dazzling array of fresh salads.

In the center of the courtyard, two barbecue grills were emitting enticing smoke.

Wearing an apron, Jonathan was sweating profusely but cheerfully flipping the sizzling steaks and sausages on the grill, occasionally brushing on special sauce.

The aroma of meat mingled with the smoky scent of fruitwood permeates the entire farm, making one's mouth water.

And it was in this atmosphere of busy activity and fragrant aromas.

"uncle.!"

With a shout, Locke, who was busy tending to a few perfectly grilled corns by another grill, looked up and saw Clark staring blankly at a rather large piece of beef brisket on the grill.

Holding grilling tongs and a spray bottle, his face was full of embarrassment.

"uncle."

Clark scratched his head sheepishly, his voice tinged with apology, "I...I forgot to spray the apple cider vinegar halfway through again..."

"?!"

Locke gasped and quickly poked the surface of the beef brisket with his finger.

really
The texture it felt was indeed somewhat hard and dry.

This immediately gave him a pained expression:

"This is top-quality brisket that I won from that Anthony guy!"

"They actually turned into firewood just like that."

"Top-tier?!"

Clark also gasped, his eyes widening in shock.

"It was my negligence! So... what should we do now?"

"..."

Seeing his nephew's frustrated and anxious look, Locke's initial heartache instantly turned into amusement and helplessness.

He stroked his chin and pondered for a moment, a recipe flashing through his mind.

Although the circumstances are different, but...

Let's try anything, even if it seems hopeless.
"Then give it a try."

He spoke hesitantly, pointing to the unopened bottle of beer next to him.

"Why not mix beer and gravy together and spray it on? Maybe... it can salvage the taste a little?"

"what?"

Clark looked bewildered. "But this isn't..."

Before he could finish his question, Jonathan, who was standing in front of the main oven, overheard their conversation.

He was so hot that he took off his shirt, wearing only an apron, and while wielding a shovel, he spoke loudly and enthusiastically:

"Locke! This is ridiculous!"

"The rules for barbecue passed down from our ancestors are clearly written down!"

"You have to use apple cider vinegar! You're trying to overturn tradition! You're going to get skinned alive!"

"..."

What kind of nonsense is this?

Locke rolled his eyes at his brother, annoyed.
"What nonsense are you spouting now? Go roast your sausages!"

He was too lazy to argue with this moralist, so he turned to Clark and said:

"Ignore him, Clark, give it a try. Maybe it'll work wonders?"

"Um……"

Clark nodded with some skepticism, picked up the glass next to him, and began mixing the beer and gravy.

However, his movements slowed down, as if he were somewhat distracted.

He quietly approached Locke, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of hesitation and pleading:

"Uncle, um... after the barbecue, can I... talk to you alone about something?"

"discuss?"

Locke blinked, studying Clark's slightly nervous and somewhat embarrassed expression.

He subconsciously glanced at Lana, who was chatting happily with Chloe not far away...

Oh?
A knowing smile, tinged with a mischievous glint, instantly appeared on his face.

He patted Clark's strong arm, glanced at the boisterous Jonathan, who was still shouting about tradition and was shirtless with an apron on, and then looked at his tall, handsome nephew who seemed a little shy at the moment.

It's no wonder you asked me for help.
Clark.

Locke nodded vigorously, a smile of immense satisfaction and encouragement spreading across his face. He lowered his voice and said:
"Good nephew! No problem! Uncle's got it covered! I understand!"

"Thank you, Uncle Locke."

Clark finally breathed a sigh of relief, a weight lifted from his shoulders.
.
.....
Meanwhile on the other side.

Chloe and Lana were having a great time chatting.

But somehow the conversation shifted to Clark, who was behaving unusually normally today.

“If you ask me, Clark is a completely naive and kind-hearted guy!” Chloe waved a roasted corn on the cob, her tone certain. “Look how many people he helped move things today! He’s such a goofball, he never says no to anyone.”

How could you say that, Chloe?

Lana shook her head slightly, her chestnut braids swaying gently. She held the cup, her eyes tender and earnest, the afterglow of the setting sun even casting a soft glow on her beautiful face.
"I don't think this is being naive... it's a rare kind of gentleness."

"He always seems to have a knack for sensing who needs help, and he never hesitates to lend a hand. It's a talent, really."

"Come on, Lana, you're only giving him the benefit of the doubt because he's handsome!" Chloe scoffed dismissively. "That's not being perceptive, that's being slow-witted! He's a master at collecting friend cards!"

"certainly not!"

Lana's cheeks flushed slightly, but her tone remained firm.

"This is a very precious quality! You can tell just by how he treats small animals and his family..."

Hey! The time I spent with him.

The two then started arguing.

One of them was a little angry.

One side spoke softly.

However, they all carried the earnestness and stubbornness unique to young girls.

Martha, standing to the side, had no choice but to step forward and try to mediate.

Do they do this often?

A slightly lazy yet curious voice chimed in.

Zatanna had somehow appeared beside her, holding a perfectly grilled skewer of meat, and asked a question indistinctly while chewing.

Is someone talking to me?!

Pete, who was busy gnawing on a chicken leg, looked up upon hearing this and replied, albeit with some slurred speech:

"I (chewing) don't know. (chewing) I'm here to eat."

"That's no fun."

Zatanna shrugged, showing little interest in the little girls' argument.

She first looked at Locke, but... she was clearly not interested in her father's barbecue philosophy. Her gaze shifted and was eventually drawn to the little boy not far away who was faintly radiating strange magical energy.

Salafir was sitting next to the swing set in the yard, gently swinging her legs.

However, he was not alone—

At this moment, he is surrounded by a large group of furry friends!
A large, fluffy gray dog, a bright red fox, several squirrels clutching their front paws, two elegant and gentle sika deer, and even...

There was also a large brown bear that somehow appeared at the farm barbecue party without any apparent reason.

In short, all these strange animals were eagerly surrounding him, creating an atmosphere so harmonious it was almost dreamlike.

Meanwhile, Salafir was carefully breaking off a piece of dark chocolate, trying to share it with the large greyhound.

“Wait, that’s chocolate, Salafir.”

Zatanna swiftly stepped forward, gently but quickly grasping the little boy's wrist, her tone both cautionary and concerned:
"Chocolate is highly toxic to dogs; the theobromine in it can damage their hearts, and in severe cases, it can be fatal."

"..."

Salafir raised her head, blinked her pure and innocent eyes, and explained earnestly:

"Aunt Zatanna, Big Grey is a wolf, not a dog."

As if to verify the reliability of Salafir's words.

The dog named 'Big Grey' immediately raised its neck.

"Awoo! Awoo—woo!"

It let out two wolf howls, which, though an attempt to imitate, were still somewhat off-key.

Oh……

So it was a wolf.

Zatanna paused for a moment, then nodded subconsciously.

Then
—How could nothing be wrong?!
Canines generally can't metabolize theobromine! Whether it's a wolf or a dog makes absolutely no difference.

?
The scene before her left her speechless.

The gray wolf happily and without any hesitation snatched the chocolate from Salafir's hand.

It chewed with great relish, its tail even wagging happily, almost turning into a propeller.

The way they ate it was so skillful, it didn't seem like it was their first time.

Meanwhile, the brown bear next to it was munching on a piece of roasted corn, making a crunching sound, completely oblivious to the humans around it, as if it were the owner of the farm.

Zatanna fell completely silent.

"...Do you do this often?"

She pointed to the surreal scene and said with difficulty.

"Yes, Aunt Zatanna,"

Salafir nodded, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Every time we have a barbecue at home, I invite everyone over. Dad says that happiness and delicious food should be shared with friends.”

"Ouch!"

"Guguga!"

"Hoohoo!"

"Eat!"

"Sisi!"

The animals made sounds one after another, as if they were all enthusiastically agreeing with Salafil's words.

It really is...

An incredible child.

Zatanna gazed at the harmonious yet eerie scene before her, and sighed inwardly:

She gets along so naturally with the animals…

She also looks kind and intelligent.
Mr. Locke was indeed a skilled educator...

"No, there's one more thing." She suddenly realized, her face darkening as she bent down to correct him earnestly, "Sarafil, I'm only 21! You should call me Sister Zatanna, or Ms. Zatara! Not Auntie!"

"Oh~"

Salafir readily complied, obediently changing his address while patting the gray wolf's head, and asked in confusion:
"Sister Zatanna, is there anything I can help you with? Could it be that..." He paused, as if remembering something, his eyes revealing simple sympathy, "that you can only play with other children...that's so sad, isn't it?"

"Yes... I am such a lonely person..."

Zatanna instinctively followed his words with a sigh, but stopped abruptly halfway through, saying helplessly:
"I'm the older sister! And why can't I play with you? Why is it sad to play with you!"

but
Seeing Salafir's mature demeanor, Zatanna couldn't help but smile and ruffle his soft black hair.
"Okay, little one. Do you and your friends want to see magic? Real magic!"

"magic?"

Salafir's eyes lit up. He looked at the woman dressed as a magician and asked with pure curiosity, "Is it the kind of magic that... can conjure things out of thin air and make them disappear?"

Zatanna smiled mysteriously, without giving a direct answer.

She simply bent down casually, picked a small white wildflower from the grass at her feet, and held it in her palm.

Immediately afterwards——

"call out!"

In a flash, the wildflower disappeared from sight.

Instead
It was a snow-white pigeon that was cooing.

It fluttered its wings and gracefully flew up from her palm, landing on Salafir's shoulder.

"Wow!"

Her eyes lit up, and Salafir's little face was filled with amazement and admiration. "So amazing!"

"Awesome!"

Zatanna hummed smugly twice, a rare moment of relaxation on her face:

"That's nothing, I have something even more amazing to offer!"

Thus, the magician's confidence was boosted by Salafir's pure and ardent gaze of admiration, and her desire to perform was fully ignited.

She took a deep breath and began to unleash even more exquisite magic.
of course.

To the average person, it's a dazzling display of top-notch close-up magic.

With a flick of her slender fingers, a deck of cards seemed to come alive.

It danced, disappeared, and reappeared smoothly between her fingers.

They even seemed to be drawn together by invisible threads, forming brief but complex patterns in the air.

She then casually picked up a napkin, gave it a gentle shake, and the napkin transformed into countless colorful ribbons.

Then, with a crisp snap of her fingers, it miraculously returned to its original state, smooth as new...

Absolutely brilliant.

The magic tricks performed by this magician.

It seemed endless, with each trick being ingenious and incredible.

This attracted the full attention of Salafir.

Even the people around were gradually drawn in, gathering around and occasionally letting out exclamations and enthusiastic applause.

Even Light Luther, who was leaning against the barn railing, holding a large skewer of meat in one hand and a beer in the other, seemed detached from the situation.

As he watched the joyful and magical performance, even his usually stern lips curled into a slight smile, and he raised his hand to give a symbolic clapping.

Until the series of performances came to an end.

Zatanna then gracefully bowed to Salafir, whose eyes were sparkling.
Along with this, there is also...
"Clap clap clap!"

The applause from all around brought Zatanna back to her senses, bringing her back from her immersive performance.

She looked at the cheering crowd around her and realized that she seemed to be getting a little too carried away.

Her fair cheeks immediately flushed slightly, and she could only smile sheepishly.

"How about it?"

Zatanna crouched down, looking directly into Salafir's curious eyes, and whispered:
"So, wasn't the magic trick amazing?"

"Mmmmmmm!"

Salafir nodded her little head like a chick pecking at rice, her face full of curiosity.

He's just missing a great act to perform at his dad's birthday party next week.

Even.
"Brother, knock this woman unconscious! Let me see her memories." A hint of longing lingered in Shen Du's voice. "I've longed for this for so long!"

"Hehehehehehehehehehe!"

He also let out a strange laugh that he had somehow learned.

"Shen Du, your laugh sounds awful."

Salafir silently complained to himself.

But outwardly, he immediately looked up and pleaded in a sweet voice, "Sister! Teach me!"

“No problem.” Zatanna was amused by his expression and gently patted his head. “However, learning magic is not a casual thing.”

"Go ask Mr. Locke. If he agrees, I can teach you two simple and fun magic tricks!"

Upon hearing this, Salafir immediately acted like a soldier who had received an order.

He turned around and jogged off towards Locke.

And Locke.
He had naturally noticed the commotion already.

Seeing his youngest son running over excitedly, he put down the grill tongs, wiped his hands with a towel, and bent down to greet him.

"father!"

Salafir looked up at her with eager anticipation.

"Sister Zatanna asked me if I wanted to learn magic! She said she would teach me if I agreed!"

"And what about you?" Looking at the gleam in his son's eyes, Locke smiled gently and patted his head. "Do you and 'God's Capital' like magic, Salafir?"

"Ok!"

Salafir nodded vigorously, her voice loud and clear, "I love it! It's amazing! It's incredible!"

“I’m glad you like it.” Locke’s smile softened even more. “Then go ahead. Take Sister Zatanna with you to the barn. It’s spacious and quiet, perfect for you to practice without disturbing anyone.”

"Thank you dad!"

Salafir was so happy he almost jumped for joy, and upon receiving permission, he immediately turned around.

He ran quickly back to Zatanna, took her hand, and said eagerly:

"Sister Zatanna! Daddy agreed! Let's go to the barn! It's huge!"

of course
Before leaving, he didn't forget to turn back and wave to his animal friends.

The animals seemed to understand Salafir's meaning, responding with a few low growls and soft chirps.

They then dispersed, some wandering back into the forest, while others found a corner to lie down and continue their nap.

See this
Locke also showed a relieved smile.

He silently offered his blessings, while also feeling a subtle sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both emotion and reflection).

Perhaps this is the last piece of the puzzle that's missing?
After all, this child has another identity.

However, in a certain time and space, he single-handedly suppressed the strongest mage of the entire era.

That talent and yearning hidden deep within the soul can never be buried, nor should it be wasted.

"Sure, bro."

Jonathan nudged Locke with his greasy elbow, winked, and whispered slyly, "I see."

"childish!"

He rolled his eyes at him, then grabbed a large piece of freshly grilled meat from the plate next to him and shoved it precisely into Jonathan's gossipy mouth: "Go grill the meat, or you'll see what Dio says about you when he gets back if it burns."

"..." Jonathan winced in pain from the burn and couldn't utter a sound.

In the end, he could only glare angrily at Locke before obediently continuing to flip the sausages on the grill.
-
barn.

The heavy wooden door closed behind me, slightly isolating me from the noise of the barbecue party outside.

The air here is filled with the distinctive aromas of hay, grain, and wood.

A dim, yellowish electric light hangs from the high ceiling, casting large patches of light and shadow.

The combination of the two adds a touch of mystery to this place.

"Sister Zatanna." As soon as she stopped, Salafir turned around impatiently, her eyes sparkling with pure and excited light, as if filled with stars: "Can we start learning magic now?"

Seeing the little guy's eager and hopeful expression, Zatanna couldn't help but smile.

But instead of immediately starting the demonstration, she put on a serious-looking act.

First, he looked around mysteriously, then listened intently, as if checking if there were any unwanted ears lurking in the barn filled with farm tools and hay. Only then did he bend down and lower his voice:

“Sarafiel!”

"Let me tell you a secret."

"Actually, I'm not an ordinary magician."

She paused, observing the boy's reaction. "I am a... true magician."

"Uh-huh!"

Salafir nodded.

"?"

Now it was Zatanna's turn to look puzzled, tilting her head in confusion:
"Aren't you surprised, Salafir? A magician! The kind that can use real magic!"

"..."

"Surprised?" Salafir pondered for a moment, seemingly deep in thought, before speaking, "Is it the kind of magic you see on TV... the kind that can conjure things out of thin air?"

"Yes!"

Zatanna nodded proudly, feeling that she had finally piqued the child's interest.

"Most of my magic tricks are actually based on this! They use real magical power!"

"Oh, that's amazing, Sister Zatanna."

Salafir agreed.

"right."

Zatanna nodded.

"."

"Sister Zatanna, can we start learning magic now?"

"Of course, magic can be used anytime."

"?"

"magic?"

"correct."

Salafir asked in confusion, "Now that the secret is over, let's begin our magic lesson."

"I plan to perform for my dad on his birthday."

"..."

Zatanna was completely stunned.

Why is this child more interested in 'magic' than 'magic'?
“Sarafil”.

She couldn't help but press for answers, trying to restore magic's place in the child's heart:
"Don't you like magic? Look, magic can do so many amazing things!"

He then proceeded to demonstrate the allure of magic.

She raised her gloved right hand, aimed it at a small pile of scattered, dry straw in the corner of the barn, her expression slightly serious, and clearly chanted a short and strange ironic incantation: "Growing plants!"

As the last syllable of her incantation faded, magical power surged forth.

The pile of withered yellow wheat straw on the ground seemed to be instantly infused with tremendous vitality, rapidly sprouting emerald green shoots at a speed visible to the naked eye, the stems becoming thicker and greener, and even starting to bear small and plump ears of wheat against the season!

The entire process was completed in seconds, demonstrating the magic of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.

but.
It's not that I don't like it...

Salafir looked at the wildly growing wheat, a hesitant expression on her little face.

He looked at Zatanna carefully.

This is Dad's good friend, after all, he's here for the Kent family dinner.
They are all trustworthy and excellent people, certified by their family.

My father also said that.

There are never any bad people on Kent Farm!

This idea solidified his decision.

So, Salafir imitated Zatanna's mysterious manner, first looking around in a convincing manner, then beckoning Zatanna closer in a mysterious way:
"Sister Zatanna, I'll tell you a secret too. Actually..."

As he spoke, the boy slowly extended a small hand, palm up.

A soft and pure white light silently emerged from his palm. The light was not dazzling, but warm and full of vitality, as if it contained the primordial pulse of life.

Then, under Zatanna's incredulous gaze, Salafir gently placed her small hand, which emitted a soft white light, on the slightly dry, hard earth beside her.

The next moment, a shocking scene suddenly appeared—

Centered on the hand, tender green shoots sprout from the soil.
It grew and spread rapidly, forming a small, lush, and vibrant meadow at their feet almost instantly!

Its vigorous growth and strong vitality!
It even far surpassed the pile of straw that Zatanna had just magically created!

"..."

No incantation chanted? No ritual assistance?
even…

I can't even sense the slightest magical fluctuation that should occur during a normal spellcasting?

Zatanna was completely stunned, her mind going blank for a moment.

This……

This is probably just the unimaginable, immense magical power within this child.
Is it an unconscious, instinctive outward manifestation?
It is not 'magic' that has been learned and understood.

Rather, it is the most primal and purest magic itself flowing naturally...

She hesitated for a moment, then felt it was necessary to help the child develop a correct understanding.

Tell him what it is—

The magic that truly needs to be built and shaped.

“Sarafil, look, what you just did was really impressive.”

“But that’s more like pure magic, not magic,” Zatanna tried to explain. “Magic, on the other hand, is something we shape with our will, making it obey our desires and accomplish concrete, controllable things, like this.”

She snapped her fingers, and a leaping flame shot up from her fingertip.

However.
The surprised and admiring look she had anticipated from Salafir did not appear.

Instead, the boy looked at the flame, his expression turning strange, his brows furrowing slightly, as if he had seen something...
A creation that is too rudimentary, even somewhat crude.

"Brother, this foolish magician has such audacity!"

The arrogant voice of "Divine Capital" suddenly exploded in Salafir's mind, "How dare you toy with this insignificant flame in front of us! It's an insult to fire! Shout at me!"

"Shout?" Salafir paused slightly, looking somewhat bewildered.

“That’s right.” “Divine Capital” shouted sharply, “Dragon Blast!”

I was jolted by the sudden increase in volume in my mind.

Another wave of scorching heat surged uncontrollably through my chest.

Salafil, with a hint of confusion and uncertainty, repeated it softly:
"Dragon... Explosion?"

"boom!!!!!!"

The moment he finished speaking!

A ball of explosive flame, far more violent, ferocious, and destructive than the flame in Zatanna's hand!
It appeared out of nowhere, like the breath of an angry dragon.

It ruthlessly bombarded the patch of oat grass that had just begun to grow well in front of the two of them!
The violent sound waves made the entire barn buzz, and hot air rushed out!
"Life-Generating Shield!"

Zatanna's pupils contracted, and almost instinctively she instantly conjured a magical shield.

It swiftly enveloped Salafir and himself, barely keeping the scorching heat and impact at bay.

As the flames and smoke subsided, the sight before her made her gasp.

The oat meadow, along with the soil beneath it, had been blasted to a charred and pulverized state, leaving only a shocking crater still emitting wisps of smoke.

Even the sturdy barn floorboards underneath were blown open, leaving a sizable gap.

"..."

Staring dumbfounded at the crater, Zatanna looked at Salafir, who looked completely innocent and seemed not to have realized what had happened.

This is also an unconscious manifestation of magic?!

She felt that her view of magic had been impacted like never before.

My brain almost stopped thinking.

Meanwhile, Salafir remained silent on the other side:

Why did you suddenly make me shout that?!

He thought to himself angrily.

"She provoked us first!" "Divine Capital" sneered, his tone full of arrogance, "How dare she play with fire in front of us."

"You blew up the barn! I'm going to tell Dad!"

"."

The two brothers began a passionate online battle.

It wasn't until Zatanna swallowed hard that she decided to change her teaching approach.

“Sa...Sarahir.”

"The foundation of magic lies in deception—deceiving the senses, deceiving cognition."

"But magic deceives reality, you."

"Try to slightly 'twist' it with your willpower."

“For example,” Zatanna pointed to the still-smoking crater, “try this…”

She raised her hand towards the pit and chanted the ironic incantation again:

"Half a repair!"

A glimmer of light flashed, and about half of the crater had been repaired.
Salafir breathed a sigh of relief.

Looks like I won't get scolded by my dad.

Well, Zatanna's magic is quite amazing.

That way, if I break something in the future, I can fix it myself.

but
"?"

Salafir scratched the back of his head, looking at Zatanna's actions, and seemed to understand something.

If that's all you're doing.
It seems like I'm not incapable?
He mimicked Zatanna, extending one hand, and the soft white light once again gathered in his palm.

This time, he didn't have any complicated thoughts.

She simply wanted to restore the original state in her heart, while carefully placing her hand, which was emitting white light, on the edge of the half-repaired pit.

His body, his inner strength, seemed to respond naturally to his pure desire.

The white light in his hand began to distort, and then directly…

The concept of 'recovery' was defined.

There are no incantations, no specific gestures, and even the process of concentrating is so brief as to be almost non-existent.

Soft white light seeped into the scorched earth and broken wooden floor like flowing water.

Under Zatanna's shocked gaze.

The destroyed parts began to regrow, coalesce, and fill in the gaps at a visible rate…

It's as if matter is flowing backwards in time!

In just a few seconds, the hole and the wooden floor were completely repaired, as if the terrifying explosion had never happened!
As a rigorously trained magician, Zatanna deeply understands the essence of magic:

Ordinary magic contains both internal and external elements:

Spells, runes, or combinations thereof constitute external elements, much like precise mathematical formulas, achieving effects by integrating known models; this aspect can be learned and mastered.

but.
intrinsic elements
That is, the willpower and mental strength to reshape reality.

This is the core element that is most difficult to achieve when casting magic.

Even the simplest 'elemental ignition'—

It also requires a concentrated effort, and even a process of mental impact.
In other words, there will always be a price to pay in terms of willpower and mental strength, no matter what.

Therefore, the more powerful and complex the magic, the greater the cost of transferring mental energy if there are no runes, props, incantations, or other rituals to share the burden.
Its backlash is enough to tear apart the caster's mind.

but
Zatanna had to admit it.

She couldn't sense any trace of a "spellcasting process" in Salafir.

Without the constraints of ritual, without the intense drain on one's spirit, everything...

As natural as breathing.

His father once said:

Magic is a power that can reshape reality.

To cast a spell, the caster must sense its existence, understand its nature, and recognize that it can be shaped at will.

This ability is a highly subjective 'magical perception'.

In short:
talent.

Then
Looking at the boy beside her, who possessed incredible power, Zatanna had only one thought in her mind:
Merlin above
Someone has surpassed you.

Even possibly
"Sarafil, try this."

Zatanna's voice trembled slightly, without her even realizing it, as she removed an antique-style necklace from her neck.

The pendant of the necklace is a tiny, intricately designed magic lock.

This is a magical toy left to her by her father, John Zatara. Years ago, due to her father's disappearance, the specific restoration spell was missing, and it has remained in an unlocked state, unable to be put back together.

"Look at this, can you fix it?"

She gently placed the magic lock in Salafir's hand.

"repair?"

Salafir took the necklace, placed it in her palm, and looked at it curiously.

He didn't even look down at it intently; he was just thinking about repairing it, and then casually conjured a ball of light.

"Click."

A very faint yet perfectly clear sound of a mechanism engaging rang out.

Under Zatanna's unwavering gaze.

The magic lock's complex and intricate internal structure seemed to be manipulated by an invisible, skillful hand.

Layer upon layer of rotation, fitting, and resetting...

The whole process took only a second or two, and the magic lock that had troubled her for years and should have required a specific magic key to restore closed perfectly.

It lay there quietly in Salafir's little hand, as if it had never been opened.

"."

The entire barn fell into a deathly silence.

Zatanna stared blankly at the magic lock that had been restored to its original state.

Then she slowly moved toward Sarafiel, who looked relaxed.

All her previous excitement, enthusiasm, and the idea of ​​taking on apprentices.
It was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over them, extinguishing them instantly.

This is completely different from the physical matter involved in repairing a floor!

Magical creations are also creations produced by magic distorting reality.

Its repair requires the use of corresponding magical rules and specific spells.

However.
Salafir, however, restored it perfectly without relying on any known magical system, solely through his own magic...

Zatanna slowly crouched down, looking Salafir straight in the eye, her expression incredibly complex.

There was a sense of loss, a sense of amazement, and even a hint of something indescribable…

In awe.

She was wrong; all her previous guesses were incorrect!
This child is not a rough diamond that needs polishing; he is a treasure trove of unfathomable depth.

He doesn't need to painstakingly reshape and distort reality by learning rules and rituals.

His magic is itself.

It is something at a higher level.
rule.

These are rules that are both absolute and conceptual.

He wanted to repair, so his magic automatically became the rule of 'repair,' acting on everything.

He wanted to unleash flames, so his magic defined itself by the rules of 'explosion' and 'burning,' pouring out destructive flames.

The magic within him is a derivative of his will.

It could even be said that—

May all your wishes come true.

Such an existence…

Should I teach him myself?

What should we teach him?
Should we teach him how to restrain himself?
Should we teach him how to reduce the instinctive definition of 'rules' to tedious chanting, drawing circles, or even speaking backwards?
Presumably, any magician's 'teachings' would be a constraint and a misdirection for Salafir.

What he needs might not be a teacher at all, but rather...

The guide helps him understand the meaning and responsibility of this power.

Or perhaps a guardian, ensuring he doesn't lose himself in this power that no one can understand.

At that moment, Zatanna's idea of ​​taking on a disciple completely vanished without a trace.

Instead, it was replaced by an unprecedented sense of responsibility.

Such a miracle.

All you need to do is silently protect them!

"Sarafil, I'm sorry."

Zatanna sighed softly, a bitter smile appearing on her face.

They almost misled young people.

She gently stroked Salafir's hair. "You are very, very special."

"Especially so... perhaps no one is qualified to be your teacher. Not even Merlin."

After hanging the necklace around Salafir's neck, Zatanna's expression returned to its usual languidness, but a hint of seriousness appeared in her eyes.

"Magic, or rather, conventional magic 'techniques,' may be as simple and natural to you as breathing. Learning them is actually putting shackles on you."

“So forget all those so-called ‘methods’ and ‘spells’ I just taught you,” she said solemnly. “The most important thing is to remember how you feel when you use your power, trust it, and feel it.”

She stood up, took Salafir's hand, and walked out of the barn.

"Let's go back and have some barbecue."

"I'll teach you a couple of real magic tricks later."

(End of this chapter)