This Takes Talent, Okay?

Chapter 11: This Takes Talent, Okay?

"Mr. Richter, I hope you can adopt the proper attitude. What you are doing is not conducive to good communication between us." Magic? Sorcerers? What a joke. Coulson and Melinda did not believe Evenson's claims in the slightest. This was no longer the ignorant Middle Ages, but the twenty-first century. Science ruled supreme. Things like magic only appeared in fairy tales, novels, and movies now. "To us, magic is unscientific. Any unusual ability beyond the norm is a mutation."

"Don't be so quick to define things." Evenson shook his head. "What makes you so certain that a power like magic does not exist in this world?"

"Our world and modern civilization are built on science. Science creates everything, and science explains everything. Humanity's achievements today came from the power of science, not some mysterious magic. That would only hinder human progress." Coulson calmly expounded on the supremacy of science and his disdain for magic.

Clap, clap, clap, clap. After hearing Coulson, Evenson slowly applauded. "Not a bad speech, but I think you have some misconceptions about magic."

Coulson was getting impatient. A Senior Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. was standing here discussing whether magic existed—it was laughable just to think about. "Mr. Richter, I don't think I need to waste my time on these..."

"Are magic and science contradictory?" Evenson suddenly interrupted Coulson in a raised voice. "Centuries ago, even using hot water to help a woman give birth would have been considered witchcraft, and midwives would have been tied to stakes and burned alive. Yet now, something as bloody as a Caesarean section is widely accepted because it is science. Weapons capable of destroying an entire city in one strike were once weapons only gods could possess, but now there are enough of them to blow up Earth hundreds of times over, all because of science. Only gods could reach the moon, yet humanity has done so as well, all because of science. But every one of those sciences was once called magic, or even mythology. So magic is simply science that has yet to be explained." Evenson spoke that entire passage rapidly, giving no one a chance to interrupt.

Coulson helplessly rubbed his temples. "Magic is science that has yet to be explained? That's a famous quote by Arthur Clark. He wrote science fiction."

"I think he was a pioneer of science, or rather, a pioneer of magic." Evenson firmly objected to Coulson looking down on novelists. "Accept it. Magic is neither superstitious worship of idols nor the ignorance of grinding minerals into medicine and swallowing it. Like science, it is the pursuit and exploration of truth; it merely approaches it from a different angle." Evenson's final words were solemn, almost like a sermon.

The two agents sighed together, feeling as though they were about to be brainwashed. They only wanted to end this topic as quickly as possible, so Melinda said, "Fine. Magic is an alternative form of science, so calling magic a superpower and calling you, a magician, a superpowered individual isn't wrong."

"Wrong. First, I am not a magician but a Sorcerer. Second, superpowered individuals obtain their abilities through mutation, which is sudden, unpredictable, and impossible to replicate. I obtained my power through study and training." Evenson tactlessly corrected her.

For fuck's sake, are you addicted to talking? Are you ever going to stop? The two agents could only exchange bitter smiles at Evenson's pedantry. Then their expressions suddenly froze. Though they looked rather ridiculous, neither of them cared. They had realized that one word in what Evenson had just said was very significant. If he was telling the truth, did that mean S.H.I.E.L.D. could master this power as well?

"Study? You mean you acquired your power through study?" Coulson asked uncertainly.

"Of course." The moment Evenson heard that, he knew what the other man meant, but he still answered with certainty.

"Then others besides you can learn... magic?" Coulson asked even more carefully, afraid this might be another one of Evenson's vicious jokes.

"Of course." The reply remained certain.

"Can everyone learn it?" Coulson was no longer calm. Even his voice rose.

"Of course... not. Agent skills are learned too. Can everyone become an agent? This takes talent, okay?" Evenson spoke as if the question were utterly idiotic.

In truth, Coulson regretted asking as soon as the words left his mouth. If everyone could learn this power, wouldn't there be superhumans everywhere? "Then what kind of person can learn it? Or rather, what sort of talent is required?" Coulson's eyes burned with eagerness. Talent? No problem. S.H.I.E.L.D. had no shortage of gifted people. Their top agents could even challenge the Human limit. Could they really not find someone talented enough? Even if they could not, it did not matter. As long as they knew the criteria, S.H.I.E.L.D. could dig that person out even if they were hiding in a crack in the ground.

"Talent?" Evenson thought for a moment. "Strong Mental Power, firm will, broad-mindedness, things like that."

"That's... rather vague." Coulson considered those conditions. Strong Mental Power? What even was Mental Power? Fine, assume it was some magical term—but how strong counted as strong? Firm will, that he understood, but how firm was firm enough? Did he qualify? And broad-mindedness—how broad did one have to be? Did psychiatric patients count?

"Well, magic is different from science in some ways. It isn't quite so... rigorous." Evenson said awkwardly. "And this is already the easier part. These are only the requirements for becoming an apprentice, allowing one to learn only a few basic spells. To learn advanced magic requires even more elusive talents. There are no real standards at all; it is judged entirely through experience and intuition."

Evenson was not making that up. Back when he was at the orphanage, he had already begun studying the "Compendium of Warlock Spells." After all, one should study hard and improve every day. But an orphanage was a communal environment, and no matter how careful he was, there would always be times when someone bumped into him. That was when he discovered that no one had ever noticed him reading a book. Yes, people could see him, but they would not notice what he was doing. The book had not turned invisible; it was simply subconsciously ignored. Only one person in the entire convent could see it: the headmistress, the Old Nun who was utterly devout to God and the Virgin Mary. But she could only see it. Never mind the contents of the book—if someone merely spoke to her and diverted her attention slightly, she would immediately forget about the book, completely forgetting what had just happened. That was when Evenson understood. This book distorted the perceptions of people whose Mental Power was not strong enough. The book could be right in front of them, yet they would turn a blind eye to it. Even if they saw it, they would forget the moment they looked away. That was also why Evenson had left the orphanage so quickly. Having one's perception distorted too much was no good thing.

So yes, this really did depend on talent. Without talent, one would not even have the chance to be initiated as an apprentice, much less sail through a hundred volumes of exercises.

PS: As for the issue of actively revealing magic, there will be an explanation in later chapters.

PS2: I was forced to drink today, and my head is still foggy, so the update was late. My apologies.