The textbooks, aimed at children, were understandably simple and less dense in content. They covered basic magic classifications, usage, and history, clearly designed for beginners. As Kalia read, she either recognized information she had previously read or her memories were being reestablished.
The books discussed various types of magic such as spell magic, bloodline magic, and inscription magic. However, they lacked the details she most wanted to know.
Kalia desired to understand the principles, structures, and methods of using magic. With such knowledge, she could potentially create magic tailored to specific needs.
'I knew I wouldn't get far with my current knowledge and would need a teacher's help, but I hoped to learn as much as possible beforehand.'
Kalia pulled out every magic book in the library and read them thoroughly, surprising even the maids with her focus.
Melan, noticing Kalia's deep concentration, delegated tasks to other servants. Occasionally, they carefully placed a cup of tea within Kalia's reach, ensuring not to disturb her.
Whether this book or that, they were all written in simple language or allegories for easy understanding. Complex theories or explanations of magic were reserved for higher education.
'There's so little I can learn from these alone.'
There were also practical books, essential magic teachings for children. Among these, she found something of interest.
'Body enhancement magic. Labeled for children, does this mean it's a simplified version of adult magic?'
As Kalia read about the method of using magic, the way to perform it naturally came to her mind. She entrusted everything to her senses and started to channel the power needed for the magic.
It felt like stimulating a muscle she had never used before. A novel sensation spread from her abdomen throughout her body.
It was akin to the feeling of a hot beverage flowing down the esophagus to the stomach, combined with the sensation of touching internal organs and blood vessels. It was a mix of visceral and deep sensations, intertwined with tactile feelings.
The warm energy reached the tips of her fingers, toes, and head. Then it circulated back towards her navel.
'Did it work?'
Kalia set the book down and stood up from the chair. Surveying her surroundings, she realized the chair she had just been sitting on would suffice and grabbed its backrest.
"Lady Kalia?"
"Oops!"
With a jolt and no resistance, the chair lifted off the ground. She had put so much force into her arms that she nearly fell backward.
"Lady!"
Melan quickly came behind Kalia, supporting her back. Thanks to Melan, Kalia managed to regain her balance.
"It's more powerful than I thought."
"You used body enhancement magic. It's a curious age indeed, but practicing magic is safer under a teacher's supervision."
"Still, this much is alright."
Fascinated, Kalia lifted the chair up and down, testing the workings of the magic.
Was it amplifying her strength? However, the lack of resistance in her hand suggested otherwise.
If it was merely enhancing her strength, she would feel the chair as light but not entirely without resistance. While Kalia was moving her hand, the chair seemed to be lifted as if by someone else.
'This seems more like strength assistance than enhancement. Like a wearable robot in medical devices?'
Kalia tried lifting other objects to assess her condition. Ultimately, this magic, disappointingly, didn't aid in muscle growth.
The magic took on the load that the muscles should have borne, providing no stimulus to the muscles. It was useful for physical labor or various tasks but not for exercise.
'A pity. But wait, perhaps there might be a magic specifically for muscle strengthening? Used properly, that could provide the right kind of load for muscles.'
Kalia deactivated the magic and sat back down. After just a few minutes, she felt a wave of lethargy as she released the magic.
It was fatigue from the depletion of mana. The body of a child could only sustain a few minutes of body enhancement magic before almost completely depleting its mana.
'There are many interesting spells. Being for children, there certainly are many useful ones for them.'
Basic magic like controlling dirt or creating wind was foundational. Meanwhile, spells involving fire or heat were presumably too dangerous for children and thus absent from the textbooks.
The light-producing magic came with instructions like, 'Use it this way if you're lost.' Similar to using Morse code for SOS signals, repeating light at a specific rhythm was a distress signal here.
'I wonder, is there no healing magic?'
After experimenting with various spells, Kalia looked up from her book and glanced around. Melan, who was watching Kalia from a distance, smiled and stood up when their eyes met.
"Do you need something, Lady Kalia?"
"Melan, when I collapsed before, was I treated with magic?"
"Of course. All our doctors are medical magicians. Besides your primary physician, several others visited."
"So, if I fall or bump into something, can I be healed with magic?"
"Certainly. Healing magic is commonly used in all situations."
"Can I use it too?"
"You can, once you learn it. However, healing magic is complicated and requires a lot of mana. It's important to understand it precisely to use it correctly."
"I see."
It was clear that such magic wasn't in her textbooks. Beyond just spells, specialized medical knowledge seemed necessary.
Kalia continued to explore other spells, practicing magic to create cool breezes or small lights floating in the air like candles.
'I need to use a variety of spells to understand how the movement of mana forms magic. But given the system's sophistication, that aspect has likely already been studied.'
She wanted to read more advanced texts, but doubted she'd be allowed. Time had flown by; looking out the window, she saw it was nearly evening.
Reluctantly closing her book, Kalia decided not to skip her pre-dinner workout, despite being engrossed in her reading.
* * *
Kalia got her wish to meet the magic tutor, a well-mannered young man with brown hair tied up in a ponytail and wearing glasses. He was a promising young talent with a master's degree from a prestigious institution.
"You've learned this much on your own already? I'm deeply impressed by your exceptional talents, Lady Kalia."
"I've just been diligent with my reading."
Kalia had initially planned to follow the curriculum appropriate for her age step by step. However, she found it unexpectedly dull and more redundant than she had thought.
Most importantly, it would take at least three years to reach the level she desired if she followed the beginner course. That was too long for her.
Fortunately, Kalia was bright. She had an avid interest in books and excelled beyond her peers in other subjects.
Given the circumstances, it wouldn't hurt to play the role of a prodigy. Even if she returned to a normal level later, it was fine. There's a saying that at ten, one could be a prodigy, but past twenty, just an ordinary person.
"If Lady Kalia wishes, we can skip the basics and beginner levels and move directly to intermediate. From here on, theory becomes more important than sensation. Shall we look at this?"
The magic tutor suggested, pulling out a piece of paper with a short equation. It consisted of constants, operational signs, and numbers. The tutor explained the meaning of each constant and sign.
It was similar yet different from mathematics, more akin to a derivation in physics or chemistry. To Kalia, these were both familiar and nostalgically foreign concepts.