In the temporary laboratory at the Yukline Mansion, I examined the ash under the microscope, infusing it with mana and tearing it apart with Telekinesis to Comprehend it at a particle level.
"... Professa! Looky here!" Kelodan shouted, pointing at the blackboard.
Tap— tap, tap, tap— tap, tap—
An intricate report was being inscribed on the green surface of the blackboard.
Sylvia here. We've captured a puppetized Debutant and separated the ash. These are the research results.
The report detailed how the ash had taken over the Debutant and the puppetization process. Sylvia had meticulously analyzed it with her magic, producing something akin to a dissection diagram. An idea soon popped into my mind.
"Separation."
Separating the ash from the Debutants. If a circuit could be added to the Barrier spell to nullify the ash's control, and then deploying this enhanced barrier within the Mage Tower, it might work.
"It's feasible," I mused.
I had grafted arbitrary circuits onto specific spells dozens of times before. My Telekinesis spell was one such example.
"Professa? Whut's feasible?" Kelodan drawled.
"... I intend to craft a barrier that will break down the ash and provide it to the Debutants."
"A barrier? Ain't that gonna take too much time?"
I shook my head. This wasn't a completely new spell, so the mana consumption from using Comprehension wouldn't be severe. Decomposition was a common spell, often used in waste disposal.
"It's entirely feasible."
With my plan and the talents of Sylvia and Epherene, this would definitely be achievable.
"Professa...?" Kelodan asked hesitantly.
I stared at the blackboard, deep in thought. There was no need to write down the spell; it was all unfolding in my mind.
"Attention—!"
A shout broke my concentration. I turned toward the entrance, feeling a surge of murderous intent. Eleven unfamiliar men and women stood in a line—imperial palace knights.
"Attention!" the knight commanded again, his voice cutting through the room.
Just then, a voice I knew all too well sounded from behind him.
"Hmph. So noisy," the Empress's voice cut through the commotion.
I halted my attempt to show proper etiquette. What emerged wasn't the Empress herself, but a creature.
"This possession has heightened my hearing. Refrain from making such noise."
A regal cat with red fur and a long, swishing tail emerged. Its legs were noticeably short.
"Your Majesty?" I asked.
"Yes, Deculein. This is one of the spells I have mastered. I find going outside to be quite bothersome. And you, refrain from touching my tail."
"My apologies, Your Majesty!" the knight exclaimed.
I was momentarily speechless. Possession was a subset of Harmonic Magic. Full Possession, borrowing the eyes and mouth of a living creature, was a highly difficult spell but certainly within the Empress's capabilities.
The Empress's breed was a Munchkin, after all. Sophien's mana quality was currently Grade 2, which would rise to Grade 1 after a future awakening event. In addition to magic and swordsmanship, she possessed unparalleled talent in mastering every skill in existence.
The official description of Empress Sophien in a single sentence was that she was the Human Closest to God. Her indolence could be seen as either a blessing or a curse to this world.
"Lower yourself," Sophien commanded.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the knight responded, bending over. The short-legged cat then leapt onto his back.
"Oof!"
The first attempt failed as the knight's body was too large and the cat's legs too short.
"You there, lower yourself more," the Empress commanded sternly.
"I apologize, Your Majesty!" the knight said, bowing respectfully.
The Munchkin cat climbed onto the prone knight's back, seemingly satisfied. It flicked its tail playfully across its own face, letting out a contented purr.
"You there, don't move. My legs are short, and it's precarious," the Empress commanded, tapping the knight's back with her paw.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Do not shout either."
"Clear the way!" Geor, the imperial palace mage, commanded as he appeared, having heard the rumors of the Empress cat's arrival. "Your Majesty! To have mastered possession magic so perfectly...!"
"What a nuisance. How did you come to know of this?"
Geor gazed at the red cat in awe but quickly composed himself. "Head Professor Deculein, what course of action do you intend to take now?"
"I plan to create a barrier capable of decomposing the ash."
"... A barrier to decompose the ash? You intend to invent such a thing?"
"Yes, a specialized barrier designed to break down the ash."
"Are you saying you will create a completely new barrier?" Geor inquired skeptically.
"Yes, that's correct."
"How much time will it require to devise this barrier?"
"It will require less than a day."
"Less than a day?!"
"There's no need for surprise. It's merely a simple task."
"But could you provide more details—"
I had no time for explanations, so I spoke kindly yet firmly. "I'll explain later. For now, I am in command, and I will take full responsibility."
Geor clicked his tongue but nodded. "... Understood. But if you are to create a new barrier, where are the spell scrolls? Surely you have written them down somewhere."
I looked at him silently, letting the pause linger. Considering an explanation seemed a waste of time.
"Everything," I explained, tapping my temple, "is contained within my mind."
"What?!" the cat inquired, astonished.
To clarify further, it was a matter of...
"It's mental processing."
***
In the indistinguishable hours of dawn or dusk, Sylvia and the others stared blankly at the blackboard. It was covered with a vast array of spells invented by Deculein. Beneath them was a single sentence.
Are you capable of activating this barrier?
"We can," Sylvia answered on behalf of everyone.
Seeing her confidence, Lucia shrugged and said, "... Right. It's doable if we can draw this spell."
Deculein's instructions were detailed and clear, comprehensible even to the Debutants. However, the real challenge lay in the immense size of the magic circle for the barrier, which needed to cover an entire third-floor area.
"We'll make this classroom the center of the magic. I'll go outside and draw the spell on the third floor," Epherene said, scanning the room. "There are enough mages here to provide the mana for it, right?"
Including herself, there were fifty people. With the mana from fifty mages, activating the barrier would be feasible.
"Even so, we'll need a catalyst, won't we?" Julia voiced her concern.
Sylvia responded by removing her necklace, a relic made entirely of mana diamonds. It was her mother's keepsake, capable of storing and amplifying magic spells.
"Use this as the catalyst," Sylvia said.
"... Are you sure?" Lucia asked, her eyes widening at its obvious worth.
Sylvia remained silent.
"Hmm... If that's the case," Lucia sighed, removing her bracelet. "These two should be enough. My bracelet alone is worth two million elne and is a family heirloom."
"Tw-two million elne? Alright, I'll draw the spell," Epherene said, cutting her long hair in one swift motion.
Lucia was shocked and exclaimed, "Are you crazy? Why did you cut your hair? It's not a suitable catalyst! Are you brainless?"
"Jeez, who said I'd use it as a catalyst? It's just in the way when I move," Epherene retorted.
"Ephie, it's okay. Just ignore her," Julia said, attempting to soothe her. She then trimmed Epherene's hair neatly. "There, now it looks pretty."
Sylvia then gathered her long hair, tying it into a ponytail that flowed down her pale neck.
"Wow, Miss Sylvia, you look stunning," Eurozan remarked, clapping absentmindedly.
Epherene regretted cutting her hair, realizing she could have just tied it back like Sylvia.
"You're quick, Epherene. You draw the spell while I distract the enemies," Sylvia said.
"Distract them?"
"Just like in our practice runs, we'll handle the real deal," Sylvia explained.
Epherene nodded in acknowledgment. At that moment, a brief message appeared on the blackboard, encouraging them.
I trust you. I shall await your success.
Awaiting their success, that was all they needed.
"Okay, let's go."
The two finished their preparations and dismantled the barrier around the classroom. A loud thud echoed, but Epherene and Sylvia opened the door without hesitation. They were met by Debutants consumed by ash and massive golems made of the same substance. Sylvia drew their attention while Epherene used Self Telekinesis
to levitate herself to the third-floor ceiling.
Splat, splosh—!
Sylvia spread white mana across the golems' bodies like paint, which quickly transformed into blazing flames. The golems ignited instantly. At the same time, her mana covered the floor, turning it bright blue. The blue rapidly froze into ice, causing the Debutant monsters to slip and struggle to move.
Suddenly, thick tendrils of ash, reminiscent of Kraken tentacles, coiled around Sylvia's waist. She was hoisted into the air before being forcefully slammed into the ground.
Bang—!
Sylvia gasped briefly. She showed no other signs of pain, immediately dissolving the tendrils. Yet, her abdomen burned, suggesting internal injuries. Staggering, she looked down the dark corridor.
Clack, clack—
The sound of heels echoed down the corridor.
"It's pointless," a voice said.
Sylvia stared at the figure emerging from the darkness. It was Louina, the external visiting professor. Once the head professor at the Mage Tower of the Kingdom, she had now turned into a monster consumed by ash.
"So, you're Sylvia... You have quite the talent, just as I've heard. Quite envious," Louina rasped, her voice eerie and unsettling. "I have to kill you out of jealousy. No, I should not kill you... No, I must kill you."
A sinister grin spread across her face, nearly reaching her ears. Ash spewed from her mouth, taking the shape of a massive blade.
Woomph...
Sylvia claimed the area as her domain, erasing the ash blade before it could touch her.
"That must be the... Primary Colors?" the Baron of Ashes, Louina, murmured in awe. "A magic that reconstructs reality, interferes with phenomena, and recreates the universe—a miracle."
Seizing the moment, Sylvia created a cage around Louina, trapping her.
"The ability to control the entire world at will... an absurd Origin," the Baron of Ashes murmured, tapping the bars and licking them before clenching her fists. Her face twisted with rage as she spat, "This fucking world is so unfair! Does this even make sense? Fucking hell, does this make any sense?!"
With that shout, the ash erupted. The bars shattered, and the Baron's fist slammed into Sylvia's abdomen with both speed and force.
"Ah!"
Sylvia was thrown back, and slammed into the wall. For a moment, she couldn't breathe, feeling as though her broken ribs had punctured her lungs.
"Hmph. You may keep erasing my ash with your tricks, but it doesn't matter. I'll beat you to death," the Baron said, the disparity in their abilities glaringly obvious.
The thought of dying crossed Sylvia's mind. Pain scorched her body, and fear made her tremble. Yet, she did not flee. She had no idea how long she could endure, but she was resolved to fight until her mana was completely drained.
"... I won't lose," Sylvia whispered determinedly.
Additionally, for Sylvia, enduring was equivalent to winning—a struggle she knew well, having lived each day in a similar manner.
Tick, tock—
Tick, tock—
Tick, tock—
"Everyone, stay focused and wait," Lucia commanded, managing the Debutants in the classroom.
All forty-nine of them had already readied their mana, waiting for the spell to be completed.
Tick, tock—
Tick, tock—
Tick, tock—
The ticking of the second hand echoed through the silence. Her heart pounded, and her hands trembled like leaves. Lucia wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Tick, tock—
Tick, tock—
Tick, tock—
The Debutants' breathing grew labored, and some of the more fragile ones seemed close to fainting.
"Don't lose focus! If you mess this up, next semester at the Mage Tower will be a nightmare!" Lucia shouted sharply, snapping everyone back to attention.
Tick... tock...
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Tick... tock...
Tick... tock.
Finally, the second hand of the clock stopped its slow crawl. It was Epherene's signal.
"Now!"
All the Debutants, guided by Lucia, released their mana in perfect synchrony.
Whoooosh...
Their mana first concentrated into the catalysts. Sylvia's necklace and Lucia's bracelet absorbed the mana of forty-nine people before channeling it into the barrier's spell formation. Blue mana surged like lightning.
Whooooooooosh—
The classroom blazed like a supernova, the light so intense it seemed their retinas might shatter. Their mana was consumed instantly, and the exhausted Debutants began collapsing one by one.
"Ngh..." Lucia groaned, struggling to stay conscious as she continued channeling mana, but it was too much. Soon, a sharp pain shot through the back of her neck.
"Ugh!"
Her vision blurred, and her body wavered until she collapsed to the floor, staring at the origin of the barrier. The once brilliant light was fading like a dying fire. She knew it couldn't be left like this, but her body refused to move. She blinked blankly, unable to shake the thought that this shouldn't be happening.
Between her half-closed eyelids, a familiar face appeared, looking down at her sternly. It was Allen, Deculein's assistant professor. Suddenly, the catalyst's light flared to life, brighter than any other light source. Mana blazed like the sun, surging outward in all directions.
The spell formation was complete, and a brilliant flash engulfed the entire Mage Tower. The barrier had come into existence.
"Mommy, why did the kitty have to die? I loved it so much. Isn't it supposed to stay if I love it? Why did it betray me?"
"Hmm~ that's just how life is, sweetie. The kitty has gone to a better place. It didn't betray you; it's waiting for you in a faraway land, Sylvie."
"You're lying... Then, Mommy, how long will you stay with me?"
"Let's see~ How long should I stay? Until tomorrow?"
"Don't say that! Waaah! No!"
"Sorry, sweetheart. I was just joking~ Please don't cry."
"Waah! Waaaaah!"
"All right, all right. I'll stay with you as long as you need, Sylvie."
"Really? So... so..."
Sylvia always dreamed, but her dreams were of the future, not the present. The present was just a stepping stone to what lay ahead. She studied magic books all night, blended her meals into smoothies to save time, climbed the floating islands weekly to gather information, and repeated this routine every day for over ten years without a single break.
None of this was because she wanted to or enjoyed it. Her mother, who had filled her life with color, left in an instant, crossing the rainbow bridge to reunite with the kitty. From that day onward, even as she became a mage at the tower, Sylvia's world remained colorless, thick, and opaque, like a smeared oil painting.
To Sylvia, the present was a place she didn't want to linger. She often wished she could close her eyes and wake up in the distant future. She hoped to become an adult, grow numb to everything, and let the pain of these memories fade.
In the blink of an eye, she wished to become an archmage, rise to the top, and make her mother proud. For her, today was merely preparation for a future filled with joy.
Swish...
A desolate wind swept through the sealed Mage Tower, indicating that the barrier had been activated.
"Damn it, what a pointless mess these bastards have made," Louina muttered.
Sylvia's mana was completely depleted, and the Baron of Ashes still loomed in the distance. She touched the place on her collarbone where her mother's keepsake once rested, a wave of dread washing over her.
"You have to die now."
Death.
Blechhh—!
Louina released the ash, aware Syliva had no energy left to defend herself. Surviving this long was an achievement in itself, Sylvia thought as she closed her eyes. The ash, surging like a tidal wave, mysteriously stopped just before reaching her. Unable to witness this miraculous change, Sylvia simply staggered and collapsed to the ground. Then...
Plop—
Something firm supported her from behind, like a solid wall. Curious, Sylvia opened her eyes slightly. She couldn't see his face, only the broad chest that was holding her up.
"... Sylvia."
Recognizing the voice, Sylvia knew who it was. She tilted her head and turned her body, almost as if swimming, until she saw his face.
"Do not worry. I will not let you fall," he said with a reassuring smile.
Sylvia wanted to speak, but her lips wouldn't move. She couldn't even twitch a finger, completely drained of mana.
"You have always repaid my trust, so from now on, it is the professor's responsibility."
Sylvia leaned against him, a faint smile on her lips as she closed her eyes. Clutching his collar, she peacefully drifted off to sleep.
"Take some rest."
Sometimes, Sylvia reflected on the present, wondering why her world had gradually brightened. She pondered why the once dark, oil-painted landscape of her life had now blossomed like a vibrant watercolor.
Even though she viewed the present as merely a stepping stone, she found herself enjoying it more than she had expected. Perhaps this feeling had been a kind of magic. Deep down, she might have already known the reason. Sylvia eagerly wanted to grow up.