“Yep. You’re always quick to catch on.” “We’ve been studying magicite together for a while, Anis. I can understand this much,” Tilty responded with a snort. I hadn’t exactly been trying to praise her, but I really was glad she’d grasped this wider theory so quickly. “The difficulty in handling magicite is due to the nature of the changes it’s undergone. Basically, a suitable medium is needed to activate its magical properties.” “That’s the biological medium you mentioned, I assume?” Navre asked. “Exactly. While the method of converting spirits into magic is the same, it seems that spirits absorbed into magicite undergo a transformation. In other words, they can’t use magic through normal means.” “If the spirits themselves have been transformed, that means they won’t resonate, correct?” “Precisely.” In this world, magic could be described as the art of transforming spirits, which were fragments of the world. The magic used by the aristocracy was based around transforming spirits into magic through the use of prayer and invocation. In contrast, magic done with magicite involved specialized techniques through which monsters incorporated the spirits into themselves. “…I’m not sure if I’m glad to learn this or if I wish I hadn’t,” Navre groaned. “Well, I guess it’s hard to accept that spirits are transformed when they turn into magicite. But people can be transformed by spirits, too, right?” “Huh?! Really?!” Charnée exclaimed. “I mean, that’s what spirit covenantors are.” I doubted that steadfast adherents to the spiritualist faith would accept the notion of spirits being corrupted by monsters. Then again, I personally found even the notion of spirit covenantors to be bordering on the insane. Spirits could be considered a natural phenomenon unique to this world, so becoming a spirit covenantor was, in a sense, a process of becoming one with nature. For that reason, the souls of spirit covenantors weren’t easily swayed. After all, natural phenomena had no need for emotions. In the end, their bodies were reduced to mere vessels, and eventually, their sense of self, their ego, would melt away into the fabric of the world. To me, that process seemed no better than that by which magicite was formed. “While not as drastic as the changes you might see generating magicite, human magical energy also undergoes transformation under the influence of the spirits that dwell within one’s soul.” Lumi once told me that all humans in this world, barring a tiny number of rare individuals like myself, bore spirits within their souls. Considering how long she had been active as a spirit covenantor, I had no reason to doubt her. It was the same for monsters. Driven by pure instinct—as far as I knew, at least—monsters sought ever greater power, creating and nurturing magicite. “So magic is only influenced by the presence of spirits…? And it can still be used without them?” Navre murmured. “When it comes to non-elemental magic, the important thing is that it’s simply manipulation of raw magical energy. It doesn’t really matter what kind of technique you’re trying to activate—if you don’t consciously call out to the spirits, it’s ultimately of the non-elemental kind.” “Does that mean that even if the spell seems to have an attribute or element of its own, if it wasn’t invoked through spirits, it’s still non-elemental?” “Yes. But it’s because most elemental magic is invoked through spirits that it’s so easy to use. That’s where individual aptitudes come in.” “This is all very interesting, but aren’t we getting a little sidetracked?” Tilty interrupted in exasperation. “I’m all for a new taxonomy of magic, but we were talking about making a new magical tool from magicite, weren’t we?” “Ugh! Right! I guess I got caught up in the heat of the moment…,” I murmured, having genuinely veered away from our original purpose. “Getting back on track. There’s a way to harmonize one’s magical energy with a piece of magicite.” “That sounds suspiciously like becoming a monster yourself…” “Indeed. But I assume you’ve devised a safe approach if you’re going to suggest actually making something. No?” Tilty asked. “Exactly… Well, technically, it isn’t such a big deal. Whether or not it’s actually possible will depend on future research and more than a bit of luck.” “Why luck?” Charnée asked, head tilted. Just as I said, I suspected the element of luck would play a significant role in whether we would actually succeed at this endeavor. “It might not be possible to match the magical energy that serves as nourishment with the magicite itself…but there would be no need to match them if they were already compatible from the get-go, right? What you would need is a huge amount of good luck, though!” “…Can you really leave something like that to chance?” Navre grunted, massaging his temple. The truth was I didn’t know how else to put it. It wasn’t like we could start popularizing my Impressed Seal, so this was simply a theoretical discussion about how the process wasn’t impossible. “But if we can draw on the power of magicite crystals, it would drastically expand the tools we have at our disposal. It would also make defeating monsters more worthwhile for knights and adventurers, which ought to boost their motivation a fair bit. And with more warriors, everyone’s chances of survival should go up, right?” “That’s…” “There are unexplored areas all throughout the Kingdom of Palettia, so people will be battling monsters for a long time to come. If tools based on magicite can help in any way, I want to explore making them.” “In that case, wouldn’t a magical sword made from artificial magicite be sufficient?” Tilty asked. “Sure, I suppose it would. But I have to do something. I mean, there are going to be fewer and fewer opportunities for me to fight at the front lines from here on out.” Sometimes, I considered my new life and title as fetters—but at the same time, they had gotten me thinking. “If I can’t easily head out into battle, other people are going to have to fight instead. I’m supposed to lead them now, and I want to protect them. I don’t want to lose them. So if I can’t fight with them, I’ll have to protect them some other way. And the best option I see is to invent new magical tools.” “…Well, if that’s what you want, then what’s stopping you?” Tilty asked. “Euphyllia gave you her permission, I assume?” “Yes, I’ve discussed it with her. We’ve been given the go ahead to try, though we might not get any actual results.” “…You’ve done plenty, Lady Anis.” Tomas spoke up. “You don’t need to shoulder everything yourself. Seeing as I’m here, I might as well give you a hand.” “Thanks, Tomas. I’m going to be calling on all of you today, everyone!” When I needed assistance, these were the people I could reach out to. I felt like crying tears of gratitude, knowing that they were always here to help me make my dreams a reality. Maybe one day I would be able to face events more seriously. With that in mind, I started asking everyone their thoughts and impressions. After we disbanded following our discussions, I decided to return to my quarters. “Good work today, Charnée, Priscilla. You can take a break now,” I said to my two attendants. “Thank you!” Charnée turned to leave. Priscilla, however, remained where she stood, watching me with a strange look. “Priscilla? Is something the matter?” “Your Highness, there’s something I would like to ask you, if I could have a moment.” “Sure. I don’t mind.” What could she want to talk about? I was waiting for her to come out with her question, when she sent Charnée a meaningful glance. Whatever was on her mind, it seemed she wanted to discuss it with me in private. Charnée must have sensed this, too, as she offered me a silent bow before stepping outside. “What’s bothering you so much you want to talk about it alone?” I asked. Her gaze was piercing, and my hair stood on end. Priscilla, usually so expressionless and difficult to read, was now revealing the faintest glimpses of emotion—and it was like a razor-sharp blade. “…Why?” she demanded. “…Why what?” “I don’t understand you. The powers you possess are terrifying. Why don’t you want what I would take in your position?” “…And what would you want if you had the power?” “Revenge.” She said it quietly, almost under her breath. Her eyes were like an ice-cold abyss, and I could feel her hatred reaching out of it. Frankly, I was baffled by this sudden display of emotion. Why was she bringing this up now? What did she hope to achieve by doing this? “…You want revenge against someone, Priscilla?” “As I mentioned briefly a short time ago, I’ve had a difficult relationship with my father.” “Do you hate him that much?” “My father was an unjust ruler who always occupied a significant portion of my world. There have been times I wished not only that he would disappear, but that the entire kingdom would perish.” “…Why do you want to tell me all this?” “Because it’s a mystery to me. My circumstances could have been better—there’s no arguing that—but I imagine yours were even worse. So why didn’t you consider taking revenge?” Revenge. Once again, that word shook my heart to its core. I paused for a moment, taking a breath to steady myself, then turned back to Priscilla. Her expression remained cold and blank, as if her inner feelings had frozen over. I had met several people over the course of my life who wore their hatred on their sleeve, but the woman before me was the first to express it in such a muted, chilling way. “…I guess there have been countless times I’ve hated people over the years,” I admitted. “But you didn’t seek revenge.” “No, because my father and mother always loved me. I suppose that’s why I was able to hang on all that time.” “Then it’s no exaggeration to say the former king and queen saved this country.” “That’s a stretch, don’t you think?” “Do you honestly believe that?” Priscilla asked me flatly. My lips were sealed tightly shut. “If you had wanted to, you could have destroyed the Kingdom of Palettia. But you held back because of the love of your parents, didn’t you?” “I won’t deny it…” “Isn’t that admirable? You had ample reason to seek recompense from the world, but you chose not to. And now you’re striving to improve the country. From my perspective, it’s unbelievably commendable.” “…You’re saying you despised your father so much you can’t believe that I don’t?” “Indeed. Which is why I respect Her Majesty Queen Euphyllia so much. I also have great admiration for you, Your Highness, for making possible a future in which Queen Euphyllia can rule.” With this, the frightening chill to Priscilla’s stare melted away, and she returned to her usual self—her emotions perfectly veiled. She had seemed so cold and distant a moment ago, but the way she spoke about Euphie exuded such warmth and humanity. “To me, Her Majesty is practically a divine being. Not because she’s a spirit covenantor or queen, but because she’s been such a salvation for me. Ah, I remember thinking. Finally, someone in this world worthy of my prayers.” “…I see.” “It’s also why I was so intrigued by you, Your Highness. I’m very pleased to hear your answer just now.” Priscilla nodded in genuine satisfaction. Priscilla had called me a mystery, but she was likewise an enigma to me. It would take time for us to fully understand each other. “My father not only disrespected you, Your Highness—he scorned His Former Majesty. I realize now what a fool he was.” “Maybe it kind of makes sense when you look back on it?” I suggested. “Now that you’ve achieved tangible results, that’s only natural.” “I just pray everything will be all right as we move forward. And wonder whether I might be wrong. Pride can have frightening consequences.” “I would very much like to share that sentiment with my father.” “…I’m building a country where you don’t have to hold on to that hate, Priscilla. We’ll change it. So enough with those thoughts, all right?” Priscilla was a little strange—there was no doubt about that—but she wasn’t a bad person. If at all possible, I wanted to keep her on my side. With this, Priscilla’s expression betrayed a hint of surprise—and I finally caught a glimpse of her true self. Relaxing, she flashed me a gentle smile. “…Yours is a worthy cause, Your Highness.”
Chapter 118
11 min read