Ludger spent some time engaged in an in-depth discussion about magic with Rine.
In the draft she had devised, there was a magic circle resembling an astronomical clock, but in the end, this was nothing more than a preparatory stage for activating the spell.
“To actually use this magic in earnest, you’ll probably need an artifact of considerable quality.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. There’s already something that exists.”
Just as Ludger was about to ask when she had made something like that, he suddenly recalled the gate he had ridden through when he returned.
“You’re planning to modify that?”
“Since it’s already made, wouldn’t it be nice to refine it a bit more? Of course, we’ll have to change the form a lot and add quite a few things in various ways.”
It would have to be transformed beyond the shape of a gate aimed at a single location, into a form suitable for simultaneously observing multiple dimensions.
“Hm. Something related to multiple dimensions, huh.”
As if something had come to mind, Ludger began drawing shapes in midair using his mana.
Bluish mana gathered in the air and freely changed form according to his will.
What was eventually completed was a three-dimensional structure composed of multiple rings overlapping and rotating in different directions.
At the center existed a core, and surrounding it were rings—presumably metallic—each rotating according to its own speed and rules.
The appearance closely resembled an armillary sphere, a tool used for observing celestial bodies.
“This is....”
Rine and Julia were visibly taken aback as they looked at the model Ludger had devised.
Considering it had been put together on the spot, it was remarkably convincing.
“If we’re going to change it, then transforming it into this kind of structure would be appropriate.”
“Definitely. If we do it this way, we’ll be able to check all omnidirectional coordinates. The range will vary depending on the scale of production, but if nothing else, the stability will increase tremendously.”
Rine truly was one of the magic researchers who could only be counted among the most exceptional talents.
As if to prove that she hadn’t earned her position merely through the peculiar nature of spatial mana, she immediately grasped the purpose behind why Ludger had shown her this.
“Hmmm.”
Rine stared intently at the model Ludger had created, like someone completely absorbed in thought.
As if inspiration had begun to strike, her eyes—like they held entire constellations—sparkled again and again.
She’s completely hooked.
Julia, who had shared a long friendship with Rine, realized at once that Rine was now utterly immersed in that magic.
Rine’s thirst for exploring magic was so intense that it felt almost unfair to compare her to others.
In particular, she had once even faced mortal danger because of the previously unknown characteristics of her spatial mana.
To nearly meet death at the hands of the unknown, without understanding anything—was there anything more agonizing for a mage?
Of course, Rine hadn’t died. By becoming aware of her own mana and learning how to handle it, she had been able to continue living.
Through that process, Rine had established a firm purpose in life—what she needed to do.
There were still countless unknowns in this world.
They were magic, mysteries, or perhaps laws that could be called the very foundation of the world itself.
Rine wanted to illuminate that unknown world.
She wanted to peel back the veil of uncertainty and properly understand things that hadn’t even fully taken shape yet.
So that no one else would suffer the same fate she had.
And so that she could live faithfully in the life she had newly gained.
As a result, Rine began to show astonishing achievements from the moment she became a second-year, almost as if she had awakened.
She had threatened Julia’s position as the perennial top student, even snatching it away several times.
Not to be outdone, Julia had grit her teeth and endured, determined to firmly hold her own place.
Perhaps it was that very process of competition that brought the two of them even closer.
In any case, Rine had developed the habit of completely throwing herself into any new magic she encountered—and what she was showing now was exactly that.
The original purpose was probably to come see Instructor Ludger.
Sharp in matters like this, Julia knew exactly why Rine had shown up without even contacting them beforehand.
From the way she openly called Ludger “oppa” and shamelessly flirted, it was impossible not to notice.
She probably really was thinking about new magic, but that was just an excuse. Now it’s completely turned upside down.
She had finally made time, even using new magic as an excuse to stay with Ludger.
But because Ludger had shown her something far too convincing, she ended up falling in the opposite direction instead.
Seeing Rine’s eyes blazing as if flames might burst forth at any moment, Julia chuckled softly and shook her head.
Ah, yeah, that’s not going to work. The switch has been flipped properly. At this rate, she’ll hole herself up in the workshop for a while and not come out.
Sure enough, just as Julia predicted.
After completely imprinting the model Ludger had shown into her mind, Rine spoke in a voice brimming with enthusiasm.
“Oppa. I think something urgent just came up, so I should get going now.”
“Right. You’ve found a lead.”
“It’s all thanks to you. I’ll show you the results as quickly as I possibly can.”
After receiving her materials back, Rine vanished on the spot through spatial movement.
Just like when she had appeared, her disappearance was sudden and fleeting.
* * *
When Robert opened his eyes, what he saw was a neatly organized room, and within it, Ludger and Julia chatting amicably.
The scene from before he had lost consciousness flashed through his mind, making him flinch, but when Julia turned to look at him, his gaze was stolen before he could stop himself.
After washing up and restoring her original beauty, Julia’s appearance was so elegant that Robert was momentarily left spellbound.
“Oh my, you’re finally awake.”
At Julia’s words, Ludger also turned in his direction.
“Robert. Are you feeling all right?”
“Y-Yes? Ah, yes. I-I’m sorry. I suddenly fainted like that....”
“It’s not your fault, so you don’t need to blame yourself. More importantly, I was late with the introductions. This is Julia Plumehart. She’s your senior here, affiliated with this research wing.”
“Hi. Nice to meet you.”
“Ah, h-hello. My name is Robert Hirston.”
At that, Julia’s eyes widened.
“Hirston? If it’s Hirston, that’s the family of the famous War Mage, Rosa Hirston.”
“Uh, yes. That’s right. She’s my eldest sister.”
“I see. So that’s how it is.”
Julia immediately understood why Robert seemed so lacking in confidence despite being from the Hirston family.
After all, not only Rosa Hirston, but her other siblings were also renowned in their own right.
Growing up among such terrifying sisters, it was only natural that he’d end up lacking self-esteem in everything.
“You don’t need to be that scared. This isn’t a place that teaches practical combat magic or anything like that.”
“R-Really? Ah, yes.”
“You don’t look convinced. As you can see, I’m a Dreamwalker. I belong to the Dream School, and I use a special-category magic called Dreamwork.”
“Dream...work?”
When the topic of magic came up, Robert’s eyes changed, if only for a moment.
Seeing that, Julia smiled with quiet satisfaction.
He had interest and passion for magic like that. At the very least, his attitude passed.
Then let’s see—just how outstanding is his talent, like Instructor Ludger said?
“Do you know about it?”
“Yes. I’ve at least heard of it. Among special-category magic, it’s said to be the most versatile.”
“That’s right. It is versatile, in its own way. But compared to other magic, Dreamwork is still relatively difficult to master. Do you know why?”
“That’s probably because of the nature of the magic itself. Dreamwork is magic that walks through dreams, after all. Magic ultimately has to be systematized through formulas and theory, but in dreams, the human subconscious plays the biggest role.”
Julia’s eyes widened in surprise.
When she turned to Ludger, he nodded, as if to say that bringing Robert here hadn’t been a mistake.
“Impressive. You’re exactly right. Because it’s magic tied to the subconscious, it’s difficult to learn. People with a well-developed sense in this area learn it naturally, but cases like that are extremely rare.”
That was one of the reasons why the Dream School had been gradually declining.
Which was precisely why Julia felt an obligation to make her magic something anyone could learn—to universalize it for the public.
“Would you like to take a look at this?”
Julia unfolded the spell formula she had created with all her effort.
Unlike other formulas that drew clean lines or graceful curves, her magic had a somewhat metaphysical shape.
It was a formula that would be difficult for anyone to recognize at a glance, but this was the result of Julia giving it her all.
Amid the chaos, she had barely managed to impose some semblance of order and bring it into existence.
Seeing it, Robert pressed his lips together and fell silent.
He simply stared intently at Julia’s formula.
How much time passed like that?
“Um....”
Robert carefully opened his mouth.
“That part there—the section that adjusts the boundary of the subconscious. The formula that looks like flickering flames.”
Julia was deeply shocked by his words.
She had only shown him the formula, without explaining where or how it functioned.
And yet, just by looking at it, Robert understood exactly where and how it acted.
“The shape there feels a bit too intense. Wouldn’t it be better to tidy it up just a little more?”
“.......”
“Ah—th-that is, did I overstep my bounds?”
Only then did Robert realize he had made a mistake.
Not only had Julia’s expression grown serious, but pointing out flaws in someone else’s magic like this was considered impolite among mages.
But instead, Julia’s face fell into even deeper contemplation.
Watching the scene, Ludger used telekinesis to lift a blank sheet of paper and a pen, handing them to Robert.
“I-Instructor?”
“It’s fine. Draw the formula you’re thinking of.”
After glancing around briefly, Robert decided it would be all right since Ludger had given permission, and immediately began drawing the formula with the pen.
Despite his cautious demeanor, his hand moved with a brisk, almost cheerful speed.
“How about this?”
In less than a minute, Robert completed the new form of the formula.
Taking the paper Robert handed over, Ludger examined the shape, then passed it to Julia.
“Take a look and judge for yourself.”
“.......”
Julia stared intently at the formula.
Confusion crossed her expressionless face, then joy, then traces of discouragement, all {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} in turn.
She looked at Robert with eyes filled with complex emotions.
“Have you ever learned this from someone? Anywhere?”
“N-No. This is the first time I’ve ever seen it.”
“I see. I understand.”
Julia modified part of her formula exactly as Robert had suggested.
Just that alone made the magic’s structure far more stable than before.
It still wasn’t perfect, but compared to how incomprehensible it had been, it could now at least be said to resemble a more conventional magical formula.
With a sigh, Julia erased the formula.
The spell she had struggled so much to create—Robert had reinforced its shortcomings just by looking at it once.
For someone like her, who had never felt lacking in talent anywhere, this was the first time she had ever felt defeat.
Yet at the same time, there was also a sense of relief.
If this had been the old her, she would have tried to handle everything on her own.
She would have been discouraged by Robert’s talent, while cruelly whipping herself to push harder.
But now, things were different.
Having formed bonds with others, Julia knew well that she couldn’t do everything alone.
“Excellent. Truly impressive. You really do have an exceptional eye for magic.”
That was why she could humbly accept Robert’s genius.
No one lives alone. In the end, people have to live shoulder to shoulder, back to back with someone else.
There was absolutely no reason to be ashamed of that.
“Have you ever thought about putting your talent to use?”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. If you want, you can research any kind of magic you wish here.”
Robert felt his heart waver at those words.
In truth, rather than practicing magic for no reason, he had always preferred researching and analyzing magic like this.
Still, hesitation remained—namely, the atmosphere of this research wing.
“We’ll take care of your food, clothing, and housing, and we can even give you a scholarship. You won’t be trapped here like other graduate students. This is genuinely exceptional treatment.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. And if you help me, I’ll help you learn magic. It’s give and take.”
Julia smiled mischievously and extended her hand.
Robert stared blankly at her for a moment, then naturally took her hand in his.
“I’ll be counting on you from now on?”
“I-I’ll be in your care as well.”
Watching the scene, Ludger nodded with a satisfied smile.
A fine new slave—no, academy student—has joined us.