Chapter 322: Enlightenment (2)
Chapter 322: Enlightenment (2)
Spirit Language.
There’s a common misconception that it’s some sort of incredible power—something closer to a miracle than actual magic—that turns words into reality.
In truth, it’s not quite that grand.
It is certainly impressive in the sense that you can manifest a desired phenomenon without specific formulas or chants, even if it’s not a standardized spell.
But nothing in this world comes for free.
It’s easiest to understand it as an extreme maximization of the two fundamental elements of magic: imagination and mana.
It is a highly inefficient form of magic that requires a ridiculous amount of mana, a crystal-clear mental image, and an incredibly intense will. That is Spirit Language.
Of course, it possesses advantages beyond those drawbacks, which is why Iris’s jaw was hanging open so wide it looked like it might drop off.
“S-Spirit Language!”
“Yep. Spirit Language.”
“The power that even Archmages find difficult to use unless they’ve attained a specific enlightenment or specialized solely in Spirit Language magic…!”
“That’s the one. Exactly that Spirit Language.”
“And you realized it while having an erection?!”
“…….”
Bonk!
“M-Master hit me again…!”
“Yeah. And it’s not going to stop~”
“Hmph.”
I casually brushed off Iris’s grumbling and organized what I knew—and what I had now personally experienced—about Spirit Language.
Spirit Language is certainly not omnipotent. However, it definitely has distinct advantages that would warrant Iris’s shock.
First, there’s the obvious benefit of casting speed. But more importantly, it allows one to directly bring about a desired phenomenon.
You can force things to happen that would be difficult with conventional magic.
In other words, if one becomes proficient in Spirit Language, they can weave it into other spells to surpass the inherent limits of those spells.
I’d have to practice consistently to be sure of the details, but that was the gist of what I knew.
In H&A, you could learn Spirit Language if you followed a specific hidden route.
While I was nodding to myself, Iona, who had also been staring in shock, seemed to recall something. Her blood-red eyes blinked as she asked a question.
“Hey, hey. Spirit Language was originally a technique created to mimic the Dragon Tongue of the dragons, right? Realizing Spirit Language is an incredible feat by human standards… but by dragon standards, isn’t it a bit mediocre?”
“When you put it that way, I don’t really have a comeback.”
The limitation of Spirit Language is that it requires too much willpower and mana.
Because of that, there’s a limit to the scale of magic one can perform using Spirit Language alone. That’s also why it’s often mixed with other spells.
But Dragon Tongue is different.
It is the most perfect form of Spirit Language, an authority that corresponds to Great Magic in its own right. A power that turns the impossible into the possible, rivaling the miracles of the gods.
That is Dragon Tongue.
I don’t know about the future, but at least for now, it’s a realm I couldn’t reach even if I died and came back to life.
“Even if I used it while in Dragonization, it probably wouldn’t be much different.”
“What’s your basis for saying that?”
“Intuition. I just have a feeling.”
“I suppose, I suppose. They say even dragons can only use Dragon Tongue after reaching the level of an Archmage. It’s probably too early for Student Yandel.”
“…You make it sound like you expect me to be able to use Dragon Tongue eventually, as long as time passes.”
“What? Wasn’t that the case? You’re basically a dragon in human form, Student Yandel.”
“Well, to be clear, I am human. It’s just that my ‘materials’ are draconic.”
There is a strict difference between the two. If I were a true dragon, I wouldn’t have needed something like Dragonization in the first place.
Of course, since it’s true that this body contains the Dragon Factor, I can’t say it’s absolutely impossible….
“It just means I can’t be optimistic and assume it’ll definitely happen.”
“That’s a shame, a shame. I thought I might be able to research Dragon Tongue.”
Iona smacked her lips, showing her blatant disappointment. On the other hand, Iris gasped as if she had just thought of something.
“Hah! Master!”
“Huh? What now?”
“It may not be as powerful as Dragon Tongue, but can’t Spirit Language alone partially transcend existing magic?”
“I suppose it’s possible if I try.”
For example, even if I couldn’t multi-cast a hundred spells, I could use Spirit Language to copy a single cast spell a hundred times.
Of course, I’d have to bear the consumption, so I wouldn’t be able to copy just any spell.
It would probably be limited to basic or low-grade magic at best.
…For the record, if it were Dragon Tongue, one could cast a hundred different spells all at once. And with much less mana consumption.
However, the fact that it was possible at all seemed to be what mattered to Iris. Anticipation began to bloom on her youthful face.
“T-Then, is it possible to merge two different elements into one through the power of Spirit Language? If it’s Master, who has learned Element Combination, I feel like it might be possible….”
“I don’t know. To be honest, I can’t even really imagine what it means for elements to ‘merge,’ and I don’t understand it theoretically, so I’m not confident. Most of all, I’m not used to Spirit Language yet.”
“I see….”
“…I’ll give it a try, though.”
Iris looked so overtly dejected that I added that last part and extended the index fingers of both hands.
Whoosh.
Gurgle.
A small match-like flame appeared on my left hand, and a water droplet the size of an eyeball appeared on my right.
Though it was simultaneous casting, basic spells like Tinder and Water didn’t require chants or activation words.
Perhaps it was because I had reached the rank of High Magician regardless of Spirit Language, but handling magic had certainly become much easier than before.
With a slight sense of pride, I stared at the two basic spells.
Fire and water. I had to merge these two now. But how?
I could mimic something similar with Element Combination, but the synthesis Iris wanted wasn't that.
It wasn't simply clumping fire and water together so they wouldn't repel each other. Nor was it creating a mixed state where fire was water and water was fire.
What I had to aim for was the state before they were divided. A regression to something that could become fire or could become water.
Of course, this was physically impossible. Fire isn't even matter; it's just energy.
To return to the state before the two were divided, I might have to wind back the clock to before the Big Bang.
However, from the perspective of magical studies, the story changes a bit.
The elements spoken of in magic are said to be the fundamental components that make up the world. Therefore, an element does not refer to a specific phenomenon or substance.
It is something more conceptual.
Take fire, for example. The element of fire doesn't just refer to the phenomenon of burning. It represents things that are bright, things that are warm, but also things that are terrifying and bring destruction.
It refers to the collection of all the thoughts and images people associate with fire.
Then what about water?
The element of water has a more static image. Things that are cold, things that are silent, the source of life, but also things that sometimes take many lives.
They seem to be polar opposites, but in some aspects, they share a common thread.
Then, what existed before fire and water were divided?
Something that is hot yet cold, brilliant yet quiet. Something that brings ruin when aimed at a person.
I forced my will toward that squeezed-out image.
Mana, boiling up of its own accord, swirled at the tip of my tongue, giving me a ticklish sensation. I spat out the words that had risen to my jaw, imbuing them with power.
“『Merge and return.』”
My fingers touched. The small flame and the water droplet at their tips had no choice but to deeply accept one another.
Flash—!
Fire and water flickered violently while simultaneously absorbing each other.
Could it be… did it work?
With a pounding heart, I waited for them to become completely one.
…But what returned was only a massive explosion.
KABOOM!
The repulsive force was so strong it was hard to believe it came from the meeting of two mere basic spells at my fingertips.
Fortunately, Iris and Iona, who had been watching intently, hurriedly cast shields, so there were no major issues.
Though it went out of control, it was still my magic, so my fingers were fine.
The problem was Iris, who had been so full of expectation. I awkwardly scratched the back of my head and turned my gaze.
I was going to comfort her by saying it might have exploded because I’m unskilled with Spirit Language, or because my understanding of elements is lacking, or because our paths are different.
I was going to tell her that just because I failed didn't mean it was impossible. However…
“Hmm? Hmmm….”
For some reason, Iris’s expression looked quite serious. Like someone who had encountered a path that was faint as a thread but definitely there.
Could she have realized something from that explosion just now?
“Iris? Want me to show you one more time?”
“Ah, no, it is fine. I saw what I needed to see. From here on, it is my task, so do not worry. …And thank you, Master. I gained something thanks to you.”
“Well, that’s a relief then.”
I ruffled Iris’s hair as I stroked it, then stood up and looked around.
Everyone else had expressions that said they wanted to see more Spirit Language magic, even if they didn't say it like Iris did. I guess I have no choice.
I grinned and jerked my thumb toward the door.
“I’m going to go practice a few things behind the dormitory. Anyone want to come along?”
No one shook their head.