Special Lecture (3)
Before heading to the Magic Tower.
When I asked Madam for advice, this was what she said.
'Awakening the circuit in a single day will be difficult. Make sure Ayla doesn’t get impatient.'
Coming from Madam, who excelled at Mana Circuit Tuning, that was the conventional wisdom.
But I saw it differently.
I thought my Mana Control and Ayla’s talent together might produce a different result.
So I shrugged and treated it as a simple reference.
And that became reality.
"Instructor, I did it!"
"You've finally reached the starting line. Congratulations."
Ayla beamed and abruptly grabbed my hands.
If I were to liken her to a puppy, her tail would be spinning so fast it'd be invisible.
"It feels like my whole field of vision has opened up, just like after the tuning."
"That is your own innate power, Ayla."
Ayla, in her joy, conjured flames several times.
Each time, faint traces of red mana scattered into the air.
Watching that, a question suddenly occurred to me.
'Are those traces really produced by mana burning?'
Curious, I reached out and caught a trace in my hand.
Examining it before it vanished into the air, it truly did resemble a trace produced by mana burning.
Most mages produced Mana Fluctuations by consuming mana. Ayla, on the other hand, seemed to produce them by burning it.
In other words, the underlying circuit was the same, but she was breaking the rules in a different way...
This made me curious about how fast Ayla would grow.
As I gazed at her with satisfaction, an endearing question came.
"I'll be able to receive praise from my master, right?"
"Of course. I'll guarantee it."
"What a relief..."
She seemed relieved, as if the pressure that the special lecture might end with nothing to show for it had weighed heavily on her.
As the tension eased like that, she began to take stock of the current situation.
Ayla's gaze slowly traveled down and fixed on our two hands, clasped tightly together.
This time, perhaps because a stronger current flowed, she flinched in surprise and drew her hands to her chest.
"Ah, ahem! I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
I rose from my seat first and extended a hand to Ayla, who had frozen in place.
"If you stay like that, your clothes will get dirty."
"...Thank you."
By the time the special lecture ended and we stepped outside, the sun that had been overhead was already a crimson sunset bidding us farewell.
'I didn't realize time would pass so quickly.'
Since I had no immediate means of transport, even if I departed now, I would arrive at my lodgings past midnight.
Using a carriage would take about the same, including preparation time.
If I were Level 6, I could simply use Spatial Transfer, but at my current Level I needed another fast means of travel.
'Come to think of it, didn't a researcher say they were developing an innovative means of transport?'
Coincidentally, among the news I'd heard when I visited the Magic Tower for the presentation, there had been an interesting story.
I heard that the Magic Tower had recently been researching a new discipline called Magic Engineering.
They said it was a device that used Resistance Stones and Mana Stones to store mana and release it when needed.
They emphasized that once it was invented, it could revolutionize everyday life.
They seemed to have asked that if I ever visited again, I should be sure to stop by their laboratory.
They repeatedly stressed that it was filled with challenges no one walking the path of magic could pass up.
Since things had turned out this way, staying a day at the Magic Tower and visiting the laboratory wouldn't be a bad idea.
The problem was that I hadn't contacted them in advance, so they might refuse.
"Um, Instructor?"
Ayla slipped into my field of vision, as if she had something to say.
"Do you have more questions?"
"No. That's not it."
Ayla cleared her throat a few times and spoke carefully.
"Would you like to stay at the Magic Tower tonight?"
The timing was so perfect that I couldn't refuse the offer.
* * *
While Ayla went to ask the Magic Tower Master for permission, I ended up waiting in the Magic Tower lobby.
The sight before me made this the perfect time to observe the Magic Tower as it really was.
The robes symbolizing the Magic Tower had a distinctive, stylish look, but the mages’ faces were heavy with exhaustion.
"Doing nothing but research all night would be tiring."
Even at an hour when Imperial officials would normally be heading home, mages were still hurrying about.
That direction was probably Mana Stone-related.
That direction looked like Magic Device research.
The Magic Tower was called a mage's dream, but tremendous growth always required someone's sacrifice.
Why else would this place be nicknamed the Lighthouse of the Empire?
As a clear example, there was someone holding bread in their left hand and flipping through documents with their right to save time.
It was fascinating how their eyes were clearly fixed on the paper, yet they navigated without bumping into anything even once.
There was no Mana Fluctuation, so they were not using magic.
It was probably nothing more than experience built up over years of shuttling between the laboratory and their quarters.
'It has a different feel from the academy.'
Analyzing trivial daily life was quite entertaining.
You could say it was the exact opposite of how I had always analyzed people to pressure them and seize an advantage.
"Let's see."
What should I analyze this time?
Just as I was slowly scanning my surroundings again.
"Instructor!"
Ayla grinned broadly and raised her hand toward me.
This time, her robe was gone, and she appeared in a combination of a white blouse and a black skirt.
She weaved through the mages moving without any pattern and dashed over in an instant.
"I got permission to stay the day."
"Did the Magic Tower Master say anything in particular?"
"Of course. When I asked my master for the best room, he readily gave it to me."
"Was there nothing else said beyond that?"
"Yes. Since I asked, he granted it right away."
The Magic Tower Master let this slide?
There really was no teacher who could win against their disciple.
He had definitely started out with all sorts of serious expressions and deep deliberation, then melted the moment he saw Ayla's face.
The fact that I had taught Ayla and resolved the demon intrusion incident probably contributed a small share as well.
Anyway.
There was no longer any need to wander down dark paths late at night.
I would have to contact Flora later and let her know I'd be staying at the Magic Tower.
"Then please show me to the room."
"Ah, ah.... Instructor, just a moment."
Ayla, who had been leading the way, suddenly stopped.
She seemed to have made a considerable resolution, as if she had something she wanted to say.
"...It's a little late, but."
She clasped her hands behind her back and, as if something pleased her, subtly twisted her upper body to look back at me.
"Would you like to tour the Magic Tower with me?"
A request at a late hour like this.
I didn't answer right away and paused for a moment.
"That is, I mean...."
A moment later, Ayla grew flustered and hastily added something.
"Originally, sightseeing at this hour is more fun."
"Hmm, is that so?"
"I, who grew up in the Magic Tower, will vouch for it."
Ayla nodded her head first.
At that, I smiled slightly.
"Very well. I'll follow your lead, Miss Ayla."
"Just trust me and follow."
The mischievous smile hanging on Ayla's lips made even me feel anticipation.
And so began the second exploration of the Magic Tower.
Ayla dashed through the Magic Tower in all directions, saying we had to see at least one more thing before it got any later.
When I had visited before, there was little time for sightseeing, so it was only a cursory look around, but this time I could take my time.
The first place we arrived at was the Magic Tower library.
Ayla struck a confident pose and spoke quietly enough that only I could hear.
"This is the library. I’m proud to say it’s the second largest in the Empire."
"Is the Imperial Library the largest?"
"Yes. The types of books they hold are slightly different, but our collection of magic texts is the best."
Of course the Magic Tower should win when it comes to magic.
My knowledge expanded with this new fact I hadn't known: that the library was the second largest in scale.
The second place we arrived at was the training hall.
There wasn't much difference from the academy gymnasium, but Ayla was still brimming with confidence.
"This is similar to the academy gymnasium, but it will soon change."
"What will change?"
Ayla picked up a sparring weapon scattered on the floor and spoke.
"I heard they’ll be able to recreate real environments using Magic Devices."
At that, the familiar Magic Device came to mind.
I put a sparring sword back into the storage rack and asked her.
"Is it the Magic Device I saw at the special facility?"
"That's right. My master said they'll be supplying it to the academy and the knight orders soon."
"That is welcome news."
I had originally planned to ask the Magic Tower Master to get me that Magic Device, but distribution plans were already underway.
With this, if I just drafted a lecture plan the chancellor would agree to, it would be approved immediately.
I carried this quite satisfying news with me, thanks to Ayla, as I moved on.
Next were the lounge and the living quarters.
I strolled slowly with Ayla, eating the snacks provided in the lounge.
"Do you stay here too, Ayla?"
"I live on the same floor as my master."
"Aha..."
The Magic Tower Master's disciple certainly received different treatment.
Since this area was closely connected to daily life, I only took it in with my eyes while chatting lightly.
Even so, one thing stood out: Ayla really was the Magic Tower’s darling.
How should I put it?
A picture where, as she trotted along, everyone greeted her and Ayla answered brightly?
To my eyes, it felt like a cute puppy excitedly running around the Magic Tower.
Only after rummaging through every nook and cranny of the Magic Tower as if on a treasure hunt did we head to the final location: the room where I would be staying.
"There's more besides this, but I'm sorry I can't show you because of the time."
"What else is left?"
"There are laboratories, Magic Device and Mana Stone storage rooms, and..."
Ayla, who had been advancing through the complex building with energetic steps, suddenly hesitated like a broken clock.
Worried it might be a Mana Circuit problem, I quickly asked.
"Are you feeling unwell? If it's a Mana Circuit problem, you must tell me."
"No. It's nothing."
She slowly shook her head and said it was nothing, but experience told me that reaction was strange.
I immediately surveyed the area.
There was no one nearby watching or targeting us.
'Did I react overly sensitively for nothing?'
Instead, a group of three mages was approaching from this direction.
Ayla bowed her head and greeted them first.
"Hello, Elder."
"What brings Miss Ayla here?"
"I was showing Instructor Karon around the Magic Tower."
"I see."
The elder raised an eyebrow and glanced at me.
"The presentation was impressive."
"Thank you."
I exchanged a brief handshake and a short conversation with him.
First, he highly praised how I had drawn out the extremes using theories learnable at the academy.
He also expressed gratitude, saying he had gained much inspiration from this presentation.
At any rate, I thought Spring Day would bring things to a warm close—
"So you've finally reached Level 4. I hope you cultivate strength befitting your position before you graduate from the academy."
"...Understood."
It felt somewhat different from encouragement.
The elder wore a cold expression toward Ayla.
Toward me, he merely gave a slight nod without much else to say.
'There’s something suspicious about his words and behavior...'
Since there was no clear evidence, I thought it would end leaving behind only an unpleasant feeling, but the elder's muttering became the decisive clue.
"What the Magic Tower Master sees in a child like that to shelter her, I'll never know. Tsk."
My intuition had not been wrong.
To think he would openly try to humiliate Ayla like that.
I could let most things slide, but not someone going after a member of my organization or someone I had acknowledged. 'The fallout from this shouldn’t be too serious.'
I quickly calculated what would happen afterward.
If I put the elder in his place to a reasonable degree, the Magic Tower Master would have nothing to say either.
What could he say when I helped his cherished disciple?
Therefore, I would fulfill my duty as the teacher instructing Ayla.
Whether it was a short conversation or, if it dragged on, a duel, either was fine.
No matter what, I would win.
There was no point thinking about it any longer. I drew up my mana with practiced ease and called out to the elder.
"What did a mere Level 7 nobody just say?"