Beating the Holy Empire's Summer Heat
“This has gotten annoying. Around the time we get summer break from the academy, the Holy Empire will already be pretty hot, so I wasn't planning on visiting then.”
Estelle, who had returned to the room, let out a deep sigh and gave Theo and Iris an apologetic look.
“A summer trip to the Holy Empire, yeah, that'd definitely be tough.”
Theo, who basically preferred winter over summer anyway, seemed to feel it even more acutely.
“I'm really sorry, Theo. Getting dragged into that weirdo's mess...”
Calling the Holy Emperor a weirdo— even in a private setting like this, probably only Estelle could get away with it.
“It's fine. By then, I can just learn some temperature control magic, and it'll all be good.”
But Theo wasn't particularly worried. Among magic spells, there were plenty that made life convenient, and one of them adjusted temperatures for a set period. In reality, during extreme summers or winters, mages often cast it for people at a high price, but generally, it was replacing things like refrigerators or storage jars that needed power or precise temperature control for preservation. Places doing that were on the rise. Sure, it was expensive, but saving on energy helped the nation too, so it was a government-backed business. Most operators relied on this magic, and that wasn't wrong.
“Since you can already use both ice and fire magic, it won't be hard for you to learn. Honestly, you could probably do it already—you just don't know the right approach.”
Estelle smiled as she spoke, and Theo gave her a dubious look, but she was right.
There weren't many who could handle multiple elemental magics like Theo, but if you could freely wield ice and fire, tweaking the method a bit made it usable. Of course, you needed a huge mana pool and precise control, but Theo had both in spades. Anyone who saw him cast even once would think the same.
“Aren't you hyping me up too much?”
“But you really could do it right now!”
“Hmm, alright, I'll give it a shot.”
Theo could now fully sense the mana flowing through his body. No, it was beyond sensing—he'd reached near-mastery, handling it freely, though he didn't realize he'd hit the realm mages talked about.
“Think of wrapping yourself in a barrier tuned to the right temperature. It'll need some fine control, but I bet you can handle it.”
While Estelle gave Theo this impromptu magic lesson, Iris sipped tea brought by Estelle's maids, enjoying a leisurely time.
Truth be told, I wanted to join in...
...but magic's just not my thing.
Of course, she knew basic spells and could cast them. But at this advanced level? No way she could help. Back when Theo was just starting with Estelle, maybe, but now he was way beyond her own skill. She knew it well, so she just quietly drank her tea.
A bit hot, huh.
The Holy Empire did get brutally hot in summer, warming up while the Ermunt Empire still enjoyed cool spring breezes. Having just come from Ermunt, the heat here felt intense, naturally. To Holy Empire folks, this was nothing—no AC yet—so Ermunt people avoided trips here this time of year.
“Hoo...”
As she wiped sweat from her arm with a light sigh from the mild heat—
“Huh...?”
Suddenly, something enveloped her body, and it grew refreshingly cool.
“How's that, Iris? You looked hot, so I gave it a try.”
Lifting her head, Iris saw Theo beaming with excitement, eyes sparkling from his new trick. A faint mana barrier shimmered around him too, so she hadn't been a guinea pig—he'd succeeded already and just cared enough to cool her off.
“...It's too cool. Theo, you're just brilliant...”
“That hot, huh? Should've said something earlier. I could've asked Estelle.”
“No, I prefer yours, Theo.”
“Me too! Yours is better, so do mine too, Theo!”
Estelle, who'd been side-eyeing from beside Iris, jumped in eagerly, signaling she wanted Theo's personal touch too.
“Huh? But you can do it yourself, Estelle.”
“Yeah, but...! You need practice anyway, so why not kill two birds?”
“Oh! Sure, then. We'll probably use it a lot, so one more try.”
Theo believed practice made perfect, so he naturally wrapped Estelle in the spell too.
“The duration depends on how much mana I put in, right?”
“Yes, exactly! Teach you once, and you get tenfold. You're amazing!”
“Hey, quit hyping me up. It's embarrassing.”
Theo blushed and scratched his head awkwardly, but applying and intuiting untaught magic was genuinely impressive.
“Gotta swap some stuff out next time I head home.”
Plus, he thought of visiting his parents regularly to cast it on them—they worked outside no matter the weather. It felt like a faint magical veil, adjusting only temperature without hindering daily life.
“I set a few up last time I went, but yeah, time for maintenance.”
Estelle hadn't cast it directly on his parents, but she'd enchanted their power-needing or heat-requiring furniture.
“Oh, really? Mom'll love that. No more electric or gas bills outta nowhere.”
Common folk's biggest headaches were always utilities, rent, living costs. Winter heating spikes or summer AC electric bills were chronic pains.
“Magic's pretty great.”
Theo meant it sincerely. In his past life, having this would've guaranteed success—it was that convenient. Though only possible because of his massive mana pool and breath-like control.
“Anyway, after today's stuff, wanna head over for dinner and fix things up?”
“That okay? Won't you two be tired?”
Theo wanted to rush to his parents now—it'd hugely help farming—but Estelle had duties, and Iris might want more fun in the Holy Empire, so he checked with them.
“Of course it's fine for me. Your house is like my second home. Your parents feel like mine!”
As Estelle slyly slipped in her feelings, Iris scowled and cut in.
“My take: Theo's parents are like mine. That's why I've been sending support—wonder if they're using it well.”
Without Theo knowing, Iris had shipped new goods, hired farm helpers.
“You did that behind my back?”
Theo looked at her with deep emotion. Unlike what he'd expected—assuming academy life meant less attention to parents—they'd contacted and supported more than he had.
Not just Iris; Estelle had quietly maintained their home too. It touched him deeply.
“You two... thank you so much.”
“No need. It's your home, your parents. Of course we look after them.”
“Right, the people you love most.”
At "love most," Theo chuckled.
They were a sudden family, time together absurdly short, but he loved them. No desire to return to his lonely pre-possession world; after academy graduation, he definitely wanted to go home.
“Still, since we're in the Holy Empire, let's sightsee a bit first.”
“Sounds good! I'll be your guide! Load up on treats to bring home!”
“I'll call Mom ahead.”