Let's Meet Again. For Sure
Time had slipped away for a moment.
At the training ground of the White Magic Tower.
“Excuse me, lady. Please come forward.”
Zenith’s finger passed through the crowd and stopped at a specific spot.
Iris looked around in disbelief.
But no matter how she looked, there was no one else to point at.
“...Me?”
“Yeah. You.”
Words burst out immediately from all around the training ground.
“Hey, what? In the end, you’re looking at your own brother first.”
“It’s fine. There are still two left, after all.”
Iris ignored it and walked forward.
Just a moment ago, she had been watching her sister’s magic from afar, but now facing it head-on, her feelings were strange.
“...Why did you point at me first, Patriarch?”
“Just. I got curious.”
Zenith answered as if it were nothing.
“Celia-senpai said that recently, the way you use formulas has changed a bit.”
“...Leon.”
“Leon.”
Zenith said the name with a slightly intrigued expression.
“Actually, the reason I came here is to see that kid directly. By the way, I’ll check your condition too. Don’t take it too seriously.”
“...”
“Prepare. Anything.”
Iris raised her staff.
Any familiar, long-used magic would be enough.
“Ice Spear.”
Cold mana spread around.
Blue formulas unfolded in the air, two Water elemental formulas intertwining to create the Ice attribute.
Once the shape and output were set, twelve ice spears surrounded Iris.
Swoosh—!
As the staff descended, the ice spears shot toward Zenith simultaneously.
But Zenith didn’t dodge.
Bang!
She had only lightly brushed the air with her hand, yet the twelve ice spears shattered before they could reach her.
“...Nothing’s really changed?”
Zenith brushed her hand.
“Same as before.”
Same as before.
Hearing that, a word she wanted to forget but couldn’t came to mind.
— The formulas are neat. Like just repeating what others taught.
It was a really hated word.
After that day, Iris threw herself into magic with even greater effort.
She recited the formulas without a single mistake and tried to cast the same magic faster and more accurately than others.
She had thought about becoming stronger than her sister someday and crumpling that smug face many times.
But suddenly, a question dropped into her mind.
“Why am I doing magic?”
To be acknowledged by sister.
To surpass sister.
Looking back, at the end of all her magic and goals, there was always Zenith.
But Leon was different.
Even when she had asked about modifying Frostbite a few days ago and got stuck, it was the same.
“Ah... this way it’s not fun.”
Leon suddenly removed one formula.
“This way it might be more fun?”
Fun.
At first, she thought what was that.
Not efficiency or stability in changing magic, but fun?
But thinking about it, Leon always did it that way.
Asking why use this formula,
Saying even if people made it hundreds of years ago, why can’t we,
And coming up with new combinations.
If not, remove it, if needed add it, if not satisfied change it again.
Like a person who doesn’t think there’s a correct answer.
Iris raised her staff again.
“...Ice Spear.”
Zenith raised her eyebrow slightly.
“Again Ice Spear? Boring.”
Iris didn’t respond.
“Two Water elemental formulas. Output formula. Shape formula. Propulsion formula. Coordinate formula.”
This was the formula for Ice Spear.
That’s how she had learned it so far.
But.
“What if I add one more Water elemental formula.”
One more blue elemental formula joined.
Whoosh—
The temperature around dropped sharply, white frost spread from Iris’s feet.
Mana consumption increased noticeably, but it didn’t matter now.
“...Twelve is too many.”
Iris recalled Leon’s Fireball.
The huge Fireball that swallowed a mouthful.
It’s not always better to have more.
“...One should be enough.”
She removed the output formula.
The mana that was supposed to spread into twelve streams concentrated into one point, creating a huge ice mass.
But the shape didn’t please her.
Long and sharp spear.
She didn’t want a piercing attack now.
Then, no need for the spear shape.
“...Let’s remove the shape formula too.”
The ice that was stretching long collapsed into one.
The bumpy surface was smoothed, cold compressed, and a huge ice sphere floated above her head.
Whoosh—!
The people who had been talking a moment ago closed their mouths.
“...Is this the Ice Spear I know?”
“You changed the composition on the spot?”
But for Iris, it wasn’t important.
It was the first time.
Not someone made, not from magic school.
Mana efficiency would be messy, stability not checked, even casting time too long.
But.
“...Ah.”
Fun.
Changing one formula changes the result, removing others makes completely different form.
“...That’s why.”
Now she seemed to understand a bit.
Why Leon always had a happy expression when making magic.
“Iris. You...”
Zenith’s eyes narrowed.
Celia, watching from a distance, also had a surprised face.
“...You broke the wall, Iris.”
Mages learn and use completed formulas.
If learned Fireball, use Fireball, if Ice Spear, use Ice Spear.
People call those who handle such ‘magic’ as ‘mages’.
But Magus is different.
They look at the elemental formulas and formulas themselves, not the completed result.
Question why this shape, why this formula needed.
If needed, tear it apart or create new magic.
Not using completed magic, but handling the ‘way’ where magic is created.
That’s why they are called ‘Magus’.
And now Iris doubted the Ice Spear she used all her life and directly changed it into a form she never learned.
Not yet enough to call her a proper Magus, but.
“Glacial Orb.”
She definitely stepped over the threshold.
Whoosh—!
The huge ice sphere flew toward Zenith, pushing the air heavily.
Only the difference between someone who just opened the door and someone who walked far beyond.
“Inferno Flame.”
Puff—!
Black flames instantly swallowed the ice sphere.
When the huge steam covered the training ground and cleared.
Zenith was still in her original position, not moving a step.
No trace of Glacial Orb left.
But Iris was already thinking of the next.
“...There are many improvement points.”
More than thinking it’s done, this thought came first.
Reduce mana consumption, if power insufficient, add other formulas.
Zenith looked at her younger sister, lifted the corner of her mouth and approached.
“...The time has come.”
“...What do you mean?”
“Let’s go to the main family, Iris.”
The excitement that was there until a moment ago vanished in an instant.
Suddenly?
Me?
Why now?
“...I don’t want to.”
“Huh?”
“I won’t go.”
Iris put down her staff.
“Why do I suddenly have to return to the main family? I’ll judge after hearing the reason.”
“Reason? There’s none.”
Zenith thought for a moment and said casually.
“Just follow, then follow.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Iris.”
“I’m no longer a child. Even without telling the reason, I won’t follow—”
Slap—!
Her face turned sideways.
Left cheek heated up belatedly.
“Cheeky.”
Zenith lowered her hand.
“Too cheeky, Iris.”
“Wait...!”
Celia immediately entered between the two.
“What are you doing now!”
“Senpai, ignore it. It’s family matter.”
“Family or whatever, Iris is now part of our White Magic Tower. I won’t forgive you for hitting a person from the tower in front of me.”
“What if I don’t forgive?”
“...Zenith.”
“Why. Want to fight once?”
Zenith lifted the corner of her mouth.
“Like the day your father disappeared.”
Paaang—!
Before the words ended, white light burst from under Celia’s feet.
Steam was pushed away instantly, white light swallowed the training ground floor.
“...Say it again.”
Zenith laughed as if waiting.
“Hahaha! Yes, that’s it.”
Red mana surged through her body violently.
“That appearance is really rare. The senpai who was called White Witch. It was really scary.”
White and red mana collided head-on.
Whoosh—!
Strong wind swept the training ground, thin cracks spread on the floor between them.
“But what to do about this?”
Zenith pulled up the red aura more.
“Now I might win?”
“...Try.”
“Anytime.”
Only then did the surrounding people scream.
“Haa, haaaak! Run!”
“Insane, are they really going to fight each other!”
People rushed out in front, the training ground that couldn’t be stepped on a moment ago became empty in an instant.
Iris looked back and forth between the two.
If left like this, they might really fight.
“Stop it!”
Both Celia and Zenith turned.
“...I’ll go.”
“...Iris?”
“I’ll go to the main family. So both of you stop.”
“But Zenith is saying to you right now—”
“It’s fine.”
It couldn’t be fine.
But it would be better than two Grand Magus level forces clashing properly here.
Zenith clicked her tongue regretfully.
“Tsk. Don’t say it a little later.”
“...Unlucky girl.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
The red aura disappeared first, and Celia eventually withdrew her mana.
“Then let’s leave right away. Contact the coachman, he’ll come quickly.”
“...Patriarch.”
“Why?”
“Can’t you wait just 2 hours?”
“Reason?”
“...There are things to do.”
Zenith looked at Iris for a moment and nodded.
“Okay. Exactly 2 hours.”
“...”
“More than that is not allowed.”
“...Thank you.”
At the moment Iris turned to leave.
“...Iris.”
Her steps stopped.
Celia looked at Iris with a worried face.
“...Really... is it really okay with that?”
“...Yes. It’s fine.”
Iris nodded slightly and left the training ground.
2.
“...Something like that happened.”
Celia’s story ended.
Yeah, let’s summarize.
Zenith came to find her.
Suddenly said she would take Iris to the main family.
After refusing, she hit the cheek, and almost fought with Celia.
Finally Iris persuaded her, and the guy went back to the main family as is.
“I see.”
“...Is that all you have to say?”
“Yes, well. It’s over?”
Celia stared at me.
“...Not sorry?”
“A bit sorry, though.”
Before entering the tower, we had an odd farewell, and when coming down, I thought I had to apologize first.
But in the meantime, she went home, how could it not be sorry.
And what could I do anyway.
The Patriarch sister took her directly, and in the end, Iris said she would go herself.
“Still, I learned not to meddle in other people’s family affairs.”
“...Yeah. That’s right.”
Celia sighed.
“You worked hard. I’ll go back now.”
What, why is the boss acting like that.
I packed my bag and left the office.
“Sigh... a bit sorry.”
Still, going back to the main family doesn’t mean I won’t see her for life, and I can come back later.
No need to go find her today and hand her over.
And right now, I’m too tired.
“Should sleep.”
I walked a long way to the dormitory, opened the door.
“...?”
Things I didn’t leave on the desk were there.
A few textbooks I was studying with for days and small snack packets.
And on top, a neatly placed letter.
[To Leon.]
“...Iris?”
I put down my bag and unfolded the letter.
To Leon.
The cheek hitting last time, I’m really sorry.
I was surprised to hear such words suddenly, and my hand moved on its own.
I wanted to apologize directly, but couldn’t.
I need to go to the main family for a while.
I don’t know when I can return.
Ah, and?
You know?
I used the magic I made directly in front of my sister for the first time.
You said last time, you don’t like boring magic.
I didn’t know what that meant then, but now I understand a bit.
Thank you, Leon.
When I come back, I’ll show you.
Then, I want to hear how you think about it.
I’ll leave some snacks too.
Since it’s better baked than last time, don’t leave even if it’s not tasty.
And.
Let’s meet again.
For sure.
Iris.
“...”
I put down the letter and picked up the snack packet next to it.
And took one out and put it in my mouth.
Crunch.
“It was better made than last time.”
Tasty.
Really tasty.
But.
“...Not to my liking.”
I put the remaining snacks back in the packet and stood up from my seat.
The thought of wanting to sleep had long disappeared.