It Seems She's Never Done This Before
It seemed like she had never done anything like this before, yet one question lingered in my mind. The source of that doubt was none other than Serafina. The question itself had sprung from a conversation with Assistant Serafina.
…To go back to my hometown and open a small shop with my family.
In ordinary circumstances, it would have been an unproblematic answer. Wanting to be together with family who lived far away—if she had a family, and given how long she had been at the academy, it was a perfectly natural thought.
…In ordinary circumstances, there would be no issue.
But.
…I am not ordinary.
I was not a normal case.
- I want to live quietly in a small cabin.
The answer had changed.
…Of course, many things had changed since then. It could be viewed as a reaction to those changes.
…It just leaves me with this strange sense of unease.
I felt a subtle incongruity. The more I examined it, the more it seemed as though I was missing something vital.
It was the same with the professor. Why does this keep happening?
I unconsciously frowned.
Even if I wanted to uncover the reason behind this discomfort, I could not dig any deeper.
…It’s not as if I can ask why the answer changed.
It was a memory only I possessed. A memory even Zeno did not know.
There was no one else who remembered.
…Tsk.
I clicked my tongue.
…That is not what matters right now.
Soon Professor Aria and the Chancellor would return. Once I interpreted the book those two brought back and gathered the information….
“Yohan?”
…Hm?
…Ah, so you were awake.
I turned my head at the sound of Serafina’s voice.
I was not yet able to clearly perceive distant objects, but since we were both lying in bed, it was easy to tell where she was.
“Can’t you sleep? You’ve been tossing and turning since earlier.”
Serafina asked with evident worry, seeing that I could not fall asleep.
I started to shake my head out of habit, then remembered the lights had been extinguished for sleep. Remaining in my reclined position, I reached out with one hand toward the magic device I had left on the bedside table.
There were still uses remaining.
“Ah, it’s fine to use your hand. We don’t know when you might need it again.”
I withdrew the hand I had extended toward the device.
Soon afterward, Serafina took my hand.
- I have some things on my mind. Did I wake you?
“No, it’s not that at all.”
Serafina hurriedly insisted that she had definitely not been awake because of me.
I smiled.
- That’s a relief. By the way, once the professor returns, will you head straight back to the academy?
“According to the schedule, it seems we will stay one more day before returning. There are also matters to discuss after the professor comes back.”
…Right. There are responses to prepare, so this must be time set aside for countermeasures.
It seemed best to view it as preparation for the situations that would arise upon returning to the academy.
Then there truly isn’t much time left.
At most, three days. It was likely that this already included the day of departure.
In effect, the time Assistant Serafina had left at the Magic Tower was practically none.
…Because unless something special occurred, she would remain at the academy from then on.
“It’s getting late. Shall we sleep now?”
Serafina spoke while gazing at me, since I had sent no further messages.
I slowly released her hand.
- Yes. Sleep well.
“You sleep well too, Yohan.”
The two of us quickly fell asleep.
- Is this regarding magic research?
“Yes. There is something I have been studying, and I would like to hear your thoughts on it as well, Yohan.”
It was the fourth day since Serafina and I had begun spending time together.
The question had come suddenly from Serafina while we were eating.
Well, it is nearly time for her to return, so this must be preparation for that.
Since arriving at the Magic Tower, Assistant Serafina had engaged in no research activities beyond experiencing the magic tools and writing simple reports.
This despite the event being the official ‘exchange meeting’ between the Magic Tower and the academy.
It meant that, at the Tower Master’s request for her to serve as the student’s conversation partner, she had been unable to do much else.
…Of course, submitting a report on the experience with the magic tools would itself be a groundbreaking contribution to the academy.
Several of the magic tools had also been loaned to the academy. In essence, the experience gained there and the one gained at the Magic Tower were considered identical.
The Chancellor will likely show consideration, but…
She seemed to have judged that she needed to make preparations of her own.
…Because that was the nature of commoners.
…Huu.
I let out a quiet breath and looked at Serafina.
It was something I could certainly do.
[Are you intending to assist with the research?]
‘Yes. I have received a great deal of help in the meantime.’
Both in the past and now.
Thanks to her, countless inconveniences had essentially vanished.
If I was to repay even a portion of that debt, now was the perfect moment.
- If it is acceptable to you, I will help. It has been a long time since I last engaged in research, so I am looking forward to it.
Serafina smiled brightly.
.
“The core of the research is maximizing the effect of magic.”
Serafina calmly explained her study to me.
I nodded to show I understood.
- If it can truly be applied, the very standing of magic will change from now on.
What Serafina had been researching was a method to maximize magical effects while using minimal mana.
The difficulty was on an entirely different level from the previous ‘research to enable magic usage with low mana.’
In other words, it was research that no one had ever succeeded in completing.
[It is a difficult research project.]
Zeno, having listened to Serafina’s explanation, likewise assessed it as difficult. It was an evaluation he could only make after having witnessed the many research endeavors I had undertaken over our long association.
…That is true.
I agreed with the assessment.
The greatest problem with this research was that the caster would have to shoulder considerable risk.
‘Still, there is a way, is there not?’
Even so, it was not a study one should abandon.
There were methods to supplement it, even if imperfectly.
And it seems you have already determined a direction.
As I listened to Serafina’s continued explanation, I pictured the framework of her research in my mind.
…It was at a remarkably high level. With only a few words of advice, it could yield meaningful results.
- As I listened, one idea occurred to me. If you direct this outward rather than inward, would that not lessen the burden?
I offered the suggestion in the form of advice.
Having heard it all, Serafina wore a startled expression.
“Indeed, that would reduce the burden. To think you could arrive at such an idea from this explanation alone.”
Serafina kept expressing admiration. She looked as though she had been struck in a completely unexpected spot.
I smiled. For some reason, the exchange felt pleasant.
“Then, Yohan, when this is combined with existing spells…”
Afterward, Serafina’s questions poured forth like a waterfall.
[Regarding research, she is quite similar to you.]
Haha.
I laughed a little sheepishly.
A full day had passed since Serafina and I began discussing the research.
Time flew by, and it became the night of the fifth day.
Which meant it was time for Professor Aria and Chancellor Kassian to return.
“Assistant Serafina, the Tower Master is looking for you. Would it be all right to go now?”
Claire arrived while Serafina and I were finishing our bedtime preparations and talking about the research.
“Yes, that’s fine. I’ll change my clothes and come right away.”
Serafina quickly informed Claire that she would prepare and join her.
After changing, Serafina approached me and said,
“Yohan. I’ll go see the Tower Master. We can continue the research discussion later. If you’re tired, go ahead and sleep first.”
I nodded. I would probably fall asleep before she returned.
Soon.
Click. The bedroom door closed.
She really used every last second.
[So it seems.]
The Chancellor had predicted five days. Returning this late at night suggested they had cut it extremely close.
…That aside.
Now I will be sleeping with the professor again.
Once Assistant Serafina left, I would once more share a bed with Professor Aria for the mana transfer.
I lay down on the bed. It was best to get proper rest now.
Let’s fall asleep quickly.
I closed my eyes at once.
.
Click.
Not much time had passed before the bedroom door opened again.
It was far too quick a return to have held any real conversation.
I, who had only just begun to drift off, turned toward the sound—toward the spot where Serafina would lie down.
You came back quickly.
…Well, it was already late at night. It would have been too late for a proper discussion.
While still lying down, I moved my hand slightly so I could speak with her.
I soon grasped her hand.
…Hm?
It was a hand, but… the sensation was somehow different.
Was it because I was sleepy?
I shook off the drowsiness and spoke.
- You returned quickly, Assistant. I fell asleep first because I was tired. If I had known, I would have waited.
I waited for Serafina’s reply.
But no answer came for a long time.
What is this?
I lifted my head. I tried to move my hand again to ask if something had happened, but—
Soon Serafina’s voice reached me.
“Ah, I was lost in thought for a moment. Go back to sleep, Yohan.”
At those words I released the hand and turned toward the ceiling.
Before long I began drifting off once more, and soon felt fingers gently brushing my hair aside.
…Huh?
The assistant has never done this before….