Time with Presia
Knock knock
Research Building Room 707. As always, after knocking without waiting for a response, I entered. It’s not like it’s been a day or two since I last visited, there’s no need to wait for a reply, and I know well enough that there wouldn’t be one.
As soon as I entered, the curtains were drawn blocking the sunlight, and the room remained dark with the lights off.
The next room over was equally dim, and lying on the couch came into view: Presia.
Before waking her, I first tidied up the nearby table to make some space.
“Boss, I’ve arrived.”
Having retrieved the books for studying and getting everything set up, I proceeded to wake Presia, who was still asleep.
“Mmm… Alicia…?”
Kneading her eyes, she slowly rose from her seat. I slipped my hands under her armpits, helped her up, and gently adjusted her disheveled hair.
“Didn’t you say you’d teach me the basics of magic today? Don’t you remember?”
“I remember…”
With her voice still heavy with sleep, Presia answered and lightly hopped off the couch.
Each time she lightly waved her fingers, the lights in the room began to illuminate one by one. With a flick of her finger into the air, the bear she had hugged and lain with stood up from its place, waddling out of the room with an awkward sway.
After waiting for a while, the bear returned holding a tea set. Despite its awkward waddle, the tea did not spill from the teapot onto the floor.
However, once it placed the tea set on the table, it was too high for the bear to handle. Presia flicked her finger again.
This time, the teapot and cups floated into the air, along with the bear holding onto them.
Once the bear and tea set landed on the table, the bear efficiently arranged the saucers and cups and poured tea into them from the floating teapot.
Once done, the bear put the tea set aside on a corner of the table, jumped down under the table, and returned to the couch.
It was amazing to think that the bear was moving only moments ago given how still and quiet it now appeared sitting there.
Ho
Presia, sitting at the table, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and set it down again.
“Before starting the lesson, let’s take a quick moment to enjoy this tea.”
“Alright then…”
With Presia’s words, I too pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.
“Umm… Is your body feeling better now?”
“Ah, now that you mention it, I forgot to thank you. I heard that Boss healed me.”
Presia knows my condition well since she healed me directly with healing magic. Her asking this way indicates that she genuinely cares about me.
In fact, I later learned that the healing magic she used on me surpassed that of an ordinary priest’s holy magic, granting me insight into just how capable she is in magic.
“No, if anything, I owe my survival to Alicia. That’s the least I could do. If there’s anything else you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Hmm… Perhaps then we should decide not to continuously argue over who’s more grateful. I think it’s better to just recognize our mutual gratitude.”
From my perspective, I should be grateful to Presia, and from Presia’s perspective, she feels grateful to me. If we keep exchanging who’s more grateful, it might never end.
“Of course, ideally, something like this doesn’t happen again. But if a similar situation arises, I would act the same way. I believe you would do the same, wouldn’t you?”
“Yep.”
Seeing Presia nod, I continued speaking.
“After all, if we truly understand each other’s sincerity, isn’t a simple ‘thank you’ enough?”
Of course, expressing emotions is important. But becoming too preoccupied with that could be stifling. Even if not entirely, since Presia and I know each other well, aren’t a few words sufficient?
“…Yep.”
Fortunately, it seems Presia understood the meaning of what I wanted to convey, nodding slightly and giving a short response.
“Then, for today, I kindly ask for your guidance, Boss.”
With that, we moved on from the somewhat embarrassing conversation and began the original purpose of the day – Presia’s lecture on the basics of magic.
“How much do you know about magic?”
“Hmm… Well, for instance, the use of mana to cause certain phenomena, right?”
Fundamentally, it uses the energy from nature, but it’s different from a warrior’s aura. If a warrior’s aura is a technique for personal discipline and strengthening, then a mage’s magic is a technique that moves the energy of nature to express one’s will. Thus, magic can cause many phenomena that aura cannot. Considering humans are part of nature, although inefficiently, it’s still theoretically possible to use magic to strengthen the body, much like with aura.
There are even historical records that mention how Great Mages could perform miracles beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
“Alright, then how do you cause those phenomena?”
“With chants and magic circles.”
It’s naturally difficult for humans to manipulate nature’s energy. However, what makes it possible are magic spells and magical circles. People use these as intermediaries to transform what was once the realm of miracles into a mere skill.
“Right. But you need to understand why chants and magic circles work and the exact roles they play. Of course, if Alicia only desires good exam scores, there’s no need to delve this deep. Simply memorize, and you’re done. However, I believe this understanding will be beneficial to Alicia.”
It might seem useless for someone like me who just wields a sword to know much about magic, but if Presia says it, it must be helpful. Even if not, it might be useful when encountering a mage someday.
“Yes, then I’ll rely on you.”
Thus, I willingly accepted Presia’s offer.
Following this, the quality of Presia’s magic lectures was incomparable to the conventional magic lessons at school. I’m not denigrating the professors’ skills, but since the classes teach knights, there’s effectively no one trying to use magic. Combined with the students’ lack of both talent and passion for magic, the professors tend to just teach the theory superficially.
Thus, it’s only natural that Presia’s more intensive magic lessons had better quality.
“I use a different system of magic than the traditional ones, so anything more advanced than this might be a bit off because I haven’t thoroughly examined the books yet. However, I’ve recently mastered the basics of magic theory, so you don’t need to worry.”
At the end of the lesson, Presia made a baffling remark.
“Huh?”
“Hmm?”
Confused by my reaction, Presia tilted her head, not understanding.
“You’ve just mastered the basics of magic theory this time?”
Someone who has only just mastered the basics of magic theory can be considered a novice mage. But surely, Presia wouldn’t be a novice, having been invited as a professor at the academy.
“Yep. Before coming to the academy, I was using my own unique method.”
As far as I know, Presia entered the academy at the same time as me, which means this semester. If that’s true, Presia studied and mastered the basics of magic theory in just this semester.
“The experiments I showed Alicia during the first semester were the spells I created while studying the basics of magic theory.”
What prodigious talent!
“Different from the magic I used before, it was a bit confusing, but… it was fun.”
Ordinary people wouldn’t even imagine an entirely different form of magic, let alone find it fun and confusing.
“Hey, if Alicia wants it… I’m willing to teach you my style of magic as well?”
Surprisingly, Presia’s face, full of anticipation, was ready to teach.
“Would that be okay?”
Watching her face, it became hard to refuse. Of course, it wasn’t only for that reason I accepted her offer. I did have some expectations, too. Who knows? I might lack the talent for regular magic, but perhaps I might have a talent for Presia’s style.
Thus, I became Presia’s first assistant and first student. And…
“Alicia isn’t talented in magic.”
Once again, I became aware of my lack of talent. Sure, I was somewhat hopeful, but it’s normal for me since I already knew I don’t have much talent for magic. Therefore, I didn’t feel too disheartened, and having no talent isn’t always a reason to give up.
“Will you continue teaching me, then?”
“Of course!”
Upon my request, Presia happily agreed with a bright smile. Even so, I have a faint hope that by continuing to learn Presia’s magic, the stars might grant me the ability as she once said.
Also, someday, I think Presia’s magic will become its own system and leave a name in the history of magic. When that time comes, as her first student, I might be able to leave my name next to hers, with just a little hope.
A little…
…
“Then, thank you very much for today. I’ll leave now.”
As the roll call time was approaching, I expressed my gratitude and began to tidy up the table. The preliminary parts of magic theory were over, and Presia’s magic could be learned any time.
“Hey…”
Just as I was about to leave with my textbook, Presia stopped me.
“Yes?”
For some reason, Presia grabbed my sleeve, looking back and forth between me and the couch. After shaking her head back and forth a few times, Presia finally let go of my sleeve without saying anything.
“Never mind. Then, be careful going back.”
“Yes. See you next time. Have a good night.”
I waved goodbye to Presia and left the lab. It was already late enough for stars to litter the sky. Without delay, I headed back to the dormitory before the roll call began.
Fortunately, I returned just in time for the evening roll call to start. After the roll call ended, I took a quick shower, changed into pajamas, and prepared for bed.
Tap. Tap.
Just as I was about to switch off the light and lay down, I heard a sound. Looking around the room, there was no obvious source of the sound. Thinking I might have misheard, I was about to climb back into bed when the sound came again.
Scratch. Scratch.
This time, it sounded like something was being scratched. It was the kind of eerie sound made by something sharp clawing on glass. Attuned to the sound, I turned my head toward the direction it came from.
The source of my gaze was the window letting moonlight into the room, and beyond that window were two round, small, gleaming eyes.
“Is that Meow?”
Quickly getting up, I opened the window, and in jumped Meow into the room. Although I had seen Meow in the sunlight during the day, it was my first time seeing it at night. Knowing cats liked high places, it was still surprising to see it all the way up to the 3rd floor of the dormitory. But, here it was in my room.
Had it tapped on the window knowing it was my room? Or was it just trying to get inside, and this happened to be my room?
Before I could ponder further, Meow jumped onto my bed as if it owned the place, curling up and lying down.
Meow’s “nyaa” welcoming me, as if it were the true owner of the room.
Since I had no intention to drive it away, and in fact, it was enjoyable to sleep with Meow, I gladly accepted its company. Getting under the covers, Meow finally closed its eyes and fell asleep.
Looking at that peaceful sight, I chuckled softly and drifted off to dreamland.
