Of course, magical power is not limitless.
It runs out eventually when used.
When it’s depleted, even simple magic cannot be used until magical power is completely restored.
“Until magic is depleted, you say?”
“That’s right.”
Moreover, the depletion of magical power leads to severe exhaustion.
Your whole body turns weak and feeble, and for some, even breathing brings pain.
That’s why the first lesson in learning magic in this world is that you should never let your magical power deplete, no matter what.
But to intentionally deplete it…
Wasn’t Arvain studying Physical Enhancement Magic?
How did the conversation take this turn?
I had those questions, but I couldn’t voice them.
Arvain’s eyes were completely serious without a hint of doubt.
“…Understood.”
Eventually, I nodded and slowly began to release my magical power.
“Haah, haah, haah.”
I was out of breath and my body felt heavy.
“The amount of magical power is average. But the width of your magical path is amusingly small.”
I lay on the floor quietly staring at the ceiling.
“I understand why Charlotte brought you here.”
Arvain was quietly jotting down something in his notebook while observing me.
The exhaustion from depleting my magical power felt less like pain and more like discomfort.
To move my body, I had to exert more effort than usual, but that power wouldn’t come forth.
“This is unpleasant.”
“Everyone says something similar the first time their magic is depleted. You won’t feel that way once you get used to it.”
I definitely didn’t want to get used to it.
“But you won’t need to do this multiple times. You’ll likely grasp it soon enough.”
I couldn’t understand Arvain’s words, but I didn’t have the energy to ask again.
“Is it correct that I’ve completely released my magical power?”
“Yes.”
I tried to raise my magical power as usual, but I felt nothing.
I was in a state of perfect depletion.
“Alright. Then for now, close your eyes and take a deep breath.”
I followed his instructions without any objections.
“Slowly clear your mind of other thoughts. Recall the feeling when you released your magic.”
When I released my magical power.
I silently concentrated, reviving that sensation.
“How did the magic flow, and in what way did it move?”
The magical power drawn from my heart spread throughout my body along its path.
Like the flow of a river.
“How is the magical pathway extending from the heart to the entire body structured?”
My consciousness sank as if submerging into water.
It felt like walking along an ordinary road.
One step. Two steps.
At the end of the path, I began to see a door.
If I went out this way, my consciousness would awaken completely.
I quietly turned my back to return the way I came.
And what I saw there was…
“Huh?”
“It seems you noticed.”
It was a door leading to another path.
My eyes opened.
I was struck by the shock of seeing something incomprehensible.
The magical path was clearly the route to release my magic.
The path that started from my heart proceeded straight in only one direction.
Therefore, there was no need to follow the cycle of magic unless you were a Knight.
A wonderful balance between the straight flow of magical power and the return flow of magic being redirected.
If you couldn’t master that perfectly, the body would suffer from overload instead.
You must continue to be conscious of the flow of magic.
And you had to adjust the amount of redirected magic according to the width of the magical path.
The outcome that results from perfectly calculating these two is the cycle of magic.
And the moment you miss even one of these, a gap opens.
That’s the cost of surpassing your limits.
Some people think that Knights are just mindless brutes pushing through with strength, but in battle, a Knight must be the most cautious and meticulous of all.
However, if there’s this path, and if it could be used for the cycle of magic…
The story would change completely.
“What does this magical pathway connect to?”
“It connects to the heart, just like the magical pathways we normally use. In simpler terms, it’s a hidden side.”
“I didn’t know such a path existed.”
“You’re not the only one. Until I started researching, I was just like you. Even Charlotte didn’t know this fact.”
Arvain nodded as if it were obvious.
“This path can only be seen when magical power is depleted. It’s completely hidden under normal circumstances.”
“What on earth is this for?”
“Well, I’m not exactly sure. Even if Charlotte made several guesses, nothing’s confirmed. But that’s not the important part.”
What matters is that this path can be utilized, he said, and began to explain to me slowly.
He pressed his pinky finger on his right hand slowly against his thumb.
It was a routine.
A ritual to forcibly open a path not usually used by the whole body.
This time, he pressed the pinky of his left hand against his thumb.
It was another routine to close the door.
For some reason, I thought I heard a clack.
“How is it?”
“…I think it worked.”
“Then, shall we jump straight into practice?”
“Yes.”
At Arvain’s words, I summoned Neia and took my stance.
He too raised his sword, pointing it at me.
I closed my eyes and slowly drew magical power from my heart to spread it throughout my body.
The magical power flowed along its path as usual.
Just as I was about to reach the end of that path, I steadied my breath and pressed my pinky against my thumb.
The firmly closed door began to slowly open.
The raging current redirected into a new path.
It connected back to my heart.
Gradually, the amount of magical power flowing out and the amount returning to my heart balanced, creating a perfect cycle.
“I’m going.”
As my eyes opened, I was the first to take a step forward.
It wasn’t some strategy to secure a win; it was to become accustomed to this unfamiliar sensation.
“Ha!”
My first strike targeted Arvain’s right shoulder with a horizontal cut.
Naturally, he easily deflected the attack by raising his arm.
It would have been fine if we engaged in a power struggle with our swords, but for now, I pulled back.
“Hmmm.”
It was a strange feeling.
I didn’t feel particularly stronger.
The speed of my movements and the power of my strikes didn’t feel that different either.
But the sense of discomfort felt intense.
What could this feeling be?
If I were to weigh the good and the bad, it was definitely good.
“Is that it?”
“…There’s no way.”
Let’s think while moving.
After all, there’s plenty of time.
“Haah, haah, haah.”
The clock in the corner pointed to 12 o’clock.
“Since it’s the first day, shall we call it here for now?”
Arvain’s words about creating an extreme situation weren’t a lie.
We began training at 2 PM.
In the span of 10 hours, I hardly got 5 minutes of rest.
Naturally, dinner was skipped.
It was undoubtedly my first time wielding a sword for such an extended period without a break.
“You’re weak.”
Arvain looked completely unfazed.
“When fighting magical beasts on the frontline, there are times you won’t be able to rest for three days. Stamina is the most crucial element for a Knight.”
It didn’t seem like my stamina was weak.
Swallowing that complaint inwardly, I quietly collapsed onto the floor.
“Before finishing, can I ask you a few last questions?”
“Understood.”
“First. What do you think has changed?”
“Hmmm.”
What has changed.
To be honest, I hadn’t become noticeably stronger or anything like that.
It was a given.
Arvain wasn’t researching to make Physical Enhancement Magic stronger.
It was fundamentally research to eliminate the ‘gaps’ that could arise in emergency situations.
And the secondary benefits from there were simple.
“My movements have become much smoother. To be precise, it feels like I’m a beat faster.”
The process of circulating magical power had disappeared, meaning my consciousness could be fully focused on my movements.
Until now, even in simple postures, I sometimes felt a bit stiff.
But during today’s spar with Arvain, I didn’t feel that at all.
In fact, I felt lighter than usual.
Being able to perform my desired actions a bit faster and more accurately was a massive advantage in real combat.
“Second. Are there any side effects?”
“None that I can see.”
If I had to nitpick, it was just an unpleasant feeling when depleting magic for the first time and activating the hidden path.
Creating the routine was also a bit bothersome, but considering the necessity, it wasn’t a waste.
“Last, during our spar today, was there a moment when the magical cycle was interrupted?”
“No.”
Until I stopped operating, the cycle of magic never once ceased.
At first, I worried that it might happen, but as 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours passed, I began to feel more certain.
As long as I didn’t disrupt the flow myself, this cycle wouldn’t end.
“…Not bad.”
“I’ll head back first.”
“Alright. For now, get a room from Charlotte. At this hour, she’ll still be awake. And be sure to return here by 5 AM tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
After giving a slight bow, I left the room, leaving Arvain behind as he continued jotting down notes.
★
“Who’s there?”
“It’s Aike.”
“Oh, come in.”
Hearing Charlotte’s voice, I slowly opened the door.
Inside the room, neither Reina nor Sophia were present.
Only Charlotte was sitting at a desk, organizing papers.
“I sent them off to rest a while ago.”
“Is that so?”
I flinched slightly at her response, as if she had read my thoughts.
“The room is on the floor below. Walk straight to the end on your right and you’ll see the sleeping quarters. It might be uncomfortable, but you’ll stay there for tonight.”
“Understood.”
Though I was curious about what the two of them had been up to, I decided to rest quickly, feeling tired.
So without hesitation, I turned to leave.
“Wait a moment.”
Charlotte grabbed me.
“I have something to tell you.”
Having been organizing papers just a moment ago, she was now looking directly at me.
I couldn’t ignore her call, so I slowly sat down.
“It’s not a long story. Tomorrow, while you’re sparring with Arvain, the old folks from the Magic Tower will probably come visiting.”
“Is it…?”
“Yeah. Those who have clung to the title of elder because of how long they’ve been in the Magic Tower. They seem to welcome the fact that I’ve brought you from Arcana, but there are many things they’re not satisfied with.”
A sneer appeared on Charlotte’s face.
“For instance, why they brought someone like Sophia who can only convert magical power to the light attribute. And why you were sent to a guy like Arvain. Things like that.”
I recalled Arvain’s words from earlier.
The people from the tower despise their own neglect of the pursuit of truth.
“I can deal with this. I still have some doubts about Sophia’s talents, but she’s not someone they can dismiss. But the problem is on your end.”
Charlotte’s finger pointed directly at me.
“They’re probably going to give several reasons to try to separate you from Arvain. It wouldn’t matter if you were truly interested in the Magic Tower, but I think you’ll prefer Arvain’s research.”
“That’s correct.”
“So just think of it as a barking dog and ignore it. After all, I’m behind Arvain, so even those old folks can’t do anything to him.”
…The elders of the Magic Tower.
They definitely appeared in the original work.
But my memory was hazy.
Well, I thought it probably isn’t that important.
With that thought, I made my way to the sleeping quarters.
