I realised on the flight back that recreating Infinity in its true form was completely impossible for me, as I was. After all, my mind, as enhanced as it was by my eyes and vast magic circuits, couldn't possibly continue to divide a finite space into a truly 'infinite' number of sequences. Mine was a copy based on principle, it wasn't a technique embedded into a part of my brain.
However, there was a way around this problem, using my affinity.
The Imaginary Numbers Space was fundamentally a place detached from the normal operations of space and time, where nothing and everything existed at the same time. Whatever was within it, wasn't truly affected by things like distance or passage of time.
In that case, all I had to do was overlay the separated near-infinite spaces within my mobile Bounded Field with the Imaginary Numbers Space. A place where a meter might as well be infinite, or not a meter at all. It was a cut-off 'piece' of space, since that was simply how the higher-level Bounded Fields worked, and there was no issue of the real world trying to compensate by rushing in.
Then, whatever entered the field, was not simply not a part of real space anymore, a meter was a kilometer for it, or directions were reversed. All in all, some impossible effect would be tacked on. This achieved something closer, or better, in my biassed opinion at least.
The mystery of the magecraft was an unbroached part of reality, and thus, the spell was far more potent than anything most magi had to offer, even with it's imperfections.
That said, maintaining it was as massive a headache as coming up with it was. The code was messy, since it was a new 'language' all on its own, bound to no thaumaturgical system, and the spell foundation had nothing to stabilise it either except for itself. It was costly on my mana reserves, even with the subatomic-level manipulation afforded by my eyes, and my mental facilities too. I was pretty sure another magus would need a proper grand ritual to enact it.
But, damn if I wasn't proud of myself.
It made me feel like a real wizard, coming up with this aneurysm-inducing spell.
No doubt if I tried explaining it to someone, they'd look at me like I was insane and proceed to disregard me entirely. But, that mattered little. The Hollow Affinity was wonderful, and I was a bloody genius for utilising it in this way.
I was forced to snap back to reality when the librarian smacked a thick tome right down in front me. The thin woman in a business-only white shirt and skirt gave me a withering stare, and brought a dainty finger to her pursed lips before stabbing a finger through the air... at a no-talking sign hammered into the side of one of the tall shelves lining the side.
"But... I wasn't talking?"
"You were laughing. Are you on some drugs or something?"
"My dear, we're magi, even crackheads look tame in comparison."
"...Just don't talk."
Weirded out, she quickly left. I shrugged. Denying that bit about ourselves was just straight up delusional. Magi were, before all else, psychotically obsessive geeks. No drug could ever induce the sort of shit they pulled on a regular.
Case in point, I recently came across a magus that wanted to discuss the effects of sacrificing virgins versus non-virgins. That was twenty minutes ago. I had that conversation at the library entrance. Made me forget how weirded out I was by Caren's declaration after I finished off Sancraid.
The girl said, 'L-Leaving you unchecked will put the world in danger... You are a trial from the Lord. I only hope I can meet his expectations.'
That made no sense. Yes, I knew already that I was a blight upon this planet seeing as my sole motivation for getting stronger was becoming a huge pain in its ass but still... What expectations? And why was SHE the one who was supposed to meet them?
Even weirder still was the fact that her usually dead face had a deep blush on it the whole time.
She just left afterwards, something about needing to gather her things.
"Church folk are crazy." I shook my head and pushed away the thought.
I had better things to do. Namely, the very thing I rushed out of America for. My girl was back in town. No power on Earth was going to stop me. Even now, I was waiting for her in this depressing place even though I loathed books and studying.
She didn't make me wait long. When I turned my head to annoy the librarian, I spotted a familiar mess of golden hair tied into a few drills with navy ribbons that fell down to shapely hips-... What? She was mine. I had the right to perve.
As was typical of her, Luviagelita Edelfelt wore a cobalt dress with a slit ending just above the knee that showed off just enough of her full, pale thighs. Ah, those glorious thighs. The sleeveless dress pushed up her breasts just enough and the pale skin left above was veiled under a dark mesh that joined the black choker fitted with a thumb-sized ruby around her neck.
She spotted me at the same time too, it seemed. Her amber eyes lit up. But, with the dignity of high nobility, Luvia walked up slowly... not as slow as usual though, just enough that no one would be able to tell her excitement. Unfortunately, my eyes missed little.
When she was close enough, Luvia just wrapped her arms around my face... while standing. That gave me a small glimpse of heaven, so I had no reason to mind. Haha. Somehow, that hug felt a lot more intimate than something like a kiss.
"Aww, you missed me too~."
"Y-Yes... W-What's so wrong about that?"
"...Nothing. I was getting a little queasy too. Take me with you next time or something."
"I already decided to do just that. H-Hmph."
It appeared the Edelfelt Princess still hadn't gotten used to things. Admittedly, I was the same. Being apart just made it all the more evident.
"How was your trip?"
I cleaned my ear. "Killed a Grand Wizard. Made a couple of new spells. The usual. Everywhere I go shit spirals. Well, not that I mind."
"A Grand... Wizard?" She questioned with a cute little tilt of her head.
"Not that. KKK. I don't think he was actually a part of them but I wouldn't be surprised either. Oh and yeah, I made enemies of the Italian mafia too so that's cool."
"Of course you did."
Instead of rebuking me, Luvia just smiled dryly and took a seat next to me before resting her head on my shoulder. Girl made me feel some type of way.
I smiled softly, "So, how was your trip, any fun?"
"I was just clearing up a territory dispute with a magus from the Middle East. Some people. He just easily laid claim to one of my mountains. I gave him a good punch."
"You want I go break his legs?"
"I already did." She whispered, sighing.
Damn, nice.
I gave her a thumbs up.
"That said, while I was there..." Suddenly, she became serious, the gentle, relaxed sort of face she faded away, replaced by a look I easily recognised, the look of someone from high society. "I did some research into Mystic Eyes. Their ranks. No, that is a lie. The research was my real reason for going to Finland."
"I'm... I'm kind of speechless that you care that much."
Luviagelita retrieved a small pouch from her dress and spilled the contents onto the table in front of us. Gems so small it was like someone poured out blue sand. She stuck a finger between them, and wrote a rune. A small barrier formed around us, with the sole purpose of keeping the sound inside. Sound-proofing was a commonly observed act in this day and age, so a lot of magi had their own ways of accomplishing it.
Shaking my head, I focused on her words.
Mystic Eyes. A spontaneously-occuring supernatural power contained within the eyes, capable of affecting the world at large without need for rituals or study, you know, the base of all magecraft. Consequently, they were a rigorously studied subject within the Clock Tower. That was the extent of my knowledge. Not because I was lazy, and I WAS lazy, but because that was all that was available.
"Hal, listen to me. Mystic Eyes below the class of Gold are of no trouble or consequence but, anything that is indeed on that level or beyond enacts mysteries long lost to us."
That explained the absolutely insane stuff I was pulling from day one, stuff that only grew even crazier the more I got accustomed to my eyes.
"The Jewel Rank has been observed rarely in our history. At that point, the Mage's Association calls it their property, irrespective of the owner's wishes. They will give someone like that a Sealing Designation without a second thought the moment they find out, and dispatch the full forces available to bring them in." She explained, staring right into my aviators.
Concern was writ all over her face, and she was clenching her fists. Faced with that, I couldn't find the will to crack a shitty joke to lighten up the atmosphere a little. Sighing, I listened intently.
"I don't need to tell you what happens when the Eyes are a rank above even that, right?"
If the Jewel rank had them mobilising the Enforcers then... yeah. There was no need for any further explanation.
"You freely read and augment the flow of mana, finer than any magus I have ever known. Better than I. You even learnt to augment Crests at a glance. I suspect your eyes are indeed among one of the two classes."
I took a deep breath. "Do you want me to hide them then?"
Indeed, that was the most reasonable option. The safest option. It was a secret I already kept close to my heart. Only two, no, three people knew about these eyes of mine. Yet, if hiding them became an absolute necessity, then I was the sort of person to declare their existence to the world just for the hell of it.
At that question, Luviagelita showed a sort of bafflement. What puppies displayed when you surprised them with a treat instead of a scolding. She tilted her head.
"I... know you. In fact... that sort of thing is precisely why I-... do I have to say it in front of so many people?... I mean, not that I mind-"
I wanted to point out that no one could hear us right now. But, I was too busy looking away to hide my own smile.
"Anyway!" She coughed, remembering what was important, "No, Hal. Become exceptional. Not for me, but to make sure that no one can make use of you."
I held her by the chin and kissed her.
What? There was no helping it, trust me. That was the only proper response to what she'd just said.
The Edefelt Princess became a tomato. It was odd because we'd already, uh, done the C of the ABCs. But, it was cute so all was good.
"That was the plan from the start." I said, grinning, "But a big part of it will be for you too, and for my family."
In this world rife with struggle and horror, there was no choice except to become stronger and stronger, to maintain my way of life. If said life was lost in that endeavour, then, it was just skill issue on my part and nothing else.
Luvia smiled.
"And now, for your payment for Adra..."
It was my turn to be confused.
"You already gave me that castle."
She tossed her hair, "Please. That unsightly place is no payment for what you did to my Crest. If you insist otherwise, let it be a gift to the one I'll-..." She blushed hard again.
"To the one you'll what?"
"I-It doesn't matter right now! We're too young! B-But wait, if you want-"
She was somehow working herself up, further and further, with no input from me at all. I just watched her trip over herself with a smile.
Unfortunately, the moment was ruined when I felt our barrier get breached. When I saw who did it, my annoyance faded away. It was Caules. He was sweating hard, leaning on his knees, clothes dripping from the rain outside.
I craned my neck, confused. "Did you run a marathon or something, mate?"
"It's the Professor! He needs your help!"
Well...
"Luvia." I rose to my feet. "Let's go on another date after I'm done helping out my useless teacher. I missed those glorious thighs."
"Okay..."
Steam rose from her red ears.
Was she still stuttering over herself-
-
William achieving Infinity through true fate-level mind fucking logic.
Hope you enjoyed.
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