"I see, I see."
After gaining a basic understanding of Runes Magecraft, Aesc let out a sound of realization.
"You pick things up quickly," Shiomi remarked with a quiet sigh.
Maybe it was her innate talent, or maybe it was just her age. When he had taught Sakura Runes Magecraft, it hadn't been nearly this fast. Just grasping the connection between Runes and Magecraft, and learning to manipulate phenomena through them, had taken her quite some time. Even that had been considered impressive for a human.
But now, just by watching Shiomi's demonstration and copying his example, Aesc was already able to use the most basic spells.
Shiomi estimated it had taken her less than half an hour—most of it spent on his explanation.
At this moment, Aesc was using Runes to cast a simple illusion spell, filling the room with the faint fragrance of flowers that didn't belong to this season.
"It's fascinating. You don't need incantations or mental cues, just the right combination of Runes, and you can get the result you want." Sitting on a stool, Aesc shared her impressions cheerfully.
"To be honest, writing Runes is itself a form of suggestion," Shiomi explained with a smile. "By channeling Mana through them, you build a link between your inner world and external phenomena, which produces the effect you seek."
Aesc nodded lightly. "But it still feels kind of inefficient."
"That's only true for you," Shiomi replied with a shrug, taking no offense. In fact, only Aesc could say that so matter-of-factly.
To her, Magecraft was like a story—condensing the contents of a book and replaying them as phenomena. That way of working, which she had already mastered, suited her personality and habits perfectly.
"But..." Aesc looked down at her hands. "Even though it was just a small spell, after using it I felt tired for a moment, like I'd just sprinted at full speed."
"Of course. Your Magic Circuits, your nerves and muscles, even your surface and deeper layers of consciousness—all of them have been adapting over time to the Magecraft you developed on your own. It's like someone good at running trying to swim for the first time. It might not be difficult, but because their body doesn't quite know what it's doing, they end up burning extra Mana." Shiomi explained with a laugh.
"I see..." Aesc murmured, understanding.
Without a teacher, she had pieced together every aspect of Magecraft by herself, though she often showed her progress to Vivian, the queen, and the king. But they couldn't truly grasp the meaning behind her work and could only offer simple praise.
Aesc wasn't dissatisfied, but she couldn't help but feel something was missing—that "joy" that came only from exchanging insights with someone who truly understood Magecraft.
"Whether it's your unique Magecraft or the Runes I just taught you, they're both just tools to establish a stronger suggestion within yourself," Shiomi said, meeting her gaze. "Once your subconscious changes, your Mana moves with your will to interfere with the laws of the world. From mending broken objects to altering climates and landscapes, it's all the same."
"In other words, in your view, Magecraft isn't a means of seeking out the truth of the world, but a mirror that reflects the inner self." Aesc adjusted her glasses, her eyes gleaming with insight.
"You could put it that way," Shiomi replied thoughtfully. "Magecraft, as it stands, is already more than enough. But what I want is something more... effortless."
"Effortless?" Aesc blinked. From the way he carried himself, she'd thought Shiomi was so serious, yet here he was talking about cutting corners.
"Whether it's chants or Runes, they're just methods to awaken the deeper layers of consciousness," Shiomi said. "I can inscribe the formulas I need in an instant, but even then, it still requires that process—something to connect the inner mind to external reality."
"Skipping the process...?" Aesc's eyes widened in surprise.
She understood immediately. No short incantations, no written Runes—just self-suggestion alone, powerful enough to manipulate vast phenomena.
A kind of wish made reality.
It was already beyond the realm of Magecraft. Calling it divine would not have been an exaggeration.
"But for now, it's nothing more than an idea. Just wanting it doesn't make it possible." Shiomi shook his head, signaling for her not to take it too seriously.
He knew full well the difficulty, and the implications, of such a goal. He was only sharing it in a light, casual tone with Aesc.
If he ever did manage to achieve it... it would be a power no different from his Authority over life, yet something entirely separate, uniquely his own.
"Even so, that's still a bit much. There's no need to worry about losing control of your Mana—achoo!"
Before Aesc could finish, she sneezed.
"Winter really is cold here."
Shiomi fetched a fluffy blanket from the sofa and draped it over her, wrapping her whole body.
The mix of warmth and chill in the room eased the cold from her shoulders. She gave Shiomi a silent nod of thanks.
"Why don't you head back and rest?" Shiomi suggested.
"No. I love weather like this—the snow and wind outside, while I sit in the library by the fire, reading." Aesc shook her head, picked up an unfinished book, and settled onto a cushioned bench closer to the fireplace. "If you want to rest, Tenkei, I can walk you back first—"
"I don't know anyone else here. If you don't mind, I'd rather stay and read with you," Shiomi said, shaking his head.
Or rather, he simply wanted to stay by her side.
He had expected her to feel awkward, but instead her face lit up. She shifted over slightly, leaving half the bench open for him.
"Then... let's read together?" Aesc blinked and said softly.
Shiomi sat beside her, glanced at the book she had opened, and was about to read when he noticed her eyes fixed on him instead.
"What is it?"
"Maybe this sounds strange, but... Tenkei, you're not a human of this world, are you?" Aesc asked.
"Yes." Shiomi didn't deny it.
"Can you tell me about your world?" Aesc's eyes shimmered with curiosity, tinged with unease. She had glimpsed fragments of it from the knowledge sealed in the ice coffin, but the meaning eluded her.
"Of course. It's been a long time since I've told anyone a story." Shiomi rubbed his chin in thought, then said, "Let's begin with the tale of the primordial Mother Goddess—Tiamat, the Mother of Life..."
Outside, the snow fell thick and heavy, blanketing the Land of Rain in a quiet slumber.
Inside the library, candle flames flickered gently with Shiomi's voice.
It was a tranquil, comforting moment, one that felt as if it could last forever.