Basically, these children's mistakes are mainly because they don't understand what they're saying as spells. Magic appears after the spell is cast, right? If what they say has no meaning in their minds, the magic won't form.
Following Liva's interpretation, magic can only appear after a spell is cast, and we have to have an image of what magic we want to manifest.
In the dorm room, alone I studied the research article on young wizards' levitation magic. It's written that all participating children conducted three trials with these conditions:
1. First test: Participants cast archaic verses from provided classical manuscripts;
2. Second test: Participants cast composed spell verses provided;
3. Third test: Participants cast verses they're each familiar with using (if any).
Based on the conversation with Liva about "our" difficulty casting classical spells is because of the use of archaic vocabulary that's not commonly used. This research means it started from the most difficult stage to the easiest for participants. Can be assumed this was intentional to eliminate excuses for failure in the second or third casting due to magic exhaustion. After looking at the statistics, turns out only in the third test did all research participants successfully levitate.
The researcher also attached the classical and composed spell verses used. However, participants' personal spells aren't written anywhere. Could it be categorized as personal data so it can't be included? Who knows.
Hmm, what if I try practicing it?
Following the order in the article, I started the experiment with the classical spell. I took a breath, imagining myself floating while reading the spell:
"Grace doth rise unto the celestial sphere. Bid the moon and stars bear witness. Lift mine being as a tender leaf adrift, for seven and twenty beats of heart. When this intent standeth pure from blemish, seal thou this word with might."
...Nothing happened.
Actually I understand most of the terms in this spell, though some words feel unfamiliar. Is there no tolerance?
This time it's the researcher's composed spell's turn:
"O mighty wind, while this chest still swells, carry me high soaring!"
A warm feeling arose in my chest. Brimming in held breath, suddenly wind blew enveloping my body, lifting my feet away from the floor. My clothes fluttered wildly as if hit by a storm.
"It worked...!"
After speaking, I spontaneously took a breath. The wind's blow also weakened, bringing me back to step on earth.
So that's how it is.
So that's how it works!
Damn! If I'd known this, I'd look so stupid trying magic by straining while fantasizing. Hopefully yesterday really no one was peeking.
***
"Come to think of it...."
Since when can I read pages and pages of text without any obstacles?
I'm in the middle of the book "Special Rituals of Soverus Emperors". It's already evening and the sun's almost completely set. I really sank into the reading, until darkness pulled me back to reality.
It feels wrong to judge this book before reading all of it, but if judged based on what I've already read... the book's boring. Well, could be because I don't really know Soverus culture and don't feel any spiritual connection to it. The only thing motivating me to keep turning page after page is so Vladilena won't pout at me again.
This problem isn't as cute as it sounds. If Gloria pouts, well, yeah... she's cute. I don't even mind her pouting all day. However when Vladilena does it, that's a sign of disaster.
Her power as the villain in the comic isn't because of massive destructive force, but because of her influence to move the world to be hostile toward Gloria. Someone like Vladilena who has influence, wealth, and high intelligence is the most annoying type of villain.
I remember one scene when Gloria was almost killed by Finix Djerin—who at that time was still Vladilena's subordinate. Both the executor and the mastermind, in the end escaped the threat just like that. Even if Prince Alex didn't help Gloria, Gloria would've been the one thrown in jail on defamation charges.
Remembering that, made me realize that threat will happen in the future. Even though in the end Finix becomes one of Gloria's harem, I don't want Gloria to get her harem through bad memories.
Can it be worked around...?
Well, that can be thought about later. There must be a way. Besides, that scene doesn't happen at the beginning of the story.
"Let's take a shower first...."
***
After bathing, I turned on the room light. An incandescent bulb that's fairly bright, but still doesn't feel comfortable for reading. I remember yesterday when tidying up the room, there was an oil lantern on the study desk. Where did I put it?
knock, knock, knock!
Who could it be? I don't remember having any appointments today.
"Just a moment!"
When I opened the door, the person who appeared was far from any guess that crossed my mind. A boy. Not from my class, not Prince Alex either. However, that doesn't mean I don't know him at all. More precisely, I was just thinking about him moments ago.
"Can I help you?"
"Good evening. My name is Finix Djerin. I'm the brother of this room's previous owner. Sorry to disturb, but did you find an item... I mean, something that shouldn't be there as room property? My sister said she left something in her room."
"Hmm... can you explain what item? If you look closely, a lot of this room's built-in property has already been personalized. I'm worried the item in question is all the items in this room," I explained. "I can't give them to you if that's the case. Even if you mean to ask to swap rooms."
He gave a bland smile. "Not that far. If my sister really meant that, shouldn't she have said 'bequeathed the room'? Perhaps the item's packed in a box?"
"Hmm... doesn't seem to be any. If you insist, can you wait while I check the room?"
"Sure. May I help search?"
"No need, no need! Just wait here. Won't be long. There's not much stuff here anyway."
"I think searching together would save more time."
So pushy.
"You talking to me is already wasting time. Or... do you actually intend to enter a girl's room?"
"Good grief! No, that's not what I meant! Sorry for my insensitivity!"
"In that case, wait a moment, okay."
I left the door open so he could see me really searching for the item. However, seems like after I mentioned it, he immediately turned around. When I don't mind him watching from outside.
Now, what item does Finix mean?
Starting with searching for boxes. In the closet, nothing. Under the bed, nothing. Bathroom, even less. I opened the large drawer of the vanity. There I found the oil lantern.
Could this be it?
I examined the lantern just in case, but actually this looks like an ordinary lantern. There's nothing like a secret compartment or magic spell carving.
Besides the lantern, there's no unusual item. Actually, a lantern in a dim room like this is normal, for reading at night. But whatever.
"I only found this."
Finix turned around. "A lantern?"
He took the lantern I held out. Checked underneath it, turned the wick adjuster, even opened the tube.
"Is there no other item?"
"Nothing."
"Hmm.... Well, I'm not sure, but seems like this is indeed the item my sister meant. Thank you."
"Happy to help."
"Oh, may I know your name?"
"Oh my, how impolite of me." I extended my hand for a handshake. "Martha Yurisa."
"Nice to meet you, Miss Martha. Do you come from a family that doesn't pass down a family name?"
"Unfortunately."
"Perhaps I may know?"
I gave a smile. "You might not know my family. I'm from Kastopel, not Soverus nobility."
"Ah! No wonder." He raised the lantern chest-high. "May I take this?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
"Thank you. Sorry for disturbing. Well then I'll excuse myself back to my room. Nice meeting you, Miss Martha."