"Stop seeing... form?"
Elle tilts her head.
"Right now, you're focused on drawing the magic circle's 'form' accurately. Straight lines, perfect circles, precise runes."
"Y-yes."
"That's important as a foundation. But that alone caps you at 15%."
"Then what should I be looking at?"
"The 'flow' of mana."
I kindle a small flame in my palm.
Mana Ledger: Active
Consumption: 0.4 MP Efficiency: 99.1% Ash Output: 0.004 kg
"Look closely at this flame."
Elle peers into my palm.
"It's beautiful..."
"This isn't about beauty. Look at the flame's 'base.'"
I consciously visualize the flow of mana.
Pale blue threads of light stream from inside my body, through my fingertips, and into the flame.
"Mana flows from inside your body, through the magic circle, and converts into effect. Can you see that 'pathway'?"
"Pathway..."
Elle strains her eyes.
Her long ears twitch. Her High Elf sensory organs are trying to perceive something.
"...I can't see it..."
"Then close your eyes."
"Huh?"
"Don't rely on sight. Close your eyes and 'feel' the flow of mana."
Elle hesitantly closes her eyes.
"Cast Fire Ball... with my eyes closed...?"
"Yes. Block your vision, and your other senses sharpen."
Elle takes a deep breath.
Her silver hair stirs faintly.
"Fire Ball..."
An unstable flame flickers to life in her palm.
Mana Ledger: Active
Consumption: 85 MP Efficiency: 7.4% Ash Output: 78.9 kg
"It dropped..."
"Of course it did. It always drops at first. Keep going."
Elle concentrates again.
"Fire Ball..."
Consumption: 71 MP Efficiency: 8.9%
"Fire Ball..."
Consumption: 58 MP Efficiency: 10.9%
Little by little, the numbers climb back.
Elle's expression begins to change.
Her brow furrows. Her lips press tight.
She's on the verge of grasping something.
"...Ah."
A small sound escapes her.
"Did you feel something?"
"...Yeah. Mana is... flowing through me..."
"Follow that flow."
"The flow goes... from my chest, through my arm, toward my fingertips..."
Behind Elle's closed eyelids, her eyes move.
She's trying to 'see' something invisible.
"Ah... it's scattering here..."
"Where is it scattering?"
"Around my wrist... the mana is swirling and leaking out..."
"Seal it."
"Seal it...?"
"Visualize it. Like plugging a leak in a pipe with your hand. Guide the mana flow straight."
Elle concentrates.
Sweat beads on her forehead.
The mana radiating from her body visibly decreases.
"...It's sealed..."
"Find the next leak."
"The base of my fingers... there's leakage here too..."
"Seal it."
"...Okay..."
Elle's breathing steadies.
Her irregular heartbeat stabilizes.
Something inside her—is beginning to change.
"Mr. Kai... I can see it..."
"What do you see?"
"The mana pathways... running through me, connecting from my fingertips to the flame... I can see all of it..."
"That's the entrance to 'optimization.'"
"Fire Ball!"
In Elle's palm—
The most beautiful flame yet ignites.
Mana Ledger: Active
Consumption: 12 MP Efficiency: 52.1% Ash Output: 5.7 kg
Elle opens her eyes.
"...Huh?"
She stares at her own palm.
An orange flame sways gently.
Neither hot nor cold.
A beautiful fire under perfect control.
"52%...?"
"Yes. You've crossed over to the side that 'sees.'"
Tears well in Elle's eyes.
But this time—they're tears of pure joy.
"Mr. Kai...! I did it...!"
"Yes. Well done."
I pat her head once.
Silver hair slips through my fingers.
Soft.
Lina's hair felt like this too.
"But it's still only 50%. The goal is 90%. We have a long way to go."
"Yes!"
Elle nods with a beaming smile.
Seeing that smile—a small warmth kindles in my chest.
My Mana Ledger quietly updates its figures.
Mana Ledger: Active
Elle Alshera: Magic Efficiency — 52.1%
Estimated Annual Mana Saved: Approximately 470,000,000 MP Estimated Annual Ash Reduction: Approximately 9,400 tons World Lifespan Extension: +96 days
Ninety-six days.
Just one girl, growing over the course of a week.
The world's lifespan extended by three months.
And then—
At Elle's feet, a small change was taking place.
Through a gap in the ash—
A single flower was sprouting.
A small, white flower.
In this gray world, a glimpse of spring—
"Mr. Kai, look...!"
Elle points at the flower.
"A flower... is blooming..."
"...Yes."
I gaze at the flower.
My Mana Ledger displays its analysis.
Mana Ledger: Active
Detected: Snowdrop (Galanthus)
Germination Condition: Dormant seeds activate when ambient mana efficiency exceeds 50% Note: Before the Ash Winter, this flower was beloved as a herald of spring
A flower that heralds spring.
A seed that lay dormant for hundreds of years in this gray world—
Awakened by Elle's growth.
"So this... is the power of optimization..."
I murmur quietly.
The world is dying.
But—it's still alive.
There is hope.
"Mr. Kai."
Elle tugs at my sleeve.
"I'm going to work even harder. I'll make many, many more flowers bloom."
"...Yes."
I nod.
"Together—let's bring back the spring."