Chapter 14: Chapter 14. Elemental Magic (1)

“What is this?”

At first, I thought I had developed an eye condition.

Had something gone wrong with my eyes from staring at a book for too long?

“Why is this…?”

What I was looking at was Room 801, which I had tidied up.

But it was completely different from before I started reading.

Something wondrous was happening.

“Space?”

It felt almost like looking up at the night sky.

As though a universe of shining stars had spread out before my eyes.

That universe lay superimposed on the familiar sight of Room 801.

Countless stars twinkled in the old bookshelf, the creaking bed, the walls etched with scrawls…

“No, those aren’t stars…”

A closer look told me that much.

They weren’t stars.

“Right. I’m sure…”

I recalled the book I had just read.

The introductory elemental studies textbook written by Horizon and the other Elemental Department professors.

“This world did not arise by chance. It was deliberately created by some great will…”

Before I knew it, I was murmuring the words from the textbook’s preface.

Professor Horizon’s account of the significance of elemental studies.

“Whether to call it a god or a creator, I leave such considerations to theologians. There is no need for mages to prattle on about questions that cannot be verified.”

It was strange.

However deeply it had impressed me, I had only read it once, yet I could recite it perfectly.

It was all there in my memory.

“But as a mage, I wish to declare this: this world, created by a great will…”

I took a deep breath and recalled the words.

“This world is filled with beautiful laws.”

What lay before my eyes was a world composed of shining polyhedra.

They were perfectly regular polyhedra, without the slightest deviation, shining beautifully as though giving form to the truths of the world.

“Let me say it again. This world is beautiful. Look closely, and you will see that it is composed of ideal mathematical elements: regular polyhedra without the slightest distortion. They do not change like the matter we see in our everyday lives. They are fundamental, eternal, and imperishable.”

Dazed, I raised a hand.

Countless regular polyhedra shone brilliantly in my palm as well.

“We call them elements.”

Elements.

The basic constituents of this world, the foundation of elemental magic.

“In ancient times, people believed that four elements—fire, water, earth, and air—made up the entire world. But this was merely an intuitive fancy, not a truth obtained by observing the nature of the world. The elements that compose the world are innumerable.”

I looked around the room again.

On closer inspection, I could make out regular tetrahedra, cubes, regular octahedra, and regular icosahedra.

I could see that countless different elements existed in this world.

No, I could read them.

“Turn your head and look closely. Elements exist even in the trivial objects beside you. Elements exist in the air you breathe.”

I focused my awareness on the empty space before me.

At that moment, I began to perceive the elements in the air more clearly.

“Draw them out, and learn to wield them.”

Instinctively, I reached out.

Like a child reaching for a toy in front of them.

“If you can accomplish this, you are a fine elemental mage.”

The moment I spoke the final sentence of the textbook’s preface…

A violent storm swept through the room.

---

Horizon, head of the Elemental Department, surveyed the new students gathered at the outdoor practice grounds.

Just what I’d expect from the top class… They all look bright.

Today was the first lecture in Practical Elemental Studies.

While Fundamentals of Elemental Studies covered the theory of elemental magic, Practical Elemental Studies had students cast spells they could actually use in the field.

As head of the Elemental Department, Horizon had put considerable effort into the course.

Especially… that boy.

Horizon looked at Eriol Valencia, standing toward the back.

For some reason, the look in his eyes had changed since their last meeting.

Show me your talent.

A boy whose spiritual origin was reading comprehension.

It had been a long time since a new student with that rare aptitude had appeared, and Horizon was paying him close attention.

Few besides me will have recognized his true worth.

Most mages knew the reading comprehension aptitude only as a talent that helped with deciphering grimoires.

But Horizon believed it was the aptitude best suited to becoming a truly great mage.

Prove… that my theory is right.

With that thought, Horizon slowly began to address the students.

“As Professor Borton will have taught you in Fundamentals of Elemental Studies… elemental magic can be called both the most basic and the most representative of all magic. Even now, many people hear the word ‘mage’ and imagine someone holding a staff and shooting flames with magic. That is how long elemental magic has been around, and how extensively it has been researched.”

The students listened attentively.

Perhaps because the head of the Elemental Department was teaching them in person, everyone was focused.

“As a result, it is well systematized, and its spell formulas are efficient, making it easy for beginners to use.”

New students generally learned elemental magic first.

That was how fundamental it was.

“But there is something you must be mindful of when using elemental magic. It is affected by the elements present in your surroundings.”

Horizon raised a finger and pointed into the air.

“Elemental magic is always affected by the density of the elements around you. Even the same fire spell cannot behave identically in a volcanic region of bubbling lava and on a snowfield swept by blizzards.”

A volcanic region teemed with fire elements, while a snowfield inevitably had fewer.

“Does that mean you cannot use fire magic on a snowfield? No. However cold a place may be, the elements needed for fire magic still exist there.”

There was also the concept of a region of absolute cold, where no fire elements existed at all, but that was purely theoretical. Such a place did not exist in nature.

“That makes it essential to perceive the elements around you accurately when using elemental magic. You must determine how many elements are present, then account for that in your spell formula so you can draw on sufficient power. If you fail to do this properly, either the spell will lack the elemental power to activate correctly, or you will draw too much power and it will run out of control.”

Drawing too few elements to activate a spell was the better outcome.

If a mage drew too many and the spell ran out of control, the mage’s own safety was at risk.

“At your current level, however, you cannot draw on that much power, so you needn’t worry about spells running out of control. Most of you will have the opposite problem. That is because your ability to perceive the elements around you is still lacking.”

Even a correctly constructed spell formula could not draw on enough elemental power if the caster lacked a proper grasp of the surrounding elements.

That was why using elemental magic required developing the sense to perceive them.

“Today, your goal is to detect the elements and use them to cast elemental magic.”

At a glance from Horizon, the teaching assistants waiting nearby handed each new student a pair of glasses.

“The glasses you are receiving are an aid jointly developed by the Elemental and Fabrication Departments. Wearing them will allow you to detect fire elements even with your undeveloped senses.”

“Wow…”

The students who had put on their glasses looked around in wonder.

“The world should now appear blotched with color. The closer a patch is to red, the more concentrated the fire elements are there. Picture yourself drawing elemental power from that spot.”

With enough practice in elemental magic, they would be able to perceive the elements around them without such aids.

At Horizon’s level, it was possible to continuously track the types and densities of dozens of elements in the surroundings.

Of course, sensing elements around the clock was mentally exhausting, so Horizon usually kept that sense dulled.

“Today, you will attempt to create a simple sphere of flame.”

“A sphere of flame…”

“The spell commonly known as ‘Fireball’ is an offensive spell that uses such a sphere.”

Fireball.

The most representative offensive spell, which launched a sphere of flame.

“You learned the formula itself in Fundamentals of Elemental Studies, so if you can perceive the elements properly, you should be able to activate the spell straightaway.”

Horizon gave a light clap.

“Now, begin.”

“Yes!”

Wearing their glasses, the students began to concentrate.

But a short while later, one boy raised his hand.

“Professor.”

“What is it?”

“May I try without the glasses?”

“…”

A murmur ran through the group.

Even the students who had been concentrating turned to look at him.

“What was your name?”

“Monark Orson.”

Monark Orson.

Horizon remembered the name.

The boy had been delighted when his aptitude test had revealed strengthening.

He was probably from Duke Orson’s family.

“Are you confident?”

“Yes. I think I can do it.”

Apparently, he had received training before enrolling.

It wasn’t desirable, but it happened from time to time.

“Then give it a try.”

“Yes!”

Monark nodded confidently and returned his glasses to a teaching assistant.

Then he closed his eyes and began taking deep breaths.

He was sensing the elements around him.

“…”

Next, Monark slowly raised his hand.

And above his upturned palm… a flame no bigger than a lit match flared to life.

“Wow…!”

The students watching him exclaimed in admiration.

But Horizon’s expression remained cool.

“You understand that is not enough, Monark Orson.”

“O-of course.”

“It must be at least the size of a fist.”

“I’ll try again!”

Monark closed his eyes again and concentrated.

The little flame over his palm vanished for a moment, then reappeared and began to grow bit by bit.

“Just what we’d expect of you, Lord Monark!”

“You’ll have a proper sphere of flame in no time!”

The students around him showered Monark with praise.

With a triumphant smile, he made the flame grow larger still.

“You there! Stop watching other people and focus on your own magic!”

“S-sorry!”

Reprimanded by a teaching assistant, the students returned to their own spells.

Just then, however, an odd sight caught Horizon’s eye.

“…?”

Eriol Valencia stood lost in thought, his glasses in his hand.

He certainly didn’t look as though he was concentrating on casting a spell.

“Eriol Valencia, what are you doing?”

“I was thinking about the spell formula.”

“The formula?”

“Yes.”

“I believe I told you to do as you learned in Fundamentals of Elemental Studies.”

“I’m sorry, but I thought there might be a problem with that.”

“What?”

Another murmur spread through the group.

“What’s he saying? The nerve of him.”

“Is he ignoring the professor’s instructions?”

“He really is full of himself.”

Some of the students jeered at Eriol.

But Horizon simply watched him in silence.

“Eriol Valencia.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Shall I guess why you thought that?”

Horizon spoke calmly.

“You were afraid of the spell running out of control, weren’t you?”

“…”

The surrounding students looked bewildered.

“What does that mean? That’s not what we were told just now.”

“Didn’t the professor say we couldn’t draw on enough elemental power at our level to worry about losing control?”

Amid the whispering students, Eriol remained silent, offering no reply.

But Horizon recognized that silence as agreement.

“Don’t let it trouble you, Eriol Valencia.”

Horizon spoke calmly.

“Forget about losing control. Draw on as much elemental power as you like.”

“Professor, if I do that…”

“You needn’t worry.”

Horizon smiled faintly.

“Who am I?”

“You’re Professor Horizon… head of the Elemental Department.”

“Precisely. Even if your spell runs out of control, I have more than enough power to contain it.”

That was right.

With Horizon’s abilities, even if Eriol’s spell ran out of control, it would be easy to bring the situation under control.

So…

“Don’t be afraid of losing control. Unleash as much elemental power as you like.”

And so Horizon urged Eriol on.

Brimming with anticipation.