Chapter 44: “Although I Really Want To Go”
Teacher Liya had a student helping her in the Laboratory for the first time.
This was truly a… rare and wonderful experience for her.
“–Based on my understanding, this is about all there is to Blood Mint. Its uses for witches are limited to this. Regarding its use as a solvent… I’ve heard of it, but you’ll have to try it yourself.”
“Being able to explain these details so thoroughly far surpasses many ordinary students. It’s quite remarkable.”
Teacher Liya nodded.
“It appears my mother didn’t use this when she used Gentle Blessing of Warmth. But that’s fine. This proves that Blood Mint has indeed lowered the barrier to entry, and it is also a witch’s duty to improve Ancient Magic so that more people can use it.”
–If only there were something that could suppress this excessive positive effect of Blood Mint.
Teacher Liya thought, her heart pounding.
“By the way, I’ve been feeling something in this room making a thumping sound since earlier. Teacher Liya, do you have any idea what it is?”
“Th-th-that… that’s my heartbeat!”
“It can beat that strongly?!”
“Don’t underestimate a witch’s powerful heart–”
“Alright, Gentle Blessing of Warmth, first preliminary experiment, begin. Hmph, with this small coin, I’m sure we can get it done!”
With four days left until the competition, Teacher Liya and Classmate Will were well-prepared and began their first preliminary experiment…
And what awaited them was…
An imperfect success.
Although truly using the Witch Coin as a medium did ignite the solvent, for some reason, the solvent bubbled out like a boiler with too much water.
Classmate Will and Teacher Liya, fearing an explosion, observed from a meter away behind a blast shield.
“Teacher Liya, does this happen often?”
“Explosions happen often, but this specific situation doesn’t.”
“Why do they explode often?”
“Analyzing from the energy stability, this time was actually quite successful. Perhaps I added too much water. You know, when you add too much water when making soup, it spills over, it’s the same principle.”
Finally, Teacher Liya used her traditional Ice Armor Infusion to retrieve the coin from the large flask.
With three days left until the competition, Teacher Liya and Classmate Will were well-prepared and began their second preliminary experiment…
And what awaited them was…
An indistinguishable success.
The two people hovered around the large beaker, like they were observing ants, gazing at the coin inside.
“Teacher Liya, I don’t feel any heat. Did you really activate the magic?”
“Yes, I just put my finger in. Even at this distance, there’s still some temperature. I can’t activate it a second time, it would shut down, and possibly even shut down the magic power supply for the entire Laboratory – don’t ask me how I know.”
“So, how did Teacher Liya know?”
“…Uh… This is probably because the catalyst on the coin was insufficient. It activated, but didn’t perform well. We need to shut it down first. Classmate Will, please go downstairs and get me the lamp oil.”
“Okay… Huh? Why did it go dark?”
Finally, Teacher Liya and Classmate Will, relying on old-fashioned, non-magical kerosene lamps, stared at each other and recorded the results of this experiment in their Notebooks.
With two days left until the competition, Teacher Liya and Classmate Will were well-prepared and began their third preliminary experiment…
And what awaited them was…
A grand success!
“A hurricane once swept away the warmth of the earth.”
“Heavy snow once covered the brightness of the sky.”
“Deep ice once sealed the oceans’ embrace.”
“Here, with a human body, life is returned its warmth, nature its heat, and consciousness its moisture.”
“This is Gentle Blessing of Warmth–”
As Teacher Liya’s final incantation echoed, as her raised finger fell, as her rapidly circulating magical circuits activated…
Finally, before their eyes, the pool of deep blue solvent was quietly ignited by the coin.
The originally blue water-based solvent slowly turned into a semi-liquid state, between liquid and solid, while the coin glowed like a flame in the center.
Its temperature was very high. Even in this small beaker, the room instantly rose a few degrees when it ignited, making it quite hot in the summer.
“Teacher Liya, this is quite magical… The temperature is very high, and it’s really hot.”
“Ha… Mm… Phew… That’s right, and… and as long as I don’t chant again, it can continue to… generate heat… It’s incredibly… incredibly large… Phew… Many ancient Fire attribute magic items require a long-term, high-temperature semi-liquid heating medium… This is almost the basis for those things…”
Classmate Will reached out to support Teacher Liya as she sat by the beaker.
“Your condition isn’t great right now.”
“Actually, it’s much better than the first time I used your coin. I’ve adapted quite a bit these past few days… Phew… My recovery is also not slow. I should be able to go to the competition normally.”
Teacher Liya’s head felt dizzy again. She rested her head on her arm, listening to her own heartbeat.
Such a fast heartbeat.
But…
Completing this means the competition tomorrow will surely be a success. After all, not many people can replicate the Ancient Magic described in books.
Thinking this, Teacher Liya let out a heartfelt smile.
“Teacher Liya, this is your sincere and straightforward reward.”
Classmate Will seized the moment and sat beside her. Between them lay the deep blue semi-liquid Gentle Blessing of Warmth, with a flame burning in its center.
The coin’s flame cast a reflection on Classmate Will’s glasses.
Teacher Liya, feeling a bit dizzy, leaned on her arm and looked at Classmate Will, listening to his words.
“Look at this ignited flame, so beautiful, so lovely, so powerful, as if it can burn through all the ice, melt all the snow, and light the last candle in the freezing wind.”
“It now belongs to you. Although I contributed a little, this is all Teacher Liya, you grasped with your own efforts.”
“So, so, Teacher Liya…”
He took off his glasses, perhaps because some solution from the preliminary work had gotten on them, making them dirty.
The reflection on his glasses, a mix of the red and blue of Gentle Blessing of Warmth, was cast directly into his deep blue eyes.
“You must be as passionate as this flame, with such enthusiasm, to obtain everything you desire, to firmly grasp it, and with your brilliance, to capture all of his attention.”
Teacher Liya saw it. In his eyes, illuminated by the light, was her reflection. Her golden hair also became a bright spot in his eyes.
Capture all of his…
Attention…
For some reason, Teacher Liya thought of Classmate Will these past few days.
When hiding behind the blast shield from the overflowing solvent, Classmate Will was watching her.
Beside the kerosene lamp lit in the dark laboratory, Classmate Will was watching her.
In front of the successfully burning red and blue Gentle Blessing of Warmth, Classmate Will was watching her.
Teacher Liya’s calmed heartbeat began to race.
“!?”
With a jolt, she sprang up from the table.
Startled, Classmate Will put his glasses back on.
“W-what’s wrong?!”
“N-nothing, it’s just… just my heartbeat sped up again. Today was a great success! Classmate Will, tomorrow we’ll tidy up, and then we can rest easy for the competition!”
To cover up her strange feelings, Teacher Liya quickly changed the subject.
So then…
On the day of the competition, would he be sitting in the audience, watching her?
With one day left until the competition, Teacher Liya and Classmate Will finished preparing all the items and conducted one more preliminary experiment, planning to rest early for the next day’s competition.
The competition actually started before sunrise on the second day, around five in the morning.
This was because the early morning was the coldest time of the day, which was better for measuring the heating effect of Fire attribute magic. Also, the sun hadn’t risen yet, making it easier to appreciate the visual effects of the magic.
However, with the completion of the ceremony and the award presentation, it would usually be around nine o’clock.
“Th-then… Classmate Will. A-although this requires getting up v-very, very early… in the early morning, but… can you… can you come to our competition venue to… to watch?”
Teacher Liya launched what she considered her strongest direct attack!
But…
“…Teacher Liya. Although I really want to go, but…”
“…My practical exam is scheduled for tomorrow morning, you see?”
“Ah?”
“Ah??”
“Ah???”
