Chapter 86

【Water Magic Researcher】

Crown smiled and applauded as Aoi demonstrated her astonishing water magic.

"Amazing! As expected of Lord Aoi! To be able to do so much with water magic! Here, we also study ice magic, which is a derivative of water. I would love to see your ice magic as well!"

Crown said this with the excitement of a child.

In response, Aoi raised one hand to signal a pause.

"…I'm honored, but I must make one correction."

"Hmm? Did I say something wrong?"

At these words, Crown tilted his head. Aoi nodded and began preparing for a spell.

"Changing the properties of water to ice can be considered a derivative of water magic. However, like this…"

As she spoke, Aoi scattered water with one hand. Then, she activated some kind of spell.

The countless water droplets that scattered in the air were enveloped in a white mist and soared towards the ceiling with a hole in it. They flew faster than an arrow, heading straight for the ceiling.

All that was visible was the moment they radiated out from the air, and before anyone realized it, the ceiling was riddled with small holes, making a sharp sound. The ceiling was now in such a state that it could collapse at any moment.

While everyone was frozen, staring at the ceiling with holes in it, Aoi pointed at the ceiling and began to speak.

"Like this, even without changing the properties of water, if you stop the movement of the molecules and atoms that make up a substance, most things will freeze. The temperature can drop to minus two hundred and seventy-three degrees…"

Aoi spoke as if imparting incomprehensible wisdom, but it didn't register in anyone's mind.

No, even if they listened carefully, they probably wouldn't understand.

"…The depths of magic."

Those words slipped out unconsciously.

For example, if a court magician tried to teach advanced magic to a child who had just started attending the magic academy, the child wouldn't understand at all. They would have to learn the basics of magic and progress from beginner to intermediate.

And if they continued to study the same type of magic for years, they would eventually understand advanced magic.

It was probably the same in this case.

In this situation, we are like children who have just started learning magic. The more advanced the magic, the less we understand.

"…Do you understand?"

When I didn't say a word, Aoi looked at me and asked, as if gauging my reaction. How should I respond? Should I honestly say I don't understand? Or should I protect my pride as a young magician and give an ambiguous answer?

Feeling that all my training as a magician had been overturned, I couldn't think clearly.

But perhaps sensing that we didn't understand, Aoi opened her hands, palms up, and began to explain.

"Everything is made up of incredibly small things that are too small to see. It's like this…"

She muttered something quietly, and then small, sand-like particles gathered on her palms, quickly forming a human shape. It became the figure of Crown Windsor, with his arms spread wide and a smile on his face.

"…T-that's…!?"

While hearing someone's voice of astonishment, I stared at the sand figure. It was abnormally precise. Although it was about the size of Aoi's face, it was a magnificent figure, like a bronze statue crafted by a master craftsman. Was this also the result of magic?

No, I didn't hear any incantation, but it was definitely earth magic.

"Are you saying that, like the sand figure, everything is made up of tiny particles?"

When my companion, standing next to me, asked this, Aoi smiled faintly.

"That's right. Think of it as being made up of much, much smaller things than you can imagine. When these tiny things move quickly, heat is generated, and when they stop moving, they cool down… This concept, though simplified, is undoubtedly crucial to fire and water magic."

I could sense that Aoi wasn't lying, but it was still difficult to understand.

"Can you use fire magic as well…?"

I muttered this with a sigh, and Crown's eyes lit up as he spoke.

"That's it, I have a good idea!"

He exclaimed, and when we turned to look at him, he addressed Aoi.

"Most magicians wouldn't understand the secrets you just revealed, even if two or three of them heard it. But if ten or twenty heard it, someone might understand."

After saying this, Crown smiled and continued.

"Let's gather magicians from each laboratory and have you teach them everything you can about all the attributes!"