Chapter 25: Mixing Tears into the Equation I Drew a New Formula
The academy’s experimental field was wrapped in a strange tension from the morning.
Complex magic circles were layered threefold on the floor‚ and mana observation devices lined the walls.
The magic lamps flickered faintly‚ as if saying‚ “Something’s going to happen today.”
I—Aria—checked the catalysts lined up on the materials table while tapping my fingertips with a soft *ton-ton*.
(…It’s fine. In theory‚ it should work. Probably. No‚ it *has* to work or we’re in trouble.)
Today’s goal was—
An experiment to fuse “Emotion Magic” and “Chantless Multi-Magic.”
When I was little‚ my magic was “as precise as a machine‚ and completely cold.”
Chants and mana control were nothing more than tasks.
But now it’s different.
Emotions influence mana‚ the waveforms of magic waver‚ and the world looks just a little softer.
I want to shape that change into theory.
That’s what today’s experiment is for.
“Aria-kun‚ are you ready?”
Rinne peered in worriedly.
“Yeah. Once I confirm everyone’s positions‚ we can start.”
Beside her—
“Hey Aria! This catalyst’s glowing somehow!”
Cross was swinging a catalyst stone around.
“Don’t swing it around! That thing might explode if you shake it!”
“Huh!? Explode!?”
“Calm down. Exploding is only a ‘possibility.’”
“That’s plenty scary!”
On the opposite side—
“Ariaaaa! My mana measuring device isn’t working!”
Mark was yelling while holding the device upside down.
“That’s upside down.”
“What!? I thought my mana was flowing backward!”
“That phenomenon doesn’t exist…”
Nagi watched the scene and said flatly‚
“…Nothing but trouble even before the experiment starts.”
“Nagi-san‚ the way you put it…!”
Even so‚ just having my friends here somehow calmed my heart.
(…Alright. I have no choice but to do this.)
I took a deep breath and stepped into the center of the magic circle.
Standing in the center of the experimental field‚ I took another deep breath.
The light of the magic circle wavered faintly‚ and the needles of the observation devices trembled slightly.
Tapping my fingertips with a soft *ton-ton*‚ I spread out the documents.
“—Now then‚ I’ll explain today’s theory.”
My friends gathered in a circle.
Nagi crossed her arms‚ Cross and Mark were somehow sitting in seiza‚ and Rinne held her notebook ready with a worried look.
“First‚ the waveform of Emotion Magic is characterized by ‘fluctuations.’
This is because the phase of mana changes subtly according to emotions…”
I projected formulas and waveforms onto the magic monitor.
The waveform rose and fell according to the intensity of emotion‚ and the density of mana changed.
“On the other hand‚ Chantless Multi-Magic uses a ‘fixed waveform.’
In exchange for omitting the chant‚ you must completely control the flow of mana.
In other words‚ fluctuation and fixed—properties that are fundamentally opposed.”
Cross raised his hand.
“So… you’re mixing soft magic with rigid magic?”
“…Well‚ if you put it extremely‚ yeah.”
“Ohh‚ that makes sense!”
“It’s *too* easy to understand.”
Nagi interjected coolly.
Mark raised his hand energetically.
“Aria! Is that fluctuation like the trembling of my soul!?”
“No.”
“Instant answer!?”
“Because soul trembling can’t be measured.”
“That’s harsh!”
Laughter spread through the room‚ but I continued.
“The fusion theory this time is about overlaying this ‘fluctuation’ onto the fixed waveform.
In other words‚ maintaining the flexibility of Emotion Magic while simultaneously achieving the precision of Chantless Multi-Magic.”
Nagi rested her hand on her chin.
“…Theoretically possible. But the only one who can control emotional fluctuations is Aria.”
“Yeah. So I have no choice but to do it.”
In that moment‚ a memory from my childhood flashed by.
A cold magic circle‚ overly precise chanting‚ “mechanical magic” that excluded emotion.
Back then‚ magic was nothing more than a task.
(But now it’s different.
I have friends‚ I have emotions… and magic is “alive.”)
Rinne spoke gently.
“Aria-kun… don’t push yourself too hard.”
“It’s fine. The theory is solid.”
Nagi said while peering at the documents.
“…If it succeeds‚ magic theory will evolve to the next level.
If it fails‚ it will explode.”
“You didn’t need that last part!”
Cross shouted.
Mark clenched his fist and yelled.
“Alright! Even if it explodes‚ I’ll protect you!”
“It’s not going to explode!”
“Even if it does‚ I’ll protect you!”
“I said it won’t!”
An atmosphere of tension mixed with laughter flowed through the experimental field.
(…Alright. Everyone’s here. It’ll be fine.)
I stood in the center of the magic circle and prepared for the next stage.
Standing in the center of the magic circle‚ the air felt a degree cooler.
The needles of the observation devices trembled‚ and the magic lamps pulsed faintly.
I took a deep breath and tapped my fingertips with a soft *ton-ton* to regulate the flow of mana.
(…I can do this. Handle fluctuation and fixed waveform at the same time.
Overlay the “softness” of Emotion Magic onto the “precision” of Chantless Multi-Magic.)
“Aria‚ your mana is stable.”
Nagi reported flatly while looking at the observation device.
“Thanks. Then… I’ll start.”
I omitted the chant and poured mana directly into the magic circle.
Light raced‚ and the threefold magic circles activated simultaneously.
—First layer: the fluctuation of Emotion Magic.
—Second layer: the fixed waveform of Chantless Multi-Magic.
—Third layer: the fusion layer that overlays the two.
The lights overlapped‚ and the air trembled.
“Whoa… that’s amazing…”
Cross’s eyes widened.
“Ariaaaa! I feel like the light is coming toward me!”
Mark shouted while backing away.
“It’s fine‚ that’s just residual light.”
“Residual light!? What’s residual light!?”
“It’s like the lingering scent of light.”
“That makes even less sense!”
Rinne gave a wry smile at the exchange but turned her gaze back to me.
“Aria-kun‚ the flow of mana is a little fast!”
“I know…! The fluctuation is strong…!”
Emotion Magic is sensitive to the movements of my heart.
If I get tense the waveform becomes disordered; if I panic the mana runs wild.
(Calm down… calm down…
This isn’t “machine magic.”
The me now isn’t excluding emotion—I’m using it.)
A gentle warmth spread deep in my chest.
I softly placed that heat onto the flow of mana.
Then—
The fluctuation was drawn into the fixed waveform and settled into place.
“…Success rate rising. It’s stabilizing.”
Nagi reported flatly.
“Yes! Aria‚ keep going just like that!”
Cross clenched his fist.
But at that moment—
“Uwooooooh!?”
Mark suddenly fell over.
“Hey‚ what are you doing!?”
Rinne rushed over in a panic.
“No… the floor was glowing somehow… and my legs moved on their own…!”
“That’s a reaction from the magic circle‚ so you shouldn’t step on it!”
“Tell me that first!”
Kotone took notes with a wry smile.
“Mark-san‚ that’s your third fall record update for today.”
“I don’t need the record updated!”
Even amid the commotion‚ I continued maintaining the flow of mana.
Fluctuation and fixed waveform overlapped‚ and the light of the magic circle grew stronger.
(…I can do this.
This sensation… it’s as if the magic is responding to me.)
A warmth spread deep in my chest‚ and the mana gently expanded.
“Aria‚ the fusion layer has stabilized!”
Nagi’s voice rang out.
“Alright… next is the final stage…!”
I pushed the mana even higher and stepped toward the completion of the fusion magic.
The moment the light of the magic circle reached its peak‚ the air suddenly grew taut.
The needles of the observation devices swung near their limits‚ and the magic lamps flashed white.
(…This is it.
Completely synchronize the “overlap” of fluctuation and fixed waveform.)
The warmth deep in my chest—
It was the heat of “emotion” that I could never have possessed as a child.
I placed that heat onto the mana and poured it into the fusion layer.
—In an instant.
The magic circle shone quietly‚ yet with certainty.
“…It stabilized.”
Nagi’s voice held a trace of surprise and faint admiration.
The waveforms on the observation devices showed fluctuation and fixed beautifully overlapping‚ arranged like a single melody.
“Th-that’s amazing…!”
Cross froze with his mouth open.
“Ariaaaa! Somehow… somehow tears are coming out!”
Mark clenched his fists‚ trembling with emotion for some reason.
“Enough to cry!?”
“Because… the magic… it feels like it’s singing…!”
“Poetic.”
Nagi interjected flatly.
Rinne placed a hand on her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Aria-kun… you really succeeded.”
“Yeah… it seems so.”
I looked at my own hands.
Magic in my childhood was nothing more than a task.
Precise‚ cold‚ “machine magic” that excluded emotion.
But now—
(…The magic is responding to my feelings.)
A gentle warmth spread deep in my chest.
“Aria‚ the waveforms are completely fused.
This is… the level where a new page is added to the academy’s magic theory.”
Nagi rarely allowed the corners of her mouth to soften just a little.
“Huh‚ Nagi-san praised him!?”
Cross made a weird noise from excessive surprise.
“I didn’t praise him. I simply stated a fact.”
“That’s the same as praising him!”
“No.”
“That’s harsh!”
Mark spread both arms and shouted.
“Aria! From today on‚ I’m calling this magic ‘Soul Harmony’!”
“You don’t have to call it that!”
“Why nooot!”
Laughter spread through the experimental field.
But at the center of it‚ I was certainly feeling it.
(…I’ve changed.
Both the magic and myself.)
And the presence of my friends was supporting that change.
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