"......It's done."
I muttered alone in my room, as if groaning.
"Whoa, ah!? I—I can hear your voice!?"
Though this was indeed a room in the Imperial Capital where I alone resided, another's voice rang out. The source was the crystal placed before my eyes. Inside, interconnected magic circles in an active state glowed, drawing squares of light.
"Focus for a moment while I make adjustments. The audio is quite distorted."
This was a device I had created for transmitting sound through arcane arts. At this point, I already understood there were various problems, yet it had certainly activated, and thus sound was passing through. That was precisely why this experiment could be called a success.
"Haaaaaaah......"
"Hey, what's wrong? Can't you hear me? Wearel Caulio?"
"Ah, I can hear you."
"Then what's with that huge sigh after making such a revolutionary invention?"
This required pouring homogeneous magical power simultaneously from both directions using crystals imbued with the same arcane arts. For that reason, I had entrusted half of the crystal to another and requested their cooperation in the experiment. That party now sounded suspicious through the crystal. We had exchanged letters, but it had been some time since we heard each other's voices. The quality was far worse than hearing directly, sounding almost like a different voice, but the mannerisms, habits, and intonations remained unchanged, allowing me to identify the speaker.
"......You are currently an alchemy instructor at the Rukiusaria Academy. Even from your perspective, don't you think this would be impossible to replicate?"
Because he was someone who knew me well, I asked him straight.
"......You suddenly sent me that Miniature Thunder Lamp the other day."
For some reason, he brought up a different topic.
"And you went and analyzed that alchemical-magical composite device entirely."
I understood because of our long acquaintance. This was his way of buying time when approaching an answer.
"Does alchemy play a role in this too?"
"Not exactly, but... well, that Miniature Thunder Lamp was indeed the catalyst."
More precisely, the catalyst was Lord Asha. He was the prince I served, and though I stood as his tutor, what he lacked was experience and information—honestly, matters beyond my reach. And regarding information, there was an intellectual entity called Sephira Sephiroth who possessed outrageous information-gathering capabilities. Perhaps it recognized Lord Asha's extraordinariness as well, for it was obedient to its master. It would respond if addressed, but showed little concern for those of us around it.
"Hey, don't get lost in thought and forget about me. You still haven't cured that habit?"
"Sorry. Let's see, this is technically an arcane device that activates through inscribed magical arts, but..."
I gave a brief explanation.
"Even though simple wind magic can't reproduce voices, if you reproduce the essential vibrations, it can transmit sound like this, huh?"
Though strong admiration came through from beyond the crystal, this was not my achievement. I wanted to say this precisely because I had earned the honor of being called a Sage through my own power at the academy. There exists a Sage who surpasses me. A prince merely ten years old was accomplishing the feat of learning ten from hearing one.
"Haaaaaaah......"
"So why the sigh?"
An exasperated voice emanated from the crystal.
"Isn't it obvious because we're connected like this? Currently, this only works between you and me. Not only is it unstable, but it requires wind attribute compatibility, and only those with the affinity to synchronize their homogeneous magical power even without facing each other can use it."
"Certainly, the versatility is low. But the first step of demonstrating that it's possible is crucial, right? The usual you would be more proud...... ah, I see."
He seemed convinced of something.
"That prince is involved again, isn't he?"
Hit the mark, I fell silent, unable to respond immediately.
"Silence is eloquent. Besides, did you think I wouldn't notice when you sent me that Miniature Thunder Lamp with such detailed explanations? You only passed it to me because that prince figured it out, right? Don't mess with me. As if I would steal someone else's achievements."
He pierced the truth again, his voice seeping with anger. But I had to correct this.
"No, I really thought you could handle it, so I intended to send it without touching it at first. However, while examining the structure together with Lord Asha, it became enjoyable, and I couldn't help but..."
"......Hey, isn't that prince looking to hire a tutor for alchemy?"
"If the sole alchemy instructor were to leave the academy, I doubt His Highness would approve."
"Damn, that sounds fun. You definitely have research results you're hiding from me, don't you?"
"I shall refrain from answering."
But I imagined it. Teaching Lord Asha together—indeed, that would be enjoyable. It felt like it would resemble the days when we had pushed forward driven purely by curiosity during our time studying together at the academy. Besides, I wondered what his reaction would be upon seeing Sephira Sephiroth.
"......Hey, is it really impossible for His Highness to enroll at the academy?"
"His own assessment is that it's impossible in the current situation. If explained, each point seems reasonable, and the current state is that it would be difficult without political resolution."
"The younger prince comes of age, becomes Crown Prince, solidifies his position, and stops being seen as a threat...... *sigh*. There are universities one can enter after coming of age, but they don't have alchemy departments."
At the multitude of problems and the distant prospect of resolution, a sigh leaked from the crystal. I felt the same. Even now, Lord Asha was enduring. Having watched him since childhood, I knew that as he grew, the things he wanted to do and could do expanded. And I also understood that he was suppressing them.
The solution that would resolve matters most peacefully, without conflict with anyone, would be for Prince Terry to be established as Crown Prince, marry, and produce a legitimate heir. Only then would Lord Asha cease to be viewed as a threat and be able to do as he wished. However, that future was still more than ten years away.
"As you say, waiting would take considerable time."
"Is there no plan, Green-tailed Sage?"
"I would ask you to tell me if there were, Red-tailed Sage."
Speaking the names we had been praised with only left us feeling hollow, and sighs escaped us simultaneously.
"To be unable to do anything for a child who says he wants to learn alchemy—I hate my own powerlessness."
"Nevertheless, Lord Asha seems happy simply that you maintain the alchemy department. Above all, he remains grateful for the equipment you first provided. The Miniature Thunder Lamp serves to sustain the alchemy department, but it is also a gesture of thanks to you."
"I know, I know, but it's pathetic."
I shared that sentiment—no, I could say mine was even stronger. After all, I had watched him since he was an infant. I had somehow sensed his intelligence, but by age three, there were indications he understood our conversations. Without decaying as he grew, pushed to the edge of the palace where there was no entertainment beyond seeking knowledge, his positivity in spending his time without waste was marvelous. Conducting himself with integrity, never showing desire for the imperial throne, revealing no openings to those who schemed to eliminate him. At times feigning foolishness, he had even mastered the art of slipping through by exploiting enemies' openings. That would be the ultimate weapon in this political arena called the palace, if used correctly. Yet Lord Asha chose not to fight.
"Eventually, if he wishes it, he will obtain what he desires through his own power. I understand this, yet I cannot help but think if there isn't something I can do."
"......When you quit teaching and went to Count Niphtas's place, you were planning to use the Count's family as a stepping stone to become an Imperial Mage, weren't you?"
Imperial Mage was the title of the pinnacle of magic users. It required not only the ability to wield magic but also knowledge, contributions to the nation, recommendations from nobles, and more. With the youthful ambition that one called a Sage should aim for the pinnacle, I had come to the Imperial Capital...... or so it should have been. Being directly employed by the Emperor was certainly a status, but more than that, I now acted thinking of how I could be of help to Lord Asha, even slightly. Knowledge is no burden; it was about all I could give him to carry when he eventually left the palace. I hoped it would serve him when he became independent, yet even so, I could not help but feel inadequate.
"If I had been aiming to become an Imperial Mage, I surely would never have conceived of this sound transmission through arcane arts."
"Ah, perhaps so. But this consumes magical power intensely. I'm getting tired now."
"Indeed. With our amount of magical power, lasting only this short time, practical application seems difficult after all."
"Ask that prince about it. He might make another great discovery."
Spoken as if in jest, we promised to speak again and ended the call. Immediately, fatigue from the massive magical consumption assaulted me, but I had already begun thinking of how to report this to Lord Asha.
[1300 Bookmarks Commemoration]