Chapter 220 - Magic Research
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One month later, with a renewed determination, I walked through the academy.
My lectures had ended, and I headed straight for my research lab. Of course, this was for my research on spirit magic. I had conducted various verifications along the way but had reached a dead end. I wasted several days because of that, but after reconsidering the matter from a different angle, I felt that I had found a clue to a solution.
That clue lay in the healing magic of the Mapleleaf Holy Theocracy.
Spirits were invisible and had no physical form, so they hardly seemed like living beings. However, they served as an important element in casting magic. Viewed from that perspective, I found similar aspects in Mapleleaf's healing magic.
That phenomenon appeared in the highest-ranking healing mages, such as saints and holy maidens. At first glance, this magic seemed similar to but different from spirit magic, yet they shared a common point in a certain sense.
Healing magic might also involve some unseen force exercising its power.
The magic that the saint, Chief Court Mage Awod, actually performed before my eyes had healed all the injured within a certain range at once. After all, it even healed people outside his line of sight. I had previously found this magic incomprehensible and had suspended my research on it, but now that I understood spirit magic, I could at least formulate a hypothesis toward a solution.
In other words, something akin to a spirit supplemented the senses beyond the mage who cast the spell. If so, one could heal an injured person lying in bed on the other side of a wall. Conversely, if I tried to use healing magic, I would need to visually confirm the target, their degree of injury, and the affected areas. Without that, I would not know where to heal.
If I could create something like a spirit that could think and act on its own will, I might even be able to heal injured people in places I could not see myself.
This differed fundamentally from the magic I had studied so far and could lead to establishing a new magical system. That might mean taking a step forward in developing the magic I had long desired—such as teleportation or moving to other worlds.
The challenge was in the method, but that would gradually take shape as my research on spirit magic progressed. For now, I only had information about having invisible spirits assist with magic, but if I could control the appearance of spirits, it would prove extremely fascinating.
Did spirits usually inhabit deep forests or watersides, and did mages summon them by leaping across space? Or was there another world where only spirits resided, and mages summoned them from there to use spirit magic?
"...Thinking about it that way, I should probably focus my research on the very existence of spirits themselves."
As I murmured that and looked up, I saw Langus approaching at just the right moment. Unusually, he seemed to be walking with a male companion rather than female students.
"Oh, Aoi."
"Ah, Aoi."
They both seemed to notice me at the same time and raised their hands in unison, calling my name.
"Langus, Strass. It is rare to see you two together."
As I said that and walked closer, Langus glanced at Strass and spoke.
"Strass is very interesting. I particularly appreciate his passion for magic and his complete lack of any peculiar preconceptions about spirit magic."
"...He has been teaching me elven spirit magic."
Langus laughed openly, saying he liked Strass, and Strass answered with a hint of embarrassment at those words. Though they seemed like contrasting personalities, apparently they got along well.
"Strass is a talented mage, after all. I also like his straightforward and sincere character."
When I agreed with Langus's opinion and answered, Strass suddenly cleared his throat and turned away. Seeing that, Langus also made a strange face.
"...Good. I managed to have a word with Strass."
After muttering that in a slightly lower tone, he changed his expression and looked at me.
"So, what were you up to, Aoi? Researching magic again?"
"Huh? Well, yes. Since I realized my previous research on spirit magic was mistaken, I have been redoing my research from the ground up."
When I said that, Langus crossed his arms, nodded, and pulled in his chin with an "I see."
"In that case, let me give you a bit more instruction on spirit magic."
"I appreciate that, but now that you are also an instructor, Langus, finding time will be difficult..."
"What are you saying? I only have a few lectures per week. Let us use that spare time for magic research. Hahaha! A joint research project, then!"
When Langus started saying such things loudly, I could not help but check our surroundings. As expected, I spotted several students and instructors here and there, and some seemed to be looking our way.
"...I believe I asked you to be careful not to start any strange rumors."
I said that with a hint of anger in my voice, but Langus only furrowed his brows in a helpless expression and gave an awkward smile.
He meant no harm, which made him all the more troublesome.