"Of course!" I declared briskly, shaking off the gloom as I rose from the table. "I've got a rough idea of the route. You'll clear out every skeleton on each floor. When you've had enough, just say so, and we'll head straight for the core."
"You already know where the core is?" Ariel asked.
"Yes, of course."
"Ah, right. You can scan mana."
"Yes."
"Better not explain anything else to her yet. Let her think it through on her own," I thought.
Ariel stayed silent.
We climbed the stairs to the first level of the library, and immediately after the landing we saw three skeletons, grinning as they advanced toward us.
"I'll cover you with barrier and healing. Focus on your own spells," I said quickly, staying back.
Even for me, maintaining a barrier at a distance of ten meters was too exhausting. So I used Aisa to generate a barrier with her mana but under my control. Technically it wasn't my barrier, but hers, cast through a tiny space she had allowed me to occupy within her consciousness. I merely borrowed a fragment of her mind to cast spells through her.
This way she didn't need to juggle multiple spells at once, since she hadn't yet mastered Ata. Trying to cast several simultaneously would only distract her.
Ariel was an educated princess, so I was sure she knew: through Aisa, one must never under any circumstances read another's thoughts without permission, and only to the extent granted.
Ariel clasped her hands together, preparing for battle. Each of the three skeletons carried a short sword and crept closer: one in front, two to the sides. She waited. Only when they came too close did Ariel cast an explosion in her hand. All three lunged. Ariel struck the central one with the blast and raised her arms to shield herself from the side slashes. The blades hit the barrier I had placed and bounced back.
"Ah!" Ariel cried.
I flicked my fingers and drained mana from the two on the sides. Enough to drop them, but not to destroy them.
"Excellent! Though… hm, it's still too early for you to fight three at once," I said.
"Yeah," Ariel answered with a breathless smile, glowing from adrenaline. "I forgot for a moment what you said about the barrier and panicked. Let's try again—I'll remember this time."
"No. Better to train you from the start to dodge attacks on your own. If you rely on me, you'll forget in a real fight."
"Yes, that makes sense. I don't want to be badly hurt for real."
"Good. I'll drain mana from the skeletons and send them at you one by one."
"All right, then I'll try a more complex spell."
"No… better not rush. Try… how should I put it… actually, this ties to Ata. Relax and imagine you don't need to do anything, that it's already done. Practice only the spells you feel like. At least for today, we'll do it that way. Don't set specific tasks, just drift where you want. Try one spell—if not, then another. Change your mind—turn around and walk back up to the surface."
"Okay. No goals. Then what do I do?"
"That's the point—nothing specific. Do whatever you want in that moment. Experiment in any direction you choose."
"Hm… all right."
"Excellent."
I raised one of the skeletons lying on the floor, struggling to rise. With a bit of mana from me, it stood and began stabbing furiously with its sword, but every strike was blocked by my barrier.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Yes."
I hurled the skeleton forward—it lunged at Ariel. She focused, dodged a wide swing, then a stabbing thrust. In her right palm she gathered an explosion and struck it into the skeleton's chest—its bones scattered to pieces.
"Nice!" Ariel shouted.
"You just blew it up again?" I asked, taking another book in hand.
"Yes! I managed to kill it without taking a hit. Let's do it again!"
Without lifting my eyes from the book, I flicked my finger, and another skeleton rose and charged at Ariel. She dodged strikes and countered with Ta. The duel lasted longer; the skeleton managed to hit her several times, so Ariel used another explosion to finish it.
"Damn, I always start fine, but then I can't cast anything except explosion," she sighed.
Meanwhile, I was already generating drawings of a naked Maria, then Anna, then Capellia in the book.
"You're generating pictures again?" she asked irritably.
"Yeah. Want to see?" I asked casually, as if nothing indecent were in it.
"No, I don't! Better tell me what to do so I can cast other spells."
"For now, just practice as best you can. Think over what I've told you. I wonder if I can generate a video and transfer it to a smartphone?"
Ariel grimaced and stepped closer, trying to snatch the book. I seized control of her mind with Aira and forced her to blink seven meters up onto a bookshelf.
"Huh? What?" she gasped, staring at the ornate ceiling. "Ah! Where did you send me? Put me back this instant!"
I flicked my finger again and returned her.
"Shameless! Can't you tear yourself away from your pictures for a moment?!" she shouted, getting up from the floor.
"Why?"
"Because! Now come on, lead the way to the next group!" she snapped, unsure how else to strike at me.
"All right, let's go," I replied, tearing out another page from the book. "Ah, today I'll have a whole collection of fine art of feminine beauty!"
"You know, I hoped with your years of experience you'd be wiser about these things. But you act like some ordinary schoolboy."
"Ha, forgive me. I'm just playing around. You're doing wonderfully," I added, scanning mana around us. "Let's go that way."
"Thank you," she answered with satisfaction. "And could you please not draw naked women in front of me? It's distracting."
"As you wish. But you shouldn't miss your chance either. Don't you have any handsome men you'd like to see naked?"
"No, I don't engage in such things. Thank you," she said with dignity, returning to her polite princess image.
I smiled, shrugged—and together we walked further down the corridors.
"Tell me, did you have a family in your past world?" Ariel asked.
I paused for a moment in thought.
"No, no family. Why do you ask?"
"No reason," she smiled. "I just realized we've never had a proper conversation."
"Mm?"
"Yes. First we quarreled at the tournament. Then over your refusal to train me…"
"My refusal?" I echoed.
"He-he, I'm joking. And today again. That's why I wanted to ask you a bit about yourself."
"I see."
"Well… and a lover? In this world or the last?"
Again I paused, then gave a faint smile.
"Yes, I had one. Want to hear the story?"
"Yes, gladly."
I began telling it in a calm, detached tone. Ordinary, as if it had long passed and no longer troubled me.
"When I was sixteen, I was conscripted into the infantry. There I served under an officer; we defended a logistics point near the front. In that town lived a girl who refused to leave her parents, so she stayed behind in occupation with us. We were the occupiers. I started seeing her and fell in love the first day. Though I don't think she loved me—she just kept company for a bit of protection. One day my officer found out about her and grew furious that I hadn't reported a civilian… because she was hiding from us, afraid of what we might do. When he found out, he made me go with him and, for some reason, ordered me to bring a violin. When we arrived, he shot her parents in front of her. Then he said, 'You'll play for us here while I rape her.' And I played, and watched it all. He did this for a month, forcing me to be present, sometimes even to take part. Later I was transferred to the front, and the officer died years later in an artillery strike. The girl went missing. I tried to find her once I gained power, but in vain. Likely he killed her—or she ended her own life."
I looked at Ariel. Her face twisted with shock and pain. She lowered her eyes.
"My God… I'm so sorry," she whispered.
"Cheerful story?" I asked softly, with a sly smile.
"Sorry for asking."
"Nonsense. Never apologize for questions. There's nothing wrong in them."
Ariel stayed quiet.
"Stop sulking. And you? Besides me, have you ever loved anyone?" I smiled.
"Ah… No, I haven't loved anyone. And not you either, thank you," she said in a playfully offended tone.
We reached two skeletons, and as before I drained one's mana, while the other rushed Ariel.
"Don't use explosion this time. Try something else," I said.
Ariel took a stance and began dodging. I saw her trying to cast something, but each time she was forced to stop as the skeleton pressed her.
"Just focus on dodging, don't rush," I advised.
"I'm trying!" she shouted between strikes.
No matter how she tried, something blocked her from completing the spell. At last she used another explosion and destroyed the skeleton.
Ariel stood, gaze defeated.
"What spell were you trying to cast?" I asked.
"Slash."
"It's too soon for you. Start with fire, for example."
"I know, but if I master Slash, I won't need fire. It's a more effective spell."
"First, not always. Second, it's too early. Start smaller. I told you: fire comes when you learn to conserve strength. To attack with a plan, not just defend."
"I do attack, but he keeps striking and breaking my focus. If someone covers me, or in training, I can concentrate and cast fire."
"Hold your hand forward," I said, stepping closer.
She obeyed, and a spark instantly lit in her palm.
"Ah! What? Wait—that was you?" she asked in surprise.
"Yes, that was Aisa. If you let me into your mind, I can cast through you at any moment."
"But that's you casting, just with my mana."
"Yes. You have more than enough mana for all sixteen spells. Your problem is that you can't form your own barrier, so you fear every strike. That blocks the growth of your other spells. But since I cover you… fine, let's try with support. Go stand before the skeleton and do nothing at all. Just stand there. I'll cover you, and you'll feel safe."
"All right, let's try," she answered with courage.
I gave a bit of mana to the next skeleton, and it rose.
"Just stand, don't do anything."
Ariel braced herself.
"Just stand as usual. Relax."
"All right."
The skeleton lunged at her, striking again and again, but every blow bounced off my barrier.
"See? Now try casting fire. Until you do, we're not moving forward."
Each strike made Ariel flinch reflexively.
"Breathe," I said.
She clasped her hands and began gathering mana. The skeleton hammered harder, but my barrier was solid. Ariel concentrated.
"Come on, I have to cast it. Otherwise we won't move. Come on, come on," she thought.
She focused, extended her hand toward the skeleton, trying to release fire. It hammered her arm furiously, unable to break through. She stared at the terrifying creature that had so recently mangled her comrades, and she couldn't grasp what she had to do.
Suddenly I filled my lungs and roared.
"Ahhh!" I bellowed a battle cry.
Ariel stumbled and glanced at me.
"What are you doing?!"
"Ahhh! Ah-ha-ha!" I roared again. "That's how you cast fire! Scream with me! Get angry, imagine you're ready to burn this whole library! Do it!" I spread my arms wide and thrust out my chest.
"Well… fine… ahh…" she muttered shyly, but again her eyes fixed on the snarling skeleton before her.
"Louder! Ahhh!"
"Ahhh!" she shouted with more force, while the skeleton clawed at the barrier, glancing between us. It seemed to know what was coming, desperate to take Ariel down with it.
I grabbed her hand sharply and aimed it at the raging skeleton. Ariel faltered, but I gave her no time to get shy.
"Ahhh! Ahhh!" I roared.
"Ahhh! Ahhh!" she echoed with me.
At last fire burst from her hand with her cry. It pierced the skeleton's barrier, destroyed its core, and shattered its bones.
"Ha-ha," I laughed, stepping back. "That's how you cast fire."
"Ah-ha-ha!" Ariel laughed with relief.
"Now quick, let's run! After me!" I commanded, charging toward the next group.
We ran up the corridor and stairs to the next floor, where four skeletons awaited us. I went up first and called back to Ariel, who followed.
"Come on! Again!"
"All right."
The skeletons rushed at us immediately.
"What do you mean 'all right'? Ahhh!" I shouted from the side.
"Ahhh!" she yelled, regaining confidence, swinging her fist at them.
Her fire struck one skeleton, then another. As the other two closed in, she cast an explosion, and they crumbled.
"Hah, hah," she panted.
"That was fire. And proper use of explosion too," I said.
Ariel beamed.
"Great! Yes! Yes!" she clapped her hands and pumped her fists.
I smiled in satisfaction too.
"Let's keep going. Where's the next group?" she asked eagerly.
After that, everything went smoother. Ariel tried to learn new spells, but I stopped her, and she focused on fire, explosion, and Ta. With those three alone, we cleared nearly five floors. Taking a break, Ariel sat at a table, panting happily. Sweaty and flushed, she looked confident and radiant.
---
I sat down beside her and noticed a cut on the right side of her chest. It was small, just slightly parting the fabric over her right breast. Although her dress's neckline usually revealed far more, the cut stood out because now she wore a closed, practical outfit.
"What is it?" she asked, glancing at the mark.
"A cut. I told you it was better not to drop the barrier."
Back on the fourth floor, she had asked me to remove it.
"I wanted to feel what it's like to be in real danger. Don't stare," she said with a sly smile.
"I just noticed," I answered with a quiet smile of my own.
"Of course. You're probably thinking something perverted, aren't you?" she said, certain she had caught me out.
But I replied in the same calm tone, smiling kindly. I was in a good mood after a fruitful session. Resting my chin on my hand, I quietly admired Ariel, who had managed to lift my spirits so much.
"You forget you're not talking to a boy, but to an old man living his second life. I've seen girls like you in every kind of pose, situation, and mood. And in every sort of clothing."
"An old man? How old are you, counting your former life?"
"I died at fifty-eight. Now I'm sixteen. That makes seventy-four."
"Seventy-four?!" she cried.
"Yes. I told you before."
"You never said how many exactly!"
"I told you I was the adviser to a dictator of an entire world. Do you think the road to power is short?"
"No, I just never thought about it. Wow." She leaned back in her chair. "You're older than both my parents put together."
"That's right. You could be not just my daughter, but my granddaughter," I said simply.
"Ugh. That makes your obsession with women's breasts even more disgusting. Are women's breasts all you ever think about?"
"What else am I supposed to think about?!" I replied, deliberately exaggerating my shock at such a strange question.
"Ohh!" She rolled her eyes and pressed her hand to her forehead. "Why can't a man as experienced as you treat love more maturely? Physical pleasures aren't the most important thing in life—you should know that."
"Hm…" I mused. "You know, after so many years, everything else grows dull. Every book, every film, every conversation, every joke—they're all just copies of something you've already seen. But a woman. A young, slender woman, with full breasts, delicate legs, or a pretty face—that never grows old. And I'm not joking. Honestly, I'd like to be inexperienced again, so everything could be for the first time. Dopamine only releases when you achieve something new. Once you've achieved everything, nothing interests you anymore. Dopamine—that was the word for happiness in my world. Human happiness is tuned for survival, not for happiness itself. If the challenge is too easy—it's boring. Too hard—and it's misery."
I looked at Ariel. She was silent, listening intently.
"The only way I can still entertain myself is with women. In the morning—you destroy or kill. Physical labor is best; it gives a sense of satisfaction and calm. In the evening—you find a new woman. You can't make love constantly—the male body has its limits. So it's a self-limiting pleasure. But games, food, anything else—those cause addiction, and you crave more and more. Any kind of work grows tedious. But a night with a woman—that's the only entertainment that always brings pleasure, and I never grow attached to it."
I fell silent and waited for her reaction. She leaned back, thoughtful.
"Maybe men and women are different here. I don't want to spend time with different partners. In the end, I want to choose the best one and live with him. I think that kind of life wouldn't get boring. Especially when children come. I love children. I think children and family never grow old. With family, everything actually gets more interesting. I see it: me, my husband, and our kids playing, doing things together. That will be fun, even if not new. Like delicious food—it's always delicious, even if you eat it a hundred times," she said with a smile.
"I used to think that way too. You'll understand one day as well. But enough talk. Let's go to the core. That's enough training for today."