"Oh… that impressive, huh? Then may I ask, Lady Aura, what stage are you at now? How much longer until you reach that goal?"
The wicked smile on Fíliya's face didn't fade in the slightest. She knew very well that achieving such a thing was no simple matter. For the current Aura, this goal was likely still in the fantasy stage.
"Hmph… Hmph, it's none of your business! Just you wait and see, I'll definitely do it."
Aura's face flushed red. She then pulled her hand away from Fíliya's and rushed out of the tent without looking back.
Watching Aura's retreating back, Fíliya broke into a triumphant smile. This was exactly what she wanted to see; she had come precisely for Aura's expression of embarrassed anger.
Of course, she also conveniently collected some points.
After dusk, just as Fíliya was preparing to continue her daily training, she suddenly noticed Linie and Solitär walking into the distant forest together.
She suddenly realized it had been like this for the past few days. Aura did nothing but eat and meditate in her tent, while Solitär often went off somewhere with Linie.
Should I go take a look?
Her curiosity, which had just been sated by Aura, now grew hungry again.
So, she followed them directly, with no intention of concealing her purpose.
After all, the current situation was different from the one with Aura. Aura was in a state of deep meditation, so her awareness of her surroundings was diminished. But Solitär would certainly not be the same. Therefore, there was no need for her to sneak around and hide.
Soon, she found her two targets.
Then, with a puzzled expression, she reached up and scratched the back of her head.
Because she saw Solitär conducting a strange sort of training with Linie. To be specific, Solitär was continuously creating flying swords with her mana and launching them at Linie, while Linie, holding her one-handed sword, constantly struck down Solitär's attacks.
Have to say, these demons are pretty cute, aren't they?
Fíliya shook her head. She was certain that the three members of the Demon Race by her side had all been influenced by her, which was why they were all tacitly training. This wasn't narcissism, but an analysis based on facts.
After figuring out what game Solitär and Linie were playing, Fíliya immediately lost interest. She slowly turned and left.
After returning to the temporary camp, Fíliya quickly devoted her energy to her own training.
...A few more days passed. This was a day that had become customary for her, Aura, and Solitär recently.
Fíliya felt slightly excited. After all, she could use her most prized magic again, and every time she used Higan, it meant a huge gain for her.
"Sigh, my mana is about to be stolen by that heartless thing again. Solitär, when will days like these ever end?"
Aura glanced at Fíliya out of the corner of her eye.
"I don't think it has much of an effect. It's easy to get sleepy after your mana is depleted, isn't it? You can just go straight to sleep and you won't feel a thing."
Solitär stated her opinion.
"Mmm, that's true."
Aura nodded in strong agreement with Solitär's words.
The idle chatter over, Fíliya held her breath and focused, beginning to deploy her barrier.
Soon, Fíliya once again saw her teacher, Flamme. The two demons, meanwhile, very self-consciously picked a pleasant spot and lay right down.
Since that Great Mage Flamme disliked the Demon Race, the two of them couldn't be bothered to go over and invite scorn.
Fíliya first reported her training and growth over this period to Flamme, then, under Flamme's instruction, demonstrated the new things she had mastered.
After this simple test, Flamme praised Fíliya with great satisfaction, but the form this praise and commendation took was always a bit much for her to handle.
Fíliya couldn't understand why Flamme loved patting her disciple's head so much.
Is this a unique preference of older people...?
She resignedly endured Flamme's head-patting. Fortunately, she had grown quite accustomed to such contact and had long lost the initial awkwardness.
Next, she began discussing new topics with Flamme, and of course, there was no shortage of casual chat.
Like right now.
"Teacher, don't you find modern magic a bit strange?"
Fíliya asked Flamme.
"Hmm? In what way, specifically?"
Flamme gestured for Fíliya to elaborate on the topic.
"You see, modern magic has undoubtedly become more efficient than in the past, and the direct combat power of human mages is also growing stronger. But I can't help but feel that in terms of its conceptual scope, modern magic has regressed."
Fíliya slowly explained her understanding. Flamme didn't rush to give an answer; she knew Fíliya had more to add.
Sure enough, Fíliya proceeded to demonstrate several types of modern human magic in front of Flamme.
First was Ordinary Attack Magic, then a magic to turn butterflies into blades, and finally a magic to project flying swords.
This magic to project flying swords was clearly something she had subconsciously mastered while observing Solitär. However, compared to Solitär's extravagant fighting style that completely disregarded consumption, her version of the magic was far cruder—a simplified version of Solitär's King's Treasure.
After demonstrating several attack spells, Fíliya finally spoke.
"You see, these spells, whether energy-based or mass-based, all aim to inflict direct damage on the enemy. The only difference is the sophistication of the attack method."
"But the 'Folk Magic' that has been passed down from ancient times—that, in my opinion, is the truly terrifying magic."
"Teacher, you know this too. Folk Magic is something humans created in their fledgling state after first encountering magic, things to make life more convenient."
"Spells like 'Magic to Conjure Hot Tea,' 'Magic to Turn Black Bread into White Bread,' 'Magic to Create a Flower Patch,' and 'Magic to Turn Green Tea into Black Tea'—these folk magics touch upon the world's fundamental forces: Creation and Changing the Nature of Matter."
"And spells like 'Magic to Clean Rust off a Bronze Statue,' 'Magic to Remove Stains,' and 'Magic to Remove Bacteria'—I've studied these carefully as well. The things removed by these spells are simply gone, turned directly into nothingness... Doesn't that mean this type of magic also touches upon another of the world's fundamental forces, Destruction?"
"There's even 'Magic to Find Lost Items,' a completely illogical magic whose operating principles don't need to be understood. With just a thought, a lost item can automatically fly back... It's simply incredible."
"Modern mages, proficient in countless magical theories, can now only create simple and straightforward attack magic. Conversely, humans in their fledgling era created Folk Magic, a terrifying thing filled with all sorts of concept-level power."
"That's why I often wonder if the history of human magic is one of evolution or regression."
Fíliya poured out all her doubts in one go, looking at Flamme with an earnest gaze, hoping to receive an answer from her master that could convince her.
___
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