"You must now learn to sense the Sun attribute within yourself, thereby borrowing the power of the fairies and spirits to use the magic. How you utilize it will be entirely up to your own creativity."
In the Great Library, Patchouli continued to instruct Kars, who was seated before her.
Following Patchouli's guidance, Kars began to practice controlling and utilizing the magical power. He attempted to mentally connect with the golden-yellow Sun attribute light clusters he could sense. As soon as he felt the connection established, Patchouli saw a visible energy manifest in Kars's hand, forming a sphere about the size of a baseball.
"First step accomplished. Next is the application. What you see now is the most basic form of Sun-attribute energy. By molding and shaping it, you can achieve different effects. For example, the Royal Flare that I use can generate an explosive flash of fire—that is one way to utilize the Sun attribute."
Kars nodded slightly. Although he understood the theory, he felt completely clueless when it came to practical application.
Seeing the frustrated look on Kars's face, Patchouli remained patient. She opened the book in her hands and started reading. Learning magic was never a quick process, and Kars's situation was perfectly normal.
However, as time passed, Patchouli suddenly noticed the surrounding brightness increasing significantly. This prompted her to look up at the source of the light.
The energy in Kars's hand was rapidly intensifying in luminosity, forcing Patchouli to shield her eyes with her hand to protect them from the intense glare.
"Kars, what are you doing?"
"Huh? Oh, I was just trying to see what kind of effect would happen if I enhanced the Sun attribute like this."
Kars's answer left Patchouli momentarily speechless. When the light subsided to a normal level, Patchouli lowered her hand.
"So, what was the conclusion? Did you discover anything?"
"I didn't find anything. It just got brighter, that's all."
Disappointed with the result, Kars's initial excitement quickly faded. However, it was swiftly replaced by renewed focus as he began another attempt. He remembered Patchouli mentioning an explosive method of use, but considering their current location, that method was too dangerous.
He would be fine, as vampires have incredible vitality, but Patchouli was different—her body was too frail, getting breathless after minimal exertion. Since he was just starting to learn, attempting a dangerous technique was out of the question unless he was completely alone in an isolated area.
I'll wait until I'm more proficient before trying that kind of experiment.
As Kars continued to formulate new ideas, Sakuya entered the Great Library and walked up to Patchouli.
"Lady Patchouli, the Mistress said you can begin."
"Is that so? Then, Kars, that's enough for now." Patchouli stood up, preparing to execute Remilia's plan.
Kars, understanding what was about to happen, nodded silently. After Sakuya and Patchouli left, he remained alone in the Great Library, staring at the ball of energy in his hand.
"Kars, are you still thinking about how to use it? Was that bright light earlier your doing?" Koakuma walked up to Kars. She looked at the energy in his hand but couldn't offer any practical advice. While she understood Seven-Element magic, teaching it was beyond her abilities.
"Yes, it was an attempt to see if there was any special effect, but there wasn't."
"I see. That's how initial attempts go; don't give up easily. But if you're thinking about the Sun attribute, doesn't it naturally make you think of the Sun? Since you love the sun so much, why don't you try to formulate your spell in that direction?"
"Formulate it based on the sun? How should I do that?" This suggestion undoubtedly piqued Kars's interest, as it related to the thing he loved most.
"That's up to you. Since you love the sun, you must know more about it than I do. But this is just my suggestion; I don't know if it will actually work. I think consulting Lady Patchouli would be more appropriate."
"No, I think your suggestion is excellent, Koakuma!" Kars firmly believed Koakuma's idea was brilliant and exactly what he needed. Why hadn't he thought of that before?
"Thank you so much, Koakuma!" With a conceptual goal now in mind, Kars was energized.
"It was nothing. I just said it on a whim. If it helps you, that's wonderful." Koakuma was surprised that her random suggestion had been so well-received, but she was slightly concerned that it might lead Kars down the wrong path.
"Don't worry! I'll prove it to you! Your suggestion is definitely the right one!"
"Well, I hope so. I'll be rooting for your success." Koakuma cheered him on, seeing his confidence.
Meanwhile, centered around the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the Red Mist began to expand outwards, covering the entire sky. Remilia watched the result with satisfaction.
"So, Sister, can we go out and play now?" Flandre watched as the Red Mist transformed the scenery around the mansion into something vaguely unsettling, yet it didn't affect anyone inside.
"We need to wait a little longer, Flandre. Once that shrine maiden appears and we defeat her, then we can go anywhere in Gensokyo with Kars and play." Remilia soothed Flandre, urging her not to be too impatient.
"Okay!" Flandre nodded obediently. She sat beside Remilia, swinging her legs and humming a tune, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the shrine maiden, hoping for an exciting game.
On the other side of Gensokyo, at the Hakurei Shrine, the routine was shattered. The Red and White Shrine Maiden, Reimu Hakurei, was enjoying a peaceful cup of tea when a black and white blur crashed into her field of vision.
"Reimu! Incident! We have an incident!" Marisa Kirisame landed her broom right in front of Reimu, shouting urgently.
"Let's hurry and resolve this incident and defeat the perpetrator!" Her arrival signaled the end of Reimu's tranquil time.