[Rorschach's Magic Power Drive (Purple)]
It was no longer just about "gathering." Rorschach could feel that in addition to accumulating Magic Power, he could also disperse it or guide the ambient Magic Power to perform other actions. Unfortunately, the casting range was very small. Perhaps high-level Mages also had this technique for manipulating Magic Power, but they would never see it as an independent, complete spell.
Magic Power was divided into Endogenous and Exogenous types. All sapient races possessed Endogenous Magic Power, though in most individuals, it was very scarce. If an individual's Endogenous Magic Power was abundant enough to influence the ambient Magic Power and induce a Transformation, then they met the basic requirements to become a Caster or a Priest.
Research had shown that Endogenous and Exogenous Magic Power were equivalent. 'So, could I use the Magic Power Drive spell to make my mana bar go in reverse? To gain more the more I use?'
The nose and mouth can both inhale and exhale. But for water and food, the digestive system has fixed entry and exit points, and blood circulation follows a fixed path. So what about Magic Power? After careful consideration, Rorschach temporarily abandoned the tempting experiment.
Isolating "Projectile (Purple)" by itself yielded [Flying Arrow Skill (Purple)].
It was an interesting Basic Level Spell that could grant kinetic energy to an object. Rorschach found a small knife used for opening letters, and under the spell's influence, it shot straight into the wall. The panel's default name for this spell didn't include the "Rorschach's" prefix, which meant it was a pre-existing spell.
It was possible to construct a spell from a single component. As an engineering geek from a chemistry-related field in his past life, Rorschach decided to call this type of single-step reaction... or rather, spell, an Elemental Spell.
Just as he was thinking this, the panel created a folder named "Elemental Spells," and inside were the three single-component spells.
...
"I've withheld the recommendation letter the Director wrote for you." This was the first thing Teacher Caroline said after summoning Rorschach to her office, and her tone was not good.
"Huh?"
An image of a bald head and a confident smile surfaced in Rorschach's mind: "Please trust the Organization."
'That's it?'
"You accepted Sibins's proposal. Why? A Mage, especially a young one like yourself, should cherish their freedom and clean slate, not rashly join his... secret service."
Rorschach considered his words carefully before replying. "Ma'am, my parents aren't free. They're tied to the land, toiling all day. The farthest they've ever traveled is to the nearby town. They're getting old and I need to repay them, but I also need funding to continue my advanced studies. The Head of Discipline approached me, and he can solve my problems."
'Actually, sponsorship from the Bart family's merchant guild could also solve the problem, but Rorschach was unwilling to accept that kind of help. Human connections are a tangled mess, and besides, it would shatter something—the fragile equality on campus between the son of a great merchant and the son of a farmer.'
'Studying abroad while acting as an informant for His Majesty the Emperor... as a citizen of the Empire, it was no big deal. From the perspective of Rorschach, who had crossed over into this Otherworld, it was like accepting a long-term quest from the NPC Mechanical Director, Sibins, unlocking a hidden class, and getting a great reward. Plus, joining a secret organization was kind of cool.'
'That's all there was to it.'
'Working for you and getting paid by you. That's good. It's much better than some vague, messy human connection.'
After hearing Rorschach's explanation, Caroline's expression softened and she sighed. "It hasn't been easy for you, studying Magic."
She took off her Mage Robe and hung it up. Rorschach noticed that today, Caroline was wearing a white blouse and a high-waisted green long skirt, her brown braid still draped over the right side of her chest.
'Caroline looked pretty even with her brow slightly furrowed.'
"My apologies. Black tea?"
"Thank you."
Caroline sat down at her desk and used Mage's Hand to pour Rorschach a cup of tea. She looked at the Director's recommendation letter, her eyes scanning ten lines at a time, and then spoke.
"Ah, the Tower of Stars... I came from there myself."
'That explained it. Her brown hair, not the pale gold or auburn common in the Empire, was characteristic of someone from the southern Holy Kingdom.'
"Let me write the letters of recommendation and introduction for you!"
"Teacher, since I already have one, I couldn't possibly trouble you..."
"You're from the Empire's Royal Academy and you have the Director's recommendation. You're covered in labels. They aren't stupid over there. Once you arrive, you'll probably be treated with suspicion and be ostracized." Caroline rolled her eyes, a small gesture that was out of character for someone of her standing.
"I will write to my former teacher, Master Kano. He can protect you when you get there, so you'll have someone looking out for you. But, you can't report everything to that spymaster, alright?"
Rorschach hadn't expected Caroline to be willing to help him like this. "Thank you so much. I will be careful."
"It's a good thing that you think of your parents. There are many precious things in this world. So many Casters, so many Apprentices I've seen and taught... they become too obsessed with their own power and the status that Magic brings. You're a sensitive and hardworking child; you'll be able to walk this path for a long time. I only hope that you don't become a loyal servant of power. Please, remember that."
"I will remember. Thank you again, so very much." 'It's not like Rorschach had any plans to sell his life for some feudal lord anyway.'
"One more thing. The spell you cast during the examination wasn't the Water Creation Skill, was it?"
Seeing the surprised look on Rorschach's face, Caroline looked a little smug. "The Water Creation Skill is essentially a Summoning Spell. It causes minute spatial fluctuations that a Caster proficient in spatial, temporal, and Star Magic can feel nearby. But when I was proctoring your exam, I felt no such fluctuations."
'As expected of someone from the Tower of Stars, and the teacher of the "Space, Time, and Astrology" course, no less. She could even detect that.' Before Rorschach could open his mouth, Caroline asked, "You didn't cheat with a Magic Tool, did you?"
"They conduct checks in the examination hall, Teacher! Besides, where would I get the money to afford Magic Tools!"
"I figured as much, which is why I didn't give you a hard time right then and there." As she said this, Caroline suddenly stood up, her eyes wide. A possibility dawned on her—"Was it that good-for-nothing friend of yours, Bart? Did he lend you a Magic Tool?"
"Teacher Caroline, please, stop guessing. I'll demonstrate it for you again."
Rorschach once again cast the True・Water Creation Skill he had constructed himself, condensing a small sphere of water that dropped into his teacup.
"You know that I'm very skilled with the Fireball Skill, but I'm not proficient with the Water Creation Skill, so I couldn't guarantee I would pass the exam. I therefore followed the principles of the Fireball Skill, but instead of condensing Magic Power to transform it into the Fire Element, I modified it to transform into the Water Element."
"That line of thinking has been tried before, but it consumes too much Magic Power. Its efficiency can't compare to the current Water Creation Skill."
"Yes, but its principles are close to the Fireball Skill, which I excel at. For me, that guarantees a successful casting."
Based on Rorschach's knowledge, although both involved transforming Magic Power into an element, a Fireball was actually just a mass of plasma formed from superheated air. In other words, Magic Power was being converted into energy in the Material World. Creating the Water Element, on the other hand, meant converting Magic Power into stable matter. The energy barrier for that was naturally much higher, and the efficiency far lower.
'It's easier and more efficient to convert Magic Power into energy than into matter. This was an axiom that any Caster could perceive, but the flawed hypothesis of the Flammable Element being the Fire Element had blinded the vast majority of them.'
Caroline wanted to facepalm. 'He couldn't master a Basic Level Spell, so he just invented a new one...' How had she never realized this student of hers had such an unorthodox talent and peculiar mind?
"You're like a Knight who enters a horse race riding a Wild Boar. You shouldn't be going to the Tower of Stars. You should go to the Tower of Secret Techniques and join a bunch of other... uniquely talented individuals like yourself."
'What kind of analogy is that...' Rorschach reminded her, "I've already made an agreement with Mr. Sibins. I won't get paid if I go to the Tower of Secret Techniques."