Chapter III: Inglis, Age 15—Orders to Defend the Hieral Menace (3)
On the outskirts of the capital, a flying battleship made by Highland hovered low in the sky. The hangars on its lower hull were open, with many Flygears and Flygear Ports inside. The knights who would be using them were preparing to deploy to Venefic’s frontier.
Inglis and her friends had also been recruited to help. Right now, they were aboard a Flygear Port piloted by Rafinha. Their objective was to bring not just the Flygear Port itself but also supplies like rations and its array of Flygears to the hangars of the flying battleship. While the first-year students had trained for a significant amount of time with Flygears at the academy, they had only a passing familiarity with Flygear Ports. Inglis thought this would be good on-the-job practice for Rafinha.
“Phew. This is pretty exhausting.” Rafinha wiped sweat from her brow.
Flygears could dock with a Flygear Port and connect to provide added thrust. However, the Flygear Port itself needed to be powered with mana just like an Artifact. While it was possible to pre-charge it with power, Rafinha was supplying it directly, which took a lot of energy out of the pilot. If the Flygear Port wasn’t powered from the pilot or recharged when its reserves depleted, it and its Flygears would malfunction.
Therefore, it was necessary to entrust each Flygear Port to a knight—preferably one with a middle-class or better Rune. A lower-class Rune did not provide enough power to move the Flygear Port. The strength of the knight’s Rune affected the Flygear Port’s charge capacity and speed, so a knight like Rafinha with her upper-class Rune was highly sought after.
Under the knights’ current organization, a Flygear Port, its complement of Flygears, and their pilots were treated as a single element. People like Rafinha, Leone, and Liselotte would typically become captains of such a unit the moment they became full knights upon graduating from the academy. Their training was preparation for such duties.
“Shall I take over for now? I’d like some practice as well,” Liselotte said.
“Yeah. Thanks, Liselotte.” Rafinha passed the controls to her before lining up next to Inglis, who was standing at the railing.
“Good work, Rani. Want something to drink?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Chris.” Rafinha gulped down water from the canteen Inglis passed her, then sighed in relief. “There’s still plenty to haul, and a long way to go.”
“I’ll fly when Liselotte needs a break,” Leone offered.
“Guess I’m in charge of the canteens for today.” Inglis jangled the clump of canteens for everyone, which was hanging from her neck.
“I kinda feel like you’re slacking off, since there aren’t going to be any fights today, Chris...”
“Isn’t it better if I leave the Flygear Port to you and the others?” Inglis replied.
“Just saying, Inglis, you usually put your all into something when it’s a fight,” Leone said.
“That’s okay. Chris acts that way because she likes fighting; it’s what she lives for.”
“Yeah. No room to argue with that,” Inglis said.
“Ha ha ha... I think I’d be more worried if that wasn’t your answer.” Leone laughed wryly.
“But really, the ship’s so big that it’s tough to get it loaded up swiftly. That’s why they mobilized us too,” Rafinha added.
“There isn’t much time until they deploy,” Inglis noted.
This ship, which was Ambassador Theodore’s personal vessel, was even bigger than the Highland one which had nearly crashed into the palace during the offering. Both its armor and armaments had been reinforced, making it quite imposing.
“Lord Theodore is doing so much for us... Even supplying such a grand ship...” Rafinha said.
“I wonder whether he’s crossing a dangerous line with Highland by doing this,” Inglis pondered.
Highland had not yet approved large flying ships besides Flygear Ports to be given to the surface, so Theodore had a cover story in mind: the positioning happened to coincide with the ambassador’s inspection of the kingdom’s knights. It was a flimsy excuse, but Theodore was willing to make a risky move in this circumstance.
“I’m bringing it in!” Liselotte, a nervous note in her voice, guided the Flygear Port into the flying battleship’s hangar. Inside the hangar, there was already a line of Flygear Ports accompanied by a large force of knights. The murmur of their conversations carried an uneasy tone, perhaps because they were new to the battleship as well.
“I’ll land it in an empty bay.” Liselotte cautiously brought the Flygear Port deeper into the hangar.
“Sorry! Can you land it here?!” Rafael’s voice called out from below. He’d taken direct command, Inglis assumed. Eris was also there, watching over the work from a short distance.
“Yeah. Rafael’s the dedicated type. He doesn’t like to leave things like this to others.” Rafinha sounded both pleased and satisfied.
“Understood!” Liselotte nervously responded and brought the Flygear Port close to the specified point.
A proper landing had to avoid collisions with the walls or any other Flygear Ports—a simple but daunting task. As Inglis stared at the designated landing point, she saw another Flygear Port suddenly cut across their path. It was very low, almost low enough to scrape the floor. As Inglis squinted, she realized that someone was carrying it on their own.
Various knights had taken notice as well. “Wow! Such incredible strength!”
“Amazing! She must be an academy student...”
“And in the squire program, to boot!”
They weren’t referring to Inglis either. She was waiting, holding canteens for Rafinha and the others.
Then she recognized who it was. “Yua...?”
Silva and the other third-years were guarding Ripple today; the first- and second-years were aiding in the knights’ mobilization. Inglis watched Yua carry an entire Flygear Port deeper within the hangar, presumably to free up space near the entrance. Now there was a commotion inside the hangar as more people were amazed by Yua’s strength.
Inglis barely stifled a chuckle. “Ha ha... Rani, I’m gonna get to work too!”
“Ah...! Chris!”
Inglis leaped down from the Flygear Port and approached the older squire. “Yua, allow me!”
“Okay...? Then help me bring this one all the way in back.” Yua heaved the Flygear Port over to Inglis.
“Huh?!”
Thump!
It wasn’t only the Flygear Port in Inglis’s arms—it still had many Flygears inside as well, making it tremendously heavy.
“Oof!” Inglis wobbled before recovering by releasing the enhanced gravity on herself. “Phew.” Without that added weight, she could carry it normally. So Yua has at least this much strength when nothing’s affecting her.
“You okay?”
“Yes. I’ll be fine!”
Inglis and Yua energetically packed the Flygear Port in line deep within the hangar as nearby knights gaped at their strength.
“That girl’s amazing too!”
“Another squire girl? Just what’s going on with the squire program?!”
Then came the loudest comment of all, voiced by a crowd: “And she’s so cute!” Well, Inglis didn’t pay it much mind.
“Mm. Should be all of ’em. Thanks, Boobies.”
Yua still didn’t remember her name. It was a bit embarrassing to be called “Boobies” every time, but Inglis wasn’t going to let it get her down—not until they’d had their fight.
“You’re welcome, Yua. By the way, feel like getting some more exercise in?”
“Nah. I hate working.”
“Well, I saw before when you karate-chopped straight through that falling magicite beast. It was amazing. Would you mind teaching me how?”
Yua didn’t refuse to answer, but her replies didn’t get to the point. After a pause, she said, “I just put my strength into it...”
“I’d be really happy if you could show me some practical examples.”
“That wouldn’t make me all that happy, though.”
“Hmm... Then, can we work out some kind of exchange? I’ll do something in return for your own satisfaction.”
Yua’s interest piqued. “Well, there’s something I’d like to learn from you.”
“Oh? What is it? Anything, just ask!”
“How did you get your chest that big?”
“Huh? Um... All I can say is it grew naturally.”
Yua shook her head at the response. “That doesn’t help at all. I want big boobs so I’ll be hot.” Yua tried to flounce her chest at Inglis, but there was very little there. She was lithe and slender; she probably had a chest even smaller than Rafinha’s.
But this was the first time Inglis had heard anything like that at the knights’ academy. Yua really was a bit off-kilter.
Inglis sighed. “Well, they’re heavy, they make my shoulders sore, and everyone stares at them. It’s not all fun and games.” Inglis suddenly became embarrassed as she realized she really sounded like a girl. What she’d said had no trace of the old Hero-King Inglis. Habit was a frightening thing. Just how much more accustomed to this life would she get?
“I don’t mind. I want cleavage to show off like yours, Boobies.”
“Th-That’s not my intention at all!” What a terrible thing to say.
I might enjoy it myself in front of a mirror, but that’s for me. Not anyone else.
“Anyway, if you teach me how to make my breasts bigger, I’ll fight you anytime.”
“W-Well... All right...” Inglis herself had gotten big before she even noticed, so she had no real ideas. She’d have to ask among her friends later if they had any ideas.
“That’s our deal.” Expressionless, Yua left quickly.
After watching her depart, Inglis returned to where Rafinha and the others were. Liselotte had already brought the Flygear Port down safely. They were standing in a circle, watching Inglis’s approach.
Rafael, in the center of the circle, called out to her. “Thanks, Chris. Opening up a space up front made it easier to land.”
“It was no trouble. It gave me a chance to talk to Yua too.”
“What did you talk about? Does she still not want to fight?” Rafinha asked.
“Well, she agreed to it, but I have to teach her something in exchange.”
“What?”
“How to make her breasts bigger.”
Rafinha giggled. “Well, well. She and I have got something in common.”
“That’s what she’s intent on...?” Leone said. “Mine hurt my shoulders, and everyone stares at them. It’s not all fun and games having large breasts.”
The way Leone voiced the same complaints as Inglis had made the reborn hero-king stop. If Inglis thought the same as Leone did, that meant that her own sensibilities had become those of a normal girl. Inglis didn’t really mind, but it was a little bit embarrassing.
What she really couldn’t agree with, though, was Yua’s line about “wanting big boobs so she’d be hot.” What’s so good about making guys interested, anyway? Inglis thought.
That part of herself was still completely unchanged. Even if she did appreciate to a degree how her body filled out a dress or how she looked to herself in the mirror, she wasn’t interested in what men thought of her appearance.
Rafinha pouted. “I really envy you. Girls who got big without any effort don’t understand the feeling of those not so blessed.”
“Rani, you’ve probably tried a lot of things, right?”
“Yeah, I’m trying hard, but nothing is working!”
“Can you tell me all the methods you’ve tried later? They obviously didn’t work, so I’ll avoid recommending them to Yua.”
“Boo...! Why don’t you just shut up!”
Liselotte tried to butt in. “Now, now. Let’s not embarrass ourselves in front of Lord Rafael and Lady Eris.”
“Liselotte, you’re just saying that because yours are bigger!” Rafinha protested.
“Not big enough to make her shoulders stiff either. She got the best of both worlds, in a way,” Leone said.
Liselotte let out a sigh. She had intervened to cool things down, but now she was caught between the jealous stares of Rafinha and Leone.
“And you don’t have to worry about Rin squirming around your chest either,” Inglis noted.
“That’s right. Liselotte needs to experience that for once,” Leone added.
“All right, Rin! You’re allowed to go inside Liselotte’s clothes!” Rafinha tossed Rin at Liselotte.
“Eeek! Ah, no, that tickles! Eeep!” Liselotte shrieked as Rin squirmed around.
Once she was satisfied, Rin returned to Inglis’s cleavage. With a sigh, Inglis said, “But she always comes back.” She poked Rin and felt more wild squirming at her chest, almost as if in revenge. “Sheesh, Rin...!”
“It really is great to see big ones swaying, isn’t it? I understand how Yua feels.” Rafinha nodded in comprehension.
With a touch of disappointment, Eris sighed. “Rafael, should a commander stand for this sort of a lack of discipline?”
“Ah, right. Sorry, Lady Eris...” Rafael said.
“You can’t blame him, Eris. Whenever Rafael’s around Chris, he only has eyes for her.”
“C’mon, Rani...!” Rafael complained.
Rafinha gloated, “Aha ha, Rafael’s maaad. ♪”
Eris sighed again. “It’s noisy over here too...”
Inglis turned to her. “By the way, Eris. Do you have any ideas?”
“About what?”
“How to make your breasts bigger.”
“You’re the first person I’ve ever heard ask a hieral menace such a vulgar question.”
“This is a matter of life and death for me!” She had to do this; it was all for the sake of her duel with Yua. Eris would be leaving soon to the border with Venefic, so this was Inglis’s only chance to ask.
“I don’t know, and I don’t really care. When we become hieral menaces, we don’t age or grow further.”
“How about before you became a hieral menace?”
“That was so long ago I don’t remember. And I didn’t have the kind of peaceful life where I could just sit around and think about unimportant matters.”
“Meaning there was some kind of fearsome foe?! Was it a magicite beast? Has anyone taken it down yet? If it’s still alive, can you set me up to fight it?”
Eris stared long and hard at Inglis. “You really do think of nothing else, do you?” Eris let out a deep, deep sigh and shook her head. “Anyway, how’s Ripple doing?”
“No real changes. The phenomenon where she summons magicite beasts persists, but we’ve prevented any further harm. Sir Theodore will be going with you this time, so I presume the status quo will be maintained until he returns.”
Eris hesitated a bit. “I see. Take good care of Ripple.”
“Yes. Leave it to us.”
From the side, Rafinha peeked her face in. “We’ll be working hard, so don’t lose to Venefic either, Eris! It’s not nice to attack someone’s country when we’re busy protecting ourselves from magicite beasts! So knock them back!”
“Well, honestly, I think Sir Theodore is with them for an entirely different purpose,” Inglis said.
“Huh? What do you mean, Chris?”
“With a Highland ambassador present, no one will be making any rash moves. Because Venefic’s Highland ambassador is from a different faction, if the situation isn’t handled carefully, it could trigger conflict between forces in Highland as well, right? If Sir Theodore is there, Venefic will have to keep that in mind in case we’re willing to go that far.”
Theodore, who had appeared from nowhere, chuckled. “That’s correct, Inglis. You have a very good grasp of the situation.”
“Ah, Sir Theodore!” Rafinha’s eyes gleamed.
“I’m terribly sorry to leave Lady Ripple in such a state, but as Inglis observed, I simply must be present. Until I return, please take good care of Lady Ripple and Cyrene. You have my gratitude.”
“I pray that no armed conflict occurs and that the situation is resolved peacefully.” As Inglis spoke, astonished looks appeared on Rafinha and Leone’s faces.
“Huh? What’s wrong, Rani?” asked Inglis.
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Did you eat something bad?”
“I’m fine. It’d be a waste for a fight to happen where I can’t join in. That’s all.”
If Inglis were on the field, she’d be hoping for things to come to blows. However, it’d be unfortunate for the forces of both countries to whittle each other down while she wasn’t present; it would mean fewer foes for her.
Rafinha laughed. “Ha ha ha... So that’s what you meant.”
“Now it all makes sense. Inglis is still the Inglis we know,” Leone said.
Theodore smiled wryly as he cleared his throat. “Anyway, I leave the matter in your hands. Oh, and Rafinha.”
“Yes?”
“I’d like to speak with you. Come this way, please.” He beckoned her toward the lower decks.
“On my way.” Rafinha, completely unguarded, smiled innocently.
Conversely, Inglis’s sense of danger was exceptional. “I’ll come as well. I’m Rani’s squire, so I should be at her side.”
Any kinds of vermin lurking in wait for Rafinha had to be exterminated. When potential threats were around, her guard had to be thorough.
“Yes, of course. Leone, Liselotte, you’re welcome as well.” Theodore proceeded as if he didn’t even notice.
Is he adept at hiding his true self, or is he really not that interested in Rafinha? He did seem to be struck by Rafinha’s honesty and sense of justice, just like his sister Cyrene had been. Either way, I must be prepared for anything. Rafinha has absolutely no need for a lover just yet. I don’t want to see that happen.
“Then we’ll keep working. Rani, Chris, everyone—handle things while we’re gone,” Rafael requested.
“Take care of Ripple for me, please?” Eris added.
Everyone nodded and bid their farewell to Rafael and Eris. Inglis, Rafinha, Leone, and Liselotte followed Ambassador Theodore into the ship’s lower decks. The room he led them to was filled with unfamiliar research equipment. However, while crowded, it was neatly organized. Inglis thought this room perfectly reflected his personality.
Theodore pulled an Artifact from the many contents around them and handed it to Rafinha. “I thought I’d at least give you something helpful, so I prepared this. Please, take it.”
It was an Artifact in the form of a bow. Its appearance, white with winglike decorations, was very similar to Rafinha’s favorite bow, Shiny Flow.
“This is the same as my Shiny Flow...?”
“Yes, the base is the same. Furthermore, it’s an upgrade; it has a second Gift.”
“Wow! Thank you! The second Gift—is it the same as Leone’s?”
“No, this one is different. This Artifact can also heal wounds.”
“Wow! Incredible! I’ve never heard of an Artifact like that!”
Rafinha was right. This was the first Inglis had heard of such an effect. Even during the age of Hero-King Inglis, healing magic had been exceptionally rare.
“Yes. They’re quite rare and not something that can be made in any great number... I want you to have it. I feel this Gift suits your pure heart.”
“Ha ha ha... You are too kind...”
“There’s no need to be so modest. There are few people like you, particularly among Highlanders, so I can see your shining heart clearly. I’m absolutely sure Cyrene felt the same way.”
Rafinha tried to figure out how to respond to that. “Maybe? What do you think, Rin?”
Rin lay down on top of her head, feigning ignorance.
“If anyone happens to be wounded while defending Ripple, use that Artifact to heal them,” Theodore said, getting back to serious issues.
“Understood! Thanks for giving us so much.” Rafinha gave a polite, precise bow.
“Yes. Use it well. Of course, I hope a situation won’t arise in which you need to use it, but I think it’s necessary to be prepared. I didn’t have time to tell Miriela, so please inform her for me.”
“Yes! I’ll get right to practicing so I can use it well when I get back!”
Rafinha was determined—but as soon as she returned to the academy, she’d have to use the power of her new Gift for real.
◆◇◆
After they’d finished assisting the knights and had seen them off, Inglis and the others returned to the knights’ academy. It was already evening, and they were rather hungry.
“I’m starving! Let’s hurry to the cafeteria and have dinner!” Rafinha rubbed her stomach.
“Yeah. Rani, there’s supposed to be a new menu starting today.”
“Ah! You’re right! I’m looking forward to it. ♪”
“Hmm? What’s on it? I’m hoping for a new salad or a vegetable soup,” Leone said. That was so like Leone, who was choosy about her food thanks to her slow metabolism.
“I’d rather enjoy more options for dessert. The lack of variety is so stifling.” Liselotte’s request was fitting too.
“Nope, neither of those!” Inglis and Rafinha shook their heads in unison.
“You know? What is it?” Leone asked.
“The super-sized bone-in meaty cheese melt, the super-sized supreme Alfredo pasta, the super-sized supreme blazin’ hot pasta, and—”
“Now hold it right there! Those all have ‘super-sized’ in their names! Why’s that?!” Leone protested.
Inglis and Rafinha answered in unison. “It’s what got requested!”
The cafeteria had solicited ideas for an updated menu, but didn’t get much of a response, either because people weren’t interested or were satisfied with the current selection. But Inglis and Rafinha had proactively offered their suggestions. In these cases, the loudest voices prevailed. Those who didn’t speak up were to blame.
“What does the ‘supreme’ part entail?” Liselotte asked.
“They’ve got beef, pork, chicken, fish, everything!” Inglis and Rafinha replied together.
“Ugh... Just thinking about it gives me heartburn...” Liselotte grimaced.
“Do they even taste any good?” asked Leone.
“Yeah. They may not be the prettiest dishes, but that doesn’t matter when it’s in your stomach,” Inglis answered.
“Yeah. We’re going to eat it all anyway, so we may as well have it on one plate,” Rafinha added.
That would be less work for the lunch ladies too.
“Alfredo and blazin’ hot are new flavors too,” Inglis added.
“With new flavors, it’s so hard to pick a protein, so throw ’em all on there! That’s our strategy,” Rafinha said.
“I’m really looking forward to it, Rani.”
“Me too, Chris.” Inglis’s and Rafinha’s eyes gleamed as they nodded to each other.
“Ha ha ha...” Leone and Liselotte, watching them, could only laugh dryly.
Then—
Smassshhh!
A roaring sound echoed from the direction of the courtyard. Smoke was rising from there.
Inglis turned at the sudden noise.
“Wh-What?!” Rafinha yelped in surprise.
“There’s smoke!” Leone exclaimed.
“It’s coming from the courtyard!” Liselotte said.
Immediately, the conversation started buzzing. The girls couldn’t see the courtyard from where they were near the front gate, but they could sense the confusion.
“Let’s go take a look!”
At Rafinha’s order, they all headed to the courtyard. A portion of the school building’s walls were crumbling; they were even about to burst into flames. In front of the crumbling walls, they could see the scattered, crumpled remains of a defeated magicite beast. It was of the larger, more powerful type that had recently begun to show itself. The fight itself seemed to be over already.
“Let’s put out the fire!”
“Don’t worry, we’ll have it out soon!”
The third-years who were there had already begun addressing the fire emergency. No one had a reason to worry about that problem now. Instead, their concern was focused on a particular person.
“More importantly, is Silva okay?!”
“Silva! Are you all right?!”
“Hold on!”
Surrounded by a ring of third-years, Silva lay flat on the ground. His body was covered in wounds, as if he had taken many hits. He was barely holding on to consciousness. He couldn’t stand on his own, and needed to be helped up by other students.
“Silva...?!” Inglis gasped.
“Th-Those wounds are terrible!” Rafinha said.
The magicite beast must have been quite strong to badly wound Silva, possessor of a special-class Rune. Or perhaps he had simply been overwhelmed by many of them at once? In either case, an unusual situation must have occurred.
“This isn’t enough...to take me down... More importantly, take Lady Ripple somewhere else before she awakens. I can’t let her see me like this. It would give her cause for worry.”
“Got it!” The students, ordered by Silva, prepared to move Ripple.
Just then, Principal Miriela arrived, having heard the commotion. “What’s going on?! Silva, are you all right?! What in the world happened to you?”
“Principal... I have no excuse to offer. This was my fault. I’m sorry.”
The other third-years, however, had different opinions. “No! It wasn’t Silva’s fault at all!”
“That’s right! It’s because this guy screwed up!” a third-year said, grabbing another student. Inglis recognized him.
“Lahti?” He was a first-year in the squire program, just like her. As usual, he was with Pullum from the knight program.
“Sorry, you guys are right—it’s my fault this happened.” Lahti’s face paled as he slumped toward the ground.
With tears in her eyes, Pullum bowed her head over and over. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Lahti tried to protect me! So it’s my fault! Really, I’m really sorry!”
“Lahti, Pullum, did something happen?” Inglis asked.
“Ah, Inglis... H-He covered me when a magicite beast was about to get me... That’s how he got so hurt...” Pullum pointed toward Silva.
One of Silva’s classmates yelled, “That’s right! It’s your fault! It’s your fault this happened to him!”
“St-Stop it, guys...!” Silva stopped the third-years as they began to grow more heated.
“But Silva—”
“To begin with, it was our mistake to catch those two in the slip to the other dimension. Beyond that, it’s only natural for someone like myself, with power, to protect the weak Runeless.” Then Silva turned to Lahti. “You there, are you hurt?”
“Huh, me? Nope.”
“I see... Good...”
Silva passed out shortly afterward.
Principal Miriela gave orders in a flustered hurry. “Silva, you mustn’t! You’re heavily wounded! If you’re not careful, your life could be in danger! Get him to the nurse’s office!”
The time for Rafinha to test her new Artifact had come quite suddenly. This was an opportune moment to practice.
“Wait! I’ll do something! There’s something I want to try!” Rafinha had already stepped forward.
“Rafinha? What is it?” Principal Miriela asked.
“I just received a new Artifact from Sir Theodore! It looks the same, but this one has a second Gift. And that Gift is the power to heal wounds...!”
“What?! That Theodore... How’d he have that much spare time...? But thank you, Rafinha. That’ll be of vital assistance!” Principal Miriela’s face lit up.
“I haven’t ever done this before...but I’m going to try anyway! I’d like to give it a shot!”
Rafinha took the initiative in situations like this before Inglis could even say anything. She followed the goodness in her heart without fearing or flinching at the consequences. As Inglis looked at Rafinha with the gaze a grandparent had for a grandchild, she was pleased. Seeing Rafinha be so serious inspired her to follow suit.
“Yes, of course! Go right ahead! I’ll help too!” Principal Miriela encouraged. “Don’t worry, Rafinha! I’ve used an Artifact like your new one, so I know you can do it!”
“Hurry, Rafinha!” Inglis urged.
“I’m going for it! Watch this, Chris!”
“Yeah. It’ll be fine. You can do this, Rani.” Inglis nodded, and with that, Rafinha began to focus and take in deep, steady breaths.
“Mm... It’s different from normal!”
“That’s because the power is flowing to a different Gift. Keep going,” Principal Miriela said.
“O-Okay!”
Generally, using the various Gifts of an Artifact required familiarity, which was certainly true in Rafinha’s and Leone’s cases. At first, one couldn’t help but be a bit confused by a new one, but once that had been overcome—even if the help of a Rune was necessary—the wielder could manage the wavelengths of two types of mana.
And if one could control mana... Well, that control was linked to the ability to use magic on one’s own. It would likely increase Rafinha’s and Leone’s power. But on the other hand, Highland would be unhappy to see people of the surface using magic on their own. If that technique spread from people inspired by Rafinha and Leone, the balance of power between Highland and the surface would collapse.
In order to protect themselves from magicite beasts, the people of the surface had no choice but to accept Artifacts from Highland. If surface-dwellers could use magic, that had the potential to disrupt Highland’s dealings. Presumably, Ambassador Theodore and Principal Miriela had to have some sense that Rafinha and Leone had been handed the key to realizing the true nature of mana. However, even if they did know, they weren’t saying anything about it.
As with the flying battleship, Inglis thought that Ambassador Theodore was intending to close the gap between the surface and Highland. And what results would that bring? She didn’t know, but right now it seemed to be linked to saving Silva.
As if guided by Principal Miriela’s advice, a gentle light washed over Rafinha. “Is this light what heals people...?” she asked.
“Not yet. Focus on the tips of your hands...” Miriela prompted.
“All right...!” The light coating Rafinha coalesced around her left hand. The smaller it shrunk, the brighter it shone.
So this was the power of a healing Gift. The flow of the mana which made up its light was complex, unable to be easily replicated.
“That’s it, Rafinha! Now shine that light on Silva!” Miriela announced.
“Of course!” Following the principal’s instructions, Rafinha kneeled beside Silva and extended the light in her left hand. The wounds covering Silva’s body began to recover.
Principal Miriela gasped. “Wow! Silva’s injuries...”
“They’re healing!” Inglis said.
“All right! It’s working!” Beads of sweat broke out on Rafinha’s brow.
New Gift or no, healing seemed to be quite a strain. “Ugh... Ngh!”
“Rani, are you okay?”
“I... I’m fine...!” Sweat ran down Rafinha’s face and fell to the ground. Silva’s wounds were healing, slowly, but at this rate Rafinha’s limit would be reached first.
Then, here— “Rani. Let me help.” Inglis’s hand softly covered Rafinha’s as she grasped the new Shiny Flow Artifact.
It may have been difficult to duplicate the Gift itself by manipulating mana, but Inglis could still bring her own mana onto the same wavelength as Rafinha’s and feed it into the Artifact. And then the Artifact would transform it into the phenomenon called a Gift. Inglis tried to recreate the flow before it was transformed.
“Chris?! Yeah, this helps a lot!”
The glow around Rafinha’s left hand increased—proof that the healing power had been strengthened. The speed at which Silva’s wounds were recovering increased dramatically.
As they watched, the wounds disappeared.
Principal Miriela congratulated Rafinha. “Yes, he’s fine now! Thanks, both of you! Now, let’s get him to the nurse’s office—his wounds are already healed, so he should wake soon.”
“Of course!”
The third-year students turned to Inglis and Rafinha before carrying Silva off. He was a popular guy.
“Thank you both!”
“Thank you for helping Silva!”
“No, it was a given,” Rafinha replied with a brisk smile.
“I echo her sentiments.” Inglis grinned.
Then, after seeing off the third-years, Rafinha smiled at Inglis. “Thanks, Chris! That helped!” It was a much cuter smile than she’d given to the third-years, so Inglis was satisfied.
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