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Riveria began to take out the ancient books from the large bag her supporter had brought, one by one, carefully stacking them on the table. Aina watched with great curiosity, but then her expression changed as if a new realization had struck her.
"Wait... don't tell me the 'secret recipe' you used in cooking earlier... was that Magecraft?" she asked, her eyes slightly wide.
Riveria turned to Aina and raised an eyebrow before nodding casually. "Yes, exactly. It's a Magecraft technique called Reinforcement."
Aina folded her arms and gave Riveria a scrutinizing look. "So... you weren't just experimenting with cooking earlier, but you were actually testing how far this Magecraft could affect the ingredients?"
Riveria shrugged with a faint smile. "More or less. I wanted to know if my Reinforcement could enhance the flavor and quality of the food, and it worked."
Aina nodded, then without hesitation asked, "In that case, can you show me this Magecraft again? But not for cooking this time. I want to see another example."
Riveria looked at Aina for a moment, considering the request. "Hmm... alright," she said, leaning back on the sofa. "The technique I used earlier is more flexible than most magic. Its function is to strengthen or enhance a specific aspect of an object. It can be applied to various things, not just food."
Aina quickly caught on. "So, the ingredients tasted richer because you reinforced them with Reinforcement?" she said, recalling the experience of tasting the food they had cooked together. "That explains why you looked a bit awkward while cooking. You weren't just busy chopping and stirring but also trying to apply Magecraft at the same time, right?"
Riveria cleared her throat, feeling slightly teased. "Yes... more or less," she said with a half-annoyed tone.
Aina giggled softly, but her eyes still sparkled with curiosity. "Alright, now show me something more obvious."
Riveria let out a slow breath as she thought for a moment. She then recalled a sweet memory—the first time Shirou had demonstrated Reinforcement in front of her. She could still picture how calmly the young man had channeled prana into a glass and dropped it without it breaking.
Mimicking that memory, Riveria grabbed a glass she had just used to drink tea and held it up in front of Aina.
Aina, who was arranging books on the table, immediately put down the book in her hand and stared at the glass with curiosity. "What are you going to do?"
"Just watch," Riveria replied briefly.
She then closed her eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and began to activate her Magic Circuits. In her mind, she imagined a small seed growing into a giant tree, a metaphor she used to activate the flow of prana in her body. As the prana began to flow, she carefully directed it to the glass in her hand.
Slowly, a faint greenish light appeared on the surface of the glass, forming glowing lines that connected like intricate patterns only understandable to those who knew Magecraft.
Aina was silent, her eyes wide as she witnessed this phenomenon for the first time. "This... the glass is glowing?"
Riveria simply nodded slightly, and without warning, she released the glass from her grasp.
"Riveria, wait!—"
Aina reflexively closed her eyes, expecting the glass to shatter into pieces on the floor.
However, instead of the sound of breaking glass, all that was heard was a soft thud—like something falling onto a smooth surface.
Aina slowly opened her eyes and was surprised to see that the glass had not broken. Instead, it merely bounced lightly on the floor before finally coming to a stop on the wooden surface.
"W-What?!" Aina exclaimed, quickly bending down to pick up the glass. She examined it from all angles, but there wasn't a single crack.
Riveria crossed her arms with a satisfied expression. "Reinforcement doesn't just enhance the taste of food, but it can also make objects more durable," she explained. "This glass, for example. With Magecraft, I can make it strong enough to withstand impacts that would normally destroy it."
Aina was still in awe, then looked at her friend with admiration. "This is amazing... You just learned this from 'someone,' right?"
Riveria nodded, her eyes hinting at something hard to interpret. "Yes. I'm still far from perfect, but this is a good first step."
Aina placed the glass back on the table, her expression full of interest. "I had no idea there was a magic system like this. And what's even more surprising... you can use it."
Riveria smiled faintly. "I didn't expect it either at first. But the more I delve into it, the more I see its potential."
Aina leaned back on the sofa, her mind racing. "In that case, how about we continue this discussion by reading the ancient books you brought?" she said, looking at the stack of books on the table.
Riveria nodded in agreement. Tonight would be a long night, filled with new knowledge ready to be explored.
Aina let out a long sigh as she looked at the pile of ancient books covering the table in front of her. "Riveria, you really brought a lot of books... I don't even know where to start," she said, reaching out to carefully pick up one of the books.
She tried to read the title but immediately frowned. "Uh... 'A... Análysi... tis... Arkhaía... Magiká'?" She squinted and looked at Riveria. "I didn't misread that, did I?"
Riveria smiled faintly. "Almost correct. It means 'Analysis of Ancient Magic' in High Elf language."
Aina sighed in relief. "Alright, that sounds heavy. What about this one?" She picked up another book. "'Eluthier Nomena'...? What does that mean?"
Riveria glanced at the cover before answering, "It means 'Song of Spirits.' The book is about the relationship between elves and spirits and how spirit-based magic is used in rituals."
Aina nodded slowly, still trying to digest all this information. She then looked at Riveria with a serious expression. "So... which topic do you want to focus on first?"
Riveria placed the glass back on the table and pondered for a moment. She knew that her initial purpose for bringing these books wasn't just to study the history or theory of ancient elf magic. She wanted to find something deeper—perhaps even something that could bridge Magecraft and her ancestral magic.
"I want to delve deeper into the legacy of my ancestors' magic," she finally answered. "There might be something in the ancient elf magic heritage that can be adapted to the Magecraft I'm studying."
Aina looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Wait, is the Magecraft teaching from 'someone' not enough for you?"
Riveria shook her head slowly, then looked at the table with a slightly softer expression. In her mind, the image of a red-haired young man with determined eyes appeared. Shirou...
"It's not that simple," she said after a moment. "That person... he has a very specialized Magecraft. His natural element is the sword. It's something very unique, even in the world of Magecraft."
Aina narrowed her eyes, trying to understand Riveria's meaning. "So, you mean... he can only teach things related to swords?"
Riveria nodded. "More or less. Mastering Magecraft isn't like training in martial arts, which anyone can learn with enough practice. Magecraft is closely tied to who the user is, how they were born, and their natural element. I... seem to have a different element from him, so I have to find my own path."
Aina pondered for a moment before smiling faintly. "That means you're really serious about this, huh?"
Riveria looked at her friend with full confidence. "Of course. If I want to understand and develop my magical abilities further, I have to do this research myself."
Aina looked at the books on the table and then smiled slightly. "Alright, then let's get started. I might not understand everything, but at least I can help you read these books together."
Riveria smiled softly. "Thank you, Aina. That means a lot to me."
That night, they began to open the pages of the ancient books, diving into a sea of long-hidden knowledge.
The night grew late, but Riveria and Aina were still sitting in the living room, immersed in the pile of ancient books scattered on the table. The magic lights illuminating the room had begun to dim, their light flickering with the night breeze coming through the slightly open window.
Riveria sighed, her eyes squinting as she tried to understand the series of writings in one of the books open in front of her. "These letters... the more we read, the harder they are to understand." She rubbed her temples with her fingers, trying to fight off the drowsiness that was beginning to take over.
Aina, sitting next to her, snorted softly. "We won't be able to finish this if we keep guessing. I'll get something." She got up from her chair and walked to her room. Shortly after, she returned with a thick, dusty book in her hands.
Riveria looked at her in confusion. "What's that?"
Aina smiled slightly before placing the book on the table with a loud thud. "An ancient Elf hieroglyph dictionary. I bought it a few years ago out of curiosity, but I rarely used it. Seems like this is the right time."
Riveria looked at the dictionary with a glimmer of hope. "Maybe this will help."
They returned to the books, now occasionally flipping through the dictionary to try and translate the words they didn't understand. However, the more they tried, the more they realized that these books were more difficult than they had anticipated.
"This... isn't about magic at all," Riveria murmured after a few hours had passed. She put down her book wearily, staring at the page she had just read. "Elf history, ancestor lists, genealogy... all of this is interesting, but it doesn't help my research."
Aina, who also looked tired, nodded in agreement. "We've read a few books, and we're still getting nowhere." She closed one of the books she had just finished reading, then stretched her body. "You've been yawning for a while, Riveria. How about we just take a break?"
Riveria was indeed feeling tired, but part of her still wanted to keep reading. However, as she was about to protest, an overwhelming drowsiness hit her. She closed her eyes for a moment, sighed, and then nodded slowly. "Alright... maybe a break is the best option."
Aina smiled contentedly. "Good. You can sleep in my room tonight. We can continue tomorrow. Besides, I'm just a housewife, so I have plenty of free time to help you."
Riveria looked at her with slight surprise, then smiled softly. "Thank you, Aina. I really appreciate it."
They tidied up the scattered books, turned off the lights, and headed to Aina's room. The night grew later, and silence enveloped the house. Tomorrow, they would continue their search—hoping that, among the pile of ancient books, they would finally find something truly valuable.
Riveria followed Aina's steps to the bedroom, though there was a slight awkwardness creeping into her. This was Aina and her husband's private room, and even though they had been friends for a long time, there was still a sense of respect that couldn't be ignored. However, Aina didn't seem to mind.
As they entered, the room was illuminated by the soft light of a magic-stone lamp installed on the wall. The bluish-purple light emitted a comforting warmth, creating a cozy atmosphere in the room. Riveria looked around, noticing the shelves filled with books and some household trinkets that reflected Aina's peaceful life.
"Don't be so stiff, Riveria," Aina said casually with a smile. "It's been a long time since we slept together like this. Back in the palace, we often shared a bed when we studied all night, right?"
Riveria sighed and smiled faintly. "That was years ago," she said, but she finally gave in and nodded. "Alright, I'll try to relax."
They began to change clothes, with Aina pulling out an extra nightgown for Riveria. "Good thing our sizes aren't too different," Aina said as she handed over the clothes.
Riveria took it and began to remove her robe and cloak, revealing her smooth skin and well-trained body despite rarely engaging in direct physical combat. As she stood there in just her undergarments, a sudden thought crossed her mind. Her eyes sparkled as if she had found an interesting idea.
"Aha!" she exclaimed suddenly.
Aina, who was tidying her hair after removing her clothes, turned in confusion. "What is it, Riveria?"
However, what Riveria did next made Aina panic slightly. With a casual movement, she removed her bra, letting it fall to the floor.
"R-Riveria?! What are you doing?!" Aina quickly turned away, her face slightly red.
Riveria simply smiled calmly. "Don't misunderstand. I have an idea. I want you to help me copy something."
Aina was still confused, but she tried to calm herself. "Copy something...? What do you mean?"
Riveria sat down on the bed and turned to Aina. "I'm going to activate my Magic Circuits, and a symbol will appear on my back. I want you to copy it onto parchment."
Aina frowned. "A symbol? You mean, your Familia's crest? Your Status?"
Riveria shook her head, then explained. "No. This is something different. When I spoke with 'that person,' he told me that my Magic Circuits aren't like most magus's. Their shape is more like ancient runes rather than normal circuit paths."
Hearing that, Aina finally understood a little. She grabbed some parchment and a pen from the bedside table, then sat behind Riveria, who had turned her back to her. "Alright, I'm ready. But... this is a bit weird, isn't it?"
Riveria just smiled. "Don't worry. We're just doing research. Now, I'll begin."
In the silence of the room illuminated by the magic-stone lamp, Riveria closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly, she began to activate her Magic Circuits—and something extraordinary happened.
As Riveria activated her Magic Circuits, a soft light began to emanate from her back. Glowing lines slowly appeared, forming patterns that became clearer as the prana flowed through her body. The symbol etched into her skin resembled a large tree with intricate branching roots, like a living ancient rune calligraphy.
Riveria swept her green hair forward, gathering it at her chest to make her back clearly visible. The yellow ribbon that usually tied her ponytail had shifted slightly, letting her long hair fall freely to the side. She then turned to Aina, who was still transfixed by the symbol on her back.
"This... is incredible," Aina murmured with sparkling eyes, her hands trembling slightly in awe. "I've never seen anything like this before... But, Riveria, these runes are too intricate. I think it'll take quite a while to copy them accurately."
Casually, she then lay face down on the bed, letting her back be fully visible to Aina. Her large chest pressed against the bed, and she propped her head up by folding her arms under her chin. "We have all night if needed."
Aina swallowed. "You're really relaxed..." she muttered, but she still climbed onto the bed and sat next to Riveria. Wearing only her undergarments, she felt a bit strange doing this, but her curiosity outweighed her awkwardness. She picked up the parchment and pen, ready to start copying the glowing runes on her friend's back.
"Alright, I'll start now."
The atmosphere in the room was calm, filled only with the sound of the pen scratching on the parchment and their breathing. Aina concentrated fully, trying to capture the intricate details of the runes, while Riveria remained still, letting Aina work.
Despite the slight awkwardness, both of them remained focused on their goal. The night continued to pass, and the soft glow of the runes remained, bearing witness to the research they were conducting together.
As she continued to copy the glowing symbols on Riveria's back, Aina tried to lighten the atmosphere that was starting to feel too quiet. "So, how did you manage to activate these runes for the first time? Did you just think about something, and they lit up like that?" she asked curiously.
Riveria, still lying face down, enjoying the softness of Aina's bed, let out a slow breath before answering, "Actually... I couldn't activate my Magic Circuits on my own. Someone helped me open them for the first time."
Aina glanced at Riveria briefly while still focusing on copying the runes with her hand. "That person again? I'm getting more and more curious. How did he do it?"
Riveria paused for a moment, recalling her first experience of opening her Magic Circuits. She could still feel the terrifying sensation that pierced every nerve in her body at that time. "Before he knew I had Magic Circuits, he taught me another method... using my nervous system as my magic pathway."
Aina stopped her pen for a moment and turned to Riveria with a furrowed brow. "Using your nervous system? That sounds... weird. But how hard was it really?"
Riveria took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, as if trying to dispel the unpleasant memory. "It was very painful," she said briefly, her voice slightly trembling as she remembered how excruciating the experience was. "I couldn't endure it for more than a few seconds. It felt like my entire body was burning from the inside."
Aina resumed copying, though this time, she was a bit more careful not to press the pen too hard on the parchment. "Hmm... that sounds terrifying. So what about him? Did he use it too?"
Riveria didn't answer immediately. Her mind drifted to the image of that young man, remembering how his expression remained calm even as he explained the painful method as if it were nothing. "Compared to me, who could only endure it for a short time, he had been using it for years to train his Magecraft..." she said softly.
Aina could sense the admiration in her friend's voice. She didn't mention his name, but it was clear that Riveria deeply respected this person. Aina smiled slightly and continued copying the symbols more leisurely. "So, if it weren't for these ancient runes, you might still have to endure that pain?"
Riveria nodded slightly. "Fortunately, I have these ancient runes. They function like normal Magic Circuits, so I don't have to use my nerves as magic pathways anymore."
Aina squinted mischievously. "But... if he was the one who helped you activate your Magic Circuits, then..." She shifted her gaze to Riveria's bare back, then her smile widened. "Don't tell me he also saw you half-naked like this?"
Riveria's ears turned bright red in an instant. She bit her lip and tried to turn toward Aina, but her position made it impossible. "Aina…!" she exclaimed in a scolding tone.
Aina chuckled softly, then added in a teasing voice, "He's so lucky. If the elves found out that someone from another race had touched their princess's body, I'm sure they'd hunt him down out of jealousy!"
Before Riveria could respond, Aina playfully gave a gentle squeeze to the side of her friend's breast, which was resting against the bed.
"A-AINAAA—!" Riveria immediately protested in a muffled voice, her body tensing slightly from Aina's mischief.
Aina just giggled, satisfied with the reaction. "Relax, I'm just joking. You're too tense, Riveria."
Riveria let out a long sigh and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself. "Really… sometimes I forget that you can be even more mischievous than I thought."
"Of course," Aina replied with a triumphant smile. "A friend has to be able to entertain, right?"
Riveria could only shake her head in resignation. Aina was still Aina.