Even the prospect of creating a magi-doll brought up a myriad of challenges.
"I really think we should reconsider our approach," Shuuki suggested to Adriana.
"Adriana, you mentioned that you're aiming to systematize known magic as well, right? That’s what I’m talking about."
"Yeah, I did say that, but..."
Shuuki continued to weave his thoughts into words. "Let's group together the magic used for making things. We can include all the necessary peripheral knowledge too."
"Magic for making things..." Adriana murmured, repeating his words like a parrot.
"Right. For example, how about categorizing it as 'Craft Magic' or 'Magi-craft'?"
The proposal was accepted immediately.
"I like it! 'Magi-craft'... Yes, it’s a whole new field!" Adriana’s face lit up with joy. As he expected, the idea of being a pioneer in a new discipline delighted her. "In Magi-craft, we'll use Craft Magic to make various things. And we'll compile information about materials too."
"That's exactly it."
"Oh, it's wonderful! Magic tools that people who can't use magic or aren't good at it can use. Magic tools that enrich our lives. Magic tools that assist humans... and, of course, 'magi-dolls'!"
Her tone was buoyant; she looked so happy she seemed ready to burst into dance. Shuuki watched her, thinking she was beautiful, and found himself mesmerized.
* * *
From that day on, Shuuki and Adriana devoted nearly every day to the establishment of Magi-craft.
They designated beginner-level fire-attribute magic, Heat; beginner-level light-attribute magic, Light; and beginner-level wind-attribute magic, Blower, as fundamental types of Craft Magic. In addition, they developed Dry and Cooling by applying water-attribute and fire-attribute magic, respectively.
Adriana further developed Guard, which could block out dirt, dust, and sparks, as well as Decomposition.
However, Shuuki believed their greatest achievement was undoubtedly the development of Hardening and Toughening. These were spells that could significantly increase the strength of an object by enveloping it in mana. By using these, they could give bronze several times the durability of steel.
"This is amazing, Ado. You're incredible!"
"Ehehehe, praise me more!"
"Ado" was Shuuki’s nickname for Adriana. Over the months they had spent living together, their relationship had clearly progressed.
"Now we can finally make a magi-doll, right?"
However, Shuuki shook his head at her question.
"Not yet, I think. We have to set the formatting for the control core—the brain."
"Oh, right, we still have that... But it's fine. I’ll be the one to solve it!"
"Yeah, you can do it, Ado. I'll help too."
"Yes! If you're with me, Shuuki, I feel like I can do anything!"
Shuuki himself could not use magic, but thanks to his diligent studies over the last few months, he had managed to learn the Magi Language. The Magi Language was, in essence, a programming language. One simply had to think of it as describing the procedures for activating magic using specialized characters and words.
One example of this was the magic circle. Most magic circles were circular to obtain a large effect with a small amount of mana; the shape increased efficiency by allowing the mana to circulate. Shuuki had noticed this and made a suggestion to Adriana.
"Ado, don't you think this could be applied to general magi-formulas?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, by looping the activation sequence..."
It was similar to the concept of an electromagnetic coil. The more turns a coil has, the stronger the electromagnet becomes—though it cannot be strengthened infinitely due to the resistance of the wire.
"Oh, I see! Shuuki, you're brilliant!"
As days like this continued, the season eventually turned to spring. At Adriana's invitation, Shuuki stepped outside the laboratory for the first time in months.
"Wow, it's beautiful."
The laboratory was located on the northern foothills of a high mountain called Mount Funisis. In winter, seasonal winds blew against the mountain from the north, bringing enormous amounts of snow. The accumulation could reach ten meters, and because massive avalanches were almost guaranteed in early spring, the laboratory had been built underground.
The snow vanished surprisingly quickly; once April arrived, the snow on the foothills was almost gone. This was because the seasonal winds shifted from north to south in March; as the wind blew over Mount Funisis, it often caused a Foehn phenomenon, melting the snow at the base of the mountain.
"I haven't seen snowy landscapes very often."
Since Shuuki had been born and raised in Kochi and moved to Tokyo after middle school, he hadn't seen much snow.
"Hmm, I see. You know, snow is very cold. And then it turns into water when it melts."
"Ado, even I know that much..."
"Hehe, I suppose you do."
The two strolled around the area, chatting as they went. Shuuki was looking for wild edible plants. Back in his hometown, he used to search for butterbur buds, bracken, and horsetails. However, contrary to his hopes, no such plants were to be found.
"It really is another world... There's no guarantee the same plants will exist."
Having eaten only preserved food inside the laboratory for four months, Shuuki was worried about vitamin deficiencies. He had mentioned this to Adriana, so she was busy collecting wild herbs of her own.
"Look, Shuuki, I gathered this much." Adriana showed him a basket full of wild herbs. "It's called 'cress.' It grows all along the water's edge."
"...Is it watercress?"
It was also known as cresson. Even in Kochi, where Shuuki grew up, it was often seen in the irrigation channels of rice fields. Because it was highly prolific and sometimes blocked the channels, children were often told by their parents to help clear it out. It was also occasionally eaten as an ohitashi with mustard soy sauce. It was more nutritious than one might think, containing various vitamins and minerals.
"That'll work."
Since the goal was to supplement his vitamins, Shuuki joined her in walking around to look for more cress.
"Whoa, that's cold!"
Occasionally getting his shoes wet in the small streams formed by melting snow, the two spent their time gathering the plants.
"Ah, I'm exhausted."
"Me too..."
Since they had been cooped up in the lab all winter, their legs had grown weak.
"Shall we heat up the bath today?"
"Agreed."
Originally, the laboratory only had a primitive shower, but at Shuuki's earnest request, a bath had been built two months ago. The water came from a well and the drainage was handled by a subsoil infiltration system, so they couldn't bathe every day, but they managed it once a week.
As an aside, the beginner-level fire-attribute magic Heat—which Adriana had officially added to the field of Craft Magic—was exactly what they used to warm the water.
Having breathed the fresh air, soothed his tired body in the bath, and eaten greens for dinner for the first time in ages, Shuuki lay on his bed feeling relatively content.
He stared at the ceiling and thought to himself.
"Katsuobushi, miso, soy sauce! I'll definitely find a way to make them. Oh, and mochi too!"
He had rice, but he had yet to find any Japonica rice. As expected, Shuuki was still starving for the flavors of Japan.