With the backing of House Tierra, Adriana and Shuuki’s research advanced by leaps and bounds.
"We did it, Shuuki!"
"Yeah. Prototype Number One."
After six months of continuous research at Adriana’s family home, the first unit of their new magi-doll was finally complete.
"Master, I am at your service."
It was a magi-doll that could speak and move of its own volition.
"Hmm. This is already something entirely different from a standard magi-doll," Adriana’s father, Uuvait, remarked with a voice full of admiration as he examined the creation.
"Shuuki, why not give it a new name?"
"He's right, Shuuki! This is a brand-new 'work' that we've created together!"
"I see... You're right."
Shuuki searched through his memories for a moment before whispering, "Auto...mata."
"Automata?"
"What does that mean?"
"It refers to the clockwork 'automatic dolls' that existed in the world I came from."
"Hmm. Automata, is it?"
"I like it, Shuuki! Let’s go with that!"
Thus, the newly developed magi-dolls were dubbed "automata."
As a minor side note, Shuuki was no linguist and didn't realize that "automata" was actually a plural noun, with "automaton" being the singular form.
＊ ＊ ＊
With that success as a starting point, Adriana and Shuuki went on to create a wide variety of magic tools and Magi Machines.
The Loudspeaker was developed by applying wind-attribute magic, based on the principle that sound is essentially the vibration of air.
The Magic Eye and Magi-screen were created through the application of light-attribute magic. Naturally, Shuuki modeled them after television cameras and TV sets.
Furthermore, as they worked to systematize the laws of magic, the two began inventing entirely new spells.
One of these was Fire Bullet. Shuuki was the one who named it, coming up with the idea of compressing fire magic into a tiny point and firing it at high speeds like a projectile.
"This is incredible! Your ideas are truly peerless, Shuuki."
"If anyone's peerless, it's you, Ado. You're the one who can actually turn these ideas into reality."
As time marched on, the bond between Shuuki and Adriana grew increasingly intimate.
One of the first things that had bothered Shuuki in this world was the way they kept time.
Shuuki had been wearing a wristwatch he received as a gift for passing his university entrance exams, but it had been broken by the shock of his accident and remained unrepairable. He had kept it on his wrist as his final link to his original world, but he eventually reached his limit with the current vague system of timekeeping.
"...Indicating the time?"
"Yeah. Right now, things are only divided by sunrise, high noon, and sunset, aren't they?"
"Well, yes. But you can tell roughly what time it is by the position of the shadows, can't you?"
Even Adriana shared this general indifference.
"That’s fine for some things, but I want to define it more precisely."
While basic sundials did exist—essentially just sticks driven into the ground—Shuuki wanted something better.
"The sun travels across the sky at a constant speed, after all."
Shuuki had made simple sundials back in elementary school, so he understood the fundamental principles. For a proper reference, he constructed what is known as an equatorial sundial.
By aligning the dial not horizontally, but toward the North Pole—perpendicular to the Earth’s axis—the sun appears to revolve around it at a constant speed. By dividing that dial into twenty-four equal segments, he created a sundial that could easily tell the time.
To create more convenient horizontal versions for general use, he used the formal equatorial sundial as a baseline to mark the hours (as the angles on a horizontal dial are not equal). Many of these simplified sundials were produced and distributed to various towns and villages, starting with Naminte.
"What’s this? A sundial?"
"So we can tell the exact time? What’s the point of that?"
Though few understood the value at first, the devices slowly blended into daily life as time passed.
"Having a set time to meet people or start work is actually quite convenient."
The idea of how beneficial it was to have shared standards gradually took root.
Next, he established a system of weights and measures.
"I’m fairly certain this book is B5 size, which makes it 257 millimeters by 182 millimeters."
He determined standard lengths based on a book he had brought with him.
"A 'meter,' you call it? Is that another unit from your world?"
Until then, every town and community had used their own arbitrary units. After defining the meter, centimeter, and millimeter, Shuuki moved on to volume, establishing the liter. He then defined weight by the fact that one liter of water equals one kilogram.
Shuuki knew it would take many years for these standards to truly permeate society, but he believed their benefits would eventually become clear.
"...I probably won’t be around by the time that happens, though."
He felt that was fine. If it would benefit this world where Adriana was born and raised, it was enough for him.
He also brought a breath of fresh air to their culinary life.
"It’s finally done!"
The "dashi" broth he had missed for so long was finally a reality. Having been born to a katsuobushi wholesaler and raised in that environment until he finished elementary school, Shuuki remembered almost the entire process of making it.
It took ten years to complete, as he had to start by finding a fish similar to bonito and then experiment with selecting the right molds. Of course, he worked on this alongside his other projects; it wasn't his only focus.
He also managed to recreate tea. He tracked down plants belonging to the Camellia family and used trial and error, picking the young buds to see if they could be processed into tea. Eventually, he produced something he found reasonably satisfying.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Congratulations, Addy."
"Congratulations, Adriana."
"Shuuki, I’m trusting you with my daughter."
When Adriana turned twenty, the two were married. By then, their relationship had long been common knowledge.
The couple made their new home at the laboratory at the foot of Mount Funisis. The road leading there had been improved, making travel much easier. They lived in harmony, continuing their work as creators.
It was during this time that Shuuki recreated the bicycle. Even though his original was broken, having the physical object as a reference made the task possible. This made travel between the laboratory and the nearest village, Battalf, even more convenient. Furthermore, he applied the bicycle's structural principles to horse-drawn carriages, leading to significant improvements in logistics.
Their number of disciples grew as well. By this time, the names of Adriana, the greatest magi of the age, and her husband Shuuki, known as the "Magus," were famous throughout the land of New El.
Their lives were fulfilling, yet they faced one lingering sadness: they were never blessed with children.
"...I'm sorry, Ado. It's likely my fault."
Because Shuuki's body had been largely reconstructed with magi—aside from his brain and some of his internal organs—he had become biologically incapable of reproduction.
"No, Shuuki. I'm happy just being with you. Besides, we have so many disciples. In a way, aren't they our children?"
Adriana would say this with a bright, comforting smile.
But eventually, a different tragedy befell the couple.
"Shuuki, I'm sorry... I don't think... I can walk beside you anymore..."
More than sixty years had passed since they first met. Adriana had grown old.
Shuuki, however, remained almost exactly as he had been in his youth.
"Your body is sustained by magi, so it doesn't change, does it?...I'm a little bit jealous."
"Ado..."
"Hehe, don't make that face. I was happy to have met you....My only regret is that I couldn't find a way to send you back to your home."
"It doesn't matter anymore, Ado. I made up my mind long ago to lay my bones to rest here, in the world where you were born."
"...I knew you’d say that. But still, I’m sorry..."
Adriana’s eyes drifted shut.
"I love you, Shuu... ki..."
"......Adriana!"
And with those words, her eyes never opened again.
At that time, there was no magic capable of transcribing a person's personality or memories. From that day on, Shuuki would dedicate his research to completing such a spell.