Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Hope, and Najas Kahn were gathered inside the Hurricane, which was moored in the courtyard of the Royal Palace.
As a side note unrelated to the main story, the stakes securing the Hurricane had been hastily crafted and driven into the ground.
"First, take this."
Jin retrieved sixty bottles of Persica juice from the refrigerator inside the Cabin. Each bottle held roughly one hundred milliliters.
"I imagine they have a refrigerator at your house as well, so you can just store them there."
In truth, the Persica juice from Hourai Island—often used as a recovery medicine—contained a high concentration of free ether and would never spoil. Even so, it was kept refrigerated largely because it simply tasted better chilled.
"Thank you very much."
Najas accepted them with a reverent bow.
"Now then, I will teach you 'Healing.'...Please understand beforehand that this is pushing things quite hard."
"Yes, of course."
"Mm. Relax, ease your body... 'Hypno.'"
First, Elsa placed Najas Kahn into a light hypnotic trance using a "Hypno" magi-device.
Next, she cast "Send Info," the spell once utilized by Rokure, a former servant of the Origin Clan.
It was magic designed to "transmit" "information." Elsa intended to use it to teach Najas the precise method of casting the spell.
However, if the recipient lacked the inherent aptitude, the transmitted information would go completely to waste.
What she was imparting this time was solely how to cast "Healing." By repeatedly transmitting it to Najas—rendered receptive through "Hypno"—Elsa would imprint the knowledge directly into her mind. It was a clandestine technique that bordered on taboo.
Even with this method, if Najas lacked talent, she would never be able to activate the spell no matter how well she memorized its use. It was no different from how merely reciting an incantation would never produce magic.
"Elsa, do your best."
If Najas could use "Trans Info," the process would have gone faster. However, a brief check suggested her aptitude in that area was virtually nonexistent, so Elsa had opted for this more reliable approach instead.
This way, the strain fell entirely on Elsa.
"Mm."
Watching Elsa imprint the knowledge again and again, Jin found himself pondering the fundamental difference between magi-craft and healing magic.
It had long been believed that a broad mana spectrum was proof of talent for both, with magi-craft requiring a higher amplitude as a necessary condition.
"Still..."
Jin believed there was a flaw in that theory.
If it were entirely correct, anyone capable of using magi-craft should naturally be able to become an expert in healing magic.
Yet Jin himself could barely manage mid-level healing magic and was utterly incapable of casting advanced-level spells.
"There must be another factor separating magi-craft users from healing magic-users besides magical frequency and amplitude."
Though he turned the thought over in his mind, no answer came to him.
While Jin was lost in contemplation, Elsa finished the procedure.
"...It is done. 'Wake up.'"
"...Ah...! I... where..."
At Elsa's command, Najas opened her eyes.
While the "Hypno" state technically lingered, Elsa had given no further instructions, leaving Najas appearing completely normal.
Incidentally, dispelling the state immediately would have required a "Stun" spell.
"...How is it? Do you feel like you can cast 'Healing'?"
"Yes... Ah, yes! I know how to use it!"
"Mm. Then try casting it once right here. It will probably drain all your mana in one go, so be sure to drink that Persica juice immediately afterward."
Najas nodded obediently.
"Yes....'Healing.'"
"'Trace System.'"
A faintly glowing magic circle surfaced, lingering for a few seconds before fading away.
Through the "Trace System" deployed simultaneously, Elsa confirmed that the magic circle had functioned perfectly. With this, Najas would be able to treat Viscount Kahn safely starting tomorrow.
"Mm, it's fine. 'Healing' activated properly."
Just as Elsa gave her seal of approval, right beside her—
"..."
Najas collapsed to the floor, overcome by magic depletion.
"Najas-san, drink this."
Elsa quickly handed her a bottle of Persica juice. Gulping it down, Najas gasped for breath.
"Phew... D-Did I... do it right?"
"Mm, you did well. All that's left is to keep doing it every single day. Can you manage that?"
"Of course! I will do it!!"
"Mm. Do your best."
Elsa reiterated that of the sixty bottles of Persica juice, half were for Najas whenever she suffered magic depletion, while the other half were for the viscount to drink.
"However, you didn't learn this through formal channels. So please, do not use it for anything other than healing your father."
Elsa added that once Viscount Astero de Kahn had made a full recovery, Najas ought to study abroad in Avalon to properly train as a healer.
"We will arrange the necessary permissions for you."
"For everything... thank you from the bottom of my heart!"
Najas bowed deeply. Elsa offered her a gentle smile.
"Healers are precious right now. Do your best."
＊ ＊ ＊
Once Najas had sufficiently recovered thanks to the Persica juice, Jin and his companions were shown to the reception room, where they were served an early lunch.
"I hope this suits your palate," an elderly lady's maid remarked as she brought out a spread that closely resembled a MagiMai set meal.
"This menu has recently become quite popular throughout the kingdom. We heard it was favored by the Predecessor Magi Craft Meister, so we had our cooks prepare it."
"Oho."
The meal consisted of white rice, miso soup with aburaage and okara, grilled salmon, sweet tamagoyaki, boiled spinach, and oshinko.
It was identical to the fare served in Torinte Town.
"Ah, this is wonderful."
Befitting an agricultural nation, the vegetable ingredients were of exceptional quality, far surpassing what one would find in a common tavern.
"Mm. The broth is exceptionally well made."
"The grilled salmon and the tamagoyaki are cooked to perfection, too."
Hearing their praise, Najas let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you very much. The cooks will be thrilled to hear that."
The meal concluded with hojicha, which proved equally delightful.
"Well then, we still have a little time before we must depart, and there is something we wished to ask..."
"Mm. Najas-san, could you tell us a few things?"
Having made sure that neither the lady's maid nor the butler was within earshot, Jin and Elsa brought up the matter that had been troubling them.
"Of course, provided it is something I can answer."
With Jin and Elsa asking directly, Najas was in no position to refuse.
Or rather, it might have been more accurate to say that she could not resist, given that the state of Domination induced by the earlier "Hypno" spell had not yet completely worn off.
Though Elsa knew that questioning her in such a state bordered on an interrogation, she had a terrible premonition that compelled her to ask anyway.
"What kind of person is your older sister?"
"My third sister hates me. She has tried to take my life many times."
Her ominous intuition proved entirely accurate as a dreadful truth spilled forth.
"What do you mean by that?"
"My three older sisters were born to my father's lawful wife. I am the only one born to a different mother. Since my two eldest sisters have already married into other families, the succession of the Kahn family falls either to me or to my third sister."
"Wait, wouldn't you lack the right of succession?"
The absence of "de" in her name was clear proof of that.
"Yes. However, that can change at any moment should my father, the current head of the house, wish it."
In other words, so long as her father gave his approval, it was entirely possible for Najas to become a viscountess and inherit the Kahn family estate.
"My sister likely cannot forgive that possibility."
Perhaps due to the lingering effects of the "Hypno" spell, Najas explained the dire situation in a completely flat, detached tone.