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Riveria took a deep breath before continuing, her voice trembling softly like leaves rustling in the wind. "According to ancient legends... the first Elves were created directly by the gods." Her fingers danced in the air, tracing something majestic. "But High Elves... we are different."
Shirou furrowed his brow, his eyes fixed on Riveria. "Different how?"
"The gods' light didn't just create us," Riveria continued, her voice lowering, laden with meaning. "It seems they carved this Rune of the Tree of Life on our backs as a special blessing." Her hand touched her own back through the fabric of her dress, as if feeling the rune glowing beneath her clothes. "And now I understand... why my Rune resonates with your magecraft. This Rune... was designed from the beginning to channel high-level magical energy."
Click. The sound of Shirou's fingers tapping the wooden floor echoed as he processed the information. His eyes gleamed with understanding. "So ordinary Elves like Lefiya... they have similar runes, but not as complete as yours?"
Riveria nodded firmly. "Correct. Their runes are mere fragments—shadows of what High Elves possess."
Shirou leaned back slightly, his face deep in thought. "Then... the other High Elves in this world must have the same rune as you, right?"
Whoosh... The morning breeze brushed through Riveria's hair as she confirmed with a nod. "Aina and I checked yesterday." Her voice carried a rare hint of excitement, something seldom heard from her in public. "When I stayed at her place, we compared our runes. And it turns out..."
Shirou leaned forward, curious. "Turns out?"
"The base patterns are identical," Riveria admitted, her eyes shining like emeralds bathed in sunlight. "Only the branching details differ slightly, likely due to lineage."
Shirou scratched his chin, another question forming in his mind. "If I may ask... do all High Elves have green hair and eyes like you and Auntie Aina?"
Tsk. Riveria let out a small laugh, her voice like the rustling of dry leaves. "You're quite observant." Her gaze sparkled mischievously before she continued. "Yes, it's a hallmark of the High Elf royal family. My father, King Larfal, and all my close relatives share this trait."
Shirou nodded slowly, as if piecing together a puzzle in his mind. "So the green color is a mark of High Elf noble blood?"
"More than that," Riveria answered, locking eyes with Shirou. "It's proof of our magical heritage. Every strand of this hair, every glimmer of our green eyes, carries traces of ancient magic passed down since the time of creation."
A brief silence fell, broken only by the whisper of wind against the warehouse window. Shirou gazed at Riveria with newfound awe, as if truly realizing how extraordinary the woman before him was.
"So then..." Shirou finally spoke, his voice softening to almost a whisper. "You really are a princess from legend, aren't you?"
Riveria blushed but quickly hid it by turning her face away. "Don't exaggerate, Shirou. I'm still just your student when it comes to magecraft."
But the small smile curling at her lips was impossible to conceal.
Shirou stretched his back slowly, straightening his posture as his shoulders rolled lightly. A faint crackling sound accompanied the loosening of his joints. He took a deep breath, then looked at Riveria, who sat cross-legged before him with an elegance untouched by time.
"So," Shirou said quietly, "you've managed to decipher the rune on your own back... But I assume that's not enough to further develop your magecraft abilities."
He tilted his head. "Because at this point, I think I've run out of things to teach you."
Riveria immediately lifted her face, meeting his gaze squarely. "There's still more," she said sharply, like an arrow loosed without hesitation.
Shirou blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Riveria clasped her knees and leaned forward slightly, her expression serious. "Aina's Magic Circuits still haven't been activated. Just like mine back then."
Shirou stared at her silently for a few seconds. "...You want me to unlock them?"
Riveria nodded. "Yes. More precisely, I want you to teach me how to open another person's Magic Circuits. Like you did for me back then."
Shirou studied Riveria's eyes for a moment, ensuring her sincerity wasn't just a fleeting emotion. But all he found was earnestness and... a hint of enthusiasm from a friend who wanted to help.
"It's possible," he finally said, his tone light. "It's actually quite simple... as long as you understand prana anatomy. But—wait, Auntie Aina... wants to learn magecraft too?"
Riveria lowered her head slightly, her cheeks tinged with moisture like morning dew touching skin. "Her reason isn't as grand as you'd think," she murmured, almost suppressing a laugh. "She just wants... to enhance the taste of food."
Shirou frowned. "...Hah?"
"She wants to use Reinforcement on ingredients," Riveria explained with a light laugh. "Like when I showed her during my stay, I strengthened the flavor of spices and vegetables with prana before cooking. She's curious... and maybe a little jealous."
Shirou fell silent, then raised a hand to his face. "So... all this effort to unlock Magic Circuits is... to become a magical chef?"
Riveria's expression softened warmly, like morning dew. "She wants to make tastier meals for her husband. And I thought... there's nothing wrong with supporting a wish like that."
Shirou exhaled deeply and shook his head. "You really are impossible to refuse, aren't you..."
Riveria placed her hands on her knees and bowed slightly. "Please, Shirou. I know Aina can keep a secret. I trust her... and I'm sure she won't disappoint you."
Shirou lifted his face, looking at the graceful elf before him, who, for once, wasn't asking as a noble, an expedition leader, or even as his student... but simply as a loyal friend.
He closed his eyes briefly, then nodded. "Alright. We'll start from the basics. And you'll need to be careful during the unlocking process—it's going to be painful."
"She's a strong woman," Riveria replied confidently.
Shirou held her emerald-green gaze a second longer than necessary, then said, "And you... You are a troublesome student."
Riveria merely huffed in satisfaction. "But I'm your only student, aren't I?" she quipped sharply.
Shirou chuckled, rising to his feet while stretching his arms overhead. "True enough."
Riveria stood as well, smoothing out her casual dress with a light pat. The fabric swayed gently with her movements. She looked at Shirou with the eager curiosity of a student thirsty for knowledge.
"So... how do you unlock another person's Magic Circuits?" she asked attentively.
Shirou interlaced his fingers and placed his hands behind his head, thinking for a moment. "Actually... It's easy. You just channel a bit of prana into their body and trigger a reaction at the dormant Magic Circuit points. Like... jump-starting an engine."
Riveria blinked. "...Jump-starting... an engine?"
Shirou quickly raised his hands and clarified, "Y'know—er, I mean... Think of the body like... a car. To make it move, you need some kind of initial spark. Magic Circuits are like energy pathways that need to be turned on first before prana can actively flow through them."
Riveria narrowed her eyes further. "Car? Spark?"
Shirou smacked his forehead. Plak!
"Ugh... I forgot you don't know what an engine or internal combustion is," he grumbled to himself.
Riveria raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You know, sometimes when you simplify explanations, they just get more confusing."
Shirou laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, sorry... force of habit."
Riveria rolled her eyes slowly, then sighed. "Fine. If explaining just makes me more confused, why don't you just show me an example?" she said, half exasperated but still curious.
Shirou nodded lightly. "Alright, let's just go straight to practice." Without hesitation, he began removing his black training shirt, pulling the fabric over his head and fully taking it off.
"Eh—!" Riveria nearly choked on air. "W-Wait, I meant you should demonstrate by projecting an example of what you were talking about, not just—"
Too late.
Shirou had already turned around, revealing his back, marked with faint lines from training and the contours of well-toned muscles. He seemed calm, as if this were completely normal for him. "Projecting an object like an engine? That'd be more complicated. I'd have to create a detailed internal image and visualize it in a way you'd understand. It's faster if you learn directly from practice—activating the Magic Circuits in my body."
Riveria, still frozen, struggled to maintain her composed expression despite her warming cheeks.
Shirou folded his black shirt slowly and set it aside, then glanced over his shoulder with a teasing smile. "You showed me your back earlier when talking about your rune. Now it's my turn, right?"
"T-That's not what I meant at all..." Riveria murmured, her voice trembling slightly. Her eyes darted away from Shirou's back, but she couldn't help stealing glances.
Seeing Riveria's lingering hesitation, Shirou sighed, this time more gently. "If you're worried about hurting me, don't be. I trust you won't make any major mistakes. Besides, you've come a long way since first learning magecraft from me."
Riveria lowered her head slightly, her fingers lightly gripping the hem of her dress. "I've just... never done this before. Channeling prana into someone else's body..."
"Relax. Treat it like when you infused prana into the bounded field the other day," Shirou said, glancing sideways. "You already have good control over prana flow—now just direct it."
Riveria took a deep breath, then stepped closer. Her cold, hesitant fingers touched Shirou's back, tracing along his spine where Magic Circuits were most responsive. The contact made Shirou tense slightly, but he steadied himself, keeping his breathing even.
"If I hurt you... tell me," Riveria whispered.
"I've survived a Noble Phantasm explosion head-on, so... I think I can handle it."
Riveria suppressed a groan. "That's not reassuring."
She closed her eyes tightly, calming the pounding of her heart that echoed in her ears. Her fingers, still pressed against Shirou's back, trembled faintly as she began channeling prana, gradually increasing the flow.
"Start with Structural Analysis first," Shirou's voice came softly but firmly, guiding her as usual.
"I know," Riveria whispered, exhaling slowly. She sent prana flowing gently, exploring the hidden magical pathways beneath Shirou's skin. The energy spread like roots touching unexplored soil—warm, deep, yet foreign.
"What do you find?" Shirou asked, his tone light, as if testing her.
Riveria half-opened her eyes, her emerald irises glinting with the faint glow of prana. "Twenty-seven... Magic Circuits," she murmured. "Their structure is perfectly arranged... but their configuration—it's completely different from my tree rune."
"Exactly," Shirou replied with a small nod. "Magic Circuits of magi from my world are like systematically assembled wires, not divine blessings like those of High Elves. Now, try activating them."
Riveria swallowed hard. "Alright..."
She channeled prana into one point. Then another. And another. Slowly, she attempted to ignite the dormant pathways. But her flow was too delicate, too soft. Shirou could feel it like a breeze skimming water.
"Don't hesitate," he said, steadying his voice. "Push harder."
Riveria clenched her jaw, tightening her grip on Shirou's back. Her prana surged deeper. Faint sparks of magic flickered, and the muscles under her palms tensed.
"I'm... hurting you, aren't I?" she muttered uncertainly.
"Nghh—it's fine..." Shirou gritted his teeth, exhaling slowly. "A little more... You're almost there."
Riveria steeled herself. This wasn't just a magecraft lesson. It was trust. If Shirou believed in her this much, she couldn't stop halfway.
With resolve and guilt tightly suppressed in her chest, Riveria pushed her prana deeper, stronger. A pale green glow enveloped Shirou's back, like embers igniting beneath the surface.
ZRAKTTT—
One by one, all 27 of Shirou's Magic Circuits activated simultaneously. A faint red pulse surged from within his body like a blazing heartbeat. Shirou exhaled sharply, his frame shuddering briefly from the overwhelming magical response.
Riveria slowly withdrew her hand, staring at her fingers in disbelief. "I... did it?"
Shirou glanced over his shoulder, sweat beading at his temples, but a faint smile played on his lips. "Yeah... all my Circuits are active now."
Riveria didn't respond immediately. Inside her, pride, emotion, and warmth swirled together. She hadn't just succeeded in practicing magecraft—she'd fulfilled Shirou's trust... in both letter and spirit.
And as their breathing steadied, that morning felt like the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship—as teacher and student... or perhaps, as two people opening their hearts to one another.
Shirou pulled his black training shirt back over his head, the fabric slightly damp with lingering sweat. He took a deep breath, letting his body temperature stabilize as he adjusted the collar.
Riveria, still standing behind him, watched his now-covered back. Her gaze softened—her fingertips still trembling slightly, realizing how easily a small mistake could have been disastrous.
"Shirou..." she said quietly. "I want to know... why does unlocking another person's Magic Circuits feel... painful? Even when I tried to be as gentle as possible, you still—" She trailed off, unwilling to voice that she'd clearly seen him enduring pain.
Shirou half-turned, leaning his shoulder against the warehouse wall while crossing his arms. "It's because the human body—or an elf's, or anyone's—naturally resists foreign energy entering directly. A biological and magical reflex. Especially when the source is external."
He emphasized the word external with a serious tone. "If someone isn't careful... the Magic Circuits can be damaged. Permanently."
Riveria's eyes widened slightly, and she couldn't suppress a small gasp. "Then... just now... I could have—"
Shirou quickly shook his head, cutting her off. "But you didn't fail. You succeeded. You did incredibly well."
Riveria bit her lower lip, relieved yet horrified at the thought of the alternative. Then, slowly, she glanced at Shirou from the side, as if something troubled her beneath her calm exterior.
"So then..." she murmured, processing. "Do... magi usually help each other like this? I mean, with unlocking Magic Circuits?"
Shirou chuckled softly, his voice low but laced with irony. "No. Generally, magi are... extremely paranoid people. They wouldn't even trust their spouses with something like this."
Riveria fell silent.
The words echoed strangely in her chest. Not even husbands and wives trust each other... But the two of them had just—
So... if Shirou trusted me enough to let me touch and unlock his Magic Circuits...
Riveria's cheeks suddenly burned, and she quickly averted her face. Doesn't that mean we're... closer than husband and wife?
The thought came unbidden, wild and absurd, yet striking her heart with force. She shook her head slightly, trying to dismiss the outrageous notion, but a faint smile had already formed on her lips.
"Riveria?" Shirou called, noticing the woman before him freezing as if struck by a freezing spell.
"I-I'm fine!" Riveria replied too quickly.
Shirou raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. He smirked slightly and said, "In that case, today's lesson is over. You can now help activate someone else's Circuits. Maybe Auntie Aina will be your first lucky student."
Riveria nodded slowly... while in her heart, the words "closer than husband and wife" still lingered like an unyielding incantation.