Konath's words caught all three of them by surprise.
Glan, a scholar of magic with modest personal power, had focused his life on research rather than self-improvement, so he was unfamiliar with the concept. He hadn't even heard of it.
Hyberion, ranked second among the Ten Wizard Saints, had some knowledge of the subject, but his understanding was fragmented, lacking a cohesive theory or practice.
Kira, meanwhile, was shocked that the term had surfaced so early. In the original timeline, the concept of a second magic source wasn't explored until seven years later.
"Second magic source? What's that?" Glan asked, his curiosity piqued. As a magic researcher, he was always open to new ideas.
"It's just a theory of mine," Konath began, noticing the trio's attentive gazes. "A few years ago, my magic hit a plateau. No matter what I tried, I couldn't break through. So, I started studying my own magic from every angle."
"Recently, while experimenting with aging magic on myself, I noticed a change in my magic reserves. My magic capacity increased slightly—not by much, but enough to make me realize there might be room for growth."
The three immediately latched onto the key point.
"An increase in magic capacity?" Glan asked, his interest growing.
"Room for growth?" Hyberion echoed, visibly intrigued.
"You used aging magic on yourself for research?" Kira blurted out, stunned.
Konath: "…"
"After some study," she continued, "I realized this extra magic came from a portion I'd never tapped into before. That led me to a hypothesis: what if there's undiscovered energy in a mage's body that can be converted into magic?"
"We all know every mage has a kind of 'container' that determines their magic limit. Even when it's depleted, we naturally absorb magic particles from the atmosphere to refill it. But what if we're not fully emptying that container? Or… what if there's another container entirely?"
Glan's eyes lit up with understanding. "So, you're saying most mages aren't using their full magic potential, which means there's room to grow."
"Exactly," Konath confirmed. "I call this untapped portion the second magic source."
Hyberion set down his goblet, his tone serious. "If we could harness this magic and use it effectively, it'd be a significant boost for any mage. If this theory can be proven and developed, it'd be a major breakthrough for the magic world."
Seeing two titans of academia and magic take her idea seriously, Konath felt a surge of pride. Her gaze shifted to Kira. She'd heard he was a prodigy in magical research and crafting, having even developed an external magic source—a concept not unlike her second magic source. His input could be key.
"Little Kira," she said, "I heard you created an external magic source. What do you think of my theory?"
Little Kira… His face darkened at the nickname.
After a moment's thought, he replied, "Second magic source, huh? I've had some guesses about it myself, but I've never experienced it firsthand. I bet Mr. Hyberion's had moments where he pushed his magic to the limit, right?"
Kira hadn't explored a second magic source because he never ran out of magic. His reserves were naturally higher than most, and he suspected his magic efficiency was above average too. If Erza could figure out a second magic source on her own, why can't I, the protagonist, already have it innately?
Hyberion nodded. "I have. I once fought Serena, the top Wizard Saint. I was in a tight spot, my magic completely drained, but I somehow squeezed out a bit more. That must've been the untapped magic you're talking about."
Kira nodded back. "Exactly. Every mage's magic capacity, efficiency, and conversion rate is different. Depending on their physique, they might only use 70%, 50%, or even 30% of their potential. Developing a second magic source is about pushing that efficiency closer to 100%."
"But," he cautioned, "the human body has limits. Think of the body as a machine and magic as oil. Fully tapping it could overload the system and cause a breakdown."
Konath's heart sank. She'd vaguely considered this downside but avoided dwelling on it. Kira' words forced her to confront the risk head-on.
"Even a powerful mage like Mr. Hyberion can't safely use 100% of their magic," Kira continued. "For most people, overusing it long-term could lead to something like an anti-magic tumor. The risks outweigh the benefits."
His words were a wake-up call for all three.
"So… Little Kira, any suggestions?" Konath asked.
Suggestions? Buy my external magic source, obviously! Kira thought, but instead he said, "If possible, I'd start by developing a device to measure a mage's maximum safe magic usage based on their physique. Then, we could explore ways to safely access the second magic source, keeping the usage within that limit."
The trio nodded in agreement. "That makes sense!" "Definitely the way to go."
With the topic wrapped up, Kira remembered something else and turned to Hyberion, who was sipping milk. "Mr. Hyberion, you mentioned fighting Serena. When was that?"
Hyberion thought for a moment. "Three years ago. Why?"
Kira kept his expression neutral. "Just curious about the top Wizard Saint's strength. It'd be cool to see him in action."
See him in action? Hyberion glanced at Kira, assuming the young mage's confidence came from defeating two Wizard Saints and now wanting to challenge the best. "His power is beyond imagination—like a monster. After our fight, he left Ishgar for the Western Continent to find stronger opponents."
Three years ago, he went to the Western Continent… So, Serena's probably one of the Spriggan 12 by now, Kira mused.
"Speaking of which, hasn't the academy's entrance exam started?" Glan asked, standing with his snake-headed cane. "What's the test this time?"
Konath rose from her seat. "It's about that time. Why don't you all come with me to check on the candidates?"
The group followed her to the villa's balcony, where they had a clear view of the Demisole Magic Academy's exam grounds nearby. Kira looked out and saw a sea of candidates—hundreds, maybe 500—crowding the area. The grounds were divided into several zones, each hosting a different test.
"So many people!" Kira exclaimed, tempted to quip, Humans are like ants.
Konath pointed to the exam grounds. "This is the first stage of the entrance exam. Candidates need to pass all tests or excel in at least three to move on to tomorrow's round. Otherwise, they're out."
Kira glanced at her. First stage? So there's more to come, huh?