43 - The Victim of the Academy

Chasing Rabbits (1) The disease known as "Transcendence Syndrome," or sometimes the "Great Mage's Disease," may have ambiguous symptoms, but its conclusion is unequivocal. What Ariel is exhibiting now are the early signs. In this world, there are all sorts of magic. There are so many that even if one were to study magic non-stop for three years, they might neither complete the learning nor even try to know everything. However, magic is essentially someone’s supernatural ability formulated into rules. Those capable of this are celebrated as great mages. So, who created all those numerous spells? Could there really have been that many great mages in history? If there were, the prestige of being a great mage would not hold such significance. "Great Mage's Disease. As you gather from the name, it's intuitive. Those who catch this disease end up becoming great mages." "But the outcome can't be all pleasant, can it? If it were just becoming a great mage, it wouldn't be regarded as a disease." "Exactly. Oh, could you hold this for a moment? Just tilt it slightly..." After instructing Yuna to hold the beaker, I carefully dropped another solution into it using a pipette. "Be careful not to spill it." "Oh?" Pop! The solution inside the flask reacted explosively, releasing a cloud of vapor. Hmm, it's not to the point of exploding. I can add a bit more. I took back the flask that had started reacting from Yuna and decided to observe the progress. "Where was I? Oh right, explaining why it's considered a disease. Simply put, those afflicted with this disease create magic and then die." The prestige of great mages is high, but precisely speaking, it's the prestige of living great mages that's high. Genuine great mages are those who have managed to harness their enormous talent fully. A person might either overcome the Great Mage's Disease through sheer will or ascend steadily and diligently to become a great mage. Either way, you can only describe them as a monster. I've never seen the former... If I go by Mephistopheles' words, perhaps Faust did it. Whether it was with Mephistopheles' help or by his own strength, I don't know. "Think of Ariel's body like this flask full of solution." "Hmm?" "The disease she has is akin to the other solution I just added. A small amount isn't problematic, but if it becomes excessive, it leads to an explosion." "Ugh, so does that mean Lady Ariel will explode?" "That's just a metaphor. In Ariel's case, she'll blaze. Her body will be sublimated in a beautiful blue flame, like starlight." "Sublimated... So that's why it's called Transcendence Syndrome?" The term refers to the way one disappears without a trace, like ashes dissolving into the world, resembling a form ascension as if touching the divine realm; hence, the name Transcendence Syndrome. "There are theoretically two ways to cure this disease." "Oh, Johann, you sound so smart saying it like that." I could only manage a bitter smile at Yuna's praise. If I were truly smart, I wouldn't have had to take this roundabout journey back. I'm just stubbornly bulldozing my way through a path that doesn't exist with brute force. "First, create an inhibitor. Shall we keep using the flask analogy?" "I don't understand difficult talk." "Well, they say seeing is believing. Here." "Yikes!" I gently placed the flask on Yuna's palm. "Oh?" Though surprised at the warmth, Yuna smiled, seemingly pleased with the temperature. "I mentioned earlier that it's fortunate it didn't explode, right? If the reaction is too fast, there's a risk of that." "So if an inhibitor is added, the reaction slows down?" "Think of it that way." This is the first method to remedy Ariel's situation. It's also my goal. To suppress the weight of her innate talent on her and transition her into a great mage slowly and safely. If achieved, not only would a great figure emerge, but also the shadow of death over her would be lifted. "So, what's the second method?" "It's relatively simple." I placed another unused flask in Yuna's hand. This one hadn’t yet been triggered and was, therefore, cool to the touch. "Completely preventing the reaction." "Which means?" "Erasing the potential for becoming a great mage from Ariel. With no talent, there's no burden of talent." "Hmm?" To be precise, it means halting Ariel's growth. Unlike suppression and control, it's complete exclusion. It's more comfortable to erase completely than leave anything in between. In truth, this method is already viable. But... "Johann, Lady Ariel would never accept this method, even if she were to die." "...Indeed." I gazed at the hat Ariel left behind. Leaving this behind signifies she's already on the brink of death. In that state, she'd be too consumed by the prospect of achievement to see what's around her. Even if she were stable, persuading her would be challenging—how could she accept completely curbing her growth potential? She wouldn’t. "So a half-measure won’t do." Ariel is prepared to face death in her pursuit of creating magic. I have no way to convince someone so blindly dedicated to even risk their life. Therefore, the first method must succeed. * * * Early morning. "Up since the crack of dawn... or rather, haven't returned since yesterday?" "Long time no see, Professor Georg." "Yeah, it's been a while... wait, are you okay?" "Surely I don't look okay. I can tell without even looking in a mirror." "You have great self-awareness. If you come to university, you could go far. Actually, you could even aim for the graduate school. What do you think? How about pursuing a dream in alchemy now?" "Preying on people when their spirits are low—typical Georg. You're a real piece of work." "Fine, I'll ask again tomorrow." His words sent a cold chill down my spine. Stay focused at all times. "Wow, look at all this! How much did you spend on this budget?" "I have no idea. The numbers got too long midway, so I stopped counting." "Crazy fool." Professor Georg chuckled as he took a seat across from me. He naturally began assisting with the experiment I'd been conducting. Despite his flaws, like letting fatigue sometimes gnaw away at his humanity, he's fundamentally a good person. Let’s just chalk it up to his human side. Even without specific explanations, Professor Georg seemed to intuitively know what needed to be done and aided the experiment seamlessly. "Wow, damn. How did you make this? What is this... exactly?" "I came upon it by chance. Replicating it would be difficult." He truly is someone fit to teach at the Cradle. He instantly recognized a compound made by combining the heart of a phoenix with the blood of a frost giant. Despite it being a material that had never existed in history, he seemed to identify it just from its visible properties. Professor Georg clicked his tongue in disbelief, taking a look around. "Hmm... with this, doing it this way should work." And with that, he quickly reached a conclusion. He’d read through the recipe I spent a full week crafting, yet figured it out just by glancing at it. Is this the difference in talent? Though I knew it, I still felt the wall. "That approach won't work. It could halt the growth of a person entirely." "Isn't her growth practically at the brink of becoming a great mage anyway? Even if you studied your whole life, you couldn't reach that level, right?" "Why are you comparing her to me? That's obvious without saying." "Then what's the issue?" "...She wouldn't want it that way." "Understandable. It's a disease where the person lacks a sense of reality regarding changes in their own body." Professor Georg continued mixing the ingredients I had prepared, creating a sample. To think he could adjust even potentially explosive solutions by eye alone... I'm in no position to talk about being bold. "Oh, here it is? Knew you’d have already made it." After rummaging through the shelf of reagents I made, Professor Georg eventually pulled out a prototype I had created. It was the very potion I had previously deemed unsuitable due to halting growth. "I'm telling you, that won't work." "Why not? It’s complete, isn’t it? This potion can cure Transcendence Syndrome. The purpose is fulfilled. Whether it's used or not is for the patient to decide, isn’t it?" "..." "I get that you want to create a potion without any side effects. Considering your brother’s situation, it's even more understandable." "It has nothing to do with Chris." "Then I don't understand even more. Isn’t saving her life the priority?" "You can't save someone if they don't want to be saved." "True. But that’s not a problem with the potion; it's a problem with the person. What did you think when administering it to your brother? You fed him the potion anticipating some degree of side effects, right?" It's different from Chris. In his case, there was no other way to save him, and he didn’t refuse the potion. But Ariel is different. She would definitely reject this potion. Would a girl dedicated to creating magic by sacrificing her own life agree to give it up because I asked her to? "There is no perfection in this world. The Philosopher's Stone is just an illusion." "Are you, as an alchemist, really saying that, Professor Georg?" "Precisely because I'm an alchemist." Thud. Professor Georg placed the potion back in front of me, and the pale pink solution glimmered quietly in the flask. "Don't have much time, do you? Wouldn't it be better to persuade her directly?" "..." "What? You think I wouldn't know? You’re not someone who’d exert this much effort without a reason." "Tsk." "...And what's with the clicking tongue? Anyway, rather than clinging to uncertain possibilities, wouldn’t it be more productive to approach her with a definite solution?" "I'm not confident in persuading her." "Use the passion you had when creating the potion to persuade her. Or are you scared? Worried about ruining someone’s life?" "..." "Ruining someone’s life is better than death. Neither you nor I are doctors, but should we really be overthinking when it comes to saving someone? It's called regret because it's something that comes too late." "Nicely put." "Well, I am a teacher, after all." I picked up the potion Professor Georg had laid down. An incomplete product long since finished. Yet, it's the only existing cure for Transcendence Syndrome. Ariel will definitely refuse this potion. She likely will... but... "Professor." "Yes?" "I’ll be stepping out for a bit, so please keep an eye on the experiment." Professor Georg is right. Given the current circumstances, persuading Ariel is a far better strategy than indefinitely attempting to create a new potion. "What? Me? I have a class in the morning... Hey! Johann?! Hey!!" * * * Ariel had reached the point where she could no longer walk on her own. Her soul sought to transcend while her physical body remained earthbound. Yet, undeterred, she continued with her research. Several times, Robelia visited Ariel, but unfortunately, she remained oblivious to Ariel’s condition. That was natural, considering Ariel didn’t leave her room, having locked it, and when speaking to Robelia, her voice carried not resignation or despair, but excitement and joy. To Robelia, who was unaware of Ariel’s Transcendence Syndrome, it merely seemed that Ariel was hastening her research to break through some mysterious barrier. “Just a little more...” Around Ariel, documents detailing her formulas hovered as she lay prone, inscribing new equations on the floor. and continued writing equations on the floor. She had run out of prepared paper. Like an inventor struck by inspiration, Ariel wrote tirelessly day and night without regard for time, her appearance far from normal to any observer. But who could possibly notice? This was her private sanctuary, and she had deceived everyone. "Almost there...!" Even if someone did notice, it wouldn't matter. If she did not open the door, no one could know what was happening inside. In this solitude, she was determined to become a great mage. Yes, that was certainly the plan. Bang! But the person didn't even knock. "Unbelievable." The boy who barged in without warning clicked his tongue upon seeing Ariel's state. She was startled, seeing the intruder in her space. "Sir Johann...?" "Lady Ariel, your room is a mess. What kind of a sight is this for living? What would people say if they saw this?" She hadn't expected him to come. He was known for drawing lines in his relationships with others more than anyone. Thus, she hadn’t expected him to cross the line she had drawn. "Why are you here? I distinctly told you I don't need the potion. This is trespassing." "Yes, that's true... But about this hat. It really doesn’t suit me." However, Johann continually defied her expectations. The man who maintained his distance from everyone was now crossing the line she had set. "I'm here to complain. I certainly hope you're not expecting formalities from someone here to voice a grievance." And with a seemingly unreasonable complaint, he nitpicked. With a laughable excuse at that... "If it's really troubling, I'll compensate for the door repair cost. Let's see. Oh, it seems this is all I have right now." He took something from his pocket. "It's a cure for Transcendence Syndrome."