Gardenia’s Heart

Even though it was Nia who had spoken, Lily needed a few seconds to process her wife’s enthusiastic words.

“One hundred and what?”

Tilting her head and blinking a few times, Lily looked at her hands and began counting on her fingers to make sure she had understood correctly.

(One hundred and twenty percent, Lily! That means your mana more than doubled!)

Nia declared once again, her voice brimming with joy, but Lily still couldn’t believe she had understood it right.

Turning her head to look around, the silver-haired girl caught another glimpse of Alice and Selene’s faces, both filled with disbelief and slight fear.

“Hey, Rival… are you okay?” Selene asked, stepping closer, a small cup in her hands. “Drink some water.”

Accepting the cup even though she didn’t really need to drink, Lily felt the refreshing liquid slowly trickle down her throat. The moment she finished, as if she had opened a door she couldn’t close, both girls rushed even closer, their expressions bursting with excitement.

“You said you’d never done this before—what the hell was that!?” Selene’s pink eyes darted frantically as she tried to grab Lily for answers, only to be lifted into the air by the purple tentacles that had wrapped around her. “Aaaah!? What!?”

“Lady Lily, I was only able to do this for four minutes before I had to stop. The exhaustion I felt was enough to make me avoid trying again for months! But even when we waited, you didn’t open your eyes!”

Ignoring her aunt’s screams as she was hoisted high into the air, Alice spoke with intensity. Her voice barely concealed her shock.

“Yes! How did you manage that without even breaking a sweat!? We thought you had passed out sitting up!” Selene, still being held upside down, questioned, using her hands to hold her skirt in place and salvage what remained of her dignity.

Once her wife and the two girls had finished explaining what had happened, Lily closed her eyes and tried to feel her mana.

“It’s… bigger…”

Since her confrontation with the labyrinth guardian, where she had finally started developing as a mage without relying entirely on Nia’s dark mana, Lily had a good sense of her mana reserves.

If before, the total amount of mana in her body had been the equivalent of a single cup, now it felt as though another cup had been placed beside it. No, that wasn’t right—it was as if the original cup had not only doubled in size but had grown even more beyond that.

(Lily is amazing~!) Still humming happily, Nia rubbed her tentacles against Lily with even more enthusiasm.

“Nia… but how did this happen?” Without even realizing it, Lily found herself murmuring the question as her fingers stroked the energetic tentacles.

(Hm? How? Lily endured the excessive mana absorption for the entire duration of the potion’s effect! Lily is incredible!)

As Nia’s excitement grew, Lily’s body grew warmer in response.

During the training, even in her dazed state, struggling with the intensely uncomfortable sensation of her mana reserves expanding, Lily had clearly heard her wife’s voice calming her. She knew that had been one of the factors that allowed her to persevere for so long, but she couldn’t imagine that alone being enough to achieve such an overwhelming result.

“Yes, but did you improve the efficiency of the expansion somehow?”

Seeing her wife’s concern over the results of her training, Nia chuckled softly before bringing one of her tentacles to Lily’s cheeks, rubbing them gently.

(Don’t worry, Lily. While I may have helped in some way, all the effort was yours.)

Controlling Lily’s right arm, Nia lifted it before her heterochromatic eyes.

Even though she didn’t fully understand what Nia wanted to show her, Lily observed the surface of her skin.

In a slow rhythm, the thin layer of her blue-tinged mana was completely enveloped by a dense shroud of Nia’s dark mana, emerging from within her body. After a few seconds, even using mana-enhanced vision, Lily could no longer see her own mana—the dark layer from Nia was simply too dense.

(Since we merged, it’s not wrong to say we share a single physical body, but that doesn’t apply to our mana. My dark mana can’t mix with yours, which means both our imaginary muscles and our reservoirs coexist within the same space.)

The purplish-dark mana, tinged with a faint red hue, then concentrated on Lily’s right index finger. At the same time, an equal amount of blue mana gathered in her left hand, despite her not willing it to happen.

(Since we share a physical body, just as you can use my dark mana, I can also use yours. I’ve just never done it.)

The two small spheres of contrasting colors began to brush against each other as Nia controlled Lily’s fingers to bring them closer.

(The thing is, because our mana levels are different, it’s as if your imaginary muscles are constantly under strain, forced to endure a far greater amount than they’re naturally meant to. When the potion finally introduced an excess of mana into you, your reservoir simply expanded naturally—your body seized the opportunity to minimize the imbalance between our mana levels. Without realizing it, Lily has been training nonstop for months! Lily is so incredible!) Nia explained with delight, her joy amplified by the stunned expression on her wife’s face.

Lily took a few seconds to process Nia’s explanation. She had never noticed her body going through this. Since Nia managed all her pain receptors and eased any burdens she might feel, she had never experienced any discomfort.

(Lily is amazing! My wife is the best!)

As Nia showered her with praise, Lily felt her cheeks heat up.

Though she couldn’t claim she had achieved this entirely through her own effort, she already understood that there was no shame in relying on Nia. If, with her wife’s help, she had managed to train in a way no one else could even imagine, she would take pride in her achievements.

Laughing as she basked in the sincere and passionate compliments, Lily only remembered several seconds later that they weren’t alone.

Still hanging upside down in the air, Selene wore a puzzled expression as she watched Lily talk to herself. Alice, beside her, had the same look of confusion.

“U-Um, I was talking to my wife! She has a magic that lets us communicate even when she’s not physically here.”

Coming up with the best excuse she could, Lily extended a hand toward Selene, signaling Nia to set the rabbit-eared woman back on the ground.

“Don’t worry, you’re already such a mystery that we’ve decided to just accept your weird behavior as normal, Rival.” Now lying on the floor with her arms spread out, waiting for her numb legs to regain feeling, Selene sighed as she looked at Lily.

“So? Did it work? How much were you able to figure out about your reservoir’s limit?”

“It seems to be one hundred and twenty percent.” Recalling the numbers Nia had told her, Lily spoke with slight hesitation.

The moment the words left her lips, the arena fell into absolute silence.

Alice, still sitting, blinked several times as if waiting for the silver-haired woman to admit she was joking.

“Lady Lily, please… If you say things like that so seriously, my poor aunt won’t survive.” Breaking the silence, Alice used both hands to shut Selene’s gaping mouth.

Scratching her cheek awkwardly, unsure of how to continue, Lily took a deep breath before speaking again.

“No… it’s not a joke… My total mana has doubled.”

Collapsing onto her back, Selene let out a strange noise—a mix of nervous laughter and a heavy cough—while burying her hands into her golden hair.

”I take back everything I said! You’re not normal!!”

Knowing that every word Lily spoke was true, Selene rolled on the ground.

“I-Is something wrong? I just doubled the amount. It wasn’t that much to begin with. To be honest, I have way less mana than you, Selene,” Lily said, her eyes fixed on the rabbit-eared girl, who was still clutching her head.

“You don’t get it, do you? It’s not about how much you started with—it’s the speed at which you increased it. On my first attempt, I expanded my mana reserves by half. But on my second attempt, I could barely manage a thirty percent increase, and that was months later because of how much strain it put on me. Tell me, are you even tired after doubling your reserves?!”

As Selene said this, Lily took a moment to examine her own body. She didn’t feel as exhausted as Alice had warned her she would. If she just rested for a day or two, she felt like she could keep going.

“N-No… I think if I rest a little, I can continue,” Lily murmured.

“See!? The starting amount doesn’t matter—it’s how easily you can keep going that counts. I know mages who started as weak as my sister, and after forty years of expanding their reserves, they finally reached a mana level close to mine. But if you doubled yours on your first try, with no prior experience, you’re going to increase it faster than anyone in history.” Selene struggled to process something that seemed completely illogical.

(I told you, Lily is amazing, isn’t she?) Nia’s voice rang out even more cheerfully in Lily’s mind, delighted by the praise her wife was receiving.

Though unsure if she could truly meet Selene’s expectations, Lily gripped one of Nia’s tentacles, as if silently promising to do her best. The moment she did, she was met with even more words of encouragement and sweet laughter from her wife.

Sitting up with a deep sigh, Selene curved her lips into a fierce grin. Dragging the bag she had brought with her, she pulled out a scroll.

“I’ve always considered myself a genius, but screw that—I refuse to be satisfied with where I am. I’m going to get stronger too.” Inspired by witnessing such talent firsthand, Selene made a silent vow to resume her training. However, since they were still in the middle of a lesson, she decided to focus on one thing at a time.

Unfolding the scroll, she spread it out on the dirt ground in front of the two girls.

“It’s like artifacts and enchantments,” Lily murmured.

There was no way she wouldn’t notice it. The paper before them was filled with strange patterns, a complex mix of overlapping circles and triangles arranged at various angles. Though much larger in scale than the ones etched onto their swords, the designs were unmistakably of the same style.

“I know you two already know how to use spells, but is it okay if I start from the basics?”

At Selene’s question, Lily nodded several times, quickly pulling out her notebook to take notes.

“Spells, in the simplest terms, are physical manifestations of our mana.”

Even though she didn’t understand why someone capable of teleportation magic would want a basic education, Selene took pride in her role as a teacher. She shifted her mindset, treating this as though she were instructing one of her students.

Reaching down to her waist, she retrieved her stardust brush. With her other hand, she gestured toward the open scroll on the ground.

“Unlike simply releasing mana to enhance ourselves, when we create magic, we’re narrowing mana’s limitless potential into a single, defined outcome.”

From the tip of Selene’s brush, a small flame flickered to life, glowing in shades of blue and orange like a tiny, controlled blaze.

“To ensure that among all possibilities, we produce precisely the effect we desire, we need a spell.”

Lily and Alice, though they hadn’t been mages for long, had seen many different types of magic. Yet, for some reason, the small flame dancing at Selene’s fingertips captivated them, their curiosity pulling them in.

Happy that her explanation was capturing the girls’ attention, Selene waved her brush, guiding the small flame to follow its movements.

”It’s no exaggeration to say that spells are the lifeblood of a mage. Whether it’s a legacy passed down by a humble family of farmers or a scroll hidden in the deepest layer of a library, every spell is valuable in its own way. That’s why no one foolishly teaches them to just anyone. Even here at the Mage Academy, I only begin spellcasting lessons for students who have been here for at least three years and have the maturity to handle this knowledge responsibly.”

Pausing her brush movements—which seemed to hypnotize her two newest, eager students—Selene pointed once more at the open scroll.

”Though there are many ways to refine mana into a spell, the most common and efficient method is through symbols.”

With her left index finger, Selene traced each part of the symbol on the scroll, her pink eyes carefully following the movements of her hand.

”What we have here is the construction of a spell that allows us to create a small flame. If we channel our mana into this shape using our imaginary muscles, the magic will manifest.”

After finishing her explanation, Selene instructed the two girls to begin attempting the spell she had just demonstrated.

”Uh... it’s not... that easy...” Alice protested, her right hand outstretched while her left clutched her wrist. Her words were laced with frustration and strain.

Noting her niece’s struggle to cast the spell as expected, Selene stepped forward and gently held Alice’s hand. With a layer of chilled ink, she extinguished the small, unstable flame that had flickered to life just in time—before it could harm its own caster.

”Unlike simply releasing mana from your body, shaping it into a specific form is like separating fine grains from coarse ones with a sieve and then constructing a castle with them. If done sloppily, the result will be crude. If done carelessly, it could put your life at risk.”

After ensuring her niece was unharmed, Selene stood up and walked over to her other student.

Lily, her hand still outstretched, had not managed to produce even the smallest flame like Alice had done, despite nearly an hour passing since she started trying.

”Even if the principle seems the same, every spell has a unique structure. Just memorizing and shaping it with consistency and precision takes weeks. Being able to cast it in battle takes months.”

Despite Selene’s words, Lily refused to give up on conjuring the flame.

”Why... isn’t it working?” she muttered, her half-lidded eyes darting between the scroll and her hand. She continued trying to shape the mana within her body to match the spell’s structure, but no matter how much she focused, something felt off.

”In your case, Rival, to be honest, your ice spells are the strongest I’ve ever seen in my life. Even if you can’t use this magic, focusing on the ones you already excel at is without a doubt one of the best options,” Selene said, her golden twin tails swaying as she spoke her honest thoughts.

“I see…” Selene hadn’t said that to discourage her, but Lily still felt downhearted at her repeated failures.

(Lily, how do you cast spells when I’m not doing it?)

With her right hand still open, Lily heard Nia’s voice resonate in her mind. Tilting her head in thought, she reflected for a few moments before answering.

”I just... do it. In the beginning, you always cast spells for me, but when we reached the labyrinth and I was alone against the guardian, I was so desperate to defend myself that I tried using any spell I could. After that, at least with the ice crystal, I managed to keep using it as if it had always been a part of me,” Lily said quietly.

A brief silence followed her response. Nia seemed to be thinking about something, so Lily didn’t rush her.

(Alright, let’s try something.)

As soon as Nia spoke, Lily felt control of her right hand being taken by the metamorph. With a subtle movement, her fingers stretched toward an empty part of the arena, and in an instant—like a black sun erupting from the ground—a colossal mass of flames burst forth from her hand.

“What the hell!?” Selene shouted in shock at the sudden explosion of fire that engulfed the arena. Instinctively, she jumped in front of her niece to shield her.

The black flames spread over ten meters, reaching the arena’s ceiling, flickering with a faint reddish and purplish aura. The intense heat didn’t seem to have reached its full potential, and the mesmerizing fire held everyone’s gaze, making it impossible to look away.

”It’s beautiful...” Lily murmured, her heterochromatic eyes reflecting the mesmerizing flames created by Nia.

After a few seconds, the fire began to shrink and eventually disappeared, leaving behind yet another wave of silence in the arena.

Frozen in place, neither Alice nor Selene could utter a word after witnessing such a display of power. The image of the flames, seemingly capable of consuming everything in their path, burned itself into their minds.

When control of her right hand was returned, Lily already had a small smile on her lips, about to praise her wife for learning the spell so quickly. However, before she could say anything, Nia’s voice echoed in her mind, stopping her in her tracks.

(Lily, try casting the spell again, but this time, don’t look at the scroll.)

Nia spoke gently, prioritizing Lily over any of her own achievements.

”Okay...” Although she didn’t understand why Nia was doing this, Lily trusted her wife.

Even though she didn’t need to breathe, Lily inhaled and exhaled a few times to calm herself. Stretching out her right hand, she focused on constructing the mana pattern needed to form the spell, her eyes closed as she followed her wife’s guidance.

Moving mana had become second nature to Lily. With Nia granting her full access to her vast dark mana, she could always strengthen herself and use it however she pleased. However, forming complex patterns like spells was never her specialty, and the fact that she could only use one type of magic was a constant reminder of that.

”N-Nia... I can’t do it...” Lily’s face twisted in frustration, her expression one of defeat as she struggled to shape her mana, relying only on her memory of the scroll’s structure.

(Hihi~ Open your eyes, Lily.) Unlike Lily, who spoke with disappointment, Nia giggled happily, encouraging her to look ahead.

Slowly, Lily opened her eyes, and her vision was immediately filled with a soft, bluish glow. In her hand, no larger than the flame of a small candle, a flickering blue and slightly orange flame pulsed gently.

Speechless, Lily brought her hand closer to her face. The tiny flame pulsed playfully, as if resonating with her emotions.

(Great job, Lily!)

Nia’s voice sang in her mind, and her tentacles wrapped around her wife, tightening slightly in a warm, affectionate gesture, showing just how proud she was of Lily’s progress. Seeing the confusion on her beloved’s face, Nia quickly continued speaking, knowing she needed to explain what had just happened.

(As a metamorph, I can acquire the traits of what I absorb. Normally, this would be limited to physical attributes—like the fur of ice foxes or even your body, Lily—but ever since I gained my mind, I’ve also started absorbing innate abilities. After listening to Selene’s explanation, I was finally sure that my innate abilities worked like the symbols in a spell. When I absorb them, they are engraved in my mind, allowing me to use them myself.)

Nia explained enthusiastically, delighted to see Lily’s expression shift as she tried to process her words.

(I mentioned this before, didn’t I? Our imaginary muscles occupy the same space. When I cast spells, the dark mana I use comes from our shared body, Lily. You can use ice magic without ever having practiced it because you instinctively reproduce the symbols with your mana, just by relying on the sensation of when I do it! Lily, you’re a genius!)

Since it was her day to shower Lily with praise, Nia didn’t allow her wife a moment’s rest, expressing her admiration both verbally and physically.

“Just by the sensation...?” Lily murmured, her body growing even warmer as she received her wife’s secret caresses.

At last, she understood what Nia was trying to say. Because they were connected on a level beyond the physical, the sensation of a spell when Nia cast it naturally imprinted itself onto Lily’s imaginary muscles. By relying on that sensation, even if she didn’t understand the exact principles of the markings, she could use the same magic that Nia could. That was why, after Nia cast the fire spell, Lily was able to replicate it immediately. Even though her mind didn’t know how to construct the spell, her body did.

That explained why, when she fought against the guardian, she was able to create ice but couldn’t configure the portals. She could grasp the structure up to a certain point, but complex spells that altered the natural order were still impossible for now. However, those that only needed to be released could be learned within minutes.

Holding the small flame with both hands, Lily attempted to cast the same spell while keeping the first one active. At a steady pace, the tiny fire grew until it reached the size of a ball.

(Even those controlled by Orlaith, whose bodies were forced to cast spells under her influence, couldn’t reproduce the spells once they regained control—even mages like Alice. Your awareness of your own body is incredibly high, Lily! My wife is amazing~) Even though she had conjured flames hundreds of times larger, Nia continued to shower her wife with praise, her mind overflowing with joy at her beloved’s progress. (The fire Lily created is so beautiful!)

Although Lily knew that true proficiency—casting spells with greater power and refinement—would only come with training, the simple fact that she could cut down the learning time of a spell from months, if not years, meant her growth rate far surpassed that of anyone else.

“Thank you, Nia.” Watching the fireball in her hands, Lily spoke with a bright, heartfelt smile.