Spoiler : Chapter 06 OST! My song 'To Heron, from Esha'

Waking up from my slumber, I looked at the ceiling with a grin on my face. I've done it! I've learned magic and more importantly, I now wield the power of Aether but mastery of said power is a whole 'nother story but right now, I should focus on taking on these challenges one step at a time. I am still only 3 years old after all. I decided to undertake a journey of empowering myself beginning with mastery of Ikazuchi. I thought up of way on how to empower my magical weapons. A firecracker with 1 milligram of gunpowder imbued with my novice Fire Magic is equal to an explosion of an eighth of a dynamite.

Dynamites or Fire Bombs are a product of engineering in my world, they aren't made with magic but with science or alchemy. Either way, they are one and the same. Moving forward, now that I know what to strengthen, I now needed to focus on how to strengthen it. Logic dictates that for an explosion to become stronger, its compounds must be made of a superior material that cannot be deterred by the elements and water damage. In short, it has to work even if it has been dirtied or at the very least, damp.

I realize that firecrackers aren't exactly built for demolition or surgical strikes however, this is the foundation in which I, the creator, must start with. I made a mental note to try and combine the transmutated Peppermint Leaves with a good oxidizing agent to help it burn faster and brighter, for lack of a better word. I also toyed with idea of creating a sticking agent so that I could augment the applications of my bomb.

Why am I so focused on creating a good explosive with magic? It's simple. Strategic warfare counts not the strength of a single soldier or a single unit but it counts the military value of strategic surgical strikes. In simple terms, it doesn't matter how hard you hit but how you hit is key. Also, explosives are an important aspect of scientific progression. From explosives, I could then move on to more complex chemical compounds such as a freezing agent, manipulation of plasma and essentially, freely manipulating all of the elements in the material world.

In short, I aim to perfect both the arcane and the sciences. It is an ambitious claim but one that is now possible due to the Grimoire of all grimoires - The Index at my side. However, I have resolved not to fully rely on the accursed book for a few simple reasons.

1. Relying on the book for information gathering will dull my own skills.

2. Nothing is ever that convenient. I must remain to be wary of it.

3. Some things are not meant for mortal souls, not even reincarnated ones.

Anyway, I decided to explore the paths that I have opened for myself - starting with strengthening the Ikazuchi. I enjoyed a light breakfast with my parents before I clumsily excused myself so that I could return to our yard and begin my enchantments under the shade of the Peppermint tree.

I hastily asked permission from the tree to grab some of its leaves again and then started to collect some stones to transmute into fossil fuel. How did I come up with this procedure? Simple. Fossil fuel, like its name suggests, comes from the decayed remains of anything organic such as plants and animals. Combustion is achieved through the continuous micro-explosions that occur inside a continuously revolving or pumping piston or that is what the engineers in my world have led me to believe.

So why a rock? A rock is a compound formed through years of aggregation between two or more minerals or mineraloids and essentially they are the two different sides of a coin. Of course, I am going to have to collect a lot of rocks in order to produce a decent amount of fossil fuel from equivalent exchange from transmutation.

Before proceeding with my experiments, I decided to get my act together and procure some sort of flask or container to house the fossil fuel in. In this case, I decided to go with petroleum instead of the usual coal due to my belief that liquids are easier to manipulate than solid materials. I went inside our house and took one of my father's favorite hunting flasks. It is for the advancement of science, father, I hope you understand.

With that silent prayer in my heart, I returned to my spot and resumed my experiments. By this time, Esha finished with her chores and proceeded to sit across me and she watched me in earnest, making sure to stay quiet enough to make sure I am not disturbed. What a thoughtful child!

I looked at her and gave her a smile as I put my finger to my lips. She understood the gesture and she nodded enthusiastically as she put her finger on her lips, gesturing that she understood what I meant. Good, I can begin.

Idcirco praecipio tibi ut fiat quod a morte transmutare in aeternum ardebit!

The rocks floated in mid-air and with a bright spark of light, they begin to rotate at high speeds in mid air, slowly disintegrating into a black, viscous liquid that is essentially tar. It does this for a couple of minutes and it took every ounce of my concentration to keep the liquid afloat as I carefully collected it into the flask. I guess I should also make sure that no one drinks from this flask from now on.

With that, I mark my endeavor a success as I admired the crude oil in my hands. It was more than the measly 3 milligrams I produced yesterday but then again, this is merely the propellant and accelerant, but not the main component for the explosion. That comes later.

I registered the components and the process in my own version of a mind palace making careful notes on the exact procedure and exact amount for a gallon of crude fuel. At this point, I was feeling extremely giddy. It's not everyday you create one of the most valuable substances on Earth out of basically thin air!

Esha was smiling a 'I don't know what's happening but it looks fun!" smile and I smiled at her before continuing on the process. I then started transmuting the crude oil into petroleum which is my perfect form of an accelerant, at least in this world.

In my home world, petroleum is a valuable resource in that it is used to fuel most of our machinery that is a result of all of the hard work of our engineers, from the past and the present. Wars have been fought for this resource but here, I can have as much as I want from common materials such as a rock you can pick up on the road!

Mutare habitus et inde idcirco praecipio tibi ut fiat quod mundus ardebit purpura mihi!

The flask started shaking for a good minute but the shaking stopped soon afterwards. I removed the flask's cap and I took a whiff. There's that familiar scent of petrol! I did it! As I celebrated my mini-victory, Esha started clapping and laughing! What a cute child!

Heron: Esha, I have created a liquid which would change the world!

Esha: That is amazing, Heron! But why don't you just create fire with magic?

That's a good question. How do I explain this to a child?

Heron: Ah. Well, see it's like this. Magic can take time to produce or cast, depending on the person right? I'm not too sure myself but -

Esha raised her hand to silence me.

Esha: Correct.

Slightly taken aback, I nodded in the affirmative. This child really knows a lot of things! I need to teach her on how to use that knowledge to her advantage so that she can finally stand on her own too feet! I mentally added that to my growing list of goals but I made that one of my priorities.

Heron: Okay, see, I'm not going to assume that I'm good at magic but I am good at learning. If I can combine magic with technology then all the better right? I learn and innovate at the same time!

Esha: Wow! Heron is so smart!

Esha tumbled forward and clumsily gave me a hug! Wow! I felt rejuvenated that I now have a cute younger sister-like friend.

Heron: Thank you but it isn't done yet! Stand back, I am now going to proceed to the final process.

Esha smiled and then nodded as she backed off. Well, she basically hid behind the Peppermint tree. I would too if I could.

I took the leaves that I took from the tree and transmuted them into gunpowder. This time I got 10 milligrams. I then combined the materials in a small bowl that I prepared beforehand and stirred them just enough for the raw materials to be assimilated by the petrol.

I placed my hand over the mixture and proceeded to bond them on a molecular level, forcing the petrol to be absorbed into every grain in the gunpowder. I remain like this for a half hour with sweat forming in my brows. Esha was still hiding behind the tree but she too sported a slightly fearful look on her face.

After another fifteen minutes, a bright light shone on the mixture and I could only conclude it as a success! On the bowl was a fine silver powder that seems to burn faster, brighter and hotter than the gunpowder which I produced yesterday. I decided to name this compound.

Gunpowder - α has been created!

I decided to put this monstrosity to the test. I transmuted some mud into clay and steel and formed a mini pestle which would serve as a mold for the round 'bullets' that I would create. These bullets would serve as a safer means of carrying the Ikazuchi Alpha around instead of carrying those easily breakable paper firecrackers that I made as a test yesterday.

After forming the basic mold, I then used transmutation to speed up the process. I traded in some 'time' to speed up the drying process and hardening the mold I formed with clay and steel. With the mold successfully made, I proceeded to make little balls of Ikazuchi coated with steel. Why so? So that I could ensure that the compound would not explode at the most gentle of touches. This is also to ensure that each bomb would have to be deliberately thrown with force to ensure its explosion. That way, when someone gets a hold of the bomb and attacks our family, they would never be able to claim that it was just an accident. Simple but thought of with foresight.

Ikazuchi - Alpha has been created!

Now that the process is completed, I counted how many Ikazuchi Alpha prototypes that I made.

Esha called my attention and put up 10 fingers. So she can count, good this will make things easier. I thank Esha and then gathered the bombs and placed them in a small bag that I could carry around. The process essentially went like this:

Step One - Creating the base materials: Rocks -> Petroleum -> Petrol + Gunpowder = Gunpowder α

Step Two - Synthesizing the bombs: Gunpowder α + Molded Steel

I simplified the process in my mind palace along with the materials needed to produce the base materials. The next time around, the process should be much easier and faster. I smiled to myself and then gave Esha a pat on the head.

Esha: Heehee, is it done yet? Your little science project?

Heron: Yup! I call it the Ikazuchi Alpha. I would like to try it out however I fear that the explosion might be too much.

Esha: Esha will show you how to maximize your project. We have to go to the woods and use it on something...scary.

Now I know, how unwise would it be if two children were to visit the dense woods and use it on a wild animal or in the worse case, a danger beast? Something tells me that we will be fine though, as I eyed the bag that I had.

Heron: Okay, but we shouldn't go in too deep. Do you know the way, Esha?

Esha: Esha knows a lot of things, we will be fine Heron. Trust me.

She held up her hand for me to grab. I smiled and took her hand in mine as we started walking towards the Woods.

Little did we know that doing so would cement our future paths into one of turmoil and trouble.

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