Ars was lying on the floor, resting his upper body on the glass wall.

I knocked on the walls to make him notice.

He heard the knocking and he turned to see me.

He muttered something to the golem before standing up slowly and unlocked the glass door.

'Ars! What were you doing! You are hurt! That golem difficulty is too high!'.

"...".

After brief silence, he explained with few words.

"I want to be stronger".

'...'.

I am speechless. He looks so desperate. Why?

'I-I see...'.

'Take it slow, Ars'.

Ars simply nodded at my words. The healing magic embedded into the room take action and Ars was recovering at moderate speed.

Huh?

Did I imagine it? I think I saw a panel saying something had its eyes on me just now.

What was that?

Seeing that the panel didn't appear as I was looking for it, I gave up.

I turned to look at Ars once more. He looks beat up and was really tired even though his injuries were already mostly healed by the magic in the room.

'Ars, I think you should rest for now'.

He looked at me and nodded.

He slowly approaches me as we went out of the room together.

We walked to where Lucas did his training, seeing him still fighting the golem.

Right, I saw Ars used his magic. If it was a normal human being, no one can react to that for sure.

His magic circle was complete in an instant. How talented is he?

But it still left him open to attack with no way to defend himself as he had to let go one of his arm to cast magic.

Hmm? Who says its necessary to use our hands?

I went to the range practice targets and tested it.

A magic circle appears and it completes in 3 seconds.

With my mind, I intent on the magic to shoot out with my hand still resting sideways.

The magic circle glow as it forms a water sphere and shoot it forward towards the target.

That really feels unnatural. Honestly it takes so much focus and it even requires more time.

The problem is, the way we direct the mana flow inside the body.

When we reached out our hand, we instinctually direct the mana to flow more towards the hand, concentrating the mana in one single direction making it flow out much more easier making the absorption of mana by the magic circle much faster.

It's possible to not use your hands its just slower as it feels like mana flows out of me slowly from throughout my body instead of from a single concentrated point.

In a way, mana is like water. Our body is a tank.

When we concentrate the mana in our hands, the mana will flow out smoother, like there was a hole at the bottom of a deep water. Flow fast and clear.

It need depths. It need to be concentrated in one spot.

Normally, when we use our focus to concentrate the mana at one spot, we would lose the control when we lose our focus and the mana immediately disperses.

In Ars case for example, why can't he focus on BOTH the golem and on forming magic?

How can you say you were focusing on something when your mind is on two things? That's not what 'focus' means.

Hmm?

Then can't we make a self maintaining magic circle? The magic we use was only one use.

One cast and the magic circle disappears.

I immediately test it out. The concept was like a gun filled with bullets.

Our mana is the bullets. While the magic circle is the gun.

I start to make an image of the same Water Javelin spell with indefinite usage.

Three magic circles appears in in a tunnel shape.

However this time, I can feel more mana is being used as the Program form 3 rings of magic codex on each circle.

It took me around 12 seconds to finally complete the magic circles.

With the intent to shoot, mana start to flow out of me causing formation of a sphere of water. The sphere shoots out and finally turned into javelin shape as it flies towards the target dummy.

THUNK!

The Program is still maintained. I again intent to shoot the target and squeezed out all my mana to do so.

Water javelin forms and shoots at the target in succession with a second interval each.

THUNK!

THUNK!

THUNK!

The target dummy had 4 clean tennis ball sized hole on its body and displayed the total relative damage it did.

The test was a success. We can, indeed, make a self maintaining magi-

Eh?

My vision becomes blurry as I lose my balance. I feel really weak.

As I was about to fall from losing strength in my legs, Ars quickly caught me in his arms with a fast reaction.

'Ah. Ars, I think I overused my mana haha'.

I tried to make it seems like I was fine since he looks seriously worried. His expression immediately changed.

"You should take it slow too", Ars tell me with a slight smile seeing that I fine.

'I want to sit down for a second'.

I ask him to let me go and I just sit down on the floor, feeling really drained.

"Bell! Are you fine?!".

I heard Lucas's voice coming from my side. He stood in front of me bending over to check on me. His sweat was dripping down his body from the battle he had with the golem.

'Oh, Lucas. I am okay. I just used too much mana. I am tired'.

'Oh. By the way'.

Taking some more air, I continued.

'Ars, I just thought about how you can use magic continuously with the same Program. Think of Program like a bow. And you use mana to form the arrows and shoot it. But the bow still stays'.

I catch my breath once before saying more.

'Oh and maybe try to use magic using your sword. Like, each swing shoots out a Wind Blade or something'.

I finished my words.

Ars nodded in understanding and pull out his sword from his sheath.

Program with 2 interloping circles with 2 rings forms along the flat surface of the blade.

As the codex filled the Program completely, a thin layer of mana with Wind attribute covered the blade.

Arseus take a stance, and swings at the far dummy target.

A Wind Blade shoots out towards it, leaving a slashing mark on it.

THING!

He slashed to upward then downward shooting 2 more Wind Blades.

THING!

THING!

"Wow. You are a genius", said Ars surprisingly.

'Ehe. I just focused in class', I smiled at Ars.

He must find it really convenient to swing at an opponent while casting magic at the same time.

If there's a downside, the mana cost to make the 'gun' is really high, although the mana used to form and shoot the projectile itself is just the same.

Lucas, as if he feel challenged try to do it with the sword in his hand.

2 green circles forms but it soon disappears. He can't seem to do it.

"Why can't I do it??".

I and Ars looked at each other, trying to think of something.

"I think you need higher Authority level Lucas", replied Ars.

"What's that", said Lucas with a questioning look.

Alright, he really didn't focus in class did he?

Ars and I tried to explain what its for and its written on top of the Status bar.

"How do I increase the level?".

'You need to study', I replied to Lucas.

Indeed, you had to study and understand the properties of the natural element and the phenomena associated with it and learning the Program language as well.

His expression doesn't seem satisfied with my answer.

Lucas tried again but the Program just won't start.

He gave up eventually.

"Let's go back. I am tired already", said Lucas.

I tried to get up from my sitting position.

Eh? My legs feels so weak!

"Bell? You okay? Can you stand?", ask the worried Ars.

'I can't. My legs feel so tired'.

This is embarrassing.

Lucas stood in front of me before turning his back and crouching in front of me.

"J-Just climb on", said Lucas with a slight hesitation.

E-Eh?

'Okay...'.

I placed my arm around Lucas neck, looping my hands around his shoulders and chest. He pulled both my legs up, carrying me.

My entire body was touching his back. My chest was pressing firmly onto him.

I feel the cold from the drenched shirt from his sweat mixes with my own.

'You are wet', I told him to break the silence as he carries me.

"S-sorry".

'Thank you', I thanked him after a brief silence.

Being carried like this, I do like it. To be cared for.

I like his smell the most. It feels calming.

It always has been. His presence always give me peace.

Even though his sweats were drenching me too, it doesn't feel bad.

I wish I can stay like this for a long time.

...

Maybe...

Maybe I do like him. I have all the reasons to.

I just don't want to let myself like him too much.

...

It will ruin everything.

***

He carried me until we reach the waiting spot where we wait the shuttle bus is. We entered the bus with me still holding onto Lucas.

I climbed down and take a seat immediately.

As we reaches the dormitory, he helped to support me walk.

One of my arm placed over his shoulder, as he grabbed it firmly. His another arm gently placed over my waist as we walk together until we reached our rooms. I gave another thanks to him before sitting down my bed.

I, have a lot in my mind to think about.