'Celestial wings...!'
The celestial wings that Etherna used in the original work.
A perfect offensive and defensive unity technique, and a power even the protagonist coveted.
The one reason the protagonist with 'storage' couldn't obtain it was simple.
'It was because it was such a powerful force that his body couldn't endure it until he fully absorbed it.'
No matter how much he trained by the ti he t Etherna, he couldn't store all the power of the celestial wings.
Killing her was the only way to set her free.
'Thinking back, she must have gained near-infinite vitality through the Hyperhemia experint, right?'
He already knew after synchronizing with Whistle that ordinary vitality couldn't withstand that power.
Etherna naturally had a constitution with a lot of vitality, but even so, she had maintained synchronization for too long during her fight with the protagonist in the original.
Surely, even as her body was torn apart by the power of lightning, she continued regenerating like Donovan—a modified overlife entity.
'And now, you say I can use it without synchronization?'
As Luca sensed a feeling of anticipation from Whistle, Whistle gently shook her beak and spoke.
"First, I'll explain exactly what the celestial wings are."
"Keep it brief."
"... Okay."
Whistle, about to give a lengthy explanation, hesitated after seeing Luca's now-chilling gaze, and then opened her mouth.
"Celestial wings are like a small sky connected to their owner's body."
"Explain it more intuitively."
"Th-that really is about all I can say. The celestial wings are like unfolding that sky up above onto your back."
At this vague explanation again, Luca narrowed his eyes.
But even this ti, it seed Whistle couldn't explain it much more simply.
"Normally, you have to draw power from the sky to use its powers. But if you unfold the celestial wings, you can draw that power from there instead."
Listening to Whistle, sothing clicked for Luca.
'A small sky...'
― On Etherna's back, sky-like wings blossoming like a shimring haze.
― Each feathered wing firing lightning in different directions.
― The lightning shot in multiple trajectories was even harder to dodge than bolts falling directly from the sky.
According to the original description, you could shoot lightning in many directions from the celestial wings.
Combining that with Whistle's explanation, Luca guessed the celestial wings allowed you to use techniques that were possible only in the sky, even on the ground.
"What's the difference between using powers from the sky and through celestial wings?"
"There is none."
"... None?"
Luca looked puzzled, and Whistle also seed puzzled.
"Yeah. That's what's so amazing."
"...?"
At that, Luca recalled how the sky's power was used.
'So... when I call a lightning strike, I normally have to create a cloud in the sky, channel lightning into it, amplify the strength, and drop it. But this lets cut that process short?'
Certainly, being able to shorten casting ti and control directions sounded useful.
As Luca seed to grasp it, Whistle bobbed her beak.
"And more than anything, the big deal is you can use sky's power even without an actual sky above you!"
"That's true."
So far, he hadn't been in such a situation, but if you ever went underground or were inside a building, you obviously couldn't summon lightning from the sky.
"You're the type who understands by actually using it more than by hearing explanations a hundred tis, so I'll just teach you how to use it right away."
Whistle began another explanation.
"The reason you can use the celestial wings now isn't because your affinity for rain awakened, it's thanks to gaining the power of space."
"Unless you synchronize with , the only way to draw enough sky power to unfold the celestial wings is by drawing it from space."
"Drawing pure sky power, instead of lightning, clouds, or rain, through space—that's what you need to do first."
Whistle's words made Luca frown a little.
"Pure sky power?"
"It's not really different from other sky powers. It's just a more fundantal force, but you'll be able to distinguish it soon enough."
With that, Whistle spread her wings.
A radiance resembling the blueness of the sky blood from her.
"This is pure sky power."
"Ho. Got it, more or less."
It was definitely different from lightning or clouds but gave a sowhat similar feeling.
"Just practice drawing that energy through space. When you get used to it, you'll be able to use the sky's power without getting it from ."
Whistle would never really be separated from Luca, but being able to use the sky power in ergencies was a good thing.
Luca nodded slowly.
"Understood. I'll give it a try."
Luca now had another kind of training to work on.
***
Once again, days flew by busily.
Luca trained in swordsmanship and with the celestial wings.
Ottbo worked on the Srettle Magus project.
Milia focused on building her own faction.
In a flash, another week passed and the weekend arrived.
For the first ti in a while, Luca visited the café near the dorm.
"It's been a while, Luca!"
There sat Pasmo, drinking tea.
Sitting across from her, Luca pouted while shaking a letter brought by a spirit-bird resembling Whistle.
"Shouldn't you be contacting via student notebook by now?"
"Hehe. That just doesn't have enough romance, you know."
Pasmo still hadn't given him her student notebook communication code.
Luca regretted that he couldn't contact her more often, but he couldn't really complain more than that.
"Are you finally done with everything that kept you busy?"
"I was really overwheld! Skipping classes for a few days was the least of my worries; I had to drop an ongoing project, and restarting it made things so complicated!"
Pasmo chattered on about all the troubles she'd faced.
Luca made appropriate responses while drinking his tea.
After drinking tea while waiting for Pasmo a few tis, he'd grown used to the flavors.
"But I'm grateful all my professor and friends from the project ca back!"
"That's good to hear."
Pasmo gave him a gentle smile in response to his flat tone.
"Hehe. It's all thanks to you, Luca."
"... Have you had any news from your family?"
Luca asked what concerned him most.
Having a prickly relationship with the Thier duchy would be troubleso.
But Pasmo bead.
"It's fine. Gremo spoke well on my behalf to my parents!"
"Gremo... Your younger brother from last ti?"
"Hehe. Such a reliable younger brother. He convinced them he'd learn heteromorphic alchemy so he could inherit the family in my place!"
Pasmo shrugged.
"But honestly, even if I inherit the Thier ducal family by marrying you, it won't matter much."
"Is that so."
From Luca's perspective, it was a good thing if Pasmo beca the head of Thier family.
His own faction would only get stronger.
"Co to think of it, Gremo said he wants to et you again... though I'm not sure why."
"Ha. Maybe he wants to know who stole away his beloved elder sister."
"Hmm... He's never seed that interested in my romantic life..."
Seeing her look confused, Luca took another sip of tea and said,
"Just so you know, after graduating, I plan to grow the organization I'm running called 'Starry'. The main goal is to destroy 'Demonz', the ones who targeted you, but I haven't decided what cos after that."
"Heh... Even as a first year, you already have such clear plans for the future!"
"Pasmo. I'd feel very reassured if you joined our organization. It might be dangerous, though..."
Tok.
Pasmo's finger tapped Luca's lips as he spoke.
He fell silent, and she smiled.
"There's no need for words. I've already sworn to follow you after I took your hand and left the party. Even if the road is dangerous, it doesn't matter to ."
"... Is that so."
Luca closed his eyes for a mont, then gave a faint smile.
"Thank you."
"Hehe. By the way, have you been studying well for your exams? Not that I worry about you..."
"?
At her question, Luca looked puzzled.
Then, recalling she'd missed the midterm, he nodded.
"I took the midterm."
"?
Pasmo seed confused by his answer too.
"Well, of course... right...?"
"?
The conversation didn't seem to be connecting.
Luca asked to make sure.
"What exam are you talking about?"
"The final exam."
"The final?"
Luca's expression grew puzzled for a mont, then sothing struck him and his eyes trembled.
"I see. Did the academic schedule change?"
Whirr!
"?"
At that mont, Luca's student notebook buzzed.
He checked his ssages and, wearing a curious expression, stood up.
"Sorry, Pasmo, but I have to go ahead."
"You're leaving so soon?"
He replied flatly to her regretful look.
"I'll co here for tea tomorrow morning."
"... Hehe. All right."
With Pasmo's answer, Luca left the café and headed to the academy president's office in the main building.
***
Hernan Academy had abruptly entered an unscheduled temporary recess.
Of course, since these days off were taken from sumr vacation, the total number of vacation days didn't change.
But the academic schedule was altered.
"Other academic events are rescheduled—so why aren't the exam dates changed?"
Activities like job experience and guest lectures were postponed.
But the final exams weren't, which mystified Luca.
Herote answered sharply.
"That's obvious. Any off-campus activities require prep ti."
Oddly enough, Herote was wearing glasses and working in the office.
Luca blinked, sitting across from her.
"Prep ti?"
"Internal activities can be done whenever, but off-campus stuff takes applications and approval. You can't just send students off right after midterms."
After her words, Luca finally got it, clicking his tongue.
"... So that's why they do finals first."
"From a student's view, it's good; it shortens the test scope."
Herote said this as she signed so docunts.
Then, dissatisfied, she tossed her pen onto the desk, took off her glasses, rubbed her eyes, and slouched back in her chair.
"Whew. Why is there so much to do? I didn't realize it at first, but once you start, the work is endless."
"Huh, weren't you supposed to be all relaxed and confident?"
When Luca mocked her, Herote puffed out her cheeks.
"If you gave even half the attention you give Pasmo, would it kill you?"
"You sure want a lot. Anyway, what's your business with ?"
"Hmph. Now I don't feel like giving it to you."
Luca looked sowhat puzzled by her suddenly averted face.
"'Giving' sothing?"
"Eltima sent you a gift for your help in the Lamata Empire. But I won't give it to you."
Luca's eyes widened at the ntion of a gift from Etherna, then he strode right up to Herote and leaned over the desk.
"Give it."
"..."
As Luca leaned in, Herote flinched.
Seeing her face reflected in his clear eyes, she blushed and turned her head away.
"A-all right, I'll give it, so move back a bit."
At her words, Luca obediently drew back.
Herote sighed lightly and held out her hand.
Shung.
A square wooden box appeared in her hand.
Luca accepted it, and Herote propped her chin on one hand at the desk and said,
"I don't know what's inside either. Just open it already."
"Hmm."
At her words, Luca nodded and opened the box.
"This is..."
Luca's eyes widened slightly as he looked inside, while Herote made a dumbfounded face.
"What kind of thing is that to give to a kid?"
― A suffocating force that seed to constrict your heart just by looking at it.
― A power so corrupting, it tainted its surroundings rely by existing.
― This thing, almost like a demon's heart, was called a demon stone.
The mont he saw it, the description flashed through Luca's mind.
He wasn't sure whose demon stone it was, but it was a 'living' demon stone, containing formidable power.
"... Not that it was ant for , I suppose."
Luca grinned as he gazed at it.
"I like it very much."
Right as the absorption of the demonic eye had just been completed.
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