Asher continued reading, his eyes scanning the page for any further clues on this "Circuits Reconstruction."
The more he thought about it, the more it seed like sothing he could never attempt—at least, not without serious consequences. What was described in the book felt like a form of suicide.
But if she had written about it, maybe it wasn't as impossible as it seed. She understood magic in ways he couldn't even begin to grasp.
Then, it hit him. When he'd been nothing but a head, his body completely disintegrated, only to later reform. Could it have been sothing similar to what he was reading in the book?
He stared down at his hand, the thought gnawing at him.
'Could this be the key to understanding what had happened to ?'
He took another deep breath, focusing all his attention on his body. He tried to activate the sa skill he had used before to view his magic circuits.
But nothing happened.
He tried again, pushing harder this ti, but the result was the sa.
Frustration bubbled up inside him. 'Why isn't it working?'
His thoughts swirled, tangled in confusion, until the door creaked open.
Index entered, now wearing a black apron and carrying a tray of food. The scent of fresh-baked goods and vegetable soup filled the air.
She had also swapped her hat for one normally worn by bakers, which made her look even more adorable.
"Where did you get that?" he asked, montarily distracted by her looks.
Index bead, her lips curling up.
"From my in-house garden. I got so seeds while searching a floating ruin and studied how to grow them. To be honest, I don't usually cook, but I made an exception because you're here."
Asher blinked, unsure whether to be impressed or worried.
She wasn't doing this because she had an ulterior motive. She was simply being kind, excited to have company after so much ti in isolation.
Experience tales at empire
Still, in his current state of vulnerability, such gestures had a way of hitting deeper than they normally would.
Staring at her apron and how cute she looked, like a wife in training, Asher reminded himself to stay mindful. It would be wrong to take advantage of her kindness, especially since he already had Lucy.
He watched her set the tray down.
She was a mystery in so many ways—intelligent, capable, and surprisingly thoughtful. It was hard not to admire her.
"Are you going to eat, or just stare at it?" she asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.
He cleared his throat, trying to regain so composure. "Right. Sorry, just got distracted for a second."
She giggled softly, unaware of his inner conflict. "Eat the bread first, I'm really confident in my baking skills."
A smile tugged at his lips as he tried to play it off. "Thanks. This looks amazing."
He took a bite of the bread, and the mont it touched his tongue, it practically lted.
The flavor was unlike anything he had ever tasted—rich, warm, and sohow... invigorating.
"It is good?" she asked, her eyes wide with expectation as she waited for a response.
Asher nodded, still caught off guard by how the simple bread had such an impact.
"It's really good. I've never tasted anything like this."
"I'm glad you like it." Her expression softened as she spoke. "I wanted it to be special, so I put a lot of effort into it."
'Special...' he sighed, the word lingering in his mind.
It was a very misleading word, or maybe he was just over-thinking it. Instead of responding, he focused on the food, using it as a distraction.
Next, he reached for the vegetable soup, dipping his spoon in and bringing it to his lips.
The warmth and rich flavors hit him imdiately, and he couldn't help but smile.
Each bite was comforting, satisfying, and well beyond what he expected from a simple homade al. The vegetables were perfectly cooked, the broth flavorful without being too overpowering.
He savored each spoonful, almost forgetting about the confusing thoughts swirling in his mind.
When he finished, he leaned back slightly in his chair. He glanced over at Index. She was still watching him with an expectant look, waiting for feedback.
"It's really delicious," he spoke with sincerity.
Her face lit up. She couldn't hide her satisfaction, her shoulders relaxing as she took in the complint.
"What's that ?" she noticed the bit of soup left on his lips and, with a small, almost absent gesture, reached forward to gently dab it away with a napkin.
She withdrew her hand slowly, offering him a gentle smile. "There, that's better."
That small gesture hit him harder than he expected.
His mind imdiately jumped to conclusions, so he quickly forced himself to take a deep breath, trying to steady his thoughts while maintaining a neutral face.
'She's just too innocent.. Don't read more into it,' he reminded himself, ntally pushing the unwanted ideas.
After a few seconds, he managed to settle down and quickly shifted the conversation.
"So, about the third topic..." he asked, eager to move past the awkwardness. "Can you tell more about this Perfect Magic Body and Circuits Reconstruction?"
"You're interested in that right away? It's not exactly beginner-level topic, but... I suppose I can explain."
"Yeah, I'm curious."
Index nodded, tapping the side of her cup thoughtfully. "It's a very advanced technique. Essentially, it's about reshaping the pathways within your body to better suit your personal magic."
She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she considered. "Actually, I think it's better for to show you."
As she raised her hands, her magic circuits glowed from within her skin.
Asher was shocked to see how different they were compared to what he had seen in Lucy, Kitsune, and even himself.
Instead of the straight lines that resembled circuits or the surface of a computer chip, hers looked more like the roots of a tree—complex, sprawling, and organic.
The lines seed to pulse and move with life, branching out in every direction, far more intricate than anything he had ever seen.
What struck him most was the sheer thickness of her magic pathways.
They were at least twenty tis thicker than his. Asher's own circuits were only about seven tis thicker than normal, but hers were around twenty tis.
"It's the result of having the 'Perfect Magic Body,'" she explained thoughtfully. "My circuits, or magic pathways, are more like a living organism. They expand, shrink, and adapt, responding to my needs."
"And unlike the limits of my old body, this one can change whenever I need it to. That's why I can use magic without needing my body to stay in one form. It's also why I was able to turn into multiple butterflies."
Asher's eyes widened. "So, your magic doesn't rely on a physical form at all?"
"Exactly. When your pathways are flexible, you can bend the rules. It's not just about control—it's about becoming one with it, shaping yourself into whatever form you need.
"The ability to transform your very essence to match your magic, instead of having your magic conform to your body, is, I believe, the peak of existence itself," she declared.
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