Adele steeled her resolve, determined not to make the same mistakes as during the martial arts practicals.
Out of the thirty students in the class, six were at a level where they could be considered apprentice mages, and nine were at a level where magic made household chores easier. The ratio of students above average was higher, but it was common for those who could use magic at a mage level to be sent to the academy with hopes for their future, so there was nothing unusual about it.
"Let's start by trying to use magic, whether you can or cannot. Even if it's just a formality, experiencing the use of magic will be beneficial for your future."
Following the words of Miss Michelle, the magic practical instructor, the students began to chant their magic incantations. Next to Adele, the trio of Marcela and her friends were working hard. Marcela was at the "makes household chores easier" level, while Monica and Oriana seemed to be in the talentless group.
The value of a mage is determined by the power of the magic they can use at once, the amount they can use consecutively, and their recovery ability to use it again. No matter how powerful the magic, if it can only be used once, it's inconvenient. Similarly, if it takes a long time to recover, it's also inconvenient. On the other hand, even if the magic is weak, if it can be used consecutively and recovery is quick, it can be utilized effectively. For example, being able to produce 10 liters of water once a day is less useful than being able to produce 5 liters three times in a row, or 2 liters every hour.
In combat, whether a single powerful attack or multiple weaker attacks is more advantageous depends on the situation, so it can't be said definitively.
(...Huh?)
Adele felt a slight sense of unease as she watched the three of them continue to chant their incantations, but it was during class, so she pushed it out of her mind for later.
Afterward, Miss Michelle had everyone who could use magic do so, and even those who couldn't use magic were made to recognize what it meant to use magic. She was a rather excellent teacher. However, when Adele used a very ordinary magic spell, she seemed a bit disappointed, as if something had gone wrong.
"Um, can I have your time after school?"
"Uh, sure, that's fine."
Adele's serious face made it impossible for Marcela to refuse, and she agreed immediately.
And after school that day.
"Sorry to bring you all the way out here..."
Adele led the trio to a forest a short walk from the north gate of the capital.
"Why did you bring us all the way out here...?"
"Sorry, but I have something I need to confirm... Can you promise me that you won't tell anyone about what I'm about to say?"
"Uh, sure, that's fine, but..."
Monica and Oriana also nodded in agreement.
"About your magic usage, I think there might be something wrong with your method..."
The three of them looked surprised at Adele's words.
"From what I've observed, it seems like you're focusing on chanting the incantation..."
"But isn't the incantation the most important part for using magic...?"
"No, it's not."
"Wh-what?"
"Chanting is just a means to help you visualize the magic. Any words will do, and as long as you can visualize it, you don't even need to chant. Not everyone uses the same incantation, and there are even those who can use magic without chanting, right?"
"Y-yes, that's true..."
Marcela nodded in agreement with Adele's explanation.
"So, the important thing is to strongly visualize in your mind what kind of magic you want to use and how you want to use it, and then project that visualization outward. The incantation is just a way to build momentum by shouting words that match your visualization."
"I've never heard of such a thing! I was taught that silent casting is just not saying the incantation out loud, but visualizing it in your mind is what makes the magic work! And what do you mean by 'project'?"
The three of them were taken aback by Adele's explanation, which was completely different from what they had learned. Adele then explained the concept of mental projection to them.
"Also, for the visualization... when producing water, try to imagine squeezing the air to produce water, like wringing out a wet towel. Can you try it?"
The three of them were skeptical but willing to try. Among them, Monica, the curious daughter of a merchant who couldn't use magic, was the first to give it a try.
"Um, water, water, squeeze the air and come out!"
Splash splash
"Wh-what..."
In front of Monica, who was supposed to be completely unable to use magic, about 10 liters of water overflowed, wetting the ground. This was not at the "makes household chores easier" level but close to the practical level of a mage. If Monica could achieve the same level of consecutive usage and recovery speed as a regular mage, and with further training...
"No way..."
Monica was stunned.
For a merchant, the benefits of water magic are significant. A person needs at least 2 liters of water per day, and in the scorching sun, even more is required. A horse needs 30 to 40 liters of water per day. Suppose there was a carriage with two horses, a driver, and three guards. For a 20-day journey without a water supply, how much water would be needed? About 1,600 liters, or 1.6 tons. Add food and horse feed, and the space for goods would be severely limited. But if there was someone who could produce 10 liters of water every hour?
As the daughter of a mid-level merchant with some connections, and now a cute girl who could become a giant water barrel, Monica's value to merchants had greatly increased. At the very least, the possibility of being offered as a mistress to a powerful person had significantly decreased. She could at least become the wife of an independent small-scale merchant. Perhaps even the wife of a middle-scale merchant's heir.
"No... No, no way..."
Monica fell to her knees.
Seeing this, Oriana immediately shouted.
"Water! Water hidden in the air, be squeezed and appear before me! Summon water ball!"
Oriana's incantation sounded like something from a strange book.
Splash
While not as much as Monica, it was enough to make daily life much easier. She could wipe her body during long journeys and wouldn't need to go to the well for cooking.
"Hehe, hehehe..."
"Unbelievable..."
Marcela, who had been stunned by the two girls' magic, snapped out of it and began to chant her incantation. She could already produce some water, so she aimed for more.
"Water! Squeeze out of the air and become a spear! ...Fly and pierce the enemy!"
Splash!
A stream of water hit a tree about 10 meters away, splattering. While it didn't have the power to pierce the tree, it was a formidable attack spell, sufficient to temporarily incapacitate an enemy.
"I... I did it. An attack... spell..."
Marcela's voice trembled.
Only about 10% of people can make a living with magic, and most of them are in non-combat roles like water barrels or fuel. Those who can use attack spells are one in several dozen. The threshold for attack spells is higher than for simple water or fire spells, as they require condensing the magic and giving it kinetic energy to project it. This must be done with sufficient quantity and speed. For those who don't know the true principles of magic or the laws of physics, achieving this through unconscious mental projection with a random incantation requires considerable talent.
In a world where people believe that the 'powerful words' they imagine in their minds manifest magic, focusing on constructing the words that represent the desired phenomenon rather than visualizing the phenomenon itself is important. This makes it difficult to manifest multiple phenomena simultaneously or consecutively. Who would think that there is an entity that reads their thoughts and fulfills their desires, rather than the words they speak? And since the desired effects do indeed manifest, it's understandable that people focus on how to enhance these effects, even if they are secondary factors.
Therefore, those who can manifest attack spells either achieve it through strong mental projection, even if their thoughts are unclear, or through relatively clear visualization, even if their projection is not strong. Both are achieved unconsciously during incantation, either through more powerful or more specific thoughts compared to others. This is why only a few can use attack spells, which are more complex than simple utility spells.
And now, Marcela had achieved it, effortlessly.
How many noble young ladies can use attack spells? Marrying one would be like having a skilled guard always by your side, whether at a party, in private, or in the bedroom. Moreover, their talent might be inherited by their children and descendants. For nobles with many enemies, this is incredibly valuable. Good marriage proposals would definitely come. The future of becoming a second wife to an old man or a mistress to a powerful noble would disappear.
"Ah, aaaaah..."
Adele, who had only intended to do a little extra for her new friends and as a thank you for their undergarments, was bewildered by the dramatic change in their lives. She finally began to realize that she might have made a mistake.
"Um, please keep this a secret... During the next practical, please say that you 'suddenly managed to use it!' individually.
And don't include 'from the air' in your incantations; just visualize it in your mind."
The three of them, who had finally calmed down a bit, understood the implications of Adele's words. If this were to be discovered, it would be a huge scandal. The absolute difference between those who can and cannot use magic would be revealed to be a mere small gap, easily crossed. And the level of those who can use magic could be significantly improved with a simple hint.
If this were to be known, the inventor would either be detained by the state to hand over all their knowledge or killed by their father and stepmother to prevent the information from being revealed...
"Of course! We are nobles and would never betray our benefactor... I mean, our friend!"
"A merchant who breaks a promise faces only ruin!"
"Um, um... A commoner doesn't lie!"
"..."
"Hehe"
"Hehehehehehe!"
Two days later, during her magic practical class, Instructor Michelle was overjoyed to see the three students suddenly bloom with talent. She attributed it to her teaching. She was particularly interested in Marcela, who showed abilities on par with a full-fledged mage, and completely lost interest in Adele, who could only use ordinary magic.