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“Alright, let’s try practicing the simplified formula for summoning fairies. Those who have finished writing in their notebooks, please go ahead and practice.”
“Page twenty-six, Leafa.”

While I gazed at the blackboard, Alfe informed me with a whispered voice. I turned to the specified page, finding an introduction to ‘Create Fairy’ as spirit magic.

Create Fairy was the most fundamental form of spirit magic, a spell used to refine a fairy without a physical form. To craft this fairy, a formula board was needed as a catalyst. Preparing the characteristics and behavioral patterns of the fairy in advance, you write them on the formula board as a simplified formula. Summoning is then done by imbuing aether.

“Alfe and Leafa, please use this.”

Teacher Lionel distributed blank formula boards and fountain pens.

“This fountain pen contains ink called ‘magic ink.’ It is an ink specifically designed for magic, with properties that conduct aether. This magic ink is also used on the formula boards of your household magical devices.”

The formula board was a basic square made of metal, measuring ten centimeters on each side with a thickness of three millimeters. This size allowed for considerable writing, but I wondered about the required precision for the inscription.

“Feel free to write whatever you like. Be cautious not to summon anything too large, as it will consume more aether accordingly.”

Perhaps sensing my dilemma, the teacher turned towards me and spoke. Alfe nodded in understanding and began writing a simplified spellcraft on the spell foundation.

‘Plant, sun, yellow, summon.’

It seemed like Alfe had imagined a fairy of yellow flowers, possibly inspired by the example fairy.

“My servant. Come into existence. Create Fairy.”

Following Alfe’s incantation, a gentle yellow-flower fairy emerged from the formula board. The fairy, adorned in a dress with petals that shimmered like the sun, for some reason wore a hat made of leaves.

“It seems you reproduced even what isn’t written on the formula board, Alfe.”
“Well, um, this… I envisioned Leafa while doing it. Because Leafa is like my sun…”

As Alfe said this, the yellow-flower fairy hovered in the air and approached me.

“The leaf hat represents my treasure, huh? Thank you, Alfe.”
“Yeah!”

Although Alfe showcased quite an advanced skill, the teacher didn’t go overboard with praise for Alfe. Perhaps this was within the expected range of Alfe’s abilities for something of this level. If that were the case, maybe I could create something decent as well.

“…Leafa, what kind of fairy are you going to make?”

Waiting for the teacher to check on other students, Alfe whispered to me. Alfe’s ability to subtly show consideration was truly remarkable.

“Well, let me think…”

I didn’t want to put too much thought into what to create, so why not make something that would make Alfe happy? With that in mind, I quickly wrote on the spell foundation. ‘Animal, four legs, cat ears, tail, white, golden eyes, blue eyes, small size, summon.’ It’s a bit messy, but I hope it captures a childlike feeling.

It would be nice if I could summon the cat from ‘The Cat and The Princess’ story that Alfe liked.

“…My servant. Come into existence. Create Fairy.”

I flowed aether into the formula board along with the incantation. As intended, I successfully summoned a very small cat with white fur, and golden and blue eyes.

“Leafa, that’s amazing!”

Alfe exclaimed with joy, catching the attention of Teacher Lionel.

“……”

The teacher didn’t say anything, but a clear sense of admiration was evident in his expression.

In my attempt to create something messy and childlike, I seemed to have unintentionally conjured a fairy with high precision. It appeared that overlaying Alfe’s image onto the model cat had backfired.

Maybe I should go a bit easier on the details next time and create something like a slime. For now, I should stop the supply of aether and erase it.

“Hey, Leafa, this—”
“Huh, what is it?”

While erasing a part of the formula board, Alfe called out to me.

“Oh…”

As I stopped the supply of aether and erased the magic ink from the formula board, the cat naturally disappeared.

“Huh…why? Why did it vanish…?”
“Ah, I accidentally rubbed my sleeve on the board.”
“Aww…”

Alfe looked like she was about to cry.

Darn it. Since I used something Alfe liked as a model, I should have thought about this kind of thing.

“I’m sorry…”
“I-it’s okay… Even though you made it so carefully, it disappeared. You must be annoyed the most, and yet, I…”

Alfe seemed on the verge of tears, rubbing her eyes while biting her lip. It seemed like she was holding back from crying, thinking I must be more troubled and sad.

Alfe has grown so much to be able to think that far… She was such a small baby. …In a physical sense, I’m the same, though.

“Leafa, did you erase that white cat?”
“Oh, yes… I accidentally erased it.”
“I see…”

It seemed that Teacher Lioner also had a significant interest in the white cat I created. It might be good that I managed to erase it quickly without attracting unnecessary attention.

“That’s a pretty good formula board. I look forward to the next practical exercise.”
“Yeah, but… I think I’ll focus on more basic things for now.”

While pretending to be humble, I conveyed my intention to avoid affecting future tasks. The teacher nodded in respect of my decision and moved towards another student who had raised their hand.

There was little time left in the class. Throughout the classroom, fairies created by classmates floated around. Alfe, on the other hand, gazed somewhat regretfully at the formula board where my magic ink had been erased, leaving some traces behind.

“Hey, if you like it that much, I’ll give you that formula board, Alfe.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It seems like I cleared the assignment, at least.”

Besides, this formula board wasn’t usable in its current state since some of the magic ink had been erased. Nevertheless, Alfe seemed happy without any concerns.

“I was so happy when you made a cat from my favorite book, Leafa.”

Alfe narrowed her eyes dreamily and smiled enchantingly.

“That picture book has been your favorite since you were little.”
“No, it’s because you always read it to me.”

It seemed that Alfe’s memories were missing and altered¹, from infancy to around the daycare period. Originally, Mrs. Judy used to read it to her, and it was supposed to be her favorite to the point of getting a stuffed animal.

If there were childhood friends who remembered such things, it would probably be creepy. There’s no need for her to know the whole truth, and it’s better to keep silent.

“…Alfe, you remember a lot.”
“Yeah. I remember everything about you, Leafa.”

Most likely, that confidence stemmed from the fact that almost all of Alfe’s memories were related to me. Perhaps, in the future, such memories would fade away, and that might be for the best.

“I see…”

Not knowing how to respond to Alfe, I scanned the classroom with my eyes. Alfe didn’t press for further conversation either, and she looked around the classroom just like me.

Various fairies created by classmates floated or flew around. Some of them were incomplete as forms of life, but even those imperfect fairies felt like expressions of childish imagination.

From Teacher Lionel’s reactions, it seemed that everyone in the class had succeeded in summoning. However, looking around like this, even though it was an elite class, the difference in abilities had become quite evident.

1. Robinxen: Oh no, she’s rewriting herself!