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The next morning, guided by my mother, I entered the atelier to find that all the tools necessary for the alchemical synthesis of the contact lenses were already prepared.

A very small alchemy cauldron, perfectly suited to the quantity of alchemical water needed, was arranged. Even the mold for the contact lens was prepared. I had initially planned to create them starting from a mold, but with this pre-made mold, all I needed to do was pour the transparent Glaorite paste, significantly reducing the time required.

My mother’s thorough consideration extended to other details.

“These are ultra-fine brushes, but for something going into the eyes, it’s better to use new ones. Use these.”
“Thank you, Mother.”

While I had initially thought of myself as the guinea pig for the prototypes, upon reflection, from my mother’s perspective, I, Leafa, was her precious daughter. Considering that it would go into my eyes, it was probably wise to be cautious.

“Is everything alright with the tools now?”
“Yes. Thank you for preparing even the mold for the lens.”
“I recalled receiving it when an acquaintance moved their atelier. It’s good that it came in handy.”

Perhaps reminiscing about the past, my mother smiled with nostalgia, her eyes squinting. It seemed that with opportunities to interact with others, there were experiences like this. It was a perspective that Glass lacked, but as Leafa, I might have opportunities to make use of such connections. I’ll keep that in mind.

“Well then, call me if anything happens.”

Having confirmed that all the necessary tools were in place, my mother turned away from the atelier.

“…Is it okay if you’re not nearby, Mother?”
“I stored everything dangerous away, so it’s fine.”

While my mother said that, I was still only in first grade, and normally, wouldn’t it be common for a parent to accompany or watch over in such situations? Even in school classes that highly value autonomy, teachers always keep a watchful eye.

“…Well, I’d really love to stay close, but I might end up saying too much, so I’ll endure.”

Unexpectedly, my mother’s actions left me a bit flustered, but the reason she gave was convincing. As a professional in her field, my mother was trying to nurture my independence. Still, it was quite a level of trust. After all, it was something she couldn’t do unless she had faith I wouldn’t do anything dangerous.

“Thank you. If I encounter some trouble, I will call you.”
“Of course. If you need me, I’m here to help as much as you want.”

With the knowledge and skills of Glass, assembling the theoretical framework for the alchemical synthesis of a contact lens was straightforward. However, I needed to approach it with focus. After all, in the later years, Glass had limited mobility due to the Black Stone Disease, and Leafa’s body was still developing as a child. As a habit from when I was Glass, pondering difficult things, and getting quickly tired when doing delicate work were harmful effects that existed because I had Glass and Leafa’s memories in one body.

Listening to my mother’s footsteps fading away from the atelier, I double-checked the materials and tools. The alchemy cauldron and ultra-fine brushes provided, along with the contact lens mold, and the water magic stone powder and alchemical water obtained through teachers Anais and Lionel. Additionally, there was the transparent Glaorite paste, which served as the main body for the contact lens. Everything should be in place.

I decided to start by fitting the transparent Glaorite paste into the mold and waiting for it to dry. During this time, I’ll use the magic stone powder and alchemical water to create liquid aether with effects similar to magical ink.

The procedure itself was simple, but it was crucial to be mindful of adjusting it to match the blue hue of Alfe’s eye. I put alchemical water in the alchemy cauldron, heated it, and dissolved the water magic stone powder once small bubbles started forming. While adjusting the blue color and aligning it with Alfe’s eye color from memory, I prepared several liquid aethers and poured them into bottles.

Before the transparent Glaorite solidified, I decided to choose the color that would look most natural when overlaid on Alfe’s Pure Eye. I asked my mother for some transparent Glaorite plates.

Utilizing the drying time of the Glaorite, I visited the Clifford residence, held the color against Alfe’s eye, confirmed the shade, and explained the situation to Mrs. Clifford. I decided to keep the details from Alfe, making it a surprise for her after the completion.

“I’m looking forward to it, Leafa.”

Alfe saw me off with a sparkle in her eyes, seeming somewhat reluctant to see me go.

Indeed, Alfe’s Pure Eye was beautiful. I suppose I really like those sparkling eyes of hers. If it weren’t for certain circumstances, that dazzling eye, especially when filled with joy or excitement, could have become Alfe’s treasure. Despite my feelings, the drawbacks for Alfe outweighed the positives, which was quite frustrating.

However, controlling others was impossible, so for the moment, it was better to focus on reducing potential concerns. This was also Alfe’s wish. For Alfe’s sake, I needed to complete the contact lens this weekend.

After fine tuning the blue color of the liquid aether when I got home, the prototype of transparent Glaorite had solidified. I used an ultra-fine brush to inscribe a simplified formula on it.

I wrote two formulas: one for the shape optimization that made the transparent Glaorite naturally fit and another for the automatic cleaning that enhanced air permeability, allowing it to wash away any dust that adhered.

Humans emitted a small amount of aether from their bodies just by being alive. Therefore, this contact lens worked by having the effects of the simple formula activate simply by being worn on the pupil.

Following my mother’s suggestion, I avoided the center of the eye and wrote the formula in a donut shape. This way, the pupil remained transparent, ensuring it didn’t obstruct the field of view. Perhaps I should have measured Alfe’s pupil size just to be sure… But I didn’t have the right tools for that.

Using this opportunity, I decided to include an automatic adjustment for the pupil in the simple glyph of shape optimization. Glass was quite nearsighted, but Leafa’s eyesight was good, making it convenient for detailed work.