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After dipping the pen nib into ink mixed with finely ground magic stones, I soaked a paper strip in water also infused with the magical powder and allowed it to dry naturally. I then proceeded to draw magic circles and runes that Cestlavie had previously taught me.

Although my handwriting is not particularly elegant, I strive for fidelity to basics and readability—a point noted by the librarian who caught me copying a forbidden manuscript from the academy’s library.

My emphasis on legible writing likely stems from the numerous admonitions I received from Regina during my studies at the hermitage in Tenebrae Nemus.

In this world, the script combines hiragana, katakana, and phonetic symbols resembling distorted Roman letters. Logographic characters akin to kanji, known as “ancient characters” or “sacred characters,” are rarely used except by scholars or clergy.

It is said that in ancient times, there were tens of thousands of these characters, but now, due to the losses incurred during the ancient Finis Jihad war, even someone as learned as Cestlavie, a full-fledged Priest, only knows about 500 sacred characters.

The rapid decline of cultural knowledge without regular use is a recurring theme, as I’ve noted even the common kanji used to number around 2,000.

On a slightly different note, believers and clergymen are baptized with sacred characters homophonic to their birth names. For example, someone named “Francis” might be officially assigned a name like 腐乱死酢, or Decomposing Death Vinegar, which reads Furansisu—a name as elegant as a biker gang’s graffiti.

Having learned this during a theology class, I immediately decided to remain irreligious.

Interestingly, when I asked Cestalvie about his official baptismal name, he evasively changed the subject and didn’t disclose it.

Once the ink had fully dried, I infused the talisman with the activation incantation and the necessary mana.

“―Wind!”

The charm ignited with a flash and turned to ash in an instant, the remnants crumbling and scattering into the wind.

““Aahhh~~~…””

Eren, Lana, and Pryui, who had been watching anxiously, all sighed in unison, disappointed.

“…Another failure. I thought I had restrained my mana, but it seems the magic circuits can’t handle it.”

Despite Cestlavie’s thorough instruction in Talisman Art, it appears incompatible with me. Every attempt to transmit mana to the talisman results in it either burning out instantly or exploding. Reducing the magical power has not helped, and attempting the activation incantation without mana infusion only produces a faint burning smell and smoke, rendering the charm unresponsive.

When I had others try activating the charm, a small whirlwind appeared with Eren, a gentle breeze with Lana, and a fairly strong wind with Pryui. It seems the activation conditions vary based on each individual’s internal magic capacity and familiarity. In my case, the amount of magic power I unconsciously release is too great for the fragile magical circuits drawn on the cards.

“I didn’t expect it to work perfectly from the start, but this makes learning the talisman magic quite a waste, doesn’t it?”
“I’m surprised that even Lady Jill can fail at something,” Eren’s remark, blending astonishment and slight relief, elicited a wry smile from me.

“Of course. My life has been a series of failures and setbacks from the very start…”

“Talking about life at your age seems a bit odd, though,” Pryui remarked, cocking her head to the side.

“Well, compared to elves who live for a thousand years, that might be true. But believe it or not, I feel I’ve lived quite an intense life.”

Truthfully, the past two or three years have felt as though they’ve compressed about a decade’s worth of experiences for an average person. Is this just my imagination?

“In any case, this art needs fundamental improvements.”

It’s akin to trying to light a rocket firework with a flamethrower instead of a fuse. I should focus on minimizing the initial spark. However, if I already have a flamethrower, there’s hardly a need to bother with fireworks—conventional magic is quicker and more efficient than fussing with talismans.

“This is tricky…”

I sighed, pondering whether there might be a way to harness this knowledge effectively. If the circuits are too fragile to withstand the magic, maybe incorporating more magic stones or enhancing the talisman material’s resilience could be the solution. Yet, the end result might still not be worth the effort if it merely amounted to a flashy, short-lived spectacle.

Just then, Monika approached with a courteous bow.

“Milady, Lord Lucas is seeking you. Could you please come to the guest room?”
“Luke is? What’s the issue?”
“It seems the egg that Chaton gave him is about to hatch.”
““““!!!””””

Everyone in the room gasped at the news.

“Understood. Please tell him I’ll be there immediately.”