"You have some talent for the sword, luckily. I have a way to assure that you will make a contract with the juvenile Great Fae, and everything else can be arranged afterwards. Play your part right and everything will be fine."
After saying all she intended, she turned back and reached for the door handle, but…
"Young Miss…! Forgive my forwardness, but… do you know anything about sword's will?"
"...eh…?"
Shockingly, the petite maid called out, stopping Amelia in her tracks and even making her let out a confused voice.
"Sword's will?"
"Y-yes."
Amelia asked to confirm and the maid nodded her head, although hesitantly.
"It's not something that you should be worried about, but…"
The blond-haired noble lady turned around and leaned her back against the door sighing while furrowing her brows.
"Similar to Vallhall family's Essence of Winter, Swordsmanship as we know it is another magic system, one that can be learned by basically anyone but mastered by a few. The sword-based magic system that can be used alongside every other magic system, be it a common one, or a special one like yours or Essence of Winter…
Swordsmanship is popular amongst mercenaries born as magic-less commoners since its difficulty lies in being time-consuming. Most magicians don't bother with even checking their affinity with it, as they are usually talented with actual magic. Similar to how it is with the common magic system, there are different levels to swordsmanship. It is so basic that once you pick up a sword, you can call yourself a sword user. A sword user is considered a sword master when they can use sword aura. It's similar to spells, but it uses mana differently, with the sword as a medium. "
She said dismissively, clearly not bothering herself to actually go into proper details.
"It takes time, but literally everyone can get to that level. It is generally as strong as spells up to a 3rd tier if mastered. The next step after a sword master is a sword grandmaster. That title is granted when a sword master is capable of using true sword aura. Basic sword aura is something that can only work with the medium of the sword and is limited to it. True sword aura isn't bound to the sword alone anymore, becoming a proper magic system with ranged, defensive, and utility spells… although sword grandmasters insist on calling them moves or skills, but that's just semantics at that point. That stage can also be achieved with practice and time by everyone, and it's basically what you will be aiming for. Its upper limit is around the 5th or sometimes, rarely, the 6th tier of normal magicians. Only that if practicioners don't have even an ounce of talent, they cannot achieve the peak of that stage, even until their death."
Amelia said while waving her hand dismissively.
"The next step, and something that separates that which can be achieved with hard work and that which you need to be born with talent for, not unlike normal magic, is achieving sword intent. It's supposed to be some sort of enlightenment. The practitioners probably thought they were doing something amazing, but that stage is separated into several steps, and borrows names from noble titles. Starting with Sword Baron and so on until Sword King. They are equals of magicians from 7th to 10th tier, although as you may have figured out, they have more minute differences than normal magicians don't bother with. For example, Sword Viscount would be like a 7,5th tier. Just silly."
Amelia rolled her eyes, acting dismissively.
"Achieving sword's will is the final step of that magic system, and the ones who are able to do it are called Sword Emperors. Entities that are capable of outputting the force of the legendary 11th tier. In truth, the records of Sword Emperors together with the presence of Vallhall family's Essence of Winter are the only basis that us, normal magicians, have for claiming that the 11th tier of magic could theoretically exist in the first place. I understand why you would be interested in the sword's will, but it is not something necessary for you."
Amelia added, taking a deep breath and glancing to the side, for the first time showing signs of being dispirited about her own limitations.
"You see, in the story the Grand Fae of Light imparted on me, the hero uses the strength of the Grand Fae to achieve the 11th tier of magic and uses the spells of that tier to defeat the deofols invading our world. What you should focus on is achieving sword aura and eventually the true sword aura. It will be indispensable. You see, currently, there are no Sword Emperors alive to even show you the sword's will. To my knowledge, there was one in the Vallhall family until six years ago, but he died from natural causes. Their current patriarch is a Sword King. Though... if you're interested in sword intent… I guess arranging training with him will be too difficult until we get Saria Vallhall on our side… Well, there are plenty of other Sword Intent users who would be willing to help in the meantime. I'll look into it since experiencing it should help you achieve the sword aura. For now, focus on recovering as soon as possible. We have a criminal to unmask, and since he isn't supposed to show up in the story later, I plan on actually proving that he is guilty and have him expelled, charged, and put to justice."
Satisfied with her own explanation, Amelia Edemsworth turned around and left after winking at the petite maid, leaving her subordinate to their own thoughts.
"..."
The petite maid lowered her head, looking at her hands.
She unclenched her fists, keenly observing her palms while moving her fingers.
Just before Amelia woke her up…
That dream… was it all a dream…?
The feeling of blocked pathways bursting open…
If… if she tired and circulates mana through them… what would happen…?
Would anything happen?
Were they even real or just a part of the dream…?
A magic system separate from the faulty one she was born with, one that can be gained through hard work...
She was hesitant, but after glancing at the door closed by Amelia, she made a determined expression.
She didn't force her mana to find its pathways... instead, remembering Rotsard's words about letting the mana get pulled in.
Although he said it about the sword, the petite maid had an odd feeling that it would work out in this case, too.
So she closed her eyes and focused all her attention on the movement of her own mana.
Waiting for any changes.
And…
"Wha…!?"
A sudden tug on her still mana reservoir caused her to let out a shocked voice.
Forget about being pulled in peacefully! The next moment, like a dam breaking under the unbelievable pressure, her mana got sucked right in, creating a pattern the petite maid had never circulated it in before, completing it almost instantaneously!
*whoom*
"...e-eehh…?"
The next moment, the air vibrated, and the petite maid's shocked face was basked in a pure-white light, forcing a particularly exasperated gasp of pure disbelief out of her.