[70] I Need More Power!
[What do you seek in magic?]
"I seek power."
"I want to become stronger."
"Like the blazing flames that scorch the earth."
"Like the fierce wind that cuts through the sky."
"Stronger than anyone, stronger than anyone, stronger than anyone."
"Stronger than everyone."
"Burning my enemies and illuminating myself."
[Is that all?]
"That's it, I need more power!"
[Very well.]
"So, am I going to sleep again?"
[That is inevitable.]
"Again, and again..."
[Goodbye.]
As the words faded, Aiden felt himself drifting into a deep, consuming slumber.
...
On the boundless grassland, a tiny flame appeared, and soon, the small spark grew into a raging inferno. Yet, amidst the burning fields, Aiden felt no pain, only a gentle warmth. The crimson flames scorched the earth, raised clouds of dust, and lifted Aiden slowly into the air.
'Is this the updraft from the flames carrying me up? Am I in the land of Hyrule from The Legend of Zelda?'
This was Aiden's first thought.
Then, the fiery dreamscape shattered abruptly. In his sleep, Aiden felt his bed shaking, the house trembling, and in the darkness, the whole world seemed to spin.
Holy Crap, is this an earthquake? He never heard of earthquakes in Orario.
Dazed, Aiden tried to rise, to sit up, but found he couldn't. His body seemed to have lost all control.
'Am I awake? Is this sleep paralysis? Or am I still dreaming, thinking I'm awake? Interesting, I've never experienced sleep paralysis before.'
In a half-asleep state, Aiden cheerfully focused his thoughts to break free from the dream.
A blue flame ignited from Aiden's body, its light piercing the darkness, and its heat slowly restored his control over his limbs.
The next moment, Aiden opened his bleary eyes.
"Phew, finally awake. Still feeling dizzy though. This must be the aftereffect of oversleeping. How am I going to sleep tonight?" Aiden glanced at the clock on his desk. "Luckily, it's still early."
"I wonder what my second magic will be? I remember answering fire, so it should be an offensive skill this time."
However, Aiden didn't ask the low-profile system. Although the system, which had analyzed the essence of the Falna, could update his status and reveal his magic, doing so now would be hard to explain to Hestia.
So, Aiden had to curb his excitement and patiently wait for Hestia to return and update his status.
Turning to the window, he saw a clear blue sky, not a cloud in sight, with the blazing sun hanging silently, bringing light and heat to the earth.
The scorching sunlight matched Aiden's current mood.
Aiden lightly patted his head, trying to shake off the dizziness, and went to the bathroom to wash his face.
"Much better after washing my face, though I still feel a bit dizzy." Aiden looked at his reflection. Despite sleeping for a long time, his eyes were bloodshot, his gaze listless, and his expression still somewhat dazed, showing signs of lingering sleepiness.
"I must have slept for more than eleven hours today. Wow, I really am a sleep god." Aiden joked, looking at his sleepy reflection.
"I can save the remaining grimoire for when I can't sleep at night. Haha, I'm such a genius." Aiden self-mockingly remarked.
"But if I do that, who knows if I'll wake up in the middle of the night again? Plus, I'll have to wait until tomorrow morning to find out what the final magic is." Aiden sighed.
"So, it's better to get it over with quickly." While he patted his still dizzy head. Aiden returned to his desk, picked up the last grimoire, and prepared to read it.
Aiden took the grimoire to his bed, found a comfortable position, and only then did he open it. "If I'm going to sleep, I might as well do it lying down. Worst case, I can pull an all-nighter in the dungeon and test out the new magic."
Settling in, Aiden opened the last grimoire. The first page had transformed again as before.
[Autobiography: Magic Mirror, the Strongest and Most Beautiful Magical Girl in the World Is Me - Side Story: Battle Against the Tyrant.]
Seeing this, Aiden couldn't help but groan, "Why are all three grimoires about magical girls? Are these written by Gen Urobuchi? Or are they just twisted versions?"
He continued to turn the pages.
[What does magic mean to you?]
As soon as the question was posed, the scene shifted dramatically. Aiden found himself in the middle of an ocean, with towering cliffs standing like sentinels on the shore in the distance. The sky was filled with ominous clouds, and the light of the sun, moon, and stars was hidden. A relentless storm raged, cold sea winds howled, and waves crashed violently against the cliffs, sending sprays of water high into the air.
In the midst of this roaring storm, Aiden floated like a feather, buffeted by the winds.
"To me, magic is the wind." Aiden answered immediately.
Fierce, swift, untamed, free.
Among the magic of this world, what left the deepest impression on Aiden wasn't Bell's Firebolt or Riveria's Rea Laevateinn, but Ais's Ariel. "To be surrounded by wind, enhancing attack, defense, and speed, while also gaining the ability to fly short distances. An all-around enhancement, perfect for any situation."
With each thought, the vision of the ocean storm became more vivid, reflecting Aiden's desire for the power of the wind.
"The wind that flows freely, the wind that soars through the skies, the wind that brings rain. The tornadoes that ravage the land, the gales that raise waves as high as mountains, the wind that symbolizes freedom and power."
"The wind that grants me strength."
"The wind that allows me to fly freely."
"I want to become the wind."
[What do you seek from magic?]
"I seek power."
"I want to become stronger."
"Like a tornado that ravages the land."
"Like the gales that bring towering waves."
"Faster than anyone, stronger than anyone."
"Stronger than anyone, faster than anyone."
"Powerful enough to defeat any enemy."
[Is that all?]
"That's all. I need more power!"
[Power again. Very well.]
"And now, I suppose I'm going to sleep again? This time I'll probably sleep until Hestia returns tonight."
[Naturally, you are quite perceptive. Farewell, then.]
"Wait, wait..."
"...Aiden... Aiden-kun." Aiden's consciousness was still within the stormy ocean. He felt as though he had become the wind, soaring freely over the sea and sky, whipping up gales and bringing torrential rain. Amidst this, he faintly heard a voice, a clear and melodious voice that pierced through the storm.
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