Rayish
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Chapter 43
🕑 Added 2024-09-18 16:03:07 +0000 UTCRiveria sat calmly in front of Shirou, recalling the beautiful sound that had emerged from the gramophone he had just projected. The device felt so foreign to her, yet at the same time, it was mesmerizing. Curious, Riveria asked, "Shirou, that gramophone... does your world have many devices like that? Has technology there developed that far?"
Shirou scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed, knowing that the technology in his world far surpassed what could be understood in Orario. "Actually, the gramophone could be considered old-fashioned in my world. It's just a tool used to play music with a method that's long been abandoned."
Hearing the word "old-fashioned," Riveria was surprised. "Old-fashioned? But it sounded so beautiful, and it seemed quite advanced. You're saying that device is no longer used?"
Shirou smiled and nodded. "Yes, in my world, gramophones are no longer widely used. People there have much more advanced tools for listening to music. In fact, there are electronic devices that can store thousands of songs in one small device."
Riveria listened with amazement, trying to imagine Shirou's world, full of technology so different from what existed in Orario. "Thousands of songs in a small device? You don't need discs to play them?" she asked, astonished.
Shirou chuckled. "Yes, that's right. Discs like that are no longer used. Technology has even advanced to the point where music can be played directly from the air without any cables or physical connection. But things like that are too complex for me to project using Magecraft. I can project a gramophone because it's simple enough, but modern electronic devices have thousands, even millions, of tiny components that make them almost impossible to recreate with magic."
Riveria was astonished. "So, even though you can project weapons and tools from your world, there are limits to certain technologies?"
Shirou nodded, still impressed by his own explanation of his world's technology. "Exactly. Electronics are very complicated, even for me. My world has devices that can visualize moving images, like... living pictures in the air, without any physical object. They call it television, and those devices are far beyond what I can do with magic."
Riveria gazed at Shirou with admiration, imagining how advanced Shirou's world must be. "That sounds like magic itself. In your world... does everyone use such tools?"
Shirou nodded again. "Yes, most people have access to technology like that. Communication, entertainment, even daily life are made easier with all kinds of advanced tools."
Riveria sat quietly for a moment, letting all the information sink in. "A world where technology can replace magic... It seems your world is far more advanced in many ways, Shirou. I can't imagine living like that."
Shirou smiled, looking at Riveria gently. "Maybe so, but Orario also has its own uniqueness and strength. The magic here is much more real, more connected to nature and forces that we, in my world, could never achieve. Even I'm still amazed by many things in this world."
Riveria smiled, feeling that despite the advanced technology Shirou had described, their world had something equally valuable.
Riveria, her curiosity deepening, asked, "So, what about Magi in your world? If your world is so advanced with technology, how do they use Magecraft? Isn't there a conflict between magic and technology?"
Shirou paused for a moment before answering, "Magecraft in my world is a bit different. There, the power of Magecraft comes from something called 'Mystery.' The greater the Mystery, the stronger the Magecraft. However, Mystery fades if something similar can be achieved through technology. So, the power of Magecraft has been weakening as technology advances."
Riveria looked confused. "Mystery? What do you mean? How can the power of Magecraft weaken just because of technology?"
Seeing her confusion, Shirou patiently explained, "Mystery is essentially a wonder that can't be explained. The harder something is to understand in the world, the stronger that power becomes. When technology emerges that can explain or replicate that power, the Mystery fades because people no longer see it as a wonder. For example, flight magic used to be very powerful because no one could do it. But after airplanes were invented, flight magic became weaker."
Riveria stared at him with increasing curiosity. "Airplanes? What are airplanes?"
Shirou smiled, pleased by her interest. "Airplanes are winged vehicles used to fly in the sky. They can carry many people or goods and are used for long-distance travel quickly. With airplanes, people can fly from one place to another without using magic."
Riveria listened to this explanation with amazement. "So, airplanes are technology that replaces flight magic? In our world, only with magic can someone do something like that. But in your world, anyone can fly using an airplane?"
Shirou nodded. "Yes, anyone can board an airplane and fly anywhere. And because it's become so common, flight magic has lost much of its power. That's why Magi have to keep their powers a secret. If their magic becomes known to the public and becomes commonplace, it will weaken and lose its strength."
Riveria listened in awe, trying to imagine how technology like that could change the world and magic. "So, in other words, the more common a wonder becomes, the weaker the power behind it?"
Shirou nodded. "Exactly. That's why Magi in my world always keep their abilities hidden. They don't want technology or ordinary people to realize their wonders because that would make their power weaker."
Riveria was silent for a moment, processing the information. For her, magic was a natural force that was real and powerful, irreplaceable by anything. But in Shirou's world, technology had advanced to the point where it could rival or even surpass magic. "I never imagined such a thing could happen. Magic and technology... your world must be very different from ours."
Shirou smiled softly, realizing that while his world and Orario were vastly different, each had its own wonders. "Yes, our worlds are different. But even so, there are many things here that I've never seen in my world." Even in his previous world, Shirou had never encountered elves like Riveria.
Riveria smiled gently, sharing in the admiration for both Shirou's world and how different their lives were. "It seems both your world and ours have their own kinds of magic."
Riveria gazed at Shirou with curiosity. "What about the other Magi? Do they have powers like yours?" she asked, her eyes sparkling as she imagined Shirou's world filled with magic users possibly even stronger than him.
Shirou smiled faintly, then shook his head honestly. "Actually, I'm just a novice Magus. Compared to other Magi, I don't know much. They're probably far more skilled in various fields of Magecraft that I haven't mastered."
Riveria was shocked by Shirou's statement. "A novice?" She couldn't hide her surprise. How could Shirou, who possessed such incredible power—especially during battles against powerful monsters—claim to be a novice? "Then, what can stronger Magi do? You’re so remarkable, I can’t even imagine the power of a true expert in Magecraft."
Shirou smiled awkwardly and tried to be humble. "Actually, my strength is quite specific. I specialize in Projection and a few other techniques, but beyond that, I don’t have a broad range of Magecraft abilities. Other Magi could probably teach you more about the more general fields of Magecraft."
Riveria, usually calm and composed, suddenly held Shirou’s hand gently. Her touch was warm, and her gaze revealed deep sincerity. "I don’t care about other Magecraft experts, Shirou. I would rather learn Magecraft from you than anyone else. To me, what you’ve taught me is far more valuable," she said in a soft voice full of conviction.
Shirou could feel the warmth radiating from Riveria’s hand. He noticed how her eyes appeared softer and more beautiful than usual. Her always elegant face now showed a rarely seen side—a tender side of a woman harboring feelings. This made Shirou blush, unsure of what to say.
The moment felt special, and for a while, they both sat in silence, basking in the warmth of the connection they had just discovered. Shirou realized that even though he still felt inadequate as a Magus, Riveria didn’t see him that way. To Riveria, what Shirou had given her was much more than just lessons in Magecraft.
Riveria felt a surge of courage within her. Gently, she stroked Shirou’s hand that was still in her grasp and then looked deeply into his eyes. "What else can you project besides the powerful weapons you’ve shown, like the Rho Aias shield or Atalante's bow?" she asked in a teasing tone, one she rarely ever used.
Shirou, not used to such attention and gentleness, blushed. Riveria, usually serious, now appeared so soft and closer than ever before. Her little tease made Shirou flustered, but he tried to stay composed. Seeing Riveria watching him with full attention, he began to explain patiently.
"Those weapons are not ordinary weapons," Shirou said slowly. "They are called Noble Phantasms. They are the legendary embodiments of weapons or items tied to the heroic feats of Heroic Spirits. Noble Phantasms aren’t just powerful weapons, but symbols of the hero’s achievements in history or mythology."
Riveria gazed at Shirou with eyes full of curiosity. "So, each Noble Phantasm has an extraordinary history and power? That must be very difficult to project," she murmured as she continued to stroke Shirou’s hand gently, as if savoring every touch.
Shirou gave a small smile, still feeling awkward with Riveria’s tender and attentive touch. "Yes, a Noble Phantasm is a manifestation of a hero’s soul. It’s not just about its power, but also the history, memories, and inner strength of the hero who wielded it. Every time I project one, I have to feel and understand the story behind it. Only then can I recreate it properly," he explained.
Hearing this, Riveria grew even more impressed. "So, every time you use one of those weapons, you carry part of their history and soul with you?" she asked, gazing at Shirou with growing respect and fascination.
Shirou nodded slightly, still feeling a bit shy under Riveria’s intense gaze. "Yes, you could say that. That’s why I can only project weapons I truly understand. Each projection is a part of me connected to their souls."
Riveria smiled gently. "That’s incredible, Shirou. You’re not just a Magus, but a bearer of the history of legendary heroes."
Shirou could only smile awkwardly, feeling honored but also a little embarrassed by Riveria’s praise.
Riveria sat up straight, her gaze still focused as she continued to look at Shirou, her curiosity not yet satisfied. "Besides weapons and shields, can you project other kinds of Noble Phantasms?" she asked softly, clearly eager to know more.
Shirou thought for a moment, trying to recall the various Noble Phantasms he had projected. Slowly, he withdrew his hand from Riveria's grasp. Although Riveria felt the loss of the warmth from his hand, she remained patient, waiting eagerly with her eyes still fixed on Shirou, curious to see what he would show next.
"Honestly, I have an affinity for swords. Anything that isn’t a sword consumes more prana," Shirou explained while looking at her. "Weapons that aren’t swords feel less natural to me." Riveria nodded, understanding Shirou’s limitations while comparing them to her own elemental affinity. She thought that perhaps her affinity was ice or fire, something that aligned with the magic she often used.
With a calm voice and full concentration, Shirou chanted his signature spell, "Trace, on." A faint light enveloped his hand as a Noble Phantasm began to form. However, instead of a sword or shield, what appeared in his hand this time was a book.
Riveria was surprised. "Is that... a book?" she asked curiously, her eyes fixed on the mysterious book now in Shirou's hand.
Shirou smiled slightly and explained, "This book is a Noble Phantasm belonging to a Heroic Spirit named Shakespeare. He was a legendary writer in my world, and his book isn’t an ordinary weapon. With it, he can create extremely realistic illusions, as if the stories within the book become reality."
Riveria gazed at the book in awe. "So, it’s not a physical weapon, but something that can manipulate reality? Make illusions come to life?" she asked in amazement, though she couldn’t help but think about how extraordinary such a power must be.
Shirou nodded. "Yes, that’s its power. The illusions it creates can affect the minds and emotions of those trapped within them. It can even make them feel as if they are truly living within the story."
Riveria was captivated by the possibilities presented by this Noble Phantasm. "Fascinating," she murmured. "Something that can change reality through the power of storytelling. It must be an incredible ability if used correctly."
Shirou smiled, hearing Riveria’s admiration. Although he was more accustomed to physical weapons, he knew that Noble Phantasms like Shakespeare’s were no less powerful. "Yes, even though it’s not something I use often, its power is quite dangerous in the right hands."
After that, Shirou sat on the carpet, and Riveria felt this was the perfect moment to express her feelings, far from the gaze of others. In this storage room, she could be her true self, without the burden of being a leader who must always appear strong and dignified. With her heart trembling from both tension and deepening feelings, she slowly lay down and gently rested her head on Shirou’s lap.
"Shirou," Riveria’s voice was soft, almost like a whisper. "Could you use Shakespeare’s Noble Phantasm on me? I want to experience it." Her green eyes looked directly at Shirou’s face, and he blushed at the sight of Riveria’s calm and beautiful face resting on his lap.
Hearing the request, Shirou felt worried. "But... I’ve never used it before. I’m not sure what the effects might be," he said anxiously. He didn’t want anything bad to happen to Riveria, especially with a Noble Phantasm he wasn’t fully familiar with.
However, Riveria looked at him with deep trust. "I believe in you," Riveria said with a soft smile, her face so close that Shirou could feel the warmth of her breath. "I’m willing to accept whatever you do to me."
Those words took Shirou by surprise. There was something ambiguous in her statement that made his heart race even faster. He swallowed hard and tried to remain calm. "Alright," he finally replied, steeling himself to fulfill Riveria’s request.
With slightly trembling hands, Shirou activated the Noble Phantasm. "First Folio," he said softly.
As he spoke the name, a magical aura enveloped Riveria. Slowly, her eyes closed, and she fell soundly asleep on Shirou’s lap. Her graceful face looked so peaceful, as if wrapped in a gentle dream.
Shirou, now in an awkward position, could only sit quietly, watching over Riveria. His gaze lingered on her beautiful face, realizing how calm and serene the elven woman looked as she slept. Amid his nervousness and awkwardness, his eyes unintentionally wandered downward, catching sight of the subtle curves of Riveria’s dress, particularly the faint glimpse of her neckline.
Shirou quickly averted his gaze, feeling it was inappropriate to look any longer. His face flushed as he tried to maintain his composure and keep his thoughts clear. However, being in such a situation made his heart race, especially because this was Riveria—someone he deeply respected, and now, he was slowly realizing, might have special feelings for him.
In the silence, Shirou could only hope that Riveria was having a pleasant dream under the effects of First Folio, while he himself struggled to remain calm in this intimate moment.
In her deep sleep, Riveria entered a dream world that was unfamiliar yet felt incredibly real. Without realizing it, she found herself trapped in the story of Romeo and Juliet, a tale she had never heard or read before. In the dream, Riveria played the role of Juliet, a young girl pure and full of love, while the role of Romeo was taken by Shirou, the man who had quietly filled a space in her heart.
Although unaware that this story came from another world, Riveria merged seamlessly with the role of Juliet. Every emotion and storyline touched her deeply. In her dream, Romeo and Juliet—she and Shirou—were caught in a complicated and challenging love story. Their families were at odds, and the love they felt had to be kept secret, hidden under the constant threat of danger.
Shirou, as Romeo in the dream, displayed the same gentleness and bravery that Riveria knew in the real world. Every glance, smile, and embrace she received from him in the dream deepened her affection for him. She fell in love with Shirou all over again, but this time through the lens of a tragic love they couldn’t escape.
In moments that seemed etched into her memory, Riveria felt how Romeo fought for their love with all his courage and sacrifice. Every meeting was filled with promises of deep and sincere love, which only strengthened Riveria’s feelings for Shirou. She felt a surge of uncontrollable love, as if playing Juliet had awakened her true feelings for Shirou.
However, like the original story, the dream didn’t end happily. In the most heartbreaking moment, Romeo drank poison, believing that Juliet was dead. Riveria, as Juliet, awoke from her false slumber only to find that the man she loved had died before her. Overwhelming sorrow filled her soul. Riveria’s tears flowed as she held Shirou’s lifeless body in the dream, mourning the painful loss.
The grief felt so real that Riveria began to cry in her sleep. Her once peaceful face changed, with tears slowly trickling down her cheeks. Meanwhile, Shirou in the real world noticed the change in Riveria, who was still resting on his lap. He saw the tears falling from the corners of her eyes, and his worry grew.
Unaware of the tragic story Riveria was experiencing in her dream, Shirou could only watch her with concern, trying to soothe the woman who had grown so close to him. Inside the dream, Riveria continued to cry, feeling the deep loss after losing Romeo—Shirou—in their final embrace.
In the real world, Shirou grew anxious seeing Riveria crying in her sleep without stopping. Not knowing what was happening in her dream, Shirou acted instinctively. Gently, he stroked Riveria’s soft green hair, hoping that his touch would calm her. Her hair felt like silk in his hands, shimmering softly in the dim light of the room.
Slowly, the warmth of Shirou’s gentle touch began to reach Riveria within her dream. In her subconscious, as she held the lifeless body of Romeo—played by Shirou—she suddenly felt a warmth seeping into her sorrow. When Romeo, who had died from poison, should have remained lifeless, he unexpectedly stirred. Gently, the resurrected Romeo reached out and lovingly stroked Juliet—Riveria’s—hair.
Riveria, who had been overwhelmed by grief, was both shocked and overjoyed to see Romeo come back to life. Her heavy sobs in the dream turned into a bright smile. A warm feeling flooded her heart, like a comforting embrace, and she looked at Romeo with pure love.
In the real world, the smile that had formed on Riveria’s lips was unmistakable. Her tears stopped flowing, and her face now radiated peace and happiness. Shirou, noticing the change, felt relieved. He continued to softly stroke Riveria’s hair, smiling slightly as he watched her peaceful expression. He didn’t know what was happening in her dream, but seeing her smile brought a sense of calm to his heart.
Not wanting to wake Riveria, Shirou decided to remain in his seated position. Carefully, he projected a small pillow behind his back to lean on comfortably. Shirou adjusted his breathing and then quietly closed his eyes, continuing to gently stroke Riveria’s hair as she slept on his lap. The atmosphere in the storage room grew quiet, with Riveria smiling in her sleep, feeling the warmth of love both in her dream and in the real world.
