Chapter 36: The Magic of the Heart

A Magical Girl’s unique magic is never confined to a narrow range of abilities.

“Perhaps it’s a minor auxiliary ability… My magic, when cast, touches upon the existence of the ‘Heart’—”

“When I come into contact with other spellcasters, the object of observation expands to include the person I’m touching.”

Su Qingyao’s words made everyone, including Lu Ping, gasp in surprise.

The ‘Heart’ is a concept that only emerged after the apocalypse. Roughly speaking, almost everything—emotions, memories, personality, and even magic—is linked to the ‘Heart’.

No wonder Xu Yiyi cried out:

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Little Qingyao, are you saying you’ll see all my memories?”

“Of course not.”

Su Qingyao was already prepared for Xu Yiyi’s reaction. “The ‘Heart’ isn’t so easily deciphered,” she explained.

The girl continued, her tone tinged with helplessness:

“I can only barely sense the parts connected by magic, and then relay them to you, allowing you to feel them for yourself.”

“Unless it’s a deeply unsettling part, anything you, Miss Xu Yiyi, don’t wish to share will simply be like a crumpled piece of paper to me.”

Only after hearing about the numerous limitations of Su Qingyao’s magic did Xu Yanqing and the others finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“That sounds a bit more reasonable then.”

Xu Yanqing had genuinely been worried for Su Qingyao.

After all, a magic that could pry into the ‘Heart’ would, frankly, be far too suitable for certain unsavory purposes.

If news of it leaked, the safety of Su Qingyao and her entire family would be gravely jeopardized.

However, it now appeared to be merely a convenient, yet limited, minor magic.

“I see…”

After hearing the explanation, Xu Yiyi’s reaction was indeed less intense than before. She lowered her head, contemplating for a moment.

A fleeting moment for Xu Yiyi.

“Alright, I agree!”

Xu Yiyi looked up, a bright smile gracing her features, expressing her trust in Su Qingyao’s unilateral declaration.

“If you accidentally stumble upon any embarrassing past, Little Qingyao, remember to keep it a secret for me, okay?”

‘Such remarkably easy trust.’

Su Qingyao sighed inwardly, wondering if she, herself, was truly worthy of such trust.

“Then, let’s begin.”

Su Qingyao nodded slowly, extending her right hand towards Xu Yiyi. A ribbon of light unfurled from the cuff of her sleeve, coiling around Su Qingyao’s hand.

This luminous ribbon extended about half a meter beyond her fingertips.

“If you feel uncomfortable, holding the light ribbon works just as well.”

Without a hint of shyness, Xu Yiyi stepped forward and clasped Su Qingyao’s hand.

“Alright, do I just need to cast ‘Barrier’?”

“…It might take a few tries, because magic can sense more than just one part.”

****

“A Magical Girl’s magic is the magic of the ‘Heart’…

The Blue Witch once gathered the fantastical beings who later compiled the “Codex” and were revered as “Elders”.

She shared with them some of her insights gained from exploring the realm of magic.

Under the Elders’ tutelage, some theories were disproven, while many others ultimately became foundational principles even mages would consult.

This included the most famous tenet: “The vessel for a unique magic’s existence is the portion of the ‘Heart’ occupied by magic-related memories.”

The reason one could refine their personal magic through practice was precisely this:

The very memories of using magic would transform into proof and substance of its existence.

****

Xu Yiyi, a child who had grown up amidst the ruins.

After becoming a Magical Girl, she naturally remained in the outskirts, helping the kind people who had taken her in to maintain a fragile sense of order.

Stronger magical beasts were dealt with by patrolling peacekeepers, while truly formidable ones were slated for extermination by the Iron Vow Army or the City Defense Army established by the Council.

Even so, however…

Some weaker magical beasts were still occasionally overlooked by the Transcended, posing no widespread threat to the suburbs.

Yet, for any individual unlucky enough to encounter them, they represented an unbearable weight—like a falling piece of rubble.

Yes, just like that piece of rubble.

“No problem.”

Su Qingyao’s gentle voice pulled the distracted Xu Yiyi back to reality.

“Hmm, I’ve already encountered memories of your magic’s creation, its first large-scale use, and its first failure.”

“But I don’t feel anything special…”

Xu Yiyi replied, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. “Could it be that Mr. Lu Ping’s feeling, or your guess, Su Qingyao, isn’t quite right?”

“That’s unlikely.”

Su Qingyao thoughtfully stroked her chin with her free hand.

Currently, the two Magical Girls stood facing each other, hands clasped, less than twenty centimeters apart.

In a novel of a different genre, this would be the perfect moment for a decisive move.

Yet, for now, Su Qingyao felt no warmth from Xu Yiyi’s palm; it wasn’t even as familiar as holding a calloused hand.

“At the very least, I can now confirm that there’s definitely an unstable aspect to your magic, Miss Xu Yiyi.”

“Hmm, perhaps we need a re-enactment.”

The girl’s serious self-talk made Xu Yiyi silently sweat.

“Well, should I call Mr. Lu Ping over then?”

“No need to call, I’m right here.”

Lu Ping was seated nearby, munching on a colorful cookie.

Hearing Xu Yiyi’s voice, he casually wrapped the remaining cookie, tucked it into his pocket, and skillfully deployed his gleaming silver half-armor.

“Do you need me to launch another scatter shot?”

“Yes, if you would, Mr. Lu Ping. Thank you.”

Su Qingyao offered a faint thank you.

Xu Yiyi and Lu Ping returned to their original positions. The only difference was that this time, Xu Yiyi, facing Lu Ping, pulled Su Qingyao behind her with a reverse grip.

After a deep breath.

“I’m ready!”

Seeing the light of activated magic ignite in Xu Yiyi’s eyes, Lu Ping composed his expression, gripped a handful of gravel, and, with a cheerful chirp from his armor, flung his arm to cast it.

Magic, activated.

Xu Yiyi concentrated intently, considering how to project the “Barrier” along the correct trajectory.

She wove and gathered them into position.

Lines of magic light converged at the coordinates she set, guided by Xu Yiyi’s command, gradually forming the nascent shape of a “Barrier”.

Barrier. Xu Yiyi commanded.

Immediately, the “Heart” connected to this magic within her was naturally called forth.

In her memory, the magic the girl chanted in turn drew Xu Yiyi, allowing her to manifest her inner wish with greater skill and perfection:

Gravel.

Xu Yiyi, for some inexplicable reason, recalled that hopeful gaze once more.

Finally, she just needed to believe—and the magic within her heart would naturally complete—

Crack.

A sudden crack appeared upon the nascent form.

Behind her, Su Qingyao’s eyes, pupils momentarily vanishing, suddenly glowed with an aura of surging magic.

Found it.

Miss Xu Yiyi—

Su Qingyao’s magic activated.

****

The crack spread in an instant, then shattered completely, like the precious, heart-stopping splintering of something invaluable.

This instinctively reminded Xu Yiyi of shattering her grandmother’s photo frame as a mischievous child.

It was a sound that, once heard, could never be undone.

Then came the cries, the tears, and the ceaseless flow of blood.

Xu Yiyi still remembered the faint, metallic scent of rust.

It lingered on her bitten lips.