Chapter 27: The Crystal Trick and an Unexpected Invitation

The morning training session passed in a cacophony of Xu Yiyi’s startled cries and the sharp crackle of magic. At noon, the trio settled around a wooden table in the camp, enjoying the ‘staff meal’ they had brought from the tower. It consisted of black tea, dessert, and, surprisingly, even more dessert. Even if magical girls, desserts, and afternoon tea were a classic combination, there was no need to lean so heavily into the stereotype. As the sole survivor among them born in the ‘Old Era,’ Su Qingyao’s silent complaints were destined to remain unvoiced.

Lunch concluded in a somewhat relaxed atmosphere, after which the training, mirroring the morning’s intensity, recommenced. By this point, Su Qingyao had largely deciphered the unique magical abilities of the two girls.

Xu Yanqing’s magical girl attire had begun to manifest her own distinct [individuality]. The original Lolita dress had been simplified into a calf-length gown, simultaneously gaining a decorative outer layer that resembled a researcher’s lab coat.

Additionally, a swallowtail-shaped ribbon hem now adorned her back, giving the overall design a more dignified and mature aesthetic. Furthermore, a translucent, angular hairband, studded with crystal fragments and adorned with black crystals on one side, emitted an inky glow dotted with faint silver specks.

With a gentle flick of her wrist, Xu Yanqing wielded her crystal-textured wand, shaped precisely like a conductor’s baton. A slender, inky beam of magical energy would then bolt from behind her, accompanied by a sharp screech, and strike the sandbag positioned beside Su Qingyao.

If a standard, small magical cannon beam was typically as thick as a bowl. Then Xu Yanqing’s beam sacrificed its ‘area of effect,’ trading the width of a bowl for the mere thickness of a pen, in exchange for the unparalleled convenience of precise, almost telekinetic control.

No incantations, no complex magic circles. A mere flick of her wand was enough to conjure a barrage of these precise beams. This was indeed a specialized cannon beam, truly worthy of being called ‘magic,’ yet Su Qingyao understood one crucial detail:

This was, at best, only ‘half’ of the unique magic Xu Yanqing had acquired as a magical girl. The remaining half served to compensate for her few discernible weaknesses.

Before Su Qingyao, Xu Yiyi stood, rapidly chanting a short phrase. The barrier that had previously existed shimmered, then reappeared at a different angle, just barely intercepting the magical beam.

Xu Yiyi was undeniably improving. Initially, Su Qingyao had to occasionally sidestep the air that would suddenly turn scorching hot around her. However, as Xu Yiyi grew more adept at deploying barrier magic to protect the ‘target’ behind her, the situation steadily improved.

Not only had her casting intervals been forcibly shortened through rigorous practice. Xu Yiyi had also discerned a pattern: Su Qingyao, herself, and Xu Yanqing formed a roughly straight line. As long as the initial firing point remained somewhat consistent, the angles that truly required protection were surprisingly few.

Operating under this premise, Xu Yiyi exploited the loophole, and her defensive maneuvers grew increasingly adept. However, after yet another successful defense, the unfazed Xu Yanqing once more flicked her wand.

As the beam shot forth, Xu Yiyi employed her practiced tactic, calculating the angle and preemptively manifesting a barrier directly in its anticipated trajectory. It was precisely then that a faint smile touched Xu Yanqing’s lips.

She, whose wrist had been in constant motion, pressed her middle and index fingers onto the wand, gently tilting the conductor’s baton downwards. A translucent black crystal suddenly materialized in the beam’s trajectory, positioned just before Xu Yiyi’s barrier.

The beam shot directly into the crystal, eliciting a crisp sound.

“Crack!”

As anticipated, the crystal shattered completely. Yet, the beam, momentarily deflected, executed a swift ‘U-turn’ just before the barrier, its momentum entirely unhindered.

Another crystal appeared, another refraction. After repeating this maneuver twice, the magical beam finally struck its mark, landing directly at the feet of the previously idle Su Qingyao.

This was the ‘other half’ of Xu Yanqing’s magic: a unique ability named ‘Crystal Trick.’

Magical Girl [Ink Crystal].

While the refraction angles were calculated somewhat crudely, especially considering the real-time computations required for magic casting. Su Qingyao was still inclined to give her an excellent rating.

Ah, but the other side would certainly prove troublesome. Su Qingyao cast her gaze elsewhere.

Xu Yanqing clearly believed that Xu Yiyi’s training should advance to its next phase. Not only did the attack angles shift, but the casting frequency rapidly escalated, pushing Xu Yiyi to her magical limits within mere minutes.

At this juncture, the outcome was all but sealed.

****

Today’s training concluded. The journey back was surprisingly mundane, merely involving a return to the original elevator and the pressing of a button. When the magical girls departed, the elevator seemed to enter a concealed state, leaving behind only a faint outline discernible solely to Su Qingyao and her companions.

One could, perhaps, barely justify it with a maiden’s whimsical speculation.

Out of the corner of her eye, Su Qingyao observed Xu Yiyi, who, battered by the twin forces of exhaustion and frustration, now resembled a frost-nipped eggplant. Beside her, Xu Yanqing, having seemingly vented all her stress, appeared refreshed and positively radiant.

Had she not been privy to the precise events that had unfolded. Just observing this scene alone, Su Qingyao might have entertained some truly peculiar notions.

As for Su Qingyao herself. She had been surprisingly at leisure, her primary task being merely to stand behind Xu Yiyi as the designated ‘protected target.’ Her secondary duties occasionally involved offering Xu Yiyi strategic advice or mending any minor, accidental injuries.

These tasks required minimal time or effort. ‘Hoo, hoo, hoo,’ she mused. ‘After work, I’ll buy groceries, make dinner, and then settle down to watch TV for a relaxing evening.’

Su Qingyao arranged her evening in her mind, seemingly oblivious to one crucial detail. However, someone else clearly hadn’t forgotten.

The elevator, having completed its descent, returned all the way to the tower’s ground floor. The disorienting sensation of transitioning directly from the desolate wilderness back to a civilized world caused the already slightly dazed Xu Yiyi to nearly stumble and fall as she stepped out of the elevator.

It was Su Qingyao who steadied her this time. Just as Su Qingyao prepared to step out, nonchalantly becoming the second person to exit the elevator, Xu Yanqing, who had remained silently behind her throughout the descent, finally spoke:

“Miss Su Qingyao,” Xu Yanqing began, “will you be picking up your daughter this afternoon?”

‘It still came,’ Su Qingyao sighed inwardly. Though she yearned to simply nod and brush the matter aside. Ultimately, Su Qingyao shook her head.

“Good,” Xu Yanqing acknowledged with a brief nod. “After work, I would like to visit your home.”

Su Qingyao’s gaze flickered. “Is there something inconvenient to discuss here?”

“That’s not it,” Xu Yanqing explained, her expression unreadable. “It’s just that I finish work quite late. It might be a bit late to introduce myself now, but I am, for what it’s worth, a half-baked researcher here in the tower.”

Xu Yanqing offered a rare, self-deprecating smile. “Alright,” Su Qingyao nodded slightly. “I’ll send you the address shortly.”

As a normal person, Su Qingyao had no desire to pry.