After voicing her doubts, Fíliya watched Flamme's reaction closely. She saw a look on her new master's face... one of reminiscing about the past.
This hesitation lingered in Flamme's expression for a while, so long that Fíliya felt the urge to reach out and shake Flamme's shoulders.
Just as she was about to act, Flamme's eyes cleared.
"My apologies, Fíliya. Your words reminded me of a former disciple."
Flamme said slowly.
Fíliya's curiosity was piqued, and she listened intently.
"You're not the first person to take an interest in[folk magic]. In the past, there was another child just like you who believed that[folk magic]was the truly profound art, that researching it was the only way to reach the pinnacle of magic."
"And then, he died... worked to death at a young age. It's a sad story, I must say. That child was very talented. Had he focused his efforts in another field instead of becoming so engrossed in[folk magic], he surely would have left his name in history."
"Fíliya, just as you said, there is indeed infinite potential hidden within[folk magic]. It is far more interesting than the host of simple, easy-to-understand attack spells... But unfortunately, with a human lifespan, one doesn't seem to have the privilege of delving too deeply into this subject."
"I think I understand your line of thinking. You want to research[folk magic]to connect with the power behind it, the force that belongs to the rules of the world... It is a very tempting goal, but it's also an incredibly difficult path with no end in sight... You are the most talented child I have ever met, but I must still advise you not to become obsessed with this idea."
Fíliya simply nodded silently at Flamme's warning. How could she not know this?
As early as the age of 10, she had already figured out the essence of[folk magic]and had been constantly trying to modify the[Magic to Conjure Hot Tea].
What she wanted to do was simple: to use this magic to conjure anything she desired.
The result was also simple. No matter how she tried, she never succeeded. The magic could only ever conjure hot tea.
This power of[Creation], so close yet unattainable, brought endless frustration to the young Fíliya.
Was her[imagination]lacking? Or was her understanding insufficient? Or perhaps she had too little mana?
No, it seemed unrelated to any of those things. She always felt that what she was missing was something more... esoteric and profound.
But this feeling was irrational, unrelated to any accumulated knowledge or experience. There was no hope for a quantitative change to lead to a qualitative leap. Perhaps the only way was to extend her lifespan indefinitely and hope for a moment of[sudden enlightenment].
Thinking of this, a faint, bitter smile touched the corners of Fíliya's mouth.
"As for your question,[has human magic evolved or devolved]... I'd like to hear your own thoughts on that first, Fíliya. The fact that you can even ask such a question means you must have thought about it yourself, wouldn't you agree?"
Seeing Fíliya snap out of her thoughts, Flamme simply smiled and held her gaze.
To be able to break free from such a complex state of mind so quickly... it seems I won't have to worry about this child meeting the same end.
Flamme felt a little relieved, but she couldn't help but entertain a possibility.
If this child before me could truly comprehend something from the[folk magic]passed down from ancient times... perhaps Master Serie's wish could come true.
Of course, Flamme remembered her master's wishes.
One was to collect and organize all the magic in the world.
The second was the hope that an opponent would appear against whom she could go all out.
The wishes of a battle maniac are so straightforward, after all.
Hmm... could this child possibly do it? I really want to stay by her side and witness it.
...
Fíliya was initially a bit confused by Flamme's counter-question. She thought to herself, Didn't I already state my understanding when I asked? Why is Teacher asking for my thoughts again... Hmm...
But being the intelligent child she was, she quickly understood why Flamme had asked it back to her.
And so, she spoke.
"I understand what you mean, Teacher... You're trying to tell me that modern human magic has neither evolved nor devolved... but is rather an[adaptive change]driven by the pressure to survive, right? After all, [folk magic]hasn't been discarded; it still exists within the human magic system, it's just difficult to unearth what lies hidden behind it... Hey? What are you doing?!"
Fíliya, who felt she hadn't finished speaking, was suddenly startled. In a moment of inattention, she found herself pulled into Flamme's embrace again, with Flamme even resting her chin on top of her head and nuzzling it.
Hmph... So what if you're tall!
Fíliya bit her lip, annoyed.
You see, resting her chin on someone's head and nuzzling them was something Fíliya herself loved to do.
"Sorry, sorry... It's just that you made me so happy, Fíliya, I couldn't help myself. Really, you understand everything, don't you, child."
Flamme released Fíliya, her eyes filled with admiration for her disciple.
"Hmph, if the people of the Empire knew that their revered[Lady Flamme]was a hug-crazed fiend who preys on her disciples, their devout perception of you would surely shatter into a million pieces."
Fíliya grumbled, shooting Flamme a sidelong glance.
"Oh, I'm not worried about that. Didn't you say it yourself, Fíliya? My statue in the Empire has long been distorted beyond recognition. The one standing there now even looks like a long-haired middle-aged man. What does that have to do with me? How could their perception shatter?"
Flamme said with a light laugh.
This made Fíliya shake her head helplessly. She even slightly regretted having this version of Flamme appear in the youthful form of a woman in her thirties.
If she had adjusted Flamme's body to her older years, she would surely be much more composed and wouldn't be so handsy.
Of course, she was only complaining slightly. If she really had to face an elderly Flamme, she would surely find the incessant chatter of an old woman tiresome.
This girl named Fíliya was just that kind of hard-to-please eccentric.
"[The history of magic is the history of offense and defense]... You must have heard that saying, haven't you, Fíliya?"
And after teasing her disciple, Flamme quickly returned to a serious mode.
___
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