The Power of Imagination

Rhode's words were like the whispers of a Monster skilled at beguiling hearts, making Serie's face—and even her heart—itch with anticipation.

She had to admit that Rhode's proposal was exactly to her liking.

She had absolutely no reason to refuse.

"What do you think?" Rhode asked with a smile.

Serie turned her face away, her voice nearly inaudible. "Mm." Even the tips of her long ears trembled faintly.

Seeing this, Norn became curious about what Rhode had said. But even Serie had agreed, so he suddenly felt that this crazy plan might truly be possible.

He took a deep breath. "If... if we're really going to do this, we'll need a more detailed plan."

"It seems His Majesty the King of our future has already begun preparing for his coronation."

"Please don't make fun of me, Mr. Rhode." Norn smiled bitterly. "I just think that rather than running around like a headless fly, we should make a more thorough plan."

"Then you're going to become a very busy man."

Rhode's meaning was clear: Norn would be responsible for making magic books on one hand, while also figuring out the specific arrangements for this mad plan on the other.

Rhode would only provide a general direction, while Serie would not involve herself in anything beyond combat and magic. Norn would have to solve all of it on his own.

That was his duty as a king.

And that duty would leave him exhausted beyond measure.

"I know. That's why I'm suddenly glad I gave up studying advanced magical knowledge."

"Yes. That way, you'll have more time to complete this."

"It might take an entire lifetime."

Norn had already prepared himself for a long struggle.

Rhode, sitting nearby, had guessed what he was thinking as well.

It would take time to spread magical knowledge among the Human Race across this continent, and it would also take time to pass that news on to other humans after founding the nation.

It would be a very, very long process.

So long that it gave him a faint desire for immortality.

He might have seemed open-minded, but when he thought of seeing everything he had done become reality—of the Human Race finally earning the right to stand on the stage of this world—he found that he did not want to die.

But how could he achieve immortality?

Could magic accomplish such a thing?

Rhode did not know, but that would not stop him from trying. And he would do so without telling anyone.

The three sat together in a circle as sunlight fell over each of them.

Future history books would record:

The king, the Great Sage, and the elf sat together. The Great Sage spoke grandly, the king offered additions, while the elf remained silent and merely watched the Great Sage.

When the seed of hope grew strong, the wind would carry this ideal to every corner of the world.

"Wait," Norn suddenly thought of a problem. "What will the country be called?"

"Ideal Nation Aer," Rhode blurted out. "It can also be called Aer, the ideal land that will exist forever."

"An ideal land that exists forever?" Serie repeated softly, shaking her head. "There is no eternal thing in this world. Nations are no exception."

"Believe in miracles, Serie. Belief needs no reason."

Rhode's words sounded familiar. Serie remembered that he had said the same thing to her before.

Serie fell silent, seemingly having no intention of continuing to argue with Rhode.

Seeing that, Norn spoke up. "It really is good. Ideal Country Ayr, huh? It's a fine name."

The completion of Ideal Country Ayr was still a distant prospect. For now, Rhode's group needed to focus on growing stronger.

"You mean Ice Magic?"

After hearing Serie's request, Rhode did not understand why she suddenly wanted him to create this type of magic.

"I thought that if all we need is to cool down dragon hide, Ice Magic should work on the same principle. What do you think? Can you create it?"

Serie asked somewhat uncertainly.

She knew that Rhode's Creation Magic had certain limitations. At the very least, it was not some terrifying godlike power that could create anything on a whim.

It still required certain prerequisites.

Even so, Serie wanted to see what surprise this man could bring her.

"Ice, huh? I really haven't tried that before."

Before meeting Serie, the magic Rhode created had mainly been for survival. Even after meeting her, he had mostly been improving her magic and making it stronger.

He had not tried experimenting with magic of other attributes during this period.

"Give it a try. Knowing only one type of magic won't do."

"I just can't seem to find the right idea."

At Serie's request, Rhode began trying to create Ice Magic.

The first day.

With Som's help, he found a mineral similar to Saltpeter and successfully made ice. Yet for some reason, after seeing it, Serie kept stressing that this was not the Ice Magic she wanted.

The fourth day.

Rhode tried cooling water until it froze, then creating Ice Magic based on that principle.

But when Serie saw it, she asked why he needed to cast Water Magic before casting Ice Magic, leaving him speechless.

It was like the ice-and-fire people from some IP. The fire user needed a lighter to use his superpower, while the ice user could create ice directly out of thin air.

So when comparing their combat strength, everyone agreed that the ice user was stronger.

Still, the topic seemed to have wandered a little too far.

After setting aside his attempts to create magic through scientific knowledge, Rhode chose the power of imagination.

Just like how he had somehow inexplicably created Fire Magic back then.

The tenth day.

Rhode came alone to the creek. He already had a hypothesis in mind. If this experiment succeeded, perhaps his path in magic would advance another step.

A Magic Circle unfolded in his hand, and the surrounding temperature continuously dropped. Tiny ice crystals began appearing around Rhode.

"Not enough."

If it merely lowered the temperature, it was nothing more than an oversized air conditioner. But Rhode wanted far more than that.

He reached his hand into the water. A faint glow appeared at his fingertips, and the creek froze at a visible rate. He could even see little fish trapped beneath the ice.

With the initial experiment complete, Rhode began trying to generate an Ice Lance in the air.

Tiny ice crystals gradually gathered together and formed a slender Ice Lance, though it was much smaller than the Light Lance Serie had created.

He then controlled the Ice Lance and sent it shooting out, striking a small tree on the other side of the river. As the Ice Lance pierced through the trunk, it exploded, and the scattered ice crystals froze the entire tree into an ice sculpture.

"Did you succeed?" Serie's voice came from behind him.

Rhode turned around, tiny ice crystals floating above his palm.

"It looks like it."

Looking at the tree frozen into an ice sculpture, Serie raised an eyebrow. "The power is decent, but it's too slow."

It had taken Rhode several seconds to cast that magic. In battle, that was enough time for him to die several times over.

But Rhode noticed that Serie said it with a smile.

Clearly, she was very pleased with his surprise.