"Not a new thaumaturgy, but an evolution of one?"
Shade listened to "her" introduction in surprise. Cherished Item corresponded to the Greed Spirit Rune and was an early thaumaturgy he had acquired at the Second Ring. He had always limited its target to his own set of Rhodes Cards, occasionally using it in battle against targets that were small and numerous.
Now, its original effects remained, but the range of possible targets had suddenly expanded. As for the new effect—"if I write a name, only I can use it"—Shade could not think of any use for it yet, but it undoubtedly made the thaumaturgy fit the meaning of Greed even better.
When he opened his eyes and looked at everyone, sure enough, aside from himself and Miss Maze, who had already mastered this kind of spell, the other girls still had their eyes closed as they meditated on themselves.
Iluna looked rather puzzled at the moment, so Shade dipped a finger in some water. Then, amid Miss Maze's slight surprise, he touched the water on his fingertip to Iluna's brow.
"Thaumaturgy—Lingquan Enlightenment."
It was as though a drop of water had fallen into her heart. Amid a faint fluctuation of spirit, Iluna abruptly opened her heterochromatic eyes.
"Success! Thaumaturgy—Self Verification. When I see my own name written by my own hand, I can weaken or even become immune to most abilities that interfere with or control the mind and soul."
She seemed very pleased, though she still remembered to lower her voice so as not to interfere with the others. Shade did not use Lingquan Enlightenment on anyone else, however. He trusted that Iluna's comprehension was high enough and that she merely lacked that final spark of inspiration, but the others were different.
"Excuse me, Mr. Hamilton, but what was