After finishing the day's itinerary, Emerald Sparrow finally had time to soak in the bathhouse to relax, and then, close to midnight, she lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling for a while.
In the small, well-ventilated room, the evening breeze occasionally brushed through, carrying a faintly damp scent of fresh grass. It quickly eased the tension of anyone lying on the bed, evidenced by Lin Xiaolu's even breathing on the bed next to hers, and the silent stillness from Xia Liang further away.
Emerald Sparrow felt she should also relax a little, but the sheer number of events that had transpired today left her with too many lingering thoughts. Acknowledging the potential implications of her and Lin Yun sharing the same birthday was something she couldn't ignore, and the discussions she'd had with Mo He also weighed heavily on her mind.
Still, she knew that dwelling on it wouldn't solve anything. What she needed now was rest. So, she consciously closed her eyes, emptied her thoughts, and tried not to let her mind wander aimlessly.
Her method proved effective, to some extent. Once the chaotic whirlwind of thoughts was sealed away, the exhaustion of her mind and body quickly took over, pulling her into slumber.
Perhaps due to the gemstone's restoration, Emerald Sparrow had unexpectedly been able to sleep in her Magical Girl form over the past two days. Unlike before, when she could only force her mind into a state of rest by cutting off her thoughts.
Whether this was good or bad for her, Emerald Sparrow wasn't sure yet. But for the moment, it did help to ease her emotions. Therefore, she didn't resist the sensation, allowing herself to sink slowly into it.
And then, Emerald Sparrow began to dream again.
"Maintain the balance of your Magic Power Output. Use your soul and essence to control it properly. Hold this state... good, just keep floating like that."
With a gesture indicating a "pause," Cornflower signaled for Nim to stop midair. "Do you feel it now? The state of the Magic Power within your body?"
A gentle breeze swept over the hillside south of Luennolay City, sending ripples of greenish-blue waves across the vast grasslands. As the newly appointed Captain of the City Defense Army squad, Cornflower was teaching the youngest Magical Girl in her team—Nim Kregios.
Though Cornflower didn't particularly enjoy the sense of having troublesome tasks thrust upon her, she still did her best to play the role of a competent mentor. Nim, for her part, was an obedient Magical Girl, making the process relatively smooth.
"The state of my Magic Power?"
Being only a Species Level Magical Girl, Nim naturally couldn't yet learn overly advanced combat techniques. Right now, she was merely following Cornflower's guidance to master the basics of Magic Power control. "It feels… almost like I'm holding my hand up, carrying something the entire time?"
The lesson she was currently learning was one of the essential skills for Magical Girls on the battlefield—"Magic Power Output and Consumption."
"Your feeling is correct. That's because, in your current state, you're using Magic Power to maintain your ability to 'fly.' As such, part of your Magic Power Output is being consumed."
Nim's response seemed to please Cornflower, who nodded approvingly and elaborated further, "Keep maintaining it. While in this state, try firing a few Magic Bullets with full force. Fire as many as you can."
"Maintain it while flying and firing?"
Hesitating slightly, Nim took a deep breath, murmured an incantation under her breath, and raised her Magic Wand. Pointing it forward, several streams of greenish-blue Magic Power began to swirl at the wand's tip before forming into bullets and shooting forward like streaks of light.
Their sheer number made them difficult to count, but at first glance, there appeared to be at least a dozen beams slicing through the air, piercing fallen leaves with such precision that not even fragments were left behind—they were utterly obliterated.
"Does this… suffice, Captain?"
After completing the sequence, Nim wavered unsteadily for a moment, nearly losing the ability to stay afloat in midair. Still, she managed to steady herself before turning back, her face filled with hopeful anticipation as she looked at Cornflower's expression.
This was Cornflower's evaluation.
As she slowly clapped her hands, offering praise for her teammate's performance, Cornflower continued to explain further, "Among the Species Level, your use of Magic Bullets is undoubtedly mature. The power and speed are exceptional. I can see the effort you've put into this."
"Ah, hehe, it's not that big of a deal."
Nim scratched her head bashfully and smiled. "We've just been practicing this a lot back in the Silver Corridor. If we couldn't do it well, the matrons would scold us… so eventually, it just stuck."
"Regardless of the reason, your efforts are evident, and we must trust that such hard work will not go unrewarded."
Interrupting Nim's modesty, Cornflower pressed on with her guidance. "However, do you notice any further differences? For example, using Magic Bullets while hovering , does it feel the same as firing them while standing on the ground?"
"While standing on the ground?"
Nim pondered for a moment. "It does feel kind of different, I think?"
"How so?" Cornflower prompted her patiently.
"It feels like… compared to usual, the Magic Bullets I fire this way are fewer, and they seem weaker as well," Nim concluded after some thought.
"Good. Let's remember this pattern. Now, let me ask you—what do you think would happen if I asked you to maintain flight while activating wide-range Magical Power Perception, sensing everything within 500 meters of you, and then requested you to fire Magic Bullets as well?" Cornflower asked her.