On a snowy afternoon, Kaiser and Claire were in the greenhouse.
As usual, Claire was still trying to cast her magic, while Kaiser sat nearby, scribbling notes for his ongoing research on the case.
"Hmm... Still no progress. You've tried several casting methods, but none worked. My hunch about some kind of obstruction seems to be right," I muttered, jotting into my research journal. Then suddenly, something clicked in my mind.
Wait a second... maybe that method could work!
"Claire, I might have a more effective way to examine your condition—but... you might be uncomfortable with it."
"...? What is it?"
"Well... it's called {Magic Surgery}."
Her eyes instantly went blank, and her posture shifted into alert.
"M-Master... you're not going to dissect me, are you?" she asked with a frightened look.
"No! I'm not going to cut you open! Just because it's called {Magic Surgery} doesn't mean I'm actually slicing into your body," I said, panicking.
"Then... what exactly is {Magic Surgery}?" she asked, her suspicion easing just slightly.
"First, I'll use my {Magic Eye} to examine your mana flow and identify any abnormalities. Second, I'll manifest a blade of pure mana to carefully slice and re-stitch any damaged pathways. And finally, I'll administer a healing potion after the process. It's likely that your meridians are damaged, which is preventing you from using magic properly."
"So... there's a high chance my meridians are broken?"
"Yes. And the only way to repair them is through {Magic Surgery}," I said firmly.
Within every human lies an invisible core of power—the Mana Core. Located behind the navel, it acts as a second heart, beating not with blood, but with magical energy. Though unseen to the naked eye, mages describe it as a small crystal of light, rotating slowly, absorbing energy from the world and storing it in silence.
From this core, mana flows along delicate channels throughout the body, like an unseen vascular system. These mystical conduits are called mana veins—intangible, yet sensed as warmth or chill when magic activates. They run parallel to the bloodstream, living between breath and heartbeat, infused in flesh and bone.
In certain areas like the forehead, chest, and palms, mana converges into focal points called magic nodes. Here, energy is gathered, shaped, and released as spells. Skilled mages can open or close these nodes at will, reshaping magic as they desire.
However, when the mana flow is disrupted or abnormal... magic becomes inaccessible. The damage can be temporary—or permanent.
Thus, {Magic Surgery} remains the only known method to restore a mage's mana flow.
Claire hesitated, her voice soft. "Will it... hurt?"
"Yes. It will hurt. Not just physically—but spiritually, too."
"Have you... done this before?"
"I did it once, back in school. My classmate... well, she still gets nervous whenever I mention {Magic Surgery}." I gave a sheepish smile.
Claire fell silent, unsure, afraid.
"If you're not ready, we can wait. But... I'm not sure we'll see each other again after my teaching period ends," I said, gazing out the window with a neutral expression.
That struck something in her. If this was her only chance... she couldn't waste it.
She reached out and grasped my hand.
"Master… I'll do it. I'll go through with the surgery!"
I smiled, impressed by the determination in this thirteen-year-old girl's eyes.
"Good. Then let's begin today."
"Eh?! Today?! But what about the equipment? The operating room?"
"Don't worry. The room is already prepared. Right, Blue Dragon?"
"[Operating room...? Oh, you mean the magic altar? It's always ready,]" replied the Blue Dragon.
"[Hey, hey! What are you people planning to do to my precious girl?!]" protested the White Tiger spirit.
"[Do you want her to use magic or not? Or do you prefer she keeps getting bullied?]"
"H-How did you know…?" Claire asked in surprise.
"[While Kaiser was speaking with your father, he mentioned it—how you were bullied for not being able to use magic,]" said the Blue Dragon.
Silence fell. Even the White Tiger went quiet.
"[You're right, Blue Dragon... I don't want Claire to be bullied anymore. But she can't even access my power like this. Still, I don't want anything bad to happen to her,]" said the White Tiger with sorrow.
"[Don't worry. Kaiser knows what he's doing. He won't hurt her,]" said the Blue Dragon calmly.
"[Very well... I'll trust you with her,]" the Tiger finally said.
"All right, Blue Dragon—open the dimensional gate."
"[Understood.]"
A shimmering portal appeared, and we stepped through.
Inside, there was a cavernous chamber carved with ancient runes along the walls, and at its heart stood a stone altar. I laid out a blanket so Claire could lie on it comfortably.
"Oh, Claire—before you lie down… I have one request."
"What is it, Sensei?!" Claire asked enthusiastically.
"Please remove all your clothes," I said with a smile.
Claire froze, her bright smile stiffening.
"E-Excuse me? What did you just say?" Her face started to sweat.
"Yes, take everything off. Though… you're allowed to keep your underwear on."
"Master, you pervert!" Claire shouted, smacking me in protest.
"I'm being serious! This ritual demands direct contact with skin. If not, it won't work."
Claire hesitated, flushed with embarrassment, but slowly summoned her courage.
"Alright… but only on one condition. Don't do anything indecent to me, okay?"
"R-Relax. I won't violate you…" I replied, forcing a stiff smile.
After undressing, Claire lay down quietly on the altar, clothed in nothing but thin undergarments—the last barrier between her and the world. The ritual required bare skin; mana pathways responded only to flesh and spirit laid bare.
I stood beside her, activating my magic eyes. As I expected… her entire mana flow was damaged—something I hadn't examined closely before. Then, soft blue light from the runes began to glow, channeling into my hands as I raised them. The air turned heavy. Silent. Sacred.
"Start from the center," I murmured, almost like a prayer.
My palm slowly pressed against the smooth skin of her stomach—right above her mana core. The touch was not just physical, but metaphysical—reaching through her flesh and spirit into the chaotic whirlpool of broken mana below. As our connection formed, her body tensed, her breath hitched.
Claire:
"Ah… AHHH…!"
A surge of pain shot through her. She bit her lip, drawing blood, but it couldn't stop the scream from escaping. It felt as if every delicate fiber inside her was being sliced and stitched anew—yet there was no blood. Only light and agony.
I said nothing. As my hand pierced through the magic veil around her core, I began to realign the torn and shredded mana threads. But then—my magic halted. I felt something… not just injury, but a presence embedded deep within Claire's core. Something that shouldn't be there.
I narrowed my eyes. My fingers delved deeper—not physically, but through magic—into the heart of her energy.
And there it was.
A black mass pulsed faintly within the swirl of light. Its shape was undefined—like compressed mist, slowly throbbing with a life of its own. The aura it emitted was sharp and cold, rejecting all life.
"This isn't a wound… It's a curse. A soul… bound within you…"
The moment I touched it, Claire's body convulsed violently.
Claire:
"—GHAAAAAHHHH!!"
Her scream pierced the air, echoing through the chamber. Her body arched off the altar, tears flooding from her wide eyes.
I clenched my jaw. "Hold on, Claire… it's clinging to your core. This isn't just damage—this is a Cursed Soul. It's feeding off your mana. If I pull it out carelessly, it could rupture you from within and kill you instantly."
Carefully, I began to extract the Cursed Soul—inch by inch—like pulling a thorn from a still-beating heart. But it resisted, stretching like dark rubber, tightly wound around her mana. Each tug sent violent tremors through Claire's body. Her face turned pale, and her lips bled from biting too hard.
Claire gasped, crying, shouting:
"I... I can't… it hurts… stop…!"
Soft but firm, I whispered:
"Endure, Claire. You're stronger than this. Don't let the curse win. I'm here with you. If I stop now, your life will be in danger."
Slowly, painfully, the soul began to loosen. Its shadowy tendrils stretched long and thin, unwilling to detach. Strange noises filled the air—screams, whispers, sobs—as if thousands of spirits were trapped inside that single soul.
Finally, with a last pull, the entity tore free from Claire's core. It floated above her abdomen, pulsing and howling silently before I sealed it within a crystalline orb etched with ancient runes.
Claire's body collapsed. Her breathing was heavy and uneven, but slowly… it stabilized. Color returned to her skin, though her eyes remained empty—her spirit utterly drained.
I looked at the crystal in my hand, muttering:
"Who did this to you… and why?"
Then I looked back at Claire.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't spare you the pain. But now… you're free."
The cursed crystal now floated in a seal, its dark aura dimmed but still pulsing faintly—proof that the evil within wasn't yet dead.
I set it aside, taking a deep breath to steady myself. But rest would have to wait.
Claire's body still trembled. Her mana channels—once torn—were now scorched, spreading like black veins across her chest, arms, back, even down her spine.
"I have to fix everything… or her body will reject magic forever."
I raised my hands again. New runes lit up—silver-blue this time, signaling high-level restoration magic. A soft pulse echoed—not a clock, but the rhythm of life being rewritten.
Her stomach was the starting point. I repaired the torn core, weaving mana threads back together, anchoring the spiral of energy to Claire's heartbeat.
Then, I followed the flow upward, through her chest and heart. I reinforced the main channels carrying mana throughout her body, healing burnt, decayed networks. Some threads were nearly dead—I had to regrow them, like sewing veins from scratch.
Each touch made her twitch. But this time, she didn't scream—only silent tears slid from her empty gaze.
I moved to her shoulders, then her arms, guiding the mana along its paths. Down her spine, I mended the small magical nodes responsible for reflexive energy flow. And finally, I touched the crown of her head—the center of magical consciousness.
With a final incantation, light enveloped Claire. It wrapped around her like a warm blanket, then slowly faded… gone.
The operation was complete.
Claire lay still, her breath even. The magic flowing in her body now shimmered—clear, uninterrupted—more pristine than ever. Yet her face remained pale, and her soul weary. She would need days, maybe weeks, to fully recover. At last, her eyes closed, and she slipped into sleep.
I sat cross-legged beside her, watching my student in silence. One question kept echoing in my mind:
"Who implanted that cursed soul inside her… and how long has it been there?"