"...You literally did."
"I said I was busy."
"...That's the same thing."
"It's different."
Kai decided not to argue.
"...Okay."
Alice stood.
"Show me."
"Hm?"
"The magic."
"You said you can use it."
Kai walked toward the center of the room.
He extended one hand.
Closed his eyes.
He remembered the feeling from Oheyo.
Not the memories.
The mana.
Like invisible currents flowing around everything.
He reached toward them.
Gathered them.
Focused.
A tiny flame appeared above his palm.
Unlike before—
It no longer flickered wildly.
It remained steady.
Calm.
Controlled.
Alice froze.
"...Do that again."
Kai blinked.
"...Okay?"
The flame disappeared.
Then returned.
Again.
No chant.
No magic circle.
Nothing.
Alice's eyes narrowed.
"...How?"
Kai looked at his hand.
"I don't know."
"I just..."
He searched for the words.
"...Feel it."
"I imagine what I want."
"And it happens."
Silence.
Alice slowly walked closer.
"...You didn't chant."
"No."