“Good Morning,” Lilith said as she walked into the classroom. Her sharp gaze roamed over the five of us, momentarily pausing on me before moving on. “Today, we’re going to do something a little different. We’re going to be exploring some elementary applications of Magic Capacitance and Magic Conductance. This is an essential unit that will prepare you to learn Three-Phase Magic Power in a few weeks.”

I sat up in my chair and leaned forward. Now that I had an internal magic circle, this was an extremely relevant lesson for me.

Lilith motioned toward the screen behind her while her fingers danced across her tablet. The screen flickered to life, displaying a complex series of interwoven diagrams and symbols that represented some advanced magic circle. With another tap, the image zoomed in to focus on two new components within the circle: one depicting a reservoir of sorts, symbolizing the magic capacitor, and the other an arrow-lined path that represented the magic conductor.

“Magic Conductance,” she began while pointing toward the arrow-lined path, “is essentially the opposite of Magic Resistance. Where resistance hinders the flow of mana, conductance enhances it. It’s a measure of how easily mana can flow through a specific path within the magic circle. The higher the conductance, the more efficient the flow of magic.”

Her hand shifted to point at the reservoir symbol. “Magic Capacitance, on the other hand, refers to the capacity of a magic circle to store mana within a magic field. This stored mana can be released to give a significant burst of magic power when required. Magic Capacitors are used for high-powered spells or in situations requiring a sudden surge of magic power.

“In a functioning magic circle, these two principles work together, regulating the flow and storage of mana for optimum spell casting,” she concluded, glancing around the room to check for the characteristic dazed looks of sleep-deprived college students.

“Any questions?” she asked.

I raised my hand. “In terms of efficiency, how do different materials affect Magic Conductance? And also, I happen to know a thing or two about dielectric materials in electrical capacitors—are any specific materials or mana properties that increase the energy storage capacity in Magic Capacitors?”

She nodded in acknowledgment. “That’s an excellent question, Brick. Just like in electrical circuits, the choice of materials in a magic circle can indeed significantly affect Magic Conductance and Capacitance.” There was a slight pause as she gathered her thoughts. “I’ll address your question about Magic Conductance first: the properties of the magical pathways affect the ease with which mana flows. Pathways etched in high-concentration mana crystals, for example, exhibit greater conductance because they allow mana to flow more freely.”

“Mana crystals are rare,” Diana interjected. “The few we have all came from dungeons. Even the imperial family doesn’t have very many.”

“That’s a fair point,” Lilith replied. “You’re absolutely correct, Diana. High-concentration mana crystals are incredibly rare and valuable, even in the Demon Realm. This scarcity necessitates the exploration of alternative materials to construct magic circles, which, as I understand it, is a more advanced course that you may have the opportunity to study during your time here.”

She turned her attention back to me. “In terms of your comparison to electrical circuits, you can think of mana crystals like a perfect conductor. Yet we don’t always have the luxury of working with perfect conductors. Electrical circuits are instead often made with materials like copper. Similarly, certain types of quartz and gemstones show a decent capacity for conducting mana. They are not as efficient as mana crystals, of course, but they are more readily available.”

“Why are we even talking about this?” Eden grumbled. “We’re not studying to be Magic Engineers. None of us will ever need to build a physical magic circuit.”

“Wow, narrow-minded much?” I spat out, annoyed. “Sure, we won’t be building physical magic circuits day in and day out, but understanding the fundamental principles behind them is important. It’s like knowing the basics of martial arts before picking up a sword.”

Eden crossed her arms and frowned. “And yet, in the middle of a fight, no one is thinking about how to throw a punch or parry a strike. They just do it. Magic should be the same, don't you think?”

I shook my head. “Any skilled fighter will tell you that understanding the basics is crucial.”

‘Source: the internet.’

“When you understand the foundations, your body can react instinctively, applying the right move at the right time. It’s the same with magic. Understanding how a spell works on a fundamental level can help you modify it according to the situation.”

Eden opened her mouth to argue more, but Lilith stepped in to mediate the debate.

“Actually, both of you are correct in a way,” she said. “Eden, it’s true that not everyone will delve into the realm of magic engineering. But magic is a tool and the foundation and concepts behind it are vital to understanding how to use it properly and effectively.”

She turned to address me. “Brick, your comparison of magic circles to art is also accurate. Magic circles are comparable to individual masterpieces, crafted by the mage. The same spell can have numerous variations, depending on the mage’s personal magic circle and their understanding of mana manipulation.”

Her gaze swept across the room, landing on each of us in turn. “Consider this,” she continued. “If a painter knows to mix blue and yellow to get green, they can get green whenever they want. However, if they know the exact proportions of blue and yellow they need, they can create a range of greens, each suitable for a different purpose. Similarly, understanding how different materials affect mana flow will allow you to fine-tune your magic circles. This applies even in the case of your internal magic circles.”

“...It does?” Vera asked. The cyborg nun had been quietly listening until now, yet something about Lilith’s statement seemed to have caught her interest.

Lilith nodded in response. “Absolutely, Vera. While it is true that the internal magic circle is composed purely of mana, the principle remains the same.” She moved back to the screen, fingers quickly tapping on her tablet. The previously presented diagram of a magic circle popped up again. “Even in an internal magic circle, there are pathways through which mana flows and ‘nodes’ or ‘reservoirs’ where mana is stored. The principles of Magic Conductance and Magic Capacitance still apply.”

“How so?” Diana asked. “I’m having a hard time seeing it.”

“Sure,” Lilith said. “When you manipulate your internal magic circle, you essentially alter the ‘material’ of the magic pathways and storage nodes. By increasing the ‘purity’ or ‘quality; of these elements within the circle, you can enhance the conductance for a smoother flow of mana, or increase the capacitance to store more mana for higher-powered spells.”

A new image materialized on the screen. It showed a basic internal magic circle with areas highlighted to represent ‘pathways’ and ‘storage nodes’. “Just like how you would choose the best materials for an external magic circle to increase its efficiency, understanding how to ‘refine’ your internal magic circle allows you to increase your magic control, power, and efficiency.”

She locked eyes with Vera. “By recognizing and understanding these principles, you can better adapt your magic to different circumstances, giving you the upper hand in battles. Magic is largely about raw power, but it’s also about control and adaptability.”

Vera’s eyes glazed over as she listened to the explanation. A moment after Lilith finished, the cyborg nodded, a spark of understanding lighting up her eyes. “I see… That… kind of makes sense. Thank you.”

Lilith smiled. “Of course. Now, I did say we would be doing something different today, yet so far it’s just been me lecturing up here. The next hour or so will be a practicum. I expect each and every one of you to add at least one magic resistor or magic capacitor to your internal magic circuit by the end of class.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

‘A practicum, is it?’

Those were coming up rather often lately, weren’t they?

Still, now that I had an internal magic circle, this was something I could actually do. It was time to mix my status as the author with my background in electrical engineering to make a big leap forward.

I closed my eyes, focusing on my internal magic circle. The sensation was still new, the raw magic flow circulating, its wild energy held in check by the basic circular pathway. It was a blank canvas; there was nothing there yet but it was capable of becoming anything.

‘A magic capacitor…’

As I visualized the addition to my magic circle, I saw it in my mind’s eye as a shimmering lake of pure energy, held within an intricate lattice of magic. The lattice itself was woven from strands of my mana, like silver threads under the moonlight, spiraling around in an intricate pattern.

The creation of a magic reservoir was not simply about bending and shaping, it was like sculpting from mercury, wrestling with an ever-shifting, luminescent material that danced and pulsed with a life of its own. It was like trying to hold a beam of moonlight in my hand, the radiant mana slipping and sliding, forever trying to escape confinement.

But gradually, drop by drop, with the meticulous patience of an author writing a several-hundred-chapter web novel, I managed to mold the mana, its chaotic movements slowly coming under my control. I could feel the energy pooling within the newly formed capacitor.

Taking a metaphorical step back to examine my work, I grinned at the awesome ‘sight’. The capacitor felt like a pulsating orb of energy, like a miniature sun held within my magic circle, its pulsations rhythmic, almost like a heartbeat. The mana within the orb shimmered and flowed, creating beautiful patterns of light and shadow. Though I would have to test it to see how much, it had power. It was pure potential for an explosive burst of magic.

With a final mental push, I closed off the magic capacitor.

‘I did it!’

I started to laugh giddily. This was a big step forward…

Reveling in the moment, I reached for my internal magic circle again, only to stop as searing pain flared in my right arm. The small reddish-purple almost seemed to undulate, taking on an almost luminescent glow.

“Damn…” I growled through clenched teeth.

‘This damn mana scar…!’

It only took me a few seconds to realize what was happening. With the new capacitor, the reservoir of my magic was amplified. It was akin to adding fuel to a fire already at risk of spreading. The magic capacitor did allow for storing more mana, yes, but its discharge needed to be regulated. A normal person would be fine with only one magic capacitor in an otherwise bare magic circuit, but I had a mana scar.

The solution was equally obvious: I needed to counterbalance the enhanced power.

If you were thinking I should just get rid of the capacitor, then think again. Having that magic capacitor will make me more powerful, so I’m going to keep it.

No, what I needed was a magic resistor, a tool for regulating the flow of magic energy. If I could weave one into my magic circle, I could control the potent surges of my mana, harnessing it rather than letting it run rampant.

With my eyes still closed, I picked a spot and began the intricate process of threading a magic resistor into my internal circuit. Sweat dripped from my forehead as I fought against the pain.

Each strand of mana had to be woven into the lattice with the utmost precision, the structure carefully built to diffuse the power surge in a dissipative manner. The task was even more complex than the creation of the capacitor, but I was relentless. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the tempest within my internal magic circle began to calm. The violent gusts of mana energy gave way to hushed whispers, moderated by the resistor’s dampening influence.

When I finally opened my eyes, I was imbued with a sense of calm control greater than any I’d ever experienced before. It felt like I had absolute dominion, which was one hell of a confidence boost.

You have added a Magic Capacitor and a Magic Resistor to Swiss Army Circle.

Effects:

Magic Capacitor 1 can store up to 15% of your total mana.

Magic Resistor 1 improves mana flow control and stability by 10%.

*Swiss Army Circle will now track Stability.*

Swiss Army Circle

Configuration - Default

Capacity - 115%

Efficiency - 10%

Stability - 65%

→Addons (2/5): Capacitor (1), Resistor (1)

→Spells (0/5): None

→Techniques (1/5): Resonant Breath

“I kind of want to try casting Explosion with this…” I muttered to myself.

“Brick,” Lilith’s stern voice interrupted my thoughts. I snapped to attention and realized she was standing right in front of my desk.

‘How long was she there…?’

“The assignment was to add a magic capacitor, yet I see you went and added a resistor as well. I’m curious about your thought process.”

Everybody else paused and stared at me.

“I, uh…”

‘How should I explain this?’

“My mana is naturally really explosive. The magic capacitor helped me store more of it, but it also increased the intensity of the release. I thought I needed a way to moderate that power, to control it. A magic resistor seemed like the best way to do that.”

She studied me for a moment, a thoughtful expression on her face. “I’m impressed. Your response shows that you’ve been paying attention in class.”

“Showoff…” Eden grumbled.

“Let’s end class here,” Lilith announced.

“Huh?” Diana exclaimed. “Weren’t we supposed to have an hour?”

“You were, yes,” Lilith confirmed. “But now you don’t. I’m ending class here.”

“You never change,” Mickey sighed.

‘Whoa, I totally forgot that guy was here…’

Somehow I’d missed the giant plagueling that took up a whole section of the room by himself. I guess Lilith’s just that good at keeping my attention, heh…

As the others began to file out of the room, Lilith tapped my desk and discretely motioned for me to stay. Once we were alone, she visibly relaxed, exhaling a deep sigh.

“What’s up?” I asked.

She turned so that her whole body faced me and leaned forward, slamming her palms onto her desk, a half-manic grin on her face.

“I want to see it!”

“...Huh?” I couldn’t help but recoil at her dramatic shift in attitude.

‘Is this…?’

“I heard you before. You said you want to try casting an Explosion now, right? I want to see it!”

“Ah…”

Yeah, it was easy to forget sometimes that this was Lilith’s truth. She was a succubus, a researcher, a teacher, and my dance partner, but before all that, there was something else:

She was a maniac for explosions, a connoisseur whose love of the explosive arts was eclipsed only by one infamous crimson demon depicted in cultured literature. Lilith was rated lower in her obsession only because she wasn’t a gag character—she kept her hobby mostly to herself, only occasionally dabbling in illegal smuggling operations to obtain monsters to experiment with.

“Let’s go to the training field,” Lilith urged. “Your Explosion in the Gnome Dungeon was magnificent; unrefined and primal. With the addition of a magic capacitor and resistor…” she shuddered with excitement, unable to finish her sentence.

I took a moment to think before I answered. This wasn’t something I planned for, but if there were a way for me to leverage this…

‘Maybe if I…’

A few ideas came to mind. I settled on one and smiled. “Sure,” I agreed. “Let’s hit the training field.”

In hindsight, it was a terrible idea.