The second month of my research began with a fundamental shift in approach. Instead of continuing to study the three methods separately, I started what Rachel dubbed "theoretical archaeology"—deconstructing each approach to its core principles and examining how they might be rebuilt into something entirely new.
"You're essentially reverse-engineering centuries of magical innovation," she observed as we spread our materials across multiple tables in the Academy library's most secluded study room.
"And doing it with the best theoretical minds in our year," Cecilia added as she joined us, her arms full of additional texts from the Slatemark Empire's magical archives. Her red eyes sparkled with intellectual excitement as she surveyed our expanded workspace. "I've brought some comparative analysis materials that might help with the synthesis work."
