824 61 Days to Go Side Story: Year 24 of the Arcana Calendar (2/2)
Donnie nodded quickly after he heard the terms. ”Alright! No problem! Sir, when are we going to sign the contract?”
One ”Lucidity Necklace” was worth two to five queen gold coins. Having rented one at such a low price, Donnie was naturally excited.
”The necklace is not with me. You can come again tomorrow at this time.” The boss nodded.
Donnie thanked him and left the bookstore for the bus station. All he could think of was the amazing experience and the College Entrance Exam of Advanced Magic that was to come in 61 days.
As he waited for the bus, Donnie looked at the Triumph Square, where a bronze statue that was wearing a double-breasted suit and a top hat with a staff in his left hand and a pocket watch in his right hand, stood.
”Mr. Evans…” Donnie mumbled with both admiration and certain ”hate”.
”Bus No. 36, bound for 'Land of Thousand Lakes'…” As a cold, mechanical female voice echoed, a dim red bus stopped before Donnie.
Donnie woke up from his thoughts and stepped on the bus, placing his school badge in the sensor area.
”From the No. 7 Magic School of Rentato. Eight free rides left…” The mechanical voice echoed again without any feelings.
”Nature's Heart” was a magic school co-established by the Congress of Magic, the Elven Court, and the Kingdom of Holm. It was the seventh preliminary magic school in Rentato.
”Artificial intelligence is truly convenient…” Donnie thought subconsciously. ”It's a shame that I don't have a chance to witness the combination of artificial intelligence and alchemical life as what Ms. Heidi described…”
Thinking about random things, Donnie returned to his school, which was outside the city, right on time for the evening class.
”Today, I'll introduce to you the special theory of relativity.” Mr. Slington, who had a long white beard, said hoarsely, ”This is Mr. Evans' profound description of space and time. With your current expertise, it is impossible for you to understand it. All you need to do is to grasp the key points.”
Donnie's facial muscles were cramped again. He looked at the banner of ”61 Days Left Until the College Entrance Exam of Advanced Magic” at the back of the classroom and became focused.
After the evening class, Donnie returned to his dormitory dizzily. He lit the small magic lamp and prepared for exercises.
”'Evans Instructions', 'Lucien's Guidance', 'Detailed Explanations of the Questions in the College Entrance Exam of Advanced Magic by Lucien Evans'…” Donnie read the collection of tests one word after another, feeling a stronger and stronger headache. ”Evans, Lucien, Lucien, Evans…”
Although he knew that those books were published by other people under Mr. Evans' name, he still gnashed his teeth at the two words that frequently showed up.
Calming himself down, he opened one of the books and decided to review and consolidate ”History of Arcana and Magic” first.
”… In which year did Mr. Lucien Evans propose matrix mechanics? What's the significance?”
”… How many times has Mr. Evans won the highest honors including the Arcana Prize and the Holm Crown Prize?”
…
”Lucien, Evans, Evans, Lucien…” Donnie rubbed his forehead and closed the book in agitation, opening another collection of tests.
”… Please recite in full the periodic table that Mr. Evans proposed and perfected.”
”… What is the Lucien Constant? What equations are related to it?”
Pa.
Donnie closed the book quickly and drank water to calm himself down. He decided to go for another one.
”… What is the Evans Field Equation about? What's your understanding of it?”
”… Could the Lucien Equation describe all the microscopic particles?”
”Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!”
A miserable, painful, and furious scream burst out of Donnie's mouth and spread far away in the night, echoed by similar sounds in other dormitories.