Chapter 331 - Promise (1/2)
”Greetings Majesty,” said a guard with a salute. Held onto a short magic wand, the elf worked as a guard for one of the magical universities. Clifftorn was engraved atop the arch of an entrance. Curved, the letters went along without difficulty. Inside the campus, a green yard stretched from right until a domed-roof building of which bore several floors. *Do not enter,* warned many to not ruin the well-cared grass. Pass the middle, a sphere made of cement hovered with various writings. Split into four paths, the destination was the central building. One in an E-shape with the middle being the office. Inside, a help desk waited with a beastman who wore small round glasses
”Majesty,” he stood without wasting time, ”-a lecture room has been prepared to the left,” pointed, Staxius was on his way.
'Who was that?' asked the helper with the reading glasses pulled down, a glimpse of an unknown figure.
Heavy looking dark-wood inlaid with metal stood strong. Now on the very silent first floor, the hall stretched to the right until one could not see further down. *Click,* a slap of warm air sprawled out. The smell of wood and the crisp fragrance of flowers lingered. Tis was the same room he had used during the presentation for the mining plans.
”Majesty,” said an innocent-sounding voice.
”Anything the matter?” turned facing a girl with bright red hair, she smiled.
”No, just amazed that's all. Who would have thought that the Death Reaper would be a king in this realm? Very much fascinating.”
”Think what thee wishes, Intherna, I'm still going to wait till thou swore fidelity.”
”Such theatrics,” she leaned on the table, ”-why do thou care? Isn't the point of a puppet army to blindly follow their creator?”
”Forgive my saying but thou art ignorant. Making puppets out of gods and goddesses is a thing of sacrilege. Yet, I've decided so, as to atone, tis a chance at a new life for those trapped in mine soul.”
”Divine beings, I still can't believe that the Supreme God would just abandon a loyal follower. Nevertheless, the god of death granting life has been the first of what I've seen. Isn't that the job of Creation I dare wonder.”
”Destruction may well be my creed, though, I've been given the boon of Box of Alche. A substitute and lesser powerful item of which grants the ability of Creation itself.”
”That's how you were able to create such a comfortable vessel. Lord Death, I add that you're quite peculiar. Thy mind and thoughts intrigue me, a very good trait to have if thou plan on creating more of divine puppets.” Triggered, footsteps of many was sensed climbing the stairs.
”Do take a seat, Intherna, we've more to accomplish later,” uninterested, a book landed on the table with a loud crash. Intherna, who held a strange stare, turned to grab a seat with one leg atop the other.
'Intherna, her soul has transmigrated. She can escape into my shadow and remain there without the need for food nor water. Abled to do and experience anything a lady her age would wish for, there's also another side of that body I made. If the day comes where we're separate, a single word from me will have her body and soul teleport to my aid. The best way to describe her is a human-spirit, though she's more than that.' Exchanging stares, she knew of those abilities as well.
'Smart when it comes to magic, I'll have to decide if this god of death is worthy of my support. Well, it's good that I'd think that, his holding all the cards right from the beginning. A gesture and my conscience are reduced to naught with my powers for the vessel to use however way it wants. What's the end game, Staxius, what is indeed the end game?' deep in thought, the door opened with many teenagers respectfully walking in.
”Good morning Class-2A.”
”Good morning, Majesty,” said the class with all present.
”Who's that?” asked Simone quick to spot the mysterious girl.
”Don't ask,” whispered Timothy,”-let it slide.”
”I see that the fighter's guild is here as well,” devoid of emotion, the tone was but a singular note. ”Eagerness to learn,” he nodded in acknowledgment. The boys walked in followed by the girls who were at a slower pace. Kim led her group with confidence. On the way to take their seat, white hair brushed against the table. Red eyes locked against one another, Eira's face seemed wanting to speak, as if a matter of heavy concern held her chest tight. What returned her intent was a face distant and cold, Staxius held no particular interest in speaking. The warm heart that had grown over the years had ice slowly regain its reign. A mere single second felt like an eternity.
”Well,” turned to the giant display, ”-as promised, I'll explain and give a course on the basics to alchemy.” Earnest to listen, the room soon fell into a morguelike silence.
14:00 came faster than a blink. ”-that's all to what is needed for a good base to Alchemy,” he concluded.
”Hey, hey,” gripped Fletcher, ”-isn't Alchemy supposed to be hard?”
”Let go of my hair,” said Kim with a baffled expression, ”-it's hard,” she turned, ”-I had lessons prior. Complicated beyond belief it took a few hours of me to understand what went on.”
”Yeah,” interjected Mille, ”-the lecture was simple and easy to digest. Time went by so fast, a sign that our brain didn't work that hard.”
”I understand,” yelled Tony with a notebook in the air, ”FOR THE FIRST TIME, I'VE UNDERSTOOD THE THEORY BEHIND MAGIC.”
”If Tony understood, then there's no excuse for those who didn't follow,” laughed Harold. Anastasia and Eira remained aloof of class-filled banter.
”Excuse you,” echoed down the center, ”-I didn't say that the lecture has ended. We'll have ten-minutes to answer any questions.” Scared, the laughter died out.
”I've a question,” Christina, he nodded to give the go-ahead. ”I don't understand how Alchemy can change the properties of any item. Isn't that improbable, the change of lead into gold – won't that create more trouble than due?”
”No, not at all,” calm, ”-Alchemy isn't the search of transmuting item into another. It's the research of how mana reacts with elements. Tis a simple definition. Let me elaborate on the transmutation subject. Some who wish to know, changing an element into another is a thing of myth, yet, it's possible in theory. When one uses a spell such as a fireball, the mana converts from life-essence to the particles required for the spell. Mana conversion from life-essence is still a hypothesis – thus I shan't go into details. What it means is that,” *Blood-Arts: Crimson Thread,* from a tiny injury, blood hovered forth till above the right palm to then crystalize into an alchemic circle invisible to the students. Not wasting time, he called a droplet of pure-mana from the air to hover into liquid and rest on the palm. ”-if one has the proper conduit, good catalyst, and ample energy,” an amber spark had the class jump back. ”Changing one thing into another is possible,” a rose-bud transmuted from Mana.
”You said in theory,” voiced Mille.
”But that was in practice,” yelled Kim.
”In theory for other people, I can perform the transmutation spell. Prerequisite is the absolute understanding of Mana conversion. I've studied the source of magic from well before you were born. I've yet to see someone propose the theory in the alchemic world. I doubt it will be the case for a few years to come. GateSix, as you know, the research group, has had a few discoveries along the same line of thought.”
”You said energy,” pointed Timothy, ”-how much?”
”Perceptive as usual,” he turned to the boy, ”-quantifying the exact number is daunting. A good reference would be the combination of two-A-ranked mages casting high-tier magic to transmute a droplet of mana.”
”How about the medium?” asked Simone who surprised all.
”It can be anything as long as sufficient energy is given. I suppose mana is easier for it's pure and subject to change.”
”If a lot of energy is required, would having a good Catalyst lower the strain?” asked Ysmay.
”I'm afraid not, the catalyst acts as a starting agent. One still requires energy to toggle the catalyst, think of it as climbing a hill with a bolder – after the top, it shall roll down on its own. Now imagine the energy required is an almost vertical slope.”
Faced with that truth, the questions stopped. ”If there's no more question, then class is dismissed.”
Stood reluctantly, Kim had her way to the front, ”-will there be another class?”
”No,” he returned with a cold glance, ”-I promised to give the basics of alchemy, a promise which I've now fulfilled. Don't forget, there's; Astronomy, Botany, Magic, and Medicine to study before partaking the test. Each of which one has to take four years to study. Throwing the term alchemist around lightly is an insult. Only those who work hard will pass the test. C is the bare limit to being certified. If one isn't yearning to being the top, then thou may just give up. The world isn't going anywhere, take your time, Kim,” facing the students, ”-you as well. Decide well, being an Alchemist is more work than people know.”
”Majesty,” spoke Mille.
”What is it?”
”We know about the certification grades. Perchance, could we see yours?”