CHAPTER 3
The old magician looked back at Arcus. "I never thought something like
this would end up quashing one of my fears so perfectly. Arcus, young man,
though I may not be around much longer, please keep my eternal gratitude
close to your heart."
"Y-Yes, sir," Arcus replied a little stiffly.
Having one of the kingdom's heroes remember his name almost floored
him... even if he did have a dubious side.
"By the way, Crucible," Frederick said, "y'sure it wasn't actually you
who made this?"
"What, you don't believe me?"
"I mean...this kid looks like he's barely out of his diapers. I'm surprised
no one else thinks it's fishy."
"Look, I could never have come up with somethin' like this. All I did
was give 'im a couple of suggestions for the design around... oh, two years
back."
"H-How many?!"
"When he was eight... or even seven?!"
Astonishment rippled through the attendees. Having a ten-year-old come
up with an invention like the aethometer was surprising enough, but this new
knowledge dealt yet another blow.
Roheim, however, remained perfectly calm. "If this tool was in
development two years ago, why did it take so long to announce?"
"The production of the aethometer is relatively unique, and there was a
lot of data left to collect about its use. We had to be sure that there were no
discrepancies in how two different aethometers measured aether. I didn't
want to announce the aethometer until every last model was perfect." Arcus
paused. "If they were going to be passed over to the medical sector, there
could be no room for inaccuracy. These factors combined meant it took years
to get to this point."
"I see. Well, you've certainly thought this all through," Roheim said.
Roheim had no idea. Those two years of calibration testing had caused
Arcus no end of grief. The entire batch of aethometers had to be scrapped
entirely several times over; the manufacturing costs nearly drove Craib to
bankruptcy.
"And..." Arcus continued.
"And?"
"My uncle, Craib, said that everyone was going to want one, so we should be ready to meet demand as soon as we announced it."
"Makes sense."
"Naturally."
"Yes, yes!"
At least they were admitting to it. Just like Craib and Noah, these
magicians were eager to refine their art. He could see them holing themselves
up in their houses with their aethometers for days, if not weeks, on end.
Eventually, Godwald decided it was time to bring the meeting to a close.
"Although we have yet to determine when the aethometer will be
officially announced to the world, Arcus will be named as its creator. I trust
there are no objections?"
The room responded with silence. Arcus couldn't imagine why anybody
might object, but he still found himself breathing a sigh of relief. It would be
a long time before the public unveiling anyway.
"The Magician's Guild shall pay for the manufacture of the aethometer
and provide Arcus a monetary award for his invention. Any objections?"
Godwald waited, but nobody said anything. "Then it's settled."
"Godwald, what about awarding him an order?" Gastarque asked.
"That is a decision to be made by His Majesty. I shall be allowed an
audience at the palace in due time."
"In that case, perhaps I shall pay a visit to His Majesty too, hopefully
before I'm in my grave."
"Me too," Roheim added.
Arcus felt a pat on his back, and he looked up to see his uncle smiling
warmly at him.
"Look at you. You just got the top three state magicians on your side."
"Yeah..."
Arcus felt warmth spreading through him. Orders were serious business.
Even Arcus hadn't expected this much.
"We done yet?" Frederick asked suddenly, inviting a round of
exasperated sighs from his compatriots.
The end of the meeting didn't mean the end of the questions.
"How many aethometers can you make in a month?"
"Will you prioritize state magicians in the distribution?"
"Will you make them available to the Royal Institute of Magic? If so,
when?"
"I'll probably be asking for some custom-made ones soon, so look out for
that!"
"I would like you to come and guide us on how to use them with
patients!"
...And many more. Around halfway through, the questions started to
transform into "polite requests." Not that Arcus was surprised. He received
questions about the "processing" of the Sorcerer's Silver too, but he wasn't
ready to reveal the existence of tempered aether. There was still too much he
wanted to research about the phenomenon. Tempered aether itself wasn't
suited to casting spells, but seals were a different story. Arcus was sure it had
potential.
He didn't know when or how it might come to his advantage in the
future, and so he didn't want to announce it until he was absolutely ready.
Tempered aether was instrumental in producing the aethometer, too, so any
new aethometers would have to wait until he announced its existence, as long
as he didn't want to be making them all by himself.
It was magician's etiquette to respect the secrets of other magic users, so
Arcus didn't have too much trouble deflecting the questions he didn't want to
answer.
After that, there were discussions about the aethometer's use in the
military and medical sector. It wasn't necessary for Arcus to be present for
these, though, so he left those matters to Godwald and Craib, and exited the
meeting room.
The second he opened the door, he heard voices behind him.
"Truly astounding. Noble or not, it's a wonder he can speak so
comfortably in an environment like this."
"He's only ten, isn't he? I have a nephew around the same age, but I
couldn't imagine him standing up there!"
"Did you see how he answered Roheim's questions, too?"
"Who in their right mind would disinherit a boy like that? I just don't
understand what some of these magical folks are thinking sometimes."
"I believe Your Lordship mentioned that those rumors concerning him
were completely unfounded."
"Well, yes, although I only discovered that myself recently."
"His Majesty will take a great interest in him. Your Lordship is so lucky
to be acquainted with such an intelligent young magician!"
The generals were full of admiration for Arcus.
"Arcus spoke wonderfully!"
"Yes."
"I don't understand how anybody would call him talentless. It makes no
sense!"
"This sort of thing would be difficult enough for an adult to deal with."
From the magicians' conversation, Arcus wouldn't be surprised if he was
the first magician with no history whatsoever to come out with research like
this. Normally, you would probably have to be a state magician, or a
magician who was already famous and had a long list of previous
achievements.
If he weren't already related to a state magician, Arcus would have had a
lot more trouble getting to this point, even if the production of the aethometer
went smoothly. His mind was caught up in what could have been, when he
suddenly heard excited footsteps rushing up to him.
"Hey, kid! Thanks so much! I'm gonna use this thing right away!"
"Oh, um. You're welcome."
It was Frederick, the state magician with a fondness for walnuts. Arcus
gathered a polite response as quickly as he could, but the moment the words
were out of his mouth, Frederick had already waved and rushed off again.
It was clear he cared more about using the aethometer than having a
conversation with its young creator. Arcus couldn't blame him.
"One minute he's whining about losing out on sleep, the next he's
rushing around like a headless chicken."
Arcus heard somebody sigh behind him. He turned around to find
Mercuria String standing there. He recognized her from the witch's hat she
wore low over her face. Her hair was brown, and her eyes russet, a common
combination within the kingdom. Despite looking like she was in her mid-
teens, she was quite a bit taller than Arcus.
Arcus opened his mouth to thank her for attending, but she raised a hand
to stop him. Apparently, she didn't value that sort of thing particularly highly.
Mercuria turned to Noah. "Noah. It is good to see you again."
"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Mercuria." Noah bowed his head.
Despite the formality of their words, there was a friendly warmth within
them.
"Do you know each other?" Arcus asked Noah.
"Noah was my first student after I started lecturing." It was Mercuria
who answered
"Indeed. She taught me a great deal."
"Oh, please! You're making me blush!"
"But you did teach me a great deal. That was your job."
"Oh, but you make it sound like such a big thing!"
"It wasn't. You are a teacher; it was your job. Although I am grateful, of
course..."
"You know, you really need to learn a thing or two about manners!"
Mercuria glared at him. Then she sighed. "Though I suppose it was my fault
for expecting you to have changed."
So he was always like this...
"I see you are serving Arcus Raytheft now and not Crucible?"
"Correct. Craib handed me over to him to help with the aethometer's
development. It has been a very interesting couple of years."
"I can imagine. You are serving the mind that came up with such a
fantastic idea, after all."
"The same mind who got himself sent to the Holy Tower," Noah added.
"The Holy Tower?"
"Yes."
"Oh..." Suddenly, Mercuria's eyes widened. "W-Wait! Were you the one
who escaped?! Do you know how much trouble you caused?! How on earth
did you manage to end up there?!"
"Now, now. Please remember that Master Arcus was just another one of
Marquess Gaston's victims. He was an incredibly wicked man." Noah let out
a pained sigh and dabbed at the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief.
Mercuria didn't fall for his theatrics, and was now hopping around on the
spot angrily. "A victim, you say?! How did you escape in the first place?! We
had to put extra measures in place to make sure it would never happen again,
you know!"
"I'm afraid I cannot disclose my master's secrets."
"Grr! That's cowardly!"
"Cowardly and effective." Noah bowed his head.
Mercuria could do nothing but let out another sigh and glare at him
before turning to Arcus. "He may look like a perfect gentleman, but he's
stubborn as a mule. Watch out for that."
"I know," Arcus said.
"Yes, yes. Keep your guard up."
Despite her passive aggressive warning, Noah was smiling.
"Now, Pinioneer. Where do you think you're going?" Mercuria asked.
"Gah..."
Arcus followed Mercuria's gaze to find Cazzy halfway through trying to
sneak away unnoticed.
"Well?" she demanded. "Explain yourself!"
"Are the two of you acquainted?" Noah asked.
"He was in the year below me at the Institute. If you told me then he'd
become a servant, I would've laughed in your face."
His escape attempt thwarted, Cazzy rearranged his features into an
obsequious grin. "Oh, Peacemaker! Didn't expect to catch ya here!"
"This is a meeting for state magicians. I am a state magician. Your logic
is flawed."
"'Peacemaker'?" Arcus said.
"His Majesty conferred Miss Mercuria's title upon her for her research
on countering foreign magicians," Noah whispered into his ear.
So she was involved in military matters; she was much more impressive
than she looked.
"I've heard a lot of rumors from the guards about you, Pinioneer," she
remarked. "You disappeared immediately after you left the Institute too.
What on earth were you doing?"
"Oh, y'know. This 'n' that."
"Was 'this and that' to do with the marquess?"
"Might've been."
Arcus wasn't the only "victim" of the marquess, as Noah had put it.
"You know Cassim was looking for you, don't you?"
"Yeah, I thought so."
The name rang a bell. He was one of the state magicians absent from the
meeting—the one they called Blinding Flare. Arcus had been surprised
enough to find that Cazzy knew the Chief of the Surveillance Office, but
apparently he had acquaintances among the state magicians too.
"Blinding Flare too?" Noah said. "How exactly are you acquainted with
him?"
"Same as Lisa. He was with me at the Institute."
"Pinioneer is kinder... much kinder than he looks," Mercuria interjected.
"He had a bad habit of getting under his seniors and lecturers' skin, but his
underclassmen admired his spirit. Blinding Flare was no exception. But he
certainly doesn't look kind, does he?"
"I think ya could stand to be kinder, personally speakin'," Cazzy
grumbled.
"Well, you certainly clean up well," she added.
"That ain't fair! They made me wear this!"
"I think it makes him look rather more suspicious. Don't you, Master
Arcus?"
"Uh..."
"Says the guy with the stupid fancy hair!"
Arcus shot a questioning glance at Mercuria, wondering if she really had
run out of nice things to say about Cazzy. Fortunately, that wasn't the case.
"Still, he was top of the class. Given that only the very best make it into
the Institute, that is saying a lot. He certainly has the potential to become a
state magician, even if he lacks the motivation."
"Ya can say that again..."
"This is exactly why it is easy to get the wrong idea about you.
Honestly..." Mercuria sighed.
"You really do speak to everyone like that, don't you, Cazzy?" Arcus
asked.
It was clear that Mercuria had her defenses down, but even then there
was an intimidating air of majesty about her, one beyond comparison with the
late Marquess Gaston's. It was enough to strike fear in anybody's heart, but
Cazzy still seemed able to be totally casual with her.
"Eh, I guess it's 'cause I know her. I mean, you're the same with that old
geezer, right?"
"My uncle? I s'pose, yeah. Though I think he holds back for me," said
Arcus.
If Craib let the intimidating air around him run unchecked, Arcus would
likely faint from it multiple times a day—and for all he knew, the actual
result might be worse than that.
"Master Arcus is likely feeling somewhat numb," said Noah. "I was
surprised he even managed to speak in a room full of state magicians, with all
that majesty you give off."
"Oh? Was it really that bad?"
"It was. Even during our time at the Institute, anybody who came near
you would start trembling with nerves, student or otherwise."
"State magicians are a symbol of the kingdom's power. If our presence
doesn't strike fear into the hearts of others, then what good are we?"
Mercuria shot a sly glance at Cazzy.
"The old geezer's been workin' me like a horse for the last month. So, y'know, I'm used to bein' around grand magicians, even if it ain't easy. Still,
ya look like you've grown since we last met. I mean, dignity-wise, at least."
"On the contrary, you have not grown enough. Cassim has made a lot of
progress too, I'll have you know."
"What, that old softie?" Cazzy said, frowning.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I should be heading off. I am looking forward
to seeing what this aethometer can do."
"If you have any problems with it, please feel free to contact me," Arcus
said.
"I will do so. Likewise, if you require any assistance, please do let me
know. And rest assured I shall be contacting you with regards to a custom
order later." Mercuria stuck her tongue out cheekily.
Pairing her request with an offer for help was quite the shrewd move. It
made sense for a woman known as a "Peacemaker," though. She was much
sharper than she looked and knew how to aim for people's weaknesses to get
what she wanted. When she spoke to Cazzy and Noah, Arcus got the
impression she judged people on their appearance, but clearly that wasn't the
case.
Their conversation over, Mercuria skipped away, finally leaving Arcus
free to head home. He would gladly have done so, had he not felt a familiar
presence nearby. He spun around and quickly fell to one knee. Before him
stood Purce Cremelia.
Purce was Charlotte's father and a general in the armed forces; Arcus had
met him during the incident with the marquess.
"At ease," the count said. "Well, Arcus. I believe the last time we met
was in the marquess's garden."
"It is good to see you again, My Lord. Many thanks for attending the
presentation."
"That aethometer is a fine invention you've been hiding up your sleeve,
young man. I am not a magician myself, so take this with a grain of salt, but I
can see it contributing greatly to our kingdom's advancement."
"As a magician, nothing would please me more, My Lord."
"I do, of course, have a number of magicians within my forces. It can be
difficult to organize them into companies sometimes, but I believe your tool
will make the task much easier."
"It is an honor, My Lord."
"Your invention is a boon to the kingdom and the royal family. You should be very proud."
"I could not have done it without the help of my uncle."
"If you plan on being modest, my boy, you might wish to stop smiling so
much."
"Ah, um..."
The count let out a hearty chuckle. As far as Arcus was aware, it was
only the corners of his mouth which were twitching, but Cremelia had seen
right through him. His pride exposed, Arcus fixated his gaze on the floor,
embarrassed.
"Arcus, you have not yet told Joshua about your invention, have you?"
"No, My Lord. I don't feel comfortable doing so."
"I see." The count's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. He was already well
aware of the circumstances surrounding Arcus's home life. "An invention of
this caliber comes with much risk, you understand. Have you already
prepared yourself for what is to come?"
"Yes, My Lord. Many of my plans involve avoiding trouble wherever
possible."
"Caution will serve you well, but I would also suggest surrounding
yourself with people you can trust. You do not want to find, somewhere
down the line, that you have been abandoned."
"I shall take that to heart."
He was right—the more allies Arcus had, the better. He could have all
the foresight in the world, but if he didn't have enough people on his side to
tackle the issue, he was helpless. Arcus knew, too, that the count would not
be giving him this warning without reason.
"Pardon my rudeness, My Lord, but might I ask a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Your Lordship sees a lot of Joshua. When the time comes for him to
find out about the aethometer, I would like to ask Your Lordship to keep its
inventor a secret."
This was Arcus's way of protecting himself. Joshua was head of a
magical family, and once the aethometer was distributed widely, it would
only be a matter of time before he found out about it. If he found out Arcus
was its inventor, there was no telling what he might do.
Now that the presentation was over, at least Joshua wouldn't be able to
try to take credit, but the chance of him retaliating in some way was pretty
high—not to mention that he might take out his anger on Lecia.
"I could certainly keep the information to myself, but he is a powerful
man. Should he look into it, I am sure he would come up with your name
eventually."
"I understand, but at the very least, Your Lordship would be buying me
some time. Time enough for me to solidify my position and prepare for what
he might try."
The count looked away, and hesitated before opening his mouth again.
"Arcus. Do you resent your father?"
"Yes, My Lord."
Cremelia's eyes widened slightly, as though he hadn't expected such a
direct answer. "I suppose your aethometer would be a way to get back at him
then."
"I agree, My Lord, but I think it's still too early for that. I don't believe I
am strong enough to allow my emotions to control me like that yet. I need to
grow older, more powerful, until I can face him properly. And then I'll..."
I'll destroy the Raytheft house.
There was no way he could say those last words aloud. The man in front
of him had the power to control every house in the east if he needed to. To
give him any cause for alarm now was foolish and, quite frankly, dangerous.
"You know to hold back when your defeat is assured otherwise."
"That's right, My Lord."
"It seems Joshua has made quite the tenacious enemy." There was a glint
of sadness in Cremelia's eye, that emotion leading into his next question.
"Arcus. Do you not think it tragic that a son should be at odds with his
father?"
"I do, My Lord. However, I also believe that there are some conflicts
which must be fought." Arcus paused before continuing. "A boy's father is
the first hurdle he must face. For some, that struggle might be internal, but for
me, my father has stood brazenly in my way for almost as long as I can
remember. That's why I must face him brazenly, too, if I wish to overcome
this hurdle."
"That certainly is an interesting way of seeing things."
"It's the only point of view that allows me to move forward."
"Still, it is a sad state of affairs. To be backed into a corner like that,
forcing you to think in this way," the count murmured towards the ceiling. He
paused reflectively. "Perhaps that is just the fate that awaits each Raytheft
heir."
"Fate, My Lord?"
"Oh, just speaking to myself. Forget I said anything."
"Yes, My Lord."
Still not taking his eyes off the ceiling, Cremelia continued. "Arcus.
What exactly is your goal?"
Arcus remembered having a similar conversation with Sue. His goal...
Prestige? Power? Arcus had a feeling that those weren't the answers the
count was searching for.
"I do not know," he finally replied.
"I see. Well, I cannot say I blame you. I don't think anybody knows what
they want at your age."
Arcus didn't know who he would become. He wasn't sure who he
wanted to become. Once he had attained a stable status and found himself
employment, what next? Only when he had decided who he wanted to be
would Arcus be able to answer the count's question.
"Arcus. If all you focus on is prestige and power, you are very likely to
lose your way. For the time being, you can focus on those goals, or not know
what you want, but you should be prepared to come up with a solid answer
sooner rather than later. Who do you want to be? As long as you keep that
answer with you, you will not lose sight of your path, or even yourself."
"Yes, My Lord."
"I shall keep quiet around Joshua, as you asked. Just remember that I
cannot do much more for you than that."
"It is already more than enough."
Cremelia had his own position to worry about. He couldn't justify putting
Joshua at a disadvantage for Arcus's sake. That in turn risked damaging the
noble hierarchy's stability. As a man whose job it was to unite the firepower
of the martial houses below him, it was not a risk he could take. At the same
time, Arcus was grateful for Cremelia's concern, shown by the abundance of
advice he received today. For that reason, Arcus considered him a true role
model.
Gathering his attendants, the count left Arcus alone in the hallway. For a
moment, Arcus watched his retreating back before turning himself and
leaving the Magician's Guild behind with Noah and Cazzy alongside him.
On the evening of the aethometer's announcement, Craib Abend arrived
at Lainur's royal castle. He was received in one of the building's many man made gardens. Though some of the gardens were used to receive noble
guests, this one was not. This was the king's private garden. Sol Glasses lit it
up like fireflies, making it look like a dreamland in the darkness of night.
There were lamps which looked like antique lanterns, and pole lights
illuminating a path. There were even lights embedded in the earth itself.
Lights resembling bunches of grapes hung from some of the trees. Simply
put, it was as well-lit as any modern garden from the man's world. The
architecture of the garden too. The light and shadow. The beauty. It was
incredible, even by those standards—not to mention much more expensive,
most likely.
As for the flowers, they were all the same shade of blue. The Sol Glasses
illuminated them just as vividly as the sun would. In the center of the garden
sat a marble gazebo with a crystal-clear glass table underneath, lit up by the
light sources in the floor.
Craib had taken a knee outside that structure, prostrating himself before a
certain man inside it. Like many of Lainur's nobles, he had long, golden hair,
and he looked young enough to be in his teenage years. As if the gold in his
hair wasn't enough, his jacket was embroidered by a thread of the same
shade. The shirt he wore underneath was unbuttoned, leaving his chest bare.
There was a wildness to his expression that made him just a touch rougher
than a typical king.
This man's name was Shinlu Crosellode: Lainur's ruler and strongest
magician. He sat on a marble throne with one leg folded over the other. One
arm leaned on the arm rest, its hand supporting his chin. The ennui in his
posture and expression exceeded even that of his son, Ceylan. It was only his
position at the absolute top that let him get away with dressing as
outrageously as he did—a sort of warning coloration, suggesting that he
could get away with anything.
Craib was here to tell Shinlu of the aethometer's existence. Its inventor
was nowhere to be seen. With Arcus's current status (or rather, his lack
thereof), there would be no way he could get an audience with the king, save
through a proxy of greater standing.
Shinlu picked up his wine glass from the table and sipped from it as he
held up the tool that had sent the state magicians into a frenzy.
"Looks like you've been keeping quite the secret from me."
"Yes, Your Majesty. That is just how much potential this invention has."
"Oh, come on, Craib. You can drop the formalities now. It's almost creepy to hear you speak like that. Besides, there's no one else here."
"Sure thing." Craib got to his feet and stepped inside the marble gazebo
before flopping down in a chair opposite the king.
His actions would have been unthinkable but for the closeness of their
friendship. They had bonded in the days when Shinlu would slip free of the
palace grounds to wander the country in disguise. Shinlu expected this
nostalgic indulgence of familiarity from Craib in private moments like this.
"Why didn't you tell me about this thing right away, then? I hope you've
got a good explanation, because I could always part your head from your
shoulders if I felt like it."
"You say that every time we meet. You can't blame me, though. If I
showed up with a half-baked tube in a frame that wasn't even accurate, you'd
start tellin' me how I should improve it and stuff."
"Of course. I'd want to take a good look at it, after all."
Even now Shinlu was releasing his aether, carefully checking how the
aethometer reacted. If Craib brought it to him before it was ready, the king
would only find that it fell short of his standards and scold Craib for getting
his hopes up.
"Also, you'd already be tellin' us what we had to do with it next before it
was even finished."
"Naturally. This is a device which measures aether. I'd need to know
about your production goals, and what sort of tests you were running. If you
couldn't give me answers, I'd be awfully close to taking your head."
"That's why I didn't show you back then, 'cause that's what I thought
you'd say." Craib glared at the king, pointing a finger at him in accusation.
It was his way of showing his friend that it could be very difficult to
work out if his threats of beheading were genuine or not. For any normal
person, it was an impossible distinction. Just because he could make such a
threat didn't mean he should—it was one of the reasons why people were so
afraid of him. It should be noted now that Shinlu had never taken anybody's
head on a whim before.
Having a sense of humor was fine, but Shinlu was Lainur's ruler. He was
swift to execute a subject at the first sign that they were working counter to
the kingdom's interest, discarding them as offhandedly as one would a spent
tissue. He wasn't incapable of compassion; it was just that his sense of duty
as king invariably overruled any feelings of kindness. Perhaps if people truly
understood how he operated, they wouldn't be so scared of him. In the end, he was as human as his subjects. If he weren't, he wouldn't be able to make
friends like Craib.
"Isn't it better for the people to be scared of their king?" Shinlu said.
"You think?"
"I mean, you know I'm charming enough to capture their hearts if I
wanted to, right?"
"Sure you are. I didn't say you weren't."
The fact was, Shinlu had a good number of admirers, which included
many of the kingdom's citizens. More so than any ruler before him.
"Anyway. Is this thing in proper production yet? If so, how are things
looking?" Shinlu asked.
"I've just come back from the Guild; we sorted all of that out. There's
been an urgent summons to all of the kingdom's magic troops. They're all
gonna be learning how to use these as early as tomorrow."
"Good. Very good." Shinlu let out a small chuckle. The extent of his joy
was audible, even within that quiet sound. "I'm glad to hear it's already being
used to increase the kingdom's military power."
"Yup. All the groundwork's bein' laid out right now. Shouldn't be more
than six months before we start seein' some results."
"The magic troops always did have trouble getting their magicians on
equal footing. I can't believe that issue's been solved so easily."
"You shoulda seen the smile on Godwald's face."
"I'm not surprised." Shinlu laughed. "Can't imagine what a smile on that
old gargoyle's face looks like, though."
"It's terrifyin'."
Shinlu let out an even louder laugh. The king mentioned before that he
was thinking about giving the Guildmaster the name "Grimace." Whether it
was a joke or not was unclear, but it didn't matter. Godwald firmly refused,
claiming it would damage the reputation of the Guild and its state magicians.
"So what are your plans, as a man whose job it is to unite the army's
magicians?"
"I guess we start by measuring just how much aether our magicians pack
in total. Then we can start work on gettin' 'em all to the same level."
"Is that what that's for?" Shinlu motioned to a tremendous aethometer
sitting in front of them.
It was an aethometer designed for measuring greater volumes of aether
than the smaller types, and it was the only one of its kind produced. Made specially for the royal family, there were no plans for any more to be made,
either.
"You got it. Hope it's big enough to show how powerful you guys are,
huh?"
Once the army's magicians saw it, they would be abuzz with how the
royal family had such a unique, grand-scale version of the amazing device
already. At the same time, it was so ridiculously huge that it almost looked
like a toy. Despite that, its size was nothing to sniff at.
"First, we'll lend this to each company and get them to measure up their
magicians one by one."
"I trust those men will weep in gratitude at the crown allowing them to
ascertain their strength objectively?"
"Who knows?"
At the very least, Craib was sure they'd be thankful, both at being able to
measure themselves up and at being allowed the use of a tool normally
reserved for the royal family. Whether it would make them cry remained to
be seen, but there was no doubt that it would boost their morale.
"Was this Godwald's idea, too?"
"Yep." Craib reached into the bag he brought with him and pulled out a
handful of aethometers. "And these are for His Royal Highness."
"He'll be pleased. I bet I won't see him coming out of his room for
days."
"Same goes for you, right?"
"Of course. You should know by now that you and I share the same
object of our romance."
"Just don't shirk your duties, yeah?"
"If I do, it'll be your fault."
"Hey, that ain't fair! Just 'cause you're the king doesn't mean you can
blame everything on everyone else."
Shinlu burst into joyful laughter. Craib hadn't seen him this happy in a
long time. Lately he'd been so overworked with diplomacy and other kingly
issues that he'd fallen into an almost permanently stormy mood. As his
friend, Craib was glad to have done something to get the more troubling
worries off his mind, if only for a few moments.
Once his laughter died down, a serious glint returned to the king's eye.
"The next thing to worry about is the public unveiling and how we time it.
Your nephew, Arcus, invented this thing. He's only ten years old, but he's already been disinherited, and his father seems to have it in for him. That's
what I've heard, anyway."
"He's got it worse than I did, too. If we had him use all his aether on that
aethometer right there, I reckon we'd get about 2000 mana out of him."
"What about you?"
"I'd probably manage 13,000. Maybe a bit more."
"So I could do at least three times that."
"Oh, wow, Your Majesty. Truly you are the greatest magician in the land
whose light unites us all!"
"Surely you could have come up with a funnier line than that. Anyway...
Is that part of why Arcus came up with this? Since he doesn't have much
aether, being able to measure it would allow him to put it to more effective
use."
"I'm guessin' so, yeah. One of the first things he asked me when I started
trainin' him was how to measure aether accurately. He was sayin' stuff about
units and calculations and stuff. Kinda threw me off."
"He must have spent a long time thinking about it to come up with
something like this."
"Y'know, I don't think so. He said he came up with it by total
coincidence."
"A magnificent coincidence, in that case. What I wouldn't give to see
what goes on in his head."
"As long as you don't take it off him."
"Unfortunately, beheading people opens windows only on the rudest of
their inner workings." Shinlu suddenly raised his eyebrows. "That reminds
me: the Raythefts have a daughter too, don't they? Is she lacking in aether as
well?"
"Nope. She's got tons, even when you compare her to some of the former
heirs. She's got a lotta drive, too, probably 'cause she doesn't want her
brother leavin' her behind."
"You'll want to be careful, then. You don't want her taking any of the
backlash from her brother's success."
"Well... Joshua sure seems to take good care of her right now, but I guess
that's a possibility. Though I don't think he would."
So far, Joshua was raising Lecia with love and care. According to Noah
and some of the other servants, although he was strict with her, he never
lashed out or went overboard. Knowing his brother as he did, Craib expected Joshua to try and expedite Lecia's education once he learned of Arcus's
achievement—but nothing more than that. Having said that, he never
expected Joshua to strip Arcus of his inheritance either, so anything was
possible.
"What's your answer, then?" Craib asked, bringing the conversation back
to the main topic.
"As you may expect, I plan to make use of the public announcement
politically."
"I think Arcus had an inkling of that. He's not pesterin' me to announce
it right away, after all."
Shinlu clearly wanted to use the aethometer as a symbol of Lainur's
national power. Should the crown need to make any unpopular changes in
policy, the announcement would make for a convenient distraction.
Otherwise, this invention made for a powerful card to keep up Lainur's
sleeve. As was mentioned at the Guild meeting, it was totally revolutionary;
it had the potential to take the kingdom by storm. Looking outwards, too, it
would make for a useful diplomatic and commercial bargaining chip. The
king had a range of options before him, but he would want to ponder those
options very, very carefully. Moreover, he couldn't very well give an order to
a young man without any reason, and so that would have to wait until the
public announcement, too.
"We shall have to give Arcus a suitable reward. Do you know if there's
anything he'd like?"
The Guild was already rewarding him financially, and he had an order in
the works, too. Craib paused to think about what else his nephew wanted.
"He'll need supporters. People backing him."
"Are you sure? Wouldn't you want to keep him on a short leash?"
"Hey, he's still just a kid, y'know."
"That's why I said it. Best to keep him and milk him for everything he's
worth before sending him out there. Tactically speaking, it'd be best to keep
him to yourself." Shinlu narrowed his eyes. "Anyway, he's only ten. Has he
told you he wants people backing him? Isn't he too young to be asking for
that sort of thing?"
"Well, the Guild's already giving him money, and he's gettin' an order
too. Backing's the next thing on the list, right?"
All of a sudden, Shinlu's voice turned cold. "Is he really that ambitious?"
"He just wants to make a name for himself. I don't think he was after that at first, so someone must've planted the idea in his head."
It was only in the past couple of years or so that Craib recognized just
how much ambition Arcus had. Originally, all he wanted was to get revenge
on his parents, but his goal seemed to have inflated. Craib didn't see this as a
bad thing; quite the contrary. However, ambition was something the king had
to keep an eye on, especially if it wasn't clear how deep it ran.
"Are people approaching him already?" Shinlu asked.
"Not yet. I'm thinkin' some of the generals at the meeting might start
makin' moves, though."
"What about Cremelia? Arcus would probably be interested in his
support, especially since he has a daughter around the same age."
"Huh. Gettin' suspicious of Purce now?"
"I don't doubt his loyalty. In fact, I can't think of a martial head who's
done more for us across the entire kingdom. It's just..."
"You don't wanna give him more power than necessary, right?"
The king never did like the nobles having too much power, and it wasn't
hard to figure out why. Shinlu trusted Purce, and so he was unlikely to fear
rebellion no matter how much influence the count had. However, power was
something that was handed down across generations. He couldn't guarantee
he would have the same trust in Purce's children and grandchildren, or even
the vassals in his territory. It wouldn't be the first time a change in family
head led to a breach of trust, leading to the crown confiscating their territory.
"Considering the relationship between the Cremelias and the Raythefts,
Purce is certainly in a position to help Arcus fulfill his ambitions."
"And what if Arcus wanted to start a new house?"
"We would allow it, if he insisted. Although, even if we were being
generous, we would allow him up to two wives maximum."
"So you'll be restricting his marriages now?"
"It's necessary. The aethometer is impressive enough, but I doubt this is
the last thing he'll be coming up with."
"Right. I bet his brain's workin' on all sorts of stuff even now."
"We shall take care of his marriage plans, then."
Arcus's invention was huge. If he wanted to get married, the crown
would likely want to prevent him gaining too much power from it. As such, it
would try to pair him with a wife from a family who already had close ties to
the royal family. In the first instance, at least. In this case, Charlotte would be
a perfect choice if Arcus was happy to accept her.
Craib understood completely. He had married after he ran away from the
Raytheft house, to a daughter of a noble Sapphireberg family. They had
married because they were in love, but when Craib returned to Lainur, he
hadn't been allowed to take her with him. Both the monarchs of Sapphireberg
and Lainur wanted the couple to live separately. Sapphireberg wanted the
connection to a state magician, while Lainur wanted to be able to interfere in
Sapphireberg's affairs from time to time. Shinlu also used that as an excuse
to allow Craib to go and see his wife as often as he wanted.
Unfortunately, anybody above a certain rung of society was destined to
have their marital affairs interfered with. However, allowing his marriage to
be decided by the crown also meant that Arcus would have the royal family's
protection. The number of nobles who were forced to marry due to their
status was significant. It could prove to be a real inconvenience, but with this
deal, Arcus would have nothing to worry about.
Shinlu was a magician himself. He knew that it was freedom which
allowed them to progress in their research more than anything else. Craib had
no doubt that Shinlu would put his carrot-and-stick approach to good use
when it came to granting Arcus that freedom.
"He might end up being a bit of a handful," Shinlu said thoughtfully.
"Hey, if worse comes to worst, I could always adopt him. Then I could
keep a close eye on him without restrictin' him."
"Let's raise a glass. Come on." With the conversation winding down,
Shinlu picked up his glass in a most dramatic fashion.
Craib lazily reached out for the wine bottle. "Yeah, yeah. As you wish,
Your Majesty."
"I hope you'll keep helping me out, for the sake of the kingdom's
advancement."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
And with that, the two drained their glasses.
Lecia Raytheft and her father Joshua were attending a salon hosted by a
certain noble. Salons were a special kind of reception where the host would
invite intellectuals to enjoy discussions of all things lofty and arcane. It was a
popular place for nobles to network; these sorts of private gatherings were
common among the nobility in France, a country in the man's world.
Magicians held salons too, of course. Famous magicians would be
invited to share their knowledge with the attendees. Magicians were already considered a sort of aristocracy on their own, and it was only those with a
noble rank who were invited to these things. Not only did you need to have a
high level of magic skill, but you needed to know how to carry yourself and
hold a certain amount of political knowledge.
This particular salon was being hosted by the Rondiel house. Marquess
Gastarque Rondiel was possibly the most famous magician in the kingdom,
and even among the salons started by his third son, Casister Rondiel, this one
was particularly exclusive.
This was the second time Lecia had attended. She had been to several
other magical salons before with her father, but she was particularly nervous
about this one. At those gatherings, the other attendees were of similar status
and had a similar knowledge of magic, but this was different. The Raythefts
and the Rondiels belonged to two different schools of magic. One historically
favored the use of fire magic, and the other magical manipulation of physical
objects. Their divergent interests created differences in their ways of
thinking, and since salons sometimes involved discussion of secret
techniques, it was important to try to avoid topics that the other side
considered taboo, or to touch too heavily upon controversy.
Though Lecia wouldn't go so far as to call them her enemies, there were
certainly some attendees to be very wary of, and as such she found herself
feeling somewhat self-conscious. At the same time, their own attendance was
a testament to Joshua's incredible skill.
Even compared to other houses kingdom-wide, the Raythefts had a long
history and consistently produced strong magicians with every successive
generation. They had a long list of military achievements, too, meaning many
nobles were eager to invite them to their gatherings. Upon hearing that
Casister was eager to invite magical families from across factional lines to his
salons, Joshua immediately started networking and laying the groundwork for
the Raythefts to receive an invitation.
Casister Rondiel, the host, was already in the reception hall. He was in
his mid-forties and was a good-looking, elegant man. He had foregone the
traditional noble wear for a jacket paired with long pants, which had been
gaining popularity recently. Countless medals adorned his chest. He flashed
his charming smile every which way, greeting his guests in a most cheerful
manner.
The martial nobles Lecia had met before tended to be energetic but
dignified, holding a certain level of majesty stemming from their social position and level of power. Casister seemed meek in comparison.
He also seemed to be paying particular attention to the ladies, which was
to be expected with the blood that ran through his veins. There was a special
sparkle in his eye as he spoke to them too. Joshua told her that the Rondiel
men were very much "ladies' men." Starting with Gastarque, his sons—and
even his daughters—had a fondness for adorable girls. Lecia herself didn't
quite understand what it all meant.
"This is your second salon, Lecia," Joshua said. "I understand you might
be nervous, but this is an incredibly valuable chance to speak to some fine
magicians. You should really make an effort to insert yourself into the
conversation."
"Yes, Father."
"There are also many high-ranking children in attendance tonight. Before
you speak to anybody, watch how they behave and how they are dressed, so
you know how to approach them. I shall be doing the very same thing."
"Yes, Father," Lecia said again.
At these sorts of gatherings, it was uncouth for lower-ranking nobles to
address those above them without being invited to first. Trying to work out
where you stood compared to children was particularly tricky, but Lecia
knew that everyone here was likely her equal or better, and so she would
have to keep her wits about her at all times. The way nobles dressed
themselves these days was also changing rapidly, meaning their clothing was
not as reliable an indicator of status as it once was.
"Well, if it isn't Viscount Raytheft!"
"Hello, Viscount Lazrael! I am glad to see you are doing well."
Viscount Lazrael had territory in the south of Lainur, and his magic
focused on using earth and rock. He wasn't in attendance at the last salon, but
he was here now, and not alone: beside him walked a young boy around
Lecia's age. He had the same brown hair as his father and a sense of youthful
gallantry about him. He was dressed in typical young noble fashion, too.
Though his expression was kind and gentle, there was no denying the strong
spark of determination in his eye.
"I'm Kane Lazrael. A pleasure to meet you." Though his greeting was
relatively informal, his bow was nothing short of perfect.
That one beautifully fluid action made it clear how strict his upbringing
was, likely at the behest of his father, Viscount Lazrael. His manners were
exquisite, yet his tone remained friendly. It was a refreshing change from the stiff manner of speech Lecia was used to hearing from other nobles, and was
likely a tool to allow him to make friends with other noble children quickly.
Kane Lazrael was a famous name in the magical world. He boasted a
magnificent store of aether, which impressed everyone who was there to
witness the long ordeal that was his examination. There were even rumors
that he was the reincarnation of the hero described in the Ancient Chronicles,
but no solid evidence had emerged to back up the claim.
"My name is Lecia Raytheft." Lecia responded to Kane's greeting with a
standard one of her own.
Kane continued in his amicable way, a touch of confidence shining
through his words. "I've heard a lot about you. It looks like we're both going
to be supporting this kingdom through the use of our magic; I'll look forward
to working with you."
"And I as well."
Though it was a little too familiar for an initial meeting, his friendly
smile helped to put Lecia at ease. Lecia turned her attention to their fathers'
conversation. They seemed to be paying close attention to one of the other
guests.
"She is Duke Saifice's daughter, isn't she?"
"Yes, Lady Claudia. It is said that she possesses a fine amount of aether
as well."
They were looking at an elegant young girl around the same age as Lecia
and Kane.
She was Claudia Saifice. The Saifice dukedom was one of the four
cornerstone dukedoms of the royal family, and Claudia was their daughter.
"I have heard that this generation is a particularly talented one."
"Your son being one of them, of course."
"Your daughter, too." The viscount smiled back at Joshua.
It was a common formality to compliment the offspring of another noble,
but that didn't make it any less embarrassing for the children. Lecia
exchanged an uncomfortable glance with Kane, but their parents kept going.
"Well, I wouldn't want to be one of those parents who brags endlessly
about their children, but I am very much looking forward to when my son
enrolls in the Institute. I know that he has the potential to carve his name into
magical history."
"I can assure you that Lecia shall not be overshadowed by him."
Lazrael let out a hearty laugh. "We shall see how things go in three years' time."
"Indeed we shall."
It was in the middle of this jovial exchange that Casister finally made his
way to them.
"Pardon me for interrupting, but might I take this opportunity to welcome
you?"
The laughter dissolved completely at the marquess's arrival, and the two
viscounts set about giving him a formal greeting. Lecia and Kane followed
their fathers' example and turned their attention to their host. Lazrael gave his
greeting first.
Like Lazrael, the Rondiels' territory lay in the south, and they belonged
to the same faction; they were likely to know each other quite well. Casister
smiled at them warmly before turning to the Raythefts.
"Lord Casister. I am Joshua, of the Raytheft house."
"Ah, yes, Viscount Joshua and young Miss Lecia. This is your second
salon, if I'm not mistaken. I must apologize for not having the chance to
speak with you last time."
"Not at all, My Lord! We are honored to speak with Your Lordship
now," Joshua said.
"Come now, I am simply the third son of the marquess. My father had no
title left for me but viscount."
"My Lord, if I may say, there is no need to be so modest." Joshua seemed
unsure what to do with Casister's sudden display of self-deprecation.
Although they both held the title of viscount, Casister was older than
Joshua, not to mention that his father was a marquess. As such, he was the
higher ranked of the two. You only had to look at the scope of this salon to
know that. Hosting a salon like this would be far beyond the capabilities of a
regular viscount. The modesty was simply part of Casister's character.
Lecia gave a curtsy to Casister, following her father's greeting.
"I have heard you are focusing a great deal on your daughter's magical
education. How far are you in your studies now, Miss Lecia?"
"My Lord, recently I was able to destroy some stone using Flamrune."
"Oh, but that's marvelous!" Casister gasped.
Some of the surrounding nobles and their children, who had also been
listening in, turned to look at Lecia in astonishment.
Magic was not just about being able to incant properly; it also required
prodigious imagination. Even if you spoke the incantation flawlessly, if the amount of aether you used was off, or your imagination was too dull, the
intended result would be beyond you.
Unlike other kinds of magic, fire magic was not about manipulating
something physically in front of you. Being able to destroy stone with
Flamrune was a clear indicator that you had mastered fire magic. On top of
that, Flamrune was a staple spell in the kingdom's armed forces. Mastering it
meant you were more or less battle-ready.
"Impressive," Casister continued. "Meanwhile, the children coming to
Harveston this year have been struggling with their aether management."
Harveston was a small private establishment which trained children in
the use of magic, staffed by magicians of a distinguished caliber. In some
ways, it was similar to a training hall for martial arts. Harveston produced a
disproportionate number of talented magicians; many of them went on to
teach at the Royal Institute. Even among the children who attended, it was
rare for a child of Lecia's age to be so adept at magic.
"Wonderful. I trust this is down to your father's instruction?" Casister
said.
"No, My Lord," Joshua said, speaking on Lecia's behalf, "it is down to
her resourcefulness. I remember struggling a great deal with magic when I
was her age."
Lazrael and his son gasped at Joshua's admission.
"I didn't realize Raytheft children were taught so much so young."
"I've only just learned how to use Rearth Sword myself..."
"I still have much to learn," Lecia cut in, hoping to maintain an image of
modesty.
"I suppose you cannot help but compare yourself to your father," Casister
said.
Lecia paused. "Yes, My Lord. My father is an incredibly talented
magician."
Joshua was not the first person who came to mind when it came to
weighing herself against others. In terms of magical power, the person she
was thinking of wasn't as good as Joshua, Craib, or even Noah or Cazzy. His
natural levels of aether were paltry.
But his image was there waiting for her whenever the lens of her inner
thoughts came to rest on her aspirations. He was already using more powerful
magic than Flamrune two whole years ago. Recently, and unbeknownst to her
parents, he had taught her a new spell called Scrapped Impact, which was apparently a stronger version of a spell he created before. He already had
more than twenty of these original spells, even if some of them were mostly
unusable.
Even Joshua admitted to her that it was a struggle for him to command
his imagination when it came to creating new spells. To Lecia, it was like her
brother was capable of performing each of his spells perfectly as soon as he
had the incantation down. His biggest problem was that he didn't seem to
have the time to create all the spells he wanted to.
As they waited for the main lecture to start, Joshua continued chatting
with Lazrael, while Lecia discussed magic with Kane. All of a sudden, there
was a cheer at the hall's entrance, and the crowd around it parted to reveal an
older gentleman dressed similarly to Casister. He had an attendant on either
side of him and walked with a stick with a bent handle. He wore a fedora atop
his head—a hat which was very much in vogue.
The crowd whispered his name in awe: "Marquess Gastarque!"
"I am so very sorry to disturb the peace like this."
As he walked, the nobility stepped back to allow him passage. Perhaps
they were being polite, or perhaps they were cowering from the majesty that
flowed out about him. Either way, a wide path was opened up for him, and
the people bowed as he passed. Tension sparked in the room, accompanied
with a heaviness that made it seem as though gravity had increased tenfold.
Despite that, the eyes that surveyed him were full of an adoration that
tempered the fear they felt. They admired him not only as a national hero, but
a great magician—one they could only dream of emulating.
Only his son, Casister, could greet him normally. Joshua maintained his
bow, the nerves rippling through his body. Lecia herself could barely move.
Even when she tried lifting a finger, it felt as heavy as lead.
Casister approached Gastarque with a graceful gait, and the tension in the
room began to loosen.
"It is good to see you here, Father."
"I apologize for intruding so suddenly."
"Not at all, Father! You are always welcome."
The two of them began to engage in light conversation.
"My, there are a lot of pretty ladies here tonight," Gastarque remarked.
"There are indeed! So many beautiful women, and young girls who will
no doubt grow up to be just as stunning. See that girl over there! Isn't she
darling?"
"Oho. I should like to see her in five years' time..."
The rest of their conversation wasn't worth repeating. It wasn't long
before they were tittering lecherously together. At the very least, it
completely broke down the tension that was in the air moments before. The
guests took the chance to straighten up from their bows. Even now, there was
a quiet, oppressive dignity in the air, but it was not as strong as before. The
Raythefts and Lazraels were close enough to hear snippets of the Rondiels'
conversation.
"How was it, Father?"
"It was quite something. Really, I should like to speak to the entire
family at once."
"Oh?"
Gastarque leaned in to whisper something into his son's ear. Casister's
mouth dropped open as he heard what he had to say.
"I-Is that the truth?!"
"It is."
"But who could have created such a thing? Was it perhaps one of the
other state magicians?!"
"I am not allowed to say. You should have worked that much out by the
nature of the thing."
"O-Oh. Yes, Father!"
"Godwald has lent me a good number of them, as well, although there are
conditions pertaining to their use, of course."
"So I suppose you wish the family to gather so we can use them?"
"Correct. I hope you are ready to receive my instruction, as it has
certainly been a while!"
"Of course I am, Father!" Casister exclaimed joyfully.
From his tone of voice, Lecia was surprised he wasn't currently leaping
into the air.
Joshua leaned in to speak to Lazrael. "Whatever it is, it certainly looks
like good news."
"Yes."
All of a sudden, Gastarque turned in their direction. His glare was
particularly sharp and much more keen than the unsettling gaze he had used
looking over the hall on his arrival. His eyes widened slightly.
"That silver hair... might you belong to the Raytheft house?"
"Yes, Father." Casister answered in Joshua's stead. "I believed it prudent to deepen our ties with magicians from different factions. On this occasion,
Viscount Raytheft was more than happy to pay us a visit."
"I see. Well, it is very heartwarming to see one of Lainur's oldest
families so eager." Gastarque approached them.
He had a powerful stride, despite his age. Though he was only a little
taller than Joshua, to Lecia he almost seemed three times as big. Lecia had a
close encounter with a marquess previously, but Gastarque was much more
impressive than that man was.
Joshua took to one knee and bowed. "It is good to see Your Lordship this
evening. I am Joshua Raytheft. This is my daughter."
"My name is Lecia. It is a pleasure to make Your Lordship's
acquaintance."
"Mm," the marquess grunted.
Lecia's heart was pounding, but she was pleased that she didn't mess up
the greeting. She was grateful now for her strict upbringing. She had been
trained day after day to get her used to dealing with the overwhelming
majesty that higher-ranking nobles gave off. Even if her father's aura wasn't
as powerful as her uncle's, it was nothing to be sniffed at. Some auras were
enough to render someone completely immobile.
Gastarque seemed impressed. "Even in my old age, I have rarely seen a
young girl like you greet me so properly. I shall be looking forward to seeing
how you develop."
"Y-Yes, My Lord."
"His Lordship praised her!"
"Amazing!"
The other guests murmured among themselves. Their gazes were making
Lecia uncomfortable, but she didn't have time to squirm. She had to focus on
the state magician before her.
"I met your brother this evening."
"I-I beg your pardon?" The statement caught Lecia entirely off guard.
Why would Gastarque be talking about Arcus?
Seeing her confusion, the old magician continued in a gentle, yet firm,
tone. "Keep working hard, young lady. You must continue to put in the
effort, else you may find yourself falling far behind."
Confusion aside, Lecia only had one answer for him. She didn't want
Arcus to leave her in the dust, either.
"I shall do my very best, My Lord. More so than before."
"I am glad to hear it," Gastarque said.
"Please forgive me for being so impudent, My Lord," Joshua began.
"However, please allow me to ask what Your Lordship is referring to."
"I am afraid I do not wish to answer your question."
"Yes, My Lord," Joshua said quickly, not daring to push it any further.
Afterwards, Gastarque left the hall with Casister and his servants in tow.
The salon continued without them, but not once did the frown leave Joshua's
face that evening.
One day, Lecia was called to Joshua's main office in the Raytheft estate.
This was the room in which the successive heads of the Raytheft house had
conducted their business for generations. Two of the Raythefts' flags hung
crossed on the wall behind the desk. The carpet and curtains were a calming
color, and the leather sofa and glass table let the office double as a drawing
room.
The Raythefts had always kept their home spartan since before they
gained their title, eschewing the elaborate ornaments and fixtures other noble
households treasured. Rather than overspending on superfluous furnishings,
the Raythefts preferred to funnel the money into their military budget, or for
the good of the crown. This creed had been passed down from the very
founding of the viscountry. Believing their money could be better spent
elsewhere, the only objects in the house that had been bought recently were
the Sol Glasses and tables, as well as some screens made of frosted glass.
Lecia sat next to her father on the sofa in front of the desk. Joshua's
brother, Craib Abend, sat across from them on the other side of the glass
table. Lecia loved her uncle. Even putting aside his legendary station, he
spoiled her as if she were his own daughter.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation, Brother," Joshua said.
"Yeah, no worries. What's wrong, though? You're lookin' awful
serious." Craib frowned at him.
Joshua was being particularly formal, given how he usually spoke to his
brother. Despite the resentments they held, they both acknowledged each
other as family.
Lecia wondered why her father was acting so strange. Was he angry
about something? Annoyed? Whatever it was, it felt rooted in something
negative.
Without answering Craib's question, Joshua pulled something out of the bundle next to him. It appeared to be a glass tube contained within a wooden
frame. At the bottom of the glass tube sat a small amount of red liquid. There
were perfectly equidistant numbers carved into the frame like a scale. Lecia
had never seen such a thing before and couldn't imagine what it might be
used for.
Joshua placed it on the table in front of them.
"I have some questions for you about this," he announced curtly.
Craib exhaled the cigar smoke in his mouth towards the ceiling before
answering.
"Fine, but I gotta ask you somethin' first, since I'm a state magician and
all. Where exactly did ya get this?" Craib's tone of voice was even sharper
than Joshua's, as if Joshua was in deep trouble.
"I understand that this tool is being guarded incredibly tightly. Somebody
lent it to me as a special favor."
"Blackmail, was it? Bastard..."
"Those were the lengths I was forced to go to in order to obtain one."
Even if she didn't know what was going on, Lecia inferred from the
conversation that the thing on the table was very important.
"Father, what exactly is that object?"
"It is... a tool which can measure aetheric volume."
"I-It can measure aether?"
"Correct. The magician simply releases some aether like so..."
As Joshua did so, the red liquid at the bottom of the glass tube started to
travel up it. The numbers, Lecia realized, must indicate how much aether was
being detected. She gasped. Having studied magic for as long as she had, she
instantly understood how significant a device like this was. As a magician,
too, she immediately wanted to try it out for herself, but she also knew it
wasn't something to be treated so lightly.
"Lecia," Craib began firmly, "this is a national secret. It hasn't even been
announced publicly yet. You can't tell anyone about it, or about what we say
in this meeting now. Got it?"
"Y-Yes, sir." She paused before daring to ask, "Not even my brother?"
"That's right."
"...I understand."
Lecia was disappointed. If her brother found out something like this
existed, he would be overcome with excitement. He taught her so much, too.
It was a shame she couldn't repay him by sharing a secret of her own. She barely held back a frustrated sigh. She hadn't missed the frown that flickered
across Joshua's face when she asked about her brother. He didn't say
anything, though, opting instead to ask more about the tool itself.
"Brother," Joshua said.
"Look, I dunno why you're askin' me about this."
"I have already eliminated all other possibilities about this invention's
origin. You are the only one left now."
"Huh?"
"Did you invent this?"
"Nope."
"Please do not feign ignorance."
"I didn't make it. What, you really think I'm that smart?"
"If not you, then where on earth did it come from?!" Joshua suddenly
demanded.
Lecia flinched as her father raised his voice. Craib, on the other hand,
grinned.
"Whaddya mean 'where did it come from'? I thought you were sure it
was me?"
"For goodness's sake, stop with the theatrics!"
"Okay, okay. I'm bein' a pain, I know." Craib took another puff of his
cigar.
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. A small burst of courage
racing through her, Lecia reached over to pick up the device. It was easy to
hold, and not too heavy either. She tried releasing a little aether. Sure enough,
the red liquid started to move up the tube. The units were clearly etched into
the wood, too, so clear that you only needed a single glance to see how much
aether you had just put out. In certain parts of the wood, there were some
characters that belonged to neither Lainur's language nor the Elder Tongue.
Lecia wondered if it was a signature of some sort. At the same time, they
seemed somewhat familiar to her.
Oh!
She remembered. She understood. She knew who made this.
The meticulous detail. The seals, each stroke made with the utmost care.
She would know them anywhere. It was him. He made this.
When Craib said it wasn't him, he was telling the truth.
Brother...
Lecia already knew he was talented, but this was something else entirely.
It was then that she realized something else: it was because of this device that
Gastarque had approached her at the salon. His conversation with his son
made sense. He must have come back from an important meeting where this
device and its inventor were revealed. That was why Gastarque warned her
about falling behind and brushed Joshua off when he asked about it.
Her brother had always been shunned by her parents and even the
servants. But now he had achieved something that completely overshadowed
the years of misery he spent growing up. Lecia felt her heart welling up with
joy.
"Give that back to whoever you took it from, Joshua, and I'll let this one
slide."
"Very well."
"You sure? The king's keepin' a close eye on this, y'know, and I already
spoke with him about it. You pull anythin' funny, and he won't hesitate to
destroy the Raytheft name."
"But... But, I..."