And we're back, for another chapter. I got Volume 1-5 of FoZ manga, hopefully that'll help me going forward.
Nolza looked at his notes, rubbing his head. The elemental affinities of the people of this world were grating on him a bit. He found that it was very difficult to get them to channel Aether not aligned to their affinity. Now whether this was an absolute rule (though the trouble he had with Louise might signify it was) or years of mental blocks and him having to have them unlearn what they knew, he wasn't exactly sure. Setting aside the current notes, he picked up another set. This detailing the two Thaumaturge-in-training.
Kirche von Zerbst. He didn't remember her 'runic name', who specialized in Fire Magic of her world. She'd picked up the basic Fire spell easy enough, and had about half the idea of how to handle Thunder. But she couldn't pick up how to do Blizzard for the life of her. Every time, even with how he tried to help guide her, she kept drawing on the Fire Aether instead.
The opposite could be said of Tabitha. A dedicated and perhaps prodigy when it came to Blizzard magics, and she had the other side of how to do Thunder than Kirche. But she could only get sparks when trying to do Fire. She definitely was more dedicated, and both acknowledged that they didn't feel the normal drain of 'willpower' so much when they used Thaumaturgic Casting instead of their own.
Without finding out what the problem was, if there was a way to work around it or unteach them whatever problems they were having, he was not able to get them to properly control gaining an Aspect. If he could, they'd increase in power by so much just from that. Not to mention he didn't want to try to teach any more advanced spells til they could.
Setting the papers down, let out a sigh. Worse was that Louise was getting ever more short tempered. It wasn't his fault that, even trying to having Colbert help by literally transliterating his words, the formulae themselves were being difficult in translation. Maybe if he had spent more time learning Arcanistry and it's advanced works, he'd be better. Or if she was just more powerful, he could see if she could align with the Sage stone, but he was loathe to let that go.
"Ser, you should take a break." A giggling voice spoke behind him, before a cup of steaming tea was poured and a small plate with some sort of honey cake on it. He blinked at it, before looking at the smiling maid. Despite everything, she kept the formalities, though they were starting to be said with more of a teasing tone.
"Siesta, thank you. It's later than I thought." He leaned back, drinking his tea as he thought on it all again. If there was only a way to get even one spell formulae down. It was magic, for Thal's sake! It should have some way to handle this language barrier! "You know, maybe I should find something to do to relax. See what books you have here to read, to help me learn your language, or maybe just get a deck of car-"
Cutting himself off, he ignored the confused look on Siesta's face as he rummaged through his pockets and pack. Slowly, he withdrew a flat, round detailed object built around a sphere and a deck of cards. With a flick, it unfolded and floated over his hand, revealing a detailed star globe. Staring at it, he began to laugh.
"Of course, of course! It's simple enough! Someone like Colbert or Osmond should be able to handle it. Then it's a simple comparison. It's not exactly Arcanistry, but it's close enough that it should work as a base." Packing the Globe back away, he quickly stood up, ignoring the cake. "Siesta, you wonderful woman, thank you!" Giving the maid a quick hug (and missing the way she went crimson on him doing so), he grabs his notes and rushes out the door, leaving a scattering of paper and the falling of his chair.
The poor maid just looked at the mess and the open door, confused, embarrassed, and her mind tripping over itself trying to sort out what, exactly, just happened.
Colbert sighed, watching as his class laughed at his latest invention. Sure it wasn't much, but things that could help when mages weren't available or so they could focus their efforts on more important stuff was going to be useful. But no one seemed to think that way but him. Well, Old Osmond might, considering he let him do his experimentation on campus, evening giving him a small workshop all to himself. With another sigh, he moved to start putting it away when the classroom door slammed open.
Cutting off the laughter of the students, the odd catman, er Miqote?, Nolza stormed into the room. His eyes were glinting with a near maddening light, a wide grin splitting his face. In his hands were many pages as he quickly made his way over. The children watched in confusion, though Miss Valliere was sending glares at the man. Shaking his head, he focused back on him, realizing he missed something.
"-oifyouorOsmandcouldassistImight-" He raised a hand, cutting off the eager, fast paced words. Adjusting his glassed, he cleared his throat.
"Now, I'm certain whatever you have found is fascinating, Ser, but we're in the middle of class. Since I have bothered you, perhaps you would like to wait in the back and watch for the remainder of the time?" Colbert let out a strained smile before turning back to his invention as the other man started looking around. As he went to put it away, he stopped as he noticed that the other man had instead joined him.
"Hmm, I didn't expect something like this here. Even home, engines are rare outside of The Empire, Garland's Ironworks, or Goblins."
Colbert merely looked at the Miqote, blinking. "Engine? Wait, your home has things like this?" His spirits slowly started lifting, as validation started to be felt.
Nolza just nodded. "Don't know too much about them, honestly, not an engineer myself. Though it'd have to be done differently here. Ah, I'll talk with you more about it later, along with why I originally came, alright?"
With a nod, he covers the 'engine' and continues with the lesson, though all could tell his thoughts were elsewhere.
It was after class and Nolza waited for Colbert to finish up cleaning after his lesson. Though he thought the man might not quite agree about what the usual take on the Fire Element was here. Once most of the class had cleared out, he approached the other man, ignoring the stares of the three girls that lingered. "Well, that was... interesting. But I'm not here to discuss magical theory quite like that." He coughed lightly. "I think I might have an idea on how to help our earlier problem. So, you remember my teachings about one's focus and how even the gear one wears can enhance a person, and the dangers of using stuff beyond you correct? Well, you are an experienced caster in your own arts, it's possible this could mean you can handle the strain. Well, you or Osmond." Pulling out the Star Globe, he snaps it open, grinning at the look on Colbert and the small noises of interest from his audience.
"This is a Star Globe, the focus of Astrologians. They use these and the Arcanum decks that come with them to channel the Arcana power of the stars and their movements. Part fortuneteller, part dreamer, they use this power to heal, empower, and protect others. Most of them prefer to use their teachings to watch the stars to predict the weather and fortunes for the coming months and year." Shaking his head, he waves it off. "History lesson aside, it works in a similar manner to Arcanistry. And, with your permission and help, we might be able to use it to bridge our troubles."
Taking a small round crystal from his pocket carefully, he holds it out. It's amber in color and a symbol like two cards are inscribed inside somehow. "This doesn't leave this room, understood?" His head snaps around, staring at the three students behind him, two looking taken aback at having been caught, the last as stoic as usual. "None of it."
Looking back at Colbert, he takes a breath. "This is a Soul Crystal. It's not really a soul, but it is inscribed with the memories, deeds, and perhaps the essence of those who have held it before. This one is for the Astrologian. If someone is able to attune to a Soul Crystal, they are granted the knowledge of those who came before. Not all at once, it's secrets slowly released like one remembering the lessons, deeds, and feelings stored within. It is my hope that you, Colbert, or Osmond are found worthy by it to attune. To learn even just the basics of the first spell, we can use it to compare how you see how it's cast and how I see it. Then use that as a basis to make the correct changes to the Arcane Formulae in the tome for Louise."
"Do you want to take the risk? I don't know how it'll affect someone not from my world."
He watched Colbert just take a moment, looking deep in thought as he contemplated the Crystal. Slowly lifting his head, he gave a single nod.
Louise left the classroom, biting her lip. This could finally be progress to her own use of magic and that 'Soul Crystal'. If she could convince him to give her one, she'd obviously be able to make use of it and then they could just skip past these excuses he kept making for not helping her. But it was something different. Something that wasn't Brimiric in origin. Was all this just heresy, would they get her in trouble with her family? No, no, she needed this. But, how to get it?
She didn't notice the flickering wisps of darkness that followed her.
AN: Well, that's Chapter 5. Again, not big, but it's what came to mind. I hope you all enjoy it, and I'm going to go read manga! Get some idea of how I'm going to path through to at least dealing with Reconquista. Take care everyone!