Book 3 Chapter 16 (Patreon)

Nox met with Dean Oleg on Fourthday morning. He didn’t get involved with the business’ regular brewing. Mou and Aisha, one of Nox’s employees and now a journeyman alchemist, and their army of assistants took care of the business’s production needs. Besides creating new products, he also acted as the business’ face. He sought out new contracts for them—even though the per-unit cost was lower, they made more money than individual sales—and renegotiated old ones.

Almost all university departments and on-campus stores now purchased significant quantities of his patented healing and mana recovery pills. The research and production departments also spent a considerable amount of gold on Nox’s sterilizing brew. Whenever he created a new product, he showed it to Dean Oleg first, hoping to earn new contracts.

“How in Ygg’s name do you have the time to come up with these things?” Dean Oleg asked, testing Nox’s newest iteration of the flame slime concoction. It involved drawing a simple string of runes along the edges of two metal pieces before releasing the artificial organism. It sought out the pieces, pulled the two sections together, and burned with a blinding white light before dying. “This is a perfect weld. You’re going to put university arcane smiths and apprentices out of a job!”

“Given my price tag, they’re still the more economical option.” Nox grinned. “This is meant for when precision and speed are a priority. No matter how skilled an apprentice or journeyman is, they’ll struggle to make things completely perfect, and I know how vital that is in the university’s more delicate creations. If you use my creation, it will speed things up and also let you focus manpower elsewhere.”

“What does Sapna think of this invention?”

“She hates it. However, it proved vital in the creation of these.” Nox held up his sleeve, showing off the elongated metal triangles growing out of his skin. He channeled mana through them, demonstrating the aether glove and bow. “I believe she’s also using them for the final assembly for the mana bows her store will soon start selling.”

“Will they be as potent as yours?”

“Of course not.”

“Damn you, Ratras, and your secrets,” Dean Oleg grumbled. It was common knowledge that the giant of a man and Sapna were in a romantic relationship. Nox guessed that despite it, she told him nothing regarding her projects. The dean unstoppered another sample and tested it on a second pair of prepared metal pieces. “So the runes only act as the guiding lines?”

Nox nodded. “I wanted to keep the application as easy and quick as possible. They might come in handy during delving. War and espionage mages could also use them for infiltration missions.”

“Have you shown Akash this?”

Nox shook his head. “Even though it wasn’t his fault, I’m hesitant to share anything with him after what happened last time. He’s welcome to visit my store, and we’re amicable, though.”

“You should really give him a chance. He’s sorry, and you wouldn’t be an adept alchemist without him.”

“I know you’re right.” Nox sighed. “Unfortunately, he’s proven a bad judge of character and keeper of information. Poorly vetted apprentices are permanently roving around his office and workshop. Perhaps I’ll invite him to the Galleria. If he has the time and can visit, I’ll share my creations with him, but nothing will enter his workshop.”

“Fine.” Dean Oleg shrugged. He tested the final sample before offering Nox a number. It was well below the asking price, and the pair haggled for a quarter of an hour before settling on a satisfactory value. Nox shook hands with the man before rushing to his first Understanding Binary Systems class of the semester.

As soon as Nox entered the classroom, the professor and his research assistants checked his manameter. Then they took a blood sample, scanned him with arcane circuit scanning devices, and put him through a regular questionnaire. It often felt as if he was more their subject than a student in the class.

Crystalize Essence | Essence Animation
1/132 | 1/29

Essence Shaping | Arrow
1/56 | 1/13

Temporal Sphere
229/220

Spatial Familiar | Spatial Storage
39/39 | 17/17

“I know we touched on this before, but this semester, we’re going to focus on the biggest issue with binary mana systems,” the professor said after the class had gone over the results. Nox had privately told the man that he was on the verge of creating new planets and would cease sharing readings once that happened. Though displeased, he had accepted the decision. Researchers considered delvers and battle mages’ love of privacy stupid. “As you can see, Sir Ratra’s excess mana continues to gravitate toward the ever-growing star.

“It won't just keep the second star and attached heavenly bodies from recovering, but is hampering the growth of its planet and attached moon, too.”

“That's not strictly true, Professor,” Nox interrupted. “The star is only limiting their natural ability to attract and hold mana overflow. I can still guide excess energy from the star to the planets for nurturing.”

“But it's growing increasingly difficult as the star continues to swell, is it not?”

Nox nodded.

“Then my point stands. Thank you for the clarification, though.” The man turned to the rest of the class. “Never forget the importance of nuance and detail when it comes to arcane research.”

Nox had grown to like Professor Eugene Moyo. The scholarly mage from Alkebulan was only an adept mage but had risen to the rank of the university's expert on binary mana systems. His father and brother, warlords of the distant South Eastern continent, both had two stars. Despite decades of trying, he had failed to achieve the same but had dedicated his life’s work to understanding the anomalous existence.

Unlike most senior professors, Eugene Moyo never displayed annoyance or grew perturbed when a student corrected or contradicted him. Instead, he encouraged discussion, no matter how mundane, in the pursuit of knowledge.

The locals, and especially the Imperium, considered the people of Alkebulan wild and warmongers. It was for good reason since some of the most fearsome Aether Warrior had origins in the land. Apparently, the beasts of Daksinsthan paled when compared to the wilds of Alkebulan. The constant battle for survival didn't leave much time for arcane artisanry or developing magecrafts, but they compensated with their martial abilities and insane combat aura.

Tales spoke of tall, muscular, quick-to-anger men and women just as fierce. They believed in the survival of the fittest and the most powerful's word was law. Eugene Moyo's existence contradicted the stereotypes. He matched the physical description, but he was perhaps the most cool-tempered and academically-minded man Nox had ever met.

Professor Moyo wrote several equations on the board. “We have already covered the mana gravitational laws and theorems of stars, so I won't waste too much time on those. Instead, I think it will benefit us, and especially Sir Ratra, if we analyze the mathematics of conflicting gravitational values. So far, it's the second sta's core causing the primary imbalance.”

“We have enough data to do the math and separate the unique occurrence from the star's natural mana gravity,” one of the seven students in the class said. “If we can find the greater imbalance coefficient, perhaps we can theorize at what mana value the second star will reach critical mass.”

“That number would help a great deal,” Nox added. “My mana system has been stagnating the past year. I've been too scared of letting the star grow any further and risk it pulling its neighbor and the other heavenly bodies out of alignment.”

“Spatial magic is rare and powerful, though,” the student continued. “Would it be the worst thing if you let that happen? The combined mana would accelerate your progress to a high expert. You'd automatically rise to the ranks of the top hundred mages in the continent.”

“You're sorely mistaken if you think there are only a hundred high experts in the Trade Empire and Imperium,” another student in the class added.

“Very true. Besides, I'm rather attached to my original star and not willing to sacrifice it. Temporal Sphere and Spatial magic might be rare, but Crystalize Essence is unique and my signature spell.”

“Let's not give up our most available example of a binary system either,” Professor Moyo said. He tapped on the math on the chalkboard, refocusing the class’ attention. “Sir Ratra's presence has significantly accelerated my research and understanding of anomalous arcane cores.”

Complicated formulae and attempts at solving them dominated most of the four hours. At the end of it, Professor Moyo reminded the class of the assessment involved. They had already completed one research component the previous semester. They had two research papers left and a written exam. Each assessment counted as a quarter of their final mark. Alternatively, students also had the option to complete one of the several unsolved theorems or uncover something new regarding binary systems—with evidence, of course—in lieu of the final exam.

Completing Understanding Binary Systems would make them eligible for a practical course dedicated to developing a binary system without a Being of Power's assistance. No participants had succeeded in the past five years of the class’s existence, but they had made several discoveries related to anomalous mana systems. Professor Moyo had allowed Nox to look over the materials as a professional courtesy, and he had no interest in pursuing it or subjecting himself to more scans, poking, and prodding.

Nox met with Ingrid after class. Following her eagerness to pursue magehood, Nox enrolled her in a handful of foundation courses to cover the gaps in her knowledge. They would ensure she had adequate martial ability and mathematical, scientific, and runic expertise by the time she started proper classes. Nox doubted a year was enough time to catch up with Isabella. She had a lifetime of tutors, after all. However, he wanted the pair to have a similar academic level if they were to spend time together.

The privilege cost a hundred gold, but Nox's close trade relationship with the university got them the privilege for free. He expected Ingrid to be ready for Beginner Mana Theory, Beginner Dungeon Theory, and whatever other courses she wished to pursue in a year’s time.

The mentor and apprentice planned to meet at the pauper’s cafeteria, but he found her outside the war mage department—her new schedule involved basic combat training three mornings a week. Ingrid sat surrounded by her young peers, making practice swords dance on strings. She had controlled them with Mage Hands like a puppeteer. Nox couldn’t help but find her control astounding. Given Ingrid’s talent for intent-driven casting, he imagined she’d make for an excellent Manipulation mage.

When Nox approached, Ingrid’s classmates swiftly dispersed, and she dumped her toys behind a bush. “Sorry,” she said, flashing him a mischievous smile. “I thought you’d be longer.”

“It’s alright.” Nox laughed. “You don’t have to apologize for having fun. Be honest with me, though. Have you already condensed your protostar?”

The smile faded from Ingrid’s face, and she broke eye contact, looking at the floor. “I know you said we should discuss it first and lay out a plan on how to evolve the star, but I couldn’t help myself. Mage Hand is way too much fun. Evolving or improving on it might be tough, but we’ll figure something out, won’t we?”

“We will.” Nox sighed. “The decision was always yours, Ingrid. Since you have time and my resources on your side, I just hoped you’d make a more informed and planned pick.” He smiled at her reassuringly. “It’s alright. We’ll figure out a decent growth path for you. I haven’t had the time to research it, but there are plenty of recorded evolutions and improvements on Mage Hand. We’ll see what suits you best and you’re aptitude for controlling so many at once, and—”

“Oh my. You already have an apprentice?” Nox’s heart sank as the familiar voice reached his ears. He had hoped not to deal with the woman until the next Advanced Dungeon Combat class. “Aren’t you a tad young for that?”

“Most mages take apprentices once they reach Adept rank,” Nox said. “You never know when a suitable apprentice will appear. Ingrid, meet Kurosaki Hinata.”

“Is that all the introduction I get?” Hinata asked, feigning offense.

“Ingrid Erikkson. It’s nice to meet you.”

The pair shook hands, and an awkward silence followed. Nox had nothing to say to the woman. He didn’t want to give her the impression that they were considering her as a party member. Hinata’s suggestive words and flirtations the last time they met weren’t welcome either.

“So. What are you two doing this afternoon? Do you have much planned?”

“We do, actually,” Ingrid answered. “Sir Ratra has a meeting with Professor Lorenzo regarding contract renewal. Then we have a personal training session.”

“Well. I could—”

“We really should get going,” Nox said. “It was nice bumping into you, Hinata. I’ll see you around. Alright?”