Free Web NovelChapter 34: Chapter 034: The Impossible!
Draped in a dark blue, tailored coat that exuded authority in its simplicity, the Duke stood tall beneath the arch on the garden path his posture that of man relaxed and sure of his strength. Although his hazel eyes glinted and gleamed, ever sharp, ever predatory despite his ever cheery looks.
Ever since Mikael’s arrival in the realm of mortals, this Duke was pretty much the first he couldn’t quite get what he was thinking, making him interesting. Maybe the General was someone like that but at that time, settling in quickly was much more important than reading people.
But as if that wasn’t enough, he had nearly beat Mikael, albeit a pseudo-celestial suffering a heavy toll in order to use his strength.
"Finally decided to wake up, Mikael?" the Duke began, his voice calm. "And you seem to have undergone a transformation. I have seen acclaimed blessed saints, knights and mages less radiant."
Mikael grinned slightly. "My apologies for being so breathtaking, my lord. And it’s quite a burden, this beauty. I nearly broke the mirror this afternoon."
The Duke exhaled slowly, neither amused nor annoyed. "I think I have seen enough surprises in my lifetime. Shall we?"
"Of course."
The noon sun poured gently over the Limnor estate, gilding the fountain and lodgerows in warm light. The air smelled faintly of wet earth, roses, and grasses trimmed neatly along the gravel paths. Birds chirped in branches, and the estate’s garden’s quiet grandeur seemed untouched by the concerns of the outer world.
Silence prevailed for a few moments. Mikael walked lazily beside Duke Alan, hands in his pocket, his strides entirely unhurried, while the Duke’s movement was composed and deliberate, carrying the weight of his station.
"So," Mikael began, "How’s the registration for the academy going, Alan, Duke?"
The Duke exhaled slowly. "Part of the reason I had called for you. It’s mostly done...". The but was coming hard.
"But?" Mikael asked anyways
"Costs for tuition are quite expensive, and I fear my coffers are not going to be able to see all you children through... "
Mikael stopped to pluck a rose from a nearby bush, before continuing, twirling it between his fingers.
"So we need to make money? So much gold that your third generation would have problems using it all up."
The last statement caught Alan a bit off guard that he turned to look at the teenager.
"If that much wealth was possible, boy, I would very be grateful to have it. But surely you jest. What venture could give us that much in so little time?" Skeptical as he was, the interest showed up.
At that time, they came around the training hall. A couple of guards and knights were sparring, the sound of metal clanking and shouts from the armored men keeping the atmosphere around there charged!
As soon as the duo came into view, all the guards bowed to them. The Duke acknowledged them with a wave of his hand, while Mikael stared at the commander, Valerian, like he was an object entirely unknown to the world. Somehow, the man was intriguing to look at whenever he was infuriated, and nothing infuriated him more than Mikael’s face.
Valerian noticed the stare and turned to glare at the onlooker. The stare-down continued for a bit until Mikael felt he had seen enough, waved in mock acknowledgement, and turned back to face the Duke as they continued around the hall.
’Successfully ragebaited.’ The commander never disappointed.
"Men," he began, "if I’m not mistaken, need resources to hold what is theirs. Isn’t that right, Duke?"
"That is the truth of this world, yes."
"So how about we create a resource that is very much essential to those with power. Something that no one who has the capability to get, can not dare to ignore. We give them their need, and they give us their money. For someone of the right caliber, wealth, mana, relics, raw materials are all things that can be taken away from others. Nothing difficult. But for now, I’d like to go the right way."
The Duke gave a short hum, measured. "Taking invites notice, and notice invites all kinds of chains, visible or invisible."
Mikael smiled. "As such, there’s need that a genuine stream of wealth must be created. Smart fox."
The sensation of someone clearly understanding where you’re heading without the need for you to spill it all out was strangely refreshing. This Duke, he was grateful to have been the one he’d met to be his anchor!
He extended a hand. Threads of mana gathered at his fingertips, weaving into a spell circle. The Duke was shocked. He was casually creating a spell, without chants?! A feat only well trained Grandmaster Ranks and above could manage! Then again, he wasn’t exactly sure what Mikael’s rank was,even. But still, there just might be promise in this lad’s words.
The magic circle began weaving geometric lines of light, forming three concentric circles. Like the ice spell of the girl from the forest, Miriselle. And ice spell.
"This world calls its ’Awakened’ those blessed with mana," Mikael said, voice low but carrying weight.
"But the Ranks are limitations, walls that dull their edge. And I’m sure many claw for decades to break through a single rank the higher they go, just because the ’world’ said so."
The Duke stalled, his breath catching. The boy, young as he was, was clearly more intelligent compared to most of his peers. Most of his mates were mostly trying to ascend to the Grandmaster Rank, to impress society and be called geniuses. He, Mikael, didn’t have that look. Even the prospect of wealth did not excite him, more like a plan he’d brought together and was merely reciting it verbatim.
Mikael’s eyes lifted, the golden orbs deepening in their light.
"What if a construct existed — an invention, a gift forged with essence — that can pierce those seemingly impenetrable wall that grows alongside those it holds captive? Not slowly. Not by chance. A device to break one’s rank, surely and in one simple go!"
Alan stared at him, his noble composure, mask cracking at the edges. "You surely jest, Mikael. This is blasphemy against the very laws of nature!"
Though deep in his heart, the Duke hoped the boy was saying the truth. Throughout history, countless experiments have been performed throughout by top-class mage researchers, and countless theories have come up. Yet none was successful in pushing someone beyond his rank permanently, and at least without serious,near fatal backlash. The concept was too good to be true.
"Laws exist to be broken, Duke Alan."
Mikael’s tone was now flat, cold even. "What you mortals call impossible is merely a path hidden from their common sight, and whoever chances upon that hidden path, becomes a genius. In this case, I am the one who has his eyes on the path you all call impossible, Alan."
For a moment, the silence between them was palpable, heavy as an unsheathed blade.
The Duke inhaled slowly, his eyes those of a man calculating a thousand roads at once.
Rival families scrambling for monopoly. Imperial family sweeping them out. Other kingdoms and possibly even other races from afar off trembling at the thought of commoners rising to Sage Ranks and above. A complete toppling of the established world system.
If this ’path’ he sees truly works out as he claims, there would be problems, sure. But the benefits far out weighed them.
He turned his gaze back to Mikael. ’Just who was this young man?’ Today, this question hit harder than ever.
"If such a device existed, such a relic," he said at last, his voice low, "it would be worth more than gold. Possibly more than crowns. Mikael, it would be..."
"Immense power," Mikael finished, holding a small gem like shard that radiated in the sunlight.
"Behold ye, Duke Alan. The start of a new era."
Their gazes met. Mikael’s golden eyes gleamed like suns, in amusement. For a moment, the Duke was also swept into the joy of a possible, successful prospect. Until....
" Huh? Is that it?" Duke Alan asked in complete disbelief. Wasn’t that from the ice spell he’d been tweaking on as they had been walked?! How was that supposed to change the future they were just talking about?
"A mere prototype,yes. But that’s it, generally. Why do you ask?" Mikael cast him a genuine puzzled look.
" This was from the spell from earlier, was it not?" Was the lad suddenly playing tricks on him?
"That was merely what I used as my base. The structure of the spell I changed as I worked."
Courtesy of some of the arcane knowledge he’d regained during his reconnection to the Cosmic Gate, he was able to change the ice spell’s fundamental outcome from shooting ice into something strong enough to hold celestial essence for the shortest amount of time possible! Not that he planned to reveal that part to anybody, since explaining it would most definitely annoy him.
"Listen, Duke. You might have been expecting some kind of large preparations and whatnot. But like I said, that path you all call impossible, I see as clear as the brightest day." He continued towards the hall they’d just passed
"Come then, Duke Alan. I’m not one to disappoint. Come, let us break the impossible!"
They entered the training hall once more. The men inside bowed instantly. A nod this time.
"Raise your head, Knights of Limnor!"
"You!" Mikael wasted no time, pointing to a random knight.
"Me?"
"Yes, you!" Mikael’s smile turned wide, dark and predatory, sending chills down the spine of some of the lily livered knights.
"Don’t you want to feel it? The thrills of becoming the first impossible of this generation?"
