Chapter 358: The Vase
On the fifteenth floor of the headquarter of the Congress, in a bright office.
The exotic, dark-yellow carpet was thick and soft. The magic crystal light on the ceiling was dazzling even when it was not on. Several complicated magic circles were carved on the surface of the dark-red table made of precious wood. In the corner of the room, behind the bar counter, there were the bottles of wine and Lucien’s favorite drink, Sky Blue... This was the office for Lucien Evans, the fifty-fourth member of Arcana Review Board. The papers would be sent to Lucien through the magic circles.
"If I am not in the office, sort the papers first and then send them to me every evening," said Lucien to the steel golem. "If I am not around, you can send the papers to my teacher, the Lord of Storm."
Lucien dared not send out the papers to the other members of the institution. After all, the reason why the papers were sent to him was that they were all possible bombs. However, fortunately, this kind of papers were very few.
The eyes of the golem shone with red light, and it responded in the metallic voice, "Yes, master."
After becoming the board member, Lucien not only got his exclusive office but also a magic servant. He could choose from the arcana puppets, gas servants, elementals, and the golems. After selecting carefully, Lucien chose the most expensive one—the steel golem made in the year of 812. It was said that the golem could fight for its master for a few minutes even in a very strong magnetic field.
Lucien adjusted his collar a bit and stepped out of the office.
Walking along the corridor, Lucien ran into the several junior and middle-rank arcanists working in Arcana Review Board.
When seeing the badge on Lucien’s chest, they greeted Lucien with great respect, "Arcana’s above, Mr. Evans."
"Morning." Lucien slightly nodded.
When stepping into the hall, the gate guard, an adamantine golem, also greeted using its low voice, "Take care, Mr. Evans."
Lucien heard that an adamantine golem was capable of fighting against a gold knight. Looking at the golem up and down, Lucien’s eyes lit up and he wished that he could have one.
In the entire Congress, there were only a few adamantine golems. Each one or two of them were responsible for safeguarding the most important places in the tower such as the highest arcana and magic library, the major warehouse, the high-level summoning chambers, and the highest council office.
And Lucien’s current wealth could not even afford a senior-rank mithril golem.
...
On the thirty-third floor of the magic tower of Allyn.
As usual, Lucien was in his teacher’s office having his homework checked.
In the office, besides the Lord of Storm, Thompson and Alferris were also there. Right now, Alferris was sleeping on the carpet next to Fernando’s feet just like a little puppy, slightly snoring.
"Thompson, I’ll talk to you about the paper later..." Fernando put down the paper in his hand and looked at Lucien, "Lucien, it’s time for you to switch to a new meditation method now since the new power of your soul has become more stable. Your spiritual power level’s about the fifth circle, so your current meditation method is not really working for you. I have a new meditation method here that’s quite suitable for you, and it’s enough for you until you reach the eighth circle. Do you want to try it?"
Of course, Lucien would love to follow a better meditation method. He felt that his teacher should not even bother asking. Lucien had been prepared to buy a new meditation method from the highest arcana and magic library if his teacher was not going to make any offers.
"Sure, sir. Thank you very much!" Lucien’s eyes were full of excitement.
Fernando took out a black old book and said to Lucien seriously, "My meditation method isn’t bad, but the best meditation method for you should be developed by yourself based on your own situations and needs. When your cognition world has been basically substantialized, you can alter and amend your spiritual power and soul bit by bit using the several high-level mediation methods. If you can come up with your own meditation method that really works for you, it will be more hopeful for you to reach the legendary level. However, improving meditation is a risky and tough job. Before you’re prepared, don’t try it like a fool. I don’t want to have a student like a fool."
Fernando’s red eyes stared at Lucien in a very stern way, and he added, "Even one day when your cognition world has been basically substantialized, you also have to be very careful, or after a big bang, nothing of you would be left. You hear me?"
"Yes, sir." Lucien dared not to tell Fernando that his cognition world had been basically substantialized, so he was going to wait for another two to three years in case Fernando would feel suspicious. At the same time, Lucien was also glad that he was still being busy with something else and so far he had not got enough time with improving his meditation method. There were two reasons why Lucien could substantialize the cognition world so fast: one was that he knew that the transmission of power was not consistent; and the other was the fact that the two cosmical constants in the two worlds were, in fact, the same, which had brought Lucien great cognition impact and his cognition world had thus been reformed. This was Lucien’s biggest secret, and it was very difficult for him to find other excuses to explain.
Taking over the old book, Lucien was a bit embarrassed to see the name of the book: Fernando’s Meditation Method. It was obvious that Fernando was not an expert in naming things.
"You’d better stay in Allyn in the next three years, Lucien. If you have to, you must report to me or Affairs Committee." Thompson reminded Lucien, "You’re on the 53rd place on the list now, the first person under the legendary level. Countless night watchers, red-robed cardinals and saint knights are eagerly trying to kill you. I even wouldn’t be surprised if Philibell or Vaharall come to kill you in person."
Lucien nodded seriously, as he knew that the Church was like a crazy hound and he was right now like a little hare. Even Felipe, a person who was definitely very proud and arrogant, had also been staying in Allyn or Heidler for the two years and improving himself quietly. However, two to three years later, there would be for sure other big things happening and the Church would be distracted.
This was why Lucien was willing to reveal the fact that he was also the designer of Miracle Experiment when putting forward his discovery of the electron. He was prepared to stay in Allyn in the following two to three years, and then things should be fine.
"Then... Can I go to Rentato?" asked Lucien. As one of the senior members of the Will of Elements, Lucien should attend the meetings.
Fernando waved his hand in a straightforward manner, "Let them come to Allyn... Or you use Hathaway’s demiplane to go directly to the Royal Magic Tower of Holm."
...
After Lucien left the office, Thompson sighed, "Lucien’s going to get another two items with the Holm Crown prize, and maybe also an Immortal Throne. I’m already an eighth-circle arcanist, but the highest honor is still like a dream to me."
The ears of Alferris also twitched a bit in the dream, as if the little dragon also heard Thompson’s words.
"If everything goes well, an Ice & Snow Medal should also go to Lucien," Fernando said so to motivate his student.
Alferris slightly opened its eyes and it seemed that its amber-colored pupils could see the precious stones on the rings and the many powerful amulets.
Thompson put on a bit bitter smile and said, "Before becoming a senior-rank, Lucien can probably get the highest honor in the three different fields. Something like this has only happened four or five times in history so far."
"Lucien found the electron from gas discharging... It reminds people of lightning..." Fernando suddenly switched the topic. "Brook has seized the opportunity by taking the risk of entering the cloud layer where flashes of lightning and thunders were in. He has proved that the electron is one of the reasons for the formation of natural lightning. In other words, if Moonsong League can be more generous, Lucien should be qualified of getting a Silver Moon Medal as well."
Fernando’s words made Alferris’s mouth water. Hurriedly, Alferris raised its claw and wiped the drool away. Its eyes were shining with excitement.
"The highest honor from the four different fields... This has never happened before..." Thompson felt that it was better for him to stick to his career as a battle mage.
"But Lucien’s from the Will of Elements, so I don’t think Moonsong League will be that generous. They will find an excuse." Fernando grinned since he did not care, "They can play blind, and I’m not going to accuse them of doing so. One day, they will find no more excuse other than giving Lucien the medal."
Thompson never expected that Fernando would speak this highly of his student.
"I’m going to teach Lucien more things about electromagnetism," said Fernando. He confidently picked up Thompson’s paper.
Thompson realized that Fernando was actually speaking highly of himself.
When waiting for his teacher reading the paper, Thompson felt a bit nervous. Meanwhile, Alferris quietly moved to the door of the office.
After Alferris tiptoed out of the office, Fernando smiled, "I’ll be more assured if Lucien has Alferris following him around."
"I wonder this time how many years will Alferris sell itself to Lucien for?" Thompson joked.
...
Lucien went back to his office in Atom Institution.
"Mr. Evans, good afternoon," greeted Lazar humorously, but also with some respect. "Hey, if I directly submit my paper to you, can you give me some more credits?"
Rock, Lazar and the rest of the arcanists in the institution had been playing the joke a lot recently.
"No problem. But if it’s not a subversive paper, I’ll take a hundred credits from you." Lucien grinned and opened his office door.
In the office, Lucien smelled the refreshing fragrance of the flowers.
"Flowers in my office? You did this for me?" Lucien asked. There was a lovely designed vase on his desk holding a bunch of bright flowers.
"It wasn’t me." Lazar shook his head, "Maybe it’s a gift from someone else... Many sorcerers have been coming to us recently to say congratulations to you, and, of course, wish to join the institution."
"So I’ve been hiding in my office recently," as Lucien was saying, he walked towards the desk. When he walked past the vase, he suddenly noticed a slight burning feeling on his skin. His cognition world that had been basically substantialized also suddenly thrilled from the burning feeling, and the electrons circling around were moving very fast.
"Radiation? A radioactive element? Curse?" Lucien was shocked.