Chapter Summaries

Ronan searched Ceres’s Old Port District for the alchemy-obsessed Old Jack and found him at the Copper Anchor Casino. The chapter left Old Jack surrounded by several hulking men at a gambling table.

• Ronan entered the Blue Whale Tavern and drew mocking looks after paying a silver coin for a mug of ale.
• Buck tried to take Ronan’s ale, but Ronan seized his hand and easily overpowered him.
• Ronan asked Buck about Old Jack, and Buck said the alchemist would likely be at the Copper Anchor Casino.
• Ronan paid Buck a Pound Sterling to lead him to the casino.
• Buck found Old Jack beside a gambling table, surrounded by three or five hulking men.

Ronan stopped the Copper Anchor Casino thugs from cutting off Old Jack’s hand and paid one thousand gold pounds to free him. When the scar-faced man tried to extort him further, Ronan revealed his power as a male witch and forced the thugs to their knees, plunging the casino into chaos.

• The scar-faced man prepared to cut off Old Jack’s hand for allegedly cheating at the Copper Anchor Casino.
• Ronan seized the blade and offered to pay for Old Jack’s release, then handed the scar-faced man a cheque for one thousand gold pounds.
• The scar-faced man accepted the money but claimed it bought only Old Jack’s hand and tried to keep the rest of him.
• Ronan warned the thugs not to make an enemy of him and used an invisible force to force them to their knees.
• The gamblers recoiled as the casino erupted into chaos and the thugs realized Ronan was a male witch.

Ronan resolved a confrontation at Copper Anchor Casino and learned that Audrey had sent him to Jack Spike to study alchemy. He paid Jack in advance for lessons, leaving the two set to begin their arrangement.

• Rose Sinclair arrived at Copper Anchor Casino, apologized to Ronan, canceled Jack's gambling debt, and had the scar-faced brute taken away.
• Ronan left the casino with Old Jack, and Rose ordered an investigation into who Ronan was.
• Ronan showed Old Jack Audrey's silver coin and explained that he wanted to learn alchemy.
• Jack admitted that he had spent much of his fortune pursuing alchemy despite lacking spellcasting talent.
• Ronan offered Jack money in exchange for all his alchemical knowledge and handed him several cheques as prepaid tuition.

Ronan began studying alchemy with Old Jack, whose extensive knowledge and laboratory helped him make rapid progress despite being an ordinary person. As more than a month passed, Ronan also helped keep Janice Toran company, and the time came for him to enroll.

• Ronan followed Old Jack into his underground laboratory and asked why he pursued alchemy despite being an ordinary person.
• Old Jack explained his decades-long attempt to develop an alchemical path for mortals and agreed to teach Ronan.
• Ronan studied with Old Jack each day, quickly mastering much of his knowledge and becoming fascinated by alchemy.
• Ronan entrusted Little Black to Janice Toran while he was away and sometimes brought her treats, earning Dolores's gratitude.
• More than a month passed, and Ronan's enrollment date arrived.

Ronan quickly mastered his Royal Higher Police Academy courses and learned all the alchemical theory Old Jack could teach him. Old Jack offered him his house, laboratory, materials, and Von Bryant’s original alchemy notebook, leaving Ronan poised to begin alchemical experiments using Psionic Power.

• Ronan enrolled at the Royal Higher Police Academy, ignored attempts to draw him into social circles, and focused on his studies.
• After a month, Ronan had mastered all five compulsory courses and earned top marks in practical subjects, so he devoted more time to studying with Old Jack.
• In his third month in Ceres, Old Jack admitted he had nothing left to teach Ronan and offered him the use of his laboratory.
• Ronan declined the offer to use Old Jack’s laboratory because he planned to experiment with Psionic Power and wanted equipment suited to his needs.
• Old Jack offered to sell Ronan his house, laboratory, and alchemical materials, then revealed and gave him Von Bryant’s original alchemy notebook.
• Ronan accepted the deal, despite having no current income, and prepared to pursue alchemy on his own.

After Old Jack left for his ancestors’ homeland, Ronan studied Von Bryant’s alchemy notes and used Old Jack’s laboratory to make his first extraordinary item. He successfully refined a dagger with the Sharpness trait and left it in a hidden recess as a memento of Old Jack.

• Old Jack transferred his property to Ronan, then boarded a train south to spend his remaining days where his ancestors had lived.
• Ronan stayed in his old apartment and spent half a month studying Von Bryant’s alchemy notes.
• Ronan engraved the Sharpness rune set onto a master-crafted dagger and coated it with alchemical solution.
• Ronan analyzed the alchemy array and used Psionic Power instead of Mana to activate it, successfully refining the dagger into an extraordinary item.
• Ronan tested the dagger by splitting a silver coin in two, then stored it in a hidden recess as a memento of Old Jack.

Ronan shared dinner with Dolores and Janice before learning that Dolores could no longer afford the apartment’s increased rent. He offered to cover her housing costs in exchange for household help, and Dolores proposed that she and Janice move in with him, a plan Ronan accepted.

• Ronan joined Dolores and Janice for dinner, where they shared a warm meal with Little Black.
• The apartment manager told Dolores that her rent would rise by two gold pounds per month when her lease expired.
• Dolores grew distraught at the prospect of moving with Janice to a cheaper but unsafe neighborhood.
• Ronan offered to pay the rent in exchange for Dolores preparing meals and handling household chores.
• Dolores suggested that she and Janice move into Ronan’s home, and Ronan agreed, offering to pay her a separate salary.

After settling into a comfortable home with Dolores and Janice, Ronan continued studying alchemy and decided to commission revolvers for his Psionic Alchemy Armament. He accepted Alfred Pittman’s invitation to a mixer and began learning ballroom dancing from Dolores.

• Ronan moved Dolores and Janice into a larger apartment and moved in with them, where Dolores took care of the household.
• During his sixth month in Ceres, Ronan decided to forge a Psionic Alchemy Armament and asked Alfred Pittman to recommend a gunsmith for two revolvers.
• Alfred named Master Will Bridges as Ceres’ finest gunsmith, but explained that orders took at least a year, so he offered to search for a collector willing to sell a revolver.
• Alfred invited Ronan to a weekend mixer with students from the Royal Academy of Arts, and Ronan agreed to attend.
• Ronan asked Dolores to teach him ballroom dancing, and they began practicing together at home.

Ronan enjoyed a peaceful life in Ceres while his Psionic Power neared the peak of Five Rings, then attended a mixer at the Crystal Club with Alfred. After the evening’s social scene left him content to sit apart, Ronan decided it was time to head home.

• Ronan danced with Dolores and agreed to dance with her again before the mixer arrived.
• Ronan reached the Crystal Club, where Alfred complained that he had arrived late and urged him to enjoy the mixer.
• Ronan danced with a girl who lost interest after learning he was an illegitimate son from a minor rural noble family.
• Michelle, an earl’s daughter and celebrated Art Academy music student, arrived with other attractive girls, and Alfred hurried to flatter her.
• Ronan checked the clock and decided to head back.

Ronan intervened when Shaquille Pierre threatened Michelle and Alfred at the club, revealing enough power to frighten Shaquille into leaving. The next morning, Ronan found himself suddenly popular at the academy and left after taking leave from class.

• Shaquille Pierre arrived at the club and pressured Michelle to attend his ball, but she refused.
• Alfred stepped in to protect Michelle, and Shaquille’s middle-aged companion seized him and threatened to cripple his hand.
• Ronan suppressed the middle-aged man’s Transcendent power and ordered Shaquille to leave.
• Shaquille left with his companions, and Alfred thanked Ronan for saving him.
• The next morning, trainees crowded around Ronan at the academy, so he took leave and left.

Ronan joined Alfred to inspect two revolvers made by Master Will Bridges, which Charles Mana was selling to recover from financial losses. Alfred negotiated the purchase, and the chapter ended with him carrying the gun case upstairs.

• Alfred told Ronan he had found a collector willing to sell Master Bridges's works and warned him that Shaquille might retaliate over their earlier conflict.
• Alfred took Ronan to Charles Mana's villa, where the merchant agreed to show them his firearm collection.
• Charles presented two signed, unused silver revolvers made by Master Will Bridges, and Ronan felt they were the weapons he needed.
• Alfred negotiated with Charles while Ronan waited upstairs, then returned carrying the gun case and hinted that the deal had gone well.

Alfred gave Ronan two silver revolvers, which Ronan empowered with extraordinary runes and specialized ammunition. Back home, Ronan gave protective necklaces to Janice and Dolores, and he and Dolores grew closer that night.

• Alfred gave Ronan the revolvers Ranger and Knight as thanks for saving his life, and Ronan accepted them.
• Ronan engraved extraordinary traits onto both revolvers, crafted Psionic bullets, and tested his rune combinations while deepening his Psionic Energy cultivation.
• Ronan gave Janice a protective necklace, then gave Dolores a matching one and put it around her neck.
• Ronan and Dolores shared a kiss and agreed to wait until Janice was asleep before continuing their intimacy.
• Late that night, a graceful figure slipped into Ronan's room and into his arms.

Dolores told Ronan about her promise to preserve the Toran Family, while Ronan supported Janice’s schooling and continued his relationship with Dolores. Rudolf Herbert then confronted Ronan at the Police Academy and demanded he kneel and apologize to Shaquille Bier.

• Dolores explained that Janice was her late older sister’s daughter and the Toran Family’s only descendant, and that she had sworn to remain by Janice and preserve the family line.
• Ronan accepted Dolores’ firm decision not to marry, and Dolores said she was content with their relationship.
• Janice asked Ronan whether he would become her father, and he told her it depended on Dolores.
• Dolores enrolled Janice in a nearby elementary school with Ronan’s help.
• Rudolf Herbert confronted Ronan after class, saying he wanted justice for his friend Shaquille Bier and demanding Ronan kneel and apologize.
• Ronan asked what would happen if he refused, and Rudolf warned him to wait.

Ronan rejected Alfred’s warning to leave Ceres and continued attending the Police Academy, confident in his strength. When Senior Detective Clemond arrived with officers to arrest him for a major murder case, Ronan forced the officers to their knees and left Clemond terrified.

• Alfred warned Ronan that Shaquille Bell and Rudolph Herbert were targeting him, then left for Starkton after his family ordered him home.
• Ronan refused to flee Ceres and returned to the Police Academy, where the other trainees kept their distance from him.
• Senior Detective Clemond entered Ronan’s classroom with five officers and presented an arrest warrant accusing Ronan of involvement in a major murder case.
• Ronan refused arrest, and Clemond ordered his officers to seize him.
• Ronan pressed down with an invisible force, forcing the six officers to their knees and making Clemond realize he had badly misjudged Ronan.

Ronan drove Senior Detective Clemond and his officers from the classroom, then faced Gustav Rhine, the Dean of the Kingdom's High Police Academy and a Major General. Their clash awakened Ronan's sixth-ring Psionic Power, and Gustav invited him to discuss the case in his office.

• Ronan overwhelmed Clemond and his officers, dismissed them, and kept the arrest warrant as a memento.
• Clemond left the classroom after placing the warrant on the table, while Ronan waited for a more powerful official.
• Gustav Rhine arrived and ordered Ronan to obey the law and defend himself in court rather than resist with force.
• Ronan met Gustav's pressure head-on, and the clash shattered the barrier sealing his Divine Soul and advanced his Psionic Power to the sixth ring.
• Gustav recognized Ronan's unexpected strength, ended the confrontation, and invited him to his office to discuss what had happened.

After Gustav Rhine promised to investigate the injustice done to Ronan, Ronan hid Dolores and Janice in a fortified safe house. That night, he infiltrated Silver Mansion and secretly attacked Shaquille Bell and Rudolf Herbert, leaving the outcome unclear.

• Gustav Rhine believed Ronan’s account and promised to seek justice within three days, urging him not to act rashly.
• Ronan visited Dolores and Janice at the Old Port District safe house, where Dolores agreed to remain hidden.
• Ronan reassured Dolores that he would support her after she feared losing her job.
• Ronan disguised himself and climbed into Silver Mansion, using his Psionic Power to locate Shaquille Bell and Rudolf Herbert together.
• Ronan secretly sent a thread of Psionic Power into the suite, and Rudolf briefly lost his vision before the two men continued their revelry.

Ronan learned that the investigation had resulted in Shaquille Bier’s expulsion and penalties for the police officers involved, while the Herbert Family compensated him. He then revealed that he was an alchemist and asked Gustav Rhine about ways to sell Transcendent equipment.

• Ronan returned home and reflected that his methods would gradually drive Shaquille Bier and Rudolf Herbert to their deaths without leaving evidence.
• Gustav Rhine told Ronan that the Internal Affairs Department had investigated his case and outlined Shaquille Bier’s expulsion, Clemond’s demotion, and the Herbert Family’s compensation.
• Ronan accepted the thousand-gold-pound cheque and signed a document settling the matter.
• Gustav Rhine offered Ronan his support, and Ronan asked whether he knew channels for trading alchemical equipment.
• Ronan showed Gustav Rhine his revolvers, Knight and Ranger, as his latest alchemical creations, shocking the dean.

Gustav Rhine discovered that Ronan was a gifted alchemist and invited him to join the Holy Fire Society. Ronan agreed to work with the Rhine Family to sell his alchemical creations, leaving the two men ready to begin their partnership.

• Gustav Rhine examined Ronan’s revolvers, recognized them as alchemical masterpieces, and asked whether Ronan would sell them, but Ronan refused.
• Gustav Rhine asked where Ronan learned alchemy, and Ronan named Jack Spike as his teacher.
• Gustav Rhine gave Ronan a Chapter of the Holy Fire and explained the Society’s membership, trading salons, and other benefits.
• Ronan asked the Rhine Family to act as an agent for his alchemical creations, and Gustav agreed to assign someone to work with him.
• Gustav Rhine summoned his secretary so he and Ronan could celebrate their prospective partnership with a drink.

Ronan gained Gustav Rhine’s support in Ceres and was introduced to Rose Sinclair, who would handle his alchemical business through Gustav’s companies. After arranging to attend a Holy Fire Society salon, Ronan told Dolores that they could return home and Janice could go back to school.

• After Gustav Rhine promised to provide an agent, Ronan met Rose Sinclair, who revealed that she served Gustav and would work exclusively for him.
• Rose took Ronan to the Golden Sail Trading Company and offered to sell his alchemical creations, source materials, and obtain prohibited goods for a ten percent commission.
• Rose told Ronan that the next Holy Fire Society salon would take place at Guster Manor the night after tomorrow, and agreed to pick him up.
• Ronan asked Rose to take him to the Old Port District and arranged for her to collect him there before the salon.
• After Rose left, Ronan went to the basement and told Dolores that they could go home and Janice could return to school.

Ronan attended a Holy Fire Society salon at Guster Manor with Rose Sinclair, where he sensed many powerful extraordinary beings and learned about the gathering. After Rose left to meet Viscount Guster, Audrey Norton unexpectedly approached Ronan.

• Ronan arrived at Guster Manor with Rose Sinclair as a Blood Moon approached, and the Holy Fire Badge admitted them past the guards.
• Rose told Ronan about Viscount Guster and the manor’s salons, while Ronan sensed several powerful extraordinary auras among the guests.
• Tiffany Mill greeted Rose and Ronan, but Rose warned Tiffany not to cause trouble before taking Ronan to a seat.
• Rose explained that alchemists rarely attended salons and left after Viscount Guster summoned her.
• Audrey Norton approached Ronan and asked him to call her Audrey, surprising him.