Magic Array

The next day, Carl formally challenged Wesley to a duel, set for that evening. Donald had thought this was a Knight tradition; he had not expected it to be popular at the Magic Academy as well.

"I just found out Carl is ranked among the Top Ten Experts. Aren't you going to lose terribly?"

"What duel? It's just children playing house. I can't be bothered with him."

"I once heard about a famous poet who was killed in a duel."

"Hey, can't you say something lucky for once?"

"Anyway, you weren't planning to go."

Donald imagined Wesley standing in the dueling grounds. It was as ridiculous as putting a quail in front of a fighting rooster. Seeing his strange smile, Wesley could not help moving farther away.

At that moment, Lucia entered the Library and walked straight toward Wesley. His face immediately changed into a lecherous grin.

"I heard about Carl. I hope you won't do something so childish."

"Lucia, Lucia, I knew you cared about me."

"What are you talking about? I just don't want the Academy thrown into chaos because of me." Lucia frowned deeply.

"You can't bear to see me hurt, can you? Don't worry. Even though Carl is no match for me, I'll listen to you and not go!"

"I... I've changed my mind. You'd better go let Carl beat you up." Lucia glared fiercely at Wesley, rolled her eyes at Donald as well, then turned and left.

Donald shrugged, thinking, What does this have to do with me?

Wesley still looked as though nothing had happened. He read leisurely, occasionally glancing around as if searching for prey.

"Do you know how to get Magic Metal?" Donald asked.

"Magic Metal? Which kind?"

"What kind does the Academy use to draw Runes?"

"Mercury, Flame Gold, Van Gold, Gui Gold, and Spirit Copper. Those five are the most common Five Elements Magic Metals on the continent."

"I might need a little of each."

"What do you need them for? I'm warning you, don't draw random things without a Teacher watching you." Wesley's expression was unusually serious. Even when he claimed to be a poet, he had never looked this serious.

"Don't worry, I know. Do you have any way to get them or not?"

"What's so hard about that? We get a free monthly allotment, though it's nowhere near enough, so we usually have to buy more. They aren't very expensive."

Donald knew that Wesley's idea of "not very expensive" was still far beyond what he could afford now.

"Could you help me buy some? I mean, if I happen to get some money."

"Don't do anything reckless. I won't help you buy them, no matter where you get the money. But I can give you part of my allotment. There's only enough of each to draw around ten Runes, so nothing should go wrong. I don't want to get you hurt."

"Then do you know where I can see a somewhat larger Magic Array? I want to borrow one and study it."

"You think too highly of me. That's impossible for me to get. I can't even draw the simplest Magic Array. Go ask Professor Victor. He's the real expert."

That evening, Wesley brought Donald the materials: five tiny crystal bottles containing different Magic Metals, along with a set of exquisite drawing brushes, all neatly stored in a leather case the size of a wallet. Donald did not mention money, nor did he even say thank you. He simply gave Wesley's shoulder a heavy pat and said, "You'd better not go to that duel."

"I never planned to." Wesley turned and walked away, answering carelessly.

Mr. Victor was in an especially good mood that night because he had finally finished his paper and sent it to the Continental Society of Natural History. It was the first time he had written such a long paper, almost as thick as a book.

The Magic Lamp was unusually unlit, and the Laboratory looked cozy and warm in the candlelight.

"Mr. Victor, when I was on Lant Island, I once heard a bard say, 'Knights go north, Mages go south.' Recently, I noticed those same words written at the entrances of the Knight Academy and the Magic Academy. What do they mean?"

"That? It's because the holy land of Knights is the Courage Wasteland in the north, while the holy land of Mages is the Magic Holy Institute in the south."

"What kind of places are those? Why are the holy lands of Mages and Knights directly south and north of each other?"

"That's complicated. Simply put, the north is close to hell, a place no human can stay, suitable for Knight training. The south is close to heaven, with beautiful mountains and rivers, suitable for Mage training."

"Do hell and heaven really exist?"

"If they didn't, how could this situation have come about?"

"Have you been to the south?"

"No. Mages who go south rarely return."

"Why don't you go?"

"What nonsense. If I could go, I would have gone long ago. Only the welcoming ships of the Holy Institutes can withstand the winds, waves, and magical beasts south of the Sea of Oblivion. But the seven great Holy Institutes only recruit magical geniuses. You must advance to a Formal Magician before turning twenty to qualify to board one."

Victor seemed somewhat dejected as he said this, so Donald quickly changed the subject. "I heard you are an expert in Magic Arrays."

"Of course!" When it came to Magic Arrays, Victor was not modest at all.

"Can you make large Magic Arrays?"

"...'Large' is a very vague concept..."

"What is the largest Magic Array you've ever made? Legend says some Magic Arrays can cover a hundred li in every direction."

"You said it yourself—it's a legend!"

"Then one as big as this room..."

Victor did not answer.

"One as big as the test bench..."

Victor still said nothing.

"All right, then you've at least made a Magic Array the size of a palm, right?"

Victor glanced at his own palm, then at Donald's. "That... depends on whose palm it is..."

"Could you let me see your work?" Donald asked, holding back a laugh.

"Hmph, you little brat. You don't believe me? The Imperial Capital Magic Academy invited me to teach Magic Arrays, and I couldn't even be bothered with them. Come, come, I'll show you my work. I have plenty that are palm-sized..."

Victor took an iron box from a drawer beside his test bench, opened it with a very peculiar technique, and removed a stack of animal-hide sheets in various shapes. Several really were the size of Donald's palm.

"Look, these small ones were drawn by other people. These bigger ones are mine. This is a Flame Shield Magic Scroll, this is Whirlwind Technique, and this one—this one is impressive. A Great Fireball Magic Scroll, stronger than Level 1 Fireball Magic..."

Donald reached out and took the supposedly impressive Great Fireball Scroll. "How do you use this?"

"None of these have Magic Crystals set into them yet. They can't be used."

"You stored them so carefully. These must be your best works, right?"

"Of course not! I have many better ones... I gave them all to friends..."

"So these are all ordinary?"

"To me, of course they're extremely ordinary. I just drew them casually." Victor looked smug, but the way he handled them so carefully had long since betrayed him.

"Then... it should be fine if I borrow this one for one night, right?"

"Huh? Borrow it for a night? This..." Victor looked at Donald as though the other boy were embracing his beloved girl.

"They're very ordinary. You drew them casually."

"Fine, borrow it!"

"Then could I borrow these few Fire-element Magic Arrays drawn by others too? They're so small."

"Hmph! Take them, take them! Bring them back to me first thing tomorrow morning!" Victor gritted his teeth and agreed.

Donald took his spoils and dashed downstairs in a flash, leaving Victor standing there with a resentful expression.