Magic Crystal

In the over ten thousand years of history of the Feymont Empire's capital, Koennas Ancient City, it had been breached six times. Each time, the conquerors built the walls higher, so looking up from the base, the colors shifted from dark to light, faintly revealing seven layers. The lightest at the very top was the section added six hundred years ago after Louis Fein the Great conquered the city.

The beautiful, blue-ribbon-like Bol River cut through the center of the ancient city, dividing it into two completely distinct districts, east and west. In fact, the two banks of the Bol River had historically been two different cities—the east bank called Koen City and the west bank Nas City. Now, people no longer made that distinction, instead referring to them as the Upper City and the Lower City.

The Upper City on the east bank was the noble residential district, where the magnificent Fein Imperial Palace was located.

Auston Fain was not a diligent king. Even the Imperial Prime Minister, Duke Adrean, could only see him a limited number of times each month. But today, the Duke's audience was taking unusually long. His Majesty had even rarely dismissed his attendants, which worried the Imperial Guard Knights stationed at the door.

"What is it this time? I've dodged it several times already. I can't put it off any longer. Have you found out anything yet?" Auston Fain was around forty years old, his red hair meticulously styled.

"Your Majesty, all we know is that a month ago, that woman and her military officer went south for a visit. After returning, she requested an audience with Your Majesty. It's truly unclear what scheme she's plotting now."

"It's not about the Magic Crystals, is it? In a few months, Divine Grace will descend. We can't afford any mistakes this time."

"Your Majesty, rest assured. If it comes to it, we can reduce the quotas for the various magic academies."

"If we keep cutting back like this, the Empire's strength will only wane. I'm afraid we won't even have to wait for Divine Punishment to fall before that mad dog to the west comes biting."

"Your Majesty's foresight is profound!"

"Sigh... Then schedule it for tomorrow. Whether it brings fortune or disaster, we can't avoid it. When will you all... ever be able to share my burdens?"

***

Tris Magic Academy, Professor Victor's laboratory.

Donald returned to the academy from Whispering Forest on the last day before the winter semester began. Passing through Dorn City, Mr. Merkel's father, Mr. Cliff Bark, hosted a banquet for Donald and Richard. During the meal, Donald finally learned that Natia Vida had granted the Bark Family the Dwarf Weapon Monopoly for the entire Three Southern Provinces. This was an enormous stroke of luck for the Bark Family, no wonder old Mr. Cliff had personally hosted the banquet. Merkel quietly told Donald that his father had decided to maintain the previous profit-sharing ratio; Donald would still receive thirty percent of the profits from the dwarf weapon monopoly. Additionally, Merkel handed over the payment from the dwarves for purchasing that Simple Forging Bed—one hundred Magic Crystals.

Now those hundred Magic Crystals, gleaming like blue diamonds, were in Donald's inner pocket.

"Mr. Victor, as long as someone can pay the tuition, can anyone study at the magic academy, regardless of who they are?"

"That's right, didn't I tell you? Two thousand Gold Coins a year, anyone can come."

"Even a commoner?"

"Are you crazy? Where would a commoner get that much money?"

"Forget that for now. I mean, in principle, as long as they can pay the tuition, can a commoner also attend?"

"Of course!" Victor answered casually.

"Is this enough?"

Victor's jaw dropped. In Donald's open palm glowed a faint blue light—a large handful of Magic Crystals, countless in number.

"Where did you get so much money?" Professor Victor snatched the Magic Crystals from Donald's hand and began counting carefully. "One, two..."

"Forty-six! That's more than my annual quota!"

"...There's more." Donald said quietly.

Victor carefully placed the Magic Crystals back into Donald's hand, sighing as he did so. "You little rascal, you're infuriating. What kind of nonsense did you invent this time, and which fool paid you so much?"

Donald didn't answer his question. "So, with this, can I attend the magic academy?"

"Come to my office tomorrow!"

Hearing this, Donald downed the fruit tea in his cup and headed downstairs.

"A bit late, but this kid can definitely do it!" Only after Donald had left did a relieved smile appear on Victor's face.

The next morning, Donald asked Mr. Virgil for leave, then found Victor, who took him to the Dean's office.

This was Donald's first time seeing the Dean of the Magic Academy, Mr. Devisborg. The Dean had white hair, looked very old, and seemed to be in low spirits. Donald suspected he had been sleeping in his office before they opened the door.

Since it wasn't the normal summer enrollment period, applying for admission was a special case. The Dean went through the motions, asking his assistant to summon several School Affairs Committee members. From the tone of the conversation between the Dean and Victor, the rumors of their poor relationship were probably true.

Soon, the Dean's assistant brought in four committee members. When Donald saw Professor Judy walk into the Dean's office, he had a bad feeling.

"Professor Victor has proposed that this..." The Dean looked down at the form just filled out on his desk, "Donald Wien, apply for winter enrollment. Does anyone have any objections?"

"I have a problem!" Sure enough, Professor Judy had an objection. "Dean, this Donald Wien is a worker in the academy library. I've heard he has a bad character!"

"Bad character?" The Dean looked up at Judy.

"Yes, Dean. He was involved in a scandal of stealing books while in the library... Although Victor later cleared his name, it's also said he instigated a duel between students, leading to very bad consequences."

"Judy, haven't all these misunderstandings been cleared up already!" Victor said.

"I don't think scandals appear out of nowhere in this world... Dean, as far as I know, Donald Wien is just a commoner. How does he plan to pay the tuition?"

Dean Devis looked down at the application form again. "Oh? It says here he'll pay with Magic Crystals." When he mentioned Magic Crystals, the old man's eyes seemed to light up. The Empire provided a fixed annual Magic Crystal quota to the magic academy, which could be purchased at the official price of five hundred Gold Coins each. If there was demand beyond the quota, one had to secretly buy from the black market, where the price had long since soared to over a thousand Gold Coins. Now, having a student pay tuition with Magic Crystals was a welcome piece of good fortune.

"Magic Crystals? Dean, I'm very curious to know where this commoner obtained these Magic Crystals."

"He sold one of his inventions!" Victor answered for Donald.

"An invention? Haha, Victor, be realistic! What could this commoner have invented that someone would pay with Magic Crystals to buy? Besides the dwarves, have you ever heard of anyone paying with Magic Crystals in a transaction? Even the king wouldn't be so extravagant!"

Donald felt it was best not to mention his cooperation with the dwarves, so when Victor looked at him, he could only respond with a troubled expression.

"Victor, I just checked the latest issue of the Natural History Association journal. Your so-called paper isn't in it! Wake up! Everything about this Donald Wien is a fraud. Haven't you seen it yet? This commoner is a cunning swindler! I think the issue now isn't whether he should be admitted, but whether we should immediately take inventory of the academy's Magic Crystal reserves."

"This woman is such a nuisance." Donald shook his head helplessly. It seemed the dwarves paid with Magic Crystals to show sincerity, but why hadn't anyone told him that paying with Magic Crystals would cause misunderstandings? He knew the paper had been withdrawn, but he hadn't had a chance to explain it to Professor Victor yet.

Just as Donald was racking his brains, the centuries-silent communication Magic Array of Tris Magic Academy suddenly sounded its activation warning. The Dean, Professor Victor, and the four committee members all changed color. The other end of this Magic Array was inside the Fein Imperial Palace in the capital, Koennas City. It required the collaboration of thirty-six court Mages to activate, and each use consumed a considerable number of Magic Crystals. It was only used for the most critical matters—war, natural disasters, or palace coups.

Now, this legendary communication Magic Array had actually been triggered. All the teachers and students of the academy were gathering in the square where it was located. Everyone was guessing what earth-shattering event had occurred.