Magic Crystals

In the Imperial Capital of the Feymont Empire, Koennas Ancient City had been conquered six times over its history of more than ten thousand years. Each time, the conquerors had built the walls higher, so their color grew lighter from bottom to top. Seven layers could just barely be made out; the palest one at the top had been added six hundred years ago, after Louis Fein the Great captured the city.

The beautiful Bol River, like a blue ribbon, flowed through the center of the ancient city, dividing it into two very different districts. In fact, the two banks of the river had once been separate cities: Koen City on the east bank and Nas City on the west. These days, people no longer distinguished between them that way, instead calling them the Upper City and the Lower City.

On the east bank, the Upper City was where the nobles lived, and the magnificent Fein Imperial Palace stood there.

Auston Fain was not a diligent king. Even the empire's prime minister, Duke Adrean, only got to see him a handful of times each month. But today, the duke's audience was taking unusually long. His Majesty had even, quite exceptionally, dismissed everyone else, leaving the Imperial Guard Knights standing outside the door somewhat concerned.

"What is this about, exactly? I've avoided it several times already. I can't put it off any longer. Have you found out what's going on?"

Auston Fain was around forty, and his red hair was impeccably groomed.

"Your Majesty, all we know is that a month ago, that woman went south with her military officer. When she returned, she said she wanted an audience with you. We truly have no idea what she's up to this time."

"It can't be about the crystals, can it? Divine Grace is due in a few months. We can't afford any mishaps this time."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. If it comes to it, we can reduce the quotas for the Magic Academies."

"If we keep cutting them, the empire will only grow weaker. We might not even have to wait for Divine Punishment before that rabid dog in the west comes biting."

"Your Majesty is far-sighted!"

"Ah... Then arrange it for tomorrow. Whether it's good or bad, I can't avoid it. You people... When will you finally help me shoulder my worries?"

Tris Magic Academy, Professor Victor's Laboratory.

Donald had returned to the academy from Whispering Forest on the last day before the winter term began. When he passed through Dorn City, Mr. Merkel's father, Mr. Cliff Bark, had hosted a banquet for Donald and Richard. During the meal, Donald finally learned that Natia Vida had granted the Bark Family the exclusive rights to sell Dwarf weapons throughout the Three Southern Provinces. It was a tremendous windfall for the Bark Family, no wonder old Mr. Cliff had hosted the banquet in person. Merkel quietly told Donald that his father had decided to keep their previous arrangement: Donald would still receive thirty percent of the profits from the exclusive sale of Dwarf weapons. Besides that, Merkel had also handed over the Dwarves' payment for the Simple Forging Bed: a hundred Magic Crystals.

Now, those hundred blue-diamond-like crystals were in Donald's inner pocket.

"Mr. Victor, can anyone study at a Magic Academy, as long as they can afford the tuition?"

"Of course. Didn't I tell you? It's two thousand Gold Coins a year. Anyone can come."

"Even the poor?"

"Are you crazy? Where would the poor get that much money?"

"Forget that for now. I mean, in principle, can the poor study here if they can afford the tuition?"

"Of course!" Victor answered casually.

"Would this be enough?"

Victor stared in shock. A deep blue light shimmered in Donald's open palm. It was a large handful of Magic Crystals. He couldn't tell how many there were.

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

"I sold an invention."

"Forty-six! That's more than my quota for a whole year!"

"...There are a few more," Donald said quietly.

As he carefully placed the crystals back in Donald's hand, Victor sighed. "You little brat, you're infuriating. What ridiculous thing have you invented now, and which fool paid you this much?"

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

"Come to my office tomorrow!"

At that, Donald downed the fruit tea in his cup and went downstairs.

"It may be a little late, but that kid can definitely do it!" Only after Donald had left did Victor's face break into a satisfied smile.

Early the next morning, Donald asked Mr. Virgil for leave, then went to find Victor. Victor 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 and looked very old. He also seemed to be in poor spirits. Donald suspected he'd been asleep in his office before they knocked.

Since it wasn't the regular summer admissions period, applying to enroll was an unusual matter. The dean went through the usual motions and sent an assistant to summon several members of the School Affairs Committee. Judging by the way the dean and Victor spoke to each other, the rumors that they didn't get along were probably true.

It wasn't long before the dean's assistant brought four committee members. When Professor Judy entered the dean's office, Donald had a bad feeling.

"Professor Victor has proposed that this..." The dean glanced down at the form that had just been filled out. "Donald Wien apply for winter admission. Does anyone see a problem with that?"

"I do!" As expected, Professor Judy had a problem. "Dean, this Donald Wien works in the academy Library. I've heard he has poor character!"

"Poor character?" The dean looked up at Judy.

"Yes, sir. There was a scandal during his time at the Library involving him stealing books... Although Victor later cleared his name, I've also heard that he incited students to duel, with very bad consequences."

"Judy, haven't all those misunderstandings already been cleared up?" Victor said.

"I doubt scandals like that come from nowhere... Dean, as far as I know, Donald Wien is a commoner. How does he plan to pay the tuition?"

Dean Devis looked down at the application again. "Oh? It says here that he'll pay in Magic Crystals." At the mention of Magic Crystals, the old man's eyes seemed to light up. Every year, the empire provided the Magic Academies with a fixed Magic Crystal Quota, and crystals within that quota could be purchased at the official price of five hundred Gold Coins each. If they needed more than their quota, they had to buy them secretly on the black market, where prices had long since soared past a thousand Gold Coins apiece. Now a student was offering to pay his tuition in Magic Crystals. Of course that was welcome news.

"Magic Crystals? Dean, I'd very much like to know where this commoner got them."

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

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

Donald felt it would be better not to mention his dealings with the Dwarves. So when Victor looked at him, all he could do was answer with an awkward look.

"Victor, I just checked the latest publication from the Natural History Association. Your so-called paper isn't there at all! Wake up! Everything about this Donald Wien is a scam. Can't you see it? This commoner is a cunning fraud! I don't think we should be discussing whether he gets into the academy. We should be taking inventory of the academy's Magic Crystal reserves right away."

"This woman is such a pain," Donald thought, shaking his head helplessly. The Dwarves had paid in Magic Crystals to show their sincerity, but why had no one told him that paying in crystals would cause a misunderstanding? He knew his paper had been withdrawn, but he hadn't had a chance to explain it to Professor Victor yet.

Just as Donald was getting a headache, the long-silent communication Magic Array at Tris Magic Academy began to sound its activation warning. The dean, Professor Victor, and all four committee members turned pale. The other end of the array was inside the imperial palace in Koennas City, the Imperial Capital. It took thirty-six court mages working together to activate it, and each use consumed a great many Magic Crystals. It was reserved for the most urgent matters, such as war, natural disasters, or a palace coup.

Now, the legendary communication Magic Array had actually been activated. Teachers and students from across the academy were gathering in the square where it stood, all wondering what earth-shaking event had taken place.