Chapter Summaries

Lan Qingyou’s convoy flew across the Sorrowful Swamp and descended near the Flamingo Knights Order, who were rushing to investigate the Meteorite. The knights formed up to protect Nikola as the carriages landed in front of them.

• Lan Qingyou and the others crossed the Sorrowful Swamp by flying in carriages, reaching the area near Jinjie Town by dusk.
• Lan Qingyou spotted the Flamingo Knights Order riding north and decided to descend and meet them.
• Horn led the Knights Order on a forced march with Nikola, who hoped the Meteor Shower would aid his research.
• The Knights Order saw carriages darken the sky and recognized the third son of Count Sera among the convoy.
• Horn ordered the knights to surround and protect Nikola as Lan Qingyou’s lead carriage landed before them.

Lan Qingyou and Alisa’s private criticism of the Flamingo Knights Order angered its members, and a confrontation began with Horn and Arthur. Alisa’s status and the women’s unexplained abilities stunned everyone, leaving Horn to reckon with Lan Qingyou’s effortless flight.

• Lan Qingyou and Alisa criticized the Flamingo Knights Order’s abilities, prompting its members to demand that they come out and explain themselves.
• Horn challenged Arthur to explain the insult and guessed that the women in the carriage were young ladies from the Duke’s family.
• Alisa stepped out and claimed that the Duke’s young ladies were not on her level, shocking the Knights Order members and intriguing Nikola with her magical effects.
• Lan Qingyou floated out of the carriage, and Horn recognized that her effortless movement came from practiced flight.

Nikola and Horn met Alisa and Lan Qingyou after the women helped the merchant caravan descend from the sky. Lan Qingyou revealed that the Meteor Shower was her spell, Starfall, leaving Nikola and Horn stunned by its seemingly impossible power.

• Nikola recognized Lan Qingyou's control of Magic Power and asked Arthur who she and Alisa were.
• Arthur introduced Alisa and Lan Qingyou as alchemists and archmages, then introduced Horn and Nikola Flamel.
• Lan Qingyou and Alisa claimed they had heard of the Imperial Twins from the village chief of Fern Grass Village.
• Arthur told Nikola and Horn that Lan Qingyou had caused the previous night's Meteor Shower with magic.
• Lan Qingyou clarified that the Meteor Shower itself was her spell, Starfall, and Horn shouted that such a feat was impossible for a human.

Lan Qingyou revealed that she was a Title Holder after Nikola appraised her, and Alisa confirmed Nikola’s suspicion that she was one too. Nikola’s discovery left Horn and Arthur stunned, while the group began to understand that the women’s powers came from their special status and talents.

• Alisa suggested that Nikola use an appraisal tool to examine Lan Qingyou, and Nikola appraised her with a magnifying-glass-like object.
• Nikola discovered that Lan Qingyou was a Title Holder, and Lan Qingyou asked whether he believed her now.
• Lan Qingyou explained her and Alisa’s theory that talents and Titles drew on power from the World Will rather than Magic Power.
• Arthur reacted with surprise to Lan Qingyou’s identity, prompting Horn to complain that Arthur had stolen his line.
• Nikola suspected that Alisa was also a Title Holder, and Alisa’s question about his reasoning confirmed it.
• Horn began to react to the news about Alisa, but Arthur spoke first again, leaving Horn to give up and listen.

After learning that evolved Britt Mouse had emerged from the Sorrowful Swamp, Horn redirected the Knights Order to prepare to deal with them while Nikola abandoned his investigation of the Meteor Shower. In Jinjie Town, Lan Qingyou and Alisa debated Magic Power conversion with Nikola, whose interest in the two alchemists grew as their discussion surpassed his knowledge.

• Arthur showed Horn a preserved Britt Mouse and explained that tens of thousands had emerged from the Sorrowful Swamp after Lan Qingyou struck it with Meteor Fire Rain.
• Lan Qingyou said the Britt Mouse could launch psychic attacks that could incapacitate or kill people.
• Horn ordered most of the Knights Order to head north and camp outside the Sorrowful Swamp while he returned to the Imperial Capital for approval and reinforcements.
• Nikola decided there was no reason to continue investigating the Meteor Shower after learning that a person had changed its course.
• Lan Qingyou and Alisa debated converting attribute-less Magic Power at a tavern in Jinjie Town, and Nikola struggled to follow their expertise and unfamiliar ideas.

Nikola learned that Alisa and Lan Qingyou had taught themselves alchemy and recognized their expertise in different schools. He set a relaxed schedule for the journey to the Imperial Capital, forgetting that someone could fly.

• Nikola asked Alisa and Lan Qingyou how they had learned alchemy, and they said they had mostly studied on their own and through discussion.
• Nikola reflected on their practical achievements and found their self-taught expertise surprising and inspiring.
• Lan Qingyou identified Alisa as belonging to the Magic School and herself as belonging to the Materialist School.
• Nikola apologized for assuming Alisa belonged to the Materialist School, and Lan Qingyou kept Alisa's unusual body transformation to herself.
• Nikola announced they would rest and reach the Imperial Capital the day after tomorrow, forgetting that someone could fly.

Lan Qingyou brought the convoy to the Imperial Capital by flying, drawing the attention of cautious citizens and guards already unsettled by a recent meteor shower. Horn and Nikola cleared the convoy through the gates, while the identity of the person inside its carriage remained undisclosed.

• Lan Qingyou and the group reached the Imperial Capital before lunchtime after traveling by air.
• Citizens and guards remained wary because Nikola had been sent to investigate the meteor shower seen two evenings earlier.
• The convoy descended beside the city gate, startling the people waiting to enter and leave.
• The guards rushed to the convoy and found Arthur, whom their captain recognized.
• Nicolas Flamel and Horn stepped out of the carriage, and Horn ordered the captain to let the convoy through without asking questions.
• The captain opened a special lane, leaving onlookers to wonder who was important enough to be accompanied by Horn and Nikola.

Count Sera’s guests and the Minister Faction speculated about the unexpected arrivals, while the Old Emperor learned that two unaffiliated alchemists were Title Holders. Their titles remained unknown, and Nikola warned the emperor that another important matter remained.

• At Count Sera’s gathering, the lower-ranking nobles connected the arrivals to the Meteor Shower Incident and the John Family, while Sera said Adams would handle the matter.
• The Minister Faction decided to secretly investigate the city-gate incident and the Flamingo Knights Order’s headquarters.
• Nikola told the Old Emperor that two unaffiliated alchemists were Title Holders, but their titles had been blocked from view.
• The Old Emperor arranged for the women to rest at the Royal Hotel and planned to meet them the next day.
• Nikola stopped the emperor from ending the discussion by raising another important matter.

The Old Emperor learned from Nikola and Horn that the recent Meteor Shower had been magic cast by two exceptionally powerful Title Holders. After discovering their connection to Duke Taylor’s faction, he summoned Taylor, who had arrived ready to relinquish any attempt to control them.

• Nikola told the Old Emperor that the Meteor Shower had been magic cast by two people with power possibly surpassing Mentor Mela.
• Horn vouched for Nikola’s account, convincing the Old Emperor that the Meteor Shower was no natural phenomenon.
• Nikola said the Title Holders had first contacted the John Family and then traveled to the Imperial Capital with the Sera Family’s third son.
• The Old Emperor recognized that the Title Holders were connected to Duke Taylor’s faction and ordered an attendant to fetch him.
• Duke Taylor arrived at the palace after learning the two alchemists were Title Holders, and decided he should hand them over rather than try to control them.

Duke Taylor told the Old Emperor that one of the two alchemists was Aurelius, prompting the emperor to leave the matter to the Aurelius Family. Alone afterward, the Old Emperor focused on the mutated Britt Mice in the Sorrowful Swamp and considered what mutation might mean for humanity.

• Duke Taylor recounted Adams's information about the two alchemists, and Nikola clarified that the white-robed one was Aurelius.
• The Old Emperor recalled the Aurelius Family's equal status with the imperial family and their history of alchemical research.
• The Old Emperor ordered someone to notify the Aurelius Family and left them to handle the matter themselves.
• After everyone else left, the Old Emperor reflected that the mutated Britt Mice might offer an answer to whether humans could mutate, though he feared the changes could be grotesque.

The Old Emperor decided to pursue humanity’s potential for further evolution and summoned the Bird of Paradise Knights Order. At the Flamingo Knights Order camp, Lan Qingyou learned new magic-array techniques, while Horn and Nikola brought word that she and Alisa were expected to attend an audience at the palace.

• The Old Emperor reflected on the possibility of humanity reaching a higher level and ordered the Bird of Paradise Knights Order to be summoned.
• Lan Qingyou studied the Library’s books and realized she could use tidal Magic Power to make her Star Guardians’ magic arrays self-sustaining.
• Lan Qingyou modified a Pink Infantry’s magic array using the new technique.
• Horn and Nikola arrived with more than a hundred maids, attendants, and soldiers assigned to serve Lan Qingyou and Alisa.
• Horn told Lan Qingyou that she and Alisa could rest that day and had to attend an audience with His Majesty the next day to arrange their work and living conditions.
• Lan Qingyou decided Alisa should attend the audience because she was better suited to handling it.

Lan Qingyou agreed to help prepare for a meeting with the emperor, while Alisa arranged to have a separate villa for her research. As they prepared to leave, Nikola and Horn became interested in Lan Qingyou’s Magic Puppet, and she demonstrated its abilities.

• Alisa agreed to help with meeting the emperor after Lan Qingyou reminded her of their main mission.
• Horn told Lan Qingyou and Alisa that the emperor had prepared them a villa and servants, and offered Alisa a separate villa when she asked.
• Lan Qingyou prepared to put away the tent, but Nikola stopped her after noticing the Pink Infantry.
• Lan Qingyou showed the Magic Puppet moving and explained that she had rewritten parts of it using books Nikola had sent her.
• Horn asked Lan Qingyou to have the Pink Infantry attack some training targets, and it ignited blue flames and flew away.

Lan Qingyou demonstrated her upgraded Pink Infantry and discussed her Magic Puppets with Alisa, Horn, and Nikola. The conversation turned to Lan Qingyou and Alisa’s past contest, and Lan Qingyou challenged Alisa to admit who had won.

• Lan Qingyou showed that her Pink Infantry used thrusters and Power Armor, prompting Horn to ask about its speed and weapon.
• Horn realized different armor could let Magic Puppets serve as varied battlefield troops, and Alisa revealed that Lan Qingyou also had cavalry and Mages.
• Lan Qingyou figured out that observers had seen her Magic Puppets in Dungeons and sold the information to brokers.
• Lan Qingyou described her fight with Alisa as a contest between Mechanomagicology and Biomagicology, catching Nikola’s interest.
• Lan Qingyou claimed her Star Guardian had won their fight, and Alisa protested that she had conceded because continuing seemed pointless.

Alisa and Lan Qingyou nearly fought after arguing over an old grudge, but Nikola stopped them and they agreed to duel in three days. As they prepared to move everyone to the villa, Horn learned the Power Armor was too heavy for his Knights, and a commotion arose at the camp entrance.

• Alisa challenged Lan Qingyou to settle their old dispute, and their opposing Magic Power nearly suffocated everyone nearby.
• Nikola placed Horn between them to stop the clash and suggested they spar at the protected Colosseum.
• Alisa proposed a fight in three days so she could prepare, and Lan Qingyou accepted.
• Horn asked whether the Power Armor could be worn by his people, but Lan Qingyou said each set weighed about five hundred pounds.
• Horn led everyone away toward the villa, and a commotion came from the camp entrance.

Alisa presented the Aurelius Family with an ancient Head of House Ring, convincing them that her claim to the family was genuine. She left with them, while Lan Qingyou settled into her villa and Nikola headed back toward his workshop before encountering Albert.

• Horn rushed to the camp entrance and found Aurelius Family alchemists waiting for Alisa.
• Alisa showed the Aurelius group an ancient Head of House Ring, which the old man Phillips recognized as genuine.
• Phillips treated Alisa with respect, and she left with the Aurelius Family after waving goodbye to Lan Qingyou.
• Horn explained Alisa's family verification to Lan Qingyou, who then took the staff and guards to her assigned villa.
• Nikola left the camp to return to his workshop and encountered Albert near his estate.

Nikola told Albert about the two titled alchemists he had met in the carriage and used the information to force Albert to go to the Imperial Palace the next day. Albert learned that the Black Robe girl had created the recent Meteor Shower with her Magic, leaving the significance of the two newcomers’ arrival uncertain.

• Albert visited Nikola’s estate and asked about what had happened in the carriage.
• Nikola threatened to keep Albert awake with half-told news unless he agreed to go to the Imperial Palace the next day, so Albert gave in.
• Nikola described the two young alchemists as rivals from the Materialist and Magic Schools, with opposing personalities, abilities, and black-and-white clothes.
• Albert learned that both girls held titles and that the Black Robe girl’s Magic had caused the Meteor Shower.
• Albert remarked that the Meteor Shower spell was extraordinary, but he was more concerned about the Empire’s prospects with two new Title Holders.

Nikola told Albert that Lan Qingyou and Alisa would hold an alchemist duel in three days, then revealed that Lan Qingyou’s Magic Puppet could match a fifth-level soldier. Albert and Nikola brawled in the garden as they set out to spread the news, while Lan Qingyou followed the Old Emperor’s group to the villa.

• Nikola announced that Lan Qingyou and Alisa would have an alchemist duel at the Imperial Capital Arena in three days.
• Albert confronted Nikola for telling him about the duel after securing his agreement to attend.
• Albert decided to inform his colleagues in the Academy’s Alchemy Department, and Nikola planned to visit former workshop colleagues.
• Nikola told Albert that Lan Qingyou’s Magic Puppet could rival a fifth-level soldier, prompting Albert to grab him by the collar again.
• Albert and Nikola brawled in the estate garden as onlookers turned away, while Lan Qingyou followed the Old Emperor’s group to the villa.

Lan Qingyou settled into a former alchemist’s villa and immersed herself in its books while the Old Emperor used her and another alchemist’s identities to draw out political factions. At the Imperial Palace, lesser nobles grew excited after hearing that one of the alchemists belonged to the Aurelius Family, and one hurried off to improve his chances of impressing her.

• Lan Qingyou arrived at the river villa, where she learned that its former alchemist owner had disappeared two and a half years earlier and that the Old Emperor had given her the house.
• Lan Qingyou explored the alchemist’s books and notes while the Head Maid and the arriving staff began cleaning and preparing the villa.
• The Old Emperor deliberately used the two women’s identities to reveal which nobles supported each prince and which were waiting in the shadows.
• Lan Qingyou studied through the night as Alisa prepared to enter the Imperial Palace, where officials had arranged a grand reception.
• A noble told another summoned noble that one alchemist belonged to the Aurelius Family, prompting him to leave the palace to improve his appearance and prospects.

Alisa returned exhausted from meeting the Old Emperor and the Aurelius Family, where she learned she was a princess of the former royal family. She gave the Emerald Tablet back to Lan Qingyou, who felt as if the World Item had been part of her body all along.

• Alisa told Lan Qingyou that the Aurelius Family could help with her biological magic research, but the family had made no plans for them after learning Alisa was its princess.
• Alisa explained that the Aurelius Family had once been Karim's royal family and that she had discovered her status at its Imperial Capital Alchemy Workshop.
• Alisa said she had not shown the Aurelius Family the Emerald Tablet and tossed it to Lan Qingyou, asking her to share any discoveries.
• Lan Qingyou noticed the tablet's coordinates had reset to the Thirteen Commandments and felt an intense familiarity with the object.

Lan Qingyou studied the Emerald Tablet and lost track of time while she and Alisa prepared for their duel. On the third day, the Head Maid informed Lan Qingyou that the fight had been scheduled as a public event at the Colosseum, leaving her confused about the audience and time limit.

• Lan Qingyou asked Alisa how she had studied the Emerald Tablet, and Alisa gave her a notebook filled with numerical cryptanalysis.
• Alisa returned to the Royal Alchemy Workshop while Lan Qingyou stayed at the villa to study and research.
• News spread that Lan Qingyou and Alisa were Title Holders, and the Old Emperor began selling tickets to their duel.
• Lan Qingyou spent the next three days absorbed in her work and forgot that the duel was approaching.
• The Head Maid told Lan Qingyou that her duel with Alisa would start at ten at the Colosseum and should last no more than an hour.