Experiment Notes

These droplets had not been in the test tube before. Claire's appraisal spell had clearly told her that, yet after coming into contact with the flame, water had formed inside the test tube.

What did this mean?

"This gas produces water when it burns?"

Charlotte voiced the obvious conclusion that Claire did not dare confirm.

"I think we should produce more of the gases to verify their properties."

Rainer neither affirmed nor denied it. Instead, he continued tinkering with the experimental apparatus and collected sufficient quantities of the two gases once more.

"The combustion-supporting gas can be collected by water displacement, though it dissolves slightly in water over time. It is colorless, odorless, and has no obvious toxicity to the human body. It can promote combustion or burn itself. It comes from the electrolysis of water. The average relative elemental mass of the element composing this gas, as determined by three methods, is 16. It may be inferred that this gas consists of atoms from two elements. I name this element 'Oxyless.'"

After conducting a series of experiments, Rainer wrote this description in his notes.

In academic circles, relative elemental mass was defined as the ratio between the mass of the target element and one-twelfth the mass of the element "Carbon." The common form of Carbon was a black, combustible solid—the main component of coal.

The spells used to determine relative elemental mass could measure molecular mass. Rainer measured the relative molecular masses of the two gases, then compared their composition ratios against the relative molecular mass of water. With some simple calculations, he could obtain the relative elemental masses of the elements themselves.

Since these spells could not measure the relative elemental mass of individual elements within compounds, it was difficult to discover new substances. Apparently, some mages were searching for entirely new methods of measurement, but they had yet to make any progress.

As for the naming convention, it followed the habits of alchemists and had been found in an ancient magic tome.

After writing this down, Rainer took the other gas and conducted the same experiment.

"This gas can be collected by water displacement. Experiments show that it is almost insoluble in water. It is colorless, odorless, and has no obvious toxicity to the human body. It is extremely flammable and produces water after burning. It comes from the electrolysis of water. The average relative elemental mass of the element composing this gas, as determined by three methods, is 1. It may be inferred that this gas consists of atoms from two elements. I name it 'Hydra.'"

Hydra was a monster ancient mages had once discovered on a demiplane. More than ninety percent of that demiplane was covered by seawater, and the monster had ruled the sea. It was likewise recorded in the magic tomes.

"This element is so light."

Charlotte marveled. A relative elemental mass of 1 meant that a Hydra atom had one-twelfth the mass of a Carbon atom. Such a light element bearing the name of a gigantic monster was indeed quite a contrast.

Rainer smiled without explaining the immense power this seemingly lightest of elements might one day unleash. He conducted several more experiments, mixing common combustibles with Oxyless and burning them.

As expected, the product of burning Carbon together with Oxyless was the wondrous fire-suppressing gas found in Cola. Its elemental composition ratio was one to two. Following the naming convention, Rainer named this gas "Carbon's Double Oxyless Compound." Since the common name for the Carbon element was carbon, and this gas's aqueous solution was somewhat acidic, it was also called carbonic acid gas.

When Oxyless and Hydra were placed in a sealed container at a one-to-two ratio and ignited with a spark, the mass of water produced was exactly equal to the mass of the two gases placed inside. The experiment proved that the mass of matter was conserved before and after an alchemical reaction.

With that, the experiments concerning the properties of gases came to an end. Rainer wrote one final entry in his notes.

"Based on the experimental process, it can be determined that water is not an elemental substance, but a compound formed from Oxyless and Hydra at a one-to-two ratio. When electrified, it can decompose into the elemental gases of these two elements."

This sentence seemed simple, but it overturned an entire system.

The modern system of alchemy.

The electrolysis of water revealed that the so-called "basic elements" were not basic at all, and that matter was not composed of combinations of those four elements.

Oxyless could promote combustion, but it did not possess negative mass. It was not the Fire Element, yet most combustion reactions required its involvement. The core factor of combustion that people had searched for in vain all this time was Oxyless.

The conclusion of mass conservation overturned many reaction formulas that had already become deeply ingrained in people's minds. They would need to find the other substances that had been omitted from collection during experiments in order to satisfy this law. Every alchemy textbook would have to be rewritten!

Claire looked at Rainer's notes. The beautiful cursive made the teacher appear even more despondent, like a lost child unable to find her way home.

"Has everything from these past several hundred years been wrong?"

Claire murmured, her eyes unfocused.

At that moment, a hand gently rested on her head.

"Not all of it has been wrong. Combustion Theory and the theory of basic elements have had a tremendous influence, but many conclusions built upon them will not change because of new discoveries. Does that mean charcoal can no longer burn from now on? Of course not."

Rainer gently stroked Claire's smooth golden hair. The friction between his fingertips and the tips of her hair gave him a strange sensation.

"In fact, from this day onward, not only alchemy but the entire magical world will benefit from this. We overturn past theories not to make the entire Magic Tower collapse, but to take another step toward Truth. It is even possible that, in the future, these conclusions will be overturned by formulas that describe the world with greater precision. We have merely taken a small step in the process of approaching Truth."

That simple step had taken three hundred years.

Claire slowly raised her head. The headmaster she had once found unbearable seemed to have become much gentler. His words echoed in her ears. They were not a proud declaration, but a humble whisper.

There was no arrogance, no complacency. All Rainer displayed was a desire to seek.

Herman Braggs, the legendary mage who had risen to prominence during the ancient magic wars and built the modern magical system with his own hands, had once said that a mage was merely one who sought Truth. At this moment, Rainer's words and actions were the truest embodiment of those words.

Meeting his gaze, Claire felt her cheeks grow hot. She hurriedly turned her head away and covered her burning cheeks with her hands.

Her heart was beating quickly. Even during her fifth magic examination after four failures, Claire had never felt this way. It was different from nervousness; it was a purer emotion.

"Then, Professor Claire."

Rainer looked at Claire and spoke softly.

"Could you help me organize today's experimental notes so that I can write the paper?"

"Huh?"

The sudden turn in the conversation was strange, and Claire did not react at first. But when she realized her earlier loss of composure and Rainer's utterly indifferent attitude, indignation immediately rose in the teacher's heart.

This guy was awful!