Everyone Has Their Own Ambitions

"Look, these two Magic Arrays should be farther apart. That way, their effects will cover this point without interfering with each other."

"Pay close attention here. Every gear notch has to line up. One mistake, and the piano will jam as soon as it starts playing. It won't be able to complete a cycle."

"Right, have you decided on a piece? Different pieces use different keys, so the Magic Arrays need different settings too. We have to decide that in advance."

"No, no, you can't do that here. You'll ruin the whole model..."

Camilla's Magic Tower was quiet after work, but Xu Yi's voice kept sounding from the research room.

As promised, he was staying after work to guide Stille through making her own Piano Model.

Stille's talent for magic was every bit as remarkable as the rumors claimed. Xu Yi only had to explain the principles behind the two Wind Magic Arrays used in the model, and she reproduced them with ease.

But when it came to designing and building the model itself, Stille had to follow Xu Yi's instructions.

Fortunately, she was young, eager to learn, and quick-witted. Xu Yi barely had to exert himself before she grasped the points he taught her.

After less than a week of spare time after work, Stille's Piano Model had taken shape. Only a few details remained to be adjusted before it was finished.

At their current pace, that would take no more than three days. They would have it ready well before her friend's birthday.

Click!

Stille pressed gently, and the model gave a crisp snap as the piano lid and base fitted perfectly together.

"Phew." Stille let out a breath and raised a hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead. "Done!"

"Mm." Stille turned to Xu Yi with a smile. "Thank you for teaching me so patiently. Let me buy you dinner later."

Xu Yi glanced at the sky outside the window and shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't today. I'm meeting someone tonight. I have something to take care of."

"Oh?" Disappointment crossed Stille's face. After a moment's thought, she asked, "Xu Yi, there's something I've been meaning to ask. Why did you turn down my grandfather's invitation? You know how many young mages would do anything to become his apprentice. He's praised you to me several times in private, too. He said your Magic Arrays show great talent, and that if you devoted yourself to studying magic, you could very well become a Great Mage someday."

Xu Yi smiled faintly. "I'm grateful for the Great Mage's praise. But please tell him that it isn't that I don't want to be his apprentice. I simply have too many other things to do, and I'm afraid I wouldn't have enough time to study under him. I can only decline his kind offer."

"Why?" Stille knitted her delicate brows in confusion. "Even my grandfather praised your talent for magic, and after watching you these past few days, I can see it myself. You might even be more talented than I am. Why won't you study magic seriously? Is it because of that Magic Fan? I've heard you've been researching it all this time."

Xu Yi thought for a moment, then answered with a question. "Stille, what do you think of the Magic Fan?"

"Me?" Stille pointed to herself. She considered it carefully before answering. "I think it's fascinating. It's rare to see magic used in everyday life, and the design is so clever. Honestly, I admire it. But Xu Yi, you know that on the Sains Continent, a mage's standing depends on their own magical strength. Even if you design a hundred Magic Fans, you won't have much standing unless you're strong yourself. You're so talented. I really think you should focus on studying magic. If you become a Great Mage, I guarantee everyone will applaud when you design a Magic Fan."

"You make it sound like everyone thinks the Magic Fan is awful..." Xu Yi couldn't help muttering. Seeing the sincerity on Stille's face, he cleared his throat and said seriously, "Stille, I understand what you mean, but everyone has different goals. Most mages may think their own magical strength matters most, but I don't. I've always thought magic was ultimately just a tool. Mages can use it to destroy things, so why can't they use it to build things? There's every reason to bring more magic into everyday life. If magic can improve people's lives, isn't that a good thing?"

"Well..." Stille hesitated. "You have a point, but... a mage who isn't strong will be at a serious disadvantage..."

"Who says I can't grow stronger while researching magic machines?" Xu Yi gave her an odd smile and raised his right hand. Magic flowed through him, and a small, milky-white whirlwind appeared in his palm, visible to the naked eye.

"The Micro Tornado Spell!" Stille cried out in surprise. "That's a third-tier wind spell! You have to be at least a Third-Level Mage to master it. Xu Yi, I remember you saying at your interview that you hadn't passed the Mages' Guild certification exam!"

"Not having passed doesn't mean I couldn't," Xu Yi said with a smile. "Though my magic really wasn't as strong during the interview. I was probably somewhere between a First-Level and Second-Level Mage back then."

"You mean... you became a Third-Level Mage in just two months?" Stille was even more astonished. "That's ridiculous! Is your talent really that great? I hardly ever see you spend time studying magic!"

Xu Yi smiled. "Dedicated Magic Research isn't the only way to improve. Researching magic machines means studying Magic Arrays closely, and that's an indirect way of studying magic. It's no surprise my abilities improved. Stille, while you've been concentrating on this Piano Model, haven't you noticed your magic improving too?"

Stille tilted her head and thought, then nodded. "Mm. I do feel like I understand wind magic better than before. But... my improvement is nothing like yours."

"Because I'm a genius." Xu Yi shrugged, making the shameless claim without a hint of embarrassment.

Stille rolled her eyes at him, but couldn't help saying, "If you're a genius, why not focus on studying magic? With your talent, you have a real chance of becoming a Great Mage."

"Like I said, everyone has their own ambitions," Xu Yi replied lightly. He looked up, cutting off her next attempt to persuade him, then glanced at the sky outside again. "All right, Stille, let's stop here for today. I'll take a rain check on that dinner. Don't forget you owe me one."

"Hmph. Stingy." Stille pouted.

Xu Yi laughed, gathered his things, and left.

No sooner had he stepped out of the tower than he saw someone hurrying toward him from a distance.

He knew the figure well. It was Heinz.

Seeing Heinz in such a rush, Xu Yi couldn't help smiling.

Ever since Xu Yi had transferred a twenty-percent stake to Heinz a few days earlier, the man had been running at full throttle. Not only had he taken charge of supervising the production workshop, he had also taken over every stage of the Magic Fan business, from production and transport to sales. He looked every bit the sharp, capable manager.

As for his little general store, he had handed it over entirely to his nephew Alex.

Heinz might not have been especially knowledgeable or inventive, but he was meticulous, hardworking, and organized. The job suited him perfectly.

Of course, the dividends from that twenty-percent stake were his greatest motivation.

"Hey, Heinz! What brings you here today? Is something urg—" Xu Yi raised a hand in greeting, then stopped short.

Heinz had come close enough for Xu Yi to see his face. His expression was grim, as dark as a storm cloud.

Xu Yi's heart sank.

They had hired thirty students from Baron Rector Magic Academy to draw Magic Arrays, so production of the first version of the Magic Fan had continued without interruption. Sales remained as brisk as ever: they had sold nearly a thousand fans in just one week.

That had brought Xu Yi more than seven hundred gold coins in net income, while Heinz's stake had earned him two hundred. Heinz had been in high spirits lately. Whenever Xu Yi saw him, he was grinning from ear to ear.

This was the first time Xu Yi had seen him look so troubled.

Had something happened?

Xu Yi hurried over.

Before Xu Yi could ask, Heinz said in a low voice, "Xu Yi, it's bad. Something's happened!"

Seeing how anxious Heinz was, Xu Yi patted him on the shoulder, urging him to calm down.

"Don't rush. What happened? Take your time."

Heinz drew several deep breaths. It took him a while to steady himself. Then he glanced around, leaned close to Xu Yi, and said in a low, heavy voice, "Someone's making copies of the Magic Fan!"