Master Aldric POV

How was this even possible?

These enchantments—no, these things weren't enchantments at all. Not in any way he understood the term. His [Mana Sight] was going nuts, and each time he believed he had a handle on something, a new layer of complexity appeared.

"Need anything?" Theodore asked from behind him.

Aldric barely heard him. He was too preoccupied with having his whole perspective upended. "Just... time," he managed.

Theodore chuckled. "Take all you need. I'll be in the workshop if you have questions."

All Aldric could think of was questions. For example, how could this young lord have caused mana to flow in ways that should have collapsed the entire enchantment at once? Why did the enchantment converting mana from one type to another not burn out? Where was the power bleed that ought to occur at each intersection?

He activated [Advanced Analysis]. It should demonstrate to him the precise workings of any enchantment. His skill caps had been removed because he was a Rank 6. After Rank 5, there were no further skill evolutions. Not in the traditional sense, that is. He was able to level up the skill well above the standard 25-level cap as well.

And now, unexpectedly, he leveled up just by observing the enchantments. In fact, multiple skills of his leveled up.

What. The. Hell.

It had been months since that skill had leveled up. Okay, systematic approach. Start from the input node and follow the flow. Standard procedure.

Except the input node wasn't where it should be. It was... everywhere? No, that wasn't right. The entire surface acted as a collection "matrix" of sorts, drawing mana from the "battery" and converting it at a rate that should cause immediate oversaturation. But instead of oversaturating, the mana just... settled like water finding its level.

"Impossible."

Yet it was right in front of him.

He sighed.

I should check out the bathhouse. Theodore had mentioned heating applications. Same principles, different results. Aldric practically ran across the grounds, ignoring the startled looks from servants. From the outside, the bathhouse appeared to be a modest building.

"Master Aldric?" A woman behind a desk looked surprised. "Lord Theodore said you might stop by. Would you like—"

"The heating enchantments. Where are they?"

"Um, throughout the building? The main ones are in the mechanical room, but—"

He was on the move already. It was simple to locate the mechanical room. He simply paid attention to the mana concentration. And then he discovered it...

"Beautiful," he whispered and laughed. If these principles could be applied to temperature control...

Combat magic. Industrial applications. Transportation. Agriculture. Medical procedures. Everything the Guild taught, everything they'd codified over centuries, it was like they'd been trying to paint with their fingers while Theodore had discovered brushes.

Everything he'd built his identity on was a lie. Not a malicious lie, just... incomplete understanding masquerading as absolute truth. The Guild would fight this. Too much invested in the current system. Too many reputations at stake.

"Sir? Are you alright?" The desk woman had followed him, looking concerned.

"I need… Is the bath available?"

"Of course. Let me show you to a private room."

The bath was perfect. Hot water that stayed hot, silence that let him think. Or not think. Sinking into the water, Aldric allowed his thoughts to wander.

Despite his young age, Theodore had built a bathhouse and transformed enchantments. In a remote border town that most people would overlook, not in some opulent academy with boundless resources. Aldric couldn't help but grin.

***

Theodore POV

Once more, Theodore stood before the boulder. How many times had he been here now? Probably too many to count. This time, however, he activated [Severing Aura] and felt that familiar tingle spread through his body. The skill always felt weird, like his entire being was suddenly sharp enough to cut through reality itself. Which, honestly, might not be that far from the truth considering what he was trying to do.

A ball of fire exploded against the surface of the boulder and—wait. This time, something was different. There was a tiny crack. A piece of black stone dropped on the floor.

Theodore blinked at it. Holy shit. He'd actually damaged the thing.

He felt the thrill. He had finally made headway after weeks of hitting this dumb rock and getting no results at all. It was only a small chip, but it was evidence that he wasn't squandering his time out here.

He saw the surface of the rock start to glow a little, and then the chip quickly returned to its smooth black surface. Of course it healed; he hadn't severed it in a "single strike."

Still, though. It was progress. If he could chip it, that meant his [Severing Aura] was finally strong enough to affect whatever this thing was made of. All he had to do was hit harder. Theodore took a step back and folded his arms, gazing at the boulder. All those failed attempts were starting to add up to some serious frustration, and today, it seemed, he would get to release all his frustrations.

What if he combined his skills? He'd been so focused on using [Severing Aura] by itself that he hadn't really experimented with mixing it with his other abilities. That seemed kind of stupid in hindsight.

He activated [Elemental Mastery]. He needed to shape thermal energy into something useful. A weapon, maybe? The idea of a heat blade sounded pretty cool, and if he could combine that cutting edge with his [Severing Aura]...

The thermal energy began to coalesce in his hand, forming into a blade-like shape. It was more of a shape of concentrated thermal energy that just so happened to resemble a curved blade than a solid object. The extreme heat caused the surrounding air to twist and shimmer.

The blade stabilized, becoming something that looked like it could cut through reality. As the heat distortion increased, Theodore could sense the grass surrounding his feet, which had recovered from [Healing Touch] experiments, beginning to wilt away.

Theodore started putting a lot more mana into the construct than he would typically risk on a single spell. This was still a sizable portion of his reserves, even though his mana pool was now quite big. As he supplied power to the thermal blade, it became brighter and more intense. Theodore had to squint against the glint.

Even he was beginning to feel threatened by this monstrosity, and he was in control of it. Theodore pointed it toward the boulder's center, and threw the thermal blade as hard as he could.

Heat distortion and the strange cutting sensation that accompanied [Severing Aura] trailed the blade as it shot through the air. Nothing appeared to have happened for a moment after it struck the boulder.

Then the boulder split right down the middle, like someone had taken a perfect cut through the entire thing. With loud thuds, the two parts struck the ground after falling apart.

Congratulations, you have completed the side quest!

Side Quest Activated: Sever the boulder sent by Varyndros with a single strike.

***

Lord Karstein POV

Lord Karstein was having a perfectly good evening when the messenger arrived.

He had been feeling pretty good about himself in his study. His capital investments were paying off beautifully, the southern trade routes were doing well, and his competitors were all suitably miserable. Life was good.

Then Verrin walked through his door.

"My lord… There's been an incident."

Karstein set down his wine glass. An incident. Why did those two words always mean his evening was about to be ruined? He let out a sigh. Verrin had returned from Holden; there was an incident, and Karstein didn't like the implications.

"Where's William?"

"Outside, my lord. He was injured."

Karstein rubbed his temples. His idiot son had probably gotten drunk and fallen off his horse again. Or picked a fight with the wrong person. Or—

When Verrin went on to describe what had truly happened, Karstein's blood pressure skyrocketed.

"He did WHAT?"

His supposedly intelligent, supposedly capable son had walked into Theodore's establishment, assaulted customers and employees, and then been severely beaten by the "exiled" prince himself. In front of witnesses. In front of everyone.

Karstein got up so quickly that his chair almost toppled down. "Bring him in. Now."

Soon afterward William came in, looking worse than Karstein had thought he would. Face still swollen, arm clearly broken and healed.

"Father, you have to bring me justice! He humiliated me! He—"

Karstein slapped his son. William's head snapped to the side, and he would've fallen if Verring hadn't stabilized him.

"GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"

"But father, he—"

"I said, GET OUT! Before I break your other arm myself!"

As William was pulled away by the guards, he continued to babble about getting humiliated in front of everyone, about his honor, and about revenge: how could Theodore treat him that way? Karstein was not paying attention. He was too preoccupied with figuring out just how badly his son had fucked up.

This was no longer only a debt issue. Reputation was at stake here. Still standing there, Verrin had an uneasy expression. He was aware of when to remain silent.

"Pack my things. We leave for Holden at dawn. Have the space mage ready."

"Yes, my lord. But, if I may, my lord? The space mage is tired. He just teleported us—"

"Feed him some potions." Karstein waved him off.

Verrin nodded. "Should I prepare an escort? Armed guards?"

Karstein nearly agreed. Then he changed his mind. That would give the impression that he was heading to battle. As if he was terrified. As though he had been shaken by his son's pitiful performance.

"No guards. But send messages to the Guild. To the Ashford family, the Brennans, and the Valdrics. Tell them there's an opportunity in Holden. A chance to collect on Theodore's debts where the Karstein family... encountered difficulties."

Verrin's eyes widened slightly. He understood what Karstein was doing. His invitation to the other merchant families was an attempt to make his son's embarrassment into a challenge. The person who succeeded where William failed would be extremely prestigious. And if none of them succeeded? Karstein might feel embarrassed, but at least he wouldn't be alone.

"Should I mention the specific nature of Young Master William's... difficulties?"

"Tell them he was overzealous."

"Very good, my lord."

Karstein filled a second glass with wine and drank it all at once. Theodore. That little shit was clever. He'd probably been waiting for something like this to give him an excuse to make an example. Well, two could play at being clever.

***

The law required Patreon plug:

Patreon - /itsnectar