I wake up to sunlight streaming through enchanted windows that adjust their opacity based on the time of day. The guest room is absurdly fancy. Dark wood panels line the walls, carved with subtle magical patterns that hum with a faint vibration. The bed I'm in has a canopy draped with silk that regulates temperature automatically. There's a desk in the corner with a built-in light powered by glowing runes, and a sitting area with plush chairs that look expensive.
It's the kind of room that makes me feel like I should be doing important scholarly work instead of just sleeping.
I get up and get ready for the day, washing up at a basin that provides hot water through enchantments. Even the mirror is magical, adjusting its angle to follow my movements.
I head downstairs to the dining room where breakfast has been laid out. Eldrin, Liora, Seraphina, and Lucien are already there, helping themselves to the food.
The breakfast spread is impressive. Sun-grain porridge topped with honey and dried fruits, served warm in individual bowls. Flatbreads stacked on a platter, still steaming, alongside spreads of herb butter, fruit preserves, and white spreadable cheese. Slices of cured meat arranged neatly, along with soft-boiled eggs that sit in delicate cups. Fresh berries, sliced melon, and something citrus-like. A pot of tea sits in the center, along with a pitcher of chilled juice made from Dawn-berries.
I load a plate and sit down.
[Liora] "Good morning, Wright. Are you prepared for the lecture today?"
[Wright] "I'm just going to explain how I use magic and hope for the best. Hopefully it doesn't go over everyone's heads too much."
[Eldrin] "I'm sure you'll do fine. Your perspective is unique."
[Seraphina] "The students will appreciate hearing something different."
[Lucien] "Even if they don't understand everything, it will give them something to think about."
We finish breakfast and head out. Vesper joins us as we're leaving the mansion.
[Wright] "You're up early today."
[Vesper] "I'm interested in attending your lecture."
Vesper voluntarily waking up early for something?
[Wright] "Really?"
[Vesper] "Don't sound so shocked. I want to hear your take on magic."
Fair enough.
We make our way to the academy's main building. Supreme Mage Lysara is waiting at the entrance with Yuki, Aiko, and Takeshi. All three of them look excited.
[Yuki] "Wright! We've been waiting! I can't wait to hear your lecture!"
[Takeshi] "Yeah, this should be interesting. I'm curious about how you use magic."
[Aiko] "I hope I can understand it. Magic theory is still pretty new to me."
[Lysara] "The lecture hall is prepared. The attendance is substantial."
[Wright] "How substantial?"
[Lysara] "You'll see."
That's not ominous at all.
We follow her through the corridors to one of the larger lecture halls. She opens the doors and I stop.
The room is packed. Every seat is filled with students. Professors line the back wall. Some people are even standing in the aisles. There have to be at least two hundred people here.
Way more than I expected.
[Wright] "This is..."
[Lysara] "Our faculty and students are very eager to hear from you."
My stomach does a small flip. I'm used to talking in front of many people but something about this is making me feel anxious. Is this mortality?
But I agreed to do this, so I'm doing it.
I walk down to the demonstration area at the front. The room quiets as I reach the center. Two hundred pairs of eyes watching me.
I take a breath.
[Wright] "Good morning. I'm Wright. I was asked to talk about how I approach magic, so that's what I'm going to do."
I start the lecture.
---
It's over.
I stand outside the lecture hall feeling disheartened. That did not go well.
Trying to explain how the world works, the actual building blocks of physical reality, is complicated to say the least. I saw the confusion spreading across the audience's faces as I talked. The more I explained, the more lost they looked.
The group is waiting for me in the hallway. Sylphaeris is with them now. She must have appeared partway through.
[Eldrin] "That was... enlightening."
[Liora] "It started wonderfully. The questions you asked were thought-provoking. What is fire? What is water? How does fire work and what is it made of? No one thinks to ask those questions."
[Seraphina] "But when you started explaining the answers, it became difficult to follow."
[Lucien] "The concepts were very abstract."
Yuki speaks up, looking apologetic.
[Yuki] "I could follow along at first! When you talked about atoms and molecules, that made sense because we learned about those in school. But then you started talking about quarks, and energy fields, and even smaller particles... it sounded like you were describing something divine. I couldn't grasp it anymore."
[Takeshi] "Same. I got the basic chemistry stuff, but after that, it was like listening to someone explain the secrets of the universe."
[Aiko] "It was really interesting though! Just really complicated."
[Wright] "It's not divine. It's just how the world works."
But even as I say it, I know I went too far. I tried to explain too much.
[Wright] "I should have kept things simpler. I got carried away trying to explain the full picture instead of just giving them something to think about."
[Sylphaeris] "I thought you did well. You made people question things they take for granted. That's valuable."
[Wright] "I guess. I hope they at least take away that it's worth questioning how things work. Maybe that can lead to new discoveries."
Supreme Mage Lysara approaches, her violet eyes bright with interest.
[Lysara] "That was extraordinary. I couldn't follow most of the explanation, but the questions you posed... no one has ever thought to ask those things before. What is fire, truly? These are fundamental questions we've never considered because we simply accept magic as it is."
[Vesper] "I agree. It was incredible. Truly eye-opening. I never would have thought to ask those questions. This changes everything!"
[Lysara] "And when you created that pure white flame in your hand, I was awestruck. It burned with an intensity I have never seen before."
[Ignatia] "Even I have not beheld fire of such magnitude."
Before I can respond, a familiar pattern of sharp clicks approaches, heels striking the ground in a steady rhythm.
[Elowen] "Yuki! Aiko! Takeshi!"
Elowen appears, walking toward us with that elegant, haughty stride. She's smiling genuinely when she reaches the kids despite the villainess energy.
[Yuki] "Elowen! Did you attend the lecture?"
[Elowen] "Of course! How could I miss such a grand event?"
She turns to me, bowing slightly with perfect form.
[Elowen] "Your lecture was magnificent, if utterly incomprehensible. I didn't grasp much of the technical details, but I have a newfound outlook on the world. The way you questioned fundamental principles was illuminating."
That makes me feel better.
[Wright] "Thanks. I'm glad it was worth something."
[Elowen] "Absolutely. Though I must admit, I'm far more excited for Lady Vesper's lecture this afternoon."
She says this while looking at Vesper with barely contained enthusiasm.
Vesper just nods, looking mildly uncomfortable with the attention.
[Yuki] "Elowen, would you like to join us for lunch?"
[Elowen] "I would be delighted! Especially if it means conversing with Lady Vesper about artifact theory!"
Vesper sighs but doesn't object.
[Lysara] "May I join as well? I'm quite curious about your unique perspective on magic, Wright. I'd like to discuss it further."
[Wright] "Sure, the more the merrier."
[Takeshi] "Can we have karaage bento? I've been craving it since we got here."
[Wright] "They're still sitting in my Storage. We can do that."
[Liora] "Perhaps we could have a picnic? The weather is pleasant, and the academy courtyard is quite beautiful."
Everyone agrees. We make our way to a large courtyard area with well-maintained grass and scattered trees. Students are spread out around the space, some studying, others chatting in small groups.
—
We find a good spot and sit down on the grass. I pull out several bento boxes from my Storage, complete with chopsticks and packets of instant miso soup tucked inside.
Elowen and Supreme Mage Lysara stare at the boxes with obvious curiosity.
[Lysara] "What is this?"
[Wright] "Karaage bento. Fried poultry with rice and vegetables."
I open one of the boxes, showing them the contents. Golden-brown karaage pieces sit next to fluffy white rice. There's tamagoyaki along with steamed broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and edamame.
[Elowen] "And these wooden implements?"
[Yuki] "Chopsticks! Here, I'll show you how to use them."
She demonstrates the proper grip, and both Elowen and the Supreme Mage attempt to copy her. It takes a few tries, but they eventually manage to pick up a piece of karaage.
Elowen takes a bite. Her eyes widen.
[Elowen] "Oh. Oh, this is remarkable."
[Lysara] "The flavor is complex. The coating is crispy, the meat is tender. And this rice is perfectly cooked."
They try the tamagoyaki next, then the vegetables. Everything gets enthusiastic reactions.
[Takeshi] "See? Karaage bento is the best."
[Aiko] "Yuki, should we show them the miso soup?"
[Yuki] "Yes! Elowen, Supreme Mage, you have to try this."
Yuki and Takeshi pull out the instant miso soup packets and some cups. Takeshi uses magic to heat water until it's boiling, then they pour it into the cups with the miso paste and dried ingredients.
[Yuki] "You just let it sit for a minute, and then it's ready."
After a minute, they hand cups to Elowen and the Supreme Mage.
[Elowen] "This smells wonderful."
[Lysara] "Instant soup? How ingenious."
They both take sips. More impressed reactions.
We eat lunch together on the grass, talking about magic and artifacts. It's pleasant. Relaxing.
Eventually, lunch ends and it's time for Vesper's lecture.
—
We make our way back to the same lecture hall. The crowd has thinned out a bit. Not everyone stayed for the afternoon session, but there are still plenty of students and professors in attendance.
Vesper walks to the demonstration area with considerably less nervousness than I had. She pulls something out of her Storage and sets it on the table.
A portable stove. Small, compact, with a flat cooking surface.
[Vesper] "This is a portable cooking equipment."
She taps the surface and a magical array appears, glowing faintly.
[Vesper] "The core principle is thermal magic. The array converts mana directly into heat energy, distributing it evenly across the cooking surface. The efficiency is high because there's no fire involved. Just direct energy conversion."
She places her hand near the surface.
[Vesper] "It heats up in seconds. Cools down just as quickly when you deactivate it. The entire device is about the size of a book, making it perfect for adventurers who want to cook simple meals anywhere."
She demonstrates by boiling water in a small pot, showing how quickly and evenly it heats.
[Vesper] "The enchantments are layered. Heat generation, temperature control, and a safety cutoff that prevents overheating. All contained in a device you can carry in a pack."
The audience is completely engaged. Students are taking notes. Professors are leaning forward to get a better look.
Vesper continues, explaining the theoretical framework, the challenges she faced in miniaturization, and potential applications beyond cooking.
By the time she finishes, the entire room erupts in applause.
Students rush forward to examine the stove more closely. Professors ask detailed questions about the enchantment structure. Elowen looks like she might cry from excitement.
[Lysara] "Vesper, that was brilliant. Truly brilliant."
[Eldrin] "I can't believe you were able to make a portable version of the stove in such a short time."
[Seraphina] "You've made something that will genuinely improve people's lives."
[Vesper] "It's just a stove."
But she's trying not to smile. She's pleased with the reaction.
Students call her a genius. Professors discuss how to implement similar designs in other artifacts.
And honestly? She deserves it. That was impressive.
Way better than my lecture, that's for sure.