Throne of Magical Arcana

Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

The white envelope was so neat and smooth that petals seemed to be in the middle of the texture. It was entirely different from the standard model of the postal department and was more like a piece of artwork. However, Ali did not pay attention to any of those details. His eyes were completely frozen on the elegant handwriting on the envelope. They were so familiar and beautiful that Ali’s heart was immediately filled with heat. He could not feel the coldness of the early spring anymore.

Too eager to wait until he returned to his classroom, Ali walked in the cold wind while opening the letter, drawing out the thick pile of paper inside. He then unfolded the letter carefully.

“I was quite worried when I did not receive any letter from you during the previous few months. I thought that you had an accident, or that I hurt your feelings in our early correspondences, but I didn’t know how I could reach out to you. Fortunately, the truth is not what I imagined…

“… Our school has a two-month holiday for the new year. By the time I saw your letters, there were already quite a few of them. I’m sorry for the long wait. Please forgive me… I’m glad that you’ve come to Rentato. Whether or not you succeed in the future, I believe that this is going to be the most precious wealth of your life. It’s like what Mr. Farham wrote in his famous play, ‘Land of a Thousand Lakes’—failures are tolerable for the young. So, you should read more, experience more, and see more of this beautiful and cruel world in your golden years.

“… In this ever-changing age, there are plenty of opportunities. As long as you are bold and determined, you can certainly seize some of them, but if you are too scared of failure to bear and face anything, the opportunities will only slip through your fingers…

“… You must’ve lived in Rentato for a few months now. Is your life comfortable here? What’s your impression on the new things and new changes that I described in my letters? When I reread the letters I wrote, I always feel that my face is burning, because I was full of hope and passion at that time. I couldn’t help but describe them in the most splendid and romantic way. Now that I can hold back my feelings, it appears to me that I have overly exaggerated their beauty, and it is not quite the reality. Ali, what do you think? How do they appear to you?

“… I’ve always thought that the generic schools are perhaps not as good as Lanxiangs when it comes to job-hunting in workshops and incomes in the first few years. However, if you want to make greater achievements and create a better future, only the generic schools can provide the knowledge that you need. Don’t be impatient in the first three years. Everything you learn is to help you figure out what you are good at and what you like. Then, you will be able to absorb the ‘nutrition’ that is necessary for you in the last two years…

“… Besides your studies, don’t forget to ‘melt’ into Rentato. Only by melting into it will you completely recognize every astounding detail in this time of changes, which will give you opportunities. Therefore, I suggest you go out often during weekends or get a part-time job for yourself…

“… There’s a red tea shop on Rose Boulevard. The environment is comfortable, and the tea is delicious. Also, they have replaced the band with a magic gramophone and only keep two musicians… The Clown Theater in the administrative district also presents hilarious comedies… Although the Egret District is a poor neighborhood, you may encounter many adventures with abundant experiences. Their words may be exaggerated, but their knowledge can be a major eye-opener nonetheless… When the night falls, in the administrative district, the district of nobles, and Queen Avenue, you can enjoy sceneries that look like stars on earth…”

Jane introduced Rentato that she knew in an honest tone and avoided the luxury places, giving Ali a vivid feeling.

The letter had no subtleties of love at all and was purely a talk between friends. It was not too formal but paid attention to every detail, warm and considerate like every letter in the past. Ali couldn’t have been more excited. He read the letter many times and did not put it back until he almost approached the classroom.

“… I got second place in the ‘new year exam’ after the holiday, and I’ll be invited to visit the Allyn magic tower and the Atom Institution… I’ve been to Allyn before, but I was not allowed to visit the magic tower. Now, I finally have the opportunity to do so. I hope that the Atom Institution is even dreamier than I thought…”

Ali recalled the third paragraph to the last in Jane’s letter. Although she tried not to brag about her achievement, her ecstasy could be clearly felt between the lines.

Thinking about that, Ali’s heart began to pound. The result of the monthly exam would be published soon. Was there any hope for him to go to Allyn?

Sitting on his chair uneasily, Ali found it impossible to calm himself down, until Mr. Brian, who taught “Basics of Arcana”, came in.

“The rank of the monthly exam will be announced now. The top twenty are the lucky dogs who will be invited to visit the City in the Sky,” Brian said with a smile. The classroom was so quiet that it was almost frozen.

“Donne…” Brian began to read the names. After his every pause, somebody would exclaim uncontrollably.

As the familiar names were read out and the delightful exclamations echoed, Ali grew more and more anxious. Why was there not his name? Did he really fail to make it to the top twenty?

“Ricardo,” Brian read the twentieth name.

There isn’t me. There really isn’t me. Ali was consumed by huge frustration. He had never tasted the bitterness of failure better. In his hometown in the past, he had failed before, but he never had such great hope at that time as he did here.

Ali did not hear his name until it came to the thirties. The frustrating experience made him realize the fact that his foundation was still too weak. There was still a major gap between him and his classmates who had lived in Rentato for a long time or who had been guided by scholars and magic apprentices for a year or two. Although he had been working hard, he would have to keep such an attitude for at least a year in order to catch up to them.

Many people would choose to give up under such circumstances. How could you compete with other people when your starting points were different? However, Ali thought of Jane’s encouragement and his parents’ expectations. He clenched his fists and swore to catch up to them. While other people were working, he would work ten times harder!

At the end of March, Ali, who was dedicated to schoolwork, went to the gate of the school every couple of days habitually. Finally, he got a letter from Jane again.

“… Last time, you mentioned that you were interested in alchemical items and had been learning them fast. I think it’s because we are both attracted to magic radios, magic lamps, wired phones, and telegrams, as well as the content on ‘Arcana Voice’. However, there are still major differences between those simplified items and real alchemy…

“… If you are really interested, you can go to the library of your school or the library of Rentato and borrow the books such as ‘Magic Structure’, ‘Alchemical Elements’, ‘128 Facts About Simplified Magic Items’, and ‘A History of Alchemical Items’. ‘Ten Thousand Whys: Volume of Alchemy’, compiled by Prince Evans, in particular, is both informative and entertaining…

“… We went to the City in the Sky in the middle of this month. Although this may bring back your bad memories, I still would like to share my experiences with you. I hope that you can somewhat soothe your regrets in such a way…

“I’ve been to the City in the Sky many times, but whenever the rail left the ground and rose, I always felt a shiver from the bottom of my heart. It was both fear and excitement. I was afraid because of the ant-like things below me and the decline of fantasies, and I was excited because I probably could never enjoy the feeling of running in the sky if there weren’t magic steam trains and the City in the Sky. After all, not everybody could become an official sorcerer. I’ve learned arcana and magic for years, but I am still just an apprentice…

“… On the way, the long bus that carried us to the Allyn magic tower met a problem. A golem came out of the magic tower. Its eyes were red, and it pushed both the bus and us to the Allyn magic tower. Sometimes, golems are not just for battles…

“… The Allyn magic tower is in a totally different architectural style from that of the buildings in Rentato, but it oddly agrees with alchemical cars, aircraft, magic steam trains, blast guns, magic air conditioners, and magic lamps. I feel that they have established the unique air and style of this age together…

“… We did not meet Mr. Felipe in the Hereditary Laboratory. We were told that he went to the Dark Mountain Range to collect samples. It was not a big deal to me, but my good friend was very sad, because she admired Mr. Felipe and wanted to be a ‘doctor’ who mastered magic and anatomical skills…

“… The Hereditary Laboratory was not exactly what I imagined. Many common plants and unusual animals were raised there. Well, the only thing in the laboratory that made me feel creepy was the partly-mutated creatures. In one of the labs that are filled with mucus, I saw bloody and terrible views. Certain animals that we see all the time turned into hideous and gross monsters. Can you imagine a rabbit with two heads or a dog without furs?

“… Thankfully, since most of my classmates were horrified by such a scene, we immediately left for the Atom Institution.

“Mr. Lazar and Ms. Heidi received us and showed us most of the places in the institution. It’s just like what I imagined. There were all kinds of complicated and mysterious magic circles as well as alchemical platforms that glowed in different colors…

“… When Ms. Heidi turned on the particle collider, the magic circles on the entire wall, floor, and ceiling glittered at the same time, before they partly turned orange and transparent. I was so shocked that I felt I was in a dream. The picture and the overall style of the Atom Institution made me feel that I arrived at the ‘future’. I don’t know why I felt that way, but I truly sensed that it would be the future.

COMMENT

“… Ali, did you know that there’s a transmission magic circle inside the Atom Institution that leads to a cosmic observatory where you can observe the space?”

Ali sensed the excitement in her words. He was quite excited himself. The scenes in the Atom Institution were vivid before his eyes. He almost wanted to go there immediately.

“Cosmic observatory? Observe the space?” It was something that was even beyond his dreams!

“… Ali, Ms. Heidi told me that ‘Arcana Voice’ would give more introductions to the cosmos in the future and even simulate the space with illusion skills for us to sense it in person. Also, if we could get the first place in our grade during the finals in June, we would have a chance to go to the cosmic observatory for real!

“Let’s work hard together, shall we?”

“Of course!” Ali clenched his fists in such excitement that he seemed to be in the middle of the boundless cosmos already while sensing the overwhelming time of his age.

……

In Lance, the Holy City.

Benedict III looked out of the window and considered the piece of intelligence he just received.

“Lucien Evans has borrowed a lot of files about the Boundless Ocean recently.”