“There’s no need to be frightened of me, wittle bunny. You know the nature of our relationship.”
“I ask that you choose your words carefully so as not to elicit misunderstandings.”
“Misunderstandings? What a horrible way to turn me down!” Alicia certainly looked upset, but it was difficult to tell how much was an act. And when Arcus, fed up with her nonsense, didn’t say anything, she giggled. Once she’d had her fun laughing at her own joke, her expression turned serious. “Well, then. What are you going to do now you’ve finished putting these documents together?”
“I’m going to make sure that any measuring devices produced hereafter conform to the same standards.”
“Ooh, go on.”
“Well, for example... Say someone made a device for measuring hex. The units for doing so would need to match both the mana used in casting the spell, and the unit in which the resultant hex itself is measured.”
Roheim nodded sagely. “Yes. Yes, that does make sense.”
Meanwhile, a number of the other magicians seemed to be struggling to figure out what he was saying. Muller asked Roheim the question that was on all their minds. “Would you be so kind as to explain it to us?”
“There is little to explain, Madame Quint. What Arcus proposes would both make everything easier to understand and facilitate the use of these devices in conjunction with each other.”
“Oh?”
“Indeed. Presently, we measure aether in mana. If the standard is set such that a spell that consumes ten mana of aether also produces ten units of hex, it precludes the need for a lengthy calculation every time one wishes to measure the latter.”
“Oh, and it would mean that no one would struggle to remember any equations between the two units,” Muller said. “Else they would need a chart, especially when relaying the information onward!”
Indeed, if the two units were developed separately from each other, it would complicate communication. They would become like unto Celsius and Fahrenheit, metric and imperial. Imperial was a particularly tricky system, as some of the values could vary ever so slightly between countries. Although the first step would be to identify the mechanism behind hex’s production, it was essential that the unit be mapped to mana thereafter.
“I see. You must have come across some very difficult things to have thought of that, little bunny.” Alicia giggled. “I wonder where you encountered those things.”
Again, she proved that she was oddly perceptive. But engaging with her remarks would likely consume too much time with nothing to show for it. Arcus figured that his best bet was to respond with silence rather than risk saying something careless.
There was amusement in Alicia’s eyes as she regarded him, as though she had picked up on his wariness. Arcus was again reminded that he didn’t like dealing with people like her. He was filled with a sense of unease, like he needed to keep his guard up if he didn’t want to end up wrapped around her little finger.
Another attendant—a woman in a black hood with protrusions shaped like cat ears—then turned her gaze on Arcus. “Have you already got plans for this device to measure hex?”
“Sorry? Oh, um, no. I was just using it as an example. I haven’t started work on anything like that yet.”
“Oh.” She sounded vaguely disappointed.
She was Shurelia “Twisted Fate” Rimaleon, a state magician chosen from the friendly nation of Sapphireberg. A brilliant hunter of dark spirits, it was said that she was nominated for her position after slaying the hex fiends that had previously appeared in Sapphireberg. Her interest in the hypothetical device likely stemmed from the fact that damage caused by dark spirits was a periodic problem in Sapphireberg. Dark spirits came from hex, so being able to measure it could help prevent otherwise-unpredictable damage.
“Your Majesty?” Godwald addressed Shinlu. “I see no issue. These usage standards are based on extensive research. As long as we strictly defend the device’s documentation, other countries will have no choice but to adopt the same units and standards that Arcus has created. The same goes for magic research; they will be forced to rely on the kingdom’s advancements more than ever. What say you, Gastarque?”
“Assuming the aethometer will become much more common, I say we distribute these standards before another nation attempts to make a set of its own.”
“Roheim?”
“I agree. By anticipating other nations and creating our own standards first, we maintain the advantage. While it may be somewhat politically risky, I believe that implementing them will pay off.”
Godwald nodded thoughtfully. He had always been on Arcus’s side, and with the assent of the two senior magicians, the top three mages in the room had given the proposal their stamp of approval.
“Your Majesty?” he prompted.
“Let it be done.” The king’s response settled it.
The proposal was passed around the state magicians, and each of them affixed their seal to it. As the work for the aethometer’s announcement was already underway, this part of the process was likely little more than a formality. Nevertheless, it set the coming announcement in stone.
Once everyone had stamped their seal, Shinlu turned to Arcus and called his name.
“Sir.”
“We’ve accepted this policy, but that’s it. Just like you’ve perfected these standards based on our use of the device. That’s all there is to it. But you’ve been working all this time to simplify this stage of the process. It would’ve been no surprise to anyone if you’d needed a lot more time and effort to put these standards together.”
“I agree, sir.”
“This is going to sound like Alicia’s question, but where did you get all this information from?”
“I put it together based on my knowledge, sir. That is all.”
“Really? These are like no formulas I’ve ever seen. But you understand perfectly how they work, do you?”
“Um...”
Shinlu grinned. “I guess it’s not impossible that you came up with them and refined them to within an inch of their lives! I really would like to crack your skull open and take a look inside.” He let out a full-bellied laugh.
Arcus found it difficult to be amused.
“You have a free pass from me to undertake whatever research you wish from now on. Make sure the rest of you keep your noses out.”
The magicians nodded their assent. Arcus was grateful for the king’s warning. As long as he was left alone and not asked any questions, he wouldn’t have to go through the awkwardness of trying to come up with answers.
And so, the recent meeting at the Magician’s Guild paved the way for this evening’s party. Naturally, the state magicians were also in attendance.
Craib was giving the presentation; Godwald was accompanying Shinlu and his guard; Roheim, the third-highest ranking of the state magicians, was by Ceylan’s side; and the heroic Gastarque was with his family in one section of the hall. Frederick Benjamin, who made a great show of playing with walnuts, was watching over the palace with a number of the imperial guard and fellow state magician, Cassim Lowry. Muller and Mercuria were making the rounds greeting the nobles and vassals. Al and Shurelia rounded out the state magicians’ numbers, making Alicia the only absentee among them.