Chapter 486: An Intellectual Debate
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Chapter 486: An Intellectual Debate
An Intellectual Debate
Once Martel woke up, he wasted little time. As soon as he could grab food from the kitchens, he took a plate with him to Mistress Rana's laboratory. He found the alchemist asleep and Nora at work; the latter greeted him with a tired nod and worn expression.
"Have you already eaten?" he asked quietly. He could not imagine how she had been faster than him.
"No, I woke up a while back, before the bell rang. So I went here and got started. I'll eat when this potion is done." The cauldron in front of her simmered with the occasional bubble bursting up from the liquid inside.
"What about her?" Martel glanced at Mistress Rana. "Should we grab something for her? You think she'll wake up soon?"
"She'll take care of herself. Judging by the coals when I got here, she had only just gone to bed, so I don't think she'll wake up any time soon."
Martel devoured his porridge and set the plate aside. "I can't be here all day, unfortunately. I have to leave this afternoon."
"That's fine. I don't think Mistress Rana expects you to work a specific number of hours, and you have your classes, of course. Just help as you can."
He began gathering the familiar ingredients to start his own round of alchemy by the second fireplace, set up to accommodate an extra alchemist at work. "I'll try."
"That in mind, I think I'll sleep a bit earlier tonight, so I can wake up early tomorrow as well. So if you can, one fireplace will be available tonight."
"Alright. I should be back by then. I guess I can do one round before I go to bed."
She glanced at him briefly. "Back? I thought you had class this afternoon. Where are you going?"
Knowing that Nora worked every waking hour, Martel felt guilty about the answer. "I've been told – summoned, you might say – to attend the celebration at the Imperial palace tonight. I don't want to go," he hastened to add, "but they want their battlemage to make an appearance, I guess, and I had to follow orders."
"Oh. A celebration, that sounds nice. I didn't realise that was going on. They don't really send invitations to the apothecary at the Lyceum."
Unsure whether she had made a jest, Martel gave a half-hearted laughter and turned his attention towards his cauldron.
"She is, Your Highness," Martel replied, trying to be as subtle as possible about the correction. "From Sindhu, where the knowledge of alchemy exceeds ours. Hence why she has the position."
"Of course the half-breed would claim that," Cheval interjected, and Martel wondered what had taken him so long before he began spewing his bile. "Always undermining Asterian magic and our belief in ourselves."
"Should the pestilence reach your home, I will remember your opinion when you are at death's door begging for a cure," Martel replied coldly.
"As if I would ever accept anything from you or that Sindhian poisoner!"
Anger burned through Martel's mind. "She is the best alchemist in this city and my teacher, possessing invaluable knowledge. You will not speak of her in that manner, or I will put you in your place."
"Perhaps take a moment to calm yourself," Maximilian mumbled.
"You would never dare," Cheval sneered. "A Tyrian peasant laying his hands on me? Preposterous!"
"I do not think it is." The prince, his expression strangely placid in comparison to the others, looked from the young nobleman to the fire acolyte. "Please elaborate, master wizard. How exactly would you put Guillaume in his place?"
"Never mind what I said. Beat him up," Maximilian whispered.
"I'll burn his ears right off." Martel raised a hand and let sparks of lightning jump between his fingertips. "That'll remind him to listen to me next time he sees me."
"I doubt that will improve his hearing, but very well." Prince Flavius turned his eyes on Cheval. "You have heard his threat. Will you rescind your words?"
The young nobleman looked around the room and saw nobody willing to come to his aid. His eyes rested on the inkling of a spell taking shape around Martel's hand. "I do."
"Because you were wrong or out of fear from having your ears burned right off your scalp?"
Cheval swallowed. "I was wrong."
"Interesting. I suppose we should be glad to have such a talented alchemist at the Lyceum, given the challenge our city faces." The prince spoke devoid of emotion, as if concluding an intellectual debate on an abstract matter. "Master wizard, tell me more about the advantages of Sindhian alchemy."
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Chapter 486: An Intellectual Debate
An Intellectual Debate
Once Martel woke up, he wasted little time. As soon as he could grab food from the kitchens, he took a plate with him to Mistress Rana's laboratory. He found the alchemist asleep and Nora at work; the latter greeted him with a tired nod and worn expression.
"Have you already eaten?" he asked quietly. He could not imagine how she had been faster than him.
"No, I woke up a while back, before the bell rang. So I went here and got started. I'll eat when this potion is done." The cauldron in front of her simmered with the occasional bubble bursting up from the liquid inside.
"What about her?" Martel glanced at Mistress Rana. "Should we grab something for her? You think she'll wake up soon?"
"She'll take care of herself. Judging by the coals when I got here, she had only just gone to bed, so I don't think she'll wake up any time soon."
Martel devoured his porridge and set the plate aside. "I can't be here all day, unfortunately. I have to leave this afternoon."
"That's fine. I don't think Mistress Rana expects you to work a specific number of hours, and you have your classes, of course. Just help as you can."
He began gathering the familiar ingredients to start his own round of alchemy by the second fireplace, set up to accommodate an extra alchemist at work. "I'll try."
"That in mind, I think I'll sleep a bit earlier tonight, so I can wake up early tomorrow as well. So if you can, one fireplace will be available tonight."
"Alright. I should be back by then. I guess I can do one round before I go to bed."
She glanced at him briefly. "Back? I thought you had class this afternoon. Where are you going?"
Knowing that Nora worked every waking hour, Martel felt guilty about the answer. "I've been told – summoned, you might say – to attend the celebration at the Imperial palace tonight. I don't want to go," he hastened to add, "but they want their battlemage to make an appearance, I guess, and I had to follow orders."
"Oh. A celebration, that sounds nice. I didn't realise that was going on. They don't really send invitations to the apothecary at the Lyceum."
Unsure whether she had made a jest, Martel gave a half-hearted laughter and turned his attention towards his cauldron.
"She is, Your Highness," Martel replied, trying to be as subtle as possible about the correction. "From Sindhu, where the knowledge of alchemy exceeds ours. Hence why she has the position."
"Of course the half-breed would claim that," Cheval interjected, and Martel wondered what had taken him so long before he began spewing his bile. "Always undermining Asterian magic and our belief in ourselves."
"Should the pestilence reach your home, I will remember your opinion when you are at death's door begging for a cure," Martel replied coldly.
"As if I would ever accept anything from you or that Sindhian poisoner!"
Anger burned through Martel's mind. "She is the best alchemist in this city and my teacher, possessing invaluable knowledge. You will not speak of her in that manner, or I will put you in your place."
"Perhaps take a moment to calm yourself," Maximilian mumbled.
"You would never dare," Cheval sneered. "A Tyrian peasant laying his hands on me? Preposterous!"
"I do not think it is." The prince, his expression strangely placid in comparison to the others, looked from the young nobleman to the fire acolyte. "Please elaborate, master wizard. How exactly would you put Guillaume in his place?"
"Never mind what I said. Beat him up," Maximilian whispered.
"I'll burn his ears right off." Martel raised a hand and let sparks of lightning jump between his fingertips. "That'll remind him to listen to me next time he sees me."
"I doubt that will improve his hearing, but very well." Prince Flavius turned his eyes on Cheval. "You have heard his threat. Will you rescind your words?"
The young nobleman looked around the room and saw nobody willing to come to his aid. His eyes rested on the inkling of a spell taking shape around Martel's hand. "I do."
"Because you were wrong or out of fear from having your ears burned right off your scalp?"
Cheval swallowed. "I was wrong."
"Interesting. I suppose we should be glad to have such a talented alchemist at the Lyceum, given the challenge our city faces." The prince spoke devoid of emotion, as if concluding an intellectual debate on an abstract matter. "Master wizard, tell me more about the advantages of Sindhian alchemy."
Chapter 486: An Intellectual DebateAn Intellectual DebateOnce Martel woke up, he wasted little time. As soon as he could grab food from the kitchens, he took a plate with him to Mistress Rana's laboratory. He found the alchemist asleep and Nora at work; the latter greeted him with a tired nod and worn expression."Have you already eaten?" he asked quietly. He could not imagine how she had been faster than him."No, I woke up a while back, before the bell rang. So I went here and got started. I'll eat when this potion is done." The cauldron in front of her simmered with the occasional bubble bursting up from the liquid inside."What about her?" Martel glanced at Mistress Rana. "Should we grab something for her? You think she'll wake up soon?""She'll take care of herself. Judging by the coals when I got here, she had only just gone to bed, so I don't think she'll wake up any time soon."Martel devoured his porridge and set the plate aside. "I can't be here all day, unfortunately. I have to leave this afternoon.""That's fine. I don't think Mistress Rana expects you to work a specific number of hours, and you have your classes, of course. Just help as you can."He began gathering the familiar ingredients to start his own round of alchemy by the second fireplace, set up to accommodate an extra alchemist at work. "I'll try.""That in mind, I think I'll sleep a bit earlier tonight, so I can wake up early tomorrow as well. So if you can, one fireplace will be available tonight.""Alright. I should be back by then. I guess I can do one round before I go to bed."She glanced at him briefly. "Back? I thought you had class this afternoon. Where are you going?"Knowing that Nora worked every waking hour, Martel felt guilty about the answer. "I've been told summoned, you might say to attend the celebration at the Imperial palace tonight. I don't want to go," he hastened to add, "but they want their battlemage to make an appearance, I guess, and I had to follow orders.""Oh. A celebration, that sounds nice. I didn't realise that was going on. They don't really send invitations to the apothecary at the Lyceum."Unsure whether she had made a jest, Martel gave a half-hearted laughter and turned his attention towards his cauldron."She is, Your Highness," Martel replied, trying to be as subtle as possible about the correction. "From Sindhu, where the knowledge of alchemy exceeds ours. Hence why she has the position.""Of course the half-breed would claim that," Cheval interjected, and Martel wondered what had taken him so long before he began spewing his bile. "Always undermining Asterian magic and our belief in ourselves.""Should the pestilence reach your home, I will remember your opinion when you are at death's door begging for a cure," Martel replied coldly."As if I would ever accept anything from you or that Sindhian poisoner!"Anger burned through Martel's mind. "She is the best alchemist in this city and my teacher, possessing invaluable knowledge. You will not speak of her in that manner, or I will put you in your place.""Perhaps take a moment to calm yourself," Maximilian mumbled."You would never dare," Cheval sneered. "A Tyrian peasant laying his hands on me? Preposterous!""I do not think it is." The prince, his expression strangely placid in comparison to the others, looked from the young nobleman to the fire acolyte. "Please elaborate, master wizard. How exactly would you put Guillaume in his place?""Never mind what I said. Beat him up," Maximilian whispered."I'll burn his ears right off." Martel raised a hand and let sparks of lightning jump between his fingertips. "That'll remind him to listen to me next time he sees me.""I doubt that will improve his hearing, but very well." Prince Flavius turned his eyes on Cheval. "You have heard his threat. Will you rescind your words?"The young nobleman looked around the room and saw nobody willing to come to his aid. His eyes rested on the inkling of a spell taking shape around Martel's hand. "I do.""Because you were wrong or out of fear from having your ears burned right off your scalp?"Cheval swallowed. "I was wrong.""Interesting. I suppose we should be glad to have such a talented alchemist at the Lyceum, given the challenge our city faces." The prince spoke devoid of emotion, as if concluding an intellectual debate on an abstract matter. "Master wizard, tell me more about the advantages of Sindhian alchemy."
