Chapter 584: Benefit Society
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“He has accomplished two revolutionary achievements and won the title of grand arcanist at only 26. I’m afraid that nobody will ever break Mr. Evans’ record. Mr. Brook was in his forties when he became a grand arcanist…” Patricia, another lady, had blond hair and looked like Katrina’s sister. She spoke as if she were in a dream, her voice full of admiration and compliments.
Katrina was back to herself hearing what her friends said. With a brilliant and excited smile, she said, “In fact, since new alchemy was proposed, we had been speculating when our teacher would become a grand arcanist. Our general opinion was that it would be thirty years old. Hehe. Even so, our teacher’s record would be amazingly tantalizing. Nobody expected that he would win it at only 26…”
Because they met their teacher when they were teenagers, an age gap of five years felt like the gap of a whole generation. So, they always regarded him as a senior. After they became his students, they were naturally even more respectful and scared. Also, because their teacher was too mature, it was hard for them to remember his real age – Lucien had already changed his age back after his identity as a musician was exposed.
Today, after hearing that he won the title of grand arcanist, she suddenly recalled that he was only 26! She was almost 22 herself, and she only had the hope to become a middle-rank sorcerer. They were of the same generation with a gap in age, but their actual gap was so huge that she could only look at his back in admiration!
“Haha, I’m a grand arcanist’s student!” Heidi was more simple and straightforward, not covering her pride at all.
Lenka looked at them with complicated feelings. “Mr. Evans must have his own legendary class now. Perhaps, you will be a legendary sorcerer’s student in ten years.”
“With Mr. Evans’ talents, he will be a top legend in forty years at most.” Patricia congratulated them. “You will certainly be in the senior rank under his guidance by then. Please don’t forget us.”
In the Congress of Magic, grand arcanists were more important than legendary sorcerers because they could almost always become legendary and it was easier for them to reach the peak.
“In fact, there will be no major difference now. Our teacher’s guidance won’t change…” Layria said in delight while secretly she complained that the only difference would probably be more insane exams.
Patricia held a cup of red tea but forgot to drink it. “How can there be no difference? Things will be much more conveinent for you now. For example, there will be no dangerous, mandatory missions. Other sorcerers will prefer to exchange their trophies with you. Your life will be full of such invisible benefits.”
“That does not change our teacher’s strictness. The monthly report on research progress, the mountain of exams, the piles of papers to be reviewed, the prosaic magic exercises… I’m swooning when I just think about it.” Chelly rubbed her forehead. She was admitted by the magic school not because of talents but because of her connections. So, she had to work harder to make up for her shortcoming.
“I would rather suffer that.” Lenka blurted out and then covered her complicated feelings with a smile. “I mean, many sorcerers and apprentices would love to bear the pain in your place. You must cherish the opportunity.”
Heidi nodded solemnly, “Although we complain, we never work less. It’s the luckiest thing in our life to meet our teach and become his student. We cannot squander our bliss.”
“Well said.” Katrina and Layria looked at Heidi rather in surprise, not expecting her to be so serious.
Then, Heidi put on a ‘creepy’ smile and declared, “Therefore, after I become a senior-rank sorcerer and have my own students, I’ll let them know what ‘lucky’ is. I’ll show them the Evans quiz, tests and exams. No, not just my students, I’ll introduce them to the magic school and make everybody enjoy them!”
Katrina’s smile was frozen. Was it ‘benefit the society’ that their teacher said?
Patricia’s eyes shined. “Heidi, can you let me try the exercises that Mr. Evans gave to you? I’m very curious about those fearful tests.”
Patricia had been craving for the guidance they accepted, but the private lecture was every teacher’s secret. If she asked recklessly, they probably wouldn’t be friends anymore. Now that Heidi mentioned it on her own, she naturally did not let go of the chance.
Heidi remembered that her teacher said that the tests would be compiled into a book for popularization later. So, she chuckled, “You want to give it a shot? I’m very strict. You have to finish it on time!”
“Really? I’m willing to try them however strict you are!” Patricia said in delight.
Lenka followed, “Can I try them, too?” Her voice was shivering.
The other few ladies expressed the same wish, and intense sympathy beamed out of Katrina and her fellows’ face.
When Heidi sorted the exercises, Lenka said gloomily, “Why did we enter the Alborg magic school at the beginning? If we hadn’t know you earlier, our life could’ve been totally different…”
“Our teacher said that this is a time of changes. Whoever is less restrained by the past and the intuitions will improve rapidly. So, you have plenty of opportunities. The future has only just begun.” Layria encouraged them.
Patricia nodded solemnly, “Mr. Evans is right. That’s probably why the groundbreaking contributions in the past ten years were all accomplished by young arcanists, like Felipe, Larry, Ulysses, Jurisian, Jerome and you.”
“We were just lucky. While young people are less restrained by experience, it’s difficult for them to make great achievements because of their unsolid knowledge foundation.” Katrina reminded them. “Those older arcanists may transform their thinking and understanding about the world after digesting the recent achievements. We must not overlook them.”
“The Congress has decided to set up a prize that represents the highest honor of arcana and magic. Thanks to Mr. Evans’ sponsorship, the prize has been named as Evans Prize. It’s subdivided into Evans Prize in Arcana that represented the law of the world and the mysteries about material and energy, as well as…”
“Evans Prize in Arcana, Magic, Mathematics and Medication… I wonder who will win it first…” Heidi, Chelly and the rest of them looked at the radio, yearning for it.
…
“…Mr. President has granted Mr. Lucien Evans the title of grand arcanist today on behalf of the Highest Council in honor of his paradigm-shifting contributions with the new alchemy. His tribute is…”
Inside the radio, Nightingale, Lark and other anchors were all announcing the news in their different tones.
“The youngest grand arcanist in history, and probably the youngest legendary sorcerer later…” Gaston broke the weird silence in the library and heaved a sigh. “Who could’ve thought that the first-circle sorcerer you met would become a grand arcanist? I only appreciated his potentials when the periodic table was proved and thought that he could become a senior-rank sorcerer one day. As it turned out, after I’m only improved by one level, he’s already totally different from the past… The eighth grand arcanist, His Excellency Evans…”
Eight years for a senior-rank sorcerer was like one year for the ordinary people.
Larry, sitting on his opposite side, said in a smile, “A few years ago, I envied him deeply and was even jealous of him in private, but right now, all the jealousy is gone. I chose a wrong target. We are not competitors of the same level at all. I can’t even see his back now.”
“It’s good to recognize yourself, but there is no need to feel humble. The new alchemy and the theory of relativity have opened the gate to a new epoch. There are certain infinite mysteries up ahead. As long as we explore hard, we will have a lot of achievements, too.” Gaston comforted his student in a smile.
Larry nodded in agreement. “I’m going to study the orbits and distribution of electrons in the new alchemy.”
“Me, too.” Gaston was satisfied about his students’ keenness.
…
In Heidler city…
Listening to the radio, Felipe looked out of the window aimlessly like a statue.
“Grand arcanist… Grand arcanist…” The same broadcast raised different feelings. Felipe was lost and frustrated first, but then his pride was rekindled. He could not be left far behind.
“Lucien mentioned that his modification would be based on the diffraction of X rays…” Felipe decided to learn more about electromagnetism and improve the magnifying magic on his own to meet his demand.
…
In a secret cave that was comfortably and splendidly decorated in the wilderness on the north coastline…
Kritonia listened to the radio on the sofa solemnly. “Lucien Evans has become a grand arcanist, and probably a legend in a few years…”
With his level-three legendary, he didn’t have to hide. But the Hoffenberg family had Hathaway who was at the peak of legendary, so he had to be prudent.
At this moment, the fire in the furnace suddenly grew into the shape of a human.
“Original Fire.” Kritonia sensed it the moment the fire changed. He was amazed by the sorcerer with ancient heritage. ‘Original Fire’ was only level-one legendary, but he never discovered the guy until he was near.
Although he wouldn’t be ambushed, it indeed called for wariness.
A hoarse voice echoed from the fire. “He has become a grand arcanist. We need to plan an operation. If we postpone a couple of years, we will be faced with a legendary sorcerer, which will be much more difficult.”
“But we have to wait until the Congress of Magic is less vigilant.” Kritonia nodded in agreement.
…
In Babel, Lucien received Natasha’s electromagnetism messaging.
“I heard the broadcast that you’d been promoted into a grand arcanist. Does it mean that you do not need to participate in the review of papers?” Asked Natasha joyfully.
Lucien smiled. “Do you want me to go to Rentato?”
“Hehe. You disrupted the pope’s scheme only a few days ago. It will be too dangerous for you if you are out of Atom Institution. Also, I’ve been curious about your Atom Institution and your magic tower for a long time. So, I will go to Allyn tomorrow!” Natasha understood the situation quite well.
Lucien chuckled. He was thinking to discuss schools, labor laws and Kritonia with her, and she had decided to come to him on her own so cooperatively.
“Do you not welcome me?” Hearing Lucien’s chuckle, Natasha said jokingly.
Lucien replied with a smile. “Of course I do. My friends and students have always wanted to meet Her Majesty. There’s something that I want to discuss with you, too.”
