Chapter 279: The Institute of Arcane Technology

Distinguished in bearing and formidable in skill, renowned throughout the mercenary world, even earning the battlefield aristocrat nickname “The Blond Solderin”—such was the high-ranking ranger Solderin Frostleaf, who had roamed the northern continent for seven centuries. Behind his flawless prince-like image, however, lay a bald head, cross-dressing habits, and a penchant for the peculiar—a truth penned by none other than Gawain Cecil himself.

Well, Gawain Cecil never actually wrote that epitaph, but the Gawain who inherited those memories was certain that the Duke of the Southern Realm had more than once privately judged his elven friend in just such terms…

Still, these judgments were only muttered in Gawain’s own mind. Solderin himself seemed utterly indifferent to his “cross-dressing” skills, viewing them simply as a practical tool acquired during his travels—a useful talent with no twisted undertones. By that measure, he was quite the respectable figure.

Thank heavens Gawain had lived through the information explosion era in his previous life; otherwise, he might not have been able to keep a straight face just now…

After composing himself, Gawain casually asked Solderin about his plans. “When do you intend to set out?”

“Tonight,” Solderin replied. “Ideally, before dusk.”

“You’re sure about leaving at dusk?” Gawain frowned. “To avoid drawing attention, your best route is to skirt around the noble territories of the Southern Realm, traveling through the wilderness between the southern bank of the White River and the Dark Mountains back to the Typhon border. It’s not an easy path, and once you leave the city, night will fall quickly.”

“For an elf, traveling through the wilds is no different by day or night,” Solderin said calmly. “Leaving at dusk actually helps avoid some prying eyes.”

Gawain considered this briefly, then nodded in agreement. “Alright. I’ll issue you a travel permit. It’ll be valid until you leave the Ansu border. Even if you avoid most noble lands, having a permit will prevent a lot of trouble.”

Solderin smiled faintly. “Much appreciated.”

And so, on the very evening after Cecil’s second defensive battle concluded, a mysterious and beautiful blonde huntress quietly slipped away from the territory. Clutching the duke’s personally signed travel documents, she headed eastward, her origins unknown—shrouded in mystery, and nothing but mystery…

Before nightfall, Gawain received a report from Betty: Rebecca seemed close to waking.

Rebecca’s room was on the second floor of the lord’s manor. As a pure-blood noble and a young lady bearing a prestigious family name, one might expect her chamber to reflect her status. Yet the room was stark, furnished mostly with pieces crafted by the manor’s carpenters at Gawain’s behest when it was built. Rebecca herself had added no decorations. The only hint of femininity was a dressing table beside the bed, but even its crystal mirror was half-covered with scribbled notes and shorthand formulas…

One could imagine the young lady painstakingly searching through those piles of papers every morning just to find the right angle to get ready—perhaps simply remembering to wash her face and comb her hair was already a triumph. Would she ever learn to apply makeup like a normal noble girl?

At that moment, Rebecca lay quietly in bed, with Hetty sitting at her bedside. When Gawain entered, he gestured for Hetty to stay seated and approached to ask, “Is she awake?”

“Still asleep,” Hetty whispered, “but she just muttered something in her sleep. Betty ran to get you.”

Gawain sat beside the bed, looking down at the peacefully sleeping Rebecca, and gently stroked her hair. “What did she say?”

Hetty looked helpless. “Something like ‘Don’t hit my head.’”

Gawain: “…”

He glanced at his nominal—and in some sense actual—great-great… great-granddaughter and sighed softly, “At least she’s calmer when asleep.”

“Who knows what trouble she’ll cause once she wakes up,” Hetty said, then quietly pointed toward the door leading to the storage room. “Guess what she’s been sneaking around doing? She converted the small room next to her bedroom into a magic lab! It’s a miracle she hasn’t blown the house up yet! I really should keep a closer eye on her—I’ve been too lax since she came of age.”

“A magic lab?” Gawain frowned. “Isn’t there already two labs in this house?”

“She probably wanted one of her own—many mages have personal labs. But you know her situation, she…”

Before Hetty could finish, Gawain signaled her to be quiet, then pointed at Rebecca, who at that moment slowly stirred awake. Her eyelids fluttered twice before she raised a hand to rub her eyes, taking several seconds to realize there were two others in the room.

After a brief moment of dazed focus, Rebecca suddenly gasped and clutched her head. “Don’t hit my head!”

This time, it was definitely not sleep-talking…

“Who said anyone was hitting your head?” Hetty shot her a sharp look. “Do you think I’m always banging your head?”

Rebecca cautiously lifted her eyelids and glanced around, her mind slowly catching up. After a few seconds, she whispered, “Is it… all over? Is everyone okay?”

Gawain couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. “Of course. This time the preparations were even better than last time, and there’s a new wall. Nothing to worry about.”

“Oh…” Rebecca kept her hand on her head, then hesitantly asked, “Did I… cause trouble again?”

Seeing Rebecca—usually fearless and endlessly energetic—looking so subdued, neither Gawain nor Hetty could find it in themselves to scold her. Hetty smiled and shook her head. “Not really. You did surprise everyone with that fireball you made—what’s this ‘amplifier’ thing? Did you build it yourself?”

Rebecca immediately shrank back. “I won’t mess around anymore!”

“Hey, don’t be nervous. Although your experiment caused quite a stir, the results weren’t bad,” Gawain reassured her, then proceeded to explain what had happened while she was unconscious. “Your ‘amplifier’ has been taken by Kamail for now, but you can ask for it back anytime. Your invention gave him a lot of inspiration. You’re very creative in applying magical fields.”

Gawain’s tone turned serious. “Of course, this is still dangerous. You must learn your lesson—you can’t keep secretly tinkering with such risky things, understand?”

Rebecca studied Gawain’s face carefully, confirming he wasn’t angry, then dropped her defensive posture and gave a goofy smile. “Okay, got it!”

“You’d better listen to your ancestor,” Hetty chimed in. “I found out about your secret lab. From now on…”

Before Hetty could finish, Rebecca’s expression fell, as if she was about to wilt on the spot. But neither she nor Hetty expected Gawain to suddenly interrupt: “I’m planning to build a large experimental facility on the open land between the Southern Rune Institute and the Academy. It will serve as a dedicated center for testing and developing arcane technology, consolidating the currently scattered arcane technicians under one roof. Rebecca, as head of the Arcane Energy Department, you will manage this facility—it will have specialized arcane labs you can use freely.”

Rebecca blinked in surprise, eyes wide. “Really?!”

Hetty was shocked. “Ancestor, are you sure you want her to manage such a facility alone?”

“She’s already completed several arcane technology projects and is doing well as department head, isn’t she?” Gawain smiled at Hetty. “The arcane technicians respect her.”

“But theoretical research and experimental operation are different,” Hetty fretted. “She’s caused countless explosions in labs since she was a child…”

Gawain knew Hetty tended to worry too much about this. While it wasn’t a big problem before Rebecca came of age, it could hinder her development later. So he took this chance to share his thoughts.

“Hetty, have you realized how arcane technology differs from traditional magic research?”

“Different?” Hetty blinked. “You mean…”

“I’ve known about Rebecca’s secret lab for over a month,” Gawain said calmly, while Rebecca instinctively shrank back. “But I never interfered because I understand her talent—her gift for arcane technology.

“She often causes explosions in magic labs, but that’s partly because she rarely spends time there and lacks experience. More importantly, she can’t control most traditional magical apparatus—the devices require the operator’s innate talent, and offer little mechanical assistance. Most traditional magic experiments rely on the mage’s own hands and eyes. Someone who only knows fireball spells like Rebecca naturally struggles.

“But arcane labs are a completely different matter.

“You’ve seen Rebecca’s lab—did you notice the difference?

“Arcane labs don’t require casting talent. They rely on tools—mechanical and mathematical—to indirectly control magic, and on the ability to create new tools in the process. That’s Rebecca’s strength, and the direction arcane technology in our territory is heading.

“The facility I want to build will focus on researching practical applications and development of magical technology. Researchers won’t be limited to gifted mages; anyone skilled in arcane tech and rune logic can participate. Unlike traditional mage labs, which are private workshops of powerful wizards, this will be a collaborative center with many technicians working on one or more projects, relying on wisdom, knowledge, and theory rather than personal talent or luck. Of course, luck plays a role in research, but for arcane technology to advance, we must establish a large-scale, professional institution.

“I’ve already decided on the name: The Institute of Arcane Technology. It will be the first comprehensive experimental center in the Cecil territory—and on this entire continent.”

(End of chapter)