Chapter 833: The Cecil Cube

The vast open plains stretched endlessly before their eyes. Early spring vegetation, undeterred by the cold wind, had begun to tint the fields with layers of green. The wheels of the magi-tech carriage rolled steadily over the hardened road, while lamp posts and signboards by the roadside slipped past the window in a steady retreat. Farther ahead, the towering walls of Treaty Fortress came into view, standing majestic and imposing.

Matilda, dressed in a flowing court gown with her black hair cascading over her shoulders, gazed out at the open fields. Her expression was calm, her eyes deep and contemplative, as if lost in thought.

She and the delegation she led had just completed their visit to Cecil. Now, they were en route to Treaty Fortress aboard a magi-tech carriage dispatched by the Longwind Fortress. On the other side, Winterwolf Fortress’s reception team was already waiting. This grand fortress, built to seal the Ansu-Typhon peace agreement, still served its purpose today. As a landmark on the border between the two empires, it remained a symbol of “peace.” Yet the king who once signed that treaty had long since passed, and a dynasty had fallen to the flames of war. Now, only the stone fortress stood firm on the frontier, flying a new imperial banner that proclaimed the dawn of a new era of peace.

How many sighs of reflection did this inspire? How many historians and philosophers would put pen to paper over it?

Matilda withdrew her gaze and looked across at the solemn officer seated opposite her—the commander of Longwind Fortress, General Mariland, personally escorting the delegation. This was a sign of Cecil’s sincerity.

“Princess Matilda, we’re almost there,” General Mariland said with a slight nod, noticing her gaze. “I hope your visit to Cecil has left a good impression.”

“It has been an impressive and pleasant journey,” Matilda replied with a faint smile. “Thank you, General Mariland, for your escort.”

The convoy smoothly ascended the slope leading to Treaty Fortress. The flags of Typhon and Cecil fluttered high above the gray-white walls and towers. Matilda’s eyes swept over the open ground beside the slope, where soldiers stood guard. There, she spotted several black magi-tech vehicles adorned with shields and crown emblems.

They were magi-tech carriages sent by Winterwolf Fortress—manufactured by Typhon itself.

Andersa Wendel, her silver hair loose over her shoulders, stood with her knights in the biting early spring wind, watching the Cecil convoy arrive at the fortress square. From the carriage stepped the princess who had successfully completed her mission, along with scholars and noble representatives of the empire.

And the commander of Longwind Fortress, General Mariland Onar.

Soon, both sides followed the agreed procedures for handover. After signing and exchanging the necessary documents, Mariland finally had time to study the young “Wolf General” standing before him. Along this long border, he had dealt with this young lady more than once, but such calm, face-to-face encounters were rare. Looking at Andersa—who could almost be his daughter—he smiled faintly. “General Andersa, my task is complete. Your delegation has safely reached the border.”

Andersa’s pale gray eyes lingered on Mariland for a long moment before she nodded. “Thank you for your escort.”

They both extended their hands, clasped briefly, and then parted.

The Cecilians departed.

Andersa stood on the high ground where Winterwolf Fortress was located, her gaze lingering long on the magi-tech vehicles bearing deep blue insignias. Matilda stood beside her, and after a while, she asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“…Nothing much. I was just thinking about General Mariland…” Andersa began, then shook her head and turned to Matilda. “Is everything going smoothly?”

“We’ve made good progress,” Matilda said with a faint smile, as if speaking casually. “General Bard has been missing for nearly twenty years now, hasn’t he? General Mariland’s temperament and age remind me a lot of him. Come to think of it, if Bard hadn’t disappeared back then, it would be his generation guarding this border, not a young woman like you.”

Andersa frowned, fixing her friend with a stern look. “Princess Matilda, that topic isn’t very interesting.”

“My apologies,” Matilda said immediately, then casually shifted the subject. “Let’s head back to Winterwolf Fortress. It’s been many days since I last set foot on Typhon soil.”

Andersa nodded—she knew it was time to discuss the visit to Cecil.

After all, this “Treaty Fortress” on the border was still half under the watchful eyes of the Cecilians.

On the way back to Winterwolf Fortress, Matilda and Andersa shared a carriage.

“So, tell me about your impressions of Cecil,” Andersa said, visibly more relaxed now that they had left Treaty Fortress and no one else was around. She looked curiously at her friend, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Matilda smiled back. “There’s much to tell, but that can wait until we’re back. For now, there’s something I want to show you.”

With that, she produced a small cube no larger than a palm, seemingly assembled from many identical metal blocks. She held it out for Andersa to see.

Andersa’s eyes widened with curiosity. She could sense a faint magical aura emanating from the strange cube but couldn’t tell what kind of magical device it was. “What is this…?”

“It’s a gift from His Majesty Gawain Cecil—a marvelous ‘Cecil Cube,’” Matilda explained, gently turning the metal blocks inscribed with runes between her fingers. “Andersa, if I’m not mistaken, you don’t have the talent to cast spells, right?”

“That’s right,” Andersa nodded. “Which is why I chose to become a knight… hmm?”

She didn’t finish her sentence. Suddenly, the surface of the strange metal cube shimmered with flowing light. One by one, the runes lit up, and the once unremarkable cube, with only a faint magical pulse, opened a soft vortex—a breeze shield!

“It contains a miniature magic network inside, and the runes on its surface can be combined in patterns to produce various basic magical effects…”

Matilda looked into Andersa’s eyes and spoke calmly. After the initial surprise and curiosity, the Wolf General’s pale gray eyes deepened with thought, growing profound and contemplative. She remained silent for a long moment.

Matilda gently rotated the cube, cutting off the breeze shield’s magic effect, and sighed softly. “I think you’ve realized the significance of what this thing represents.”

“To arrange runes into stable magic arrays, to produce consistent magical effects, and to inscribe these runes across more than twenty blocks—while ensuring the interference between runes doesn’t exceed the blocks’ limits…” Andersa’s tone was grave, even solemn. “Though I lack spellcasting talent, I’ve studied basic magical principles. Matilda, how many different combinations does this cube have…?”

“The number of combinations these little blocks can produce is one that would astonish both you and me,” Matilda said quietly. “Anyone with a sharp mind who encounters it quickly realizes that trying to brute-force the rune sequences by ‘luck’ is impossible. To make them form specific spell effects, you have to follow strict mathematical laws.”

“Mathematical laws…” Andersa instinctively closed her eyes for a moment. “So… you’ve cracked the code?”

“Not yet, but I’ve figured out part of it,” Matilda sighed softly. “Andersa, the mathematical laws are only part of it. This cube reveals so much more. From one perspective, this ‘rune cube’ even symbolizes part of the essence of magi-tech. And just that part alone has stumped nearly everyone in the delegation…”

Andersa stared steadily at the rune cube in Matilda’s hands. After a moment, she broke the silence. “So the Cecilians made this cube to…”

“A toy.”

Before Andersa could finish, Matilda answered. After seeing the stiff expression on her friend’s face, she smiled. “Andersa, this cube is very cheap and structurally much simpler than you might think. Its value lies in the ‘knowledge’ behind it. The blocks themselves… in Cecil, they’re toys for children, designed to inspire interest in runes and encourage thinking—a kind of educational toy.”

“It’s just a toy…” Andersa frowned, speaking in a low voice as if struggling to accept it. “This thing is just a…”

Matilda’s tone was much calmer. “His Majesty Gawain Cecil gave it to me as a gift. Perhaps it’s a subtle display and deterrent, but on the other hand, it’s truly a valuable and precious ‘gift.’”

She had expected Gawain to show her the might of his powerful magi-tech army or to tour her through a mobile mechanical fortress capable of intimidating high-level supernaturals. Instead, he gave her a small “rune cube.” And this unassuming cube soon revealed its “power.” Matilda had been fiddling with it for days, and each day it impressed and shook her more deeply. Yet today, she could look at it calmly and even gain insight from its “threat.”

“Showing off one’s national strength is something any normal ruler would do. But Gawain Cecil is not just a ruler,” Matilda said, turning the cube in her hands. “He’s also showcasing precious knowledge. Andersa, you should see that this cube is easy to replicate. In the hands of scholars skilled in mathematics and physics, cracking its mathematical laws wouldn’t be difficult—though I haven’t fully worked out the rules hidden inside these blocks yet. But I can feel that the Cecilians have grasped some ‘truth’ in the field of runes. The greatest significance of this cube is that it tells us this.”

“Are you going to hand this ‘Cecil Cube’ over to the Imperial Engineering Association when you return?” Andersa’s curiosity had settled. She looked at Matilda. “They should be better equipped to handle these kinds of ‘new things’ beyond traditional magic.”

“Of course. Lady Windsor Mapple and Master Daniel will definitely be interested,” Matilda said without hesitation. “Besides research, I plan to mass-produce it in factories and distribute it among the people…”

“Just like Cecil is doing?” Andersa mused. “Using it as… some kind of educational toy?”

“At least, compared to hunting and banquets, these cubes are entertainment that the common folk can afford. The development of magi-tech has taught me one thing: the era of ‘classical knowledge’ is over. In this age, if knowledge can’t connect with society as a whole, its development will be severely hindered, or even come to a halt…”

“You always think further ahead than I do,” Andersa smiled. “But no matter what, I think you’re right. I support your decision.”

Matilda nodded but said no more. She focused intently on the rune cube turning in her hands, while the scenery outside the carriage window blurred past. She sank into deep thought.

…

Northern Territory, Cecil Empire.

As the brilliant sun rose to crown the mountaintop, its hazy, faintly wood-grained disk resting like a regal diadem atop the northern peaks, the visitors from the Holy Dragon Principality finally arrived at the northern border.

At the northeastern checkpoint of Winterhold Fortress, the heavy, sturdy magical gates of the Windshield Bastion creaked open slowly. The energy barrier enveloping the entire fortress shimmered with subtle ripples. For the first time in centuries, the mysterious Dragonborn had officially dispatched an envoy to set foot in the human realm.

Byron and Duchess Victoria led the welcoming officials, watching intently from behind the fortress gates as the Dragonborn entered.

A flicker of curiosity passed between them.

Sir Gorosh rode atop a towering earth-drake, his expression grave and composed as he stepped into the human stronghold. Behind him, the Dragonborn maintained their solemn order. Walking side by side with him was Lady Asalina, the Dragonmark Witch, serving as the “Advisor on Human Affairs” for this mission.

Suddenly, he sensed something unusual about the witch beside him.

Curious, Sir Gorosh turned his head—and saw the proud red-haired lady staring wide-eyed ahead, her expression strangely unsettled.

(End of chapter)