Throne of Magical Arcana

Ding. The crisp sound found its way into Andy’s ears, waking him up from his wonderful dream about the future. He saw a minuscule magic steam train arriving by him.

It was lead grey in general and more than three meters tall. It had only one long carriage that moved between two tails on the ground. However, there was no steam popping up from the locomotive, but only two thick antennas that rose up and connected the black wires established in midair. It couldn’t have looked more bizarre.

“A trolley car…” Andy looked at the monstrosity, so amazed that he almost forgot to get aboard.

It was said that the trolley car did not require spiritual power or willpower. All one needed to do was to press or lever certain switches, so even ordinary people could drive them easily. However, since there were not many streets in Rentato that were broad enough to set up the trails, the vehicle was limited to a few lines. For most of the streets, the buildings on two sides had to back off by one meter to give enough room. The work was unimaginable for the cabinet and the city hall right now. Therefore, they would rather promote the buses despite their heaviness, clumsiness and noise.

Ding. Hearing that the trolley car was about to close, Andy shivered and stepped on it. Today was the day that the Lanxiang school began. If he were late, he would lose his bright future.

Pa. The door of the trolley car closed. Andy patted his chest in relief. The daydreaming smile appeared on his face again.

Before he became an adult, he had been working for the alchemical workshops, but his salary every month could only make ends meet. The gap between his dream of magic radios and lamps and the reality was as huge as that between Mountain Paradise and abyss. It seemed that he would live in a slum, eat lousy food, and get married with somebody he barely knew, dying to live just like his parents.

The moment he thought of the hopeless future where there were no changes, Andy often felt depressed. If he had never known how wonderful the world was, he could’ve accepted such a life in numbness, but now that he had gotten in touch with the outside world through the magic radios, his horizons had been broadened, and he had many more dreams. How could he live such a poor life forever?

A month ago, Martin, William and he went to test their spiritual power talent, only to discover that it was extremely feeble. If they had enormous wealth, there would still be hope for them to become magic apprentices, but it was naturally impossible for them. So, they entered the alchemical workshops in misery and desperation, doing the same labor every day without seeing any hope to change.

The painful days lasted until a few months ago, when he learnt the news that the generic schools and the Lanxiang schools were about to be established. He dropped his numbness and was full of momentum again. Between the two kinds of schools, the generic school required the support of certain wealth. Unwilling to ask for more money from his parents, he did not consider it.

The Lanxiang school, on the other hand, met his demands perfectly. If he graduated from there, he wouldn’t need to worry about jobs at all. Every alchemical workshop would want him.

After he became a real alchemical worker, he would be like the dwarfs he met before. His salary would be so high that he could buy a magic radio in a couple of years. Also, he would be respected and have the chance to be promoted into an alchemical manager. As for the alchemical consultant, that was a job only for the real sorcerers and arcanists.

After the setback, Andy’s dream to become a sorcerer was shattered by the cruel reality, but he let go of his illusions and had a new dream that better suited himself, and he tried his best to achieve it.

“If you dare not dream about the future, living is no different from death, right?” Thinking about that, Andy clenched his fists, feeling proud of himself for the hard work in the past months. He had finally passed the exams and became a member of the Lanxiang school!

In a rising society and an age of great transformation, even the civilians were full of passion and vigor.

“…Prime Minister Russell has announced that a special police department will be established in replacement of the sheriff system in the past. He indicated that it will better control crime and give the citizens of Holm a safer life. Also, he said that, as a precaution against the potentially threatening criminals such as the dark nights who cannot control their lust for killing, part of the Verdict Knights and the Saint Cross Knights will be appointed as officers of the police department, and the regular policemen will also be equipped with burst guns that the dwarves invented.”

The news broadcast of ‘Holm Radio Station’ came from the front of the trolley car. Similar magic radios had been installed into every trolley car and every bus, so that the passengers could hear the news while they were on their way. Because of the changed life style, the channels such as Arcana Voice had also added a rebroadcast in the morning.

“Burst gun?” Inside the trolley car, many passengers repeated what they heard in confusion. They had never heard of such a thing before. What was it about?

Andy smiled. He knew it very well, because it was manufactured by the alchemical workshop he previously worked in. It was invented by the dwarves there and received Mr. Evans’ attention!

Based on the high-pressure steam rifles, and together with the advance alchemical dynamites and simplified magic circles, they had finally created a burst gun that could launch bullets with alchemical dynamite after years of experiments. As long as there were enough bullets, even the ordinary people could use them. Every bullet was as powerful as the ability of a regular knight.

Of course, such weapons were not good enough to deal with the knights, because the shooters could not keep up with their speed. Also, the weapons needed to be reloaded after the bullets were shot out. They could only expect to injure the regular knights if they shot in a row.

However, they were more than enough to deal with the squires of the knights.

Andy also knew that there were advanced burst guns. They were made with better barrels and magic patterns. As alchemical items that were equal to magic bows, they could only be used by magic apprentices and knights, and they would be exhausted after a few shoots. So, until they were simplified, they were only given to the middle-rank and low-rank knights.

Also, Andy was told that Mr. Evans had invented an electromagnetic gun that could launch bullets with electromagnetic power with a terrifying speed and damage. He had named the electromagnetic gun as ‘Gauss Rifle’. It was a pity that the weapon was a senior-rank alchemical item that only the sorcerers whose cognitive world had half-solidified and the level-grand knights could use.

According to Mr. Evans, ‘Gauss Rifle’ could possibly be used by low-rank knights in the future, provided that the research on superconductivity materials made groundbreaking progress, which probably wouldn’t happen in the next fifty years.

“By then, the kingdom would be able to organize an enormous group of knights. The regular knights will use Gauss Rifle, and the ordinary soldiers will use the middle-rank burst gun. Only the senior-rank sorcerers or radiant knights can resist their salvo…” Andy shivered in excitement as he imagined that.

He had to work in the workshops that manufactured such weapons in the future!

“…The proposal about mailmen and mail service is being debated in the Parliament of Nobles. Some members believe that it is useless because common citizens do not have many friends far away, and the nobles, who have their own servants, do not need such a thing, either…”

Andy did not know much about the mail service, but Arcana Voice had repeatedly announced that it would shorten the distance among people and help connect families and friends far away. Also, it would be an amazing experience to get to know more friends through mail. So, he was a supporter of the idea. He mumbled, “Those nobles never consider the civilians, well, except for the few kind nobles.”

Ding. “The Lanxiang school is up ahead.”

Hearing the conductor’s voice, Andy felt that his body tightened and all his hairs were rising. Then, he left the trolley car. When he passed the conductor, he tossed five new copper coins into the iron box before her.

Although the five new copper coins were one fifth of Andy’s daily wage, he felt that the trolley car was worth it.

Also, he had no time to consider the cost, because he was too excited watching the beautiful buildings ahead of him on the cement road.

Basking in the sunlight, the Lanxiang school was dyed gold, giving a sacred and wondrous feeling. Feeling that he would never be able to forget the picture, Andy moaned: “Lanxiang, my dream, I’m here!”

Starting from today, he would step into a new episode of his life, where there was hope and light!

……

Inside the ‘Atomic Universe’, Lucien and Natasha stood face to face.

“Bring the Shield of Truth. I’m not worried about your attack; I’m only worried about your defense.” Natasha said in a rarely solemn way. “In fact, it will be better if you bring the Sword of Truth.”

Knowing Natasha’s concerns, Lucien nodded. “What about you?”

“I’m looked after by Granny Hathaway, the defense in the Nekso Palace, your demiplane, and Pale Justice. What’s there to be scared of?” Natasha smiled, not as sorrowful as a common lady would be.

Lucien chuckled and brought out a crown that seemed to be forged with starlight. “I’ve borrowed the Thorny Crown for you.”

“When did you borrow it?” Her eyes widened, Natasha asked in amusement.

“When I guessed that you will give me both the Shield of Truth and the Sword of Truth. It is not of much use for me.” Lucien put the crown on Natasha’s head with a smile.

The other two legendary items had been borrowed by Klaus and Erica.

Natasha smiled brilliantly, but then she heaved a sigh. “It’s a shame that I still haven’t advanced into legendary, or I’d be able to go with you.”

She was sensible enough to know that she would only be a burden for Lucien if she joined the adventure when she was not legendary yet.

“It had been only one year since you became a gold knight. You can’t be hasty. Even if you grasp the attack with which you executed Kritonia, it would take years before you have a chance of advancement. That’s perfectly normal.” Lucien rubbed Natasha’s hair.

Natasha nodded her head. “The cruel reality that I cannot partake in an adventure with you has filled me with momentum. I’ll keep on trying.”

Then, she hugged Lucien and kissed him deeply for quite a few minutes. In the end, she spoke in a coarse voice half jokingly, “If you are trapped, just wait for me to save you after I become a legend.”

“However, I believe that you will definitely make it back smoothly.”

After that, Lucien embarked on the adventure with an unprecedented assortment of five legendary items.