Gabriel hopped around Daniela seemingly excited.
"Are you that thrilled to meet her?" Daniela asked, though she already knew from reading the story. Gabriel's talent for magic was extraordinary. A natural talent, perhaps even a one-in-a-million. For him, Han Shia was his idol.
"Of course, who wouldn't want to meet her, she's the most amazing mage out there. It is said that her pathway construct is so perfect, mana flows smoother than the blood in her body," replied Gabriel, still hopping around Daniela.
"It's not a baseless rumour, Prince Gabriel," a calm yet authoritative voice interjected. "Miss Shia is one of the strongest mages of our era, with her talent to analyse, and her outstanding ability to multicast and combine spells she is second only to very few," the voice coming from a man who looked no older than forty, his white hair standing out along with his sharp moustache.
"Really? Now I'm even more excited." Gabriel replied.
Daniela recognised him instantly: Thomas Radagar, the emperor's most trusted knight, The Brilliant Moon of the Radagar family. His aura commanding from his slick back hair to the precision in his movement. His uniform consisted of a white belted shirt, a black long overcoat adorned with a silver accent, an insignia decorated on his left shoulder depicting a blade piercing a star.
'The Tara Knights, the strongest knight force in the kingdom led by Thomas Radagar, honestly I'm getting chills from seeing all these characters in real life, he looks a lot more intimidating than I remember', Daniela thought.
"Princess we have reached the gate," Wyge spoke, her words bringing back Daniela, who was lost in deep thought.
The teleportation gate was the mechanism used to transport high-quality goods back when it was invented, but it hasn't been used as a means of transportation since the effects of space manipulation were still unclear. Later, a scientist, Dr Liu Han, found the perfect build for the flow of mana without disrupting the mana flow of living organisms. The gate was also placed in the open, to avoid problems in connecting with the receiver gate.
Daniela recalled the mechanics, 'The gate works through the mana source code engraved on the floor. By continuously supplying it with mana, via the mana stones placed on the four pillars around the source code, it doesn't disappear after a single use. The location is then given as input, which the source code processes and transports the target as per the coordinates given. I was pretty nerdy when it came to magic in this story.'
It is a platform rather than a gate, but it was called a gate due to its functions. The source code was written on a circular stone platform, with four pillars, equations inscribed into them. The operators stood behind a small holographic controller, ready to activate the gate.
Wyge walked towards the operator and handed one of the workers a black card with golden engravings of a dragon head. After a brief exchange, she returns to the group.
"Let's go in, princess, they have set the coordinates to Nexarion, the principal has been informed of our visit."
The four of them walk onto the platform. The operators begin the countdown, "Coordinates confirmed, Nexarion receiver gate preparation complete. Initiate teleportation in four, three, two, one..."
The code on the floor lit up bright blue and the pillars glowed yellow, the code wiring, in a second the group disappeared, blue particles left in the air.
...
"Teleportation complete, result: successful."
As soon as they materialised, Daniela ran out of the platform onto the grassy plains, Wyge ran after her calling out, concerned, "Princess, what's wrong?"
"BLEH"
Daniela let out the morning breakfast all at once, Wyge softly rubbed Daniela's back as she let it out.
'Uhh, teleportation sucks, why was this never mentioned in the story? It felt like my brain was thrown into a blender.' Daniela thought bitterly.
Gabriel walks towards Daniela after seeing her state and asks her, "Sister, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly throwing up?"
"I don't know,—bleh—, uhh, Wyge some water, please?"
Wyge taps the black bracelet on her right hand and a flask materialises on her hand. She carefully opens the bottle and hands it over to Daniela.
Daniela accepts, her hands still shaking. She takes a single large gulp before gargling and spitting it out. She then takes one more sip, this time swallowing it.
Thomas taps on his ring twice and a small red pill appears on his right hand. He walks towards Daniela and offers her the pill, "Here take it, it's a refresher. It should calm down the effects."
Daniela accepts the pills, placing it on her tongue. It dissolves almost instantly, along with the nausea, the result of the pill-taking effect.
Daniela gets up feeling much better than earlier, "Sorry for the hold-up everyone, I'm not sure why that happened but I'm feeling better, Thank you, Sir Thomas."
Thomas replies with a silent nod.
'Now I just need to find the office, should I ask Wyge, will she suspect something since I'm already a second year here at the academy and still don't know where the office—'
"Esteemed guests, this is a surprise, I wasn't expecting anyone today let alone the prince and prin—, well not anymore, I guess? Oh hey, Wyge."
Daniela's thoughts were cut off by the voice of a woman who looked no older than twenty-five. Her brown hair flowed along with her olive complexion, contrasting against the silver tie and midnight blue suit adorned with the academy's insignia.
"Well look who is here to greet us, if it isn't the esteemed, 'Han Shia' herself," Thomas replied mockingly.
"Well, what is the 'brilliant moon' doing here? Out for a picnic with the kids? Maybe you should have married someone to take care of you in your old age, after all, you did get your old ass handed to you on a silver platter.' Miss Shia replied with a playful wink.
Thomas seemingly annoyed retorts, "Huh? What's that supposed to mean, if I remember correctly I won five times out of the ten duels."
'Why are these two squabbling like children, I should step in.'
"Sir Thomas, sorry to interrupt, but can you two take care of this later on a much more uninterrupted eve," Daniela interjected.
"Forgive me for my unruly behaviour princess," spoke Thomas as he bowed his head.
"So, what is it pri—, I mean Daniela, what is it?"
"Miss, for the first time in twenty-four years there is manakai this year, and you guys do not have a teacher for that, right?"
"Yes, that is true. I will not ask you how you found out about the first year, but why are you asking? Do you perhaps know someone suitable?" Han Shia enquired.
"We'll come back to that later, and three years ago, during the Unbound Gate incident, after completing the gate, you got a Mana Syndex protected by a Mana Sealix which you haven't been able to unlock nor find anyone who could do it?" Daniela spoke her face gloomy after the teleportation.
"Yes, where are you going with this? If you know someone tell me, I'm willing to look at who the former princess wants to recommend."
"Fine, he's pretty famous, like from a certain incident from a few years ago, the supposedly main culprit of 'The Thorne brothers plagiarism' scandal."
"Who? That guy?" Thomas asked stepping in.
----
"Jonathan Thorne, that's my name, ring any bells?" Jack spoke his voice, laced with excitement as he revealed his identity.
"Wait, the same Jonathan Thorne from the scandal five years ago? No way! So what is the truth about the scandal? Did you steal your brother's research and use it?" Finn asked, a mix of curiosity and disbelief in his tone.
"Why don't you try judging me with those observation skills you demonstrated earlier, go on, give it a try, I won't complain, I promise." Jack's tone, steady and inviting.
"You were framed, right? But why?" Finn asked, his curiosity piqued.
"That's correct, you befit the title of someone going to Nexarion. As for why, it's a pretty stupid reason, my brother simply did not like my research, well he never liked me from the moment I was born." Jack smiled, his pain evident in his expression.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have pried, please forgive my insolence."
"It's alright, it's not like I'm trying to forget it, it's always there, maybe it's a good thing you asked, it helps me remember."
...
'Gosh, I shouldn't have asked him something that personal, but my memories are still scrambled, I remember seeing him and having some sort of conversation but nothing else. Why can I remember my death so clearly?'
"So, mister, what was your research based on?" Finn asked, trying to veer away from the earlier conversation.
"Eonweave physique. It was something I made for the manakai class, specifically for those abandoned by mana or as many call, the redheads. It allowed the user to control mana without much difficulty by infusing eonweave into the whole body, from skin to bone, blood vessels to muscles." Jack explained.
"Oh! How did you do that? Isn't eonweave volatile? It's a property that couldn't be controlled but if the infusion was successful then controlling mana would be a lot easier even for those with red hair." Finn replied surprised.
"Exactly the reason why they framed me. If such a technique were to be given to the public, even those with poor mana affinity could rise in ranks, but the nobles did not want that." Jack said, his tone darkening.
'That explains why he got framed, but if he perfected such a technique he sure must've tested it on himself, right?'
"Mister, what did you do about the poisoning, like I asked earlier, isn't eonweave volatile, the energy poisons the user hence why mages never used it for anything but evolving mana to aether," Finn asked, astonished.
Jack replies letting out a small chuckle, "Since I was my first victim, I did get eonweave poisoning, but I am a great architect, I carefully constructed barriers around the main meridians to not let the poisoning flow and affect me everywhere."
"You did what mister? How can you make barriers that small and maintain them." Finn admitted.
"That's a trade secret for us manakai, you are following the path of a martial artist, aren't you?"
"Yep, that was my calling, but I don't know my talent, I need to take an assessment to find out my talent and they cost quite a fortune, hence why I'm here."
"Oh! Is that why you have been starving yourself? Fret not", Jack spoke swelling his chest from pride, "I'll pay for your assessment, how about that? I have a lot of money laying around, I wouldn't mind spending it for a noble cause." Jack suggested.
"Really! Why would you go that far for me? You don't even know me."
"I don't know, I want to see what talent you will get, besides my talent assessment was a complete nightmare, so why don't you freshen up, we can go right now."
"Wait, right now? Bu—"
"No buts, get ready, the bath is— Oh yeah I don't have a bath, stand back kid I'll show you what a sixth-star architect can do."
Jack then takes a step back before raising his right hand, extending his index and middle finger, while folding his thumb and other fingers inwards before chanting, "Fortress between the realms, codex of void calls—Sepulcher: Echoes of War."
****