"Do you really believe that the continent beneath our feet is a planet constantly in motion? That's incredible."
"Didn't Lord Lynn just prove it with the experiment? The pendulum that keeps swinging without external force is the best evidence."
"Ignorant. The pendulum has always swung in a straight line, which means that what's rotating is not the pendulum but the continent beneath our feet."
.
.
.
Theresa rushed to the seminar venue, just missing the end of the discussion, only seeing the wizards leaving the venue in an orderly manner.
Excitement was evident on everyone's faces as they discussed Lynn's pendulum experiment incessantly. Throughout her journey here, Theresa had heard Lynn's name mentioned at least thirty times, making her feel somewhat uneasy.
"Kas, where is Professor Harof?" Theresa stopped a familiar male wizard and eagerly inquired.
"Lord Harof left with Lord Lynn just a while ago," Kas responded.
Theresa's expression changed, realizing that she had arrived too late. She quickly asked about what had happened during the seminar.
"It's a shame you didn't attend the seminar today. You missed seeing how Lord Lynn single-handedly refuted the wizards of the Divination School..." Kas enthusiastically recounted the interesting events of the seminar, unaware of Theresa's increasingly troubled expression.
"Are you saying that Professor Harof is planning to award the Sun Crown Medal to Lynn?" Theresa could hardly believe her ears. This was the highest honor in the world of magical academia, and a third-tier wizard like Lynn achieving such a feat was beyond belief.
"That's correct. Lord Lynn's research on the stars and gravity is probably ahead of everyone else's. I wonder which noble of the Society of Mystical Arts has such a talented disciple in the field of theoretical magic research." Kas marveled. Even though Lynn was just a formal wizard, his knowledge surpassed many grand wizards.
Theresa's head was spinning. She had initially thought that Lynn's research might assist her teacher in advancing his theories. However, Kas's description told a different story. Lynn seemed to have taken the lead in formulating the theory of gravity, making it highly sophisticated. Even her teacher had questions about celestial gravity that he wanted to discuss with Lynn.
But how could this be? Her teacher had spent years on this subject and still hadn't cracked it, the final answer about the stars and the universe. After parting ways with Kas, Theresa returned to her estate in a daze.
Harof had returned, pondering what he should say as the master of ceremonies for the evening gathering. He wanted to ensure that the wizards' reputation remained untarnished.
"Teacher..." Theresa whispered, trying to figure out how to protect her current position.
Harof snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Theresa, his voice cold. "From now on, you don't need to address me in such a manner, Theresa."
Harof had nearly missed the opportunity to refine his theory of gravity because of her arrogance and bias. There were many legendary wizards within the council, and Lynn could easily find another person to expound on the three laws of celestial orbits and the universal law of gravitation.
Even though these theories would eventually be published, they likely wouldn't have any connection to him. He'd probably be ridiculed by his colleagues. More importantly, the chance to interact with the legendary wizards of the Society of Mystical Arts and engage in academic discussions about magic would be given to someone else.
"Teacher, please, give me another chance," Theresa begged, dropping to her knees in fear, tears streaming down her face.
"Is the Sun Crown Medal really that important to me?" Harof shook his head.
Theresa stood there, her face blank, still not quite understanding Harof's intent.
"In the end, these honors, money, and status are nothing more than derivatives of power for a wizard. Only knowledge is the source of power."
Forcing down her academic opinions for the sake of honor was ultimately a futile endeavor.
At this point, Harof sighed, as this kind of thing wasn't uncommon among wizards.
"Do you know why I accepted you as my student a year ago?" Harof suddenly asked.
Theresa hesitated for a moment before saying, "Because of an academic paper..."
"[Exploring the Similarities and Differences Between Magnetism and Gravity.] Harof accurately recited the title of the paper, shaking his head as he continued. "I must admit that the paper was exceptionally well-written. Even without the use of force field magic, you proposed many innovative ideas based solely on the materials available in the magical library. That's why I decided to give you a chance."
"As my student, you could easily seek the help of those grand wizards and access the necessary resources to verify these theories. But now, after an entire year, how much progress have you made with your research?" Harof questioned.
Theresa's face was filled with shame, unable to utter a word.
"Instead, you wasted your time and energy attending banquets and listening to flattery," Harof's words were harsh. He handed her a parchment and said decisively, "You are no longer suitable to be my apprentice. I will have Carol take over your work."
Theresa sat on the ground, utterly deflated. From today, all her glory and status would slip away. Those wizards who had flattered her before, once they found out, would likely return the humiliation tenfold.
Theresa's empty eyes turned towards the parchment Harof left behind. It was the magical paper she had submitted a year ago, the one that had earned her Harof's approval. Now, with many annotations added, it had become her only possession that she could take with her.