In modern Earth, aluminum ranks third in abundance in the Earth's crust, following only oxygen and silicon. Yet, owing to the weak oxidizing nature of aluminum compounds, their reduction from ores remained a daunting challenge. Not until the year of our Lord 1854 did the German chemist Wöhler utilize sodium in place of potassium to reduce aluminum chloride, thus producing the first ingots of this precious metal.
For a considerable period thereafter, aluminum was as rare as gold or silver, its production so scarce that it became a jewel for monarchs and nobles alike. The illustrious French Emperor Napoleon III once dined with forks of aluminum; the king of Thailand adorned himself with a chain of the same. At the World's Fair in Paris, gleaming aluminum was displayed alongside regal gemstones, labeled as "the silver from clay."
Richard was acutely aware that to cultivate aluminum from naught would require decades, a luxury he could scarcely afford. What then could be done? Did the first challenge truly end here?
Furrowing his brow in contemplation, his young maid Lucy busily tidied the instruments behind him, anxious to avoid any sound that might disrupt his thoughts.
Suddenly!
Richard's eyes brightened, as he realized he had ensnared himself within a mental impasse.
First and foremost, the production of the anesthetic did not demand a copious quantity; merely enough for his own use would suffice. Thus, the industrial methods could be discarded altogether in favor of the more manageable laboratory synthesis.
As he recalled, the laboratory method for preparing ether involved the heating of ethanol with concentrated sulfuric acid to a temperature of 140°C, resulting in the elimination of water and yielding the desired ether. This should be the content gleaned from the pages of a high school chemistry textbook.
During this process, two key ingredients were requisite: the first being concentrated sulfuric acid, which served as a catalyst—something Richard possessed. The second ingredient, however, was ethanol, required as a base material for the reaction.
Now, what precisely is ethanol?
Is it not alcohol? Indeed, alcohol is but the common name for ethanol—its chemical identity!
As for alcohol, had he not previously distilled a considerable quantity?
Richard glanced towards the corner of the lab, where bottles sealed tightly with spirits stood aligned, their contents intact. A smile unfurled upon his lips; how curious it was—experiments could be mystifying, complex to the brink of absurdity, yet astonishingly simple at times.
In the next breath, Richard addressed Lucy, whose delicate fingers had just finished arranging the last of the instruments: "Prepare for the experiment!"
"Yes, my lord," the diligent maid replied with a respectful nod.
The experiment commenced.
And then it concluded.
With nary a hitch, Richard adeptly followed his plan, obtaining a modest yield of ether. Though the quantity was small, it sufficed for his purposes. He carefully transferred the ether into a sealed bamboo tube, nodding with satisfaction before he stepped out of the laboratory, making his way towards the chamber below the loft.
Night soon descended.
At the depths of the darkened hour, Richard sat silently upon his bed, counting the rhythm of his breath.
"One, two, three, four…"
Upon reaching one hundred, he found his mind utterly tranquil. He withdrew the bamboo tube containing the ether and, upon opening it, inhaled lightly. The ether, volatile in nature, surged quickly into his system, and Richard felt his body grow suddenly heavy.
Sealing the tube once more, he closed his eyes, embracing the sensation as the ether unfurled its effects within him.
The weight of his body intensified, until he felt utterly numb—a sensation akin to petrification. His consciousness, as if ensnared by an invisible force, began to rise upward.
Such a state persisted for an unmeasured duration, until, like a bird freeing itself from a cage, Richard felt an abrupt lightness. At that moment, a dazzling expanse unfolded before his eyes, revealing a magnificent "starry sky."
Surveying his surroundings, Richard marveled at the multitude of colorful lights: crimson, emerald, golden, azure, and violet…
"Is this but an illusion, or…" Richard murmured to himself, recollecting the teachings inscribed within the Human Skin Diary.
According to that sacred text, those who successfully enter a meditative state may perceive energy elements permeating the external world…
"Verily, these luminous points are the so-called energy elements," he confirmed.
He recalled the techniques detailed in the diary for drawing these energy elements into oneself using sheer will. Richard, resolute, set about putting this knowledge to practice.
He first selected the nearest red energy element as his target, envisioning his form elongating, reaching out with his intangible awareness to touch it, then straining to draw it closer into his being.
Swiftly, the red light surged into him, igniting a wave of warmth that spread through his entire body as though ablaze.
"Could this be the fabled fire element?" Richard pondered, only to discover that the "fire element" he had internalized lingered but a fleeting moment before vanishing into nothingness.
"Indeed, without having formed a wellspring of magical energy, it is impossible to retain the energy elements acquired within," Richard reflected. His thoughts turned to further entries within the Human Skin Diary, "While mere meditation does not permit storage of these energy elements, it serves a noble purpose in strengthening one's consciousness, preparing it for the release of complex spells."
"But what, pray tell, is this consciousness strength?" he questioned, pondering the very nature of existence. Is this so-called consciousness a true 'awareness,' or merely an unknown 'substance'? To utilize this consciousness to absorb elements—does that not influence the material world? Is this thus an idealistic or materialistic perspective?" Richard mused, lost in profound contemplation.
The night passed in silence.
At dawn, the cheerful serenade of birdsong heralded the morning, and Richard slowly opened his eyes.
His prior meditation had lingered through the night. Yet realizing that meditation could not replace sleep, and indeed had caused weariness of spirit, he decisively withdrew from the meditative state, embracing slumber. After all, only through ample rest could he retain vigor for the day's endeavors.
In a sense, the meditation described within the Human Skin Diary truly exercised his awareness, hence the resultant fatigue. From this viewpoint, the so-called consciousness seemed to embody a more 'material' quality, hinting that meditation leans toward a materialist worldview.
As Richard pondered the nature of meditation, he developed a newfound understanding: to break through in his studies of sorcery, a consistent commitment to daily meditation was vital, necessitating adjustments to other activities to avoid conflict.
"Rather than simply cultivating, it feels more akin to attending lessons. Indeed, only through diligent study might one achieve excellence?" Richard murmured, exiting the chamber.
Having surmounted the initial challenge of meditation, Richard directed the majority of his focus towards overcoming the second difficulty that lay ahead.
The second challenge demanded the construction of a wellspring of magical energy within his own body.
The Human Skin Diary elucidated that the wellspring serves as a special structure wherein the absorbed energy elements may be stored, ready to be formed anywhere within the corporeal vessel. However, the primary obstacle in this endeavor rested in entering a particular state—a state described in the diary wherein energy flowed continuously throughout the body, rejuvenating the entire form.
How could one achieve a state where energy coursed unceasingly, and how might one bring vitality to the body?
Richard found himself ensnared in a web of confusion.