Chapter 758: ‘-what did he just say?’

Maicite, first found at The Depths of Arlm, in Easel Run Gard. A not so fruitful mine turned training zone for potential adventurers. In the many elapsed years, whereby a time during which village fledglings would embark to the big city to change their future; the banner under which the Eastern and Western Dragons lived, the Federation, brought many career opportunities. The establishment of an overseas adventuring academy brought forward greater options for the youngsters. 

The light shines the brightest in the darkness. Economy, morale, a failing leadership, a malediction raveled the fledgling country into despair. They forced Hidros's hands and were offered help – days were long and nights short. Extraneous work for minimal pay, many fled the country to which they suffered the 'brain drain,' phenomenon. Famished and impoverished countries are very often tied in a never-breaking loop. Competent people, able to change their nation for the better, opt to immigrate, leaving the falling country for a better life, better reward, and recognition. Many children choose not to have an education and embark into the dangerous world of adventuring. If a guild hires, no matter the prestige, whether, low, mid, or high, guild; they accept and train, often having to prove themselves before being shipped. Therein, the culmination of the country's pain, the prayer of the people didn't go unanswered, fate shone upon them during a lucky accident. What trainee adventurers thought to be rock, when a spell misfired, was absorbed brazenly by rocks and nullified its effects. Idea was to make shields, the ore was mined and exported to a local appraiser, he thought naught, and tis where it flew to Hidros, more specifically, the University of Pleon, build in the dead center of Rosespire's academy district. They appraised the ore, sending it across the globe to parent research facilities – no price was placed on the ore. A gram was easily obtained, the starting price went for 2 Exa per unit, unrefined and uncleaned. The properties went under close examination, results were favorable, alas, the cost price too much for the scholars to invest. The price spiked to 10 Exa per gram since researchers wanted more for further testing. Tis then, a trade ban was decreed by Queen Gallienne to halt the ore's exportation to anywhere aside from Hidros. Supply and demand, no other mines were ever found which held Maicite, the current value peaked at 100 Exa per gram, now lingering between 70 – 80 Exa. By all means, a novel ore circulated throughout the months until the hype died and the general public moved on with their lives. 

Time read 22:35 on a square-clock, the white, sanitized laboratory, deep in the underbelly of the '-Research Facility of Rotherham,' breathed. 

"I'll head out for the night," said Clarise, "-call the guard if there's anything you need. Take your time, I'll be off, good night." Shutters lowered halfway onto the doorway, '-pretty industrial for a place of low-key knowledge. I have a kilogram, ' he leaned, studying the scrambles from afar, '-the pieces mildly gravitated to one another. They form their own field and act on the mana around,' hence the testing commenced. For the next few hours, he'd carefully comb the properties, understanding the matter on an atomic level, the pupils bleached, Origin's boon of true sight foretold of the endless possibilities and how it reacted, the mana lines, the very particles, were visible. 05:05 on the clock, '-looks like I was right. The ore is actually the fragmented parts of perished gods, angels, demons, monsters, those who live in a clearer, purer dimension. These must be the remains of Lord Death's massacre, in other words, tis the physical representation of a being's magical element. Father's research into artificial elements briefly touched on the possible idea about physical extraction, the course of time did its due. Who knows how long the Maicite will last,' he leaned closer, '-it's possible to synthesize it to 80% of efficiency – triple the value current technology holds. No wonder people couldn't see the potential, tis beyond their comprehension. Knowledge strikes again,' he dropped into a cushioned chair at the lobby, plants and warm-colored walls gave a sense of relief. 

*Calling Éclair.*

"Good morning, Master."

"Éclair, good morning," he replied, a shield-shaped majestic blue gem hovered within his palm, "-how much money have we made so far?"

"Vague question, are you speaking of Raven's earnings?"

"Yes, I need both clean and dirty money."

"Through gambling, we've made close to 520 million Exa, whilst the drug trades brought in 800 million. The latter's very profitable, combined, we have 1.3 billion."

"How much did Phantom make in comparison?"

"254 billion last year."

"And Elon's dynasty?"

"560 billion."

He winched, "-how about the Gaso Group and Patek?"

"Gaso group, 215.5 billion, Patek, 430 billion, the figure are drawn from what's publicly available. I suspect more funds have been circulated stealthily."

"Wait, are those how much the companies are worth, not the profits, right?"

"Yes, sorry, I forgot to specify. Early morning fatigue, forgive me, master."

"No worries, I was just brushing up on the bigger player. I need a favor," said a stern voice.

"Go on ahead."

"Who owns the Maicite mine in Easel Run Gard?"

"The mine's in the Eastern Dragon's province, and own by a local lord."

"Make arrangements to purchase the mine and the land, better yet, have Starix flown and make negotiations. Controlling the Maicite market will directly affect who controls the world. Buy them using our funds, make it seem as if the ore is worthless, use the guise of training prospective adventurer, I'm sure my cousin wouldn't mind giving a hand."

"Understood, I shall make preparations right away. Also, I received a message from lady Vesper, she wishes for thee to depart for the Azure wall. I shall ready a jet."

"Right, thank you," the call ended, '-takes care of that. I refined the ore using mana manipulation, I doubt any other country has the know-how. With this little blue gem, we'll take over the whole world.' 

The following days elapsed till dawn of the 12th, lightning rode throughout the facility, the air charged with static current. The converter blew, a blackout inspired terror, "-what happened?" an army of white-coats barged into Igna's lair, he'd forced researchers out, garnering hate – nothing money couldn't fix. A rainbow of hues stapled against the ceiling, floor, walls, he stood, palms over a shoe-box sized container, '-Creation magic,' he puffed, '-box of Alche and the reality alteration, and the concrete support of Mantia. I've made it,' he panted, '-the first catalyst to utilize Maicite in its fullest potential, the gem's removable – higher grade means greater output,' sweat poured, gleaming against the ceiling lights. Heavy steps stopped at his back, two sharp taps, "-what happened?" 

"Lady Clarise," he spun, "-the time I spent in the laboratory was worth the effort," said a smug smirk.

"We've had it with the forceful requests," fired an angry professor.

"Being locked out of the laboratory has hampered the students' growth; you should be ashamed."

"Be quiet, is that any way to speak to the son of the Duchess?" he frowned, the statement sank their hearts. 

"We didn't mean our words maliciously…"

"We only wanted to care for our students, their future relies on the thesis they present."

"Magiology," he paused, "-a very complex subject requiring years of preparation to skim the uppermost layer. Tell me," he nodded to the first plump figured man, "-explain in thy words why Magiology is hard?"

"For the simple reason of it implementing various fields into one, the overarching purpose being to find similarities of magic and the 'proven' fields."

"Not completely inaccurate. Simply put, Magiology was founded for one reason, Mana research. The quest to learn about what we call the human soul, the very essence of our being. Magical elements are real, still, the existence can't be proven. Where does mana come from, where does it go, is it the life-essence of the universe or additional force. So, you see, the complexness doesn't arise till one has a ground grasp on an everchanging form. A competent pursuer of the subject, not to lower thy qualification, must be able to hold water within their palms and not lose a single drop. Once one falls, the water must be released and filled anew."

"'Twould be impossible."

"There's the answer, magiology isn't a matter to be tied by rules – laws naught but a lie."

"And?"

"It must be interpreted, not comprehended, apply your rules, and your mindset. Similar to magic, when casting a spell, tis the manifestation of what is seen in the consciousness, mana is water in many ways."

"Igna," interjected Clarise, "-is it necessary to go into more details?"

"Oh, I apologize for rambling. I thought I'd share what I've learned to know. No matter, my days in the hogging the laboratory wasn't done in malice – I was researching," he sternly gazed Clarise, '-privacy,' said his gaze.

"Leave the matter to me," powers returned; equipment rumbled. Worries thrown out the window – the few discussed words touched their hearts, a new perspective to pounder. She watched them leave, pushed a stray blond lock behind her ears, and firmed onto his visage, "-there, they're gone."

"Good," he sidestepped, "-I present thee, the first convertor abled to use Maicite of any grade."

"…" her fingers tapped, '-what did he just say?' 

"Should I repeat what I say?" he smirked.

"Igna," said a deepened exhale, "-are you pulling my leg?"

"No, why?"

"Countless elite scholars have gone over the problem without an answer. How did you solve the ever quandary of Equal Exchange?"

"By ignoring it," he laughed, "-I said it before, tying Magiology to your rules limits what it's able to do. I merely had to discharge the very thought."

"Okay, sure. What about the purity, how did you refine the ore in such a short amount of time. I never saw any of the equipment being utilized?"

"Manually – I use the Mana-Control arts, a unique ability to control mana in the atmosphere."

She went on her knees, gawked the blue gem, enchanted by its beauty, "-does it work?"

"Channel mana as you would in when driving."

"Understood," her index touched, her eyes closed, *BANG,* the energy released in sound form, shaking the floor, "-What the?" she fell backward, knocking her head against the adjacent table, "-hurts… I added just a bit, nothing my body can't regenerate in a few seconds, HOW!" she leaped, "-IGNA, THIS IS AMAZING!"

"I know, please keep your mind clear. This is the prototype; I bind thy tongue under Phantom's authority. Reveal this to no one," he pressed a button, the device shrunk, "-the current output is triple the added amount. Use it to manufacture the cure for the monster curse, purity and energy are solved, right?"

"Yes…"

"I'm very serious about the condition, keep the device hidden. Never mind," he grasped the invention, evoked a dark-portal, then threw, "-if you want a job done right, do it yourself. I'll have Éclair deliver it to the secret base, acceptable?"

"I don't care, long as I get to study the procedure, please, might I have the papers?"

"It'll be uploaded soon enough. I trust you to overseer the manufacturing process?"

"Understood," she nodded, "-Phantom can once again look proudly forward, we broke through an unclimbable wall. Reminds me of the time I met Staxius, your uncle's intellect and way of thinking differed so much I couldn't make sense of anything." 

In two days, Igna nonchalantly fixed a problem that had scholars scratching their heads. The technological advancement from the prototype alone skyrocketed their country to the top – such was the opinion upon taking accounts of the rival countries. 

'-And, done,' he exited, breathing in fresh for the first time, '-very crowded during the day. Looks like the Academies jointly participated in seminars,' he made for the entrance.

"Wait!" 

"Pardon me?" he turned, '-why's she out of breath?'

"Are you Staxius Haggard?"

"No, and who might you be?"

"Mille Stalin, I was a friend of Eira Haggard, we studied together," ogled from over-shaped glasses. 

'I remember her.'