northernbook Chapter 48.9: Finding the cat gives me meaningful progression
Chapter 48.9: Finding the cat gives me meaningful progression
“Pardon?” She stared at him as if he were a slime that had just learned to talk.“It is rare,” he repeated, providing absolutely no additional context.
“Rare in what sense? That I happen to have it, or that you know something useful?”
“Both,” Kestovar replied, without the faintest trace of irony. “It’s a glacial imprint quartz. It holds a resonance until the right thermal threshold releases it.”
“You supposedly spend all your time looking at quartz to not be able to name them.”
Fabrisse’s lips twitched.
“I can still determine its refractive index, map its lattice irregularities, and test for residual aetheric saturation without knowing its formal designation,” he finally responded. “Classification is just nomenclature.”
The rant in his head apparently meant nothing to her, as she simply carried on with another question, “Did you notice anything unusual when you held it?”
Fabrisse’s eyes brightened. At least this was a question he could get excited about. “Well, yes. Its thermo-resonance curves deviate from standard glacial quartz. There’s a subtle hysteresis in lattice vibration when exposed to ambient aetheric flux. It’s—”
“No, not that,” Severa interrupted. “I mean anything peculiar in sensation? To touch, to smell, perhaps . . . visual anomalies?”
With a slightly annoyed purse of his lips, he shook his head. “Then no.”
“Ah. Provided you possess the requisite instruments, one could, I presume, conduct analyses upon the quartz?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, you have been rather difficult to work with today, but I suppose something more in your element will make you more willing to cooperate,” Severa said, allowing herself the faintest curl of a smile. “Of course, I’m offering for you to help me crack the stone’s hidden imprint. I could do it myself, naturally, but it’s far more efficient to let someone who already knows their . . . thing handle it.”
Fabrisse’s eyes narrowed. “You must know a few geologists who would surely know a thing or two,” he said.
“I suppose I could extend the opportunity to you,” she said lightly, as though granting him permission to reach for the last tart on the tray. “Helping a fellow student does reflect well on my record. And if your work is thorough, I might even mention you to someone who is in need of this type of work. You are to gain plenty of exposure for your talent.”
A quest showed up just in time.
[New Sidequest Received: “Shards Beneath the Ice”]
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Objective: Conduct a 3-point aetheric grain survey on Cryoflux Quartz under coldfield conditions
Recommended tools: sub-zero emulation matrix, fine-tuned aether probe, patience
Estimated completion time:
+65% Understanding toward unlocking Aetheric Grain Analysis (Rank I)
+3 Stone Thaumaturgy Mastery Points
Bragging rights (local)
Would you like to accept the quest?
[Yes] [No]
[SYSTEM NOTE: Just do it.]
He’d always dreamed of being able to deduce the internal structure of a crystal simply through resonating with the aether. The sooner he mastered this, the better. Every hour wasted waiting for instruction was an hour not spent unlocking the subtle truths of the stones.
Of course, he accepted it.
Kestovar finally said, “Exposure isn’t a form of payment.”
They both noticed the cat-thing attempting to slink away, its movements comically hindered as every paw stuck to the thin layer of paper littering the floor. Severa stepped forward and scooped it into her hands as she said, “If you succeed with this analysis, Kestovar, I will pay you two thousand Kohns.”
“T-two thousands?” His eyes widened like a goblin seeing a hoard of gold.
Her eyes narrowed. “Too low?”
“I mean—”
Before he could protest, she waved her hand. “Then make it three.”
He couldn’t believe his ears. Three thousand Kohns. A single morning, and he would be able to pay off over ten percent of his tuition.
“I mean—” he began, then stopped, as though the very notion of bargaining had thrown him off balance. After a pause, he exhaled and nodded. “All right.”
“Very well,” she said. “Unfortunately, we shan’t be able to begin today. You are to make time tomorrow for the analysis. No excuses.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
He shifted on his feet. “I can’t tomorrow. I have a disciplinary hearing.”
“A what?” Her voice went sharp, incredulous.
“Disciplinary hearing.”
“Have the Synod finally decided to expel you for your non-effort?”
“I threw a rock at a classmate,” he admitted.
She stared at him for another second. “Which one?”
“Gollivur.”
“Ah. Understandable. I’d stone him too.”
At least Severa and he agreed on one thing.
She considered him for a moment, brow slightly arched. “Very well. Friday, then. I will make time for you. We have the instruments in one of our estates, but feel free to bring your own.”
“Friday.” He cast his gaze down, murmuring to himself before saying, “Nine in the morning should be okay.”
“Splendid.” Severa brushed her hands together as if the arrangement were a formal contract now sealed. “Now please follow me to the back garden if you don’t mind.”
He didn’t object, and she led him out through the glass corridor and into the estate’s back garden. Beyond, even more mechanical birds with jeweled eyes perched along the hedge, and a pair of bronze swallows hovered near the fountain, propelled by invisible aether currents, singing soft trills that sounded almost real. The Magister had really gone all in on the avian aesthetics today.