[Book 1 Completed] Industrial Mage: Modernizing a Magical World [Kingdom Building LitRPG]
B2 | Chapter 59 – Meeting a Rank 6 Enchanter

Theodore was pleased with his recent development. Over the previous month, the notifications had been arriving consistently:

Your class, [Runic Mage], has leveled up – Lvl 9 > Lvl 10!

[Rune Inscription] has leveled up! – Lvl 7 > Lvl 10!

[Mana Control] has leveled up! – Lvl 15 > Lvl 17!

[Mana Convergence] has leveled up! – Lvl 6 > Lvl 9!

[Cloning] has leveled up! – Lvl 5 > Lvl 8!

[Psionic Resistance] has leveled up! – Lvl 20 > Lvl 22!

[Severing Aura] has leveled up! – Lvl 5 > Lvl 9!

[Elemental Mastery] has leveled up! – Lvl 8 > Lvl 10!

[Basic Rune Creation] has leveled up! – Lvl 20 > Lvl 22!

[Basic Magic Script] has leveled up! – Lvl 11 > Lvl 15!

[Slime Control] has leveled up! – Lvl 2 > Lvl 5!

[Arcane Awareness] has leveled up! – Lvl 11 > Lvl 13!

Theodore hadn't been slacking when the bathhouse was getting built, and aside from those levels, he'd managed to create a working idea for the prototype that could inscribe runes needed to make the refrigerators. He'd also started working on adding some safety measures and kill switches with the help of Jack, and the soap network, so that was also sorted. In addition to occasionally letting Opie out of his soul and playing with Wynd, he had been spending most of his time training, sparring with Freya, working on the bathhouse, the refrigerator rune replicator, and other projects.

Right now, though, he was busy playing with Wynd. Theodore was enjoying his day. In recent weeks, the levels had been steadily increasing. It felt pretty damn wonderful to reach level 10 in his [Runic Mage] class. Because he had been repeatedly inscribing the same runes for the refrigerator prototypes, [Rune Inscription] had jumped up in what seemed like no time at all. It was tedious, but repetition proved effective.

But at the moment, none of that mattered. He was playing around with Wynd. The small guy had long since become larger and was becoming more intelligent every day. Just when he thought everything was going well, he sensed a huge, controlled, and tyrannical presence approaching him.

Theodore's [Arcane Awareness] was practically screaming at him. His good mood evaporated. Theodore stood up. "Wynd, inside. Now."

The wolf seemed to pick up on his tension.

"It's okay. Probably just... diplomatic stuff."

Yeah, right. Diplomatic stuff that felt like a walking thunderstorm. Trying to look unassuming, Theodore walked to the front of the manor. Jack and Roland showed up out of nowhere, and Theodore was startled to see Roland. He had been pretty busy trying to break through to Rank 4, and it seemed like he had succeeded. He gave the man a smile and a thumbs up, to which Roland nodded. When Theodore gazed at Jack, though, he knew everything he needed to know from the look the man gave him. Jack was also aware that someone was approaching. And from the looks of it Roland as well.

"We've got company coming. High-level mage. Maybe Rank 5 or 6?" Jack glanced at Theodore. "Any idea who might be visiting?"

"The Inventor's Guild sent word the other day that they'd be sending appraisers for the patent. But they said it would be low-ranking officials."

"This isn't low-ranking anything."

They didn't have to wait long. Two sharp booms cracked across the atmosphere. Clouds tore open above Holden and a man dropped through them like a god descending. Backlit by daylight, he floated high over the estate, too far away to provide specifics but close enough to establish his presence. When he descended further, Theodore caught the sharp lines of his face and the arrogance in his posture.

Theodore walked out to meet him, keeping his expression neutral.

The mage dropped right in front of Theodore, looking him up and down expressionlessly. "Lord Theodore Lockheart, I presume? I am Master Aldric of the Enchanters' Guild. I've come to investigate certain claims that have been made regarding enchantment theory."

Master? So this guy was a master-ranked enchanter? The way he said 'claims' made it clear what he thought about their validity. Theodore smiled. It wasn't a particularly warm smile.

"Of course. I'd be happy to show you my work. Would you like to come inside? I can have refreshments prepared."

"That won't be necessary. I'm here on official business. The patent you submitted to the Inventor's Guild has raised... questions. Significant questions about the validity of your supposed discoveries."

"Supposed discoveries?"

"Come now, Lord Theodore. You're claiming to have solved problems that have stumped master enchanters for decades. Mana conversion with minimal loss, extended preservation without continuous power input... these are theoretical impossibilities."

"Are they?"

"Yes." Aldric stepped closer, and Theodore could feel the man's mana pressing against his awareness. It was impressive, controlled, refined, and powerful. "What's more likely? That a noble from a backwater domain has revolutionized magical theory, or that someone is attempting fraud?"

Theodore sighed, but he had to admit that it probably did appear impossible from Aldric's point of view. Theodore would have been dubious as well if he'd seen someone claim to be able to reverse aging back on Earth. Or, you could give a flat earther all the evidence you want, but that wouldn't change his mind.

That didn't lessen how annoying the attitude was, though.

"I understand your skepticism," Theodore said carefully. "What I'm claiming does sound impossible. By current understanding of enchantment theory, it should be impossible."

"Then you admit—"

"I admit that current theory is incomplete."

"Young man, enchantment theory has been refined over centuries by the greatest minds in the kingdom. What you're suggesting is that masters who have dedicated their entire lives to this field have somehow missed fundamental principles."

"Not missed. Just... approached from a different angle."

"A different angle." Aldric's voice was flat. "And what angle might that be? What revolutionary insight has escaped every other enchanter in the kingdom?"

Theodore was quiet for a moment.

"Would you like to see it work?" Theodore asked instead of explaining.

"See what work?"

"The refrigerator. The enchantments you're so sure are impossible."

Aldric hesitated. Theodore could practically see the man's internal debate. He obviously anticipated exposing Theodore as a phony. On the other hand, however, if there was any possibility that Theodore was being honest...

"Very well. Show me this miraculous device." Aldric said finally.

Theodore led the way to the back of the manor, where his outdoor workshop now housed the newest refrigerator.

"This is it?" Aldric asked, clearly unimpressed.

"This is it."

Theodore opened the door. Instantly, cold air poured out, bringing with it the odor of food that had been preserved. Inside, ice blocks and other perishables were kept at the ideal temperature.

"It's been running for five days. No mana input since the initial activation. I am trying to improve the battery's design these days." Theodore decided to not talk about the rune replicator.

With a steely focus that replaced his previous barely hidden contempt, Aldric took a step closer. The moment the man's magical senses awoke and began to probe the enchantments, his expression changed. Confusion, then disbelief, then something approaching awe.

"This... this isn't..." Aldric reached out with his mana, trying to understand what he was sensing. "The mana flow... it's completely stable. But that's..."

He trailed off, circling the refrigerator to look at the runes from different angles after Theodore opened the refrigerator up for him so he could see the runework. No, actually, so he could see the "enchantments." Theodore almost chuckled, but he restrained himself as he saw the master enchanter's entire worldview shaking.

"These aren't traditional enchantments," Aldric said slowly. "This structure, these patterns... But how..."

With his hands hovering over the "enchantments" but not quite touching them, Aldric forgot about Theodore and continued mumbling to himself for a few minutes.

Then something changed. Aldric froze, his eyes widening as comprehension set in.

"Oh," he breathed. "Oh, I see. I see! The entire system is..."

He trailed off again. Finally, Aldric looked away from the refrigerator. When he met Theodore's eyes, his face was pale.

"My skills just leveled up a lot just by looking through these enchantments."

Theodore nodded. He'd figured that might happen, but it also confirmed something. Aldric was a monster at comprehension.

"In forty years of study, I've never... How is this possible?"

The hostility vanished. There was no longer any disdain. All that was left was a skilled enchanter confronting something that contradicted everything he believed to be true.

"It's a different approach," Theodore said simply. "Traditional enchantments try to force mana into specific patterns. This works with mana's natural tendencies instead of against them."

"Natural tendencies?" Aldric looked back at the refrigerator, then at Theodore. "You speak as if mana has... preferences."

"Does it not? Haven't you ever noticed that some enchantments fight you while others seem to want to work?"

Aldric was quiet for a moment. "I... yes. But we always assumed that was due to the enchanter's skill level, not any inherent property of mana itself."

Theodore chuckled. "What if it's both?" Theodore said, and he could see the implications hitting Aldric in real time. If mana had natural patterns, natural flows it preferred, then working with those patterns instead of against them would be more efficient. More stable. More powerful.

"Lord Theodore," Aldric said slowly, his entire manner transformed. "I owe you an apology. I came here expecting to expose a fraud. Instead, I find myself confronting a fundamental shift in magical theory."

"No apology necessary. Your skepticism was reasonable."

"May I..." Aldric hesitated. "May I study these enchantments? I realize I have no right to ask, given my earlier attitude, but the implications... they could revolutionize everything we know about magic."

Theodore considered. On one hand, sharing his techniques would speed up their tech and benefit more people. On the other hand, knowledge was power, and power had to be handled carefully.

Not like I'm actually sharing rune knowledge. I just have to let this guy study this; he'll fill in the blanks himself and come up with something that'll advance enchantments. That's good enough.

"You can study them," Theodore said finally. "But there are conditions."

"Name them."

"First, any improvements or innovations you develop based on this work are shared with me."

Aldric nodded immediately.

"Second, you help establish proper safety protocols. This stuff can be dangerous if used incorrectly."

"Of course."

"And third... Well, I need access to knowledge."

For a moment, Aldric looked like he might object. Then his gaze returned to the refrigerator.

"Agreed," he said simply.

Theodore smiled. This time, it was genuine. "Good. Jack can show you to the guest quarters if you'd like to stay while you study. You can also look at the bathhouse if you want and relax there or something."

"A bathhouse?"

"Hot water on demand. Same principles as the refrigerator, just applied differently."

Aldric stared at him. "You're applying this to heating as well?"

"Why not? Once you understand how mana wants to flow, you can guide it toward whatever effect you need."

"Whatever effect... Lord Theodore, do you realize what you've discovered? This isn't just an advancement in enchantment theory. This is a complete paradigm shift. If these principles can be applied broadly..."

"They can be. I've been working on applications for agriculture, construction, transportation... pretty much everything, really."

"Everything? You're discussing a profound shift in the way our entire civilization operates." Aldric shook his head slowly.

Theodore shrugged. "Someone has to."

"There will be resistance, you know. The Guild has invested centuries in current methods. Many masters will see this as a threat to their authority."

"Let them. Progress doesn't stop because people are comfortable with the status quo."

"No," Aldric said slowly. "I suppose it doesn't."

After giving the refrigerator another glance, he turned to Theodore with a look that was almost respectful.

"Lord Theodore, I believe I will take you up on that offer of guest quarters. I have a feeling I'll be here for quite some time."

***

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