Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 1248 - 34: Alchemy Achievement Council

Chapter 1248: Chapter 34: Alchemy Achievement Council

The eastern district of the City of Knowledge, also known as the Mage District, centered around the Starshine Tower, is encircled by six other high towers arranged in a perfect hexagonal formation. Among these, the Tower of Alchemy, renowned for its abundant magic research outcomes, is situated in the northern part of the Mage District. The entire Tower of Alchemy, with its intense academic atmosphere and fervent pursuit of knowledge, has not only become a symbol for the Alchemy School among mages but also a sacred site of knowledge for scholars in the City of Knowledge. Here, irrespective of experience, age, or power, as long as one possesses ingenious creativity and unique thoughts, they are sure to receive affirmation from the Tower. Even if the individual’s knowledge and abilities are insufficient to realize their visionary ideas on their own, the Tower of Alchemy would dispatch experienced scholars and mages to wholeheartedly assist them in completing their research. The glory of completing research predominantly belongs to the originator of the ideas, however, if the aid of the Tower of Alchemy is needed, the Alchemy Association would negotiate to claim a portion of the income generated from the outcomes as compensation, the specific percentage decided by mutual agreement beforehand.

For centuries, the Tower of Alchemy had operated in this manner, not only avoiding significant disputes and oversights in innovation but also growing increasingly prominent in both fame and capability. Such results can be attributed to a unique group within the Tower, known as the Alchemy Achievement Council, which is categorized into four levels: junior, intermediate, senior, and supreme. These council levels meet periodically to review the research outcomes within the association and to audit collaboration applications from external parties, as well as to evaluate new ideas. Each level of the council is composed of seven adjudicators and five supervisors—the seven adjudicators meet face-to-face with the proposers to debate and discuss each point needing review, informed by previous public defenses, to reach final judgments. The five supervisors have no adjudicatory power but step in to make decisions when disputes arise or when proposers declare the judgment as unfair, either affirming the fairness of the adjudicators or requiring a distracted adjudicator to step down temporarily replaced by an alternate. This system ensures the utmost integrity and rigor of the Alchemy Achievement Council, effectively protecting mutual interests.

For the Tower of Alchemy, the Alchemy Achievement Council represents the most crucial internal activity. The junior council meets once a month on a fixed schedule, while the intermediate council convenes irregularly every four to five months, and the senior council annually. The Supreme Council, however, meets without a fixed interval—sometimes several months apart, and other times not for two or three years. The lower the level of the council, the more clamorous its gatherings, with the busiest day being the twenty-second of each month, Blue Moon Luscia’s day of the full moon, marking the junior council’s assembly, as crowds surge outside the Tower of Alchemy and a multitude gathers in the Mage District, either hoping for their achievements to be reviewed or merely spectating. Small entrepreneurial groups also converge, aiming to seek profits by partnering with the Alchemy Guild on certain outcomes. While the intermediate and senior councils meet less frequently, the accumulation of topics keeps them as lively as the junior council gatherings. Most who propose at these higher-level councils are already somewhat reputable and powerful. They don’t try to turn the Tower of Alchemy into a marketplace like the younger crowd; nevertheless, due to the presence of onlookers and profit-driven merchants, the area outside the Tower remains noisy all day or even for consecutive days.

The only exception is during the Supreme Council, when the area outside the Tower of Alchemy is even quieter than usual, streets often barren. Even if there are people, they converse softly within buildings hundreds of meters away, not daring to cause disturbance near the high tower; not a single profit-seeking small business association can be seen as if they have no interest in the affairs of the place.

This phenomenon is understandable, as those who enter the Supreme Council as adjudicators or supervisors are mages and scholars at the pinnacle of reputation and knowledge. The attendees and proposers are nearly peers to the council members. These individuals, preoccupied with knowledge and academia, are notorious not for their intelligence but for their terrible tempers and ruthlessness, especially when immersed in thought. If anyone daringly interrupts, even if it’s the president of the Mage Guild Antuin or the city lord Odin, or even a deity in person, that person would be unhesitatingly ejected from the premises by the irate scholars. Over the centuries, numerous such incidents have been documented. The curious onlookers, despite their interest, are not willing to risk the potential barrage of magic assaults to satisfy their curiosity—especially as there would be no place to appeal if they were to be beaten half to death. Thus, they wisely keep their distance to avoid unwanted trouble.

As for the merchants, none are fools; it’s well understood that the issues dealt with at the Supreme Council are beyond the grasp of ordinary commercial guilds and consortiums. Only the top-tier business groups, like the Goblin Business Association and the Business Federation, qualified to develop the highest-value discussions in partnership with the Alchemy Guild, can send sufficiently senior representatives to the council. Therefore, lesser merchants naturally do not bother wasting time and energy on unattainable goals.

Due to these multiple reasons, whenever the Supreme Council of the Alchemy Achievement Council convenes, the area around the Tower of Alchemy is solemn and respectful. Before the meeting begins, mages in various colored robes and stern or somber expressions amass from all directions toward the Tower of Alchemy. Most of these mages travel by carriage, each appearing preoccupied with their thoughts, seizing every minute to diligently review the thick documents beside them. The seven adjudicators and two alternate adjudicators tasked with heavy responsibilities arrive early in their secluded preparation rooms to review all topics undisturbed, fully aware that their every decision could impact the future of alchemical technology in Yarran World, thus they proceed with utmost caution.

By the time the meeting commences, the streets within the tower vicinity are deserted, with people staying in nearby buildings, and a surprising quiet settles over the area, as if the city were uninhabited.

However, today was different. Even though the meeting had already begun, a man slowly walked along the deserted streets, hands clasped behind his back, approaching from afar.