Chapter 18
The answer was completely unexpected.
Milo, who had assembled the device, assumed it was for brewing potion solutions or medicinal herbs. After all, there was a heating lamp present.
Despite Milo's brutish appearance, he remained a wizard who enjoyed deep contemplation.
“Hmm... I still can’t figure it out no matter how much I think. You’re boiling plain water instead of potion ingredients? Just water?”
“Yes. Just water.”
“What’s the point? Wouldn’t that harm the materials?”
“I’ve never heard of boiling plain water either,” Edel chimed in. “Though we often simmer herbs in water.”
His words reassured Milo—Edel was, after all, a healer’s son.
But Ian merely smiled calmly. Only when both roommates glared at him impatiently did he finally speak.
“Have you heard of distillation theory?”
“Distillation theory? What’s that?”
Milo glanced at Edel, who shook his head.
“It’s a lesser-known hypothesis. A minority view among southern scholars, not yet proven. Let’s start with salt.”
“Salt? Out of nowhere?”
“Yes. Salt. Where does it come from?”
“Salt farms, obviously.”
Ian turned to Edel. “Do you know how they extract salt there?”
“I think they dry seawater...?”
“The actual process is more involved, but essentially, evaporating seawater leaves salt behind. So where does the water go?”
“It dries up and vanishes?”
“Isn’t that odd? Seawater looks clear—you never see salt in it. But when dried or boiled, salt remains.”
This challenged their assumptions. Milo muttered,
“Because salt dissolves in seawater. Remove the water, and salt stays. That’s obvious.”
“Salt isn’t the only soluble substance. Many things dissolve in water. That’s why it’s used in magic experiments—it’s abundant and highly effective.”
Edel still seemed lost, but Milo’s eyes lit up with understanding.
“So... you’re saying even the water we drink has something dissolved in it?”
Ian snapped his fingers at Milo. “That’s the core of distillation theory. All water contains trace impurities. The full hypothesis is complex, but that’s the essence.”
“Hence the seawater example! But wait—when we boil drinking water, nothing remains. Shouldn’t something be left, like salt?”
“What if the dissolved amounts are too small to see?”
Ian grabbed a flask filled with well water and swirled it before them.
“And what if those微量 impurities affect potion-making?”
“Hmm...”
Both fell into thought.
Ian felt relieved. They hadn’t dismissed it as nonsense—at least they were willing to experiment.
“Let me recap. You’re saying all water has impurities, and boiling it away leaves pure water?”
“Exactly. The device you built is for that experiment. Boil water, cool the steam into liquid—simple in principle, but baffling without context.”
“Whoa... I built something incredible!”
Milo seemed to grasp the basics. Truthfully, Ian had refined the distillation apparatus beyond the research notes, making it more precise.
Ian prepared for the next step.
“Want to see something fun?”
“What?”
Ian returned with a large water tank and poured the remaining well water into it.
Splash!
He positioned one end toward Milo and the other toward himself.
“Put your hand in.”
“This feels sketchy...”
“Relax. Have I ever lied?”
Milo hesitantly dipped his hand in. Ian immediately formed a hand seal.
Hum!
Mana transformed into blue current at his fingertips. Milo flinched as Ian plunged his electrified hand into the tank.
The result was predictable.
Zap!
“GYAAAAH!”
Thud!
Milo fell backward, yanking his hand out too quickly.
“You lunatic! Why use lightning magic in water?!”
“Dramatic much?”
Ian offered a hand. Milo grumbled but took it to stand.
“Water conducts lightning—basic knowledge.”
“It’s Combat Magic 101. There’s even that famous story about herding enemies into water and electrocuting them.”
“Gasp! Really?!” Edel exclaimed.
Milo rubbed his tingling hand. “Yeah, from ancient war history. After that incident, infantry started wearing anti-lightning robes or avoiding water altogether.”
“Typical Vinettia family. But you missed something.”
“Me?”
“Edel’s debt just increased. ‘Really?’ Formal speech? That’s an extra 10,000 shillings.”
Edel’s shoulders slumped. Milo burst into laughter.
“Ian, you ruthless bastard! I like you. So what’s the fun part? Not me falling, surely.”
“This also applies distillation theory. Water from the device won’t conduct lightning well.”
“What?”
“Minority scholars call it ‘distilled water.’”
All eyes turned to the apparatus. Ian gathered his notes and bag.
“I’m heading to the library. Feel free to make distilled water and test it. Purer water supposedly resists conduction.”
“Let’s try!” Edel nodded.
Milo, curiosity piqued, lit the device’s flame. Ian adjusted his glasses and left.
The Royal Academy’s Grand Library was awe-inspiring. Ian paused at the marble staircase to take in the structure resembling an ancient temple—its towering columns and vaulted ceiling evoked both reverence and grandeur.
It’s so vast I could get lost...
He couldn’t suppress his awe. This was the repository of all knowledge in the Sonokin Kingdom, famous for the adage: “What isn’t here isn’t knowledge.”
Here’s where I’ll find clues.
Ian resolved to grow stronger, as promised to Professor Frost. The professor’s advice had eased his anxiety about mana measurement, but it was temporary. True strength required his own effort.
To hide power, you must first possess it. Weakness can’t be concealed.
As an academy student, he’d inevitably face moments requiring power. Students were royal apprentices, mobilized as assistants during crises. Magic department students joined investigations and expeditions, sometimes facing dangers rivaling those of knights in wars.
In those moments, only my own strength will protect me.
Thus, Ian planned to frequent the library—to counter Helios short-term and forge his future long-term.
I’ll succeed.
Steeling himself, Ian climbed the stairs.
Guards watched his every move as he approached the gate. He placed his hand on the crystal orb.
Beep!
The gate opened. The knights’ piercing stares followed him, but Ian walked calmly into the lobby.
Checking the directory, he headed for the magic section through branching corridors lined with themed sections.
Organized by subject...
The Ancient Magic section caught his interest. After confirming its location, he walked past upperclassmen—all preoccupied with expensive mana-enhancing elixirs he couldn’t afford. Their curious glances didn’t faze him.
Finally reaching the Ancient Magic area, he spotted a lone figure reading under a hood—unusual, as most removed hoods for better visibility.
A strand of golden hair peeked out.
Senior Isera?
Her stature and aura matched the woman who’d helped him days prior.
I never properly thanked her.
Approaching, he spoke.
“Senior.”
No response. Only the rustle of pages.
“Thank you for your help last time. It prevented a scene.”
Isera kept reading. Ian, awkward, bowed and turned to leave.
“Ian Oracle.”
He froze. Isera hadn’t looked up.
“You came here to hone your magic.”
“Yes.”
“Few enroll to truly learn. Don’t stand out.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
Her hooded appearance and choice of theoretical studies despite her power made sense now—likely under royal surveillance, like Count Cage.
Suddenly, Isera glanced back. Ian still stood there. A flicker of something crossed her eyes.
“You’re hiding your power, Senior.”
“Why say that?”
“Not logic—just a feeling. Though I’ve seen similar cases since childhood.”
“If you couldn’t sense that, you wouldn’t survive here.”
With that, she turned away.
“I’ll greet you properly next time.”
Ian bowed again and vanished into the stacks.
