Chapter 740 — The Young People of the Empire

It stood not far from the Imperial College: a tall, eye-catching composite structure with a broad entrance and a plaza graced by a small fountain—utterly unlike the gloomy, forbidding mage towers Ferm had imagined. Nor were there dreadful arcane golems and masses of troops guarding its gate. Many people came and went, but most were "ordinary folk" in white short-robes or blue uniforms—people with not a trace of the mage about them, in bearing as in manner.

After they produced their letters of introduction and the identity documents issued by Holy Suniel, and the guards had verified that the papers matched the faces, the sentries at the gate of the research institute courteously let them through.

This left Filmu rather surprised and taken aback.

Fendir and Elivain, however, exchanged a glance.

As spellcasters, they could see a scene utterly different from what met Filmu's eyes.

This Institute of Magical Technology, from the plaza before the gate all the way to the entrance hall, was strung with hundreds of mana-monitoring devices, large and small, along with who knew how many hidden spell-countering and mana-jamming traps; the guards at the gate, who looked like ordinary men, were in all likelihood armed to the teeth with magical equipment, and inside the building, sources of powerful mana reactions were all but everywhere, enough to make one's blood run cold.

The magical items here... truly seemed to cost nothing at all.

The two young nobles could not help but draw themselves up, all the more careful of their words and conduct.

They had not revealed their noble background, but had gained entry to this facility with only ordinary "citizen papers" (a new invention under Cecil's order) and Filmu's guarantee; they had no wish to stir up trouble here, for that would not only mean a wretched start to this journey through the Southern Marches, but also bring disgrace upon the family name.

The three entered the Institute of Magical Technology, confirmed from the usher's lips that Her Highness Frostbloom was indeed present, and then, following the guide's directions, boarded the lift platform that connected the various floors of the main building, soon arriving at the third floor of this great facility.

Broad, bright corridors and neatly arrayed laboratories, researchers passing quietly to and fro in the halls, rune devices inlaid in the walls, magical constructs to be seen everywhere...

Everything here opened the three young people's eyes wide.

Fendir could not help but feel moved.

Only after seeing the sights here did he realize that the advanced "Highlander" was, in truth, nothing so remarkable after all.

"I've never seen a place of magical experimentation like this," Elivain murmured, lowering his voice. "My father's magical laboratory looks more like a dungeon beside this."

"My aunt's is the same... no, perhaps worse," Fendir said, shaking his head. "My aunt is an absolute disaster when it comes to keeping things in order, and yet she won't allow anyone to meddle in her magical experiments."

Listening to these two ducal heirs discuss secrets concerning the highest nobility, Filmu felt an indescribable complexity in his heart, tense and strangely excited at once, yet not daring to speak freely.

Fortunately, his tense, stifled state did not last long — they had already come to the door of the laboratory the guide had spoken of.

Just then a researcher in a short robe pushed the door open and stepped out of the room, and Fendir at once went forward to explain the purpose of their visit.

"You're looking for Her Highness Frostbloom?" The male researcher in the short robe, whose hairline had receded somewhat, looked the three of them over with curiosity, then shook his head. "There's been a bit of a situation here. She's stepped out for the moment."

"A bit of a situation?" Fendir asked curiously, while from the corner of his eye, through the open door, he caught a glimpse of the scene inside the laboratory.

Though he could not see clearly, something seemed to have exploded in there; charred fragments were embedded in the walls, smoke and dust still drifted in the air, and a pungent smell wafted toward them.

"The usual by-products of experiments," said the male researcher with the worrying hairline, shifting his body without any change of expression to block the visitors' line of sight, and raising a hand to point toward a room at the end of the corridor. "Her Highness Frostbloom is over in the lounge. You may go and wait there, but do not disturb her — she is engaged in self-adjustment."

Self-adjustment?

Fendir and Elivain grew all the more puzzled, their curiosity stirred about this imperial princess of whom they had long heard, about the daily workings of this facility, and about this so-called "self-adjustment"; they exchanged a glance, then, bringing along the still somewhat dazed and bewildered Filmu, set off toward the lounge at the end of the corridor.

The three reached the lounge door, and before they had even pushed it open, they vaguely heard sounds from within.

It was soft, gentle music, lilting and plaintive, stirring to the heart, and even Fendir, about to push the door, could not help but halt his movement.

Then he pushed the door open, more carefully and slowly still.

In the brightly lit lounge, a young girl dressed in a plain long gown, over which she had thrown a short white robe, sat before a piano, wholly absorbed in her playing.

Only her profile was visible; the light falling from above spilled over her light brown hair, gilding it with a bright, faint sheen, and cast pale shadows across her face. Her fingertips flew over the keys, her expression calm and serene, as though she had melted into the instrument itself, wholly untouched by any disturbance from the world outside.

The soft, gentle, exquisite music flowed from the young girl's fingertips, flowing through the whole room.

Nor was the girl alone in the room; several people in standard white robes sat here and there, researchers come to rest, no doubt, and at this moment they all seemed to have been absorbed in the girl's performance.

Filmu and the other two, pushing the door open and entering cautiously, guessed that the girl playing the piano must be the rumored "Princess Rebecca." Fendir felt somewhat surprised, for he had heard a few things about Her Highness Frostbloom, and the princess of rumor did not seem the sort to sit quietly and play the piano in peace. Elivain, meanwhile, vaguely caught the low murmurs of several researchers in the room:

"I never imagined Her Highness Frostbloom had such musical talent..."

"Is this your first time hearing her?"

"Yes, it's my first time catching it..."

"They say, you know, that Her Highness Frostbloom's music teacher back then was quite formidable indeed..."

"No wonder..."