True to his word, Rorschach was ready to market his "Magical Crystal."

"It’s beautiful," said the Mage from the Tower of Secret Techniques, inspecting the goods in the sunlight.

Rorschach took out a few more small vials and placed them on the table. "They’re the same as the samples I showed you last time."

"No, they’re not, Rorschach Mage. The crystals you’ve brought this time are generally finer. So, about the price..."

"This price already has a discount factored in for the size! Even in the Holy Kingdom, this stuff is extremely rare!" The young man seemed about to call off the deal, pulling the vials he had just set down back into his arms.

"Alright, alright." The Mage and his colleague exchanged another glance, then made up their minds. "We’ll take the whole lot!" The Mage who had been silent until now spoke up, "But we need you to guarantee a stable supply in the future."

"Of course. The Tower of Secret Techniques has always been my preferred customer!" Rorschach handed over the Dulled Transmuting Dust and received a heavy bag of Gold Coins in return. ’It’s not like I have any other buyers anyway!’

The other party to the transaction was also very satisfied, fondling the small, blue-glowing vials, unable to put them down. This was a new novelty; a simple characterization could lead to a flurry of published papers. What they held in their hands was performance, their future!

Publishing papers wasn’t easy these days. On one hand, the research conducted at the Tower of Secret Techniques couldn’t be casually disclosed. On the other, word was that a Great Mage from the Tower of Forest had been jointly reported by his eleven Apprentices for completely faking his results in plant Alchemy. The matter had drawn the full attention of the Guild, which had tightened its review and replication requirements.

"How appalling!" While mooching a meal at the Tower of Secret Techniques’ cafeteria, Rorschach also helped himself to the latest issue of the Elemental Truth Newspaper. It featured an announcement from the Tower of Forest:

"In response to reports concerning academic misconduct by our Tower’s Great Mage Gaelb, the Alchemy Council and the Owl Court have launched an investigation. The investigated materials have largely confirmed the issues raised regarding research data and results. A preliminary determination of academic misconduct has been made.

"Effective immediately, the Tower of Forest has decided to suspend Gaelb from all positions and duties within the Tower. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for such incidents..."

"What are you doing eating here?" Ouyeni walked over and sat down across the table from Rorschach. A Gargoyle brought her food.

"I’m out of money, so I came to the Secret Technique Tower’s cafeteria for a free meal. The cafeteria at the Tower of Stars charges. In that respect, even the lowest-ranking Apprentices in our Empire live better than a Middle Level Mage in the Holy Kingdom."

Rorschach held back another thought: ’If the Tower of Stars ever dared to serve only sauerkraut soup, rock-hard bread, and Sausage, the kitchen would definitely be blown up by the furious mages and students.’

"Are you reading the news about the research fraud at the Tower of Forest?"

"Does the Tower of Forest have some management problems?" ’Infiltrated by an Underground Sect, exposed for academic misconduct...’

Lady Elizabeth was noncommittal. "Gaelb has been apprehended. He’s lost his Casting Ability now."

"How’d they do that?" Rorschach was a little curious how one could permanently strip a Great Mage of his ability to cast magic without killing him. ’Speaking for myself,’ he thought, ’I can still cast spells even with my mouth covered and my hands tied.’

"They say they stuck a needle through his eye socket into his brain, then rotated it three times." Ouyeni picked up her knife and gestured in front of Rorschach.

HISS... ’Get that thing away from me!’ Rorschach understood now; it was a lobotomy. "Just for academic fraud? Isn’t that too harsh?" ’At least his rank as a Great Mage was based on his own power. Now he’s completely crippled.’

Ouyeni Mage was very serious. "First, he didn’t just falsify his own work; he dragged his Apprentices into it. The impact on the Tower of Forest is incalculable."

"Second, this man defrauded the Magic Guild of an unknown amount of funding. The Guild doesn’t care about the money; it cares about the principle."

"Third, he resisted arrest, causing damage to the Tower of Forest and injuring the enforcers sent to capture him. That was a slap in the face to the Elder Council."

’The third point was probably the most important one. You can’t just piss off the Abbot and expect to get away with it, can you?’

Halfway through her meal, Ouyeni suddenly sighed. Her voice was very soft, but Rorschach still heard it. The sight of the mage frowning drew many eyes, and two questions arose in the onlookers’ minds: ’Why is Elizabeth Mage/Professor troubled? And who is that pretty boy sitting across from her?’

Rorschach didn’t ask, but instead put down his utensils and waited for her to speak. When Elizabeth did speak, however, she asked him a question instead. "Aren’t you going to Wertzburg soon?"

"Yes, for the wedding." Rorschach had already guessed what was troubling her.

Ouyeni’s pale blue eyes stared at the sauerkraut soup in front of her as if it were a lake she had boated on as a child. She poked at the cooked tubers in the soup as if they were an island inhabited by swans. Rorschach couldn’t use Mind Reading, or he definitely would have ribbed her for her overly whimsical imagination.

"I received an invitation too, but I really don’t want to face that family. In fact, I only met Amelia once when she was a child. I’m not even sure if she remembers me."

"Since they invited you..."

"The personal invitation was sent in Ludwig’s name, but I recognize the handwriting. It’s clearly my sister’s. His Majesty the King would never write in such an elegant script."

Bart had also sent invitations to representatives of the Tower of Secret Techniques and the Magic Guild because of his position as Town Mage. This carried another meaning: if no one from the Magic Guild and the Tower of Secret Techniques attended the wedding, it would call into question whether the Town Mage was recognized by these two major magical entities.

Perhaps because the mages in the Tower were all aware of the Wittelsbach Clan’s situation, they had tacitly deferred the role of representing the Tower of Secret Techniques to Elizabeth Mage.

Rorschach couldn’t say much, so he just followed Ouyeni Mage’s lead. "Is it Princess Sophie’s handwriting? Maybe she really wants to see you again..."

Her sky-blue eyes stared at the young man for a long time before she finally said, "You’re right, Rorschach Mage. Let’s go."

A carriage from the Tower of Secret Techniques sped through the mountain forest. Its two horses were flawlessly white, a stark contrast to the dark brown carriage body.

Despite traveling on a gravel path, the carriage didn’t jolt in the slightest. Inside, however, Rorschach seemed a bit stiff.

Although this carriage looked no different from the other carriages of the Tower of Secret Techniques on the outside, its interior leather was dyed a goose-yellow and filled with the faint, clear scents of rose, jasmine, and white sandalwood. This was a lady’s carriage—specifically, Elizabeth Mage’s private carriage.

’After mooching food and drink, now I’m mooching a ride. This deal with the Secret Technique Tower was totally worth it!’

The carriage’s owner, Elizabeth Ouyeni Mage, was focused on the view outside the window. Fir and pine trees flashed past, and shimmering lakes and dark green mountains made brief appearances before disappearing again.

Rorschach couldn’t guess her thoughts, nor did he want to gossip about the past affairs of the Bayern Royal Family. He just quietly read his newspaper, carefully turning the pages to avoid making too much noise.

Then he got motion sickness.

’Seems like getting motion sickness has nothing to do with how bumpy the ride is.’ Rorschach put away the newspaper. A blue light condensed at his fingertip, and he touched it to his temples, feeling immediate relief. A wave of drowsiness washed over him. He covered the ring on his left hand and, with his right hand cupped over the head of his cane, leaned back against the seat and fell asleep.

The sleeping young man didn’t know that the lady’s gaze had already shifted from the world outside the window to his sunlit face.