“Potentia. On. Power up. Ignis!” in his dorm Bill is testing a power output of his MAM with many types of command between English and Latin.

‘There is almost no different at all between English and Latin. Maybe I did something wrong?’

Bill believed that Professor Roy wouldn’t lie about how to use MAM he just needs to learn how to control magic with his will.

‘What does they say about magic agin? A foundation of all thing, a clam serenity or a breath. Maybe my attitude needs to change depend on the type of magic I use’

Bill then tests this theory by using ice rune to make an ice. First time just activate normal without thought while second time activate while thinking about anything cold.

One time he has to crawl in a duct to fix a frozen pipe that rips a part of his skin off. Other part time job has him shoveling a black snow in winter storm. And then there is a cold air from ice cream store he saw at the market yesterday but couldn’t spare to money to buy one.

After five to ten minute a cold air gathers and a block of ice form in his palm. Both time the size of the ice is equal no different at all.

Bill takes a plate with a mind rune out from his MAM to look at the shape that he draws with a pen.

Circle represent time and cycle, becoming of one

Upside-down Triangle represent the conscious and unconscious mind

And then other line starts to overlap with the symbol that resemble “M” in the middle creating more shape and connection like a spiral.

Unlike other rune plate which Bill adjusts the transmutation circle to try make magic more powerful this mind rune is an exact replicate from the book because every time he changes anything the whole MAM just doesn’t work.

He can still control a result of the element somewhat when activate MAM but he doesn’t just want it to work. It has to work flawlessly so that he can beat Brant MAM that use class A core.

His MAM only have 2 slots for 2 plates of rune. If he removes the mind rune a MAM can still do the basic function like when he fires a BB fireball at shooting range. But if he wants a more precise magic, he will need a mind rune otherwise when he uses ice rune, a cold air can be blow out from the top barrel but he can’t focus it to form a block of ice.

So, either a mind rune with 1 type of magic or 2 type of magic but he can’t control it with his mind.

‘I wonder what kind of test does Professor Roy going to give us. Will he design a test in a way that it will help me?’

Bill thought wander off as he picks up a small core and stare at it.

‘I can’t feel anything’ even holding this core he dubs John Smit and place it at his chest he still can’t feel any sensation his friend described about magic. Perhaps it is good that he can’t because that would mean this core is leaking and would slowly poison him.

He sighs then pick up a cheap magicameter that he brought to measure a magic that left in his core.

‘There’s still more than half left but I will need to refill it before the test’ just like all resource magic also cost money for human. Bill looks at a money that miss Hellen gave him and sigh. After refill his magic at the forge he will properly have less than a week before runout of money.

Magic is only free for magical being. A human who can’t dream must pay for his dullness. Lucky for Bill he has friend.

“What are you doing” Josh who flown in and see a shiny rock ask Bill.

“I’m measuring how much magic left so I know when I need to refill it”

“How do you refill magic?”

“You go to the forge or a shop that have magic refilling machine. It’s quite expensive really.”

Josh is puzzle at the idea that human need to go shopping when has to use magic when magic is all around us and inside him “Can I try refill it? It’s was first made by Amiel right so any being with magic should be able to refill it.”

Bill starts to jump at the idea that he can save a lot of money but also afraid his core could break. But in the end Bill let Josh try.

“Here we go, Evenio Naas!” Josh float a core midair and a strong wind start to blow into their room. Bill looks with hope as Josh try really hard to gather magic and put inside John Smit for almost half hour.

“Phew, that was hard” Josh lies back on his bed after return John to Bill.

“How much magic did I put inside?”

“Well, we went from 63% to 63.6%” Bill disappointment is clearly show.

“Aw that suck. Sorry Bill”

“It’s ok thanked for trying.”

“Hey how about you ask Eirian to try?”

“Eirian? Nah he properly won’t waste time on small thing like this”

“Well, you never know but it’s your core” said Josh as he picks up a book he borrows from library and read on his bed.

‘Ask Eirian? I could save a lot of money...but he will just decline anyway. I don’t want to talk to him let just go to the forge and use student discount.’

Bill who is now received his core back look at a paper in his hand “1759 Nil?”

“Yes sir, we already applied a discount quite a Billing right Mr. Bill”

Bill don’t appreciate the staff pun attempt.

He thinks magic equipment is the most expensive thing a man could buy but turn out the only thing more expensive than magic is pride.

Finally, the time has come and everyone is looking with excitement as Professor Roy is walking into a class.

Bill who is still recover from the loss of his money snap his mind back or else he knows he would lose more than money.

“How many of you would like to take an internship?” Roy asked and was answer by a row of hand. Even ant and wolf also interest since this is also would help with their grade.

Roy smile at the sight of eager children and explain “The contest is simple; Make an electric converter and then convert the electric back to magic. Whoever have the highest amount of magic remain in the final class A core we prepare will be a winner. The time you take to make rune and complete all magic transfer will be taken into consideration of course.”

“Professor can we use our own core?” Brant asked.

“We have a class B core prepare for everyone but you are welcome to use your own equipment if you choose.” said Roy.

Roy knew it is not fair since Brant is the only one here who have class A core which mean he will have more magic at the start than everyone. But life is not fair and prepare a class B core for every student is the best he can do to make this contest as fair as possible.

"And for safety miss Hellen will be here to spectate in case of accident she will be able to stop any magic leak or electric shock for you”

Seeing miss Hellen make Bill feel much safer and ready to give it his all.

“If anyone still didn’t refill their core our staff is here to help you”

Bill ignores Roy and focus on what he has to do next. He already has John so he takes a few plates from table and ready to draw a rune.

“Now that everyone is ready. You may all start”

‘First is to make a rune of electricity and activate my MAM to store it in battery.’

‘But when converting there will always energy and magic that loss in the process is there any way I can reduce this loss?’

“Ha I won’t lose to anyone because I got this” Brant holds beautiful wooden pen up to show Sarah. “It carves from a tree of Medeis Forest which have a strong connection with magic.” then he picks a small bottle up and dip a pen in “an ink from the great Kraken, enhance rune power. You should try this Sarah”

“Oh thank you Brant” Sarah dips her own expensive but normal pen in and start to draw a rune.

‘Focus focus. Don't look at the most awesome rune marker I ever see. Nope nope focus’’

Brant having theses equipment is already within Bill expectation. He accepts this long ago that some people are born with silver spoon. He’s not even mad, maybe a little jealous. As long as they don’t try to judge him with the same standard like Eirian.

Bill continues to draw an alchemist circle and start to add a few lines and word to reduce loss magical power while try to reduce magic needed to convert it into electricity.

Efficient and speed. That what he needs.

Having drawn rune all the time every night Bill can finish rune faster than anyone. He slides a rune in and hold his MAM over a battery.

Bill still has a mind rune inside so he will try use his mind to control the process to be as efficient as possible but he doubts it will improve result much.

While MAM is converting, he looks around seeing most student still drawing a rune while other student who rushes made a mistake and cause an electric shook or fire to spit out of their MAM but miss Hellen manage to control any magic that leak and shut it all down in instant before anyone is hurt.

Anyone who fail to activate their rune properly are disqualify on the spot. But a row of people leaving does not make Bill feel any better because he knows his only rival here is Brant and Sarah. Deacon also participate but he’s clearly not in a rush either just join for fun or follow Brant and Sarah.

A light flicker in the room with occasion heat wave from another table but at least the process is complete and his hand is still not exploded. A battery in his hand warm up a little but it not so much to burn his skin.

With battery ready Bill start to draw a new rune. To reverse the process and turn electric back into magic.

‘Estellia, the magical star’ Bill thought as he draws a line represent a philosopher’s stone and add a few runes and word.

‘It not enough’ Bill looks at Brant who is now converting magic. Even if his rune is less efficient and his converting process is leaking magic in form of heat and bad drawing. Brant would still have more magic than him in the end.

Don’t know what to do Bill stop drawing and look at the empty space on the plate. ‘Can I increase the electricity in here somehow?’

“Stop you can’t use your power to increase magic in core like that, you’re out.” said miss Hellen who noticed an ant who is using her power to supply a core with more magic so there is more power output.

‘Increase magic? Maybe I can do that’

With new idea Bill start drawing more line and add a few more rune.

“Professor Roy I’m finish” Bill raises his hand and walk to the machine in front of the room.

Everyone stops working for a moment to watch Bill place a rune plate and battery on the machine slot. All fill with eager to see the machine function and damn him to fail.

The moment Roy presses the button an electric rush into a wire inside which form a shape of philosopher’s stone, combine with a Bill’s rune cause a lightning to raise from under and shoot into a core itself. With it a number on the green screen start rising.

“76% not bad Bill” said professor Roy as he whispers ‘a double rune to gather magic from surrounding area while the magic is converting. Quite clever boy.’

Bill feels like he could jump right now.

Brant seeing Bill finish before him start to drag the line faster and faster even if some of them are not firm straight line.

“I’m finish professor” said Sarah.

“I’m done too” said Brant just 5 minute after Bill.

Using her own core just like Bill Sarah place her rune down and watch as the number go up before stop at 68%

“Aw I thought I would get higher” Sarah disappoints but went back to her seat “Nice job on the rune Bill”

“Thank Sarah.” Bill smile but still nervous. Brant is the one who will decide his fate.

“Take this” Brant put down his battery and rune and the machine start to light up until the number stop at 84%

“Woo-Hoo”

“Well done, Brant” said professor Roy while look at the unstable line of his rune that was hold together with the power of kraken ink.

“Next” Roy calls other students who manage to make a functionable rune out and take a test.

Deacon got 62% while most average stay below 60 even after everyone got a class B core.

“Now to announce the winner” said Roy “For our evaluation score we look at the speed, the quality of the rune and most important is the amount of magic at the end”

“We got two contender who is very close to one other however the winner is Brant Marquis!”

A cold air start to freeze Roy right ear but he ignores it “So Brant are you ready for a chance to work in a real forge”

“Yes sir” Brant says proudly. He has proven himself the best in this class and make his family proud. But most important of all is he make Sarah see him.

Roy legs that hide behind a table is now frozen solid so he turns to give a teeth at miss Hellen of which she only smiles back.

“So, I guess you will be ready to work every weekday from 6 P.M. to 10 P.M. right? The pay is 5,000 Nil per month” Roy hastily speaks his line before the ice start to cover his waist.

At that moment the cold air fade away as if nothing is ever happened to begin with. Roy adjusts his stand to see if he can still fell his legs.

“E-very weekday?” Brant drops his jaw he didn’t realize it would be this much work. What of his break from study? A moment to be with Sarah?

“Eh...Can I waive my right to win this internship?”

“Yes” Roy cut him “Then our winner is Bill, congratulation!”

Bill who still try to recover from the depress state when he saw Brant win now don’t know what to do when everyone starts clapping for him.

It was Sarah who tap him to go out in front of the room to accept an internship card. “Thank you, thank you sir” Bill bow to professor Roy and Hellen.

“Bill rune is very impressive” Roy picks up Bill rune plate to show other student as an example “He willing to experiment and expand on the principle of electricity rune which allow him to reduce energy loss and preserve more magic in the end. Even added a few small Latin. This shows an understanding of rune and a lot of practice on his part”

Bill bow at more clapping before accept the card and Roy close the class for today.

Later Bill head to Roy workshop to say thank you to both Roy and Hellen again for their help.

“Don’t worry about it Bill” said Roy “If you have any problem at work come to me any time.”

“And here I thought you are about to let that Brant win” said miss Hellen.

“Please I know he don’t need money and most kid don’t want to work late after study all day anyway.” Roy turns to Bill “I want to use this chance to show you Bill that a real competition at New Terra won’t be easy and you’re going to work even harder if you want to stay at the top”

“Yes, I will remember.”

“Excuse us Bill I still have something to discuss with miss Hellen.”

Bill nod and excuse himself out of the room.

Outside when Bill looks down to put the internship card in his wallet, he sees a necklace that was given to him by Doran.

‘It about time I return this to him. Let’s tell him about my winning at the forge contest’

Bill for the first time feel like he has gained wing and his body become lighter with every step he takes.

At the library Bill looks around but can’t find his blue falcon friend “Hello, I’m looking Doran is he in today?” Bill asks an old lady who standing in Doran usual spot in library.

“Oh, that poor boy.” said Rafela “A bookshelf fells down and crush his wing a few days back, he at hospital right now.”

“WHAT”

Rushing to the hospital as fast as he can. All Bill thought of is how this necklace was supposed to bring luck and if it was somehow his fault that Doran was in an accident since he took this necklace from Doran and cause him misfortune.

Asking for Doran and found a way to his room, Bill rush in to check on his friend.

“Doran are you alright?” Bill barge in cause Doran to jump a little.

“Bill?”

Looking at Doran, his right wing is bandage up and tie with the bed unable to move but other than a few lose feather he seems to be doing fine.

“I come as soon as I heard about your accident, are you ok?”

“Oh this?” Doran look at his wing “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be able to fly again in a month but I should be able to leave and get back to work by next week.”

Bill walks closer and pick up a few feather that fell on the ground “are you really, ok? I was going to return this necklace to you when I found out about the news. I’m so sorry.”

Seeing Bill guilty face Doran speaks “Oh do you perhaps blame yourself because this luck charm”

Bill nods.

“Haha don’t worry Bill; I’m always been clumsy which is why my girlfriend brought this luck charm for me in the first place. You actually just miss her scolding me for giving away her gift like that and look! You are a second person who came to visit me so don’t feel bad. I don’t regret giving you this gift at all”

Hearing him make Bill feel even more guilty and remove a necklace to put it on Doran “I’m really grateful for your help. I’m actually just won a contest and got an internship at the forge. Your necklace might really bring luck Doran.”

“That wonderful Bill” Doran smile and touch the necklace with his other wing “And how are you doing, tell me all about your roommate.”

Bill goes on and tell Doran about Calamity, Josh and all the people he meets. And how the teachers here are helping him so much that he doesn’t know how to ever repay them.

“Miss Hellen does that?” Doran disbelieved what he just heard those are not miss Hellen he knew at all.

“Maybe this necklace also charms Amiel too?”

“What do you mean?”

Doran thinks of the winter storm that he has live through and decide to let Bill experience them for himself. Maybe she really has clam down and be more loving. “Never mind that”

They both talk for a while before Bill take his leave. Walking outside Bill look at all races of animal that walk pass him by and thought of the first day he came to this city.

Everything looks the same and yet there is a tension in the air. A goat pays more attention when walk closer to a wolf and stay away from him. All ant no longer walks on the road with other but climb and walk on building when normal road would be faster. Windows are shut with curtain and lock and more patrol roam the street.

The bomb seem to put everyone on edge. It not simply that all races learn to trust each other as equal but they just trust that other won’t dare cause problem here.

‘Maybe moving to live here might not be such a good idea as I first thought...but then again it not like New Terra lower part is that safe. Alana is still better when factor the cost of living’

Speaking of cost Bill now also need to refill his core again.

Bill then think of how Brant almost take the position of internship from him. If he really take on the job then what would Bill do? Can he even do anything? Beg miss Hellen for more money? Going in debt? But what bank will let him borrow money. And he can’t do normal work because he has to attend class. A part time work is not enough to keep him alive here.

‘Professor Roy is right the real world is not fair nor does it care. I need an edge to survive and hide myself here.’

Bill thought of Mr. Bernays and Professor Roy warning against getting involve with him too deep but his feet keep take him closer and closer to Mercurius.

Standing before the shop Bill slowly open a door and walk to Sagax.

“What is it”

“I want...to speak with Mr. Bernays”

Looking down at Bill Sagax utter "Mr. Bernays is not someone you can just meet without an appointment" Still Sagax open a door “You are lucky he is not busy today.”

What Sagax fail to mention is the fact that Bernays is always busy.

Following Sagax upstairs Bill start to think what he would say and realize how unreasonable it sounds and yet he will say it anyway because he doesn’t have a choice.

Sagax knock a door before open and Bernays look up displease that he was interrupt but change his pose when he sees Bill.

“Bill my boy what bring you here today?” Bernays walk up from his desk and signal Sagax to shut the door.

“I’m...been considering your offer from before”

“Oh” Bernays carefully observe Bill “And you come to a decision?”

“Yes”

“I’m will work for your company after I finish school in exchange for your support. I give you my word.”

“You make the right decision boy” Bernays smile and wrap his giant wing around Bill shoulder “But I can’t help but noticed that you will only give your word but not a contact?”

“Yes” said Bill “I know this might seem unfair to you but professor Roy told me to not sign anything too binding and...”

“Now now” Bernays interrupt “No need to cite Roy. I know you still don’t trust me completely so it fine just said that corvid is not to be trusted.”

Bill keeps his head down not looking at Bernays.

“Ah you are so difficult Bill...let me think for a moment” Bernays flies up to his bird stand and looks outside the window.

Bill waits in silent knowing the decision is up to Bernays but he is determined to not sign anything. This is the best he could do. He has nothing else to offer.

A sound of wind and city street blew in through the window but both men stay still waiting, thinking. It was when Bill feels out of breath and need to inhale that Bernays speak up from above “Very well, we can have a deal”

“Really sir?”

“But there is a condition” This word give Bill a pause “You will also come work for me help design a new MAM and rune starting today. There is no fix work hour just design and come in any time to finish your monthly quota. Except Sunday where you are not allowed here; study full time, internship at the forge then work for me on the side. Caw! you should have at least one day of full rest if you’re going to have any energy left for study. I’ll be paying you of cause and will even teach you a few tricks in our trade business since you will be meeting people in this line of work as well”

“Yes sir, thank you Mr. Bernays I won’t disappoint you” Bill happily accepts. Hard work is an old friend of Bill, not getting enough sleep is like his hobby at this point.

“Here my first lesson to you Bill” Bernay fly down and give him a new wooden pen for caving a rune “When asking someone for Help, appeal to their self-interest not compassion”

It was made from a of tree Medeis Forest. Also, refilling a core magic is now forever free for Bill at Mercurius.

“Alana wants to teach love and unity and that is all good. But you must also be caution, not everyone is ready to hug and forget what happen from times of the great war. Word are just word until its backup with action. As far as I been seeing, the city of Alana is the last place that still believed that peace is possible. 40 year is enough to make people forget love but hate is engraved deep. All nation is gearing for a new conflict and you and I Bill, we’ll be the one who profit at the center of it all. As long as you stick with me you got nothing to worry about.”

Bernays offer his wing and Bill reach out to shake it.

Later when Sagax accompanies Bill downstairs he speak up “And here I thought you were smarter than this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Corvidae is a cunning race, it in their nature. Sooner or later, they will inevitably betray you. It was foolish of you to trust any of them”

Hearing Sagax Bill thought of his friend ‘Josh would never betray me. He is such a nice guy. I don’t know about Eirian or Amy though’

“I thought you work for him?” Bill question Sagax motive that seem to go against Mr. Bernays.

“I’m only honor my contact. Nothing more”

“So as soon as your contact expire you will leave Mr. Bernays immediately?”

Sagax give a small sigh “our contact is for life. Until his death I will sacrifice myself if that what it takes to protect him.”

Bill shock. Sagax clearly don’t like crow so why is he still working for Bernays “Why is wolf so stubborn with honor?”

The moment Bill finishes his sentence he realizes he just insult a wolf that can kill him with one hand and make him disappear so that even Bernays can’t find him. Being too happy really let his guard down.

Luckily for Bill Sagax doesn’t get angry instead he looks at this young boy who was caught in a claw of his master and tell him something someone once told him long ago.

“Kid, in this cruel world one must have something to hold on to or you’ll spin yourself out of control and end up like a wild animal we used to be. A god, a symbol, a virtue whatever. Mr. Bernays is money, mine is loyalty. Alana says it’s harmony. Whatever your is, you better find it soon before this world swallow you whole.”

‘Something to hold on to?’

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

End of Bill chapter