Chapter 38: It Rhymed
"I have a working hypothesis I need to further research," I corrected easily.
Elin Auteberry seemed to just accept what I told her. "You would still need to have your circumstances reviewed and approved by the body in charge of the Library—that is, the Council of Scholars."
"And how may I go about that…?"
"My name is Elin Auteberry. I will arrange a meeting with them to review your case if you want?"
"Please do, thank you."
"Your name is…?" she politely inquired while adjusting her glasses again.
"Nori."
"Just Nori? I assume the soonest possible time would be best?"
I barely took a second before replying, "Kuroi. Nori Kuroy. And I'll just be at Rosengarten Inn if not somewhere around here reading."
As soon as I turned to head back to the history section I made a face. Nice one brain; that rhymed. But I was still suspicious about giving my real name out in a world with magic and will continue to do so until I actually knew what one can or cannot do with mana.
Spending the next few days reading about the history and geography of Gaellia, I was waylaid on the third day by the alfr that manned the front desk. (Taskill Lornwisp, Head Librarian and about 400+ years old.)
I followed the pince-nez wearing alfr out of the Library and toward a manor somewhat close by that turned out to be an administration building of sort. Guided to a room, I found myself standing before a panel of older men, a woman, and what a surface Scan told me was a half-alfr.
"Nori Kuroy, was it?"
"Yes," I kept my posture fixed, clasping my hands behind my back.
"You wish to have a pass to the library for after-hours so you can do your research?"
"That is correct."
The older man set down the paper and folded his hands on the table. "What is it you are researching?"
"I have been studying mana and have successfully built magic spells from the ground up based on my understanding of the world's forces, processes, and building blocks of our surroundings. Incantations are unnecessary in the working system I've built but I need further research and testing before I can share this with anybody else…"
I continued to bullshit half my thesis I'm supposedly working on, stringing together facts combined with fiction. Sometimes I used complicated scientific terminology that was completely irrelevant just to make me sound like I was a theoretician. It was an art form I mastered as a student though I admit this was just bald-faced lying.
After I finished "explaining" my working hypothesis like an over-enthusiastic mad scientist, the youngest-looking male spoke up.
"You are a magician, yes?" the half-alfr asked.
Blinking, I gave a confused smile. "Yes?"
Can you not be a magic-user after all the garbage I spouted? Plus, Ing kind of implied one could tell if someone had the potential for magic and that alves were born with the ability to see mana-flow.
"We do not have Tuning Crystal on hand so can you prove you are magician another way?" the purple-haired man asked in his accented Continental Standard.
How did they want me to prove it? By making a <Fireball>?
[Nori, maybe taking out your Grimoire would help under the circumstances. At least it would give less of a hostile impression than what you had in mind.]
True.
"Is this proof enough?" I asked before summoning the black leather book to my raised hands so they were all able to see it appear.
*Skrch!*
The chair clattered to the floor as the youngest looking of the panel abruptly stood up.
I reflexively took a step back.
"Nostradamus?" the only woman of the group asked.
"Zir—The cover," Nostradamus walked around the table and headed toward me. "May I see?"
Is there some etiquette involved in this? Should I actually show it to him?
[There should be no problem. No one can read your real name.]
The council member leaned down, his long hair sweeping over his shoulder and I tried to keep my reaction to the fact he smelled like freesia flowers from my expression. Why do all alves (even only partial ones) smell like plants? Smelling good was nice and all, but his appearance did not match flowers at all.
He murmured the words on the cover before his royal purple eyes looked up at me and I obligingly showed the first page.
Nostradamus inhaled sharply, freezing for a moment, before straightening up and turning to his fellows. "I do not think this interview needs to continue, gentlemen and lady. They are archmagus."
"Oh, we haven't had a new archmagus based in Crown City for awhile," an old man stroked his beard as he started reminiscing.
"Yes, quite. I'm glad you will have a fellow half-alven to discuss magical theory with now, Nostradamus."
I cleared my throat awkwardly.
The purple-haired council member returned his attention to me. "Excuse me. I have not introduced myself. I am Nostradamus, a sorcerer and lecturer in Studium Generale for the Advanced Warding course. Let us get you that pass."
Half-jogging to keep up with the professor who I just noticed was wearing elaborate purple-accented black robes, I settled to following a half-step behind Nostradamus.
"I guess I my request went through?"
"Mn, yes. You will be given complete access to the Library and unlimited access to the magical archives. Though I hope you would keep archives in order during your research?"
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