Even as Asteria guided him through the streets of Silverpeak toward the facility she needed to inspect, Orion couldn’t bring himself to pay attention to his surroundings.
His mind was completely consumed by the need to understand what he’d just seen.
In his first attempt, Orion considered that perhaps the shattered table had somehow been fused back together, all due to some hidden liquefaction effect.
If matter is temporarily converted into a fluid and then re-solidified, its viscosity (η) and flow rate (Q) may be measured using the relation Q = (ΔP · A) / (η · L), where ΔP is the pressure difference, A is the area, and L is the length over which flow occurred.
But even as the theory took shape, Orion dismissed it abruptly. The broken shards clearly had not been in a liquid state. While the porcelain appeared fluid, the wood certainly had not.
His next hypothesis was even more radical and stemmed from his initial thoughts after the event: localized time reversal. If his mother had reversed time in the affected area, the damaged objects would revert to an earlier state.
Orion quickly attempted a back-of-the-envelope calculation. Assuming that reversing time by a brief interval (Δt) for a mass m would require energy on the order of E = m · c2 · (Δt / T).
Even with a low Δt and a table weighing around forty pounds, the energy requirement reached astronomical values—effectively infinite for practical purposes.
The mere thought that someone could turn back time only to use such power to restore a table is frankly ridiculous. No, even “magic” has to follow certain limits and rules. This was not time travel.
Frustrated but undeterred, Orion sought something practical to aid his thought process. Unfortunately, he hadn’t brought anything with him that could serve that purpose, so he was limited to utilizing his surroundings.
The wide market streets gradually gave way to a quieter part of town, clearly residential, as evidenced by the trees lining the streets and the neat separation between the sidewalk and the road. His eyes eventually fell on a particularly large, dry leaf that had been perfectly split in half.
He picked it up and turned it over. This will have to do.
“That might be dir—” He heard his mother begin to say before she stopped herself. “No, go ahead, Orion.”
Suddenly feeling that she might have completely misinterpreted his actions in a ridiculous way, he shrugged and returned to observing the leaf.
Atoms form bonds by releasing energy (E_bond) when the electron clouds overlap under optimal conditions. Could this be a case of guided molecular bonding? The energy cost would still be significant, but not time-travel high.
He conjectured that the restorative magic might work by simply re-establishing the broken bonds, effectively “healing” the object. This could be represented with a simple model: R = k · E_mana – Σ E_bond
R is the net residual matter available for repair, where R > 0 is necessary for restoration. E_mana represents the energy channeled by the spell, k is an efficiency factor indicating the caster’s precision, and Σ E_bond denotes the total energy required to reform the broken chemical bonds.
Something like the leaf might have required approximately 4 electron volts (eV) per molecular bond, as it was primarily composed of cellulose and had only two parts. Even if the total energy was high, this equation was designed for restoration on a small scale and included built-in limitations.
Even if this works, restoration spells might have a hard limit. More to do with mass than volume, I’d say.
Orion then decided to test this idea, noticing that his mother was engrossed in deciphering where they needed to go. He concentrated on the formula, trying to push his theory to the forefront.
Thanks to extensive experiments with the levitation formula, he was able to estimate that he could supply more than enough energy to overcome the sum of bond energies k · E_mana ≥ Σ E_bond of a leaf.
It wasn’t as simple as plugging in a battery and watching it provide the needed power, but he had become quite skilled at giving his words the weight necessary for “magic” to happen.
The two halves didn’t suddenly meld back together, but he was sure he felt them twitch toward each other. It occurred at the same time as a carriage passing by, but he knew he wasn’t imagining it.
He repeated his procedure slowly, adjusting his values to minimize inefficiency. As he progressed, he further refined his equation until it became R = k · E_mana – Σ E_bond + γ · Δt, where γ · Δt accounted for sustained energy application over time.
At his next attempt, the leaf’s two halves began to quiver, their edges moving slowly toward each other until they made contact. They did not fuse seamlessly, but they aligned in a manner that suggested at least a partial restoration of molecular bonds. Even when he tugged at it, it didn’t split apart.
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A small smile, part childish triumph and part scientific satisfaction, crept across Orion’s face. He then threw down the leaf and stamped on it, causing it to break into pieces. It had accomplished its purpose.
“Ah, got bored? I know leaves can be pretty fun with all the veins you can see. If you want, I can show you some pretty cool ones when we get back home,” Asteria said after giving him a look.
Orion shrugged, dismissing the notification, “That sounds fun.” He had only managed to access beginner ingredients so far, but he had seen his mother working in the Pantry enough to know she had some fascinating items in there.
“We’re almost there,” she said, “I’ll take care of this quickly, and then we can go to the forges. That should be more fun.”
He nodded. It would probably be quite interesting to see how they worked with metals here. Given his previous thoughts about silver alloys, he might find an answer there. He skipped ahead and could almost feel his mother smile wider. Really, that woman was too simple.
Eventually, they reached an unremarkable building at the far end of the road, with a field of unkempt grass behind it, beyond which a new neighborhood began. Is this where they keep their military secrets? I suppose it would be harder to target in the middle of a residential area, and the Geneva Convention does not apply here…
The soldiers who welcomed them at the door were respectful in their salutes, yet they did not shift their gaze as the iron door opened by itself.
The interior of the facility was well-lit, with crystal candles adorning the walls. They entered a small room where another soldier stood. Behind him was another door, and to access it, they would need to pass by the man, who carried a very sharp spear at his side. He also had a set of keys and what appeared to be a rod made of dark glass.
Orion wondered what else might be hidden from his view. He doubted this was all the town was doing to protect its military secrets.
“Ma’am!” the young man said, nodding in respect. “I was informed you would be coming. Might I see some identification?”
Orion tilted his head. That hadn’t been necessary so far, but it seemed this site was much more serious about security. His mother didn’t hesitate to reach into her sleeve and pull out what appeared to be an ID card crafted entirely of silver.
The soldier gingerly took it and tapped the obsidian stick against it. When nothing happened, he nodded and returned the card. “Thank you, Magistra. Your identity has been confirmed. Please follow Sir Folsom.”
The door behind him swung open, and a handsome young man with long dark hair and bright green eyes stepped out, wearing a more elaborate uniform.
Orion felt his lip curl as this Sir Folsom bent to grab his mother's hand and brought it to his lips. “It is always a pleasure to welcome one of the High Witches.”
His eyes then met Orion’s— evidently not having expected a child— who did his best to telepathically inform him of how disgusted he was. He didn’t know why his smarmy face was so annoying, but his mother was an innocent woman, and the thought of this dandy believing he might have a chance…
Fortunately for the man, Asteria saved him from incineration by glare, withdrawing her hand while fixing the young man with an unimpressed look. “I believe we have work to do, Sir Folsom.”
The knight stood up, blinking in surprise as if he hadn’t expected to be dismissed so easily. Ah, did you think your boorish charm could deceive someone who has spent so much time with me? Fool!
“Yes, of course. Pardon me.” And with that, they were off. Folsom led them down a maze of corridors and staircases long enough that Orion began to feel tired. Thankfully for his pride, he was spared the need to ask for uppies as they reached one last door, made of the same silver that had been entwined in the Town Hall. Evidently, they consider it a sturdy material. I hope that the smith might know something about it.
Folsom knocked three times before placing his hand on the surface and emitting a pulse of light. The door swung open, revealing a chamber much larger than Orion had expected to find.
Dozens of people milled about, bending over bubbling cauldrons, gesticulating toward ingredient cabinets, or discussing diagrams. However, all of that was secondary to the massive silver tube protruding from a platform in the ground. It was something that Orion immediately recognized as the barrel of a cannon.
He blinked. He was not sure what he’d expected, but certainly not this. Do they have firearms? Did I completely misjudge the technology level? Is this already the Age of Gunpowder?
“Is there a problem with the Astral Thunderer?” His mother asked briskly, walking toward the object. Orion stumbled after her, cursing his short legs for making him so slow.
“Ah, you already know what that is, ma’am?” Folsom asked in surprise.
Asteria favored him with another unimpressed look. “Of course, I know what that is. The Sanctum made it and gave it to the town.”
The knight blinked, and Orion relished how foolish he looked when surprised. “Ah, I did not know that.”
Asteria rolled her eyes and approached the cannon, skillfully opening hidden compartments at its base and pulling previously inaccessible levers.
Eventually, the people overcame their shock and tried to stop her, but she froze them with a glare. “The Thunderer has been tampered with. It is not the alchemical components that are the cause, though I will check everything to make sure sabotage hasn’t occurred there too, after this. It is the enchantments that have been deliberately weakened in parts and strengthened where they shouldn’t be.”
To their credit, the soldiers immediately became deadly serious.
“Are you certain, ma’am?” One of the older ones asked, beginning to poke at the cannon on the other side. “I have checked the Superheavy Alchemical Annihilator every day for the last month and wasn’t able to identify any imbalance in the enchantments.”
Despite the ridiculous name he used, he didn’t seem to be kidding. “I am sure, see here,” Asteria said, pulling her hand back and causing a series of glowing blue runes to materialize in the air. Several of them were more intense than the others, while some were too dim.
“The overall mana levels were the same, but the alternator sequence has been weakened, and the ejector overpowered. This is why we couldn’t even start the testing.” The man murmured in surprise.
“Indeed,” Asteria said, and when she turned around, Orion could see her eyes grow cold. It was fascinating in a way; he’d never seen her angry. “Now we just need to find the traitor.”
Several men attempted to protest, but the moment she turned her gaze on them, they fell silent, choking on their words. “Let’s start with you.”
Though she did nothing but take a few steps, the men shrank back as if she were a monster. Asteria lifted her hand and placed it on the forehead of the closest one, and for a moment, Orion swore he could see light coming from the man’s eyes before he fell bonelessly, breathing deeply.
“Not this one," she said, and then she repeated the same process to all of them.
Though the show was quite interesting, and Orion would have loved to know exactly what she was doing to them, he was distracted when he noticed movement in the corner of his eye.
Turning, he saw the man who had brought them here in the first place slowly retreat, keeping his eyes fixed on Asteria with a look of terror. Orion was sure that once Folsom reached the door, he would bolt.
“Mom!” He called, and Asteria immediately directed her attention to him. Orion simply pointed to the man, who had gone bone white in the face.
Folsom turned and made to run, but Asteria was faster.
“The night shall retreat!” she shouted, thrusting her hand, and a lance of pure white energy materialized.
*CRASH*
The sound of it hitting Folsom and then continuing forward until it smashed into the silver door was deafening, and the light was nearly blinding, but Orion still saw how the apparent traitor slumped to the ground.
A hand covered his eyes, and he heard a familiar sigh. “You will have to wait a bit longer, moonbeam, but I will buy you anything you want at the forge.”
Orion shrugged, “Alright.”
He didn’t mind being involved in a spy thriller.
