"A Magecraft Foundation is also known as a Greater Magic Formula," Lord El-Melloi said, drawing figures on the chalkboard. They were crudely drawn, but understandable. The one on the left looked like pillars from old buildings. The one on the right looked like a ritual taking place. The one in the middle was a stick figure with two lines pointing at the person.
"When you emit a command and dispatch magical energy, it fuels the execution of magecraft written within the Foundation."
He tapped the chalk against the board.
"The practitioner acts in accord with the command to the system that each Magecraft Foundation operates under to execute a pre-built program. That 'program' is a set of universal rules that interfere with nature once they are enforced. The power that enforces those rules is the magical energy of the magus, and the command to do it is made through his Magic Circuits. The greater the interference, the greater the amount of magical energy consumed."
He set the chalk down and scanned the room.
"Now," he said, his tired eyes moving across the rows of students, "if a magus from a family with a weak Foundation attempted to cast a spell that required a stronger Foundation than their own, what would happen? And more importantly, why?"
I knew the answer. It was basic theory in all honesty, so I decided to raise my hand
Lord El-Melloi's gaze landed on me. "Teitoku," he said, gesturing for me to answer.
I stood up slightly in my seat, keeping my voice steady. "The spell would fail, Lord El-Melloi. The magus would attempt to draw power from a Foundation they weren't connected to, which would either produce no result or cause a catastrophic feedback loop. The magical energy would have nowhere to go, so it would either dissipate harmlessly or burn through the magus's circuits trying to force a connection that doesn't exist."
I paused for a second before continuing. "The reason this happens is because a Magecraft Foundation is a structure you must understand before accessing. Borrowing power from a Foundation you don't belong to is like trying to open a lock with the wrong key."
Lord El-Melloi studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded.
"Correct. Though I'd add that in most cases, the result isn't harmless dissipation. It'd violently reject the foreign substance, crippling the user's magic circuits. The Foundation recognizes foreign energy as a contaminant and expels it accordingly." He picked up the chalk again. "Which is why families spend centuries reinforcing their connection to their chosen Foundations. The deeper the connection, the more power you can draw without destroying yourself."
With that, I sat back down.
Kadoc leaned over slightly, his voice a whisper. "Are you alright? You seem out of it today."
"Yeah, just got something on my mind, that's all."
No, Kadoc, I was not alright. I was put into a foul mood a few days ago, when I met up with Touko.
Three Days Earlier
The cafe was small, tucked between a bookstore and a tailor's shop. I spotted Touko in the back corner, a cup of coffee already in front of her, ignoring the no smoking sign in front of the shop with the ashtray in front of her. She looked a little different from when I'd last met her.
Her hair was a lighter shade of red and it was longer than previously. Instead of a high ponytail she had it in a ponytail, that was running on her side? She waved me over with two fingers and I slid into the seat across from her.
"So why the hell did you sneak into my room, and deliver a letter with a phone number on it, instead of just calling me with the Gara No Dou number directly?
Touko took a slow drag from her cigarette, letting the smoke curl toward the ceiling before answering.
"Because the Gara no Do line isn't available anymore"
She tapped ash into the tray. "I dismantled the Gara No Dou puppet workshop back in Mifune, so I'm not using that number anymore." She smirked. "Besides, I just tested if your security was any good, you should be giving me endless thanks."
To this day this woman's shamelessness infuriates me.
I stared at her for a long moment, trying to figure out if she was joking. Sadly, she was not. I pressed my palm against my forehead in annoyance. "Alright, why did you break into my room then?"
She pulled out a letter.
Not the same one she'd left on my desk. This one was thicker, with heavier paper and sealed with wax that bore a crest I didn't recognize.
"I broke in to deliver that." She said, while sliding the letter towards me. I picked it up, turning it over. I couldn't recognize anything about it whatsoever.
"What is this?"
Touko didn't answer immediately. Instead she just watched me turn the envelope in my hand, looking over it.
"It's an invitation," she replied.
"That doesn't explain why you had to break into my room." I replied, my eyes twitching in irritation.
She just sighed, shaking her head in disappointment. "If I mailed it to you directly, the Clock Tower would log it. Then you would have too much attention and eyes on you, and I'm sure that's not what you want."
She was right about that atleast, so I'll let her off the hook this one time.
I cracked the wax seal. The paper inside of it was heavier than normal, and the ink looked slightly darker as well. My eyes stopped on the location, while I was reading it.
"Twin Towers Of Iselma?"
I read it again just to make sure I wasn't misinterpreting it. The Twin Towers of Iselma is a Magical Workshop operated by the Iselma family in the Lake District of England, some distance away from the town of Windermere.
What I'm confused about is, why the hell I was invited to this gathering?
Touko leaned back in her chair, cigarette balanced lazily between her fingers. "Because I requested you specifically."
"I was able to bring a random plus one along with me, and I figured I could give you some experience in the world of magi."
I pressed my palm against my forehead. "You're dragging me to a private magus gathering as your plus one."
"Dragging is such a strong word, I'd say that I'm inviting you." She smirked. "There's a difference."
"To an event hosted by a family that doesn't let outsiders near their workshop."
"Exactly." She said, "Which means whatever they're showing is gonna be worth seeing, and plus think of it as a reward for graduating general fundamentals and joining the El-Melloi classroom." She finished with a wink.
If I were to be completely honest, I didn't want to go at all. It's a place where noble magi will most likely be attending. And noble magi are all the most insufferable people you'll ever meet. Magi who constantly talk about themselves and their achievements while looking down on everyone and everything around them. But I already received the letter from her directly, so what was I to do?
I stared at the invitation for a long moment, weighing my options. Refusing wasn't really an option. Touko had already put my name in. If I backed out now, it would raise questions and might put me on a list with some families.
"Fine," I said, tucking the invitation into my pocket. "I'll go."
"Good." She stood up, pulling her coat tighter. "I'll send you the details where I can come pick you up. Don't be late."
She walked out without another word, leaving me alone with my coffee and my thoughts.
I was about to get up when a voice came from behind me.
"Excuse me, sir? Would you like to pay your bill?"
I turned around seeing a waiter standing there, holding a small tray with a folded piece of paper on it. I looked at the bill and it was more then it should have been. We only ordered two coffees, for fuck's sake. But I'm not surprised Touko dined and dashed on me. It's expected for someone as willful as Touko.
I pulled out my wallet and handed over a few notes. "Keep the change."
The waiter nodded and disappeared.
I stood up and walked out of the cafe, the bell above the door chiming softly behind me. The street outside was busy now since it was the afternoon, so there was a crowd filling the sidewalks. I pulled my coat tighter against the cold and started walking back toward the Clock Tower.
*Flashback End*
"So what's been bothering you?" Kadoc asked, his voice still a whisper.
I glanced at him. Lord El-Melloi was still lecturing, his back turned to the class as he drew another diagram on the board.
"Someone invited me to an event," I said quietly. "It's some family's workshop, an event for the end of summer."
Kadoc's eyebrows rose. "Which family?"
"The Iselmas."
He went pale. "The Twin Towers?"
"You know them?"
"Everyone knows them." He shifted in his seat, lowering his voice even further. "They don't invite most commoners, how did you-"
"A contact invited me." I said. "She requested me as her plus one."
Kadoc stared at me like I'd just willingly hung myself. "And you said yes?"
"She already put my name in. Backing out now would raise questions." I shrugged. "Besides, I might be able to make good connections with nobles."
Honestly, it doesn't sound so bad if we were to be completely honest. I just had to keep my guard up and keep calm.
Kadoc, though, didn't look convinced. "Kakine, I really hope you know what you're doing, going to a gathering of nobles is reckless even for you."
"You're being too paranoid."
"I'm realistic." He glanced at Lord El-Melloi, then back at me. "Just... don't sign anything. Don't agree to anything. And if they offer you a drink, don't drink it."
I pushed his face that was leaning close back. "Take a chill pill man, I'll be alright."
He rubbed his nose where I'd pushed him, still frowning. "You say that now, but if something bad happens, don't say I told you so."
Then a small piece of chalk hit the foreheads of both Me and Kadoc in an instant. I didn't even notice anything being flung at me.
Lord El-Melloi's voice cut through the room. "Is there something you two would like to share with the class?"
Kadoc immediately snapped forward, his face turning red. I just shook my head.
"No, Lord El-Melloi," I said.
He stared at us for a moment, then turned back to the board. Kadoc didn't whisper again for the rest of the lecture.
When class ended, I gathered my things and stood up. Kadoc grabbed my sleeve before I could leave.
"Promise me you'll be careful."
I looked down at his hand, then back at his face. He was serious. More serious than I'd ever seen him.
"I'll be careful," I said.
He let go, but he didn't look happy about it.
I walked out of the classroom, rubbing my forehead where the chalk had hit. That was going to leave a mark.
Kadoc was right about one thing. If I was going to a gathering of nobles, I couldn't show up looking like a student who'd just rolled out of bed. The Clock Tower ran on appearances. You should dress how you want to be addressed, so I needed to wear something flashy.
I pulled out my phone and typed a quick message to Touko.
"Where do I get formal wear around here?"
Her reply came a few minutes later.
"Try Carnac, they have tons of good clothing you could get."
Dang. I'd only heard about that place in passing. It was an Egyptian-themed luxury department store owned by the Edelfelts. One of London's largest, actually, and it catered specifically to magi. But those were minor details.
But the place is also expensive as fuck as well. I couldn't help but let out a sigh. This place I was going too was more trouble then it was worth.