-- Gutlark Town, Easpring 07, 1566 NC. --
Early in the morning.
Spark sat on his bed. Naked. The sheets were a tangle around his strong legs.
Lilith lay beside him. A serene expression on her beautiful face. Her breathing even and deep.
He watched her for a moment. A flicker of satisfaction in his grey eyes. She was precisely what he had intended to create. Loyal. Competent. And utterly his.
His gaze drifted to the anomaly in front of him. Suspended there. Floating at precisely eye level. It was a small, cream-colored envelope. It vibrated gently. Emitting a faint hum.
He couldn't help but feel a detached amusement. At the sheer absurdity of the technology in this world.
It was magical communication. Fast and efficient. Yet utterly alien to his previous life. This vibrating paper was a common sight for deliveries from the Avianest Messaging Service. Powered by low-level spatial runes.
He reached out. Grabbing the envelope. It felt cool and smooth in his hand. He pulled out the single sheet of paper.
The heading was ornate: Avianest University. He unfolded it. It was a letter. An invitation. From Professor Alk Ashenowl.
The old Grandmaster Scholar was in Gutlark for an academic conference. And requested a meeting later today at his hotel. The letter mentioned the hour. Late afternoon.
Spark sighed. Sending this thing this early in the morning? So typical of Professor Ashenowl. That old professor didn't seem to think sending an invitation letter at this time was... bad.
Spark knew the man was an early riser. Dedicated solely to his class and his research. Such disregard for conventional social timing was pretty normal for him.
But, it was actually convenient. Spark had been planning to contact the professor himself. Alk Ashenowl was the most respected scholar in the Kingdom. The number one figurehead in the academic world.
Having him endorse or even just acknowledge Spark's 'ready-to-go-public' rune inventions would be invaluable. His reputation alone could smooth the path. Making it easier for him to pass the bureaucracy and skepticism.
He quickly walked down from the bed. The powerful muscles shifting under his tanned skin. He strode naked across the room to a small writing desk near the window.
He grabbed a pen and a clean sheet of paper. He wrote his reply. A simple agreement to meet the professor that afternoon. At the designated hotel.
He sealed it back into the magical envelope. The envelope vibrated more intensely for a moment. Then, it shimmered and dissolved into thin air. Already en route back to the professor.
Spark looked back at the naked, beautiful figure on his bed. Half covered by the blanket he had pulled back.
Spark smiled slightly. He remembered what happened last night. The transformation was complete. The obedience was absolute. The pleasure was... undeniable. She was everything he had envisioned and more. A tool perfectly honed.
He then walked to the bathroom. The large frame moved with deceptive grace. He needed to prepare for the day. A busy day... starting with a shower.
...
Later, in the late afternoon.
Spark walked along the opulent corridor of the Gutlark Grand Hotel. The carpet was plush. The wallpaper was intricate with woven gold threads. And magical lights glowed softly from ornate fixtures.
He moved with the easy confidence of a nobleman. His towering, muscular build drew glances. But his amiable expression diffused any immediate intimidation. He wore finely tailored clothes. Practical but clearly expensive.
Lilith followed precisely two paces behind him. She was dressed in a simple but elegant secretary's outfit common in this world. A high-necked blouse, dress pants, and sensible shoes.
Her hair was pulled back neatly. She held a slim data slate in her hand. Looking utterly professional and unobtrusive. Her movements were quiet, efficient.
No one looking at her would suspect the weapon that lay beneath the calm surface. The absolute loyalty that was etched into her very soul. She was a perfect shadow. Precisely as Spark wanted her to be.
They reached a door marked with a small plaque. 'Grand Meeting Room'. Spark paused for a moment. Adjusting his jacket cuff.
He knocked firmly. Three distinct raps. A moment later, a voice from within called, "Enter!"
Spark pushed the door open and stepped inside. Lilith followed, closing the door softly behind her.
Within the room, Spark found himself in a spacious, well-lit chamber. Large windows offered a view of the city below. Around a polished table sat three figures. Spark walked towards them. Extending a hand in greeting.
He was chatting amicably with a slender old gentleman. A man with long white hair neatly tied back and circular glasses perched on his nose. Professor Alk Ashenowl. His eyes, magnified slightly by the lenses, held a sharp, intelligent glint.
"Ah, Spark! My boy! Thank you for coming on such short notice!" The Professor said. His voice was warm and welcoming. He stood as they shook hands.
"Professor, it's always a pleasure." Spark replied. His smile was genuine this time. He did hold a form of respect for Alk Ashenowl. A purely academic one.
The man was a true Grandmaster Scholar. He had deep knowledge in many fields. His theoretical knowledge of rune was so deep that even Spark, with his encyclopedic cheat, could appreciate it.
In the room, there was also a pudgy man with a thick moustache. Mayor Koth Ginheron. Next to him sat a teenage boy with a regal disposition. Prince Leonel Eaglecrown. Both also rose to greet Spark.
Spark was quite familiar with Mayor Ginheron and Prince Leonel. Both of them were the rare 'academic' nobles. The type he found easier to get along with compared to the usual military or administrative types.
The mayor was a former disciple of Professor Ashenowl. Highly respected in academic circles despite his political role. And the prince was the current disciple. Showing a keen interest in applied magic and technology.
Both of them knew Spark's mastery level of runes. It was equal to, and in some niche areas, even better than, the professor's. Thus, they respected him for that specialized intellectual prowess.
In other fields, they saw him far behind them in knowledge though. Spark had been playing the role of the prodigy for rune theory. But lacking the depth of the formal education and experience in other fields. It was a mask he wore comfortably.
They exchanged pleasantries. And Spark introduced Lilith as his executive secretary. Her bow was polite. Her expression was neutral and efficient.
The others acknowledged her presence briefly. Before turning their full attention back to Spark.
Once they were all seated, the conversation quickly turned to the reason for the meeting. Prof. Alk Ashenowl shared the development of his newest rune project research. Without any restraint.
It was a design of a massive, city-wide rune-based power plant. One intended to supply energy to the whole of Eagledome, their capital city.
"The theory is sound, Spark." The Professor explained. Gesturing with his hands. "Using interconnected amplification and conversion runes to draw latent ambient energy from the air and earth, then channeling it into usable power grids. It's revolutionary! No need for monster cores. No reliance on finite materials."
"However, the ambient energy... it's simply not dense enough." The professor sighed and showed a rare sign of frustration on his face.
"Not enough to power a city this size. We'd need an immense array, covering half the island, just for the baseline energy draw. And the conversion efficiency..." He trailed off. Shaking his head. "It's not economically or spatially feasible. What do you think?"
Spark leaned back in his chair. "Ambient energy alone... yes. I suspected that would be the bottleneck for a project of this scale," He said. His tone was thoughtful.
"You mention not relying on finite materials, Professor." He continued. "But perhaps you don't need to rely solely on ambient energy. Why not incorporate another fuel source to supplement the ambient draw? Treat the ambient energy as a base load, and the fuel as the peak load or a supplementary input?"
The other three looked at him, intrigued.
The professor nodded slowly. "Yes, a hybrid system. We considered that, of course. But as I said, the cost... oil, coal... mining them, transporting them... it's expensive and dirty. Monster cores are powerful. But their availability is inconsistent."
Prince Leonel, who had been listening intently, chimed in. "What about plant-based energy sources, Professor? Wood, certain fast-growing magical flora... they are renewable. With proper cultivation, we could ensure a consistent supply."
Spark nodded. "That's not a bad idea, Prince. Possibly the most feasible one. It would still require significant land use for cultivation. But certainly more practical than ambient energy alone."
He paused. Tapping a finger on the table. He had an idea, originating from his previous life. For this world, it would be risky and unconventional. But potentially a game-changer.
"I have another idea, actually." He said. Drawing their attention. "It might sound... less feasible at first glance. Rather unconventional."
He grinned. "But if it worked, it could solve not just the energy problem. But another significant issue facing any large settlement." He met their gazes. "Using... garbage as fuel."
The word hung in the air for a moment. Mayor Ginheron blinked. His thick moustache was twitching. Prince Leonel's regal posture stiffened slightly. Professor Ashenowl tilted his head. His eyes narrowed in academic curiosity rather than dismissal.
"Garbage?" The Mayor repeated. Sounding slightly bewildered. "You mean... trash? Spoiled food, broken goods,... waste products?"
"Precisely," Spark confirmed. He leaned forward. Becoming animated as he described the concept. "Imagine a super strong chamber. Built with materials and reinforcement runes. Capable of withstanding tremendous heat and pressure."
He took a breath and continued. "Inside, we place the city's garbage. Then, we utilize a high-intensity fire-based rune array within the chamber. Not just burning, but rapidly processing, breaking down the waste at a fundamental level."
Another pause. And then... "This will generate immense heat energy. We then use another set of modification and conversion runes. To capture that heat, purify its energy signature, and transform it into the usable energy type needed for the city grid."
He gestured with his hands. Outlining the process. "If it could be done, the benefits are twofold. One, we have potentially endless fuel source that is constantly being generated by the city itself. Two, we solve the growing problem of waste disposal. No more landfills. No more pollution from decomposition. The garbage literally becomes the power."
The casual idea he threw out made the other three react. Shock at first. Then a rapidly building wave of excitement. And intense intellectual curiosity.
"A... garbage incinerator... feeding a rune power plant?" Professor Ashenowl murmured. His eyes were distant. As his mind clearly began racing through the theoretical possibilities.
"The heat generation is certainly feasible with closed-circuit fire runes. It would require complex filtering. And energy purification runes. Ensuring the energy signature is clean and stable. After processing such... heterogeneous material."
"And the structural integrity of the chamber!" Mayor Ginheron exclaimed. Leaning forward. "It would need to withstand temperatures and pressures unseen in standard rune-furnaces. Not to mention potential corrosive energies released from certain waste types!"
"We'd need a sophisticated sorting. Or pre-processing system?" Prince Leonel pondered aloud. "Or could the rune array be designed to handle mixed waste? And what about residual byproducts? Ash? Gasses?"
The discussion immediately plunged into the technical possibilities. And immense challenges.
They debated materials for the chamber. The specific rune types needed. The safety protocols. The potential efficiency...
The room was filled with the excited buzz of academic minds. Latching onto a simple yet revolutionary concept. Spark listened. Guided the conversation subtly. And filed away their questions and observations.
This was precisely the kind of reaction he wanted. Getting the established experts invested in his ideas. And later, presenting his future inventions as the solution to the their problems.
After they had discussed the 'garbage-power' concept for a considerable time. Hashing out myriad technical details. And outlining a long list of required research areas... Spark decided it was time to change the topic.
"Speaking of new rune projects." He said with a smile. A hint of pride entering his expression. "I've been working on a few of my own. Things I believe could be of considerable interest."
He opened his unassuming backpack. And took out a stack of sturdy, palm-sized plain cards. And a few small, intricately marked boxes.
He placed them on the table. Sliding them towards the center for the others to see.
"I've recently completed the development on these things." He stated.
He picked up a card out of the stack. "This..." He said. "... is what I call a 'Talent Revelation Card'."
He then gestured to the small boxes. "And these..." He continued. Tapping one of the boxes. "... are the 'Second Chance Box - Framepath Edition'."