Industrial Mage: Modernizing a Magical World

31 - Join the Dark Side!

Author's Note:

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"Well..." Jack said, "I need an assistant," he said finally.

Ethan blinked, surprised by the sudden request. "Oh."

"Yes. It will be better if I have an assistant. Quicker. I could've created a cure for the blight sooner if I had someone competent. Sir Miller is good, he really is. However, he is not suited for this kind of work. He is strange, really. Regardless, he is not suited for this kind of work. I need a professional, if possible."

"Sure. Tell me the specifics and I will arrange for someone," Ethan offered easily.

"Thank you, my lord."

"Is that it?" Ethan confirmed.

"Yes, that would be all," he said, his eyes flickering away from Ethan's gaze.

"Then, I want you to start working on the issue at hand, immediately," Ethan said, his voice firm. The day's events had left him drained, and he wanted not only some solitude to process everything, but also to do some work. Work helped him relax. Keep focused. Distracted.

Work was procrastination from problems. For Ethan, at least.

With a curt nod, Jack shuffled out of the room, leaving Ethan alone with his thoughts. Hmm, what is Jack so desperate to hide from Sir Thomas and Roland? And what [Oath] had he sworn? More importantly, with or to whom?

Ethan pushed those questions aside for now. There was more pressing business at hand. He settled back into his chair. Closing his eyes, he activated his [Meditation] skill, focusing on his breath as the familiar warmth of mana coursed through him.

Despite his best efforts, his mind kept wandering. The image of the runaway Necromancer flickered in his thoughts, along with the upcoming arrival of Baron Montague. He still hadn't procured the mana crystal Jack needed, and the thought gnawed at him more than it should.

Jack was under him now, technically—and Ethan didn't want to mistreat his employees.

With a sigh, Ethan released the meditation technique. Frustration practically bubbled within him. He still hadn't managed to level up his [Meditation] skill. Was his eagerness for progress actually hindering him?

Deciding to focus on something else, Ethan used [Basic Rune Creation] and started creating rune motes. The process flowed smoothly now. Far smoother than it had once been. Within moments, a few faint rune mote glowed on the table, pulsing with a gentle hum.

A small victory, at least. Everything else seems to just knock me down.

He'd created soap which now lay practically useless. Well, it works against the Blight, so that's something.

The day passed and then the night as well, Ethan continued creating rune motes

It was calming.

Whenever he would grow tired or feel the headache coming—a headache that came whenever he used all of his mana, or at least used mana to a critical level—he'd use [Meditation], and that'd not only help calm his mind and headache, but also refill his mana pool.

Man, I want a sparring partner.

The thought reminded him of confronting the rogue [Necromancer]. Now that sent a jolt of excitement through him—he was nervous, yes, but he was excited, too. Thus, as he finished for the night, he pulled up his status screen.