The Department of Magical Administration.
Eric retrieved Lucian's Archanist badge from the arcane cage. Four brilliant silver stars gleamed against a pitch-black background, mysterious and vast, as if containing countless secrets.
"Seven hundred and eight arcane points in total. Even if you don't publish any more arcane papers in the near future, Evans, you'll be able to smoothly advance to fifth-rank Archanist within a year or two." Eric handed the badge back to Lucian with its arcane points updated, his habitually stiff expression carrying unmistakable emotion. "You'll be the youngest fifth-rank Archanist in the Magic Parliament since it established arcane ranks—but also the one at the lowest magical rank among Archanists at that level."
For Eric, a third-rank Archanist, the gap between fourth and third rank was merely two hundred arcane points—close enough to dream about and hope for, and after years of effort, he was only thirty-six points short of fourth rank. But fifth rank seemed impossibly distant, utterly out of reach. When he suddenly saw a young man who had arrived in Arlange less than a year ago on the cusp of becoming a fifth-rank Archanist, he couldn't help but feel a pang of wistfulness.
Arcane rank determined not only the importance and treatment one received within the Magic Parliament, but also the potential and prospects for further growth in magical strength.
As long as the mage themselves didn't grow arrogant, go astray, rely purely on accumulated years to inflate their arcane rank, or hit an epistemic wall, there was a strong likelihood their magical strength would eventually match or even surpass their arcane rank. Moreover, when such an Archanist attempted to break through the great barrier from mid-rank to high-rank, the Magic Parliament would certainly provide assistance through magical rituals. In that sense, Eric felt as though he was looking at a high-rank mage on the verge of coming into his own.
Lucian accepted the Archanist badge, turning it over between his slender fingers with a faint smile. "Mr. Eric, thank you for your kind expectations. But these past two months have shown that the glory days of skyrocketing points are behind me."
Because the debate over the Theory of Human Vital Force from the previous project briefing had been raging, when the journal at the end of Hibernation Month (February) was published, Lucian's arcane points had surged by one hundred and fifty-eight—though only forty-two of those came from citations of the Periodic Table of Elements and remeasured atomic weight data.
After February, however, Felipe's experiment and the subsequent "miracle experiment" simulating a natural primordial environment were recognized as the key to overturning the Theory of Human Vital Force, so Lucian's artificial synthesis of urea received fewer citations. Meanwhile, the citation points from the Periodic Table and atomic weight data continued to swell as other Archanists' research projects reached completion, contributing one hundred and forty-three arcane points over two months, and his paper on alchemical substances aiding crop yields also gained nearly ten points thanks to similar substances emerging from other researchers.
In the most recent two or three months, the rate of increase had dropped sharply. Citations for the Periodic Table and atomic weight data stabilized at around ten papers per month, so Lucian judged that the future would be a steady trickle—always present, but never abundant. Reaching fifth-rank Archanist would likely take about two years.
"The Periodic Table is foundational material that no Archanist researching elemental fields can avoid. Even if most of them cite later papers, they'll still contribute a decent number of arcane points to you each month, Evans. Once you become a fifth-rank Archanist and advance your magical rank to the fifth circle, you can come here to apply for high-rank ritual assistance." Eric spoke with a touch of courtesy. "Your arcane rank is already higher than mine, Evans. If you keep using the formal 'you' it'll start to feel awkward—no need to be so polite."
He then produced the magical badge and returned it to Lucian. "Only two points added—from learning a new spell—and the Parliament's monthly stipend of forty-five points."
According to Magic Parliament regulations, a first-rank Archanist received a monthly stipend of one Gold Thaler or one arcane point's worth of materials; second rank was five; third rank, twenty; fourth rank, forty; fifth rank, eighty; sixth rank, three hundred; seventh rank, five hundred; eighth rank, nine hundred; ninth rank, two thousand. The same scale applied to magical ranks, and the two could be stacked.
Lucian pinned the Archanist badge to his left breast first, then accepted the magical badge—still displaying two black circles. A wave of refreshment washed over him, because once an Archanist badge reached third rank (mid-rank), it gained a constant magical effect that alleviated fatigue in both soul and body. Upon becoming a high-rank Archanist, another constant effect could be added—and the same held true for the magical badge.
"Mr. Eric, please allow me to take my leave. I need to visit the exchange area to purchase materials." Lucian picked up the black top hat resting on the chair beside him and gave a slight bow.
No sooner had he left Eric's office than he saw the door of another executor's room swing open. Felipe stepped out slowly, hands buried in the pockets of his long black coat, his face gaunt and drawn with illness.
Felipe clearly hadn't expected to run into Lucian either. After a brief pause, he gave a slight nod, then let his gaze drift to Lucian's left breast. A faint, dark smile crossed his face. "Your arcane rank and magical rank haven't increased at all."
Something about Felipe's words struck Lucian as off, and he instinctively looked down at the badge on Felipe's chest. The black-and-silver Archanist badge, with its starfield motif, now bore five stars—deep, reserved, and profound—surrounded by countless motes of light drifting in orbit. And even more astonishing, the silver magical badge now displayed a full six interlocking black rings!
"High-rank mage…" Among their generation of prodigies, Felipe had finally surpassed everyone else, becoming the first to reach high-rank mage. The total number of high-rank mages in the Pale Hand, including long-lived liches and the like, was only just over forty. This meant Felipe had truly ascended to the upper echelons of the Pale Hand.
Felipe didn't wait for Lucian's response. Hands still in his pockets, he walked straight past, brushing shoulders, and left behind a murmur so low it was almost inaudible: "Don't let me get too far ahead of you."
Lucian tugged at the corner of his mouth and watched Felipe walk away.
…………