In the Month of Beginning — the first month of the year — the northern Holm Kingdom was still bitterly cold, snowflakes swirling through the air and icy winds howling like blades.
Inside the magic tower of the Silver Moon Song Alliance's Allinur branch, it was warm as spring, bringing a sense of genuine comfort to every magician who walked through the doors — though they were shielded by spell effects like "Endure Elements" and "Resist Cold," the biting wind still felt thoroughly unpleasant against the skin.
"Hey, Julie, Happy New Year! Has today's copy of Arcane arrived yet?" At the start of the new year, the only thing that could coax Archanists out into the bitter cold to visit the branch tower was this sort of business.
Julie, the female apprentice on reception duty, flushed red — whether from the contrast between the warm interior and the frozen world outside, or for some other reason — and said, "Neither Arcane nor Arcane Magic has arrived yet."
Then, her eyes bright and her voice lowered, she whispered, "Gentlemen, have you heard about the Cosmic Observatory?"
"Cosmic Observatory?" the Archanists replied blankly. Had they fallen behind the times just by spending the New Year holiday?
Julie raised her voice, excitement coloring her tone. "A couple of days ago, word came out of the Atomic Research Institute — Lord Evans has built a Cosmic Observatory up in the starry sky, so that Archanists whose magical strength isn't sufficient can still study cosmic rays and the vast mysteries of the cosmos."
"What?" One mid-rank Archanist couldn't contain his emotions; his voice reverberated through the hall as though enhanced by a sonic spell.
"We can actually go up to the stars to conduct research?" Another Archanist's voice was thick with disbelief.
Julie nodded vigorously. "Ms.
The loud-voiced Archanist believed Julie wouldn't lie about something like this, so he tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling as though he could peer through it and the layers of the magic tower to the vast, boundless starry sky beyond.
"The starry sky..." His tone was like a sigh, for the vast majority of Archanists held the cosmos in equal parts awe and longing — yet throughout their entire lives, they were unlikely to ever have the chance. Who could have imagined that something like this would appear? The great advancement of Arcane truly had brought miracle after miracle!
Another Archanist asked with an urgent, nervous edge, "Can we apply to use the Cosmic Observatory? Or is it only available to Archanists from the Atomic Research Institute?"
Before Julie could answer, a clear, steady male voice rang out from the entrance to the magic tower: "Of course you can. Lord Evans has given a definitive answer to the Magic Research Committee — each time the Cosmic Observatory is opened, two slots can be allocated to Archanists outside the Atomic Research Institute. However, applicants must submit their experimental plans in advance and pass a rigorous review. We can't have Archanists who merely want to go up and gaze at the stars wasting the Council's resources."
The Archanists in the hall turned around. Some asked excitedly, "Is that true, Mr. Yurisan?" while others offered a proper greeting: "Happy New Year, Mr. Yurisan."
The one who had just walked into the magic tower was none other than Yurisan, now a Seventh Circle Archanist.
"If you don't believe me, you're welcome to go ask the Magic Research Committee yourselves," Yurisan replied with a humorous smile.
By now, the Archanists had recovered their composure. One of them asked worriedly, "Our experimental plans are all closely tied to our own Arcane research — won't submitting them risk giving others inspiration?"
He was being diplomatic, but his actual meaning was perfectly clear: he worried that someone might glean the direction and foundations of his research from the submitted plans, thereby completing a similar experiment ahead of him and snatching the credit.
"Rest assured — all experimental plans are backed up just like papers, and they're reviewed by members of the Magic Research Committee. There's no need to worry about someone stealing your results," Yurisan answered with a smile. He was one of the high-ranking magicians in the Silver Moon Song Alliance with the best interpersonal skills, and possessed considerable administrative ability — which was why he had been appointed to the Affairs Committee.
Several Archanists let out quiet sighs of relief and set aside their concerns. Some began thinking about what sort of experimental plan might impress the review committee members, while others continued asking, "Mr. Yurisan, does the Alliance have any plans to build its own Cosmic Observatory?"
Yurisan smiled. "I'm not certain about that either. Decisions like these don't come quickly. But what I can tell you is that some Legendary Magicians and Grand Mages believe a Cosmic Observatory is entirely unnecessary — it's not as if they can't conduct research on their own — while others think it unwise to build too many at once, as that would place enormous pressure on the Council's 'resource reserves.' Until Lord Evans's Cosmic Observatory has proven its value, we shouldn't rush to replicate it everywhere."
"So even though the Council Chairman, the Elemental Dominator, the Storm Overlord, and other Legendary Magicians support the Cosmic Observatory, in the short term it will likely only be the High Tower that builds another one."
"The other lords' concerns are perfectly reasonable. After all, no one knows yet whether the Cosmic Observatory is actually useful — charging ahead recklessly isn't the Council's style," an Archanist agreed with a nod.
Just as they were about to say their goodbyes to Yurisan, a beeping sound suddenly came from the reception desk in front of Julie.
"Hello?" Julie picked up the wired telephone. "Oh — Arcane and Arcane Magic have arrived?"
The Archanists who had been preparing to leave all stopped in their tracks, waited patiently for ten minutes, and then purchased copies of Arcane and Arcane Magic from Julie.