Chapter 30: Elemental Dispersal
Mars meticulously sliced through the steak, pausing before speaking, "By the way, Xia Zuo, don't forget about tonight's welcome banquet. I'll meet you at the library before dinner."
"Will the banquet also be performed by elemental servants?" Xia Zuo's lips curved in a wry smile.
"Ah, yes," Mars replied.
He took a bite of beef, furrowed his brow, realizing the issue lay in Xia Zuo's underdeveloped mental sea, unable to perceive elemental servants.
The banquet promised to be rather dull.
"Can I skip it? I'd rather continue studying at the library," Xia Zuo asked.
Mars nodded, swallowing his food, "Of course. As long as you don't breach Dim's 'Castle Regulations,' it's not mandatory to attend the banquet."
A burst of laughter echoed from the dining hall entrance, conspicuous in the serene setting, drawing the attention of many newcomers.
Xia Zuo glanced toward the source of the commotion, three bulky figures with faces so plump it seemed they might drip fat.
They bore a striking resemblance, equally plump, perhaps brothers.
Their brown hair twisted like octopus tentacles, eyes and noses seeming minuscule amidst the flesh, especially their eyes, tiny green beans embedded within the fat.
While the dining hall allowed for chatter, most conversed quietly, unlike these three who spoke loudly without restraint.
Noticing their standardized robes akin to Mars', Xia Zuo observed colored patterns at the cuffs and collars.
Symbolic of completing alchemical branch tests.
Poison alchemy was purple, medicinal alchemy green, oil and peculiar alchemy were blue and red respectively.
Their robes bore one purple line, two green, two blue, and one red.
Corresponding to novice poison alchemists, adept medicinal alchemists, adept oil alchemists, and novice peculiar alchemists.
Apart from Mars, who was a novice peculiar alchemist, the rest were adept.
Students proficient in two adept alchemical branches were dubbed high-tier students.
Those with proficiency in one adept branch were mid-tier.
Those with only novice-level alchemy were low-tier.
Like Xia Zuo, lacking novice-level alchemy, they were considered newcomers.
Per the "Principles of Meditation," mastering all four alchemical branches at an adept level allowed one to attempt the most rudimentary meditation techniques.
"Who are they?" Xia Zuo redirected his gaze, inquiring.
Mars' lips twitched, a fleeting disdain crossing his face, "The Ritchie triplets."
Ritchie...
Xia Zuo mentally spun these words.
The surname of the Minister of Finance in the Nightstar Kingdom was Ritchie. Impressive, they birthed triplets, all naturally affinity-gifted.
"You seem to have a distaste for them?" Xia Zuo glanced again at the somewhat arrogant trio.
"It's not related to their background. After becoming mages, mundane power matters less. I just despise their mannerisms and behavior," Mars stated as he nibbled on a rib.
Mars noticed Xia Zuo's lingering confusion, continuing, "Do you have Dim's 'Castle Regulations'? Check Article 15."
Xia Zuo pondered a second before fluently reciting, "['Your elemental servants are not allowed in your dormitory; it's your personal space within the school.']"
Mars blinked in surprise, momentarily forgetting to chew. "You've already memorized it?"
Xia Zuo shrugged, nodding.
"Ah."
Mars spat the bone into his plate. "There are no elemental servants of Dim's in the dorm, but there might be others."
Xia Zuo's fingers tightened around the cutlery, finding the peeping high-tier students truly challenging—an unexpected twist.
"But Mars..." Xia Zuo confirmed again the Ritchie brothers only had one red line on their clothes, "Can novice peculiar alchemists create elemental servants?"
"It's somewhat challenging. But well..." Mars clasped his index and middle fingers, making a universally recognized gesture.
So, it was about financial capacity.
"Is there a way to detect elemental servants?" Xia Zuo fidgeted uneasily, adjusting his posture for comfort.
"Don't worry, they won't spy on you. Who'd want to peek at a guy's bare backside? The Ritchie triplets are only interested in girls," Mars stated, displeasure evident.
"They've never succeeded," Mars added. "Whenever Dim catches their elemental servants, he destroys them on the spot. Yet, they keep spending a fortune outside the castle to buy new ones."
Xia Zuo surveyed the dining tables; many new female students seemed unaware of the voyeuristic tendencies of the Ritchie triplets.
Mars understood Xia Zuo's thoughts, tapping the soup bowl with his fork, diverting Xia Zuo's attention.
"Before I arrived, I saw six or seven elemental servants patrolling their dorm's entrance as arranged by Dim. Now, each of them has an elemental servant trailing them, so the Ritchie triplets can't bypass Dim's surveillance."
Xia Zuo sighed in relief, "Would the academy expel such students? I mean, disregarding their background and talents."
"They would and erase their memories of the academy forcefully, personally handled by the Headmistress, Beryl," Mars replied, his tone indignant. "However, the Ritchie triplets have a perfect excuse to explain why their elemental servants appeared in the girls' dormitory corridor."
Xia Zuo unconsciously leaned forward, curious, "What excuse?"
Mars shaved off bits of meat from his fork with the knife, saying ruefully, "Elemental Dispersal—a high-tier study. You'll learn about it when you're close to practicing meditation like me; your mentor, Kurov, will explain."
Mars was about to cut another piece of steak but realized Xia Zuo still seemed eager to inquire. He set down his utensils, intertwining his fingers, "Fine. I'll give you a brief explanation.
"With meditation, untamed elements are tamed. They transform into obedient elements within our mental seas. It's in the 'Principles of Meditation.'"
"Hmm," Xia Zuo nodded, signaling Mars to continue.
Mars extended his hands, "But you must understand, our emotions and mental states are constantly changing. Sometimes we're tired, other times joyful or sad.
"In essence, emotions and mental states affect the mental sea.
"When the obedient elements sense your mental sea's turmoil, they sneak away unnoticed, reverting to untamed elements.
"That's Elemental Dispersal."
"Are the elements conscious? Do they have preferences?" Xia Zuo asked incredulously.
Mars shook his head, "They aren't conscious nor do they have preferences. It's about compatibility—suitable or unsuitable. Each person's mental sea suits specific elemental forms.
"That's why we study alchemy; it accelerates elemental affinity development, far more efficient than painting or tending furnaces.
"Be it innate or acquired, once there's affinity, it helps discern untamed elements that suit you, minimizing the possibility of Elemental Dispersal."
"That's the principle..." Xia Zuo leaned back, contemplating.
Mars gestured toward the kitchen, "Elemental servants are products of elemental manifestation studies. They need regular maintenance to stabilize internal patterns, an assignment in elemental manifestation classes.
"Otherwise, like obedient
elements, when we're inattentive, they deviate from their positions, wandering aimlessly—a form of Elemental Dispersal.
"The Ritchie triplets exploit this.
"They arrange for someone to alert them. Upon receiving news that Dim, the castle's overseer, is approaching, they sever the connection with the elemental servant, rendering it completely untamed.
"Although the abandoned elemental servant bears the triplets' spiritual imprint, there's no evidence proving whether it was under control or dispersed before entering the girls' dormitory corridor."
Mars sipped his cooling soup, "It's gotten a bit cold."
He rang the bell, summoning an elemental servant to reheat their vegetable soup.
Though Xia Zuo didn't grasp the specifics, Mars' description indicated how difficult it was to catch them red-handed.
The presumption of innocence applied to school rules and the 'Castle Regulations,' let alone the Ritchie triplets with a formidable influential father.
Hopefully, no girls would suffer.
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