Reincarnate as Prince: Change Magical World with Industry

66 Repercussions

"What are you talking about? Me? Teaching you? I can't even cast a spell without hurting myself to the brink of death." Janus said.

"Don't be silly. I don't mean magic. I want to learn more about the village and how you're making it work. In exchange for providing you with lessons, I'll be attending more of your classes on society and leadership as well. I'm also open to one-on-one lessons if it pleases you." Haruna said.

She opened her notebook and flipped through some pages. It was full of illustrations and dog-ears, with plenty of notes about the whole village. Janus could spot drawings of goblin machines and dwarven crafts with lengthy descriptions, as well as I'reen fishing methods and various recipes for their stew.

"Just as I thought, you're spying on us!" Janus smiled.

"What? No! That's not it. I'm just curious. What you're doing here is unique to any other territory in Kalesia. I've been collecting all these notes in between my own chores and comparing them to other places that I've been in. I've had a comparing note with Yvaine about it and its been keeping me busy ever since."

He reached out his hand to take the notebook. Haruna hesitated.

"Can I take a closer look please, my lady?"

"Don't make fun of me."

"Won't even think of it. If anything this sort of scholarly work is what I enjoy."

Haruna handed him the notebook.

Janus flipped through and found more in-depth notes about their cultures and how the myriad of races interact. She had written a whole essay on how no one has ever had success in uniting different races into one banner. She even had listed several historical attempts to do so during the previous centuries, and how all of these were short-lived. They were either dissolved by civil war due to racial tensions or had crumbled when the stronger, more dominant races would later subjugate the others into slavery. Victims are often goblins and dwarves, and even I'reen on some occasions, while the perpetrators are most likely humans and orcs.

This sort of thorough investigation was not something he expected from her at all.

"I'm sorry Haruna, but I'm not quite sure I understand. What's the cause of all this curiosity? I expected more notes on arcane anomalies in the area, but here you are writing even more about our society and social structures. If this is what you want to learn from me then all means you are welcome. I just want to know why?"

Haruna went silent. She ruffled her skirt and leaned back in her wooden chair. She crossed her legs and cleared her throat. Outside Janus could hear Mistress Issha barking orders. Children were playing around the grounds near the chapel. Someone was practising the flute, he could identify the melody from one of a few shows they played in the amphitheatre. Judging from his skill it must be Ogie, one of the Ramstead dwarves.

"I'm the only daughter of a noble house. My father has sired no sons, my mother went through a few miscarriages until they had me. He never told me directly, but I heard the rumours from our housemaids whispered behind my back. The truth is, my father regretted having a daughter as his only child. He planned to send me off to marry immediately once I've come of age to some far-flung Kingdom, father started looking for suitors from the Empire even when I was a child. But growing up we discovered that I had magical affinity inside me. I then quickly proved myself as an asset to him. I was immediately admitted to the College of Whisperwind, after subjecting myself to sleepless nights of studying and practising my craft. I poured my heart and soul into my studies. I knew it was the only way I could live a life away from his clutches."

"Must have been hard."

"That's not all of it. I have since gained his respect as I rose through the ranks in the Arcanum, but being the best spell caster of this rank on our family line apparently isn't enough for him. He'd then start sending me off to other countries as either a display of force or as a way of promoting our relations. I have earned enough that he had declared me as a successor to our territory, but they're still lies the lingering possibility that he'll just go and send me off as a bride for political gain. If I can prove myself yet again, I'll escape his grasp. And live my life outside of his will."

"And you'll do this by being a better ruler than he is?" Janus said.

"That's part of it. There had been a brimming civil war amongst dissenting factions in our land. We have a few orc craftsmen along with dwarves and war refugees. Father isn't too picky and would eagerly welcome other races as long as they can prove to be productive for the kingdom. The only problem is we've been falling into its consequences. There's rampant xenophobia amongst the people, thefts, murders on the streets, disputes on who should be earning more. There's fear that a civil war is on the horizon. Completely opposite of what's happening here. I figured if we can implement what you've been doing here into our land then we'll steer clear of our own troubles." She said.

"And if you do solve the problems in your territory. What's next? Do you really think that's enough for you to earn your Father's praise?" Janus asked.

Haruna eyed him sharply. Then looked down at the floor.

"It's worth a shot. At the very least, I'm learning a lot from the Elders. Along with the tendencies and dealings with each race from Yvaine. I've been sitting with her as she attends to some of the village's disputes and I've been learning a lot. If I can apply the same principles and put an end to the chaos in Gaddi, then that might be enough to shut him up." She said.

"Impressive. I must say, you really have a clean eye for detail." Janus said.

"So, what do you think? Can I stay for a while longer? Will you teach me?"

"Of course, from what you've written it seems that you've already learned a lot. I hardly ever need to teach you a thing. Just show up and we'll see from there. Plus, I'll need lessons from you as well. Maybe finally cast a spell that won't kill me."

"About that. I think you're right about taking it slowly at first. I was blinded by the fact that your Wellspring is beyond everyone I've ever known that I forgot the basics of my training. First was the fact that controlling a large amount of arcane still needs practice, and second is the source of arcane anomalies in the village. There are energy leaks all over, and that Necromancer was but a single drop in the entirety of this village. Who knows what's lurking under these cracks. There's a reason why this land is called Madman's retreat. We must be careful with any use of spells." She said.

Moments of the fateful day fled back to Janus' vision. "Mudghardu. He spoke to me, and I just lost it."

"What happened back then? Can you remember?" Haruna asked.

Janus felt the cold voice as it spoke to him. He was blinded by the glittering wonder of his Wellspring, and also allured by the lines of arcane that Haruna so deftly weaved and controlled, that he carelessly opened himself up to the abyss. That fiend kept itself alive as a malevolent entity brooding for revenge, and Janus set it free.

"His voice came to me, tempted me to take more power, and so I did."

"Just as I thought. It's too simple. One simple barrier could have prevented that. It was my fault, I taught you a spell in an open area without setting up a shield. With every spell you cast you leave yourself open for other mages to peek into your Wellspring, it's useful for instruction purposes, so a teacher can show their students how its done. But when you're at war or engaging on a duel with other mages, a barrier is necessary to keep yourself safe or to stave off attacks from dark arts. The Necromancer must have sensed you out in the open and went for the attack."

"So that's it then. But you've been doing the same spell on the pond for a number of days, how did it not talk to you?"

"A larger Wellspring is more susceptible to these kinds of attacks and I only opened myself up when I was teaching you. I had been erecting barriers during my chores, It's just a force of habit."

"Well then. I guess I really do have a lot more to learn." Janus said.

Haruna ruffled through her satchel and recovered another moleskin journal. This was similar to the spellbook that Janus once saw her carrying when she first came here except it was much smaller and looked ancient. Its cover was worn down with age, and the pages had turned into a pale brown.

"Open it. It's your lesson plan for the first phase of your training. I used it back when I was young." She said.