After discussing the content of the inaugural issue of the journal, everyone unanimously decided that Ilana's "Path Optimization Equation," which was ruthlessly rejected by the Sage Report, was the most suitable choice.
Not only because of its academic value but also because of the almost offensive reason for its rejection by the Sage Report—
They wanted to highlight the difference between Science and the Sage Report!
Bain and Hard planned to write a conceptual paper about the "Explosive Fla Temperature Bomb," which would be the first "applied science" article in the journal.
As for the printing work of the journal, Luo Yan entrusted it to the reliable owner of a shop on Artisan Street, Alberto, who occasionally took jobs printing books.
With the efforts of many apprentices and assistants in the Magic Science Laboratory, they quickly produced the first batch of publications.
This plain-looking journal, without any official background, called Science, was thus born on an unremarkable afternoon.
Subscribing to this journal does not require an Academic State compilation; even the shop owner on Artisan Street can subscribe as long as there is an address.
All one needs to do is send a letter to the Magic Science Laboratory, enclosing a 1 silver coin subscription fee and subscription address, and the editorial departnt will mail the latest issue to the subscriber's dormitory, office, or Mage Tower at the beginning of each month.
The appearance of the Science journal did not shake the authority of the sages but sparked an unprecedented fierce debate among young apprentices and assistants.
"This is simply fanciful! Magic is the art of communicating with Source Power, a divine gift! How could it be defined by cold mathematical formulas?" An older assistant scoffed in the break room as he disdainfully regarded the journal in his hands.
He absolutely did not admit it was because he couldn't understand it.
"But it can explain 'Magic Energy Conservation'!"
Hearing the disdainful insult, another young assistant imdiately retorted.
His eyes glead excitedly as he looked at his colleague's stunned face, his voice continuing excitedly.
"Especially the Path Optimization Equation! Saint Sis above, I discovered for the first ti that the design of magic arrays and spells can be so streamlined and beautiful! Isn't the pursuit of higher and stronger truths the ultimate goal for us as mages?"
"This is desecration of tradition! It's a blatant challenge to the sages!"
"No! This is the original intention of the Academic State—exploring the unknown!"
A fierce debate about "traditional magic" versus "mathematical axioms" ignited quietly in every corner of the Academic State.
No one knew where this spark of thought would lead this High Tower, but it indeed brought a touch of possibility that none had ever imagined to this unchanging, frigid snowfield—
The wisdom of mortals is not entirely worthless.
...
Contrary to the calm around Prince Colin, Professor Uriel Acle in the Holy Power School Tower was thriving in his career lately.
Following Arist Thorne's downfall, as another "Great Sage Candidate" strongly recomnded by the Council of Sages' conservative faction, Uriel almost naturally took over most of Arist's political legacy.
Pushed by interested parties, everyone regarded him as another rising academic star after Arist.
Although Uriel was indeed pleased by this unexpected glory, with countless praises and defections greatly satisfying his vanity, he also harbored a subtle but difficult-to-notice worry beneath his gentle, compassionate scholar facade.
He knew very well that he was rely a pawn pushed to the forefront by the Great Sages to counterbalance that Prince of the Empire.
This was a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity, yet it also ca with deadly danger.
He had to tread carefully with each step!
That day, he was in his private laboratory, admiring a newly acquired treasure from the Void Realm. It was a green crystal radiating incredibly pure power, and rely gazing at it could feel the nourishnt emanating from the depths of one's soul.
Uriel's face showed a look of intoxication as he pondered experinting with its effects in the ditation Room.
However, at that mont, an apprentice knocked on the door and entered, reporting in a flustered manner about the journal called Science circulating among students.
This was Uriel's instruction.
Any matter concerning Prince Colin must be reported to him in detail.
"A privately founded journal?"
Uriel paused in his actions, his gray-blue eyes narrowing slightly, "And it's publishing the paper rejected by the Sage Report?"
The apprentice nodded, supplenting.
"Yes, Master! Now all the apprentices in the Mage Tower are discussing this! You know, that prince is quite popular among the young apprentices and assistants..."
He dared not ntion Prince Colin's na in front of Professor Uriel, resorting to calling him "that prince."
Uriel's heart suddenly sank, seized by a wave of tension, yet his face remained composed as he looked at the apprentice and said.
"You may withdraw for now."
"Yes..."
The apprentice respectfully withdrew.
As the laboratory's door closed, Uriel's expression imdiately darkened, pacing back and forth in the room, with alarm bells ringing in his mind.
What is Prince Colin trying to do?
Instinctively, he associated this matter with Prince Colin's conspiracy, suspiciously speculating about the prince's motives.
Is this a test or a challenge to the faction backing ?
Or might it be... an attack aid directly at ?
The more Uriel thought, the more anxious he beca, even sweating profusely on his forehead.
After all, his past was not entirely clean, particularly concerning the forbidden research on the Soul Weaving Technique, which involved too many things that were inconvenient to discuss openly.
Should Colin leverage Science's influence to expose his old dark secrets, what would he do?
Unlike Professor Arist, who was accustod to the turbulence, Uriel had been "Crown Prince of the Crown Prince" until just a month ago, never imagining the "Wise Candidate" position would soday befall him.
Not daring to neglect, Uriel imdiately activated his network, obtaining a copy of the Science inaugural issue from another lower-grade apprentice.
He locked himself in his study, cautiously opened the seemingly unremarkable journal, and read it word for word, trying to uncover hidden traps or malicious allusions between the lines.
However—
He was disappointed.
It seed to be just an ordinary academic journal?
Other than Ilana's genius paper, the remaining articles were rely interesting concepts, without any aggression.
It's even cleaner than the Sage Report, which often published news or official opinions, while this journal was genuinely just a journal.
Uriel was stunned.
He leaned back on the chair, feeling like a punch full of strength had landed squarely on a bunch of cotton.
That tense feeling of facing a formidable enemy seed laughably absurd now.
"Could it be... I overthought?"
He muttered to himself, feeling a bit bewildered and annoyed for having wasted so much emotional drama, yet quickly that emotion turned into disdain.
Taking out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead, Uriel's face resud its delighted smile and, with a hint of sarcasm, he muttered to himself.
"It seems I overrated him."
User Comments
0 comments from readers