After about 10 minutes of Grace talking about "democracy" and "constitutional monarchy", I am beginning to understand.
"Wait, so, the king switches every 5 years and anyone can be the king?" (James)
"Yeah, but they are not called the king anymore. It's the prime minister." (Grace)
"Still, that's absurd." (James)
"Well, I guess from your perspective, yeah, but it's proven to be a more effective system of government." (Grace)
"I know nothing about politics, but if you say so. The world does look a lot more advanced than what I am used to." (James)
But how am I supposed to serve the kingdom when the kingdom doesn't exist anymore?
"That's not to say the royal family is just commoners now. They are still treated like royals, but they have long moved out of the old castle. They now live in the Marchenland Palace, which is about half an hour away. There is King Eventyr XXV, who is 95 years old, but he is currently in a coma. His 16-year old great-grandson, Prince Carter, is the current heir to the throne, then it's his twin sister, Princess Claire. After that, it gets really complicated with the nephews and nieces and whatnot." (Grace)
Hearing that the king still exists reassures me. They might not be in the same position as 400 years ago, but I want to pay a visit nonetheless.
"Where can I meet His Highness the Crown Prince?" (James)
"It's not that easy. Well, it's pretty easy. Most of the royals living in Marchenland, the capital city, including the crown prince and his sister, go to my school, but they are a very isolated group. However, my family, the Rosenshire family, are good friends with the Eventyr family, but I don't really want to ask them for help." (Grace)
So the royal family lives in the same city, which should make things easier.
"Speaking of, what is the Rosenshire family? What happened to Albert to leave your the trilling dullers?" (James)
I am recalling Grace's introduction from earlier today.
"It's half a trillion dollars. Uh, this is gonna take another while." (Grace)
After another lengthy explanation, I vaguely grasped the idea of dollar bills and banks. So Albert wasn't just drunkenly rambling. Apparently, he revolutionized the economy and reaped great gains. I now feel bad for making fun of him so frequently. But there is still something I couldn't understand.
"Half a trillion dollars, how much is that?" (James)
Grace takes a second to think about it.
"Huh. It's hard to compare it to anything you know. What is the most expensive thing you own?" (Grace)
"Hmm…" (James)
I didn't really live a lavish life, even though I could have. Luxury would get in the way of my training, so I kept my life similar to the soldiers. I was bestowed upon a territory after my knighting, but I just left it to some council, who seemed to know city management better than me.
"I guess, my territory?" (James)
Even though I voluntarily played no role in the management of my territory. I visited it frequently. Every time I visit the territory would look different from the last. I can't even begin to imagine what it looks like now.
"Oh, Ferson City? Well, it's much different now. How big was it when you owned it?" (Grace)
"Around 10,000 acres?" (James)
Hearing that, Grace looks at the ceiling in thought. After a while, she looks back and continues.
"Let's see, if there is a pile of sand the size of the table in front of you, one grain should be enough to buy your territory," Grace says like it's no big deal.
At first, I didn't understand her.
"... by sand, you mean, the sand on beaches?" (James)
"Yeah." (Grace)
I am so shocked I can't even speak. I knew many extremely rich nobles. The richest I can recall can maybe buy hundreds of territories the size of mine, but this is on a completely different level. They basically have an endless supply of wealth, which is unthinkable.
"A-Are people usually this rich?" (James)
"No, of course not. My family is the richest in the world, by far." (Grace)
"And you are the heir to that fortune?" (James)
"Not all of it. We are a family, after all. I currently possess 2% of the assets, and I am the heir to another 20% after my parents' death." (Grace)
A sixteen-year-old girl with such riches is not at all heard of in my time, and I would believe in this time, too.
"That's insane." (James)
"Well, not as much as you. You are literally immortal. Speaking of, are the stories regarding Loitsun Vera true?" (Grace)
Suddenly the topic has changed. It's almost as if Grace doesn't want to talk about it anymore.
"What are they?" (James)
If there are so many misconceptions about me, there are probably just as many about the sword.
"Can it really conjure energy?" (Grace)
"Energy? Do you mean magic? Yeah, it's one of the only two magic tools in this world. The other immortal blade can manipulate magic." (James)
"It's a little unfair for you to be able to both conjure and manipulate. Well, I guess the immortality is much more unfair. What energy, I mean, magic, can it conjure?" (Grace)
"All of them. Fire, wind, earth, water, and lightning." (James)
Grace doesn't look like she understands what I am talking about. Then she comes to a sudden realization.
"Oh! You still don't know the fundamentals of energy, right?" (Grace)
"What?" (James)
"Well, you see, up until like 200 years ago, people believed in the elements, but that's not what magic actually is. Science has discovered that magic elements are simply forms of energy. Fire is thermal energy, water, wind, and earth is mechanical energy, and lightning is electrical energy." (Grace)
"I have no idea what you are talking about." (James)
"Well, think of it like this. Rather than fire, wind, earth, and the others, it's actually thermal, which can create fire, electrical, which can generate lightning, mechanical, which can move things like water and air around, sound, which can create, well, sound, and light, which can generate light. These are the five energies that we know there exist people who have affinities for. There are also some others, like nuclear, atomic, and gravitational, but no one can conjure or manipulate such energies." (Grace)
Despite the fact that I am barely understanding any of what Grace is saying, I nod along.
"Ok, look." (Grace)
Grace seems to notice the confusion on my face. She sits up and extends her right hand in front of her. A red magic circle appears on the tip of her index finger and a fire begins burning above it.
"I have the affinity for thermal and electric energy, the two most common ones, and light, which isn't as common. With just thermal, I can create a flame, right?" (Grace)
"Yeah." (James)
Grace cancels the magic circle and the flame extinguishes.
"However, that's not the only thing thermal energy can do. It doesn't need to burn, it can also simply heat things up," Grace says while reaching out to her mug of tea, which is no longer steaming.
She picks up the mug and summons a magic circle in her hand. Soon, steam once again begins rising from the tea.
"I know that. The soldiers do that to keep themselves warm in the winter." (James)
"Right, but also, if you use it the other way, you can take away thermal energy, and cool things down." (Grace)
She gives a look as if telling me to keep a close eye.
The magic circle disappears and reappears, but this time, the steam is gone in an instant. After a couple of seconds, the tea started freezing, becoming a block of ice.
That's something I have never seen before.
"Whoa." (James)
"As long as you have an understanding of the fundamentals of energy, you can use it however you like. It applies to everything else. This is just normal light energy," Grace says and raises her other hand.
A white magic circle appears and immediately the room floods with a blinding light. I have never heard of light magic before, but I guess it's pretty self-explanatory.
"And this is how I can use it in reverse." (Grace)
Grace recasts the white magic circle and the room now falls into complete darkness. I can still see the outside of the window, which is perfectly normal, but the noon sun isn't shining through and illuminating the room anymore.
My understanding of magic is completely shattered. Grace makes it look so easy. Had my soldiers known how to freeze water or have darkness befall the enemies, we wouldn't have lost any battles.
"This… is amazing." (James)
"Well, it's simply common knowledge now, or at least among those who can conjure or manipulate." (Grace)
Grace disables her conjuring and the room returns to normal.
"Where can I obtain more of the knowledge?" (James)
Magic has indeed advanced considerably. I think I can be of much more use to the kingdom, or the "country", if I catch up with the times.
"The internet, I guess, but it might take you a while to learn how to use it." (Grace)
Suddenly there is a spark in Grace's eyes.
"Oh, I know, you can come to my school," Grace suggests excitedly.
"They teach magic in your school?" (James)
The academy I attended was mostly about the chivalry code and knighthood.
"Not just magic. It teaches everything." (Grace)
That sounds like a really good idea. I will be able to learn more about the world at the same time.
"That would be great. How can I attend your school?" (James)
"Well, the trip today was the end-of-year trip, so we are now in summer break. The 3rd year begins in two months. The Royal Academy of Eventyr is very exclusive, but with my connections, I should be able to get you in. You can even try to approach the royals if you wish." (Grace)
"I would appreciate it greatly." (James)
"However, you can't make yourself known. No one will suspect you even if you yelled out that you are Sir James Ferson as long as you don't show Loitsun Vera. Just follow me closely. I will try to keep you out of trouble," Grace warns seriously.
"Why can people not know about my identity?" (James)
"The Immortal Blade is a world-changing power. It was true back then, it's more so today. The world's power balance is very fragile, if you are to be taken advantage of, no one knows what could happen." (Grace)
Grace doesn't sound like a 16-year-old girl, but since she comes from one of the most powerful families in the world who basically has complete control over the economy, it makes sense that she knows so much.
"I understand." (James)
Afterward, we discuss more about the changes Eventyr has gone through in the last 420 years. I am beginning to get used to the present.
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