“There’s no use in trying to explain fire magic to Tristain nobles,” Kirche said, filled with confidence. Mr. Colbert was not agitated by her arrogance, but smiled instead.
“But, what’s that strange thing you have there?” Kirche asked with a blank look, pointing at the equipment on the desk.
“Hehe. So you finally asked. This is something I invented. It works using oil and fire magic.” The students gaped, staring at the mechanism intently. The mechanism seemed somewhat familiar to Saito, as if he had seen it somewhere before. Being a curious person, he too remained silent and watched intently.
Mr. Colbert continued, “First, we vaporize the oil in the bellows.” He stepped repeatedly on the bellows with his foot. “And then, the vaporized oil will go into this cylindrical tube.”
With a cautious look, Colbert stuck his wand inside a small hole he had opened. He recited an incantation. The sound of a blazing fire could suddenly be heard, and as the fire ignited the vaporized oil, the sounds changed into that of explosions.
“Watch carefully everyone! Inside the metallic tube, the power from the explosions are moving the piston up and down!”
The crank attached to the top of the cylinder started to move and the wheel along with it. The spinning wheel opened the door on the box. The gears began moving and a snake puppet came out from inside.
“The power is transferred to the crank which spins the wheel! Look! The snake then comes out to greet us! How interesting!”
The students watched it unenthusiastically. The only one interested seemed to be Saito.
“And then? What’s so special about that?”
Mr. Colbert was sad at the fact that the invention he took so much pride in had been totally chastised. Clearing his throat, he began to explain, “In this example, only a snake showed up, but say for instance this mechanism was placed on a carriage. Then, the carriage could move even without horses! It would also work on the side of a boat by turning a water wheel. Then there wouldn’t be any need for sails!”
“You could just use magic in those cases. There’s no need to use such a weird mechanism.” After one student said that, the others started to nod in agreement.
“Everybody, listen carefully! If it is improved upon, this could run machines even without magic! I relied on my fire magic to ignite it, but say flint was used and a way to ignite it every so often was found…” Colbert was obviously getting excited, talking on and on, while the students were all wondering what was so special about it. The only one who seemed to understand the greatness of his invention seemed to be Saito.
“Mr Colbert, that’s great! That’s an engine!” Saito called up while standing all of a sudden. The whole class turned to him.
“Engine?” Mr. Colbert looked at Saito with a blank look.
“Yes, an engine. It’s used in my world for functions you just mentioned.”
“I can tell you’re a perceptive person. You’re Miss Vallière’s familiar, yes?”
The fact that he was the legendary familiar Gandálfr who had runes on the back of his hand suddenly came back to Mr. Colbert. He had forgotten since Osman had said to leave it to him … but due to his enthusiasm he started to hold an interest in Saito.
“Where were you born?” he asked eagerly.
Louise tugged at Saito’s parka slightly and glared at him. “Don’t say anything unnecessary, we’ll look suspicious.”
Agreeing, Saito sat back down.
“Hmm? Where were you born?” Colbert approached Saito with a bright expression. Louise answered for him.
“Mr Colbert, he’s uh… from Rub' al Khali in the East.”
Mr. Colbert was taken aback. “What?! Past the frightening lands of the elves? Wait, he was summoned wasn’t he… so he didn’t have to go through those lands… I see. I hear that the lands the Elves govern in the East have advanced technology. So you were born there… I see,” he nodded in comprehension.
Saito turned to Louise.
“What?”
“Just play along,” said Louise, stepping on his foot.
“A, Ah yes. I’m from um… Rub'.”
Mr. Colbert nodded again and returned to the mechanism. Standing on the platform once more he looked around the classroom.
“Alright then, who would like to try operating the mechanism? It’s very simple! Just open the hole in the cylinder, put your wand in and recite the ‘ignite’ spell repeatedly. The timing is a bit tricky but once you get used to it, it will be easy like this,” Mr. Colbert stepped on the bellows with his foot and operated the mechanism once more. The explosive sounds echoed throughout the classroom while the crank and gears moved, followed by the snake showing its face.
“And the joyful snake greets us!”
No one raised their hand. Mr. Colbert tried to get the students interested in his mechanism by saying “joyful snake”, but it didn’t quite work. Disappointed, Colbert drooped his shoulders.
Montmorency, suddenly pointed at Louise, “Louise, you try it!”
Mr. Colbert’s face lit up, “Miss Vallière! You have an interest in the mechanism?”
“Catching Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt and journeying to dangerous places, surely you won’t have trouble with something like this right?”
Louise realized Montmorency was trying to embarrass her by making her fail.
It seemed Montmorency didn’t like Louise getting all the attention, such as accomplishing great feats and being the star at balls. Her jealousy was deep and the fact that she was a show off suddenly came back to Louise.
Montmorency continued provoking Louise, “Hey, do it Louise. Louise the Zero.”
Something in Louise cracked. She just couldn’t keep quiet when Montmorency called her Zero. Louise silently stood up and approached the platform.
Seeing Louise in this state, Saito glared at Montmorency, “Hey Monmon.”
“It’s Montmorency for God’s sake!”
“Don’t provoke Louise! It’ll end up as an explosion!” said Saito, without thinking.
Louise shifted her eyes at Saito's comment. The front row students hid behind their chairs.
Hearing the comment, Mr. Colbert remembered Louise’s skill and the origin of her nickname. Trying to desperately change her mind, he began to persuade her in a flustered manner.
“Ah, Miss Vallière. Er, you can do it another time, alright?”
“I have been insulted by Montmorency the Flood,” said Louise in a cold voice. Her reddish brown pupils were filled with rage.
“I shall discipline Miss Montmorency. So, er, could you please withdraw your wand? I do not doubt your skill, but magic doesn’t always succeed. I mean, ‘a dragon can also die from fire’, after all.”
Louise looked sharply at Colbert, “Please let me do it. I do not always fail. Occasionally, I succeed.”
“There are times when I, occasionally, succeed,” said Louise, as though the words were meant for herself, her voice trembling. Saito knew there was no stopping Louise now. When Louise was extremely irked, her voice would start to shake.
Mr. Colbert looked up at the ceiling and sighed.
Louise copied Mr. Colbert actions and stepped on the bellows. The vaporized oil was sent to the cylinder. She took a deep breath and stuck her wand inside the cylinder.
“Miss Vallière, uhh …” whispered Mr. Colbert as if he was praying.
With a voice as clear as a bell, she started to recite the spell incantation.
The whole class froze.
As expected, the mechanism exploded. Louise and Mr. Colbert were sent flying towards the black board while the class screamed. The explosion splattered the burning oil throughout the room. The students ran around chaotically, avoiding the flames.