CHAPTER 17: Knowledge is Power

A large table stood at the center of the spacious dining room. Beneath it, a plush carpet provided a soft landing for footsteps, while overhead, a shimmering chandelier cast an elegant glow, accentuating the allure of the food. Daisuke sat poised at the table. Underneath his tailored tailcoat, he wore a crisp shirt and trousers, neatly tucked into tall boots. His knife and fork hovered over the leg quarter of a Horned Rabbit, ready to indulge in the feast before him, when Reginald’s voice called out from across the table. “Where’s Aprilena?” There wasn’t a pause in Daisuke’s response. “She’s still a bit shaken up about the whole ordeal.” “Well, that’s perfectly understandable,” Reginald replied in a monotone, casting a brief glance at his butler which evidently held meaning. “She’s still just a child, after all. Winston, why don’t you ensure she gets something to eat.” “Right away, My Lord.” Daisuke watched as the man with sleek, permed hair straightened his bend before disposing himself to the task. Then Reginald began rehashing the tale about the king’s personal request, which—in hindsight, according to him—was quite ludicrous. The narrative continued as they climbed a flight of stairs leading to the man’s study. A plush couch with a footrest beckoned, accompanied by a wooden table littered with a selection of worn books. It was an intimate space, and Daisuke paid particular attention to the filing cabinets. Stepping from the study and through a curtain, they entered Reginald’s lab where a host of scientific wonders unfolded. Light radiated from the crystals set in the walls like torches. Shelves also lined the walls, each laden with an array of vials, flasks, and ancient tomes. The room was infused with the scent of different herbs, chemicals, and powders. A dark wooden desk took center stage, its surface a mosaic of notes, transmutation circles, sketches, and strange vats containing biological specimens in various stages of experimentation. Reginald traced his finger along the glass tube contemplatively. “After being stripped of our wealth, honor, and prestige—the very pillars that defined the Percival name, my mother left soon after, my sister eloped with her lover, and my father eventually succumbed to his own despair and shame, taking his own life. I alone remained. I’ve been working alongside my father long enough to know that his work and research wasn’t in vain. He just didn’t have enough time to perfect it, especially under the constant pressure of the king’s waning life. But the greedy mongrels of the court didn’t understand that; they readily chastised us after the king passed. Without even giving us a chance to demonstrate our accomplishments, we were looked upon as clowns and banished.” In the dungeon-like ambience of the quiet lab, Reginald’s voice carried a tone of anger and derision as he spoke. His mood changed, however, once he began talking about alchemy—a power whispered to be a gift from the gods themselves. His eyes held a spark of passion as he conveyed the science he had succeeded from his father. “Alchemy is a force that stirs the heart of both man and universe, a cosmic dance that allows us to touch the divine.” With an exuberant gesture, he indicated the various alchemical components that surrounded them. “It is the mastery of matter. It is the art of manipulating elements, of shaping the very foundation of existence. Imagine, Julian, the ability to turn base metals into gold and mithril, to wield the Philosopher’s Stone and forge the elixir of youth, defying the relentless march of time.” Reginald’s words painted a picture of wonder and possibility. “To be an alchemist is to stand at the crossroads of science and magic, a bridge between the mundane and the extraordinary. We humans strive not just for wealth or power, but to unravel the mysteries of creation itself.” He paused, a soft smile gracing his lips. “Alchemy isn’t just about transmutation—it’s about transmutation of the self, of the soul. It’s a journey of discovery, a pursuit of the deepest truths hidden within the fabric of the world. And you, my young friend, have the opportunity to embark on this remarkable journey with me.” Daisuke considered the proposal for a moment. He knew the freedom he currently had was just an illusion, and he didn’t want to overstep his boundaries and lose his privileges. While Reginald still enjoyed the attention and praise, he needed to concede to the man’s requests until he could forge an escape plan. Daisuke bowed deeply. “I’m still incredibly naïve about the principles of alchemy, but it would be a great honor to work alongside you, My Lord.” The man rested a hand on the boy’s shoulder and squeezed, a delightful smile stretching his lips. “I can teach you all you need to know, but only you can condition your mind to receive this vast collection of knowledge. Together, you and I will become the pioneers who ushered in a new era of economic and technological development in the world. Kings and queens, even the very emperor, will humbly prostrate themselves before us. The name Percival and Langley will rise to the rank of gods, and then I’ll finally be able to unleash the wrath of vengeance upon the kingdom that tarnished my family.” *** After agreeing to join Reginald on this quest for power and retribution, Daisuke was shown to the library where he was left to start reading the mountains of books stored there. A chandelier as impressive as the one in the dining room hung overhead. The walls, from floor to ceiling, were lined with shelves that housed hundreds of leather-bound tomes—a testament to a history of intellectual pursuits. A fireplace, nestled between the shelves on the eastern wall, radiated a comforting warmth, while a large atlas hung from that of the west. Daisuke sat around a desk at the back of the room, moonlight streaming in through the large bay windows. As he skipped through the ancient pages of a history book, he found himself reminiscing about a past memory. In high-school, his homeroom teacher once told him that knowledge is power; it was the key to success. At that time, he thought it was just another useless idiom to motivate him to study and work hard. But real-life experiences proved otherwise. He soon realized that wits, knowledge, observation, and decisiveness were powerful weapons that everyone should strive to add to their arsenal. These components were truly the secret to success—but in his current predicament, it would be the key to survival. Had he not capitalized on Reginald’s loneliness and need for validation, Daisuke would probably be sharing a cramped space in the slave’s quarters alongside the other children. By the time he returned to the room, April had already fallen into a deep sleep. With a tender touch, he pulled the sheets up to her neck, his eyebrows pulling low above his eyes. As he stroked her hair, the thought of what might have happened to her if he hadn’t fooled Reginald weighed heavily on him. Rather than solely immersing himself in the study of alchemy, Daisuke took the initiative to somewhat familiarize himself with the game’s atlas, ensuring he had a sense of direction in this unfamiliar world. He delved into books and articles concerning current affairs, safeguarding himself from unwittingly wandering into hostile territories while planning his escape. While grateful for his natural ability to read, write, and speak the native tongue of this virtual landscape, he couldn’t shake the nagging concern that it implied the System had accessed his thoughts, breaching his personal privacy. He didn’t know how to feel about that, nor could he shake the unsettling memory of Dusthaven, where the game projected and emulated his biological parents with eerie accuracy. Though he supposed after attempting to hack the game, he had likely soured any goodwill he had with the Zenith Corporation. A sudden, ominous knock echoed at the door, causing Daisuke’s heart to race with apprehension. With a hairpin in hand, reminiscent of his mother’s, he cautiously edged toward the source of the uninvited guest, his senses on high alert. Sёarᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. “Yes? Who is it?” “U-Umm… I-I don’t have a name.” Daisuke sighed, feeling the tension deflate from him like a punctured balloon. He knew exactly what that meant—being nameless. Opening the door to a slight ajar revealed a lone girl, no older than ten. She had a pair of furry, sagging ears atop her head, and a tanuki tail drooped behind her. “Um,” she murmured in a combination of embarrassment and fear, desperately pulling down at the hem of her chemise nightgown. “…I,” she couldn’t hold his gaze. “I was told to… stay here with you tonight.”