Chapter 245: A Year of Comprehension

Chapter 245: A Year of Comprehension

Noah had been studying the same passage for nearly an hour when the bell for the morning lesson sounded. He marked his place in the World Integration Technique and left his quarters. The passage concerned the relationship between a planetary lord’s understanding of a Law and the world under his control. He could follow the individual sentences, but his attempts to apply the instructions during meditation had produced little progress.

The training room was already half full. Daniel sat near the back, turning a pen between his fingers while Claire spoke with another trainee. Noah took his usual seat. Since the introduction to Law comprehension, the classes had become quieter. Most of the students arrived with questions about their individual practice and spent the sessions concentrating on their exercises rather than talking to their fellow students.

The instructor waited until the room settled before asking everyone to begin. Noah set his terminal aside and followed the exercise. He steadied his breathing, cleared the distractions from his mind, and worked through the portion of the family technique he had learned.

He completed the introductory exercise and continued into the section he had been studying that morning. At first, he was able to follow the instructions without difficulty. However, as he progressed, his concentration became increasingly difficult to maintain. Eventually, he stopped and opened his eyes.

Noah rested briefly before attempting the exercise again. This time, he concentrated on the section that had interrupted his previous attempt. He managed to progress a little farther, but he still could not complete it.

He spent the remainder of the session practicing independently. When the instructor announced the end of the exercise, Noah gathered his belongings and returned to his quarters.

That evening, he studied the difficult passage again. He read through the instructions several times, then attempted to apply them during meditation. His first attempts ended without success, but he continued practicing over the following days. After two weeks, he was able to maintain his concentration through portions that had previously given him trouble.

The weeks became months. Noah attended the remaining lectures, participated in the practical exercises, and spent his evenings studying the World Integration Technique. The instructors introduced different approaches to understanding Laws, sometimes using familiar natural phenomena to demonstrate the principles being discussed. Noah followed the exercises while continuing to practice the family’s technique privately.

During the second month, he began making steadier progress through its introductory sections. Exercises that had previously required several attempts became easier to complete. The later portions remained difficult, and he sometimes spent an entire evening practicing without getting any farther than he had the day before.

Between sessions, he occasionally looked in on Eldrath. On one visit, he saw a laboratory hall crowded with measuring instruments and racks of crystal samples. Goblin researchers moved from one workstation to another, comparing readings and adjusting equipment. Another time, an industrial workshop was producing components for unfamiliar devices. The machines were unfinished, with their internal assemblies laid out beside them. Noah observed for a while before returning to his studies.

More than fifty planetary years had passed since he issued the divine mandate. The research institutions had expanded considerably, and several laboratories were now dedicated to studying mana. Their engineers had developed instruments using information from the Arcane-Industrial Integration Package, although much of the equipment remained experimental. Noah watched a group of researchers testing a detector before withdrawing his attention from the planet.

Near the end of the fourth month, the instructor arrived without the usual training materials. He waited for the trainees to sit and then addressed the class.

"All right, everyone. Today will be our last scheduled lesson."

Several students looked up from their terminals.

"Starting tomorrow, you’ll be studying on your own," the instructor continued. "The training rooms and library will remain open, but we won’t be holding regular classes anymore."

"Already?" a student near the front asked. "I thought we’d have more time with the instructors."

"You’ve had four months of lessons and practical exercises. By now, you should know how to continue your training. Law comprehension requires individual practice, and there’s only so much we can teach in a classroom."

Another trainee raised his hand.

"Sir, can we still approach the instructors if we encounter problems?"

"If you have questions about something we’ve taught, you can submit them through the training office. The instructors will still be around, although we won’t be conducting daily sessions."

"What about those of us who haven’t chosen a Law yet?" someone farther back asked.

"Keep exploring your options. You’ll have plenty of time to study different Laws before deciding which one to pursue. Don’t rush into a decision simply because the classes are ending."

The instructor looked around the room.

"Any other questions? If not, we’ll begin our final exercise."

The class settled down, and the instructor began the session. Noah followed the exercise until the allotted time ended. Afterward, he gathered his belongings and left the training room while several other students remained behind to speak with the instructor.

In the corridor, Daniel caught up with him.

"Four months already. I thought we’d have classes until the end of the year."

"At least we’ll have more time for our own practice," Noah replied.

"That’s one way of looking at it. I’m not looking forward to spending the whole day in my room."

"You could use the training rooms. They’re staying open."

"I probably will. Claire’s already made herself a schedule for the next few months."

"That doesn’t surprise me."

"She showed it to me yesterday. She’s even decided when she’ll take breaks." Daniel shook his head. "Then she asked whether I’d made mine."

"What did you tell her?"

"That I was still working on it. Which wasn’t entirely true, considering I hadn’t even started."

Noah laughed.

"You should probably make one before she asks again."

"That’s the plan. Anyway, I’m going to the library before it gets crowded. See you later."

Noah said goodbye and continued toward his quarters.

With the daily lessons over, Noah began studying earlier in the morning. He used the hours previously assigned to lectures for meditation, took breaks to eat and walk around the camp, and returned to the technique in the afternoon. When a section became difficult, he spent more time studying it before attempting the exercise again. Some days he completed several exercises successfully, while on others he struggled to maintain the concentration required.

By the sixth month, Noah could complete the introductory exercises of the World Integration Technique without referring to the instructions. The later portions still demanded considerable effort, but he was gradually becoming more familiar with them.

He continued visiting the camp library. Without regular lessons, students came and went throughout the day. Some borrowed texts on particular Laws, while others studied in silence at the long tables. Noah occasionally consulted the available reference materials when he encountered unfamiliar concepts in the family technique.

During one of those visits, Claire approached his table carrying two borrowed volumes.

"Mind if I sit here?"

"Go ahead."

She placed the books on the table and took the seat across from him.

"How’s your training going?" she asked.

"Pretty well. I’ve managed to get through a few sections that were giving me trouble."

"That’s good. I’ve been stuck on the same exercise for almost a week."

"What’s the problem?"

"I’m not entirely sure. I thought I’d finally figured it out yesterday, but I tried again this morning and couldn’t get the same result."

"Have you tried taking a break from it?"

"I did yesterday afternoon. I suppose I’ll have to spend more time on it." She glanced at the books she’d brought. "Have you been working on the same technique this whole time?"

"Yes. There’s still quite a lot of it I haven’t covered."

"At least you’re making progress. I’ve barely touched the next section."

"You’ll get there."

"Hopefully." Claire stretched her arms and glanced toward the entrance. "I haven’t eaten lunch yet. Have you?"

"About an hour ago."

"I should probably get something before I start reading. I’ve been practicing since this morning."

"Go eat. The books will still be here afterward."

Claire laughed.

"You’re starting to sound like Daniel. He told me the same thing yesterday."

"Maybe you should listen to us."

"All right, all right. I’ll see you later."

She gathered her things and headed toward the exit. Noah returned to his reading and remained in the library until late afternoon.

Eight months into his training, he turned his attention to Eldrath again. An industrial complex had replaced the workshop he remembered visiting months earlier. Inside the complex, rows of machines operated around enclosed crystal assemblies. Goblin engineers monitored instruments along the production floor while workers inspected finished components. The crystals had been cut and mounted in standardized housings, with lines connecting the assemblies to the machinery.

He moved his view to another part of the planet. A generating facility had been built beside a large industrial district. Crystals were delivered through a processing hall, inspected, and installed in equipment that supplied power to nearby factories. Conventional machinery continued operating alongside the new systems. Some buildings used both, and maintenance crews worked on each type of equipment.

Elsewhere, the research institutions had become larger and more specialized. Instruments for detecting and measuring mana appeared in laboratories, mines, and crystal-processing facilities. Engineers tested different designs in dedicated workshops before sending them to factories. Noah watched a testing team remove an assembly from its housing after an unsuccessful trial, replace a damaged component, and begin again.

More than two centuries had passed on Eldrath since the mandate. Noah spent a few minutes observing activity at the industrial facilities, then withdrew his attention from the planet. The World Integration Technique was still open on his desk, and he returned to his meditation after a short rest.

As the ninth and tenth months passed, Noah continued practicing independently. He rose early, meditated for several hours, and took regular breaks before returning to his studies. Occasionally he saw Daniel or Claire in the corridors and exchanged a few words. Both were occupied with their own training, and their meetings became less frequent as the months progressed.

During this period, Noah began working through portions of the technique that he had been unable to practice earlier in the year. His concentration had improved considerably, allowing him to remain in meditation for longer periods without interruption. Some of the concepts that had initially been difficult to understand became clearer as he gained more experience with the exercises.

One afternoon, he spent several hours working through a passage that had troubled him for weeks. After several unsuccessful attempts, he rested and began again. This time, he managed to complete the exercise without losing his concentration.

The following morning, he attempted the same exercise and successfully completed it again. He repeated it several more times over the following days before proceeding to the next section.

The new material proved more difficult, and his progress slowed once again. Noah continued practicing, gradually becoming more comfortable with the instructions while working toward a deeper understanding of the technique.

Toward the end of the year, Noah checked Eldrath during a break from meditation. The industrial districts he remembered had expanded again. Crystal-processing centers supplied standardized assemblies to machinery manufacturers, and arcane-powered equipment was operating in factories, transport systems, and large public facilities. Goblin technicians inspected the assemblies with instruments descended from the first designs introduced through the package.

Noah followed a manufacturing line where unfinished components arrived on conveyors and passed through a series of automated stations. Some machines operated with conventional power systems, while others drew energy from crystal units installed behind protective housings. At the end of the line, inspectors checked the finished products before releasing them for transport. Similar equipment appeared in other industrial centers across the planet.

Crystal-powered machinery moved freight through a busy terminal, and maintenance teams serviced arcane assemblies beside familiar mechanical equipment. Noah watched a team exchange a worn unit for a replacement, run a set of measurements, and return the machinery to operation. The workers moved on to the next installation without interrupting the activity around them.

Three hundred and sixty-five planetary years had passed during his year at the camp. The laboratories that first appeared after his divine mandate had been replaced by much larger institutions, while the industrial complexes continued expanding around them.

Noah observed another manufacturing facility where engineers were testing newly produced equipment. Several machines used conventional mechanical components alongside crystal-powered assemblies, and the technicians were conducting measurements before allowing the equipment to enter service.

After watching the tests for a while, Noah withdrew his attention from Eldrath and returned to his quarters.

That evening, he resumed practicing the World Integration Technique. Compared with the beginning of the year, he could now work through much more of its introductory material and apply exercises that had previously been beyond his understanding.

He began another meditation session. The first portions passed without interruption, and he continued into the section he had been practicing throughout the previous month. After a while, his concentration faltered, and Noah opened his eyes.

He rested for a few minutes before trying again. The second attempt lasted longer, although he still could not complete the remaining portion. Eventually, he ended the session and closed the manuscript.

A full year had passed since he began studying Law comprehension. Noah had made considerable progress with the World Integration Technique, but he had not yet comprehended a complete Law. He still needed further practice before attempting his advancement to the First Ring.

Outside his quarters, the camp was quiet. Noah checked the next day’s schedule and saw that no lessons were listed. He put away the World Integration Technique, turned off the light, and went to bed.