Chapter 248: The Pulse of the New Era

A single week was enough to bring about earth-shattering changes to the capital.

Lia and Klein walked side-by-side along the Golden Avenue, feeling the bustle that they had personally stirred up.

The road was clearly divided into three lanes by white alchemical paint, and the chaotic scene of horses, pedestrians, and magic carriages all jumbled together was now a thing of the past.

A “Pioneer No. 1” drove quietly and smoothly in the right lane, emitting only a faint hum of electric current.

At the intersection, high-hanging “Three-Color Oracle” lights changed colors rhythmically.

Traffic assistants dressed in new uniforms blew copper whistles, guiding the flow of vehicles and pedestrians.

“I’m starting to regret it a little,” Lia said, unable to help herself as she watched an assistant turn red in the face with anger because a cargo carriage had run a red light.

“Regret what?” Klein asked.

“I should have added a clause to the draft of the traffic law stating that the fine amount is proportional to the vehicle’s kinetic energy,” Lia replied with a straight face.

“That way, they would have a much deeper reverence for the rules.”

The corner of Klein’s mouth twitched slightly. “Baron Baden would be very happy to adopt that proposal.”

They passed a newly opened department store where, inside a bright glass display window, the “Frost Box” produced by Master Isabelle was placed in a prominent position.

Several noblewomen were gathered around it, listening to the shop assistant explain how it could keep fresh summer berries preserved for over a week.

The shop next door was selling “Marcus Warm Air Units,” and the warm breeze blowing from the vents attracted many passersby to stop and stare.

In just a few short months, the conveniences that once belonged only to mage towers had flown into the homes of ordinary people.

“Lia! Klein!”

Adèle’s voice drifted over from not far away, and she fluttered over like a happy butterfly, holding a thick stack of flyers.

“Look at this! The Royal Grand Theater’s new play, ‘Ove and Leaf Beneath the Light and Shadows’!”

“The promotion claims this is the first nighttime drama in the history of the kingdom that doesn’t rely on magic!”

“They’ve installed a hundred of Master Fiona’s light bulbs on the stage; it’s brighter than the daytime!”

Adèle’s face was glowing with excitement. “I managed to snag three tickets for the day after tomorrow. Shall we go together?”

“I’m afraid the day after tomorrow won’t work,” Klein refused calmly.

Adèle’s excitement was instantly extinguished, and she looked at the two of them in confusion.

“Why? Is there something important happening?”

Lia didn’t answer directly, only smiling as she said, “An important observational ceremony.”

“A ceremony?” Adèle’s curiosity was immediately piqued. “Whose? Is some great scholar about to give a public lecture?”

Lia shook her head.

Adèle’s eyes darted around, and she leaned in mysteriously, lowering her voice.

“Could it be… related to those rumors from the south? Are you going to see that five-hundred-year-old Archmage Andreas?”

This absurd guess almost made Lia burst out laughing.

“Adèle, your imagination is good enough to write a bestselling novel!” Lia said helplessly. “Are those rumors still fermenting?”

“Of course they are!” Adèle immediately regained her energy, stuffed the theater flyers into her pocket, and pulled out a crumpled copy of the Capital Miscellany from the other side.

“Look, the latest news! The ‘True God Religion’ of the Riley Kingdom has announced that they will hold a ‘Grand Miracle Ceremony’ next month!”

“That Archmage Andreas supposedly performed lost gravity magic in public, floating an entire small mountain into the air!”

Adèle pointed at the drawing on the paper, which depicted a blurry figure standing atop a mountain peak with tens of thousands of fanatical believers behind him.

“The mercenaries and merchants in the southern part of the continent are going crazy right now.”

“Many people are selling their family properties and taking their entire families to the Riley Kingdom on a pilgrimage.”

“They all believe that as long as they have faith in the True God, they can obtain eternal life.”

Klein glanced at the drawing and spoke indifferently.

“The essence of gravity magic is the local manipulation of space curvature, and the model is extremely complex.”

“Even for a Ninth-Circle mage, attempting to float a mountain out of thin air would require massive calculations and energy support; it’s absolutely impossible to use it as a performance like this.”

“So it really is a scam,” Adèle made a face.

“I knew it. But their stories are so well-written that even I almost believed them.”

The three of them chatted as they walked, unknowingly arriving at the Capital’s Central Square.

The changes here were even more significant.

Rows of brand-new streetlights stood at the edge of the square, their poles wrapped in insulating alchemical materials, with light bulbs emitting bright white light at the top.

Even though it was daytime, these lights were still on, serving as a display for the novel invention.

In the center of the square, the spot that originally belonged to the King’s statue was currently occupied by a massive, ongoing construction site.

A sign read: [Capital Central Station—Mana-Conductive Transportation Network Hub.]

According to the plan, this would become the main terminal for the future “Pioneer” series of public carriages, connecting every corner of the capital.

“I heard that Master Hoffman is developing a ‘Public Pioneer’ with a passenger capacity of over thirty people.”

“In the future, it will only take fifteen minutes to get from the east to the west of the city, and it will cost less than ten copper coins,” Adèle said, her eyes full of longing.

A brand-new era was unfolding at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Theories were no longer symbols locked away in ivory towers; they had become the magic shining on the streets and walls that could help people escape poverty.

The flow of traffic on the roads, the light in the night, and the convenience within reach of ordinary people—this was the era of mortals, an era driven by knowledge.

After seeing off the chattering Adèle, Lia and Klein returned to the mage tower.

Lia threw herself into the soft sofa and let out a long sigh of relief.

Looking at the capital, which was changing day by day outside the window, she felt a strange sensation in her heart.

These changes originated from the knowledge in her mind, but the speed and breadth of their development had already exceeded her initial expectations.

“Are you worried?” Klein poured her a cup of black tea and placed it before her.

“A little,” Lia didn’t deny it. “The change is too fast. It’s like a fruit that has been forced to ripen; I don’t know if the taste will be sweet or bitter.”

“Knowledge itself is neither right nor wrong.” Klein sat down beside her, his blue eyes looking out the window.

“You simply opened a door. As for how to walk the path behind that door, that is for the people here to decide for themselves.”

He paused for a moment, his gaze shifting back to Lia. “Besides, you only know the taste of the fruit after you’ve tasted it yourself.”

Lia picked up her teacup, the rising steam blurring her vision.

“Tomorrow is the day Lady Eleonora attempts to break through to the Ninth Circle,” Lia changed the subject.

“Mhm,” Klein responded. “Master Horace has already sent over the node map for the protective array. I’ll go check it to ensure nothing goes wrong.”

“Do you need my help again?”

“No.” Klein stood up. “This is Horace’s duty as a husband, and mine as a friend.”

He looked at Lia and added, “And you only need to be there as a witness—to witness the birth of a Ninth-Circle mage.”

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