Chapter 265: The Price of Curiosity

For the first time in several weeks, Ilya Belozersky had managed to spend an entire morning studying without anyone challenging him to a duel.

He considered that an achievement worth celebrating.

Unfortunately, Holy Trinity Academy had other plans.

Shortly before lunch, Professor Hakon Vinter announced that the Magic Department’s research exhibition had received approval from the academy administration. Participating students would be permitted to present their projects before visiting scholars, military representatives, and several private sponsors.

The exhibition would take place the following week.

Naturally, the announcement caused considerable excitement.

For ordinary students, it was an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities beyond practical examinations. Those interested in pursuing academic careers could attract the attention of established researchers, while others hoped to secure internships or financial support.

Ilya understood the appeal.

He’d spent enough time at SkyRune to recognize that promising research often depended on attracting the right people.

Unfortunately, he was also familiar with the amount of preparation required.

"Please tell me we’re finished with the regulator project," Garen complained once the lecture ended.

Ma?lle gave him a sympathetic look.

"We finished building it."

"That’s what I said."

"We haven’t finished documenting it."

Garen appeared genuinely wounded.

Ilya understood his disappointment.

Their experimental regulator had already undergone several successful tests, and the engineering group had incorporated most of the improvements proposed during their previous meetings.

The device now maintained a more stable mana output while consuming fewer resources than its original configuration.

However, presenting those results before visiting scholars required more than simply placing the machine on a table and hoping everyone admired it.

They needed measurements, comparative data, and an explanation of the mechanism.

Fortunately, the group had already completed much of that work.

Ilya suggested organizing their existing records rather than conducting another unnecessary round of experiments.

Wolfram agreed.

Their results were sufficiently consistent to support the conclusions they intended to present, and additional testing would accomplish little unless they changed the design.

That settled the matter.

Garen looked relieved until Ma?lle reminded him that someone still needed to prepare the diagrams.

He immediately volunteered to carry the equipment instead.

A reasonable attempt.

Unfortunately for him, the others had already decided that he would be responsible for explaining the construction process.

Ilya suspected the fellow would eventually discover that academic research involved more paperwork than machinery.

It was a painful lesson, but one everyone had to learn.

After their discussion, Ilya headed toward SkyRune.

He had intended to visit Professor Antoine Chastellain later in the week, but the exhibition announcement provided a convenient opportunity to discuss the laboratory’s participation.

SkyRune had been developing several projects connected to propulsion systems and atmospheric Rune Tech, although its more ambitious research remained unsuitable for public presentation.

Antoine had also been recovering from the events at Saint Aurelia.

His return to ordinary academic responsibilities had been gradual, and Ilya preferred not to burden him with additional obligations without discussing the matter first.

When he arrived, the laboratory was occupied with its usual assortment of researchers, engineers, and unfinished equipment.

The workshop had regained much of its former activity.

Several apprentices were assembling a propulsion mechanism near the testing platform, while senior researchers reviewed calculations concerning mana consumption and structural stability.

Ilya recognized the apparatus.

It was a modified version of an experimental regulator intended to maintain consistent power delivery under changing atmospheric conditions.

The principle was similar to the device his classmates had developed, although the requirements were considerably more demanding.

A mechanism operating on the ground could tolerate minor fluctuations.

One intended for sustained flight possessed far less room for error.

Professor Antoine was reviewing a set of technical drawings when Ilya approached.

"Belozersky. I wasn’t expecting you today."

"The academy announced the exhibition."

"Ah. That."

Antoine had already received the invitation.

SkyRune’s governing board was interested in participating, particularly because the event would attract representatives from several institutions involved in Rune Tech research.

However, the professor was reluctant to present anything connected to their larger propulsion project.

The laboratory had invested years of effort into its development, and several crucial components remained experimental.

Revealing the underlying designs prematurely could create difficulties with sponsors and competing researchers.

Ilya agreed.

The simplest solution was to present a smaller, independently useful application of their research.

Their regulator technology provided an obvious candidate.

It could demonstrate SkyRune’s progress without exposing the more ambitious mechanisms that depended on it.

Antoine considered the proposal.

"We could present the stabilization assembly."

"That would work. It has practical applications beyond propulsion."

"Industrial machinery, transport systems, perhaps even defensive infrastructure."

Ilya nodded.

A reliable mana regulator could become valuable wherever magical equipment required stable output over extended periods.

That versatility also made it attractive to potential investors.

Of course, its commercial value depended on whether it could be manufactured economically.

Fortunately, SkyRune already possessed someone familiar with that problem.

Solenne Vernet arrived shortly afterward.

She had been meeting with several members of the laboratory’s administrative staff concerning procurement arrangements, and the discussion of the exhibition immediately caught her interest.

"Hee-hee. Are we finally showing everyone what their money’s been paying for?"

Antoine informed her of the proposed presentation.

Solenne approved of the idea, although she raised a practical concern.

A successful demonstration could attract more attention than the laboratory was prepared to handle.

If visitors began requesting equipment orders or licensing agreements, SkyRune would need a clear policy concerning intellectual property and production rights.

Antoine admitted that the laboratory had not yet finalized those arrangements.

Solenne seemed unsurprised.

Researchers, in her experience, frequently devoted years to developing something remarkable before discovering that they had neglected to consider how anyone was supposed to purchase it.

Her family had made a fortune assisting such people.

"Then let’s make sure nobody walks away with your invention for the price of a nice dinner," she suggested.

Ilya found the concern reasonable.

Their participation should attract useful connections, but there was no benefit in making commitments before the laboratory understood the commercial implications.

Solenne proposed preparing a limited demonstration agreement.

Visitors could inspect the public version of the mechanism and discuss potential applications, while detailed manufacturing specifications would remain confidential.

Any serious commercial proposal would be directed through SkyRune’s administration.

Antoine accepted the arrangement.

With the administrative concerns settled, their conversation turned toward the technical presentation.

Ilya recommended emphasizing measurable improvements rather than attempting to impress the audience with elaborate explanations.

If the regulator performed reliably under changing loads, that achievement would speak for itself.

Solenne approved.

"See? That’s why I like working with you. You understand that people need a reason to care."

"I thought you liked working with me because I don’t charge consulting fees."

"That’s also a very attractive quality."

Antoine laughed.

The three continued discussing the presentation until they had established a workable plan.

SkyRune would prepare the demonstration equipment, Solenne would coordinate the commercial arrangements, and Ilya would assist with explaining the technical principles if the laboratory required additional support.

However, Antoine insisted that Ilya prioritize his own academic responsibilities.

The professor had become more attentive to such matters recently.

Ilya appreciated the consideration.

He had already spent several months balancing his education with activities that frequently demanded far more attention than expected.

There was no reason to repeat the same mistakes.

Their meeting concluded shortly before evening.

As Ilya prepared to leave, Antoine mentioned that the laboratory had received several inquiries from outside institutions concerning future collaboration.

Most were ordinary requests from universities and private research organizations.

However, one proposal had attracted particular interest among SkyRune’s senior researchers.

It concerned high-altitude observation.

The institution responsible wanted to investigate atmospheric mana disturbances occurring beyond the elevation ordinarily reached by existing aircraft.

Ilya found the subject immediately interesting.

He had encountered several references to unusual atmospheric phenomena while studying historical accounts of magical disturbances, although reliable observations remained scarce.

The proposed research could provide valuable information.

Antoine explained that the institution possessed access to specialized measuring equipment, but lacked a sufficiently reliable propulsion system to conduct sustained observations at the required altitude.

That was where SkyRune’s expertise became relevant.

Unfortunately, the laboratory’s own technology remained under development.

A successful collaboration would require considerable preparation.

Ilya examined the preliminary documents.

The proposed altitude was higher than anything their current experimental mechanisms had reliably achieved.

Reaching it would require improved energy efficiency, stronger structural materials, and a more dependable method of maintaining stability under changing atmospheric conditions.

The regulator project suddenly appeared far more important.

Antoine had already recognized the connection.

"The difficulty isn’t simply reaching that altitude," he explained. "We need to maintain controlled flight long enough to collect meaningful observations."

"And return safely."

"Preferably."

Ilya smiled.

He began reviewing the projected requirements, comparing them against the results of SkyRune’s previous experiments.

The figures revealed several obvious limitations.

However, they also suggested that the laboratory possessed enough foundational research to begin investigating possible solutions.

There was still a considerable distance between theoretical feasibility and practical success.

Nevertheless, the proposal offered something SkyRune had been lacking since the tragedy at Saint Aurelia.

A meaningful objective toward which its researchers could direct their efforts.

Antoine seemed to recognize that as well.

For the first time in several weeks, his enthusiasm emerged without the strained determination that had accompanied much of his recent work.

He began discussing possible improvements, occasionally referring to experiments conducted by his parents decades earlier.

Ilya listened with growing interest.

The conversation continued until one of the senior researchers reminded Antoine that the workshop was closing for the evening.

The professor reluctantly agreed to postpone their discussion.

Ilya collected a copy of the preliminary requirements before departing.

He intended to review them when his coursework permitted.

After all, the academy exhibition was only a week away, and there were still several responsibilities requiring his attention.

Nevertheless, as he returned toward Holy Trinity, his thoughts occasionally returned to the figures contained in the proposal.

SkyRune had spent years pursuing the dream of reaching beyond the limits of conventional flight.

Now, someone was offering them a reason to attempt it.

And Ilya was beginning to wonder just how far they could go.