A Legacy Reborn

Chapter 26: A Legacy Reborn

After the presentation to the Council of Scholars, Alden felt both relief and tension. He had laid the groundwork, presented his selective breeding method, and established his credibility in their eyes. Yet, he knew this was only the beginning. The true vision of his dream—bringing the knowledge of genetics to this world—required more than just agricultural applications. It needed the depth, breadth, and precision that Gregor Mendel had brought to his studies in his former life.

He began preparing for the next meeting, this time with a more ambitious goal. Alden knew he needed to introduce the core principles of Mendel's work: inheritance, dominant and recessive traits, and the mathematical laws that governed the transmission of these traits through generations. It was complex and detailed work, but in a world where magic ruled and nature was seen through a spiritual lens, the elegance of scientific truth had its own kind of beauty.

If he could reintroduce these ideas, under his own name, it would establish him as one of the greatest minds in Eryndor. But it wasn't just about recognition—it was about creating a lasting change, a legacy that would ripple through future generations just as Mendel's work had done on Earth.

The Preparation

In the days following his initial presentation, Alden retreated to his lab and began transcribing Mendel's experiments in detail. Every time he wrote a new formula or diagram, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu. He was rewriting the past, but here, it was new, untouched by anyone. He adjusted the terminology slightly, aligning it more with the language of Eryndor, yet he kept the core concepts the same.

He began with the basics, outlining how certain traits could be observed and categorised—seed shapes, flower colours, stem lengths—all things that were easily measurable in crops. Then he delved deeper, laying out the methodology Mendel had used, how to cross-pollinate plants and observe the results over generations.

Alden spent long nights at his desk, candlelight flickering as he copied diagrams of Punnett squares and allele distributions, translating the science into something this world could understand. In a corner of his lab, rows of pea plants stood as silent witnesses to his work, just as they had for Mendel centuries before.

But Alden knew that he couldn't just present the technical aspects. This was a world where the divine, where magic was interwoven with the mundane. He needed to show that genetics wasn't just cold calculation; it was a part of the natural order, something that aligned with the divine will of Aeloria. He carefully crafted arguments that tied the inheritance of traits to the threads of creation spun by the Weaver of Stars, as if each gene was a single strand in the cosmic tapestry.

A Brief Interruption

One evening, as Alden was deeply immersed in his work, his brother Emrick entered the lab. He was tall, with a presence that commanded attention, the second son and the family's most accomplished fighter. Emrick had always been more interested in politics and physical pursuits, and his visits to Alden's lab were rare.

"Alden," Emrick said, leaning against the doorway, his expression unreadable. "Word around the house is you've been... quite busy."

Alden set down his quill, wiping the ink from his hands. "I've been preparing something important for the Council of Scholars."

"I heard you're trying to mix magic and farming." Emrick chuckled, though there was no malice in it. "You've always had strange ideas, but this one seems... different. What exactly are you up to?"

Alden hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. "It's not magic, at least not in the way most people think. It's... nature. I'm working on something that could change how we understand plants, maybe even life itself."

"Bold words," Emrick said, stepping into the room and looking over the plants Alden had meticulously organised. "You're different, you know. Ever since that accident years ago, you've been... distant. But now, you seem driven."

Alden met his brother's gaze, realising this was probably the closest they had come to a real conversation in years. "I've seen things differently since then. There's so much more to understand about the world than what we've been taught. If I can prove my theories, it could help everyone, especially those struggling with the drought."

Emrick studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "You've always been the odd one, but I trust you'll make something of yourself. Just... don't forget where you came from."

With that, he left, leaving Alden alone once more with his thoughts and his work.

The Second Council Meeting

The day of the second meeting with the Council of Scholars came swiftly. Alden, more confident this time, arrived with a stack of carefully prepared notes, illustrations, and calculations. The Council had reconvened in the same chamber, their faces once again a mixture of curiosity and scrutiny.

Alden began by explaining the basic principles of inheritance, how traits were passed from parent to offspring in predictable ways. He used his pea plants as an example, showing how he had crossed different varieties to produce new generations with specific traits.

He outlined Mendel's laws: the law of segregation, the law of independent assortment. Each explanation was accompanied by diagrams, showing how dominant and recessive traits worked in plants. The scholars listened, some with interest, others with scepticism. Alden could see them grappling with the concepts, trying to understand how such patterns could exist without the direct intervention of magic.

As he spoke, he emphasised the beauty of the system, how it reflected the deeper order of nature, the balance of life. "Just as magic follows rules, so too does life itself," he said. "We can understand these rules, and by doing so, we can shape the future."

At one point, the same scholar from before—the woman in green robes—asked him again about the potential for failure. "You speak of traits as if they are set in stone. But nature is unpredictable. What if this 'genetics' of yours cannot account for all the variables?"

Alden smiled. "Nature is unpredictable, yes. But that's where observation comes in. We can't control everything, but we can predict patterns, and those patterns allow us to make informed decisions. It's not about control; it's about understanding."

As the meeting drew to a close, Alden felt a shift in the room. The scholars were still unsure, but they were intrigued. He could see their minds working, considering the possibilities. They didn't fully understand yet, but they were open to learning more. And that was all he needed.

The silver-bearded man at the head of the table nodded approvingly. "You've presented something truly unique, Alden of Eryndor. We will need time to consider this fully, but I believe you've sparked something here. Your methods may not rely on magic, but there is a certain... magic in your understanding of nature."

With that, Alden left the Hall of Scholars, his heart pounding with excitement. The world of genetics had been set in motion, and now there was no turning back.

A New Goal

As Alden walked through the capital, his mind buzzed with new ideas. He had sown the seeds of Mendel's work in this world, and now it was time to watch them grow. But to truly succeed, he needed to go beyond plants. He needed to apply these principles to animals, to humans, to every living thing.

The road ahead would be long, and there would be opposition, but Alden knew that he had the knowledge to change this world forever. Just as Mendel and Darwin had revolutionised science on Earth, he would bring the beauty and power of genetics to Eryndor.

This was his legacy.