Research Project

"Wallace, I've seen instructor Elaine at the cafeteria and she was looking for you."

Gilbert approached Wallace who was seated in front of a computer as he was requested by the instructor to notify him. The morning class had already ended and Wallace was currently in the library.

Both he and Gilbert were not wearing their academy's polo uniform. Wallace was wearing a blue long sleeves shirt instead due to the sports activity every Friday of the week for the 2nd year students.

Wallace was currently browsing the database of their library and searching for something before looking up to his classmate Gilbert who approached him.

"Ah, thank you, is she still at the cafeteria?"

"No, she said for you to see her at the faculty. Did you do something wrong?"

Gilbert asked as it wasn't normal to be called out by a higher year instructor.

Instructor Elaine was famous for her beauty in the Academy. She was only 24 this year and already a licensed magic engineer. Not only did she teaches at the academy but she was also working as an engineer in a certain company. Gilbert was more than willing to know any news about her.

"Nothing, there's just a small request I was asked to help with." Wallace answered mysteriously, he packed up his things and stood up.

After learning that the beautiful instructor was waiting for him, he went directly at the faculty on the 3rd floor of the main building in the Academy.

He saw that the door was open and peeked at the room. There he saw again the only instructor that was never wearing the designated uniform.

Instructor Elaine could easily be seen with her long amber hair draped over her shoulders. She was sitting in front of her desk and seemed to be focused on her computer.

Wallace tried to get closer before calling out on her as there were other instructors and students in the faculty doing their own things. As Wallace got closer, he found the aura of elegance that the instructor radiated to be uncommon.

A very intelligent woman, close to the headmaster, capable of wearing her own outfit in the academy and that aura, definitely not a simple instructor. Wallace thought as he neared.

"Excuse me, Instructor. I heard from Gilbert that you were looking for me."

Of course, Wallace was aware of why she was looking for him. He just wanted to make her aware of his presence. Elaine looked up at him and smiled upon noticing Wallace.

He was able to clearly observe her pale face and noticed a small mole on her lower lip on the right side. It only added to her mature beauty.

Wallace would turn 16 in the next month so he very much appreciated this picturesque scene.

"I thought that you've stood us up."

He scratched the back of his head as he felt a bit awkward for being late. He was too engrossed reading in the library.

"Follow me, your seniors are currently at the Forging Garden 3A."

Wallace nodded and remembered that it was on the left wing of the Academy.

As they both walked for the door, the students and instructors they passed by all looked at her with different lights in their eye. Apparently, aside from her beauty, she wafted as well a delicate aroma of honeysuckle attracting everyone's attention.

Wallace sighed at this. He thought that this instructor would grab attention wherever she went. But Wallace wasn't aware yet if it was good or bad.

***

Forging Garden 3A.

There were currently 5 students in the open room discussing their predicament. It was called a garden as two side of the walls could be detached and provide an open air. It was providing them a scenery of the garden.

There was a circular table located in the room where the five were having their discussion. The room had 2 shelves containing from common to unique materials. A couple of mana artifacts could be seen as well and at the other side, you could see 3 Artifact Forging Boxes.

At the centre of the table they were seated, about a hundred pieces of varying shapes of metal was lump together.

"Mei, have you found a solution yet? You said last time that you have records of Material Mana Sync Theories in your family's record."

A blond male student asked the one seated on his opposite side.

"I have tried to read all of it, Eric. But there's no records or clues on how to maintain long operation time of synchronization. How about you Neo?"

"Same here, but I've asked around and at least learned that all six of our predecessors to this invention had the same issue. They could not fix it and instead just accepted it as limitation of the current technology."

As Neo answered, everyone felt drained. The Academy's library allowed them to learn that the thing they were researching caused 3 groups of their predecessors to give up. Now, Neo told them another 3 were defeated by this mana artifact pathway.

Before they could graduate from the academy, they had to complete a task. Students had to form a group of no more than 6 to research an underdeveloped mana artifact pathway. They didn't have to develop it themselves and it would just be fine as long as they gave path for next developers.

Haaa.. It seems that we really have to accept the assistance offered by instructor Elaine if we really want to stick to this pathway. They all sighed and thought of this.

The five of them selected a difficult research topic expecting that as top students, they would be able to create a path for future discoveries. They were told yesterday that since they weren't able to make progress, their instructor would be sending help. They all did their best last night to find a solution to change her decision but weren't successful.

Now, they really had to accept it. What kind of help? They weren't aware yet.

They looked at the time and thought that Elaine might be on her way as they were told to wait here. They observed the surroundings and tidied some things. They noticed the thick grown bushes that were at the side of the garden and the fallen leaves accumulating, it was unkempt.

They should be asking for a cleaner later. It was already noticed before by Elaine and told them to clean it but previous cleaners and gardeners weren't able to come in as they locked the room even during the night as they studied their project. They normally lasted until the evening since they started this so the gardener or cleaner did not have a chance to take care of it.

As they thought of this, Elaine wearing a simple but elegant white dress entered with Wallace in the tow.

"Great! Instructor Elaine. Is he the gardener?"

Mei asked merrily.

Huh? Is their research about gardening? Wallace thought and was confused but did not think too much about it as he immediately noticed the lump of metals in the centre of the table.

He activated his Divine Sense and was surprised with what he found out.