The Prototypes

Around an hour later, all the Familiars and Maguses who passed the exam were brought deeper into the Facility. However, when they got to the area where they would carry out the tests for the Vaxwel Research Facility, Linfel was separated from them.

As Comat brought Linfel away, Linfel asked him. "Am I not supposed to do the same tests as them?"

"Initially, yes," Comat nodded. "However, your Magic Energy Control and Sensitivity will be much better employed in another research. Don't worry, though. We will pay you according to what was stated in the details of your task back in the academy."

Linfel didn't need to hear more. "Well, then I'm fine with it."

Comat and Linfel then entered another building where other runes were being researched before Comat brought Linfel to meet someone. "Senior Wosley, this is him."

Wosley was the one in charge of the research going there, a Level Two Magus. He seemed to be already in his fifties or sixties, although you couldn't take a Magus appearance seriously. They usually lived much longer than normal people. "Oh! Wait! A Level One Familiar?!"

Wosley quickly expressed his doubt. "Comat, are you sure you did the test correctly? You told me you got a student with a score of 83. I was expecting at least a Level Three Magus or Familiar instead."

Comat quickly nodded. "I did test him and had the same doubt, so I tested him a second time. There is no mistake. Even at Level One, his Magic Energy Control and Sensitivity are that high."

Wosley knew that Comat wouldn't joke about it, so he nodded. "Alright, then, we can give it a try for now." He quickly turned to Linfel, still a little skeptical. "The runes we are working on here are being used in a new type of Magic Channeling Circuitry Runes. Their Channels are a lot more numerous and intricate since they will be responsible for hundreds of different parts of energy distribution."

Wosley brought Linfel closer to a glass where the rune was being manipulated. Inside the glass contained, several delicate needles seemed to be doing nothing. However, Linfel could tell with his Magic Energy Sensitivity. The needles were moving. It's just that the Runes were so small that it was hard to tell. "Such a beautiful rune..."

Wosley's impression of Linfel immediately improved. "Right?! This is my baby. If it works as expected, we can reduce the consumption of Magic Energy by as much as 4%!"

Linfel quickly understood. "That's incredible indeed. 4% might look like a small number. But when you put it in the context of the countless Magic Energy Equipment it will be used, it would be a huge difference. We are talking about a fortune that can be used in other areas instead."

"Hahaha!" Wosley nodded vigorously. "Seems like we have an enthusiast in Magic Diagrams here. Are you studying magic Diagrams in the Magus Academy?"

Linfel shook his head. "No. I do intend to join the Magic Diagram Hall later, though. It's just that with all the training and the Field Exams, I haven't had the chance."

Comat quickly saw an opportunity. "Well, if you want to learn more about Magic Diagrams, our Vaxwel Research Facility is definitely one of the best places in the country. We have an unlimited amount of content in our databases that is free for all members to use for their own research."

Wosley hadn't even seen Linfel's ability yet, so he was surprised about how much Comat seemed to regard Linfel's abilities. "Alright, we can talk about that later. Linfel, come here."

Wosley brought Linfe into another room where a few other people could be seen. There were even two familiars, although they didn't seem to work on the project like the people. 

One of the people there was a Level One Female Magus who seemed to be working on one of the equipment. She noticed Wosley's arrival and quickly got up. "Wosley! Did you manage to convince someone to come? You should try to talk with the Lambel Magus Family. Perhaps one of their elders wouldn't mind helping."

Wosley shook his head. "There is no way they would accept the payment we can offer with our budget, Philia. But you don't need to worry. I think we found the perfect subject. Linfel here seem to have enough Magic Energy Control and Sensitivity to carry out the test."

Philia looked at the Familiar and especially his yellow color. "Is this a joke?"

"Who knows?" Wosley shrugged. "Comat says he can do it, so I brought him here to test it out."

Philia narrowed her eyes and looked at Comat. "You aren't the type who likes jokes, so I hope you aren't trying to change your personality now."

"Hmph!" Comat obviously had no intention of doing such a thing. "I won't. Just get him to try the first prototypes already. They were a failure, so they will be destroyed in the end anyway. Nonetheless, they are more than enough to show Linfel's abilities."

Comat and Philia had always been triyng to outshone the other, so the other people around didn't even care about their antics anymore.

"You two seem to be very close," Linfel commented with a smile, completely failing to see the big picture.

"Your ass!" Comat and Philia answered at the same time.

"Enough!" Wosley stopped them as he pulled out a tablet. He then put it in front of Linfel and spoke. "Alright, use your Magic Energy so that we can get your signature on this NDA. Remember, there are huge repercussions if you disclose the contents of this research outside."

Linfel quickly released his Magic Energy, and his Magic Energy Signature was recorded in the agreement. "I'm aware of the rules."

"Come with me," Philia didn't waste time and brought Linfel to another machine. It was very similar to the one Linfel saw in the previous room. An almost invisible Rune was placed at the center while extremely thin needles were all around it. 

During the next hour, Philia explained to Linfel how the equipment worked and how he could channel his own Magic Energy into the rune. Only then did she allow Linfel to give it a try. "Alright. That should be pretty much it. As long as you can use at least 300 channels in the rune, we will consider it a success and will allow you to truly help us with our latest prototype."

Linfel quickly used his Magic Energy in the receptor and felt it moving through the needles inside the glass container. He slowly injected the Magic Energy into the rune and commented. 759 channels in total... No, they are in a Three Dimensional Structure. If I count the connections between the different parts, there are almost a thousand channels. This is truly incredible."

Back in his time, it would be a miracle if you could create as many as one hundred channels, and such runes weren't considered any good since Primordial Energy was too powerful. The common knowledge said that at most fifty channels should be used, and more than that would only give you an easily breakable rune. Here, however, Linfel could see almost a thousand, and Magic Energy could still be used on all of them without issues as long as the control was just right.

Wosley, Comat, and Philia were impressed with Linfel's account. They hadn't told him anything about the number of channels, and yet he nailed it in just a few seconds of probing. Of course, what mattered was whether he could use at least 300 of them at the same time so that they could carry out the tests later with the real runes.