The air in the Avianest capital, Eagledome City, was heavy with anticipation. King Aquila's Centennial Birthday Celebration dominated every conversation. Every street decoration. Every anxious glance.
For Spark Nighthawk though, the day wasn't about regal pomp. It was about navigated survival. And opportunistic observation.
He dressed in practical outfit that allowed ease of movements. It was a luxurious set though. Expensive.
A black, fitted tunic. Over similar-colored tough trousers. Decorated with tribal silver lines. His usual layers of hidden runic under-suit protection humming silently beneath them.
He couldn't bring any visible weapon to the party. But he had his Spatial Belt Gear. Every important tools and equipment could be found inside of it.
Lilith and her other aides remained at the villa. Ready for his signal. The party would only allow nobles and invited guests to enter. Besides, it would be much easier to survive alone in the case of current crisis.
Spark arrived at the Royal Palace with a small, unassuming box. A liveried royal butler met him at the entrance of the Royal Great Hall. His face was impassive but his eyes were always politely assessing.
Spark handed over the box. "For His Majesty." He stated with a smile. His voice was low. Carrying just the right amount of respect without deference. The butler nodded.
"It was just a Runic Jade Eagle, a small token of my esteem." Spark explained.
The butler accepted the gift. It was a significant artifact, crafted by Spark himself. An eagle made of jade. Infused with animation runes. Impractical. Purely for show. But good enough as a gift.
For Spark, stepping into the Royal Great Hall was uncomfortable. It was like entering a gilded cage filled with chattering birds.
The hall was immense. It had soaring ceilings painted with epic, slightly faded murals of the kingdom's history. Grand pillars in the hall were carved into likenesses of avian totems.
Hundreds of nobles, arrayed in their finest, mingled and postured within. The scent of expensive perfumes was mixed with polished wood and faint incense.
Spark towered above most. His figure of imposing build was softened by his practiced smile. Moving casually through the crowd.
Recognition was instant. Whispers followed him. Turning into direct greetings. Nobles, from minor barons to more prominent lords, approached him. Their faces were a mix of curiosity, feigned admiration, and naked opportunism.
The conversation gravitated quickly. As Spark expected, it went to his recent activities.
"Lord Nighthawk! A pleasure to see you. Heard you acquired that Sky-ship Gearcore at the auction? Remarkable piece!"
"Indeed, Lord Borin. A necessary acquisition for future ventures." Spark responded easily. His smile did not quite reach his dark-grey eyes.
"And the 'Talent Revelation Card'! Wiztech Group has truly outdone themselves. My son tested one. It showed a surprising aptitude for Soulcraft he'd never suspected!" This came from a portly marquis. With beaming smile.
"Glad to hear it, Marquis Thorne. Professor Ashenowl's collaboration was invaluable, of course. And Wiztech had indeed manufactured the objects to perfection." Spark said. Giving credit where it was due. Which cost him nothing and built useful relationships.
The card wasn't just a moneymaker. It was a quiet disruption of the traditional path to power. Although his target was the general population. Not the nobles. It was still nice to be valued by them.
Another cluster of nobles pressed in.
"And the 'Second Chance Box,' Lord Nighthawk! Framepath Edition! Truly innovative. Ability to retry awakening... every young noble needs one."
Spark nodded. "It is truly wonderful, isn't it? I couldn't believe it myself when the experiment succeeded. It could only worked due to recent runic advancements."
Then came the inevitable question. "Any word on the Soulcraft or Technomind versions, Lord Nighthawk? The demand is immense."
"The Soulcraft Edition is progressing well." Spark stated. Maintaining his affable demeanor. "It should be ready for production within the month. Perhaps sooner. It requires slightly... different considerations than Framepath, you see."
"As for Technomind..." Spark paused. A slight, thoughtful frown touched his brow. "The research hasn't truly begun yet. Technomind principles are complex. Integrating runic energy to grant second chance for awakening required a significant undertaking."
This was a lie. He had completed the research. Completely. But announcing either the Soulcraft or Technomind Versions now would draw too much attention. Too soon. Better to let them anticipate.
He navigated these exchanges with practiced ease. Smiling. Nodding. Offering polite but non-committal answers about future plans and profits.
He measured every word. Every expression. These people could be tools, potential assets, obstacles, or simply background noise. None were friends.
He didn't believe their smiles, their flattery, or their supposed interest. They wanted something. Always.
As he circulated, a familiar figure approached. Prince Leonel. The young fourteenth prince. He looked slightly overwhelmed by the social fray. But he managed a polite smile.
"Lord Nighthawk! Good to see you. Professor Ashenowl was asking about you. He has retreated to the library. He has started an intellectual discourse there. Would you care to join us?"
Spark's face brightened genuinely. Shedding the slightly forced quality of his previous smiles.
"The library? Professor Ashenowl?" He responded. "An excellent suggestion, Your Highness. Lead the way."
The chance to escape the current company for actual, meaningful discussion was appealing. And being seen with the Prince and the esteemed Professor added another layer of social capital.
They navigated through the throng. Leonel exchanged brief, pleasantries as he walked. Spark followed in his wake. His sheer size did help clearing a path.
They soon reached the grand doors of the Royal Library. A quiet sanctuary compared to the echoing hall.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of old paper and polished wood. Shelves upon shelves soared towards another intricately painted ceiling.
In a secluded corner, a group was gathered around a table laden with books and strange, small devices. It was near a large window overlooking the palace gardens.
Professor Ashenowl, sharp with focus, presided over the discussion. With him were four others Spark recognized...
Mayor Ginheron... the noble mayor of Gutlark Town. Duke Albatross... a surprisingly unassuming man despite his title. With a great reputation for funding scholarly projects. Professor Onostrich... a renowned historian, archivist, and inventor. And Viscount Windlark... a brilliant but notoriously eccentric engineer.
These were the core of the Academic Noble Circle. Individuals within the ranks of nobility who prioritized intellectual pursuits. Over the kingdom's endless political maneuvering.
"Ah, Leonel, and Spark! Excellent." Professor Ashenowl greeted them. His eyes were glinting with intellectual eagerness. "We were just discussing the possibilities of your... unconventional power source idea, Spark."
They settled down. The Prince was content to listen, while Spark joined the core discussion. Professor Ashenowl gestured to a small, complex device on the table. A miniature. Containing runic furnace connected to a set of whirring runic gears and a small light crystal that emitted a faint glow.
"As you suggested, Spark, the concept of using processed... waste... as a fuel source for runic energy generation holds promise. I commissioned this experimental unit."
Mayor Ginheron leaned forward. "It works, Lord Nighthawk. The Professor showed us. The light crystal sustains its glow indefinitely. Drawing energy from the combustion."
"However..." Professor Ashenowl interjected. Tapping the device. "There are significant issues. The combustion is incomplete. Resulting in substantial smoke and a particularly noxious residue within the chamber. Scaling this up for a municipal power plant would require solving these pollution problems."
"Precisely." Duke Albatross added. Stroking his beard. "The environmental impact would be... considerable. And the maintenance required to clear the residue would be prohibitive."
Spark listened intently. His mind already racing through potential runic solutions he'd been formulating.
"The smoke is likely caused by runic impurities from the waste processing." He mused aloud. "A secondary combustion chamber, perhaps? Or a runic filter array? One designed to catalyze complete combustion and capture particulates?"
Viscount Windlark leaned in. "A runic filter... potentially complex. Requires precise frequency tuning to interact with the specific residual energies. And the heat! The heat output is also significant. Dissipation is a concern."
They plunged into a deep, engrossing discussion. Spark held his own. Weaving concepts from his past life's chemistry and engineering knowledge with Anearth's intricate runic theories.
He spoke of thermal dynamics, catalytic processes, energy reclamation, and the potential for synergistic rune sequences. The other Academic Nobles knew him and had long recognized the depth of his understanding in rune knowledge.
Spark's façade of 'jolly entrepreneur' peeled back slightly here. Revealing the sharp, analytical mind beneath. This was his element. Problem-solving and innovation.
The conversation flowed. Ideas bouncing among them. Each possibility sparking new avenues of thought. The hours seemed to melt away in the quiet hum of intellectual pursuit. They were oblivious to the growing crowds in the Great Hall.
It was the arrival of a different butler, this one looking slightly flustered, that broke the spell.
"My Lords! Professors! Your Highness! The... Centennial Celebration ceremony is about to commence. His Majesty requests the presence of all assembled nobles."
A collective sigh went through the group. Soft but palpable. Professor Ashenowl adjusted his spectacles. "Ah, ceremony. Necessary, I suppose."
Mayor Ginheron grumbled good-naturedly. "Just when we were getting somewhere interesting."
Duke Albatross smiled thinly. "Politics calls, gentlemen. Duty beckons."
They gathered their notes. Secured the experimental device. And prepared to return to the main hall. For Spark, the butler's announcement was a stark reminder.
The ceremony meant the transition was imminent. The Great Dance followed the ceremony. The Land Dragon was scheduled for the Great Dance.