Chapter 48.9: Finding the cat gives me meaningful progression
“Pardon?” She stared at him as if he were a slime that had just learned to talk.
“It is rare,” he repeated, providing absolutely no additional context.
“Rare in what sense? That I happen to have it, or that you know something useful?”
“Both,” Kestovar replied, without the faintest trace of irony. “It’s a glacial imprint quartz. It holds a resonance until the right thermal threshold releases it.”
“You supposedly spend all your time looking at quartz to not be able to name them.”
Fabrisse’s lips twitched. Do you know how much it goes into classifying a quartz?You have to start with precise measurements of refractive indices, sometimes down to the thousandth decimal, then map lattice irregularities through internal diffraction or spectrographic analysis. Not to mention identifying any trace aetheric saturations that might skew physical properties. And that’s before even touching on growth conditions, trace element content, or microfracture patterns. Plus, many rare types don’t even have formal taxonomy because the process requires collaboration between geologists, thaumaturges, and historians—and it can take years to confirm if a specimen is truly unique or just a regional variation. It’s not something you just slap a name on because it ‘looks cool.’
“I can still determine its refractive index, map its lattice irregularities, and test for residual aetheric saturation without knowing its formal designation,” he finally responded. “Classification is just nomenclature.”
The rant in his head apparently meant nothing to her, as she simply carried on with another question, “Did you notice anything unusual when you held it?”
Fabrisse’s eyes brightened. At least this was a question he could get excited about. “Well, yes. Its thermo-resonance curves deviate from standard glacial quartz. There’s a subtle hysteresis in lattice vibration when exposed to ambient aetheric flux. It’s—”
“No, not that,” Severa interrupted. “I mean anything peculiar in sensation? To touch, to smell, perhaps . . . visual anomalies?”
I was getting to the explanation too! With a slightly annoyed purse of his lips, he shook his head. “Then no.”
“Ah. Provided you possess the requisite instruments, one could, I presume, conduct analyses upon the quartz?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, you have been rather difficult to work with today, but I suppose something more in your element will make you more willing to cooperate,” Severa said, allowing herself the faintest curl of a smile. “Of course, I’m offering for you to help me crack the stone’s hidden imprint. I could do it myself, naturally, but it’s far more efficient to let someone who already knows their . . . thing handle it.”
Me? Why me? I haven’t even been allowed to conduct Aetheric Grain Analysis yet.
Fabrisse’s eyes narrowed. “You must know a few geologists who would surely know a thing or two,” he said.
“I suppose I could extend the opportunity to you,” she said lightly, as though granting him permission to reach for the last tart on the tray. “Helping a fellow student does reflect well on my record. And if your work is thorough, I might even mention you to someone who is in need of this type of work. You are to gain plenty of exposure for your talent.”
A quest showed up just in time.
| [New Sidequest Received: “Shards Beneath the Ice”] Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Objective: Conduct a 3-point aetheric grain survey on Cryoflux Quartz under coldfield conditions Recommended tools: sub-zero emulation matrix, fine-tuned aether probe, patience Estimated completion time: variable, depending on user competence Reward: +65% Understanding toward unlocking Aetheric Grain Analysis (Rank I) +3 Stone Thaumaturgy Mastery Points Bragging rights (local) Would you like to accept the quest? [Yes] [No]
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