Chapter 61: Awards
The annual meeting for the next two days was the same as before, but the impact caused by Reiner on the first day did not dissipate. At least several mages who published papers based on the old combustion theory gave up the lecture for some reason, leaving many empty presentation slots in the original tight meeting schedule.
No one came to Reiner to discuss magic theories recklessly. People seemed to be afraid of this mage apprentice. Perhaps it was because Reiner was chatting and laughing with the high-level mages, which made everyone feel a sense of distance and did not dare to talk to him rashly.
This puts Reiner at ease, and he could focus on understanding the content of the meeting.
Although it involved specific calculations, which could not be completed without the aid of the calculation matrix, Reiner still had a general understanding of each theory.
The feedback from the world also worked on Reiner. At the end of the meeting the next day, when Reiner was lying on the bed, he could feel the rush of magic power surging in his body, and starlight began to appear above his Heart Lake.
To use the analogy of martial arts novels on the earth, Reiner was now a man who had unexpectedly gained power internal strength, but he did not know the slightest martial arts moves. So he looked super powerful, but actually, he didn't know how to fight.
It was quite difficult to rely solely on the release of magic energy to interfere with reality. Magic was like a lever, which allowed a mage to use weak magic to move the world's laws. This was why many mages had a reserve of magic energy capable of carrying second or even third-ring magic, but fail to advance because they could not successfully construct the magic.
If the formula of magic was lost, then the amount of magic energy would just be a useless number.
On the third day of the meeting, there were even fewer speakers, but for some reason, everyone was sitting in distress and seemed to be waiting for something.
Reiner didn't care much. He carefully recorded the previous mage's information on how to improve the heating device in a more precise way. At this time, Lanchester stood up.
"Everyone, this is the end of the speech session of the conference. As usual, the next session should be the nomination of this year's Hohenheim Golden Cup Award."
His words completely quieted the meeting place where there were some quiet discussions. Even Reiner stopped writing because of the atmosphere and looked at the majestic legendary mage on the podium.
"In this year, His Excellency Cornwall Penzance discovered that using the power lightning can completely break down the active elements. Thus, the electrolysis method was invented, and it has brought several precious new elements to us."
Lanchester said, and he looked at Penzance, who was sitting aside and continued.
"Her Excellency Maria Instein discovered the element 'Gmuir' in a special ore. Similar to the previously discovered element 'Redir', this element also has the characteristic of releasing energy outwards. The research on similar elements is still very shallow, but she undoubtedly opened a door for us."
Everyone's eyes turned to a woman on Lanchester's left. She looked like she was only thirty years old, graceful, but had higher achievement than most of the male mages present.
"...We should thank them for their efforts. It is because of their excellence that we can get closer to the truth."
Lanchester later mentioned several mages, including high-level mages and middle-level mages, as if to summarize the achievements of the mercury balance in the alchemy study in this year.
After finishing that, he paused, then spoke.
"But although these achievements are outstanding, the one I will state next is even more groundbreaking."
Lanchester glanced across the conference hall, saw the figure, smiled slightly, and continued.
"For a long time, we have generally believed that wind, water, fire, and earth are the four basic elements, which constitute the foundation of everything. Many expositions have been derived from this belief, including combustion theory, which formed the cornerstone of alchemy study. With the discovery of new elements and the development of the alchemical environment, we have gradually realized that these theories are not the truth, and there are many loopholes that are difficult to explain."
Hearing what Lanchester said, everyone was lost in thought.
Mages were people who pursued the truth, but were there people who became conservative defenders and abandoned the right path?
"I am very fortunate that in our time, there is such a brave mage who is only an apprentice, but he used such a meticulous observation skill and creative thinking to break down our perception that water is a fundamental element."
When Lanchester said this, everyone already knew who he was referring to, so many eyes focused on Reiner, but the mage apprentice remained unmoved, still listening intently.
"It can be said that his discovery completely broke the foundation stone of alchemy study that lasted for three hundred years, but on top of this, he established a more stable and accurate foundation stone, and more importantly, he has shown us a way of thinking constructed by pure reason and logic. Many mages, even though they have studied magic for many years, still do not have this kind of thinking."
With that said, Lanchester took out a small, golden wine cup from the black box at hand.
"So, even though he is only a mage apprentice, and not even an official member of the Mercury Balance, according to our committee's discussion, we decided to award this year's Hohenheim Gold Cup to him. He is Reiner Ian Gray."
As soon as the voice fell, there was thunderous applause.
This was the first time in three hundred years that the Hohenheim Golden Cup was awarded to a mage apprentice.
Reiner made history.
He was a little surprised. He didn't even know what the Hornheim Gold Cup award was before, so he was so calm.
Judging from Lanchester's words, this award should be for the mages who had made achievements in the alchemy field, and it may be similar in status to the Nobel Prize on Earth.
A mage apprentice winning the Hohenheim Gold Cup was as shocking as a college student winning the Nobel Prize in some academic studies.
However, considering that Reiner had discovered two new elements, and at the same time completely renovated the old theory; moreover, he also proposed the law of conservation of elements, so he deserved this award.
Reiner got up slowly, and amid continuous applause, he walked to the podium. This was the second time he came to the stage in three days. Facing the kind Lanchester, he bowed slightly, and then he took the Hohenheim gold cup that was handed over.
The golden cup was much lighter than it looked. It was decorated with a circle of complicated patterns. The element names of "Occles" and "Hydra" were written in swashes. On the bottom of the cup, a line of small letters was engraved: "This is dedicated to Rainer Ian Gray, who discovered the mystery of water and fire."
As soon as he touched it with the palm of his hand, a force flowed out of this golden cup and gradually flowed into Reiner's body.
Obviously, this was a magic item.
"Talk about your acceptance speech, Reiner."
Lanchester took a step back and handed the podium to Reiner.
Looking around the hall, Reiner took a deep breath and said