Encountering Another Brilliant Mind

[Third POV, a while ago]

After leaving the manor, Albrecht made his way to the kingdom's vibrant main district, where the streets buzzed with activity. Merchants called out to passersby, and the scent of roasted meat lingered in the air. Choosing the scenic route, he weaved through narrow cobblestone paths lined with colorful stalls and spirited storefronts.

Eventually, he reached a three-story building, its exterior walls bristling with pipes and gears that whirred faintly with each breeze.

Stepping inside, he was greeted by a vast workshop filled with the hum of machinery and the faint scent of iron and oil. Tables were cluttered with half-assembled devices, and scattered blueprints filled the room. Shelves lined with glass containers and assorted bottles contained a variety of unusual substances, adding to the workshop's intriguing atmosphere.

Albrecht scanned the room until he spotted a familiar group of individuals wearing long coats and safety equipment. As he approached them, one person noticed his presence.

"Oh, Sir Albrecht, welcome back!"

A young man with blue hair, wearing a turtleneck and a jumpsuit, greeted him with a smile.

"Hello there, Benjamin. I see that you're still optimistic."

Benjamin chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

"Gotta be when the theories keep throwing surprises at us."

Hearing his awkward laughter, another person walked in, joining the conversation.

"It's about time you showed up to work. I've heard you have a child now."

The comment came from a woman with dark-brown hair styled in a bun. She wore an elegant oriental dress beneath a lab coat, her sharp gaze hinting at curiosity and displeasure.

"Ruan Ling," Albrecht greeted her with a wry smile. "Still keeping track of everyone's personal lives, I see."

"Only when they disappear for a couple of years," she replied bluntly before turning to a nearby table. "Hey, Bellum, your research partner is here."

A man sat there, peacefully engaged in a book. His sharp suit, with a top hat beside him, and composed demeanor distinguished him from the others.

"I've been expecting you, Albrecht," he said without lifting his eyes from the page. "Have you solved the Solitary Particle Theory?"

Albrecht approached the table and put his leather bag on it. Pulling the zipper, he retrieved a rolled-up parchment and laid it before the group.

"I wouldn't say 'solved'... but I've found a way forward."

The researchers gathered around, their expressions shifting between curiosity and suspicion as they examined the paper. It revealed a blueprint of a device different from the one they'd been relying on—sleeker, with several key components altered.

"This..." Benjamin muttered, tracing one of the drawn runes. "This changes the whole system of engraving magic. Are you sure about this, Sir Albrecht?"

"I'm certain," Albrecht affirmed. "Our previous device relied heavily on outdated notions. This new design is more likely to adapt to the fluctuation in the particle's behavior, providing more stable conditions for measurement."

Ruan Ling crossed her arms, still unconvinced. "And you designed this yourself?"

"I didn't," he admitted. "This blueprint... was created by my four-year-old daughter, Herta."

The room fell silent momentarily before a few muffled chuckles broke out.

"You're joking, right?" one researcher scoffed. "A child designed this? Ridiculous!"

"What's next? Was she decoding runic inscriptions too?" another mocked with a scowl.

"You expect us to believe a child could grasp the complexities of the particle's behavior?" a third voice added. "Even seasoned researchers struggle with this!"

Hearing their insults, Albrecht furrowed his eyebrows and clenched his teeth.

"Laugh if you want, but my daughter's design addresses every flaw we've encountered so far—and more!"

While the majority of the group brushed off his remarks, Bellum set aside his book and stood up, taking a closer look at the blueprint. His gaze followed every detail, and his fingers lightly traced the intricate symbols interwoven into the design.

"This isn't just accurate," Bellum murmured. "It's remarkably efficient."

Ruan Ling exchanged a glance with Benjamin before turning to the gentleman. "What do you mean by that?"

"These adjustments bypass the typical errors we've been struggling with," Bellum explained, facing Albrecht. "Would you mind sharing your notes? Also, I'd like to meet your daughter."

Surprised by his partner's interest, Albrecht hesitated before nodding.

"Of course. You're welcome to visit the manor later."

Bellum gave a faint smile, rolling the blueprint back into its original shape.

"Excellent," he muttered, grabbing his top hat from the table and placing it atop his head. "I'm curious what kind of mind could craft something like this."

-------------------------------------------

After finishing the discussion in the workshop, Albrecht exited the building alongside Bellum, Benjamin, and Ruan Ling.

The sunset bathed the main district in a warm glow, while the crispness of the late afternoon air added a refreshing calmness. The streets were quieter now, with lanterns flickering gently against the cobblestone roads.

As they reached a crossroads, Albrecht turned to Benjamin and Ruan Ling, who seemed wary of the earlier revelation.

"Hey, you two, do you want to join me and Bellum in my place? I'd love to introduce you to my daughter and prove her brilliance."

Benjamin exchanged a glance with Ruan Ling before turning back with an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, Sir Albrecht, I still have unfinished notes to review before the next research session."

Albrecht nodded in acknowledgment of his colleague's reason, then shifted his focus toward his female associate, who stood nearby with her arms crossed.

"How about you, Ruan Ling? he asked curiously. Do you—"

"I have other projects requiring my attention," Ling said flatly, giving him no room for debate. 

Albrecht pouted playfully. "Damn, I haven't finished my sentence."

"Because I knew what you were going to say," she shot back, turning around.

Stepping away from the group, Ruan Ling looked back with an apathetic gaze.

"Good luck convincing everyone your daughter's a prodigy."

Without another word, she turned down a side street, her oriental dress trailing behind her.

"Well, there she goes... like an angry mongoose," Albrecht remarked grudgingly.

"Forgive her, Sir Albrecht," Benjamin shook his head, sighing wearily. "She's probably upset after you chose Miss Theresia over her."

Albrecht widened his eyes in surprise. "Oh, she's still mad about that? My bad."

After that conversation, Benjamin offered a quick nod before following suit, leaving Albrecht and Bellum alone. The gentleman adjusted his top hat, watching their colleagues disappear into the dimly lit streets. 

"They're still skeptical," he murmured, "but I can't say I blame them."

Albrecht sighed as he fixed his bowler hat. "I know."

"Still..." Bellum turned to his research partner. "I'm curious enough to see for myself."

Soon, the two set off along the winding roads, the silhouette of the manor slowly appearing in the distance.

"So, tell me," Bellum began speaking, "how long has your daughter exhibited this... excellent performance?"

Albrecht paused momentarily before answering him.

"Since she was a newborn," he admitted. "Herta had been growing faster than I anticipated."

Bellum raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "In what regard?"

"Hmm, let me think," Albrecht muttered thoughtfully. "She managed to recognize faces within a few weeks, started crawling at four months, and then walked three months later."

Hearing those achievements, Bellum's curiosity grew.

"That's... unusually quick," he remarked. "Was her intelligence just as sharp?"

"Absolutely," Albrecht responded proudly. "I once caught her reading a textbook about magic theory when she was a year old, and since then she learned everything I taught her starting from language up to mathematics."

"What a remarkable mind she had," Bellum declared, piqued by the thought.

------------------------------------------

Eventually, they arrived at the manor, where Marlene greeted them at the entrance.

"Welcome back, Lord Albrecht," she said with a polite bow. 

Albrecht nodded, taking off his coat and top hat. "Where's Herta?"

"She's in the garden with Lady Theresia," Marlene informed him as she received the clothing.

"Could you summon her to the study?" he instructed. "I'd like her to meet our guest."

"Of course, my lord," Marlene complied with a bow before walking away.

As she went to find Herta, Albrecht gestured for Bellum to follow him inside. The two entered the manor and walked down the hall until reaching the study. Within there, the familiar scent of parchment, chalk, and ink filled the air.

Albrecht crossed to his desk, spreading his notes in front of his research partner. Bellum took off his gloves and reached for one of the paper sheets. Carefully examining the drawings and calculations, he outlined the complexities of the design.

"These notes..." the gentleman muttered. "It's far more intricate than I expected."

"You thought that's impressive," Albrecht argued. "Check that one out."

He pointed at the blackboard with various notes and diagrams sprawled across its surface.

Bellum carefully scanned every detail. "You made all of these?"

"Some of it, yes," Albrecht admitted, his lips curled into a smile. "The rest was my daughter's corrections and adjustments."

tap... tap... tap...

Suddenly, the faint sound of footsteps caught Bellum's attention. Turning around, he spotted a small child entering the study, her presence unexpectedly striking.

She wore a frilled black dress with purple highlights tracing along the edges. Draped over her shoulders was a black capelet with gold accents, shimmering faintly with a purple undertone beneath the evening light.

Short ash-brown hair framed her pale face, neatly falling to her sides. Her sharp, purple eyes swept the room with a quiet intensity—neither shy nor tense, but observant and calculated.

Her gaze unsettled Bellum enough that he broke the silence.

"Oh? And who is this lovely young lady?"

Albrecht chuckled lightly, "That would be my daughter, Herta Wissenschaft."

Hearing his research partner's response, Bellum decided to introduce himself to the little girl.

"Ah, so you're the one behind the device's design," he noted, removing his hat and placing it over his chest. "My name is Bellum Aristroticus, chief architect of Nasca Kingdom."

"...."

Herta's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she gave a small nod.

"Pleasure to meet you," she spoke calmly. "Did my father invite you to see his work or mine?"

Bellum smiled, intrigued by her reasoning. "Both, actually. I'm quite curious about the brilliant mind behind these improvements."

"Well, it sounds like you have plenty of questions," she replied directly, stepping closer to the desk. "Shall I walk you through the design?"

"By all means," he encouraged, watching her closely.

Herta walked towards the blackboard and pulled out a nearby stool, climbing on it. She then grabbed a stick that was strategically placed on the ledge, pointing it at the notes. With fast precision, she began breaking down the revised design.

"The old device was quite simple, but it couldn't zoom in further than the size of a magicule," she explained casually. "So, I adjusted the curvature of the lens, arranged the runes for more improved energy flow, and made the frame sturdier to stabilize the parts."

Bellum listened intently, occasionally glancing at Albrecht, who stood proudly by the desk.

"Remarkable," the gentleman finally remarked. "You thought of everything."

"Not everything," Herta corrected. "The new design still has flaws and limitations."

"Hmm, quite modest, I see," Bellum praised sincerely.

Hearing his compliment, she shook her head. "No, I'm just being realistic."

While the two were conversing, Albrecht watched as his daughter discussed her work to the point he couldn't hold his laughter.

"I told you she was brilliant, and now it has been proven," he declared.

Herta sighed, shaking her head. "Papa, don't get ahead of yourself. I have more to discuss."

"Oh? And what's that?" Bellum asked curiously.

Herta grabbed a chalk and wrote something on the bottom of the blackboard.

"Connection between Elementals and Magicule?" Albrecht read the words aloud.

Bellum nodded, his interest piqued. "Now that's something worth exploring."