Reverse Chronicles

Test of Knowledge, pt. 1

“Here is your next trial,” one of the mage guards handed over a note. “You have to do this as soon as possible or there will be consequences.”

I was still worried about Franz, so I put the note in my pocket. The repercussions of the first trial still lingered. There was no way I would put myself into harms way after experiencing a near-death experience

Keith and I finished healing Franz. All that’s left is to let him rest. We exited the infirmary to find out the night life of Lyane. The infirmary was close to the city center, where bards and dancers sang and danced. People were tranced with their performance. The dancers danced with two long sashes that glided and fluttered on the air as they moved.

We returned to the inn, which was three blocks from the city center. I crashed on my bed. It was a very tiring day. I took a nice hot bath, which was what I needed in this situation. As I felt the water brush against my skin, I finally felt bliss and let go off my worries.

“Josh,” Keith suddenly knocked on the bathroom door, “the innkeeper keeps telling me to solve the next trial. It’s getting annoying, what should I do?”

“Wait,” I grabbed the towel and changed, “I’ll be right there.” I got the note that I kept in my pocket and showed it to Keith.

Congratulations on completing the first trial! You can consider yourselves heroes for bringing the criminal that was not reachable by the fangs of justice.

The second trial is a test of knowledge. In the Lyane mines is are ores called the wind of mithril. These ores ensure that the air in Lyane is breathable and clean. However, a mining company plans to gather all of the wind of mithril. If they do such thing, the air will become polluted, endangering the lives of many people in Lyane. They are going to mine the ore tonight. They can be stopped, however, if you are able to convince the city magistrates. You will need all the knowledge that you have to convince them.

The first magistrate is inquisitive and is continuously curious about the heavenly bodies. The second magistrate loves numbers and how business and economics work. The third magistrate is a Summoner and is always interested in summoning a new entity. The last magistrate loves to argue.

You must convince them before the city sleeps, or everything will be too late.

-          Jennifer Lawrence

“This is terrible!” Keith was appalled. “Just how many people are trying to destroy this city?”

Now we have to do this? Why not just leave the city?

“We must save them!” Franz’s words rang through my mind.

Of course, if Franz was in my position, he would not hesitate to pass this trial.

“We must do this, Keith. We must save the people of this city.”

The magistrates all live in the city hall, which is by the city center. At once, we hurried to city hall. It was a majestic building with baroque architecture. Buttresses supported the porches and the towers that branched from the main building. It had the insignia of the city, a hammer, flame, and rocks. The walls were stone, but there were parts that were metal. The decorations and the intricate designs of the building was also metallic.

We entered the city hall and found a large circular hall that had four staircases. There was a man in the reception desk. He looked at us and waved us to come closer.

“How may I help you?” the receptionist asked.

“We must see the magistrates, immediately,” I answered.

“Office hours have already ended, unfortunately. I’m afraid I cannot let you pass.”

“We don’t need your permission,” Keith suddenly cast Levitate and floated us to the southeastern staircase.

“Hey, come back here!” the receptionist shouted and ran after us. The staircases were long and reached halfway the building.

”Magistrate Elaine F. Purearth,” a sign on the door said. We knocked, but there was no answer. Knocking again, but still there was no answer. We let ourselves inside to see an office full of telescopes, planetary models, and star charts.

“Who would bother me at this hour?” an old woman said. “Can’t you see I’m trying to determine if this planetary object is a planet or a star?”

“Does it twinkle or sparkle?” I answered. “If it twinkles or sparkles, then it is a star. If it just shines without any fluctuation in its intensity, then it could be a planet.”

“Hmm, interesting. This is clearly a planet then, but what planet is this? There are still so much that are not known in the universe. You may approach.” We walked further into the office to see a woman looking through a giant telescope that was suspended in mid-air. “How come do you know so much about the heavenly bodies?”

“I learned them at school.”

“At school? From which educational institution did you study?”

“A science high school back home.”

“A science high school? Back home? Where in Reversia can home possible be? Why do you talk in such strange terms?”

“Home is Earth.”

“Earth? Oh, I see, so you are like that woman. That explains everything. You must tell me everything you know! Name your price.”

“I will tell you all that I know, Ma’am Magistrate, but you must help us stop a mining company that plans to mine the wind of mithril.”

“Consider it done,” she grabbed her staff from her side and tapped the floor three times. A clean sheet of paper floated on the floor and words were written. “This is my edict. You need four to stop a mining activity.” I began telling the magistrate information to the extent of my knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics. She listened attentively, taking notes when something truly piqued her interest.

After she was satisfied with all that she learned. She thanked me and we exited the room. As we exited, we saw the receptionist catching his breath. He finally made it to the top of the long flight of stairs.

“See you later!” Keith teased him again as he cast Levitate and flew us over to the office of the next magistrate.

“Come back here!” the receptionist shouted again and tried to catch us, but he failed.

“Magistrate Catherine J.H. Aljabar,” the name of the next magistrate could be read on the door. We knocked and this time a tall black woman with curly hair opened the door.

“You stand before the presence of Magistrate Catherine J.H. Aljabar. Tell me what is it that you seek?”

“Please create an edict that ban mining companies to mine wind of mithril.”

“An edict at this late hour? Nonsense, if you have nothing else to say then you can leave.” She tried to close the door, but Keith stopped her.

“Please, maybe we can help you with something.” Magistrate Catherine opened the door and showed us numerical charts and graphs that showed the city growth.

“Look here, this year the city grew by more than five percent. Salaries doubled and unemployment halved. However, prices went up by one percent. How can I stop prices from rising?”

“Well, Josh?” Keith looked to me as if waiting for an answer.

“Well, I think inflation is normal for a developing economy.”

“Inflation? Is that what it is called?”

“Every year, people earn more than what they earned last year, so shops increase their prices. Inflation means that there is an increase in spending power. However, hyperinflation is dangerous and signals an overheating market. It could be avoided by taxing the people more or investing in projects that take money away from people. If there is no inflation, it means that the economy is in a recession and should be stimulated.”

“Interesting!” the magistrate smiled. “You know your economics well. I did notice that prices rose each year, but I never thought of it as normal. Fine, I will help you.” She waved her hand and an edict made its way to my hands.

We exited her office. This time, there was no receptionist. He was back on the ground floor sitting on the reception chair. It seems the travel up and down the stairs tired him so greatly.

Suddenly, there was a rumbling from across the hall. It was from the next magistrate’s office. Something big must be happening in there. We made our way across the room using Levitate.

"Magistrate Adrianna del Valle," the sign on the door said.

We knocked. However, something else opened the door.