Chapter 626: The Presence of an Alchemist Scholar

"Thank you, everyone who made it all the way here today from all over Metallica."

Duke Valentine spoke calmly, his voice carrying through the Ashenlocke General Hall.

He stood before the gathered guests with his usual expressionless face, showing little of the excitement one might expect from someone who had just reached a new height in Alchemy.

Even as he continued his welcome speech, his posture remained straight, and his gaze moved across the crowd without lingering on anyone for too long.

The guests listened in silence.

Some stood with their hands folded before them, while others held their conversations until the Duke finished speaking.

The Children of Ash were gathered nearby, and the adults who had come from different parts of Metallica filled the hall with their presence. Yet, among those watching Valentine, the Elders of Ash were paying attention to something that had little to do with his speech.

They were observing the Duke himself.

"The Duke has reached the Alchemist Scholar rank,"

Elder Portia said, her gaze fixed on Valentine.

She stood among the other Elders, her face calm as she examined the man before her.

She had known Valentine for years and was familiar with the way his Cognis usually flowed.

Now that he had reached the Alchemist Scholar rank, she wanted to see whether there was any visible difference between the Duke she had known before and the man standing in front of her now.

At first, she could not find anything unusual about his appearance.

His expression remained the same, and there was no obvious change in his movements.

He was still Valentine Ashenlocke, the Duke of Ash, standing before his guests and welcoming them to the ceremony.

However, the more Portia tried to sense his Cognis, the more her attention narrowed.

Her eyes widened slightly.

I can’t sense any Cognis from him.

She kept the thought to herself, watching Valentine for another moment.

It was not that she had lost the ability to sense Cognis, nor was she distracted by the number of people gathered in the hall.

She had deliberately focused her attention on the Duke.

Yet...

She could not detect the Cognis she was accustomed to sensing from him.

That alone was enough to make her reconsider what she was observing.

"Duke Valentine is not the type to hide his Cognis presence, at least not in its normal flow state,"

Elder Paul said calmly to Portia.

Portia turned towards him.

"Did you just read my thoughts?"

Her brows drew together as she frowned at the Elder beside her.

She had not spoken her thoughts aloud, yet Paul had addressed the very thing she had been wondering about.

For a moment, she studied his face, trying to determine whether he had actually used his ability or had simply reached the same conclusion on his own.

"Calm down, Portia. I just thought that if you were going to be thinking the same thing as me, then I might as well say it. Also, why didn’t you have your Cognis field coating your brain?"

Elder Paul Ashenlocke replied without changing his expression.

As he spoke, he raised a hand and pointed towards the side of his head, indicating the part of the body he was referring to.

Portia’s frown did not disappear immediately. Still, Paul’s explanation was reasonable enough.

They had both been observing Valentine, and it was not particularly strange for two experienced Alchemists to arrive at the same conclusion.

There was also a reason Paul had mentioned the Cognis field around her brain.

Within the Alchemist ranks, it is a known ability for a Grand Arcanist to be capable of perceiving the thoughts of another Alchemist of the same rank or below.

It is not an ability that every Alchemist could use casually, however. The process requires a high level of Cognis control, and even those capable of using it had to understand the risks involved.

An Alchemist’s brain is the generator of their Cognis.

To reach another person’s thoughts through Cognis, a stronger Alchemist would have to allow their own Cognis to penetrate the other Alchemist’s brain.

The difference in strength did not make such an action harmless.

But if the Cognis entered the brain in the wrong way or disrupted the flow responsible for generating Cognis, the consequences could be serious.

The damage could become a lasting problem if it was not treated immediately.

This was especially dangerous for Alchemists...

Within or below the Meister Alchemist rank, whose control and defensive capabilities were not yet sufficient to protect themselves against such interference.

A person might be capable of defending their body against an ordinary attack and still be vulnerable to an ability that directly affected the organ responsible for their Cognis.

For that reason, the use of mind-reading abilities was forbidden by an unspoken rule among Alchemists, as well as under Britannia Law 1590.

It was not something a higher-ranking Alchemist was supposed to use on a lower-ranking one simply because they possessed the ability.

The law was not a matter of courtesy alone.

It existed because of the lasting harm that could result from an Alchemist allowing their Cognis to interfere with another person’s brain.

At least, the situation became different once an Alchemist reached the Arcanist rank.

An Arcanist would already possess the control needed to wrap their brain and other specific organs in a Cognis field.

These were parts of the body that lower-ranking Alchemists could not properly protect with their Cognis, leaving them exposed to certain abilities.

With enough control, an Arcanist could establish that protection and make it much harder for another Alchemist to interfere with their Cognis through the brain.

Even then, the ability to read thoughts remained a demanding one. Possessing the rank did not mean that every Alchemist could use it without difficulty.

"So, this is the presence of an Alchemist Scholar,"

Elder Yestin said low-voiced.

He had been watching Valentine as well, but unlike Portia, he did not attempt to hide the chills he felt while looking at the Duke.

His gaze remained fixed on the man at the front of the hall, and he seemed to be considering the difference between the Duke’s former Alchemist rank and the one he had reached now.

Valentine had not done anything particularly threatening.

He was simply standing before everyone, delivering his welcome speech in the same calm manner as always.

Yet the fact that the Elders could not sense his Cognis as they normally would made his presence all the more striking.

It was one thing to hear that someone had reached the Alchemist Scholar rank.

It was another to stand close enough to that person and experience the change for oneself.

"I wonder if he would be able to make use of that Artillery Gun in the Alchemist General rank effortlessly now,"

Elder Ivanhoe said, his face brightening with excitement.

His attention shifted from Valentine’s presence to the possibilities that came with his new rank.

The thought seemed to interest him far more than the ceremony itself, and he did not bother hiding his curiosity.

"Is that the only thing you think about?"

Elder Fredricks asked, sounding annoyed.

He glanced at Ivanhoe as though the Elder had said something ridiculous.

However, the irritation on his face did not last long before his expression changed into a proud smile.

"We should really be throwing a huge party. This is the first time a Gun Alchemist has made it into the Alchemist Scholar rank, and that person is my own son."

Fredricks spoke with pride, his chest lifting slightly as he looked towards Valentine.

Whatever he thought about Ivanhoe’s interest in the Artillery, he was not about to ignore the achievement of his own son.

A Gun Alchemist had reached a rank no other Gun Alchemist had attained before, and Valentine was a member of the Ashenlocke Family.

There was every reason for him to celebrate.

Elder Tabitha and Elder Gram looked at Fredricks quietly.

Neither of them appeared surprised by his reaction.

The Elder had always been ready to boast when he had something worth boasting about, and Valentine’s achievement had given him more than enough reason to do so.

"Fredricks, the Duke right now is like a father of the family, so his achievement is our achievement,"

Elder Gram said calmly.

"Father? To an old man like me? Gram, don’t you even feel embarrassed saying crazy things like that?"

Fredricks replied with a mocking grin.

He turned his face towards Gram, his expression suggesting that he found the comparison amusing rather than flattering.

For someone who had just claimed that the family should hold a huge party, he was not particularly interested in being treated as though he had suddenly become a son under Valentine’s care.

Before the conversation could continue...

Elder Portia cut in.

"Just remember to cough up the Seventh Grade Ese today."

"Cough!"

Fredricks suddenly coughed in shock.

The proud smile on his face faltered, and his attention snapped towards Portia.

The mention of the Seventh Grade Ese had caught him off guard, and the reaction was immediate enough to draw the attention of the Elders standing nearby.

Portia, however, kept a straightforward expression.

She had not raised her voice or made a scene.

She had simply reminded him of something he was supposed to pay for, and she did not appear interested in letting him forget it.

"You know you don’t have to keep reminding him about that,"

Elder Branthwaite said with a frown.

He had been frowning for some time, ever since he returned to the Ashenlocke Estate.

The expression had remained on his face even while the others discussed Valentine’s achievement, and it was clear that something had been bothering him.

The other Elders had noticed.

None of them had bothered to ask him about it, though.

In truth...

They all knew why Branthwaite had been wearing that expression.

They did not need him to explain himself, and none of them felt the need to pretend otherwise.

Whatever had put him in such a foul mood, it was not enough to earn him any sympathy from the people around him.

"Do you want to add your own money to help him buy the Ese?"

Elder Paul asked simply.

Branthwaite opened his mouth, but no answer came out.

He could only keep his mouth shut.

The conversation ended there, leaving Fredricks to deal with the reminder while the other Elders turned their attention back towards the ceremony.

Whatever disagreements they had among themselves, there was no reason to let a discussion about money distract them from the Duke’s gathering.

At the center of the hall...

Valentine’s welcome speech had reached the point where the First-Year students of the Royal Academy were to be called forward.

"All the First-Year students of Royal, walk forward."

The Duke’s voice echoed through the hall, reaching the guests standing farther from the front.

The Children of Ash who had been waiting among the gathered guests began moving at his command.

Immediately after hearing his voice, the Elders also stepped out.

Ezra and the others followed, leaving their previous positions and walking towards the open space before the Duke.

Veda and Vera, who had been standing beside Valentine, left their positions as well and joined the other First-Year students.

The children gathered before the Duke in an orderly manner.

Once they had reached their places, they knelt on one knee.

Each placed their right hand against their chest while keeping the other arm behind their back, holding the formal posture expected of them.

The movement was almost simultaneous.

Clothes shifted as they lowered themselves, and the soft sounds of shoes against the floor faded as everyone settled into position.

Valentine looked at the Children of Ash before him.

For a brief moment, he said nothing.

His gaze passed over the students who had taken part in the Grand First-Year Combat Festival, including those who had advanced far into the competition and those who had been eliminated in the earlier rounds.

They had all come here as representatives of the Ashenlocke Family, and their performances had drawn attention to the strength of the House.

"You have all done well, even though many of you lost in the earlier rounds of the festival, and even though I didn’t get to watch all your performances by myself. The people who watched every one of you, explained to me just how amazing you displayed the strength of a Gun Alchemist of this House."

His voice remained calm as he spoke, but the words reached every student kneeling before him.

Valentine had not personally witnessed every performance.

Since, he was in seclusion throughout the whole Combat Festival.

Even so, he had heard enough to understand what the children had accomplished.

They had fought under the name of Ash, and they had shown the strength that could be produced by the Gun Alchemists of their House.

Not all of them had gone far in the Combat Festival, but their losses did not erase the effort they had made or the performances that had impressed the people watching them.

Valentine continued to look at them.

"I am proud of you all. And it’s the same for all the adults of Ash, because we have failed to set a good example and truly display the brilliance of this Family. We had to rely on you children to make up for our mistakes..."

His words slowed before he could finish.

Then he paused.

The Duke lowered his head.

"Thank you."

For a moment, the people around him seemed unsure of what they had just witnessed.

Valentine Ashenlocke.

The Duke of Ash.

An Alchemist Scholar.

Had bowed his head before the First-Year students of the Royal Academy.

He had not offered them a casual nod or a gesture that could be dismissed as part of his speech.

He had lowered his head and thanked them in front of the entire gathering.

The adults of Ash stared at him in bewilderment.

Several of the Elders exchanged looks, as if checking whether the others had understood the Duke’s action in the same way.

The High-board members were no different. They had gathered for a private ceremony, but they had not expected Valentine to show his gratitude in such a manner.

Before Elder Portia.

The Count of Ashburn.

And Viscount of Ashforge, Stoke Ashforge, the Duke’s personal guard and the Head of the Black Corps of Ash, could move forward to stop Valentine, the two Duchesses bowed as well.

"Thank you."

Duchess Regina and Duchess Hailey spoke at the same time, lowering their heads towards the kneeling First-Year students.

Their movements were controlled and deliberate.

Neither Duchess hesitated after Valentine bowed, and neither appeared to be waiting for someone else to take the lead.

Silvia Ashenlocke lowered her head next, repeating the same words.

"Thank you."

Byron followed her example.

The other older children who were in their Third Year and Second Year at Royal also lowered their heads.

One after another, they joined the gesture, their attention directed towards the First-Year students before them.

Then their parents followed.

High-Embers.

High-Emberesses.

Low-Embers.

Low-Emberesses.

Barons.

And Baronesses of Ash all bowed their heads.

The movement spread through the hall, reaching people who had initially remained still while trying to understand what was happening.

Elder Portia lowered her head.

Elder Paul followed her.

More of the Elders bowed, joining the Duke, the Duchesses, and the older children.

Even among those who had spent years holding positions of authority within the House, the gesture became difficult to ignore once the others had begun to make it.

Elder Fredricks, however, did not seem willing to lower his head.

His expression tightened, and he remained upright while the people around him bowed.

He might have wanted to resist the gesture, but he did not get to stand there for long.

Elder Yestin and Elder Tabitha each took hold of him and pulled him down so that he would bow with them.

Fredricks could do little to resist without making himself the centre of attention for the wrong reason.

At last, everyone had lowered their heads.

The adults and even the older children of Ash bowed towards the First-Year students of Royal.

Those who had fought in the festival knelt before them, while the people who had watched them and held positions of authority within the family stood with their heads lowered.

The hall became quiet.

Then, in the same moment, their voices rose together.

"THANK YOU!"

The words echoed through the Ashenlocke General Hall.

Veda stared at the sight before him, feeling as though he were witnessing something he had never expected to see in his life.

His father had lowered his head, not to him alone, but to the Children of Ash who stood before the family as First-Year students.

The sight left a strange taste in his mouth.

He had grown up knowing the position Valentine held within the House.

The Duke was not someone who needed to bow before others to prove his standing, and the adults gathered here had spent years respecting the authority that came with his position.

Yet now, Valentine had chosen to lower his head before a group of children, and the rest of the adults had followed him.

Veda could not easily decide what to make of it.

Nina, Priscilla, Fay, Henry, and Bess also felt nervous as they watched the scene unfold.

Their eyes moved across the adults who had bowed before them, and the weight of the moment made it difficult to react as they normally would.

The First-Year students had come to the ceremony expecting to be acknowledged for their performance, but receiving the gratitude of so many people at once was another matter entirely.

Felix, on the other hand, smiled proudly.

He watched the adults bow, his expression showing that he had no trouble accepting their recognition of the students’ efforts.

Gareth also smiled, though his expression was simpler and carried a faint trace of nervousness.

He seemed unsure how to respond to such a sight, even while he shared in the moment.

Lyra looked shocked.

She remained focused on the people bowing before them, as though she were still trying to understand how the ceremony had taken such a turn.

Page’s expression was more complicated.

She looked at the adults and then at the other students, her thoughts turning towards her own performance in the festival.

She had lost while trying to achieve her goal.

Seeing everyone bow before the First-Year students made her wonder whether she truly deserved to receive such gratitude.

The others had also faced their own difficulties, and she knew that not every student had reached the outcome they wanted.

Yet the Duke had thanked all of them, and the adults had followed his example without making a distinction between those who had won and those who had lost.

Page could not help questioning herself.

Vera, meanwhile, looked at them as plainly as ever.

Her expression did not change much as she watched the adults bow.

She did not appear eager to display a particular reaction, nor did she try to draw attention to herself.

She simply observed the scene with her usual calm gaze, taking in what was happening without making a show of it.

And Ezra did not feel anything as he looked at the people before him.

He watched the adults bow, his face remaining plain.

The sound of their voices still lingered in the hall, but it did not stir any particular emotion in him.

He did not smile proudly like Felix, nor did he look as shocked as Lyra.

His gaze moved across the gathered people, taking in the Duke, the Duchesses, the Elders, and the other members of the House.

Still, he was surprised that the Duke of Ash would bow.

Valentine had not merely thanked the students with words.

He had lowered his head before them, and the rest of the adults had followed his lead.

It was a gesture Ezra had not expected from someone in the Duke’s position, especially in front of so many people from Ash and beyond.

For a moment, Ezra continued to watch him.

At least, they are genuine.

He thought it plainly, without changing his expression.

The adults’ actions had surprised him, but he could recognize the sincerity behind them.

Valentine had chosen to thank the children for what they had accomplished, and the others had joined him rather than turning the moment into another display of authority.

Ezra did not need to feel overwhelmed by the gesture to understand what it meant.

He simply watched in silence as the ceremony continued around him.