A Chemist's Interstellar Saga
Chapter 173: Grandmaster

Chapter 173: Grandmaster

"Sir, is there really such a thing as a level-eight mecha?" one student eagerly asked.

Magen sighed, realizing he could only look for Arix after class. He then began to seriously answer the student’s question. "Yes, there are, and each of the five legions has one," Magen said calmly.

"Sir, I heard that only the heirs of the five major families can pilot the level-eight mechas. Why is that? Do ordinary people have no chance?" another student asked.

"This question involves the secrets of the five families, and I can’t say much. But these five level-eight mechas were obtained at a great cost by the ancestors of the five families. So, it’s not that only the noble families’ people can pilot them, but rather the level-eight mechas only recognize their direct bloodline. Anyone else who tries to pilot them will suffer," Magen explained, sighing again.

Although Magen wasn’t from a noble family, as a mecha Grandmaster, he understood many unspoken truths.

"I see." The student who asked didn’t fully understand but got the gist.

"Sir, if we have level-eight mechas, why have we never seen them on the battlefield?" another student asked, puzzled.

"Because the insectoids are unbeatable. The level-eight mechas are mainly for deterrence. If they ever appear on the battlefield, it means the whole universe is in crisis. So, you should be glad the level-eight mechas haven’t been deployed yet," Magen revealed, not minding sharing some secrets early.

Military students had the right to know some things from the moment they entered the academy.

"Sir, why are the insectoids unbeatable? They are strong, but not invincible, right?" one student protested.

Magen just smiled slightly and didn’t argue. He didn’t explain the reason either, simply saying, "Maybe you’ll find out when you join the Legion."

The questioning student was speechless, feeling like a parent had told him "you’ll understand when you grow up.

The other students didn’t care about his feelings and continued to ask their own questions.

Magen patiently answered all the students’ varied questions, benefiting even those who hadn’t asked.

Arix also asked a few questions about mecha materials. After hearing Magen’s answers, she felt enlightened and planned to experiment that night.

Soon, the class bell rang, and Magen left the classroom with the mecha department mentor.

"Excuse me, do you have a student named Arix in your class?" Magen quickly asked the question he had held back the entire class.

Tovan was stunned by the question, staring at Magen for a moment before saying, "Yes, Arix was here. Didn’t you talk to her?"

"Hmm? Did I?" Magen was also taken aback. He was sure he hadn’t seen that little girl.

"She was sitting in the last row, that one, see?" Tovan reminded.

Magen thought back suspiciously. There had been a girl in the last row, her striking appearance catching his eye. But her face looked completely different from the thin, cute Arix he remembered.

"Are you sure? I’m looking for Arix, the daughter of the Kering family," Magen still doubted.

Tovan nodded firmly, "Yes, that’s her."

Magen was speechless for a moment before hesitantly asking, "Did she get plastic surgery recently?"

"No, sir," Tovan laughed. Then he explained the reason to Magen in detail.

After figuring out the situation, Magen coughed awkwardly. Then he instructed Tovan, "Can you ask Arix to come to the office? I need to talk to her."

"Sure thing, sir." Tovan agreed without asking questions. Inside, he felt a bit envious of Arix.=

’A private meeting with the Grandmaster? That meant she has impressed him. Maybe, if she’s lucky, she can even become his apprentice,’ The more he thought about it, the more jealous he became.

Meanwhile, Arix had just left the classroom when she received a message from Tovan. Without much thought, she headed straight to the office. After a polite knock, she heard an old man’s voice from inside.

"Come in."

Arix’s eyes widened in surprise, as she recognized that voice belonged to the Grandmaster. Nervously swallowing, she opened the door and saw the old man at the desk. It was indeed him.

With her suspicions confirmed, Arix approached without hesitation and bowed slightly. "Hello, sir."

Magen looked at Arix and seemed to see someone else in her. He smiled slightly and said, "Call me Mr. Magen. I went to school with your grandparents."

A bit puzzled, Arix sweetly responded, "Mr. Magen."

Magen’s face showed a hint of relief. He smiled and pointed to the chair in front of him. "Sit down. Don’t be nervous Treat me like your grandfather."

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Arix nodded and sat down as instructed.

"Mr. Magen, why did you call me here?" Arix asked, still confused.

Not seeing Tovan in the office, she knew it had to be Magen who asked her to come.

Magen didn’t waste any time and got straight to the point. "Do you want to study mechas?"

Hearing this, Arix’s eyelashes fluttered. She looked at Magen in surprise. But quickly, she lowered her gaze and said firmly, "Yes! I’ve always wanted to."

"Good. If you’re willing, starting today, I will be your mentor. I’ll teach you everything I know. Arix, do I have that honor?" Magen looked at the young woman before him with a warmth that was almost familial.

Arix tried to contain her excitement and asked, stammering slightly, "Why... are you... being so kind to me?"

From the moment she entered the room, Arix felt that Magen’s kindness was genuine. It wasn’t the kind of flattery meant to impress, but a sincere desire to help her.

Magen looked at the excited yet cautious young girl, his smile deepening. He realized if he didn’t explain, she might remain uneasy for a long time.

"Think of it as repaying a favor. Your grandfather once saved my life. But wanting to take you as my apprentice is because of you, not him," Magen said kindly, though with a touch of pride.

Hearing this, Arix felt relieved. She immediately performed the formal apprenticeship ceremony with utmost respect.

"Thank you for taking me as your apprentice, sir. I swear I’ll try my best and never let you down," Arix said solemnly.

Magen stood up and gently helped Arix rise. He nodded seriously under her expectant gaze, saying, "Good. I’m sure you’ll do a great job."

After the ceremony, Magen, who needed to return to the Fifth Legion, exchanged opticomputer contacts with Arix. He left her a bunch of mecha materials and a thick notebook before hurrying off with the soldiers who came to pick him up.

"Arix, leave me a message if you have any questions. I’ll reply as soon as I can," Magen reminded her as the spaceship doors closed.

"Got it, Mr. Magen. Don’t worry," Arix replied. She wanted to call him "sir" but remembered he preferred "Mr. Magen," so she quickly adjusted.

Magen smiled contentedly and turned to follow an officer. As Arix waved goodbye, she felt an odd sense of familiarity with Mr. Magen.

Watching the spaceship leave, Arix suddenly remembered the old man in the Mecha Department. Realizing who Magen was, she smiled.

After the spaceship was out of sight, Arix turned to head back to her dormitory when her opticomputer chimed.

"Master, you have a friend request."

Arix opened the message without much thought and saw the note accompanying the request:

"I really am your Psychic Ware mentor! (crying emoji)"

Seeing the frustration in the message, Arix hesitated before rejecting the request. ’Could this person really be who he claims?’

Thinking of the name Bryndel mentioned earlier, Arix pondered for a moment and sent a video request to Cirilla.

Cirilla quickly answered the call, her voice curious. "Arix, what’s up?"

"Cirilla, do you know a Psychic Ware Master named Bryndel?" Arix asked, aware that Cirilla’s family had a long history with Psychic Ware. If such a master existed, she would know.

Hearing the name, Cirilla shivered and asked in shock, "He’s my grandpa’s brother. Arix, why are you asking about him?"

Not knowing how to explain, Arix simply shared her screen, showing the friend request to Cirilla.

Cirilla’s mouth twitched when she saw that Bryndel wanted to take Arix as an apprentice. She looked like she’d seen a demon and quickly said, "Reject him! Reject! Arix, listen to me. Do not agree."

Arix looked puzzled and asked, "Cirilla, what’s wrong with him?"

"He himself is fine, but all his apprentices have issues," Cirilla started venting as soon as she began talking about him.

Worried that her friend might fall into a trap, Cirilla explained the stories of Bryndel and his three villainous apprentices.

After hearing about Lorin and Jorvik, Arix felt like she should feel sad for Bryndel, but for some reason, she just wanted to laugh. She coughed awkwardly and curiously asked, "What about the third apprentice?"

"The third apprentice is called Talrin. He’s not a bad person," Cirilla said, her expression becoming complicated.