Thunder Ore

As the weather grew colder and the air turned dry, I had to switch to my winter clothes to combat the chill. But honestly, I didn’t mind the cold at all. In fact, I found it somewhat mystical and refreshing.

While I had put my research on Flare on hold, I had already chosen my next research subject: electricity.

I believed there were other magical attributes besides fire, such as water, wind, earth, lightning, darkness, and holy. However, I didn’t understand the nature of darkness and holy, and earth and water are merely substances and not natural phenomena. Despite my attempts to infuse them with magical energy, nothing happened. It seemed that magical energy only responded to natural phenomena, which explained why it reacted to fire.

So that left me with wind and lightning. Wind, however, is omnipresent and doesn’t seem to alter the atmosphere much, so it was possible that magical energy had already interacted with it. It made lightning the most promising option to explore further.

This is where some questions arise. The term for the sparks produced by flint and steel is known as spark discharge, and it is essentially a form of electricity. Although it seems like a small burst of light and heat, it is actually a tiny burst of electricity in action. In theory, it should be related to the lightning attribute. However, in this world, when the sparks were combined with magical energy, they created blue flames instead.

So here’s what I temporarily concluded: the scientific laws and principles that I am familiar with may not be universal in this world, or maybe magical energy doesn’t conform to those laws. Even though it’s technically a form of lightning attribute, magical energy categorizes spark discharge as a fire attribute.

I understand that this theory sounds absurd based on Earth’s scientific knowledge, but this world is different from Earth. Sometimes, being too confined by common sense or conventions can make one lose sight of the answer. Moreover, I wasn’t even sure what magical energy is.

Combustion and lightning both involve the formation of plasma, a unique kind of gas made up of electrically charged particles. So, broadly speaking, they can be classified similarly.

So according to my classification, spark discharge belongs to the fire attribute. I suspected that a clear electrical current may have been required for a reaction to occur, but what concerned me was that it may only respond to fire. If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be the type of magic I was searching for. However, it’s still in the experimental stage at the moment.

Before I could begin my experiment of applying magical power to electricity, I was faced with a problem: electricity didn’t exist in this world. Obviously, this meant I had to create it from scratch. If it was going to be something easily created, it would have to be static electricity. I could charge a metal or glass rod by rubbing it against fabrics like wool or silk, but since iron was readily available and was a conductor, I needed an insulator.

Rubber immediately came to mind, but it didn’t exist here. Wait, is glass an insulator? Does it conduct electricity poorly? If I rubbed a rod to generate static electricity and discharged it all at once, would it be enough to create sparks?

If there were neon tubes or something similar, it would be great, but there weren’t any. There would be regular electricity if that were the case. If I wanted to build an Elekiter like Hiraga Gennai, I’d need a Leyden jar.

Come to think of it, is the glass in this world the same as the glass I knew, or were there other materials with similar properties? I wouldn’t know until I investigated. It would be easy if there were creatures like electric eels or electric catfish, but there weren’t any. Another option was to try everything, but that would be quite expensive.

Custom-made glass or metal processing apparently incurred a huge fee, which was too expensive for a seven-year-old child to ask for, and I didn’t want to inconvenience my father either. I just needed a device that generated electricity without spending too much money.

Making a friction generator was more reliable, but since there were no synthetic fibers or resins, it’s quite difficult to generate static electricity visible to the naked eye. I heard that people in the past didn’t have much trouble with static electricity. What should I do? I was stuck.

Anyway, I decided to go to the living room and ask my father about it since he’s at home on his day off.

“What’s wrong, Theon? Are you having trouble with your magic research today?”

“Yeah, I’m stuck. I wanted to ask you something. Are there any living beings or tools that generate electricity?”

Father stroked his chin thoughtfully. “What’s electricity?”

I then realized that the word itself doesn’t exist in this world.

“Um, it’s like the phenomenon of lightning.”

“I see. Well, there are no creatures or tools that can create lightning, but what about something similar?”

“I want to make contact with released magical power, so lightning won’t work. Plus, it’s dangerous and unpredictable, even with lightning rods.”

“Ah, I understand. But electricity, huh… I think I’ve heard of a similar phenomenon, although it’s not as powerful as lightning.”

I was thinking it might be something like static electricity. If it’s visible, it means there’s a certain amount of electrical power being generated. I wondered how it was created, but I assumed it’s a natural phenomenon.

“I think Glast mentioned something like that. Alright, since it’s still early in the day, let’s go to Istria.”

“Okay, I want to go!”

Mom wasn’t at home, and I wasn’t sure where she went. Marie decided to stay behind and practice her swordsmanship. Since that day, it seemed like she had been practicing non-stop.

I, on the other hand, was studying magic which didn’t put much strain on my body. Practicing swordsmanship, however, could be quite exhausting. I wondered if it was okay for her to keep doing it for such a long time.

Mom and Dad had also been worried and had been telling her to take occasional breaks. Ever since things had become a bit tense between my sister and me, I couldn’t talk to her about swordsmanship anymore.

It’s not like anything else had changed between us. We still talked normally, but whenever I brought up swordsmanship, my sister clearly showed her aversion to it. I didn’t want to see her like that, so naturally, I stopped talking about swordsmanship as much.

Marie was putting too much pressure on herself. At the time, there weren’t any major problems, so we were just keeping an eye on things.

Anyway, my dad and I decided to head out to the town together. After getting ready, it seemed like my dad had prepared a horse for us to use.

“Father, we’re not taking the carriage today?”

“No, we don’t have any shopping plans today. It’s faster to travel on horseback alone. We’ll arrive in half the time it would take on a carriage.”

“I see, but this is my first time riding a horse. It’s a little scary.”

“Come on, get on,” my father said as he lifted me up and placed me on the horse.

It was harder than I thought, and I could feel my butt already starting to ache. My father got on behind me and guided the horse with the reins.

“It’s going to be bumpy until you get used to it. Endure it for a little while.”

In this world, time seems a little off. An hour feels longer than it should have. Maybe it’s because there’s not as much entertainment as there is on Earth. How long is a few minutes in this world? I’ve no idea.

“We’re going to run! Hold on tight!”

I grabbed onto a protrusion in the barn while lowering my posture. The speed was incredible. Horses were faster than I thought. It’s more like gliding over the ground than running. It’s completely different from when a person runs. But still, the vibrations were painful, and my butt was hurting.

At first, it wasn’t so bad, but after a few minutes, it started to hurt more and more. The pain spread to my bones. I tried to lift my waist a little.

“Keep your posture low,” my father said, and I didn’t argue. If I raised my posture too much, I would fall off because of the intense shaking. I understood that he had to hold me while guiding the horse.

We finally arrived in Istria after enduring the pain for about an hour. My butt was numb, and I was exhausted. I couldn’t help but think that it would have been better to travel by carriage.

“I don’t like horses.”

“Don’t say that. When you grow up, you’ll need to ride a horse. I can’t always carry you.”

I imagined the sight of a grown man riding with his father on a horse, and it made me feel uneasy. But riding lessons were necessary, even though I didn’t need them yet because I was still too short.

Anyway, we arrived in Istria. I shouldn’t complain anymore. My father had gone out of his way to bring me here, and I shouldn’t complain about it. So we headed to Uncle Glast’s shop.

●○●○

Father and I went to Glast’s store together and entered inside.

“Welcome, Gawain. Is it just the two of you today?” Glast said with a sigh and opened his arms.

“Yeah, I had a few things I wanted to ask. Is now a good time?”

Glast let out another sigh. “Do I look busy? I was considering closing up shop because it’s been too slow.”

I thought it was a quick judgment call, considering it’s still before noon, but it seemed like he was just joking.

“So, what is it?”

“I remember you telling me about a mineral that causes lightning-like phenomena. Do you recall that?”

“Oh, you mean the thunder ore. I remember it. What about it?”

“I’m actually quite interested in it. I was wondering if I could get my hands on some of them.”

Wait, did I actually go that far? I was just asking if there were creatures or tools that caused lightning-like phenomena. But Father seemed eager to obtain it. I feel uncomfortable taking too much money from him.

Unaware of my thoughts, Father continued the conversation.

“Thunder ore, huh? That’s difficult.”

“Is it rare?”

“No, it’s quite common. It can be found in mines, and if you have permission, mining it is not a problem. However, it’s impossible to transport. It can’t be moved because it’s constantly releasing lightning, making it too dangerous to handle. As a result, it’s just left there, even though it’s a nuisance and poses a danger. There was even an attempt to use it for tourism, but due to its hazardous nature and constant sparking, it quickly became unpopular.”

Father looked at me, as if asking what to do.

From Glast’s story, it sounded like it’s a mineral that caused electrical discharge.

It’s indeed a different world, huh…

But because the electrical discharge was too intense, it couldn’t be touched or utilized, so it was just left alone.

I didn’t really care about the thunder ore itself; I just wanted to see how it would react if I infuse it with magical power.

What should I do? I had an idea, but I felt like it’s not a good one. After all, thunder ore played the role of a generator.

If something like this were available on Earth, it could lead to breakthroughs in various fields. However, in this world, electricity had not yet been discovered, and there were no technologies or thoughts to utilize it.

All we had to do is transport the thunder ore. At most, it could be used as a spectacle or for lighting.

For the moment, I was wondering if it’s available. I thought I would ask. It should be okay. Probably.

“Uncle Glast, do you happen to know any trees that produce a white, sticky sap with a unique smell?”

“I’m not sure, but maybe a botanist would know. Unfortunately, that’s not my area of expertise.”

I wondered if there might be rubber trees in this world or if they hadn’t been discovered yet. After all, just because this was a different world didn’t mean it had all the same things as Earth. So I decided to put the search for rubber on hold.

“What about a mineral called mica? It’s a special kind of mineral that’s made up of multiple layers and can be peeled off in thin sheets. It should look like a crystal, somewhat transparent.”

I recognized it as white mica, a widely used mineral due to its insulating properties. As far as things that could be made in this civilization, glass was probably the closest material. In the worst-case scenario, I’d have to layer silk fabric together and force it to work. But since I didn’t know how much electricity it required, it was a dangerous prospect.

“I don’t know about mica, but there’s a mineral with similar features. It’s called perak ore. It’s completely useless, so it’s not used for anything. Wait, I think I have some I collected a while ago.”

He disappeared to the back of the shop and quickly returned with a mineral in hand. It had a mixed white and yellow appearance, and though I wasn’t completely sure, I suspected it was white mica.

“Is this it? It has an interesting shape and looks beautiful, so I kept it. Well, it’s not rare or anything, just for decoration.”

“Can I see it?”

“Sure, go ahead,” Glast said, handing it over.

I examined the mineral closely. The more I looked, the more I realized it did resemble mica.

Everyday items on this world were made from materials with names similar to those on Earth, like hemp, cotton, iron, and copper. This raised the possibility that minerals with comparable characteristics were the same too. However, caution was necessary, as some unique minerals, such as thunder ore, existed.

The issue at hand was how to process mica. It could be manually peeled or composited, but the latter was unknown to me. In the past, mica was thinly peeled and layered to make insulating materials. As time went on, it was more common to crush mica and make sheets using a papermaking method, resulting in a stronger and more tension-resistant product.

But could mica be processed this way alone, or did it require additional materials? And what about tools needed for papermaking, like a sawhorse? Crushing a significant amount of mica and then extracting it from water would also be a daunting task, requiring even more mica.

I wondered if crushed mica would float since it was a mineral, but my knowledge about the world was limited. In fact, I couldn’t even be sure if my knowledge was accurate.

While I was lost in thought, Glast turned to my father and spoke, “What is he trying to do?”

My father shook his head and replied, “I have no idea. He’s always been difficult to read.”

“Ah, yes. Children can be so unpredictable,” Glast remarked.

“I’m not so sure about that. He’s not like other children. He thinks differently.”

Glast was intrigued and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Observing him closely is the only way to understand,” my father answered cryptically.

As I pondered silently, my father and Uncle Glast waited patiently. Eventually, I asked, “Uncle Glast, is there a larger ore like this?”

He replied, stretching his hands to indicate the size, “Yes, there is one about 60-70 centimeters in size.”

I was surprised to hear that such a large mica existed. I wondered if it was a rare occurrence limited to other worlds. Nonetheless, if it was of that size, then it would solve my problem.

“That’s what I need,” I said.

Glast warned me, “Well, there is one, but it’s quite expensive. It’s only for viewing purposes and not useful for anything.”

I didn’t have any pocket money, so I had to ask my father to purchase it for me. However, it was only fair to ask for what a six-year-old kid would ask for.

My father inquired, “How much is it?”

“It costs 4000 Lirums,” replied Glast.

To put things into perspective, there was a saying, “One potato for 50 Lirums.” Since potatoes were commonly grown and harvested, their prices were often stable, making them a common price standard.

“That’s the price of 80 potatoes. It’s quite expensive, isn’t it?” I thought to myself.

My father asked Glast, “Okay, where can I buy it?”

“It’s available at the trading post. It’s been there for a while, and I don’t think the price has changed. However, nobody’s buying it, and it doesn’t seem to be popular as a viewing item either.”

I quickly tugged on my father’s clothes and asked, “Are you going to buy it, Father?”

“Of course, it’s necessary, isn’t it?”

I hesitated, “Well, yeah, but it’s expensive.”

“Don’t worry about the price. Besides, have you ever begged for anything before? I’ve given Marie a fair share of what she wanted, and it’s not a problem. Theon, listen, you can be a little more selfish with me. If it’s possible, I’ll say yes. You don’t have to endure it without saying anything.”

As my father placed his hand on my shoulder and gave me a gentle smile, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. In that moment, I realized how fortunate I was to have him as my father. When I eventually became a father myself, I doubted I could be as loving as he was.

“You’re quite a doting father…” Glast commented.

“Shut it! I’m a father, after all. It’d be strange not to dote on my child. Now then, Theon, let’s go to the trading post.”

“Actually, before we do that, I want to try something.” I said.

“Try something? Come to think of it, I didn’t ask what you were going to use this ore for.”

It’s ridiculous to be given something without even knowing what it’s used for. Chuckling, I explained.

“This ore is an insulator, it has the potential to block things like lightning instead of conducting electricity. So I was thinking, if I used it, I could transport thunder ore.”

If there were thunder ores in the mining area, I could use magic to study them. But that would attract attention, and I’d be breaking my promise with my father. Magical research had to be conducted in secret.

Since I didn’t have any intention of showing off my magic, there’s no objection. When my father and Glast heard my answer, they looked at each other.

“Is that true, Theon?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I want to try it.”

“Even if you explain it to us, it won’t make a difference, will it?”

I was just a seven-year-old kid, so it’s only natural for them to be suspicious when I had knowledge they didn’t. Even if I said something strange, it’s within the realm of common sense for children to say strange things.

What I was talking about is clearly abnormal and not normal at all. Most people would find me creepy and consider investigating me and stopping magical research. But my father, lost in thought, simply said.

“I see. Well, that’s okay. Shall we try it out at the mining area then? It’s nearby, right?”

I had a vague idea of what’s going on, but I couldn’t help feeling grateful. I was so lucky to be reborn as the child of such a wonderful father.

Glast scratched the back of his head, deep in thought, but he didn’t ask me any questions.

“Oh, it’s walking distance. Well then, shall we go?”

He patted my head and left the store. He locked the door and put the “closed” sign on it. I wondered if that was okay, but he didn’t say anything, so I didn’t either.

As we made our way to the mining area, I couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy because it all seemed too easy. But I pushed those thoughts aside and followed my father and Glast.