After testing the sequence more than ten times, Professor Bones set aside the crystal ball and picked up the final one. "The fifth group didn't yield the results we wanted. Let's test the sixth set last."
Alan nodded in agreement and concentrated on his casting.
"Wait... what is this?" Professor Bones exclaimed, leaning closer to the glass of the sixth set of runes.
"What's happening?" Alan asked, tilting his head to catch a glimpse.
"See for yourself!" Professor Bones handed the crystal ball to Alan and urged him to trigger the pulse again.
Alan took the sphere and cast the ultrasonic wave. Through the curved glass of the crystal ball, he saw the wave patterns resolve into sharp, distinct images. As Alan shifted his stance and changed angles, a holographic view of the entire office materialized within the ball—including the spaces behind the heavy desk and stone pillars that were invisible to the naked eye. The imaging was remarkably clear and perfectly stable.
"This is it... we actually succeeded?" Alan said, a rush of excitement hitting him as he watched the spectral office shimmy in the palm of his hand.
"It appears so. I never imagined a world composed entirely of echoes could be so striking," Professor Bones said, his voice laced with professional pride.
"The sixth set is definitely the closest to a finished product. If we optimize this structure as the core, we can finalize the spell." Alan was overjoyed; he hadn't expected the breakthrough to arrive so smoothly.
"Excellent. Let's get to work immediately. I knew the circular configuration was the key." Professor Bones excitedly tapped the rune table into life and pulled Alan over to begin the final optimization.
The two of them spent the next few hours making minute adjustments to the spacing and alignment of the sequence, testing each iteration until they settled on the most efficient structure possible. Professor Bones let out a long, satisfied sigh. "Phew, it's finally done. Now comes the real challenge: engraving it into the alchemical medium. Alan, are you ready to craft your first true tool?"
Alan looked at the finalized rune glowing on the table, feeling a deep sense of accomplishment. "I owe so much of this to you, Professor. I couldn't have navigated these combinations alone."
"Nonsense, don't be modest! Without your original concept, I never would have encountered such a unique runic signature." Bones laughed heartily. As a dedicated scholar, nothing satisfied him more than the birth of a new piece of magic.
"Regarding the tool itself, I'm thinking of a pair of spectacles—polished crystal lenses set in Paracelsus brass. What do you think?" Alan presented his design.
"I think that's perfect. My first thought was a hand mirror, but spectacles are far more practical. If we make them round, the circular rune structure can wrap perfectly around the frame, allowing the image to project directly onto the lens," Bones suggested.
"Actually, let's make it a monocle," Alan added. "That way, one eye can track the echo imaging while the other maintains normal vision."
"Brilliant. The materials are easy enough to source; I'll prepare the brass and crystal myself. While I do that, spend the next few days practicing that specific engraving. I want to see this finished as much as you do," Bones said, clearly energized by the project.
Alan was moved by the Professor's dedication. "Thank you, Professor. You've gone above and beyond for me. I don't know how to repay your help."
Bones waved a dismissive hand. "Think nothing of it. This is a joint discovery, and I value the experience. Tell you what—I'll prepare two sets of materials. One of the monocles can be your gift to me."
Alan smiled and agreed, touched by the man's generosity.
Over the following days, Alan spent every free moment practicing the engraving. The Echo Positioning Spell, broken down into its transmitter and receiver sets, was relatively straightforward, but because it was a brand-new combination, it required a significant time investment. His failure rate was high at first, but his muscle memory eventually caught up. He soon found he could maintain a steady magical input while focusing entirely on the physical precision of the carving.
During the next Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, Professor Bones caught his eye and gave a small nod, signaling that the materials were ready for that evening.
Alan fought to keep his excitement in check. Back at his cabin, he spent the afternoon running through practice engravings to ensure his hands were perfectly steady. He even sent Charles away to practice on his own, needing absolute silence to focus his mind.
After dinner, Alan arrived at the Professor's office, feeling sharp and ready.
"Ready to make history?" Bones asked with a grin. He laid out two exquisite, dark bronze monocle frames on a velvet cloth. The lenses were made of flat, transparent crystal, and each came with a delicate bronze chain.
"I've been practicing micro-engraving," Alan said. "The frames are quite thin; I'm hoping to get it right on the first try."
"Haha, there's no need for that kind of stress. Have you forgotten we're wizards? You don't need to struggle with the object's size; the object must accommodate you," Bones laughed.
He tapped one of the monocles with his wand and cast a precise Engorgement Charm. The frame and lens distorted and grew until the monocle was the size of a large dinner plate.
Alan blinked, realizing he'd had a total blind spot regarding the use of charms on the medium itself.
"The charm will hold for about half an hour," Bones explained. "Measure the enlarged dimensions, practice once more on a piece of wood the same size, and then we'll begin the final engraving."
Alan nodded, impressed by the Professor's systematic approach. He took a wooden disc of the same size and began his final rehearsal. The first attempt failed because the curved surface of the frame required a different pressure than a flat piece of wood, but by the second try, he had mastered the arc. The rune structure was etched into his mind; he was ready.
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