„You won't know what a computer is, but that's actually also not quite the right way to call ist. If completed it will be the ultimate multipurpose artifact that can do everything as long as the user knows how to do it."

„Isn't that a little to ambitious? Aren't such ‚multipurpose' artifacts normally already to large to be used properly as they include to many functions? Also, i heard they have a terrible output. They don't make good weapons at all."

„I know that too. It isn't supposed to become a weapon, and even though the prototype may become rather huge i just have to work on the downsizing afterwards until it can be carried around. If things go as i hope, the most fitting way to call it would be a ‚core' for all my future projects and artifacts."

„What do you need something like that for? And building such a thing into every single artifact seems a little costly, doesn't it?"

„If things go well it may actually become a great revolution for all artificers. Let me ask you a question, do you know the two big problems when combining two different crafts? Probably not... Hmmmm, let me think of a good example... Variables and programming languages aren't something you would understand... Right, this is a good one!

Let's compare alchemy. Lets say we have a magic-sword and have a magician enchant it further. What we are doing is putting two alchemists in one room to create a certain item. In the optimal case, the alchemists would work together and use one set of ingredients, mana in this case, to create a product, the magical effect, that is better than having only one alchemists do it. Can you follow?"

„Yes, so what are the problems you mentioned?"

„There are two problems. If we continue with the example it would be something like this. First, they can't talk to each other and can't even the each other."

„Eh, isn't that already a big enough problem? And there is still a second one?"

„Yes, the second is that they use absolutely different methods. They have different mindsets how things should be done, no matter if it's the order, technique or recipe. If you give them only one set of ingredients to work with..."

„The outcome would be horrible. If even remotely usable."

„Exactly, and could you please stop interrupting me when i'm already explaining? Thanks. This is what normally happens. Now you may or may not know, but there are rare cases where either one person could learn two compatible crafts to useful levels or twins with similar enough magic signature appeared. In these cases they were able to successfully combine two crafts.

Keeping the example going, what happens now is that the alchemists can at least see each other and communicate. But the other problem still exists. They have different techniques and believes and still won't be able to properly work together. You need to know, this types are all rather stubborn folks, and won't stop arguing, thats just how it is. So, here is my question, how would you solve that problem?"

„Since there are only two of them, i would put one of them in charge from the beginning."

„Good idea, and also what is done in those cases. The magic technique that is used first to create the artifact, meaning its ‚alchemist', is put in charge, while the second magic technique, or ‚alchemist', gets a supportive role. That way we have one alchemist and one apprentice helping him, there won't be any problems and the work gets faster and better.

But this is not the best outcome, you could say you use two alchemists but one is waisting all his potential and can only be called ‚half' an alchemist. Making 2 alchemists to 1,5 alchemists.

But, i don't know if you have the same saying here but were i come from there is a saying: ‚Bad partners are only slightly stronger than a single person. But good partners can be stronger than three.'

Thats also applicable to our situation. The potential of one alchemist is wasted, and just because their techniques are different it doesn't mean that one is worse than the other, they have both their strong suits and weak points, their pros and cons. And that is were the ‚core' comes in. Can you guess what the ‚core' is meant to do?"

„Hmmmm... no idea."

„A little tip, consider the ‚core' as a third person."

After she thought about it for a moment, her eyes suddenly lid up and she got an astonished expression.

„So that ‚core' will act as a superior for them?"

„I prefer the term ‚manager', that us exactly what the core is supposed to do. Whenever the two stubborn alchemists can't agree on the best option, the ‚core' will come to play, listening to all the pros and cons of both alchemists ideas and figure out which one is better suited in the given situation."

„That... if things really work the way you are planning, than that could really be a revolution! Because even if the two alchemists can't see, or talk with each other, if they can both see and talk with the manager they would still be able to work together to a certain extend!"

„You are quiet clever, you caught up on the most important point. Thats right, even though we would go back to the ‚bad partner' situation, it is still far better than two people working against each other.

It means with the usage of a ‚core' even two normal artificers would be able to combine their techniques to create a stronger artifact than they could alone.

But you haven't considered the best part. What would the ‚manager' be doing when the alchemists don't need him, when they don't have a dispute for a moment because they are working quietly?"

„He wouldn't need to manage them... In that case..."

Then it dawned upon her.

„He could ‚manage' another pair of alchemists!"

„Thats right, depending on the quality of the ‚cores' i can create, one ‚core' could manage one, two or even ten artifacts, making it so that you only need one core per person.

Now that i think about it, it could even be used as a kind of ‚user registration' for the artifacts. Even if the enemy somehow can steal your weapon in the fight, he couldn't use it as it wouldn't work without the core. Of course you have to make sure that you never lose your core as it would make all your artifacts useless, making it a weak-point as well. But if only us heroes know about it and use them, the enemy would never find out about it."

„You. are. a. genius! I have to leave now, i caused my servants enough trouble already. But i am going to come back again later, this sounds way more interesting than dancing! Until next time!"

„Please, you don't have to come again, this is not a place for a princess."

„Ohh, but i insist!"

„I know, i insist as well!"

„Until later!"

With that she left, and Allan's first real meeting with princess Alice ended. At this time he still didn't know what would happen because she found his laboratory that day. But maybe it didn't really matter as well, and things would still have ended the same, just with a slightly different process.

But that didn't change a thing and he didn't know anything at that point.