Chapter 56

Chapter 56: Soldiers in the Blood (1)

****

Peace at last! There was a chance a few days ago, but with night duty, each day felt like an eternity.

Meh, not today though. Istina and I were chilling in the research lab, sipping coffee.

The coffee sucked. There were cookies on one side of the lab, but they were just out of reach. I’ll grab them later when I go to my desk.

“Istina, there’s a symposium coming up.”

“Are you participating?”

Hedwig said this symposium is being held because of me, and there will be discussions about my papers. I shook my head.

“I originally planned to attend, but apparently it’s a symposium held for me?”

“So you’re not attending?”

I thought about it, but no matter how I look at it, showing up in person feels… awkward. If I go, it’ll probably turn into an uncomfortable meeting.

No matter what I do, it’ll seem like I’m there to stir things up. Even if I try to stay quiet, I’ll get questioned.

Just my presence would paralyze the conference room. Out of courtesy, and to avoid unnecessary trouble, it might be better if I don’t go.

I can participate in the next symposium.

I can’t possibly attend every small symposium held just for me. The other professors wouldn’t expect that either.

“It’s kinda weird going without an invitation. Just go by yourself, Istina. I’ll stay here and see some patients.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Go to the symposium.”

There’s so much to do.

Even if it’s not groundbreaking, we need to document the diagnosis and prevention of blood diseases for future healers.

So I need to write that paper. I have outpatient appointments to catch up on. It makes sense to let Istina represent me at this symposium.

“Can I handle it?”

“If you don’t know, just blame me. They’ll probably accept that.”

Istina nodded at that.

“That could work.”

“Think simple. It’s a chance to show your face in the academic community. Success is leaving without getting your collar grabbed.”

Of course.

Even if Istina messes up, people will probably see it as youthful enthusiasm, right? That’s what I’d think.

I glanced at Istina.

She had the healing textbook open. If this world had a Galen-like figure, it must be centuries old by now.

“Textbook?”

“Yes, ‘Basics of Healing’.”

“Half of that will be disproven within five years. Filter what you read. Focus on why people thought those things.”

Istina gave me an exasperated look. What’s her problem now?

“This book is a thousand years old?”

“Time to pass it to the next generation then.”

It’s way past its expiration date. Istina just scratched her head.

“So, I just go to the symposium?”

“Yeah.”

Right. I’ll be here seeing patients and writing papers while Istina represents me at the symposium.

Honestly, it would be boring anyway. Interesting discussions only happen a few times. Do I really need to sit through a symposium without new papers?

I need to write new papers quickly.

****

Asterix-less Asterix Symposium

There were several reasons for holding the symposium this way. One, having the main subject present might make discussions uncomfortable.

Since that guy talking would likely paralyze the entire symposium, it’s probably better to present without him.

That’s been the pattern so far. This symposium is following the same format.

Thus, the absent man’s symposium began. Istina flipped through the agenda. The speakers were as follows:

Professor Klaus – “On Microscopes and Bacteria”

Professor Croftler – “Unresolved Questions About Epidemic Particles”

Croftler is still skeptical. Though he does acknowledge some points.

Plague Doctor Hedwig – “Treatment of Bacterial Dysentery”

Secretary Campbell – “Revolution in Water Supply Policy”

Ah, Hedwig. That person was here at the academy for days because of this schedule.

Professor Fisher – “Structure of the Heart and Circulation of Blood”

Imperial Healer Violet – “Anatomy of the Heart and Analysis of Related Animal Experiments”

Violet. Professor Asterix calls her a boor, but she seems respected in academic circles surprisingly.

Thinking about it, Professor Asterix himself made good use of the title Imperial Healer. Violet has a similar position.

Hmm, she’s pretty high-ranking.

Istina nervously waited with three blank notebooks, the textbook, and Professor Asterix’s papers.

Of course, Professor Asterix hardly looks at textbooks. He says they’ll all be disproven in five years, meaning there’s no point seriously studying them beyond understanding their reasoning.

Whether he means he’ll disprove them, or it’s a critique of established academia, or a joke, who knows.

Anyway, that’s what the professor said.

That doesn’t mean students shouldn’t study. Istina reluctantly looked at the textbook sometimes.

I mean, just because the professor has his own theories doesn’t mean students can ignore textbooks.

In short…

Istina had to study the textbook.

What if someone asks a question?

****

On the podium.

Professor Klaus began speaking.

“Early this year, Professor Asterix came to me saying he had a new discovery and wanted to borrow my name for a paper.”

He must be talking about the microscope.

“To be honest, I was baffled. But I listened anyway. He claimed overlapping lenses could magnify images hundreds of times?”

Istina remembered when the professor first arrived. It made quite an impression, entering the academy escorting the imperial princess.

“Yes. I had a similar reaction. It sounded crazy… but it was true. A new world opened up. The microscopic world, the world of tiny things.”

Murmurs from the audience.

There was already a microscope in Professor Asterix’s lecture hall, so most people here had seen it. The professor had demonstrated many times.

“Exploring all possibilities of the microscope will take decades. What kind of lenses, what kind of stains, what to magnify…”

This is just the beginning of all research.

An audience member raised their hand.

“What exactly is beginning?”

Professor Klaus pondered.

“Professor Asterix showed that decay is caused by airborne particles by magnifying mold structures.”

“Yes.”

“The important point is this. It wasn’t that Professor Asterix showed something amazing.”

“Then what?”

“Just ordinary things – washing water, random mold – magnified. He didn’t show anything special. The possibilities of the microscopic world are practically infinite.”

Klaus’s conclusion is that we need to search for significant things in the microscopic world.

“Perhaps someday we’ll be able to verify which bacteria cause which diseases with microscopes, once we find the right magnification and stains.”

Istina nodded.

Though the professor did lose interest in playing with the microscope rather quickly, saying anyone could do the searching and there were other things to observe.

The symposium continued for quite a while.

“Ah, Professor Croftler. Still, I have many unresolved questions. Even common plagues like colds don’t seem to have causative bacteria?”

The professor did explain. Not all epidemic particles are bacteria, and not all bacteria are observable.

“And many diseases arise from internal imbalances rather than infections, like chronic illnesses or asthma.”

Professor Croftler kept talking. It seemed like nitpicking, but it wasn’t entirely wrong either.

“Professor Asterix experimentally proved airborne particles cause decay, but isn’t checking living patients or organisms a much harder problem?”

The audience murmured again. Some agreed, some seemed to object.

The professor did say some people would oppose until the end. Skepticism is good.

After thinking, Istina raised her hand.

“Yes. The student.”

“How to explain… Epidemic particles aren’t just bacteria, right? Some might not be observable with microscopes.”

“That’s a possibility.”

Surprisingly, Professor Klaus considered it then nodded. Guess it made sense. Maybe because Professor Asterix wasn’t here?

Was he just against the professor personally?

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