The Runic Alchemist

[The Royal Council Chamber, St. James's Palace – 1758.]

A dimly lit room in St. James's Palace, the air thick with pipe smoke and tension. Around a large oak table, Britain's most powerful figures sat in silence, their gazes fixed on the strange artifacts before them—runic gifts from a visitor who had arrived in a flying ship.

At the head of the table sat Prince George, heir to the throne, his youthful face serious as he tapped his fingers on the table. Beside him was his mother, Princess Augusta, her sharp eyes watching the men around her. Across from them, John Stuart, the Earl of Bute, a man of careful ambition, sat quietly observing.

To one side, William Pitt the Elder, Britain's de facto leader, examined a runic artifact, his keen mind racing through possibilities. Near him, the Duke of Cumberland, King George II's younger son and the country's top military commander, looked on with distrust.

Among them were also several members of the Royal Society, including John Pringle, the leading scientist and physician, and Lord Macclesfield, the Society's president—both clearly intrigued.

Prince George glanced at the gifts and said, "This is unlike anything seen in England. A visitor who flies through the skies, claiming no allegiance to any crown.. A trick? Or something more?"

The Duke of Cumberland looked grimly at the strange tools before him and said, "A foreign warlock, at best. A spy, at worst. If he possesses such unnatural power, why does he come with gifts rather than an army?"

John Stuart, Earl of Bute, said calmly, his voice measured, "Perhaps because he does not need one."

Princess Augusta frowned. "Then they are dangerous. If they were to align themselves with France, or Spain, or—God forbid—Prussia, Britain could be undone before we even understand what they are."

Still studying the artifact, William Pitt finally spoke, "But he did not go to Versailles or Madrid. He came to London. That suggests intent."

John Pringle, excitedly addressing the Royal Society members, said, "These artifacts defy known science. The plate that conjures ice, a fire burning with neither smoke nor residue! These colorful gem-like stones seem to be the source of their power. They even provided a magic circle of something—it's the same, but slightly different, from the magic circles on all these tools. The paper says we can create fire like this if we draw this.. But only a man with great lineage and intelligence can do it, it says. If this knowledge could be studied—"

The Duke of Cumberland interrupted him mid-sentence. "It could be weaponized."

Royal Navy Admiral Lord Anson hesitantly cleared his throat and said, "He made one thing clear—if we refuse, he will simply go to another city."

Princess Augusta turned sharply to Pitt. "And what then? If this is real, if what he carries is truly beyond our understanding—do you imagine Frederick of Prussia would refuse him? The French? The Austrians?"

John Stuart, Earl of Bute, finally spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "There is no choice. We let him in—but we control the terms."

William Pitt nodded hesitantly, seeing no other choice. "Precisely. If we reject him, we may lose something that changes history. If we accept, we gain knowledge—perhaps power."

Prince George frowned as he read the letter the stranger had sent with his gifts. The wording used to describe who could wield these runes.. Didn't it mean they considered themselves to be all that and more? Then, looking at Cumberland, he said, "And if they are a threat?"

The Duke of Cumberland smirked. "Then we watch them closely—and ensure that if they turn against us, they do not leave England alive."

Prince George looked around the room and drew the strange runic circle on a parchment, copying it exactly as it had been sent to them, using the mystical ink. The second he finished, it activated on its own.

As the fire ignited out of nowhere and the parchment burned inside the silver plate, a collective gasp of awe spread around the room, their eyes widening in shock.

Prince George closed his eyes for a moment after witnessing the so-called "magic," then nodded slowly. "Very well. He may enter London—but he will be watched at all times. No unsupervised access to our institutions or military. They will be received as guests, but never forget—they are an unknown force. Keep them inside Somerset House, observe them for a while, and if they prove somewhat true to their word.. We invite them for negotiations regarding this magic knowledge of theirs."

William Pitt leaned forward, smirking slightly. "Then let us welcome our visitor—and learn what he truly wants."

A messenger was immediately dispatched, carrying the royal decree. The foreign traveler and his group would be permitted into London—but under strict security measures.

***

[Outskirts of London City, Earth – Damian's POV]

The group of men discussed what to do, and some of them loaded his gifts onto horse-drawn carriages. Highswords and his friends found the fancy-looking carriages and the many uniformed men pointing guns at them quite interesting.

Once the officials left, Lumi and the others kept bombarding Damian with questions—what was this, how did they make that, why did they do it this way.

Damian answered the simpler ones while ignoring the more complicated ones, his mind preoccupied. Knowing the knowledge of 1758 and actually seeing it with his own two eyes were two very different experiences.

After the initial group left to report to their superiors, some army engineers and Benjamin Franklin walked toward Damian, smiling. It seemed Franklin had been waiting for an opportunity like this—to speak with them without the general and admiral around.

Damian had overheard the previous discussions, where the leaders had agreed not to have further conversations without official notice. Yet, the moment they left, Franklin convinced the others that the marvel of machinery and science which was his Dreamlight, they should take the chance to learn as much as possible while they had the time.

The guy was quite the schemer, Damian had to admit.