Magus Tech - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Extracting Magic Substances

Richard did not hear Edward’s whispering. He entered a room inside the independent laboratory. The room was wide, its area over 50 square meters. The wall was a kind of color that looked white until something truly white was held against it; then it took on a more yellowish creamy hue. Spread out in the middle were several black walnut tables akin to an operating table. On top of it was the body of the python the soldiers brought in.

There were many wooden frames on the edge of the table, some of which contained materials like a surgical knife. The invention of these items was far beyond the current level of this world and it had taken Richard a great deal of effort to make them.

The room exceeded the current tech of this era to maybe 300 years into the future. As for scientific comprehension, the knowledge contained within the room belonged to a very distant future — 700 or 800 years away.

Richard’s eyes narrowed and he stepped toward the wooden frame. There was a handle on the side of the frame, a nozzle under the handle, and a bucket below.

Richard stretched out his hand and placed it under the nozzle. After a short wait, a colorless and transparent pungent liquid flowed out of the nozzle and dripped on his palms.

The liquid was 75% alcohol and acted as a type of disinfectant. Richard scrubbed each finger carefully, making sure everything was cleaned. He turned off the nozzle shortly after and gently flicked his palm a few times, waiting until the residual alcohol on his hand completely evaporated before pulling out a set of surgical knives that’d long been sterilized by alcohol and faced the “magical” python. His eyes fell on its body and carefully observed the strange creature who’s strange body could exude flames.

“The proportion of its head is relatively small.” Richard measured the python’s head with his hand then opened its mouth and looked at its slender fangs. “Non-toxic… its fangs may be attached to its sockets on the alveolar surface jaw.”

The python had a philtrum, a vestigial medial depression between the nose and upper lip similar to humans. Its functions, however, acts as an infrared sensor, allowing it to detect warm-blooded animals in their surroundings and to determine the exact location of their next prey.

“Brown blotches bordered with black.” Richard’s eyes receded from the python’s head and fell on its body, as well as its back. “Its back is brownish-yellow with arrowhead markings and a large number of irregular cloud markings.”

“The abdomen’s a creamy white.” With a slight effort, Richard turned the python’s body over and locked down on the excretory cavity and saw pairs of protrusions. “And a pair of degenerate claw-shaped stump limbs.”

“In a way, it’s similar to the Burmese Python in my old world. Probably a close relative,” Richard whispered to himself, skimming through data of the Burmese Python in his mind.

Burmese Python, also known as the Burmese Rock Python, is a double-banded anaconda with beautifully patterned skin, rapid growth rate, and generally docile disposition. Its scientific name is Python Bivittatus, a subspecies of P. Molurus. Native to the jungles and grassy marshes of Southeast Asia, Burmese Pythons are among the largest snakes on Modern Earth, capable of reaching 7 meters or more in length and weighing up to 91 kilograms with a girth as big as a telephone pole. The longest Burmese Python in the world was measured at 9.75 meters.

“7 meters? 9.75 meters?” Richard said out loud. He looked at the python that was over 3 meters long thoughtfully. “If you were really a close relative of the Burmese Python, then I’m sure you’d still be a child. You haven’t reached adulthood, yet already you’re able to exude flames as high as 1500 °C. I wonder what heights you’ll reach when you become an adult? Tsk… it is indeed a magical creature.”

Richard took a deep breath. He grabbed the surgical knife he had prepared and thrust it into the body of the python. The sharp blade easily cut the skin of the python, and with a little force, its body was cut open, letting Richard see the insides of the python.

As he reached out and rummaged its innards, Richard’s eyes narrowed.

Based on the descriptions of fictional novels in his old world, magical creatures like the python should have a  crystal nucleus,  a  magic crystal , and so on to provide energy for the release of magic.

From a scientific point of view, since the python could manipulate flames from its body, it should have special organs or glands, different from a regular python.

But Richard could not find any of these.

Richard frowned and finally his eyes locked onto the skin of the python. He remembered the molt of its skin and the searing temperature he felt back in the dungeon. It was clear then that the python was  special .

His lips pursed as he grabbed the surgical knife and cut off the skin, separating it from the flesh. Soon, he got a complete python skin. Following, he soaked the python’s skin wet and after a long wait, a thick, greasy yellow substance floated on the surface of the water.

“This is…”

Without hesitation, Richard quickly picked up the yellow substance, grabbed the nearby iron plate, and ignited it. The sound of  “poof”  echoed. Orange flames rose higher and higher and warmed the cold air, yet the iron plate remained at the same temperature. There were no traces found of it being burnt. Richard reached out and touched the iron plate. It was extremely cold. As the yellow substance decreased, Richard gained a sudden enlightenment.

“The substance, which contains the python’s skin, can penetrate the surface from the scales and ignite heat to form a searing, hot temperature like the burning sun as a form of attack. During its combustion, a large amount of heat should have been taken away and that is the vaporization of liquid to ensure the body surface’s temperature remains at its original state. That’s why the python won’t burn.

“It’s somewhat similar to the  ‘unbreakable handkerchief’  trick… soak the cotton cloth with alcohol before performing the magic trick in front of the audience to light it on fire. Because the water on the handkerchief vaporized and absorbed heat, the temperature of the cotton cloth is lower than heat itself, therefore, when lit on fire, the cotton cloth remains intact…

“In that case…” Richard’s eyes lit up. “The so-called magic should be inside the substances. If the water, grease, and impurities were filtered out, what’s left behind should be pure magic…!”

Richard ceased his talks and began taking action. He removed the yellow grease substance, placed it inside the porcelain glass, and initiated the distillation process. The process of distillation Richard had done was quick, faster than the unqualified maid. It wasn’t long before he distilled the excess water from the yellow grease and separated the rest of the impurities. He ended up with a small bottle of liquid that looked like melted gold.

“Is this magic?” Richard squinted and looked at the golden liquid, feeling as if the questions he’d long had of this world was ready for unraveling.

By this time, several hours had passed. The sky now looked reminiscent to black tranquility married to a poetry of stars.

Edward stood at the foot of the door, unmoved and guarding the place. He watched Richard come out, mouth parted open. But no words came out.

Richard waved his hand. “Edward, have my lab cleaned and be sure to guard the palace gate. I’ve to do something. No one is allowed to disturb me and I won’t have dinner either. If you have anything to report, wait until tomorrow.”

“Um…”

Richard went to the other side of the hall and walked up the spiral wooden stairs that led to the second floor. He entered his bedroom and slammed the door.