A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 185: Meeting Talrin
Chapter 185: Meeting Talrin

After finding refuge, the people of ancient Aristar began to awaken their psychic powers. They established a small nation known as the Alliance.

At first, this tiny planet-sized country wasn’t seen as much of a threat, akin to a small village in comparison to a vast empire.

Surprisingly, the Alliance, under the leadership of the five former mental patients, gradually became a force to be reckoned with, rivaling the might of the Empire of Sacred Moonlight.

This rapid rise alarmed the Empire, especially its warmongers, who viewed the Alliance as a thorn in their side. They accused the Alliance of growing strong by leeching off the Empire’s resources.

On the flip side, the Alliance felt wrongly accused. They insisted that their growth was the result of their own hard work, battling Celesterrors and insectoids to expand their territory bit by bit. They even pointed out that they had returned the planet they initially borrowed, arguing that the Empire had no grounds to complain.

These conflicting views led to a complete breakdown in relations between the two powerful nations.

While they avoided major wars, smaller skirmishes were common. The only thing preventing an all-out war was the ongoing threat from the insectoids, who constantly attacked the Empire, and the lingering gratitude the Alliance felt for the Empire’s initial kindness.

As Arix pondered all this, she began to delve deeper into the nature of the Psychic Incarnation.

She speculated that perhaps the Psychic Incarnation wasn’t a separate entity but rather a part of the host, existing independently yet still connected.

Much like how people speculate about past lives, perhaps these incarnations were manifestations of previous existences. One’s past life could have been anything from a horse to a plant or even a fish.

While this idea was intriguing, it remained a theory for now. Proving it would require extensive research and time, much like how humanity understood the concept of flying long before they could build airplanes.

Feeling the strain of the day, Arix rubbed her temples in fatigue. She realized she needed to talk to Talrin, the current president of the new Psychic Ware Association, who had inspired many of her thoughts through his notes.

Looking out the window, Arix noticed the moon was already high in the sky. It was too late to visit Talrin now, so she decided to head to the Psychic Ware Association first thing in the morning.

After organizing her notes, she yawned and lay down on her bed, quickly drifting into a deep sleep.

...

The next morning, after enjoying breakfast with her parents, Arix set off from the Kering family home alone. She used her opticomputer to navigate to the address of the new Psychic Ware Association, finding herself in Mulado’s most infamous slum.

Looking around at the grimy, chaotic streets, she double-checked the address, uncertain if she was in the right place.

It seemed strange to find a Psychic Ware Association in such a rundown area.

Despite her confusion, she frowned slightly and ventured into a narrow alley.

Arix soon reached a building that looked even more decrepit than the ones she’d seen in Planet Waste. She stared at the dilapidated structure, appearing on the verge of collapse, her mouth twitching in disbelief.

Double-checking the signboard to confirm the location, she saw the words ”New Psychic Ware Association” painted in large, faded letters.

Sighing, Arix placed her hand on her forehead, feeling a bit uneasy, and approached the door. She knocked gently, but to her surprise, the door fell right off its hinges.

She stood there, stunned. ’I swear I didn’t use that much force...’ she thought to herself.

Just as she was about to leave, a voice called out from inside.

”Arix, is that you? Since you’re here, why not come in and have a seat?” It was Talrin, sitting in the hall and sipping tea. He had recognized her right away.

Arix hesitated briefly before stepping inside. The hall was surprisingly clean and organized, not nearly as dusty or cobweb-filled as she’d imagined.

Relieved, she sat on an old sofa across from Talrin, greeting him politely, ”Talrin.”

Talrin, a young man in his early thirties with refined and gentle features, had an air of scholarly elegance. He wore a monocle and greeted Arix with a warm smile.

”You must be thirsty after your journey. Have some tea,” Talrin offered, pouring another cup and placing it in front of her.

Arix took a sip without much thought, but her smile quickly froze. She glanced at the leaves in her cup in disbelief. ’Are these... actual grass leaves? He’s making tea with grass? It must’ve been a very tough time for him. Has he fallen so low that he can’t afford real tea?’

Swallowing the bitter brew, she set the cup down and forced a smile. ”Talrin, I came to see you today because I need your help with something.”

Talrin, with a knowing smile, responded, ”No need to explain. I know you’re here for the complete notes, right?”

Arix lowered her gaze, realizing Talrin must have anticipated her visit. The notes he had given her weren’t just a random gift; they were more like bait, a clever lure. It dawned on her that Talrin had likely planned this all along, knowing she’d be curious enough to seek him out.

With a small smile, Arix thought to herself that she was like a fish being lured in by a clever trap, but at least Talrin was thoughtful enough to make it tempting.

Arix grasped the situation and didn’t feel upset. Instead, she smiled warmly at Talrin and said, ”To be honest, Talrin, I do need your notes, and I might also need your help.”

Talrin raised an eyebrow, not responding immediately. Instead, he asked, ”Can I ask why you need these notes, Arix?” His tone was serious, making it clear he wanted a good reason before he handed over anything.

Without holding back, Arix explained everything about her father’s situation to Talrin.

”That’s the whole story. I hope you can lend me the notes, Talrin. If you have any conditions, just let me know, and I’ll do my best to meet them,” Arix said sincerely, with no pretense in her voice.

After listening, Talrin smiled. He had thought his ideas were out there, but Arix’s plans were even more ambitious.

”Arix, I’m afraid my notes might not help you much,” Talrin tried to gently discourage her. Reviving a Psychic Incarnation was far more complex than just creating one. The idea seemed almost impossible, even to him.

”I get that, but how will we know if we don’t try? Haven’t you been working on this for years, Talrin?” Arix said quietly, looking at him with a determined smile.

Talrin’s calm demeanor finally cracked. He looked at Arix intensely, almost like a predator ready to pounce. But Arix stayed composed, meeting his gaze head-on.

After a moment, Talrin suddenly laughed. ”Alright! You really are something, Arix. If you want the notes, I’ll give them to you, but you must agree to three conditions.”

”Go ahead, Talrin,” Arix responded, her smile widening as she felt a spark of hope.

”First, as you know, I’ve been researching Psychic Incarnations for years. Unfortunately, I don’t have one myself, so I can’t fully grasp the experience. My first condition is that I want to be involved in your research,” Talrin said seriously.

”Of course,” Arix agreed without hesitation. It was a reasonable request, and she saw no reason to refuse.

”The second condition is that I want my name on the patent of any final product. You know I run the New Psychic Ware Association, and it needs some credibility to attract members. Otherwise, it’ll stay as broke as it is now,” Talrin admitted, sounding a bit embarrassed about the state of his association.

Arix glanced at the door still lying on the floor and nodded. She kindly offered, ”Do you need some astrocredit, Talrin?”

”Thank you, Arix, but teaching a man to fish is better than giving him a fish. Just having a way to earn is enough for me,” Talrin said, his gaze softening as he declined her offer.

Arix respected his decision and asked, ”And the third condition?”