Reincarnation of the magicless pinoy.
From zero to Hero " No Magic?, No Problem!"
Side story 4 : A Cool Summer Visit
Mr. Yohan walked into the workshop just as the sun dipped low, golden light flooding through the window and glinting off a row of copper wires and metal frames. Rolien was crouched near his new invention, sweat dripping from his brow, eyes glued to the wirings spread out before him.
"So, you're doing it now?" Mr. Yohan asked, stepping over a few scattered tools.
"Yep," Rolien said, tightening a screw with careful precision. "It's summer, and I really need cold drinks."
Yohan chuckled, deep and amused. "Hahaha! That's what I like about you, kid. You invent for comfort first, not glory."
Rolien grinned without looking up. "Can't work if I'm melting."
Yohan crossed his arms, nodding toward the metal box on the table — a prototype of Rolien's latest project. "Need a hand?"
"Yeah, you're just on time, Mr. Yohan," Rolien said, sliding over a small screwdriver.
The older man leaned in, studying the setup — a polished steel box connected to a set of thin wires leading out the window to a line of newly made solar panels resting on the roof. Next to it, a compact battery unit quietly hummed.
"So," Yohan said, raising a brow, "you're really betting on sunlight now instead of mana, huh?"
Rolien smirked, wiping his hands clean with a rag. "Mana's not free, but sunlight is. The battery stores the energy during the day, and I can use it at night — same system I used for the new street lamps."
Before Yohan could reply, Lyra stepped into the room, her usual calm presence softening the hum of machines. She carried a basket of fruit and smiled warmly. "You've really outdone yourself this time, Rolien. Because of your solar lamps and batteries, the streets stay bright all night. It's almost like day now."
Rolien scratched the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed. "Ah, it's nothing fancy. I just wanted people to walk home without bumping into walls."
Lyra chuckled softly. "Don't be modest. Even His Majesty mentioned how much the new lights have changed the capital's nights."
Mr. Yohan grinned. "You're turning this place into a new age, boy. First light, then power — now you're trying to make a box that keeps food cold."
"Yeah," Rolien said, plugging the final connector into the small battery. "If this works, we can preserve food longer without relying on ice shipments."
As he flipped the switch, a quiet hum filled the workshop. The metal box vibrated lightly, then a cool gust escaped from its vents. Frost began to form along the edges.
"It's working," Yohan said, eyes wide.
Rolien opened the lid, letting a puff of cold air hit his face. "Not bad for version one."
Lyra smiled proudly. "Rolien Edric Grey — inventor of light and cold. Sounds like a title fit for a duke's son."
Rolien laughed softly, shaking his head. "I'll settle for 'guy who gets a cold drink in summer.'"
Rolien reached for the basket of fruit that Lyra brought in and grinned. "Alright, time to see if this thing actually earns its name." He dropped a few apples and berries inside the cold box and shut the lid.
Mr. Yohan leaned closer, hands on his hips. "So, how long before we know if it works?"
"Give it a few minutes," Rolien said, adjusting the small copper dial on the side. "The cooling effect builds gradually—the solar battery's power flow isn't constant yet. I'm still tuning the regulator."
Lyra tilted her head curiously. "You sound like one of those scholars from the Imperial Institute, talking about power flows and regulators."
Rolien chuckled. "They overcomplicate things. All I did was make the light energy from the sun go into the battery, then release that power to drive the cooling coil. The coil pulls heat out from inside the box. Simple, right?"
Yohan blinked. "Simple? Kid, I barely understood half of that!"
Lyra laughed gently, shaking her head. "Don't worry, Mr. Yohan. He's been like this ever since he built that 'light bulb' of his."
Rolien grinned proudly. "Well, the light bulb needed to prove the solar panels worked. Now that they do, we can finally use them for something practical. Like this—cold drinks!"
Just then, a faint crack came from the box. Yohan's eyes widened. "Uh, that's not supposed to happen, right?"
Rolien opened the lid—and a puff of frost burst out, chilling the air. The apples inside were rock-solid, covered in a thin layer of ice.
"…Okay, maybe a little too cold," Rolien muttered.
Lyra burst out laughing. "You froze them solid!"
Even Mr. Yohan couldn't hold it in. "Hahaha! Guess you made a freezer, not a cooler!"
Rolien sighed, scratching his head but smiling. "At least it works. I'll just tweak the power flow later. Too much energy from the solar battery, I think."
Lyra stepped closer, brushing her fingers against the edge of the frosted lid—and instantly flinched. "Ah! Cold!"
Rolien jumped. "Careful! Don't touch that—it's below freezing!"
She shook her hand, giggling. "So it really works. The Grand Duke will be amazed."
Yohan smirked, already imagining the chaos. "Amazed? More like shocked. He's still getting letters about that chocolate craze you started. Now imagine people begging for 'cold boxes' next!"
Rolien snorted. "I'll let Father handle that part."
Lyra smiled fondly at him. "You really are something else, Rolien Edric Grey."
He shrugged, leaning back on his stool. "I just hate warm juice."
The three of them laughed, the hum of the machine filling the workshop. Outside, the sun dipped fully below the horizon, and as the street lamps powered by Rolien's solar panels flickered to life one by one, the capital glowed with a golden-white light — bright as day, a world quietly changing because of one curious boy's "hobby."
The next morning, rumors were already spreading through the capital.
"Have you heard? The Grand Duke's boy made a box that freezes food!"
"They say it doesn't use mana at all — powered by the sun!"
"No way. That kid's inventions are starting to scare me…"
By noon, small crowds had begun to gather near the Duke's estate gate. Some were merchants, others curious nobles, all eager to see the "miracle box" that could make ice in summer.
One merchant fanned himself with a hat. "If that thing really works, I'll buy ten! Just think — cold ale all day!"
Another noblewoman gasped. "Imagine chilled desserts during a banquet! The Emperor himself will want one!"
Inside the estate workshop, Mr. Yohan was sweating from both excitement and exhaustion as he tried to manage the flood of letters from interested buyers. "Rolien, my boy, you've done it again! I can't even keep up with the orders!"
Rolien glanced up from his workbench, unbothered. "You mean they actually want one? Huh."
Yohan gawked at him. "Of course they do! You've made cold air! Do you know how much people pay for ice during summer?"
Rolien just shrugged and went back to adjusting the dial on his prototype. "Guess we'll need more solar panels then."
Lyra laughed softly, helping him stack the parts. "You really have no idea how big this is, do you?"
"Not really," Rolien said. "It's just a cooler."
That evening, the Grand Duke's family gathered for dinner. The dining hall glowed warmly with solar lamps, and servants filled the table with roasted meat, fruits, and sparkling drinks.
Edric sat at the head, sipping his wine calmly. "I heard you've caused quite a commotion again, son."
Rolien glanced up from his plate. "Oh. You mean the fridge thing?"
Lyra tried not to laugh. "Fridge?"
"It's shorter than 'freezing box,'" Rolien said plainly.
The Grand Duchess nearly choked on her drink. "Freezing… what?"
Yohan, standing by the door, cleared his throat nervously. "Ah, yes, Your Grace. The young master built a device that cools or freezes things using his solar panels. It, uh… works quite well."
"Too well," Lyra added with a grin. "He froze all the apples this morning."
Edric raised an eyebrow. "Without magic?"
Rolien nodded. "Sunlight power. It's more efficient that way."
The Grand Duke set his goblet down slowly. "Rolien… you realize that in three months, you've changed how half the capital lives? First the lights, now this 'fridge.' What's next?"
Rolien leaned back, thinking seriously for a moment. Then, with a small smirk, he said, "Maybe a moving carriage that doesn't need horses."
Everyone froze.
The Duchess blinked. "A… carriage without horses?"
Lyra whispered, "He's not joking."
Yohan groaned, rubbing his temples. "Oh, dear. Here we go again…"
Edric sighed, half in disbelief, half proud. "Just make sure it doesn't explode this time."
Rolien smiled, eyes gleaming with quiet excitement. "No promises."
The family burst into laughter, and for a brief moment, the hall echoed with warmth and joy — a rare kind of peace in an Empire slowly brightening under one boy's curiosity.
The Grand Duke's estate shimmered under the summer sun. Despite the heat, not a single servant looked uncomfortable — the air inside the halls was crisp and cool, like a gentle spring morning.
The source of that miracle? A ten-year-old boy tinkering with science where magic once ruled.
Rolien Edric Grey sat cross-legged on the marble floor, sketching a circuit diagram when Lyra's hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.
"Young master! Drop the tools — we have guests arriving."
Rolien blinked up. "Guests?"
"The Emperor and Princess Sophia," she said, fixing his collar with her usual mix of panic and affection.
He frowned. "Again? Didn't he just visit last season?"
Lyra sighed. "Yes, and this time, he said he wanted to 'see what the little genius built next.' So please, at least try not to invent anything while they're here."
"No promises," Rolien muttered, hiding a smirk.
Outside, the Grand Duke's family gathered by the gates. Edric, tall and proud in his dark uniform, stood beside Lady Lirien, whose calm poise softened the summer glare. Elian leaned lazily against a pillar, while Elara stood straight and composed, greeting guests with her usual grace.
The golden imperial carriage rolled into the courtyard, pulled by six white horses. Emperor Albrecht stepped out with a hearty laugh the moment he saw Edric.
"Edric, my friend! You look the same as ever—though I suspect it's your wife who keeps you from aging."
Edric chuckled, clasping forearms with him. "And you still speak like a bard who drank too much mead."
Behind the Emperor peeked Princess Sophia, her silver hair glinting under the sun. "Uncle Edric!" she chirped, running forward. "Is Rolien here?"
Before anyone could answer, a familiar voice called from the stairs, "Right here."
Rolien descended with a small smile, wearing a simple white shirt with rolled sleeves. "Welcome back, Your Majesty. Princess Sophia."
The Emperor's golden eyes brightened with amusement. "Still so calm, even when the ruler of the empire walks in. You've grown bolder, Rolien."
Rolien shrugged. "You said not to be too formal last time."
"Hah! True! You actually listen — that's new for a child your age."
As they entered the estate, Sophia gasped, rubbing her arms. "It's cold!" she exclaimed. "It's like winter in here!"
Even Albrecht paused mid-step, glancing at Edric. "I don't remember your estate being this comfortable during summer."
Edric smiled faintly. "That's because it wasn't. Ask my son."
The Emperor turned to Rolien. "Another invention?"
Rolien grinned. "After I made the refrigerator, I realized I could apply the same principle to air. So I built a cooling system — like a giant version of the fridge, powered by solar panels and battery storage."
Lyra entered with a tray. "Please, Your Majesty, Princess — have something to drink. Fresh fruit juice for you, and for Princess Sophia — chilled strawberry juice and chocolate bars."
Sophia's eyes sparkled. "Chocolate! You still make them?"
"Of course," Rolien said. "But try the juice too — it stays cold even after hours."
The Emperor sipped from his glass, humming in surprise. "Still cool even without magic… and refreshing, too. By the gods, boy, you've made summer enjoyable."
Lyra smiled proudly. "The entire duchy thanks him for it. Since he introduced the solar panels and lights, the city shines even at night."
Elian stretched, pretending to look unimpressed. "You should've seen him making this one. Nearly froze the whole workshop once."
Elara nudged him. "He's exaggerating."
"I'm not. The air temperature dropped so fast, even the tools fogged."
Rolien crossed his arms. "That was part of the calibration test."
The Emperor laughed, clapping Edric's shoulder. "You've raised a prodigy and a headache all at once."
Edric sighed with mock exhaustion. "Don't remind me."
They moved to the dining hall, where the cool air hummed softly above their heads. The Emperor leaned back in his chair, looking utterly relaxed.
"To think… the empire's brightest minds still argue about your last invention, and here you are, already making the next one."
Rolien smiled faintly. "It's just something I needed. Hot weather makes me lazy."
"Ah," Albrecht said with a knowing grin. "Comfort—the true mother of invention."
Sophia looked at him curiously. "So what are you making next?"
Rolien tilted his head. "Something that moves without horses."
Elian groaned. "Oh, here we go again…"
Elara sighed. "He's serious, isn't he?"
Rolien smirked. "Always."
The Emperor's laughter filled the room once more. "A carriage without horses? Hah! If anyone can do it, it's you, boy. Just don't make it fly—my scholars will have heart attacks."
Rolien's grin widened. "No promises."
As the laughter died down, the Emperor leaned back, watching the boy carefully — not just amused, but intrigued. There was something in Rolien's eyes, something that went beyond curiosity. Purpose.
And as Edric poured another round of drinks, Albrecht muttered quietly to himself,
"Light, air, motion… little by little, he's rebuilding the world."
To be continue...