Chapter 18 Improvement And Submission
Ever since that agreement was made, Napoleon and Ciela conducted their daily regimen. She joined Napoleon on his run around the school grounds, teaching her the basics of martial arts, and taking his lesson after his class.
ƥαṇdαs ηθνε| To see if there was any improvement in Ciela, Napoleon would put her skill to a test, such as having her take an assessment test and have her fight him in a bout. Of course, Ciela would be defeated in a fight but in the test, she was showing remarkable progress. As the weeks went by, Ciela’s physical and mental prowess improved, and she was becoming more confident in her abilities.
One day, while on their morning run, Ciela brought up something unexpected.
“Master…I want you to fight me seriously in our next sparring session.”
“You want to do what?” Napoleon glanced at her briefly before turning towards the front.
“I know that I’m always defeated in our sparring sessions and you are always holding back. If I want to truly gauge what I have learned the last few weeks, you must fight me seriously.”
Napoleon understood Ciela’s request. He knew that she was ready to take on a bigger challenge and that it was time to push her limits. He nodded in agreement.
“All right, Ciela. I’ll fight you seriously in our next sparring session,” he said.
Ciela smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. She knew that it would be a tough fight, but she was determined to give it her all.
Over the next few days, Napoleon and Ciela continued their training as usual. But there was a sense of anticipation in the air, and both of them were preparing for the upcoming sparring session.
Finally, the day arrived. Napoleon and Ciela were in the courtyard, ready to face each other in a serious bout.
Napoleon and Ciela stepped into the gym, their eyes locked in a fierce determination. They had been training for weeks, and both knew that this was the moment of truth. The air was charged with anticipation as they entered the ring.
The fight began with a flurry of movement, with both fighters circling each other warily. Suddenly, Ciela struck, her lithe body darting forward with lightning speed. Napoleon countered with a powerful blow, but Ciela managed to dodge it with a nimble sidestep.
The two of them continued to exchange blows, their movements a blur of motion. Ciela was faster and more agile, darting around Napoleon with lightning quickness. But Napoleon had the advantage of strength and experience, and he used it to his advantage.
Despite Napoleon’s advantage, it became clear that Ciela had improved significantly since they first started training together. Her movements were more fluid and precise, and she was able to anticipate Napoleon’s attacks with increasing accuracy. She landed several blows, each one striking with a resounding thud.
Napoleon was impressed by Ciela’s progress, and he began to push her even harder. He knew that she had the potential to become a great fighter, and he wanted to help her reach her full potential, for his convenience in the future.
The fight continued for what seemed like an eternity. But in the end, it was Napoleon who emerged victorious, ending it with a chokehold.
“Mas…ter…I can’t breathe,” Ciela gasped, her voice strained as Napoleon released the chokehold and helped her to her feet.
Ciela coughed violently, trying to catch her breath. Her body is slick with sweat. Napoleon watched her carefully, his expression unreadable.
“Are you alright?” he asked finally, his voice gentle.
Ciela nodded weakly, still gasping for air. “I’m fine,” she managed to say between coughs.
Napoleon’s expression softened slightly, and he laid a hand on her shoulder. “You did well. I did what you ask, not holding back.”
“I know…” Ciela exhaled. “I can feel it from your punches. You didn’t go easy on me.”
Napoleon smiled. “I’m a man of words, you asked for it and I delivered. Come on, we have to return back to the lab, I’m sure the paddle stopped spinning by now.”
“Uhm…Master…I don’t think I would be able to move for a while,” Ciela said. “I’m very exhausted right now, please let’s take a break first before we return.”
“But I have to finish the experiment now as it is scheduled,” Napoleon said and sighed. He turned his back on her and kneeled. “I’ll carry you on my back.”
“Eh?”
Ciela’s eyes widened in surprise as Napoleon gestured for her to climb on his back. She hesitated for a moment, unsure if it was appropriate, but the exhaustion was taking over her body, and she needed the rest.
“Are you sure?” she asked, her voice uncertain.
Napoleon looked over his shoulder at her, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Of course, I am. I don’t want to lose any more time,
Ciela nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over her as she climbed onto his back. He stood up slowly, adjusting his grip on her legs, and started walking towards their destination.
As they walked, Ciela leaned forward and subtly sniffed the fresh, earthy scent of Napoleon’s sweat. It was a comforting smell that reminded her of their training sessions. She closed her eyes, feeling a sense of safety and security being carried by her master.
“I’m sorry if I smell due to sweat,” Napoleon said.
Ciela shook her head. “No, I like this smell.”
Napoleon chuckled softly. “Is that so? I’m glad to hear that,” he said, his voice warm.
“Am I heavy, Master?” Ciela asked.
Napoleon’s grip on her legs tightened slightly as he adjusted his balance. “No, you’re not heavy at all,” he said, his tone reassuring. “You’re actually quite light, don’t worry about it.”
“That’s a relief then…”
As they continued walking, Ciela couldn’t help but feel a sense of closeness with Napoleon. It was rare for him to show this side of him, and she cherished every moment of it.
Five minutes later, they arrived back at the lab. Napoleon gently lowered Ciela off his back and set her down on the floor. She stretched her legs, feeling the soreness fade away slowly.
“Thank you for carrying me, Master,” she said, smiling gratefully at him.
Napoleon nodded. “It’s nothing. I’m just glad that you’re feeling better now,” he said, his expression softening.
Ciela looked around the lab, noticing that the paddle was no longer spinning. Napoleon walked over to the machine, checking the results of the experiment by dipping a sensitive thermometer into it.
“Ciela, I want you to memorize what I’m about to say,” Napoleon said.
“Understood, master. I’m all ears.”
“The initial temperature of the water prior to the rotation of the paddle was recorded at 35 degrees Celsius. However, after allowing the paddle to rotate for a duration of 12 hours, the temperature exhibited a significant increase to 0.08 degrees Celsius. These observations affirm the principle of conversion of mechanical energy to heat via the process of friction.”
Ciela listened carefully, committing the information to memory. “Got it, Master. The mechanical energy was converted to heat due to friction,” she repeated. “Is that all?”
“No, as for the caloric theory which is the widely accepted theory in the field of heat, this experiment showed that the energy lost by the paddle during rotation, which was measured as an increase in water temperature, was proportional to the work done by the paddle. This indicates that the caloric theory may not be the most accurate explanation for the behavior of heat.”
Ciela nodded, intrigued by the implications of the experiment. “So what does that mean, Master?”
“It means that we need to rethink our understanding of heat and energy transfer. This experiment opens up new possibilities for research and discovery in the field of thermodynamics,” Napoleon said, a hint of excitement in his voice. “Now that we have finished the experiment and we have gathered all the data we needed, the only thing that is left is to have it vetted by officials from the University of Paris and the French Academy of Sciences. Whoever accepted our thesis first, is where we will present it. I’ll submit it after my class.”
***
As the man walked down the dimly lit hallway, his attire caught the attention of those around him. He was tall and thin with sharp features, and his clothing was made of fine, rich fabrics that were tailored to fit him perfectly. His coat was a deep red, embroidered with gold thread in intricate patterns, and his shirt was a crisp white with a high collar that framed his face.𝒏𝑜𝗏𝑬𝓛𝑛𝓔xt.𝓒𝚘𝐌
A delicate ruffled tie made of lace and adorned with a small fleur-de-lis brooch matched the ruffles on the cuffs of his coat perfectly. His trousers were black and fitted, and he wore polished leather boots that clicked against the stone floor with each step. The man’s regal appearance and confident stride commanded attention, and those who caught a glimpse of him couldn’t help but wonder who he was and what business he had in the building.
The man arrived at the headmaster’s office, who welcomed him.
“What business do you have with me?” The man calmly said as he took his seat.
“Monsieur Lavoisier, a student from Brienne-le-Château has submitted a thesis to our university. It was called the Principle of Thermodynamics and I have taken a glance at it. It seems to be trying to disprove your theory of Caloric Theory so I called you here knowing that you might be interested,” the headmaster said and continued. “I must say, it was solid work. I can see that the student has put a lot of effort into their research.”
Laivosier raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the mention of a thesis challenging the Caloric Theory. “I see,” he said, folding his hands in his lap. “I would like to read this thesis for myself and see what the student has discovered.”
The headmaster nodded and handed Lavoisier the thesis. As Lavoisier began to read, his eyes widened with excitement. The student’s research was impressive, and their conclusions were thought-provoking.
“This is quite interesting,” Lavoisier said, looking up at the headmaster. “The student’s research seems to indicate that heat is a form of energy, rather than a substance like caloric. Their experiments suggest that the behavior of heat can be explained by the laws of thermodynamics. I would like to meet this man.”
“Well, why don’t we allow him to present his thesis at this university?” The headmaster suggested.
“Very well, I’ll be the panelist for his presentation,” Lavoisier agreed. “I would like to test that man’s conviction on his theory,” Lavoisier smiled.
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