The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage: Wandmaker Vol.2

WM [79] Actually Fun

The group followed the orange line, which, according to the text over the desk in the lobby, would lead them to the Aetheric Processing Core Room. Tanisha wasn't entirely sure what that entailed, but given that it was their only guidance, she hoped for more instructions once they arrived.

The facility's interior was just as sterile and unwelcoming as the lobby, its walls bare and illuminated by the clinical glow of overhead lights. Passageways branched out like a spider's web from the main corridor they navigated, creating a labyrinth of sterile white hallways. Occasionally, a new colored line would merge with the orange one they followed, only to veer off at another junction, disappearing down a random corridor as if leading to unseen corners of the sprawling complex.

As they moved at a brisk pace, Tanisha's thoughts drifted back to the meeting with Bjorn's mother. Well, an abridged version of it, one that conveniently omitted the fact that the True she spoke to was Bjorn's mother or that he was a True himself. The weight of the news from that encounter still lingered. Fuyumi, especially, had been visibly shaken by the revelation of a potential world-shattering event they now had to prevent. By contrast, Aurelius had remained composed, his demeanor like a stone wall, offering nothing to hint at his thoughts or emotions.

"The line turns up ahead." Aurelius said.

The group turned the corner and was greeted with a metal blast door. They looked around until Bjorn hissed loudly and Tanisha noticed he was standing next to another of the thin rectangular devices she had to put aether into. She nodded and walked over placing her hand on the black metal thing and pushed magic into it. The device greedily devoured the aether, but there was no other reaction. Frustration mounting, Tanisha pushed more and more magic into the device, emptying her reserves until she was completely drained. She slumped down, winded.

"What's wrong?" Fuyumi asked, her voice tinged with worry. "Why didn't it open?"

Tanisha sat down. "I don't know." Tanisha turned to Bjorn who looked equally confused. "Maybe it needs more aether than I have and Bjorn doesn't seem to have any ideas either."

"Maybe there is another way around. I can scout some of the halls we passed." Aurelius added as he thumbed back down the hall.

"That is a good idea, but don't go too far." Fuyumi said as she examined the door. "We haven't seen anyone or run into traps but that doesn't mean there aren't any."

"Okay," Aurelius said as he took out his sword. "Be back soon."

Tanisha watched the elf closely, now that she knew his magic was primana and not corruption she wanted to see how it worked. As she watched she saw his magic circulate through the air into his unusual sword. She noticed that she had never really looked at the blade. The sword was a bluish crystal etched with intricate carvings, and as she focused, she noticed the primana weaving through the lines, both on the surface and deep within the crystal.

The sword glowed with energies that felt like monster magic but as he held the blade forward it refined for the briefest moment. If she hadn't been watching so intently she would have missed it. Then, for the briefest moment, the primana refined itself, shifting into something else... mana, aether, material energy. It felt like all of them at once. In that same instant Aurelius was gone. His speed left him as little more than a flash of light with the trail of primana lingering in the air before it too dissipated.

"I am going to see if I can force the door open." Fuyumi said as a comically large ice bat with spikes appeared in her hands. "I recommend stepping back."

Still drained of magic, Tanisha doubted she could stand, but before she could voice her predicament, Bjorn's tail wrapped around her waist and lifted her with surprising ease. He draped her across his back like luggage, earning a huff of amused protest from Tanisha as he moved to a safer distance. Fuyumi glanced at them and gestured for even more space, her tone firm but calm. Bjorn obeyed without hesitation, ensuring they were well clear of whatever magic Fuyumi was about to unleash.