He was walking down the corridor of the research complex, unable to decide what to do. He was supposed to be taking time off, but all he could think about was the research. He’d been working for 12 hours straight and it was starting to make him sloppy. He had narrowly avoided two accidental explosions before being told to take a break or be “relieved of his duties”. Reluctantly he had accepted the break offer and now here he was, wandering.
He knew these corridors like the back of his hand. He ought to, he had spent the past fifty years here. He could navigate the walls with his eyes closed, which was a good thing, because more often than not, the lights would go out because the magic powering them would cut out due to experiments.
Yes, magic. The thing that is causing all the tension recently. The College does not approve of the recent discoveries made by The Guild. How to harness and store magic from the environment using technologies. This didn’t bother Garik so much, He knew they didn’t like it, but he also knew that it would help them in the end. Well, he hoped they realised this, or his work would all be for nothing.
He never understood why The College frowned upon The Guilds abstract use of magic. It made life easier for people, taking the danger out of otherwise potentially deadly tasks. Apparently magic is something to be respected and not abused.
Garik decided he would head to the canteen and grab a bite to eat and maybe something to drink.
The Next day’s dawn was misty and dull.
Nothing out of the ordinary there. Thought Garik. He got up, got ready and started off for the morning meal when he noticed something. He walked to the window and looked outside. There was what looked like, a shadow on the far side of the complex roof. Garik rubbed his eyes and squinted back out, but whatever it was, if anything, was gone.
“My eyes must be deceiving me again.”
He set out finally, had his food and started on his way to the lab.
“Garik, my man! Got some sleep I hope!” Boomed a voice from behind him.
“Ahh, Kar” he called back without needing to see who it was. “I did indeed thank you. The much needed rest has set me up for another day of research. Hopefully I will crack the code today.”
“Aye, man, aye. That would be good, indeed. I’m on special duty today. Lucky me.” Garik could sense the enthusiasm drain from Kar’s voice at this. Special duty referred to the new device that had been causing all the tension. A magic siphon. This was a generally boring task, trying to perfect someone else’s work that you would get no recognition for because they could not be bothered finishing it off themselves.
“Good luck with that Kar, don’t get too engrossed in your work now.” Garik chuckled
“I shall try, I shall try.” Kar called back and sighed.
“See you later”
Garik arrived at the lab and instantly proceeded to carry on with yesterdays work, only it wasn’t there. Someone had moved everything about. His notepad was on the wrong page, his goggles were hanging on the wrong peg on the wrong setting and there was a strange handprint on the window.
Garik instantly knew it was Tomaz playing tricks again. Immaturity was that boy’s one problem, and sure to be his downfall. He cleaned off the handprint, put on his goggles, found his right page and carried on working. It was an hour into this work when there was a loud knocking on the door of the lab. Garik turned and there was a tall, spindly figure standing in the doorway.
