The next few days passed as a blur, stuck inside the crystal that had become my new body as I was. Soldiers moved in and out of my room, invokers following in their foot steps, taking notes, cataloging objects and evidence, and cleaning the bodies away, and I passed the time by focusing on my vision until I could begin to make out details of their armor, clothing, and faces. I still could not see color beyond the blasts of it that had accompanied the ritual before, but at least now I could determine who was who by their faces, even if my ability to read their expressions was... lacking.

After awhile, the Archmagus, a middle-aged man with a preference for practical clothing, came by to speak and prod at me, making many hms and ahs. The First came by, too, but I was still entirely unclear as to what her skills were supposed to be, and she made no effort to explain her role to me. At least the Archmagus was talkative enough to answer my questions as I answered his, and his role seemed to be that of a knowledgeable, powerful invoker of some kind, though I'd learned they call themselves magi here, not invokers as we did.

As we spoke during his visits, I managed to glean from the Archmagus that there was an enormous technological gap between this world and the one I'd come from, as we had cracked faster-than-light travel some three hundred years before I'd been born, and they'd only discovered gunpowder a little under a century ago. In contrast, though, the force they called 'magic' was far better understood here. The Imperium had only discovered it two decades prior to my 'death', and while our research moved apace, there was too much to learn before we could do anything other than conjure flashes of fire or heal minor wounds.

Here, on the other hand, individual magi could summon flames enough to reduce a house to ash, were they to push their limits, and Archmagi, the most powerful among them, could burn entire towns, though doing so would likely put them in a coma.

However, they did not understand classical mechanics fully, having only grasped the basics of gravity and kinetic energy. They had no idea what electromagnetism was, or the weak and strong nuclear forces. Classical mechanics were exceedingly basic compared to what the Imperium had been working with before I died, but they were still the foundation of it all, and if they hadn't even mastered those, there was no way they could have competed with us on the battlefield, even with their mastery of magical theory and practice. They simply would not be able to reach our ships in orbit, much less crack their shields.

I did ask the Archmagus, at some point, why I could understand and speak to everything else, considering I'd come from a place much further away than anywhere they'd been. He raised an eyebrow at that, understandably, but explained that Cores usually had enchantments on them to allow for that sort of thing, though most of it went over my head. I may have been one of the most powerful invokers in the Imperium, but that meant little when all my 'magic' could do was work as a back up weapon, at best. Even sidearms normally packed more of a punch than what invokers could do.

This was, as I understood it, because we were simply hurling energy and willpower at an idea without understanding the magical laws and how to apply them, and I couldn't argue with that. All I had done was will it to be, and it would be. I didn't know the mechanics behind what happened when 'magic' was used, and, as a Legate of the Imperium, I had access to far more information than most could even dream.

"My new friend!" the now-familiar voice of the Archmagus called out, shaking me from my thoughts. "How are you today?"

[I am... I don't know. I'll figure that out later.] I'd found that while I could focus on specific things in my 'sight', I couldn't truly close my eyes. Still, I hadn't noticed him come in, and when I 'looked up', so to speak, I found the man, Callahan, to be carrying a small stack of books to a desk that hadn't been there the last time I'd paid any real attention. [Books?]

"Yes! Basic arcane theory and law, along with the only book on alchemy in several leagues. We are... not near the capital, nor one of the major trade cities," he explained, lighting the lamp on the desk with snap of his fingers. He didn't even look taxed, much less tired.

[Understandable. If the... magi that did this to me were breaking some kind of law, I would guess they chose somewhere isolated. Mountains, perhaps, for ease of access to resources and cave systems.]

Callahan hummed, nodding slightly, eyeing me from his desk. "You're a sharp one, aren't you? The door there leads to a short... Corridor, I suppose, it's too well constructed to be a tunnel... Out onto the mountainside. We're at the base of a local mountain range, with a small village not a mile off. The cultists seem to have planned on moving you deeper into the mountain, as there is another corridor, carved by tool and spell, just down the path a bit in the other direction."

[I see...] Mentally furrowing my brow, I fell quiet for a moment, before speaking again. [What is... A Core, Captain Markus called me?]

"Ah!" the Archmagus' eyes lit up, as if he'd been waiting for me to ask. "A fascinating subject, I'm sure you'll agree, and not just because of its relevance to your current situation. In essence," he began, pulling the chair from the desk and turning it towards me as he sat with a small grunt of relief. "A Core is a semi-aware chunk of physical magic, called a mana crystal, with several enchantments placed on it, some discrete, some very, very obvious. They range from quite weak and relatively simple creations to great artifacts that Archmagi like myself spend decades crafting."

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I hummed, unsure if the sound was audible to others. [So, what are they used for, typically?]

Callahan nodded, as if my question was anticipated. I couldn't imagine anyone who wouldn't ask that question. Good that he's prepared, though. "I'm not a specialist in Cores, but I know the basics of the technology, and occasionally use one myself. Most often, they're the driving force behind arcane fortresses and objects enchanted to be autonomous, such as golems."

[Golems... What makes mine special? Aside from being a vessel for my soul, of course.]

"That is the question, isn't it? Your material form is strangely small and refined. Most Cores are chunks of unrefined crystal, appearing much like a quartz outcropping, only larger. Yours, however, is carved and polished," Callahan explained, raising his hand to invoke... something. As he did, I felt, more than saw, something collapse into reality, and above his outstretched hand, the air shimmered and shifted, slowly solidifying into an illusory copy of myself.

As the good Captain had described, my physical body was about twenty to twenty five centimeters long, and six to seven in diameter, if I had Callahans literal measure correct, and he was an average adult Human. The surface was well polished, the ends pointed, and light reflected off of the many facets. The actual material was a deep, foreboding crimson, pulsing angrily in waves of color I'd since been informed was likely mana, the fuel of magic. That made sense, as the only time I'd been able to discern color was during an invocation.

"You see the color?" he asked, continuing before I had a chance to reply. "A Core tends to be a light blue, like a deep, clean river, maybe, or a tide pool. Some turn black, depending on how they're used, but yours... Yours is like a pool of blood. It is... odd, and slightly disturbing."

I hummed again, considering what he'd said. [Well, let's set that aside until we know more, yes? Why did you bring arcane books? I have to assume you intend on teaching me.]

"You are correct, my friend. I want to teach you how to use your newfound abilities. If done properly, the Queen thinks you might be an asset to the realm." I bristled at his words, and Callahans eyes widened slightly. I imagine my body had some physical reaction to my emotions.

I'll need to figure out how to prevent that in the future...

"Ah, we're not forcing you to do anything. Captain Markus has told me that you were a... Legate of you home nation? I'm not sure what that means, but it sounds like you were an influential figure."

[That is... You aren't wrong,] I replied, forcing myself to calm down. [A Legate is... Arguably the most powerful position in the Imperium. There were five of us, and, among them, I had the most autonomy, due to my specific responsibilities.]

Callahan nodded, raising a hand to scratch at his short beard. "What about a king or emperor? You said the Legate was arguably the most powerful position."

[Aye. Technically, there exists a throne and a title for the one who sits on it, but we haven't elected someone to take it in hundreds of years. My predecessor remembers the last Archlord, but the woman was long dead by the time I was born.]

The Archmagus furrowed his brow, and leaned in a little, eyes focused on me. "How... What were you, that members of your race live for hundreds of years?"

[Ah. Right. I am Human. Medicine in the Imperium advanced to the point of halting age entirely. Most injuries, if not immediately fatal, could be healed without magic. Missing limbs could be regrown, organs replaced, and skin regenerated. I am three hundred and twenty six years old, and my predecessor is nine hundred and eighty four. The year was...]

I paused, once again reaching for information that did not readily come to me. More missing memories from the shock to my soul. [13,487, Human Era. I... remember learning in school that we changed 'year zero' to what is was ten thousand years prior in what was, at the time... 2043. Now, it's...]

Callahan moved towards me, concern etched on his features. "Are you alright, my friend?"

[Yes, I... Some things are... blurry, and others are missing entirely, like my name. Like all names I'd known.]

The man nodded, apologetic. "I wish there was something I could do for you, but magic that tampers with souls is..." he grimaced sharply. "Forbidden for a reason. But, you mentioned you are over three hundred years old? Without the use of magic? How..."

[I don't know how it works,] I cut him off before he could ask. [Understanding how most of our technology worked required decades of specialized training. When the alterations were made to us some thousand years ago, it took the greatest biologists their entire lives to create. All I know is that there are several flaws in the human body that cause aging, and solving them in the wrong way could cause unchecked growth of parts of our body, a disease we called cancer. The... serum or... treatment they used had to solve all of the issues at once while installing new countermeasures against things like cancer.]

"I see, I see... I suppose that I will learn much from you, maybe even as much as you will learn from me," he said simply, chewing his beard.

[I doubt it, Archmagus. I was a military commander, a government official. I made laws, set taxes, and led armies and navies. I only knew the basics of everything else, and even that is questionable, with my missing memories.]

"Well," he began, straightening a little. "Those basics seem to be more than what we know."

I started to reply, but realized we didn't know anything about magical theory, either. [True. Might we get to the... magic? I am eager to learn.]

A wide smile split his face and he set about choosing which book to use, calling for an assistant at the same time. While he busied himself finding a good place to start, a few others filed into the room, pulling some kind of board on wheels and a few other assorted pieces of equipment.

[Archmagus.] I said flatly. [Is that a chalkboard?]

"Hmm?" he vocalized, slowly pulling his attention from the book, before casting it to the board behind him. "Ah, yes. Is there a problem?"

[Callahan, I can't even see color yet.]

The man blinked, started to say something, stopped again, and then sighed as his shoulders sagged, plans for the day derailed, at least for the moment. "My apologies, friend."