The group of four made their way back indoors, Carlos and Jack both attempting to take the lead. Still silently competing with one another, even if just in token efforts.
Behind the two of them Charise turned to Dr. Trovihn and asked quietly, “Hey, I just wanted to check, mana poisoning is supposed to be horrendously painful yeah? If that’s the case why…?” She gestured at Jack’s back struggling to find the correct way to word the rest of her question.
“Ah, you’re wondering about his lack of response to the pain? I’ll admit I was unsure of his self-diagnosis at first myself for that same reason. Everything else seemed to fit however. But that is why I slipped an extra spell into my slew of diagnostics while the two of you chatted back and forth earlier.” The doctor clicked his tongue as he talked about what he had noticed. “His nerves were indeed under incredible amounts of stimulation. Enough that if I had been in his boots, I would have likely been screaming on the ground. Why Mr. Bertrand there didn’t even seem to notice? I would only be able to hazard a guess. Don’t forget not only does he have that rather atrocious name, but he also follows that same magical path.”
Charise gave a look of befuddlement, “I know that jack casters are supposed to be worthless. But what does that have to do with pain?”
“Have you ever met someone else that made the same foolish choice as our friend over there?” Dr. Trovihn asked.
Charise shook her head in the negative, “No, he’s the first one I’ve met.”
Dr. Trovihn nodded having expected as much, “And he’ll probably be one of the only ones you do. Most don’t last very long you see. From what I remember from my medical texts it doesn’t start right away, but usually within about three months to half a year the signs start.”
“What? What signs are you talking about?” Charise asked feeling slightly frustrated at what seemed like a whole bunch of extra fluff for what she had thought was a simple question.
Dr. Trovihn didn’t seem to notice Charise’s exasperation as he continued, “The signs of what is the downfall of trying to do too much. You know how your mana passages work yes?”
Charise rolled her eyes and silently wished that the doctor would hurry up, “I mean, I know the basics that we all learn growing up. I’m not that well educated if you mean knowing the specifics. Something about we use one set of passages and the other hardens. We lose the flexibility and spellcasting of that nature but get other strengths or something.”
Nodding happily the doctor affirmed her knowledge, “That’s the basics yes. Well with spellcasters of his nature, they are having to contest with the hardening of both passages simultaneously. Either they resist this constantly by casting both styles of magic, or they stop entirely and are never able to cast magic again. Of any sort. And yes, that does include the use of magical items, arrays or even most simple household tools of our era.”
“Okay…” Charise drawled out before continuing, “so what does that have to do with pain or why Jay didn’t feel it?”
The doctor coughed into his hand at her prompting to get back on topic, “Right. So, from some of the accounts I read about, I never have studied one in person other then the diagnostics I’ve run on Mr. Bertrand. If the jack continues to cast spells and enhancements and utilize their mana, it is painful. Extraordinarily so. Most give up within a few months after the signs begin to manifest, unable to withstand the ever-present agony. Considering his age and the fact he still casts regularly either his willpower is simply ridiculous or there is something wrong with his sense of pain. Probably the second”
Charise rolled her eyes, all of that blathering just for him to say something that should have taken two seconds, “Well, it was interesting to hear about how exactly his magic works, but really you could have just said that you thought there was something wrong with his sense of pain. Was there any real reason for explaining the rest?”
“I mean, I lean toward the underdeveloped sense of pain yes, but the other is still a valid theory. A more unlikely one sure but still a theory none the less.” Dr. Trovihn replied, his tone slightly guilty.
By this point the foursome had made their way to just in front of the room where Dilacy had undergone the operation. Waiting there for them was Madam Blue her ever stern look upon her face.
She looked directly at Carlos and spoke, “So, it seems the two of you already knew each other then. You do remember what we discussed earlier correct sir?”
“Ah, you heard us then.” Carlos’s replied somewhat embarrassed.
The director raised an eyebrow in response, “I believe the dead could hear the two of you. Much less the rest of us. Looking at you both however, it seems it did not go too far.”
Carlos shrugged, “Yeah, I remembered what you said. Rest assured that no violence broke out between us. Even if there is a part of me that still wants to smash his teeth in.”
“Good. Thank you. I have no doubt that your father will also appreciate your discretion.” Madam Blue gave a short jerky nod.
Jack was puzzled at this exchange, as far as he knew his talent for freeing people did indeed make him valuable certainly, but did it make him valuable enough to warn off a direct heir to the company?
With that exchange done the director turned to face the group as a whole, “Now that you are all here, let us go and see how well the operation has turned out.”
Not waiting for a response, she turned around and opened the door.
In the room there were three people, one of the nurses and one of the guards who had been there during the procedure as well as Dilacy herself, still groggy from having just awoken. All three of them looked at the door as the group streamed in.
Dilacy got a sudden look of relief on her face as soon as she saw Carlos. Even if they weren’t the best of friends, merely seeing a familiar face helped a great deal when waking up in a strange place. “Carlos! Oh, thank the spirits. Is this one of your family’s medical facilities then? I was afraid for a bit there that someone dragged me to a black-market sawbones.”
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“It’s good to see you Dilacy. This is one of my family’s facilities yes. I can understand the worry about it being a sawbones office. This seems more than a little makeshift.” Carlos nodded to Dilacy and looking around with a hint of disgust.
Dr. Trovihn shrugged as he cut in, “That’s because it was. It was deemed a better choice to set up a temporary operating theater then utilize one of the spaces further into the complex.”
“An operating theater? Was I that injured last night?” Dilacy asked worriedly.
Dr. Trovihn ignored her worry and tried to speed things along. He desperately wished to see the results of the operation and if it truly worked like he hoped it would. “Ah yes, that is actually an excellent transitioning point. If you don’t mind, we need to run a couple of tests on you to make sure that everything has turned out alright from the operation and there are no complications. Mr. Bertrand, if you would do the honors.”
“Excuse me? What operation? Just what happened to me last night?” Dilacy became far more frantic at lack of reassurance combined with the sudden change of subject.
Dr. Trovihn replied calmly, “Don’t worry Ms. Fawler, we just need to do these tests to check your mental and magical state and we will happily answer any questions that you have after.”
Dilacy attempted to reach up to rub her face only to realize for the first time that she was in fact bound to the bed. Discovering that led to her hysterically calling out and thrashing, her black and white catlike ears flattening on her head as she did so, “No! Hey! Wait a moment. By Predolar’s foul breath tell me what the fuck happened last night?”
Carlos cut in at this point shouting to get her attention before lowering his voice to help her calm down, “Hey. Hey! Dilacy, look at me. Look at me. It’s going to be okay. Alright? It’s going to be okay. I’ll tell you everything I know, just let them finish the test really quick first.” He turned his head to look at Jack as he asked, “How long will the test take?”
Jack shrugged and answered, “Not long, she just needs to draw in some mana and utilize it. We will be monitoring her passages as she does so to see just what occurs.” He paused for a brief moment before he added, “Oh, please do be aware that there will likely be some pain. It is expected so some minor pain does not mean that something is wrong. Charise about how would you rate it?”
“Tch, oh I would say it’s probably about a five or a six for me.” Charise thought about it before she replied.
By this point Carlos had reached out and taken one of Dilacy’s hands, calmly telling her, “See, it’s not a hard or long test. Just them monitoring your mana flows. Just let them do it super quick and then we should be good.”
Jack cut in at this point. “Okay, first step before you do anything else. If you could please purify the mana that you currently have in you. Even if it feels correct. This is very important for your mental wellbeing. In fact, some of the discomfort that you feel likely stems from the mana within you not fitting you correctly.”
“What? How can my mana not fit correctly? It doesn’t feel off.” Dilacy as she asked this, bewildered by the request.
Jack did is best to explain, “It’s mana that was artificially purified to match as closely as we could to your own mana signature. How did Charise describe it? For her if her normal mana was caramel then the mana that was put inside of her was caramel made with the wrong type of sugar?”
“Eh, close enough I think.” Charise agreed.
Jack nodded at her in thanks before he looked back at Dilacy and reiterating, “So, your own mana in currently in that same state. Close to correct but just slightly off. So, you really should purify it as soon as possible.”
“It’s okay, Dilacy. I know we don’t always agree. In fact, we very rarely agree. But I need you to do what they ask. As I said I will explain everything I can afterwards, alright?” Carlos attempted to reassure her as soon as Jack finished talking.
Dilacy looked at Carlos and grumbled out an agreement, “Fine Carlos, but when you say everything, it had better mean everything.”
“Okay then whenever you are ready, please go ahead and get started. I will be monitoring you throughout the process. Once you are done purifying and good to use your mana somehow, please do let us know.” Jack said after hearing her agree to get started.
With that last bit of resistance out of the way Dilacy closed her eyes and began to purify her mana. As she was doing this Jack went up and set his hands upon her head, beginning to stretch tendrils of mana into her once more. Disguising it as her mana as best as he could all the while.
Just like he had with Charise, as he watched the mana within her change, he worked on matching his shell to what he was seeing. The color didn’t change at all, staying the exact same shade of deep forest green. However, similar to how with Charise’s he needed to add an almost metal filigree to the outside of that shell, Dilacy’s mana took on a whole new dimension of its own.
In this case it began to take on patterning almost like the leaves of a plant or the bud coiled around the flower before it bloomed.
Eventually Dilacy was done purifying the mana within her. As the last drop was converted over into truly being her own, she opened her eyes. “Okay I’m all done with the purification. Hey where did that one guy who was going to monitor me go?”
“I’m right here.” Jack said from right behind her, causing her to jump.
Dilacy let out a shout and her breath heaved as she recovered, “Gah don’t do that. I didn’t notice you there at all!”
“That has to do with how I am monitoring the changes within your body.” Jack explained before turning hie head and asking. “Are we all good for her to absorb mana from the environment Madam Blue? I haven’t had the ability to check at all, considering earlier today.”
The director nodded and stated flatly, “Yes. The mana in this area is flowing freely once more. She should be fine to do so.”
Turning back to Dilacy Jack told her, “Okay, so the next step that you will do, is, absorb and purify enough mana from the surrounding area to cast a spell or enhancement or whatever form of magic that you do. Which form do you do anyways?”
“I’m a enhancement specialist. Also, that’s it? You don’t want me to do anything else?” Dilacy answered, and then doubled checked in surprise.
Jack shook his head even though from where she was sitting Dilacy could not see it, “Nope, that’s it. We need to see if there is a specific mana interaction that occurs within your body when you use mana.”
“Alright. I’ll just get on that then. Also, if you are going to keep your hands on my head, please do mind my ears. They are very sensitive.” Dilacy drew out the alright before speeding up the rest of her words, feeling an obvious relief that this was all she needed to do.
“Of course.” Jack agreed easily.
With that out of the way the two of them closed their eyes. Once more sinking into their own respective trances.
Jack yet again sent the bits of his mana down into her body, converted over to match. Once inside he watched in amazement at the absorption of mana from the world. It was fascinating to see just how it differed from one person to another.
With Charise, it was like watching a great whirlpool crash upon an immovable object and be broken upon it. The shattered remains then sucked in to be converted.
With Dilacy it was not quite as dramatic in terms of the speed. Instead of a violent crash it was almost like her mana grew roots that reached out into the surrounding atmosphere and sucked it in.
After a few seconds Jack saw the changes within her body. The roots that had extended out drew back, no longer taking in mana to be converted. Now instead there was a feeling within her mana, almost one of anticipation, like just how one would feel right before seeing a flower blossom.