Chapter 31: The Analyzer
Meira, having predicted her kitten’s reaction to the cuffs, quickly explained. “Don’t panic. These cuffs can’t restrain. You could easily rip the tubes off, but all you will accomplish is damaging expensive equipment. We need to apply these cuffs to your wrists, ankles, head, and the base of your tail with your suit to create a closed-off circuit to the mana analyzer.”
Evernya relaxed back into the chair but remained vigilant as Elizabeth explained the next part. “The analyzer will circulate your mana through your system into the tank behind you and back into your body. All you have to do is sit back and relinquish control of your mana system. The analyzer will do everything for you. Also, please don’t try to control your mana as it may ruin the test.”
Evernya inhaled in a deep breath to calm her nerves before nodding for them to continue.
After receiving the nod, Elizabeth and Sarah worked together to securing the cuffs to Evernya’s body. First, the wrist and ankle cuffs before they moved on to her head. They rested a helmet-like device with ear holes on Evernya’s head before securing it in place with a strap under her chin.
“Please lean forward so we can secure the cuff to the base of your tail. This may feel uncomfortable,” Ordered Sarah.
With a bit of hesitance, Evernya leaned forward to allow Sarah access to her tail. While trying to be as gentle as possible, Sarah wrapped the cuff around the base of Evernya’s tail. However, as soon as the cuff cinched down around the base of her tail, a spasm shot up her spine, causing her to arch her back. Evernya’s first instinct was to shake the cuff off of her tail as she glared at the offending object wrapped around her tail with ire.
Before Evernya could tear off the expensive equipment, Meira blew a warm gust of wind past her kitten’s face, causing Evernya to look up at Meira standing in front of the chair. With her kitten’s attention Meira assured, “Calm down, Evernya, I know its uncomfortable but you won’t even feel it in a few seconds as the devices will adhere to your body similar to your suit” Assured Meira, just as the equipment begin a familiar squeezing and sticking sensation.
As Meira stated a few seconds later, the equipment squeezed and stuck to her body before vanishing from Evernya’s sense of touch like the suit. Evernya relaxed as the almost unbearable sensation constricting her tail vanished.
Evernya peered over her shoulder to check if the cuff still constricted her tail, finding it still present. Note to self, never wrap anything around my tail. I knew my tail was sensitive, but not this bad. The combination of extreme sensitivity bordering on ticklish and pleasure made it unbearable. I guess pretty tail ribbons are out.
Wait, didn’t Meira add a royal blue tail ribbon to one of her unconscious Evernya dress-up sessions? Evernya thought, prompting a glare at the offending elf before another thought came to her. “How does it work with my hair and fur on my tail? Won’t it affect the connection?”
While poking at the screen mounted on the back of the tank, Elizabeth explained, “No, Hair doesn’t affect the connection because it's part of your body. However, you may have a severe case of helmet hair after removal.”
After a few minutes of silence, Elizabeth instructed, “Please select the yes option to the pop-up on your computer screen. It will link the mana system analyzer with your suit. After the linking completes, you should receive another pop-up to start the test. When you are ready, press the start option and relax.”
Eager to be out of the contraption as soon as possible, Evernya immediately selected the required options on the pop-ups. Afterward, she laid back with her eyes closed, with her tail clutched between her hands on her lap. A few seconds later, she felt her mana rushing through her veins with fluctuating speeds. The flow started slowly with building momentum until her mana was rushing so fast it almost hurt.
The mana surged through her body and out into the tank before returning to her body for over ten minutes until a ding sounded from her computer as the mana in her veins returned to normal speed, prompting her to open her eyes and check her suit computer. Her eyes landed on a release option pop-up on her suit computer, which she immediately selected.
Upon selecting release, a pulling sensation similar to tape gently removed from skin signaled the disconnection of the cuffs and helmet. Unfortunately, the uncomfortable, constricting feeling around her tail returned with force.
While trying to suppress her discomfort, Evernya leaned forward for Sarah to remove the offending object as Elizabeth unstrapped the other cuffs and the helmet.
Within a second of Elizabeth removing the helmet, Evernya’s indented hair sprang back to normal, removing all traces of helmet hair, prompting all three women to glare at Evernya’s flawless hair with envy. Evernya smiled smugly under their gazes, but remained silent. The women shook their heads before returning to their duties.
After the cuffs and the helmet returned to the storage compartment, Evernya stood from the chair to join the others reviewing the results on the screen mounted on the back of the chair. However, she couldn’t see anything with four others huddled around the small screen. Fortunately, her plight solved itself when she spotted the results displayed on her suit’s computer. She plopped down on a chair at the table to read her results.
While reviewing her results, she eavesdropped on the nerding out group. I love how sensitive my cat ears are. I probably could hear a pin drop from over a hundred meters away. No wonder it was so hard to sneak up on my cats on earth. Now if only they outlawed loud noises and lousy elevator music, then I would be golden. Oh well, I can’t have everything. I would still take these ears over human ears in a heartbeat despite the drawbacks.
“How are these results possible with a shifter so young!? Only shifters from an ancient bloodline could come even close, not to mention she is a mage which few shifter races can claim. Didn’t you say she is only 19?” Proclaimed Sarah in astonishment.
“Who says she isn’t part of a mythic era bloodline? The bloodline may lay dormant or sealed.” Thomas commented.
Thomas keeps mentioning this mythic era. I wonder what that is. Most likely is some lost or prehistoric era. I really need to spend some time on the Internet to learn this stuff. Especially considering the rune branded on my mana core has connections to a Mythic era ruin.
Evernya soon became bored with eavesdropping as they talk about complex terms she didn’t understand. She focused back on the results on her suit’s computer screen. Evernya chose the simplify results option to make the results readable for a novice like her.
This is much easier to read. The full results were overwhelming. I couldn’t even understand half of the terms used. I’ll let the experts huddled around the other screen deal with the full version. I love how easy this computer is to use, fortunately, it has a similar layout to a smartphone from earth.
Results
Mana system health
* Mana core: healthy
* Mana veins: healthy
Mana system durability
* Mana core: up to Awakened grade 7.53
* Mana veins: up to Awakened grade 6.21
Mana system strength: Awakened Grade 5.72
Mana system capacity: 1633 liters
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
If I’m reading this right, my mana grade is 5.72. Lower than the noble, but still much higher than everyone else at the mage’s test. The noble girl had control of her magic, so she probably had training, unlike me. Oh well, I’ll get there eventually if I don’t blow myself up first. Thought Evernya before moving on to the next section.
Magic classes
3T Psion
* Telekinesis affinity 4.35
* Telepathy affinity 1.73
* Teleportation affinity 2.21
warrior
* Durability boost affinity 5.32
* Self-healing boost affinity 5.32
Sweet. I have a bunch of magic to experiment with. I can’t wait to learn how to control it, especially the Psion abilities. The warrior abilities are cool, but nothing beats moving things with your mind or reading someone’s thoughts. Teleportation sounds awesome too. Really, I can’t decide what is better. I’ll just have to play around with them all. No need to discriminate. I wonder, is telepathy capable of reading minds? Or is it the type that only allows you to communicate telepathically?
Unable to resist her curiosity, Evernya looked up at her group of experts, asking, “So, can I read minds?”
As a fellow Psion, Thomas answered before anyone else. “You can, but with your underdeveloped telepathy, it would be difficult. Telepathy requires you to overpower or bypass your target’s mental defenses. Sentient minds naturally form stronger mental defenses as their mana grade increases, making this more difficult. You might read the mind of an unawakened human with your current affinity, but it would take a lot of concentration and may harm the target’s mind. Telepathy has many more uses beyond reading minds, but I doubt you have access to any more until you develop it further.”
Just as Thomas returned his attention to the results screen, the curious girl commented, “So telepathy isn’t as dangerous as my other abilities? It sounds difficult to use effectively in combat.”
Thomas replied, beginning a long lecture on the subject. “Oh, it’s quite the opposite. Telepathy is the most feared Psionic ability. Telepathy is even on the list of controlled magic. In fact, there is a law that all free telepaths living in Sespina controlled territory must have their telepathy stunted.”
“To perform the stunting, a qualified enchanter brands runes permanently to the telepath’s mana core. The runes prevent the telepath from using their telepathy on non-consenting Sespina citizens and limit their telepathic affinity to under three to ensure the telepath cannot cause severe damage with their magic. Sespina requires the branding before the telepath can receive their ID. There are a few ways around having your telepathy stunted, but they come with just as harsh payments.”
The three women glared at Thomas but remain silent as Thomas continued to explain his future student’s options, unaware of her paling face. “One option is to serve Sespina’s mages council for life. On the surface, this option sounds enticing. The mage’s council will give the perspective enlistee all the benefits of serving your country but skim over the drawbacks. Some benefits are free training tailored to one’s Magic classes, including a diet comprising high-quality foods to ensure they grow strong quickly and efficiently. For many mages, serving one’s country is a great career path, but not for a telepath.”
“Since telepathy is on the controlled Magic list, you would have to go under a much harsher enlistment process. For you, they may even throw in more benefits to lure you in. However, for most mages, they pledge a certain amount of time to the Council and receive brands with several runes that will automatically disappear when that time is up. These runes are used to ensure loyalty and to control what they allow you to do while serving their country. The only rune permanent for normal mages is the one preventing the mage from revealing classified secrets.”
As Thomas’s explanation continued, Evernya’s eyes glowed brighter with anger. Menacing growls erupted from her throat, unbeknownst to Thomas. I refuse to be under the control of anyone! I would rather die than become a slave. It is my magic I will do with it as I please! Thought Evernya, with increasing anger.
“The Enlistment process is different for a mage with a class on the control list. They will receive the same brands, but theirs are permanent, with a few extra runes depending on their other classes. For you, they will probably brand you with runes that prevent you from using your Magic unless they order you to.” Thomas over-explained, having entered teacher mode at the expense of Evernya’s emotional state.
Elizabeth shot water into Thomas’s face, knocking him out of his scholarly rant. Once he returned to his senses, he met three pairs of disapproving eyes and one enraged glowing pair.
Meira rushed toward her kitten before she had a meltdown, while Thomas looked on sheepishly at the situation he accidentally caused.
Meira hugged her kitten while pleading, “Calm down, Evernya. I know it’s hard, but please control yourself.”
After Meira released her, Evernya questioned through gritted teeth as her magic rippled under the surface. “Is it true that the government wants to take away my magic?”
Afraid Thomas would set her kitten off, Meira answered instead with her newly researched knowledge. “Yes, but the stunting doesn’t mean you will lose your telepathy. Their method of stunting will ensure your telepathy has hard limits, making it weaker than your other magic. Even stunted telepathy is exceptionally versatile. As long as your target consents, you could even erase or implant false memories in limited amounts. The stunting only prevents more complex telepathic feats, such as mind wipes or mind control. You could still read consenting minds or communicate telepathically.”
After the explanation, Evernya closed her eyes, focusing on the flow of her mana system as she took in deep breaths. Several minutes of silence followed as Evernya reined in her magic and anger. With one last deep breath, she opened her eyes, turning them toward Thomas.
“You mentioned there are multiple methods of avoiding the stunting. What are they? Don’t sugarcoat it either. I can take the truth.” Evernya inquired in a calm and even tone.
Thomas glanced at the group of three women before replying. “The other option is to choose exile, meaning Sespina will blacklist your mana signature, preventing entrance to any Sespina controlled settlements. If a telepath chooses this option settlement barrier will treat them as a mana beast barring them entry and inflict severe pain if they try to force their way in. Choosing exile means the telepath will have to live in the unprotected slums of society or take their chances in the wilds. However, unlike the other options, this one is not permanent. You can have your telepathy stunted or serve Sespina’s mages council at any time in the future.”
To Thomas’s surprise, Evernya kept a level head as she continued her questioning. “None of these options sound good for me. Do I have any other choices?”
Without sugarcoating Thomas said, “No, even if you were to avoid registering as an adult, I’m sure the council will find out about your failed mage’s test if they don’t know already and let the cat out of the bag.”
“Damn, I guess I can’t miss something I never knew I had. Besides, I’m still capable of plenty of other cool magic.” Evernya commented, trying her to see the bright side to the relief of the occupants of the room.
With her decision made, Evernya changed the subject, “Why don’t slaver use runes instead of these slave bands? It sounds like runes can do almost anything.”
This time, Meira is the one who entered lecture mode. “Runes can do many things, but branding one’s mana core against their will can be tricky. As you noticed with the contract, the process is not instant. It is easy for even a newly awakened human to resist a brand. All they need to do is release a burst of mana through their mana veins before the branding process completes.”
“A slave band, on the other hand, can bind to an unwilling person, unlike a normal rune. Once a slave band encircles someone’s neck and activates, it will create a one-way mana vein leading directly to the person’s mana core. I have heard this is an excruciating process and, unfortunately, impossible to stop once started. The newly created mana vein only allows mana sent to the recipient’s core, preventing the recipient from using their mana to resist. Since the slave band connects directly to the wearer’s mana system on top of fusing to their skin, it becomes a permanent part of their body.” Meira lectured with passion, being obsessed with anything enchanter-related.
“Do I have this mana vein? I didn’t notice a mana vein running to my band.” Asked Evernya, drilling her gaze into Meira’s when she hesitated to answer.
While avoiding eye contact with her kitten, Meira admitted, “Yes, you do. The reason you didn’t notice it is because I sealed it off. Removal of the mana vein is impossible, but with the seal, you should be fine.”
“I thought this band was harmless!” Evernya yelled, covering her slave band under her suit with her hands.
Before her kitten melted down, Meira assured, “Don’t worry, it would be difficult for someone to break my seal since I am one of the strongest enchanters in the area. However, we will find a more permanent solution before you start college just to be safe.”
Evernya took a deep breath, refusing to let her emotions beat her.
After calming down, Evernya scanned her gathered group of experts before speaking. “So, what are my options? What if the stunting runes fail like the contract? Neither of the other options will work for me, so I’m forced to have my telepathy stunted.”
The group deferred to Thomas, as he was the most knowledgeable on the subject. “To be honest, I don’t know. You are in a unique position even if they can stunt your telepathy as you will still be powerful with your other abilities. So yes, your best option is to go through with the stunting process. They may bring in an enchanter on par with Meira to do it, since they knew ahead of time that you’re a T3 Psion. If they bring in an expert of her caliber, they will notice if the brand fails. If it does, you will have no choice but to exile yourself, but I doubt it will come to that. They wouldn’t want to anger Meira, who does many of the enchantments for our local mages council.” Thomas explained, earning nods of agreement from the rest of the panel of experts.