-Locke-

It took a few more meditation sessions to accurately sense the Personal Energy within me.

Now, even without meditation, I could feel an electric charge under my skin, like the fuzzy sensation when a t-shirt rubs against your back.

The sensation was spread out across my entire body with no discernible source of origin— just a chaotic river of charged energy.

After two days, I fully cultivated my sensitivity of it.

On the third day, I finally tried to move it.

According to the book, Personal Energy could either be Lifeforce or Psionic in nature.

I first tried to manipulate it like Ki or Chi, attempting to speed up or slow down its flow. That didn't work.

Trying to change its direction also failed. The energy stubbornly maintained its cycle— from my toes to my head, then down again.

"If it’s not physical like Lifeforce, then it must be Mental, which means Psionic,"

I reasoned, approaching the farthest wall of my cell and focusing on the three items on the bed: my water-soaked pants, dry T-shirt, and the Darkhold.

Yup, I was only in my underwear.

Luckily, there were no cameras inside the small cell, and I had a few hours before Vision brought my daily meal.

Anyway, I knew Psionic abilities usually manifested in three ways: Telepathy, Telekinesis, and Psychokinesis.

I couldn't test Telepathy as there was no one else around.

Telekinesis and Psychokinesis, however, were different.

I closed my eyes, visualizing the T-shirt floating into my hands, while also keeping tabs on my Personal Energy.

After a minute with no result, I opened my eyes. The T shirt hadn't moved from the bed, and the energy within me hadn't shown any reaction.

I then tried Psychokinesis by attempting to heat up my water-soaked pants. I imagined the water molecules vibrating fast enough to change states into steam.

That also failed; the pants remained cold and drenched.

Maybe my control over the Personal Energy was too low, but I should have at least felt something, right?

So caught up in my frustration, I didn’t notice Vision phase through the door.

Luckily, his steps were audible.

I turned around to find him blankly staring at the Darkhold on the bed, a tray with bread, jerky, and a jug of water in his hands.

"Your meal," he said, holding out the tray.

"Bread and jerky again? Even actual prisoners have variety in their diet,"

I complained. The bread was always dry and the jerky bland.

Vision said nothing.

Resigned, I took the tray and sat on the bed, placing it atop the Darkhold in my lap. Sue me, I didn't have a table, and the tray was cold. Ain't no way I was placing it on my naked thighs.

I quietly began eating while Vision stood off to the side. Over the last two days, he had never left the tray with me.

Perhaps Wanda was worried I’d try to do something with it.

Still, even her overcautiousness wouldn't stop me from escaping once I figured out how to use my Personal Energy.

Hey, wait a minute...

I stopped drinking the water midway, eyes landing on the silent android.

Vision not only had the Mind Stone on his head, but Wanda’s chaos corruption was magic, right? Maybe he had some information I could learn from.

Placing the cup back on the tray, I cleared my throat.

"Can I ask you something? It’s not anything that will get you in trouble with Wanda, I promise."

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He didn’t respond, but that wasn’t anything new.

Luckily, I knew how to get him talking.

"It’s about this book."

I tapped the Darkhold, and his expression changed a little. The distant and lifeless gaze was replaced by a bit of interest.

"You see, I opened the first page and couldn’t make sense of the strange text,"

I said, holding it up for him to see. His eyes lit up with a yellow light that scanned the page.

A frown appeared on his face.

"My optics inform me the page is blank. It contains no text."

"Really?"

I was confused.

Maybe only I could read the Darkhold? Good to know.

"I can tell you what it says and then you can help me figure out what it means."

I offered.

Hesitation appeared in his eyes—something unexpected from an enslaved android.

So, Vision wasn’t completely gone...

"Look at it this way, you would be serving your Mistress’ interest. Wanda wants the Darkhold, right? Maybe this way we can learn why it bonded to me in the first place."

My words had the desired effect.

"I shall comply. For now."

Vision answered.

"What does the page contain?"

I hid my smile and promptly told him about the three types of magic: Universal, Dimensional, and Personal.

Of course, leaving out the part about the Magic extraction ritual.

Wanda was likely listening in or had a way to extract information from Vision. Everything she had done so far, pointed to her obsession with the Darkhold.

"My question is, how would one go about utilizing these three types of magic if they had the potential for it?"

I asked vaguely, hoping Wanda would interpret it as me trying to find a way to use magic.

Despite the risks involved- it also seemed naive of me, a complete noob. I was counting on her underestimating my potential, not knowing what I could already do.

Vision didn't answer right away.

When he did, it was with the deductive reasoning only capable of a supercomputer. The Mind Stone on his forehead probably helped as well.

"From your explanation, Universal and Dimensional magic rely on outside catalysts, while Personal Magic relies on the user's talent and understanding of themselves."

He said.

"Oh, I see,"

I replied, trying to act as if I was getting it.

"Then what's the difference between Universal and Dimensional? If someone in a different dimension could tap into the natural energy of this universe, wouldn't it make it, at least to them, Dimensional Magic? So what’s stopping someone from simply using the methods of learning Dimensional magic to tap into their universe's natural energy?"

"That likely depends on the comparison between both realities. A universe might be bigger and more complex than a dimension. A dimension can simply be a pocket of space cut off from the universe or layered onto the universe. Both scenarios suggest the physical rules of the universe would be more complete. Which in turn would make the natural energy or its essence share the same properties."

Vision explained.

I understood what he meant, as it was close to my own conclusions.

Basically, a dimension had simpler rules, while the universe had more complex rules due to its wide variety.

For example, the Dark Dimension, Dormammu’s realm, was saturated with darkness and the Dreadlord's essence.

In comparison, no corner of the universe was the same. The Quantum Realm could be considered a different dimension yet it’s a part of the universe—a layer.

"So to tap into Universal Magic without complex incantations and calculations, would mean more than just opening yourself up to the Universal energy around, right? But what more can someone do? And how would they even be able to sense it? Let alone control such power?"

I questioned the Android.

Too fast for me to catch, the Mind Stone on Vision's forehead flashed.

I didn’t see it, but I sensed it—the same feeling I got whenever Wanda cast a spell on me.

A little of her magic spilled out of Vision and dissolved into my body.

The look in the android’s eyes had changed slightly, only noticeable if you were keenly looking for it.

I dont think I was facing the android anymore; it was most likely Wanda.

"That's a good question,"

Vision complimented, another indication it wasn’t him in control.

"Natural energy is very, very hard to sense, let alone use. And without learning a magical language from a book like the Darkhold..."

His vision fell onto my lap, and a flash of hunger passed through his eyes before he continued,

"You would need to construct a magical array—a compound-sized magic formation, that would then gather the natural energy and store it in specialized crystals created from souls. As spirits are not a part of the material world, they can be shaped to isolate and hold vast amounts of Universal Energy."

Damn. That’s Wanda all right. She was just speaking through Vision.

"But...wouldn't that mean killing people?"

I asked, knowing she had no qualms about it but still curious about her response.

"Of course. But they would be serving a greater purpose,"

Vision answered almost immediately.

"Greater purpose? What do you mean?" I was confused.

"Universal Energy is the breath of the universe,"

Vision said, his breathing quickening, almost as if Wanda was excited.

"An energy only surpassed by the God's divine power as it can do anything. Enough of it under someone's control can enable one to bend reality to their will. A remote control to all existence."

Vision's eyes were practically lit with obsession.

"And once 'its' ready, nothing will stop me from changing the channel..."

Okay...none of that sounded remotely good.

I hadn’t seen Wanda for two days, and I assumed she was busy with something really evil and bad for my health.

Our conversation about souls and sacrificing them to create something that could hold vast amounts of Universal Energy, confirmed it.

We’re literally on top of a Leyline node. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she was planning.

Shit! I really need to get out of here soon...

After concluding the explanation, Vision's eyes returned to normal, and I was now back to staring at the blank-faced android. Wanda was gone.

"Any more questions?"

The android asked.

"No, I think I'm good. What you answered is enough for today. Same time tomorrow?"

I tried a joke, which fell flat as the android simply grabbed the tray and phased out of the cell.

Now I was alone again.

At least I had somewhat of an answer to my previous question.

What is Magic?

Magic is the expansion of human consciousness through the exploration of the arcane—a spiritual dimension accessed through imagination and will.

But for that to happen, you couldn’t just half-ass it.

The power, the imagination, and the will might be present, but you also need direction.

After all, you can't walk a path that doesn't exist.

But if you're like me, meaning out of options, you create the path yourself.

And fortunately, I knew where to start.

I grabbed the Darkhold, opened the first page, and then flipped onto the second page.

The energy within me stirred at the row of new texts.