-So it does look to you like that as well, then - she nodded. - I thought that you’d know, even without being able to recognize different signatures, you are able to recognize yourself.
-Well, I am sort of an anomaly… - I muttered. - It’s hard to miss…
-I suppose so… But what does that mean? What is this thing? When I approached I could see it moving and the mana inside…
-You could see it moving…?
I stepped closer. Was this thing something more…?
But nope, I couldn’t see a thing. Just it slightly vibrating, just as you’d expect after a working generator.
-You sure about that?
-Yes! Look!
She placed her hand on top of it and, of course the vibrations got more visible.
-See!?
Ah. Nah, it’s just… Well, let’s say that’s how it is supposed to work. I think.
-You know what this thing is? - asked Kon, who entered the tent behind me.
I quickly gazed towards him and scanned the area.
Rob was still tied, right behind him.
-I thought he might know something more. It was supposed to be his tent, right?
-Oh, is that so? - I muttered.
I could feel him trying to avoid my eyes.
-So. Why so quiet, hm? Why didn’t you say something about this? - I asked him directly.
-I… You didn’t ask…
I tried very hard to not sigh. I am not sure if I succeeded.
-Fucking genius. I didn’t ask about something I didn’t know. Well, now I am asking. Do you know what this is?
-A… a generator.
-A generator of what? - asked For.
-Power.
-Power?! You create mana with that?! - asked Kon, slightly concerned.
-No! I mean, I don’t think it’s mana…
-You don’t think…?
-I don’t know, okay!? I know that it fuels different things around the camp, I don’t know with what exactly! Don’t ask me.
-Hm…
He was not lying.
Whoever supplied him with this thing, did not tell him how this thing worked. Or, well, mostly…
-On what does it run? - I asked, seeing as he was silent again.
-Er…?
-What do you put inside to make it create power? - I precised, seeing as he was trying to dodge the question. - Come on. Spit it out.
-Er… crystals…
-What kind of crystals?!
-Mana crystals…
-Parts of me, am I right?
-Y-yes…
I was speechless.
They weren’t kidding when they said that they were able to create a mixture of magic and technology. The thing in front of me was proof of that.
And for them to somehow include Origin Crystal within its design? “Miraculous” wouldn’t be an understatement.
But… that also meant a lot more than he thought he said.
It was clear, whoever was working with this, or rather who created it, had to be at least in collaboration with one of the research facilities that had access to Origin Crystal. And those weren’t that open to outsiders.
Now, the question was, which one made this thing?
Yes, my old world was gone. Mostly, I mean, some survivors were still with us, but there weren’t many that had access to such information.
If we rule out that it’s just from another facility that it’s not affiliated with us at all…
-Axelrod gave you this, didn’t he?
My direct question made him flinch, clearly he was not expecting me to figure it out instantly.
I mean, it wasn’t hard to deduce.
-N-not exactly…
-What’s that supposed to mean?
-He helped… he was the one that designed it, but we were the ones who made it… With his assistance.
-Ah.
Yeah, it made sense. He was still just one person, and of course he wouldn’t just create this thing by himself. He needed some workforce.
-And let me guess. He was the first one who supplied you with fuel.
-Er… yes…
-Of course… When was that?
-I… a long time ago… I can’t remember, it’s been a lot of years since then…
So this kind of technology was available to him for years?
Damn.
His progress was astounding.
But again, he spent so much time in this place with nothing stopping him, besides a faction that he managed to turn to his own side… No wonder.
Yet, it was amazing still.
-Let me guess the rest. This thing was working for a long time, but not that long ago, it started losing power. Am I right?
-...!
Again, his face spoke more than his mouth.
-Aha. And since your fuel was the Origin Crystal, he told you how to find another source of it, as in myself.
I expected many reactions. But what I felt from him was just… surprise. And not the same one that I felt before… he just was stunned by that…
-No.
That one word made me second-guess myself.
He was not lying.
I was wrong?
-What do you mean “no”?
-I mean no… he never told us about you… it’s just something we found by ourselves.
-By yourselves? HOW?
-I… we weren’t looking for you, to be precise. We were looking for the crystals, and by extension we found you.
-How does that make sense?
He stopped for a moment and took a deep breath.
I think he knew that I was about to hurry him up, because he started talking again.
-We were looking for large masses of mana. You know, we thought of replacing the crystal by something else that was full of it…
-And that works just as well?
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
-Somewhat. It’s a lot less efficient and durable, but works. We knew we couldn’t rely on the supply that was coming from him, so we started looking for alternatives.
-And you found one in me?
-It ended like this, yes, but first, we found other people… I mean…
He shuddered and glanced briefly at For for some reason.
-We found that there exist people that are a lot more powerful than us. Just as Axelrod.
-Remnants, yes?
-We thought so too - he nodded. - But not only that… there are… other races… elves.
Ah. So that’s why he hesitated.
But, wait, since when did he know that For was an elf? It’s not really something that’s easily noticeable…
And didn’t he even say that he had no idea what those are?
-We managed to find some… you know about that already. We had some successes, but mostly failures thanks to some teleportation spells…
-Wait… teleportation spells…?
I think both Kon and I realized what he meant at the same moment.
-Yes… the island.
-But those kids aren’t elves! - protested Kon. - Those are just regular humans!
-How do you explain their abundant mana then? And the efforts to protect them from harm by that man? A whole band of elves protecting some human children just for what? Clear conscience?
-Hold on a second. Jack is an elf?! Are we really talking about the same place? - I asked, starting to get confused.
-Of course. That island was always an elven enclave. Along with that guy and his helpers. Sure, he’s got some human friends, but he was the man, or rather elf, behind everything.
I don’t think I have to say that none of us was expecting that turn of events.
Jack? Elf?
I mean, everything is possible, it would explain why he was interested in For… His looks could’ve been altered just the same way as For herself was…
That guy is slick. A bit too slick for my tastes.
That brought a question though. I never felt that he was lying to me. Neither of them. And yet, the information he was presenting to me was not completely in line with what I knew beforehand…
Was my ability failing? Or…
No. I said it myself a long time ago. It wasn’t perfect. It was very possible to trick me if one would keep their cool completely and have perfect control over their own mana.
Was he capable of that?
One glance at the man in front of me gave me an answer.
He definitely was not. I was able to peek into his mind no problem, same with manipulating him. Nah. He was clean.
Jack on the other hand…
-Eh… fucking amazing - I sighed. - Thanks for the revelations, I guess…
-You don’t believe him, do you!?
For was looking wildly between two of us.
-Sadly, I am.
-That’s preposterous! I can’t think of a more impossible story!
-And yet, he’s telling us it. And is not lying.
-But…!
-It’s not like it changes a thing - I shrugged. - Does it?
-I… I…
-Look, what does it matter who they are, or were. It doesn’t change our objective. Axelrod.
-That’s a fair point - said Kon. - What are we planning now?
-Right! I sent you to find something anchor-like, have you found anything? I mean, besides this thing - I gestured towards the generator.
-No…
-Fuck.
-But! That thing is…
-Right. It still has some crystal within it… Now, when I think about it, they are mine, aren’t they? I probably should…
I stepped towards the machine and looked closer.
On the side there was something that looked like an opening where they were putting the fuel, a circular hole covered with a metal door. I opened it and looked inside.
Just as expected, inside there were some pieces of crystal.
-Those will be handy… - I muttered and was about to shove my hand inside and pull them out, but stopped myself short.
Shouldn’t I first turn this thing off? Who the hell knows what would happen if I’d stuff my hand inside with this thing running. Would that drain my mana? Or maybe overload it?
I felt an itch to try it out anyway, but the more sane part of me took over.
-I doubt that anyone’s going to cry if I destroy this thing? - I asked the room.
I didn’t expect to get a reply, and yet I got one.
-Don’t! We need this thing!
It was For.
I gazed at her with confusion.
-We need it? I thought you didn’t even know what it was?
-I still don’t! But I do know that it has a different mana signature to this whole place.
-Wait. You want to use THIS THING as an anchor!? - I asked, realizing what she was insinuating.
-Not my idea!
-It was mine… - said Kon. - But… I don’t know…
-You bet you don’t. How would you even try that?
-I mean, I just need to touch it, but it’s not the problem… The issue is that this thing doesn’t have just one type of mana… it’s an amalgamation of many things…
-Mhm…
While he was trying to explain what the two of them felt and what they thought it was, I was looking for something to disable the generator. I mean, I probably could just smash it to pieces, turn it off permanently, but I’d rather not risk this thing exploding. Whether I wanted to or not, it was still full of mana, even though it was technology based.
-Found it…
-What?
Back on the opposite side of the machine, I found something that reminded me of a switch. I already took a gander and it was the only one on the whole thing, so it had to be it.
Strange that something so “advanced” would only have this thing as a control panel, but hey, I wasn’t the one who made it.
Without a thought I flipped it.
The thing buzzed… and went silent and unmoving.
That was easy.
-So, you say that’s got more mana signatures…? Go take a peek inside. Is that it? That’s what both of you are feeling?
Kon approached and peeked inside, For just behind him.
-Y…yes! But… That’s…
-Weird… - For finished for him. - It’s like… I don’t know what I’m looking at…
-What do you mean? That’s just some pieces of me, right? That’s what they were using, I think…
-Yes… some of those are yours - she agreed. - But not everything. I can feel something else… that I can’t really pinpoint.
-She’s right - said Kon. - I can tell it too, it’s like you… but not you… How can we explain it…
Both of them went quiet, thinking.
-It’s like you mixed with something else… yet that something else is not mixing with you…? Does that make any sense…?
-Absolutely not - I said, shaking my head. - Are you saying that’s there’s two of me or something?
-Well… Maybe? - said Kon, uncertain himself.
-Do you have a brother or something? - asked For. - That would explain it. A twin?
-Hell no. But… Well, now I technically might - I said, hesitating.
-Now you might? What?
-Look at yourself. You both have a piece of me. Wouldn’t that make us similar in mana variety? Is that what the two of you are seeing?
Both of them paused and looked at each other, then back at me, then back at themselves, finally ending with their eyes glued to the generator.
-And?
-I… it makes sense… But when I look at us - started Kon - I see that we are vastly different. You’re more similar to the thing inside than to us…
-Does that mean…
-Does it belong to Axelrod? - Kon asked the question out loud, the same one that all of us had on our minds.
-Ay Rob. Is it him?
-Y-yes… Most of it…
-Most? So what… who else is in there?
-I am unsure… It definitely has some of… yours… and probably some bits from other people that we found…
-”Other people”?
-Of course. They somehow had to replenish their supply without leaning on Axelrod - I nodded.
-Ah… so that’s why there’s no remnants any more… - For said, understanding what that meant. - They were responsible…
-Yes… and the Axelrod played right into our hands… his narrative about “monsters made out of crystal” helped us legally get them…
-”Get”? More like kill.
-Well, yes… It’s not like we had a choice… Just like with you, they got crushed into pieces… but you…
-But I survived - I finished for him. - Yes, yes…
-It’s not like you survived, it’s more like you regenerated… none of those we took had an ability like that…. They just were falling apart and that’s it…
-”Falling apart”?
-Yes…You know, we mined pieces of crystal off you. Other remnants had the same treatment, and yet those never regrew their limbs. WIth you, we struck a goldmine, almost managed to get ourselves a stable source of fuel… and money…
-Almost?
-You woke up.
-True…
-You know, it’s been bothering me - said For. - You said that your spell has worn off, right? And yet, he’s so talkative?
-The spell… Huh, you’re right…
He shuddered under our suspicious looks.
-I don’t want any trouble… I just want to live…
-And to boot he changed his personality - said Kon. - He was so brazen and all… Acting almost like Gol… I mean, mister Moi.
-Ha. Right. He was a piece of shit - For agreed. - Are you certain you haven’t done anything to him? Maybe it’s just your magic that is too strong for him?
I carefully inspected his mana.
-I am unsure…
It was strange. I couldn’t tell if there was some kind of anomaly in his mana, it was strange…
Sure, it had something mixed within, but what? I couldn’t tell. I thought it was just some remains of my spell, or just something that was lingering still in his leg… But it was definitely too weak to influence him like this…
I think?
-You two are better at this - I concluded. - You take a look. Maybe you’ll find something… Or understand it rather.
-I would love to, but I can’t… It’s like he is suppressing it… Or rather not him…
-Not him?
-It’s your mana. It’s overwhelming.
-Oh, I am sorry, want me to leave or something?
I didn’t realize that I had some kind of an influence on this.
-No… It’s not you. I mean, it is but it’s not only you.
-Not only me?
-It’s the Origin Crystal - explained Kon. - Yours, his, mine, Fors, even the one in this machine… they all are suppressing each other…
-Yea… we are in a bad mix right now - agreed For.
-So how were you able to tell that… you know, never mind. It’s confusing enough as it is… - I said, sighing.
-You got that right.