"Agent Mir, I'd like to believe you returned because you've had a change of heart regarding the 'trend test', but something tells me your motives extend beyond that," Agent Dupont greeted Grace and Michael as they entered his office. The receptionist had informed them of his presence and mediated their request to meet him.
"I was actually considering it," Michael stated confidently, a hint of optimism coloring his expression more than before. "But I do have some questions before we proceed. After that, I'm open to-"
"No, you're not!" Grace interjected, playfully smacking his head. "He's had a bit too much of those Vitality Capsules," she explained to Agent Dupont, opting not to attribute blame to the prescribing doctor. "He's slated for a discourse at the Arena at six."
"Ah, I see. Best of luck to you, Agent Mir," Agent Dupont replied sincerely.
"Thanks," Michael said with a nod.
"Unfortunately, due to ethical and medical constraints, we won't be able to proceed with the test. However, we can address your questions today," Agent Dupont continued.
Grace positioned a chair between Agent Dupont and Michael, her curiosity piqued by what might be on her Partner's mind, given that she lacked a Condition Rune.
"Last time," Michael began, "we aligned the Bureau's definitions of Build and Mentality with my Physique and Psyche. However, the Condition Rune introduces additional statistics that pique my curiosity – beyond their self-explanatory names – and I'm intrigued by how they function and what the Bureau categorizes them as."
Agent Dupont acknowledged. "Condition Runes serve as highly detailed measuring instruments compensating for their lack of precision. Those circulating in Material Dimensions, comparable in precision to the Bureau's Sphere of Measurement and capable of quantifying up to a Second Metamorphosis and below, are as rare and costly as, I'd venture to say, Director Strange's annual salary – both in cash and Merit Points."
"So, does it imply that the Sphere of Measurement provides less information but with greater precision?" Michael sought clarification.
"Compared to most Condition Runes, I would say so. Are you ready to disclose the specifics of your inquiries now?" Agent Dupont inquired.
"No!" Michael's response, albeit brief, indicated a momentary lapse from his light-hearted demeanor. "No," he continued, lowering his voice, unwilling to show hesitation.
"Focus, or we can revisit this conversation at another time," Grace interjected, again, urging him to collect his thoughts.
"No, it's fine," he said, turning to Agent Dupont. "You keep calling me 'Agent Mir'. We never really established how I should address you... Doctor? Agent? Mad Scientist?" He chuckled. "Éliott? Dupont? Éliott Dupont?"
"Michael..." Grace gently said.
"I'm okay, Grace. Well, getting there."
"We often discuss sensitive information, and I'm not keen on being addressed as 'Agent' in a laboratory setting. 'Mad Scientist' sounds intriguing, but we're not quite there yet. 'Doctor' or 'Doctor Dupont', if it's not too cumbersome, would suffice," Agent Dupont clarified.
"Doctor, then," Michael nodded.
"Agent Mir," Doctor Dupont reciprocated the tone.
"Besides Physique and Psyche, there are a couple more stats on my Status Window, one of which I'm keen to understand better – the Bureau's stance on it... it's called 'Health'."
"Not unusual. While the sphere itself doesn't adhere to this concept, the Testing Laboratory does possess instruments capable of probing various conditions and aspects of a person. And 'Health' is indeed an appropriate term within the Bureau. The distinction lies in our instruments not quantifying it. Regarding your current well-being, would you mind sharing what yours is displaying?"
Name: Michael Mir
Age: 23
Race: Human
Status: Under Demonic Contract, Symbiosis (OFF)
Health: 2901 (-499)
Magick: 3286 (-114)
Magick Ions: 329 (-11)
Physique: 290 (-50)
Psyche: 337 (-3)
Insights:
Worm: Sight (Second Stage)
Abilities:
Worm: ???
"My Health is currently at 2901, with a maximum of 3400," Michael disclosed, as it was tied to his Magick Ions and previously revealed information. "Health improved after the second fight but Magick went down..." he noted to himself.
"Are the Vitality Capsules helping to restore it to normal? Are the numbers increasing?" Doctor Dupont inquired.
"Yes, although not as effectively as a Health Potion," Michael admitted.
"Health Potions are considered a First Level Metamorphosis commodity, hence they're more potent. However, they're not recommended frequently or in large doses for those below the First Metamorphosis due to their potency. Our Vitality Capsules, on the other hand, are an inferior product with inferior side effects. Taking more than the recommended dosage to heal your Build was found to provide little support for Magick Ions recovery. The downside is that excessive consumption can lead to sickness, a high, or worse, but nothing as dire as transforming into an abomination or ruining your Metamorphosis. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, they fall outside the expertise of the Bureau, hence the alternative Vitality Capsules," Doctor Dupont explained.
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Neither Doctor Dupont nor Grace inquired about who provided Michael with a Health Potion. They were already well-versed in his situation prior to his Bureau assignment, allowing for speculation.
"I see..." Michael reflected. Since the Bureau lacked an exact comparison, he had little to contribute. Thanks to Matteo, he had a basic understanding of how Health reflected his physical well-being.
As for discussing Insights and Abilities, the former seemed beyond his comfort zone, and he preferred to explore it first in the Exchange Center. The latter wasn't worth mentioning; he possessed none. He knew how Matteo named his attack, but even that he preferred to research independently before seeking consultation.
"Why not undergo the test to verify the trend of your Magick Ions?" Grace suddenly suggested, revisiting the discarded idea. "Your first fight with Matteo already indicated a leaning towards Build. I'm uncertain how the Condition Rune interprets your Physique, but the sphere relates to what I began explaining earlier, regarding differences among the Levels of Metamorphosis."
"What's that?" Doctor Dupont asked. "Are you referring to the issue of force per Magick Ion?"
"And the distinction between Metamorphosis levels," Grace added.
"It's not a fixed subject, and there are talks about revising it every so often."
"Do you not want him to take the test?!" Grace pressed.
"Of course I do. As the 'new kid on the block', so to speak, the test would at least provide a basic understanding of his strengths and give us an idea for future direction. As I mentioned before, I'm also curious to see how a Demonic Client differs from a Bureau graduate," Doctor Dupont clarified.
Meanwhile, Grace's observation resonated with Michael. 'She is right; I've already shown inclination toward Physique, and I've even decided to use it as a cover for my Psyche,' he lamented. "Will it be as invasive as the first exam?"
"Absolutely not!" Doctor Dupont asserted. "The Bureau respects its Agents' privacy to a healthy degree. The test is non-intrusive and relies on the test-taker's cooperation for the best results. However, given your current state-"
"Don't log the results," Grace intervened. "He only needs an estimation to better prepare for the next fight."
"That goes against protocol, Agent," Doctor Dupont replied sternly.
"What if the Bureau has already hinted at turning a blind eye to matters concerning Michael? Sure, he might struggle to control his Magick and face a minor backlash from the test, but perhaps he needs that excuse to avoid the fight," Grace reasoned.
"Grace, did you plan this? Getting me high so I won't fight?" Michael's anger surfaced.
"No. By six, the high will be long gone-"
"Then he can take the test before the fight," Doctor Dupont intervened. "High or not, he's still in recovery. Come back here at five. It's a brief test, and he'll have time to prepare for the fight afterward."
"Do you have a problem with that?" Michael asked Grace, his discontent evident.
"No," Grace sighed, rising from her seat to assist Michael.
"Wait," Michael halted her. 'Relax, focus on Psyche,' he urged himself, mustering all his concentration to control his Magick to the utmost. 'And you...' He addressed String. 'I understand you have a fickle personality, and I may not be your favorite host, but I'm asking you... work with me here!'
String remained silent, neither hating on Michael nor offering him even a shred of decency as the occupant of the same body. Michael interpreted the lack of response as approval.
'Symbiosis ON!' he declared.
String adhered.
Name: Michael Mir
Age: 23
Race: Human
Status: Under Demonic Contract, Symbiosis (NO)
Health: 6,301 (+3,400) (-499)
Magick: 6,686 (+3,400) (-114)
Magick Ions: 669 (+340) (-11)
Physique: 630 (+340) (-50)
Psyche: 80 (+340 (+40, -300)) (-300)
Insights:
Worm: Sight (Second Stage)
Abilities:
Worm: ???
Michael pressed his lips together and clenched his teeth. It took every ounce of his willpower to contain his Magick and prevent it from radiating outward, as David had admonished him for. The overwhelming sensation compounded with the lingering effects of the Vitality Capsules left him feeling drained. Additionally, Michael noticed an unexpected change in his Status Window; the four-digit numbers now had commas, and the stat points for Psyche for String seemed rearranged.
"Agent Mir!"
"Michael!"
Both Grace and Doctor Dupont felt a tingling sensation at the nape of their necks, unable to discern the cause beyond its connection to Michael and his Magick.
'Symbiosis OFF!' Realizing something was amiss, Michael called off String.
Name: Michael Mir
Age: 23
Race: Human
Status: Under Demonic Contract, Symbiosis (OFF)
Health: 3,200 (-200)
Magick: 3,315 (-85)
Magick Ions: 332 (-8)
Physique: 320 (-20)
Psyche: 141 (-199)
Insights:
Worm: Sight (Second Stage)
Abilities:
Worm: ???
Unexpectedly, the activation of Symbiosis accelerated the absorption of the Vitality Capsules, a result that Michael hadn't anticipated. 'I just wanted the power to stand on my own...' He couldn't determine whether he should feel disappointed or celebrate.
"What did you do?" Sensing the strange energy surrounding Michael dissipating, Grace pushed him against the cabinet next to his chair, her hands trembling.
"Release him," Doctor Dupont intervened, placing a calming hand on Grace's shoulder before Michael could react. "That's the Demonic Contract. It's under control now, right, Agent Mir?"
"Yeah- Yes," Michael replied, noticing the seriousness in Grace's expression and realizing his own carelessness despite his preparations.
"Is it?!" Grace's voice was sharp.
"Yes!" Michael pushed back, sensing the pain in his legs nearly gone and feeling his feet able to support most of his weight.
Grace huffed, but she let go and stepped back. "It's another thing you don't know, do you? What that just felt like..."
"Don't jump to conclusions, Agent Vasquez," Doctor Dupont cautioned. "I may not be a field Agent, but I've had my fair share of cadaver handling. Even in death, some traces of Magick can linger if you know where to look and are a bit lucky. Agent Mir bore a resemblance, yet was not quite the same."
"Resemblance to what?" Michael inquired, while Grace snorted.
"Outers. However, it's not my place to divulge more. Typically, Agents learn about them when they're ready to undertake missions related to them," Grace stated, her arms crossed. "They are parasitic monsters that spawn from the Terminal Dimension; leave it at that. Just wait for the missions. They're sure to come."
"At any rate, you do look a lot better," Doctor Dupont observed.
"Feeling better. The high is over. My Health still needs some time to fully recover, but the capsules are doing their job," Michael reached for Grace's hand, taking the initiative to make an intimate yet friendly gesture, a first in their partnership. "I'm sorry, really."
Grace accepted his hand but then pinched the back of it hard. "Remember this feeling. Next time you pull unexpected shit, I'll do just that to your eyeballs."
"Better than…" Michael stopped himself from finishing the sentence. 'You know what? "Eyeballs" is fine.' Still, he earned a smack to the head.
"I want to do it now," rubbing his head, Michael turned to Doctor Dupont. "The test. I insist and won't do it unless it's now." He thought, 'I must! With Psyche this low, it's the perfect opportunity to extract all my power without worrying about exposing it by mistake or otherwise...'
"This-"
"I mean it. I don't want to figure myself out an hour before the fight when I can do it in five and a half. The Bureau promised to support me, and you know about the limited time of my Grace Period. Whatever happens, I'm better off now than you'd have me at five if I hadn't done what I did…" Michael argued, while reminding himself not to sound too desperate. 'The point is to avoid suspicion.'
"If it's impossible for you ethically, we can ask someone else," Grace chimed in.
"All the more reason to wait until five. Your condition will be much better, and similarly, the results," seeing their faces, Doctor Dupont paused. "Very well. The Hippocratic Oath doesn't mention Demonic Clients, not that I'd know. I never took it."