The space was quite big, definitely bigger than Trevor expected it to be. The familiar crystals were shining a yellow light from above on the rough floor and the walls, but some of them were present much lower. Drifting in the air, just above some tables that were occupying space here and there, almost bending under the weight of strange devices, alchemical components, and materials gathered on them.

A couple of those gems, although quite small ones, were also strategically placed next to a set of five blackboards hung on special racks, all covered in spiderwebs of complicated patterns created from different Haddish symbols.

The most eye-catching item was in one of the further corners. Some kind of strange, alien-looking device. It seemed to be glued to both walls, coming together, and looked like somebody threw liquid gold up there, which splashed, forming this smooth, weird, octopus-like shape with many smooth green gems embedded in it all over the place. After a careful examination, Trevor noticed that one could step into that thing, allowing the multiple arms of whatever-it-was to surround them.

For what purpose, he had no idea. It just looked like a possibility.

As he peeled his eyes off the strange thing, he also noticed two doors. Both were heavy-looking and made out of wood, placed on the wall on the other side of the space, looking from the entrance.

- This way - said the professor, as he entered. - Please do not touch anything. A lot of items here are quite dangerous, and I would not want any accidents here, for obvious reasons.

Lena snorted in response, as she followed the man. Trevor on the other hand remained silent, too focused on looking around at the laboratory as he was the one at the very end of the group, slacking behind everybody. He has never seen anything like that, even in the movies.

It was mesmerizing and made his imagination run wild. He couldn't help but wonder how much strange magic was developed in that place.

The teacher headed straight to the door on the left and opened it, revealing a room covered in darkness, with just a little bit of light coming inside from the larger chamber, through the opening. Trevor couldn't properly see the walls, just a bit of the plain gray, and a concrete floor.

Lena and Martin went inside. Trevor was the last one to follow, and as he did, the heavy door to the laboratory closed itself with the same high-pitched groan. It, just for a moment, made him turn around and look. When he shifted his focus again back to the people, the professor's hand was shining with bright white light, illuminating the walls covered in small symbols of different colors.

He went inside the special room, joining the two, and finally could have a better look at the unbelievably massive and complicated spell carved on the single wall, only barely spilling on the floor and ceiling, as it clearly was still in development.

As soon as he got inside, he felt it. The strange, tingling vibration in his whole body. His magic was reacting to whatever was carved there and started to uncontrollably move, flowing in his belly like some type of liquid would on a ship being wrecked by a storm.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

It was unpleasant at first, but then he kinda got used to this as the feeling faded quite a bit.

- What do you think? - the professor asked Lena.

She was already carefully examining the wall, seemingly checking every single sign.

- This part is right - she gently touched the carvings filled with red paint. - This one... I'm not sure. And that one is definitely wrong. I've never seen those symbols in our runic chamber, back home.

She moved her hand from one part of the wall to the other, slowly walking with eyes glued to the writings.

- This part? - the teacher asked, joining her, and pointing at the fragment of the spell, she just moved by.

- Yes - she agreed. - You are still far away, but... You are getting closer, I think. This one feels different, but I'm almost sure it's going in the right direction.

Trevor watched her closely because he couldn't really understand the symbols, since most of them were far beyond what he learned during his first week, but also because of how Lena has changed.

Her expression became so calm and focused, which the overall darkness only further underlined. Something he has never seen before on her beautiful face. It suited her more than the aggressive expressions he saw before or the usual bored ones she was constantly showing.

- Well... That means I still have a long way to go, but I'm not gonna give up. This breakthrough could change everything - said the professor, then turned to face Trevor. - I have to again underline that this should remain secret, Mister West. No word to anybody, even your parents.

Trevor slowly nodded.

- I won't tell a soul.

- Good - Martin smiled and raised his hand.

This gesture made one of the crystals, drifting under the ceiling of the main chamber, float inside the room, and provide more light than what Martin's hand was producing. He also canceled that effect.

- This is... This is so incredible - Trevor added after a moment. - I'm really thankful that you showed me this, professor.

- I think so too. This could change the world as we know it - the man smiled, still peeking with one eye at Lena.

She was carefully examining the wall throughout this whole time, not stopping at all. It looked more like she was reading some very good novel, that she just couldn't let go of, because the plot was too interesting.

- I'm gonna need to mark the parts I need to work on - the teacher added, following Trevor's gaze, then left the two of them alone in the room for a moment.

He quickly returned with a piece of chalk in his hand and asked Lena to show the parts which were wrong again. Meanwhile, the boy focused his whole attention on the signs he had next to him, trying his best to understand what was going on in the strange patterns. Testing the limits of his knowledge.

He quickly discovered that it was way too complicated. It seemed like writing in a language he have never ever seen before, despite having a basic understanding of Haddish.

He stopped when Lena passed by him and briefly touched his shoulder.

- Let's go - she said. - We shouldn't stay here for too long.

- Y-yeah... - Trevor responded, glancing quickly at the professor.

Martin was already mentally gone as he was standing in front of the wall, with his attention fully focused on the marked parts. He was ignoring everything else, like the only thing existing was that wall covered in symbols.

Lena left the room, and Trevor followed her. The heavy door on the other side of the chamber was closed, but as he quickly found out, there was no problem with opening it from inside. All the girl had to do, was push slightly, which she certainly knew about, as she didn't even hesitate for a second.