Chapter 38

Corwin

The world swirled back into focus as I slowly regained consciousness. My heart was racing and pain continued to flare throughout my entire body. In the distance - no right next to me I heard screaming. Who was being so loud? I moved to cover my head to drown out the noise and I felt a weight on my left side—the new arm.

I blinked against the dim light, taking in the familiar surroundings of the workshop. The forge glowed softly 20 yards away, but the warmth was overshadowed by a cold dread creeping into my chest.

“Maura?” I croaked, my voice raspy. “What is happening?”

“I’m right here,” she replied, her presence a soothing balm against my rising anxiety. “You’re okay. You’re okay. Felix will be here any minute.”

I glanced down at the prosthetic, the sleek metal gleaming under the flickering lights. It felt strange, almost foreign. I reached out and touched the arm. The moment my fingers made contact, a surge of energy coursed through me, as if the arm had awakened. I felt the nanobots stir, almost like they were waiting for my command.

The integration process began, and it felt like another wave of lightning coursing through my veins. I gasped, the sensation overwhelming me. Images flickered in my mind—glimpses of the arm functioning in ways I had never imagined. I could feel the connection forming, and for a moment, it was exhilarating.

But then, an ominous warning pulsed, slicing through the exhilaration:

Warning: Race Change Detected.

My heart dropped. “What does that mean?” I thought, panic gripping me. What if I changed into something unrecognizable? What if I lost who I was?

“What does what mean?” Maura urged, her voice cutting through the madness. “Just breathe. Everything is okay.”

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to concentrate. The power surged within me, a anarchic whirlwind threatening to pull me under. I visualized myself anchoring the energy, willing it to stabilize. I focused on the feeling of the arm, how it connected to my very essence.

As I continued to breathe deeply, I felt the turmoil begin to settle, the energy aligning with my thoughts. I envisioned using this arm to regain my agency, to reclaim my strength.

A second notification flashed in my vision, cutting through the haze of uncertainty:

Congratulations! You have successfully changed races to Machina

Alert: Profession Granted

You have been granted the profession of Bio-Engĩ̷͎̟͒n̵͉͕̗̜̆̑e̴̺̳̼̘͊̂̈́̒er

Achievement Unlocked: Evolve

The pain ended and relief flooded through me, tempered by lingering anxiety. I opened my eyes and looked at Maura, who was watching with a mix of pride and concern. “How are you feeling?” she asked, her voice a mixture of eagerness and trepidation.

“I don’t know. A little overwhelmed. My race changed. Did you know that would happen? What does that even mean?”

Maura drew her eyebrows together in confusion, “What?” I watched her identify me and her expression shifted, concern etched across her features.

I pulled up my own stats to take a look at what she had seen.

Name: Corwin

Race: Machina

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Race Skills: [Enhanced Mechanics], [Nano Integration]

Level: 8

Strength: 12

Dexterity: 15

Intelligence: 21 (+4)

Wisdom: 14

Constitution: 16

Charisma: 19 (+3)

Free Points: 0

Credits: 0

Points: 0

Blessings: [None]

Titles: [None]

Achievements: [Evolve]

Profession: [Bio-Engĩ̷͎̟͒n̵͉͕̗̜̆̑e̴̺̳̼̘͊̂̈́̒er]

Abilities: [Fireball][Lightning Bolt][Shield][Magic Missile][Charm Person]

Skills:[Metamagic][Elemental Proficiency- Fire]

“Machina,” I whispered, the word feeling strange on my tongue. A new race, a new identity. Would this change who I was? The idea of being something other than human sent a shiver down my spine. Would I still be me, or would I become a shell of what I once was?

At that moment, Felix burst into the workshop, panic etched across his face. “I heard screaming. What’s going on?”

“Everything’s fine.” I called out, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tumult of emotions swirling within me. “I just... I just had a race change.”

Felix paused, his eyes darting between Maura and me. “A race change? What does that even mean?”

“It means I’m not human anymore,” I replied, my voice tinged with uncertainty. “I’m... Machina now.”

Felix stepped closer, concern evident in his gaze. “That doesn’t sound good. Are you okay? Do you feel different?”

“I’m still processing it,” I admitted. “I can feel the nanobots moving within the arm. They’re... responding to me. But there’s also this underlying fear of losing myself.”

Felix frowned, crossing his arms. “You won’t lose yourself. You’re still you, right?”

“Yeah, I hope so.” I glanced at Maura, who stood quietly, watching us with a mixture of pride and concern. “I just don’t know what this means for me moving forward.”

Before Felix could respond, Maura interjected, “Well, let’s test out that arm. You’ve been flailing it around so I know it works.”

“Test it?” I echoed, uncertainty creeping back in. “What do you want me to do?”

“Let’s start with something simple. Just try moving it, see how it feels,” she encouraged, her tone confident. “We can gauge the responsiveness and get a sense of its limits.”

Taking a deep breath, I extended the arm out in front of me. The metal felt cool and smooth against my skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of my body. I flexed the fingers, and they responded instantly, curling and stretching with an ease that surprised me.

“Good! Now try a few quick movements,” Maura suggested, stepping back to give me space.

I nodded, focusing on the arm. I swung it through a series of controlled motions—first a jab, then a sweep, followed by a quick flick of the wrist. Each movement felt fluid, almost natural, as if the arm was a part of me rather than an addition.

“See? You’re getting the hang of it!” Maura cheered, her enthusiasm infectious.

Feeling more confident, I began to pick up speed. The arm responded to my thoughts, a sensation of connection flooding through me. I twisted and turned, testing its range of motion. It was exhilarating, the blend of strength and precision I’d never experienced before.

Felix watched, a small smile breaking through his earlier worry. “You’re really doing it, Corwin! This is incredible!”

But just as I was about to attempt a more complex move, a flicker of uncertainty crossed my mind. What if I lost control? I hesitated, the doubt creeping back in. “What if it malfunctions? What if I can’t control it?”

Maura stepped closer, her expression firm. “You have to trust yourself. You’re the one in control of the arm, not the other way around. Let’s push it a bit further. Try to summon the nanobots.”

I took a deep breath, focusing on the arm and the surge of energy within it. I pictured the nanobots as tiny, responsive beings, ready to heed my command. “Okay, here goes nothing.”

Focusing intently, I willed the nanobots to activate. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, suddenly, I felt a rush, and the arm began to shimmer with energy. Tiny lights danced across its surface as the nanobots sprang to life, ready to assist.

“Whoa!” Felix exclaimed, taking a step back. “That’s amazing!”

“Yes! I can feel them!” I shouted, a grin breaking across my face. “This is incredible!”

But just as the excitement surged within me, I felt an unexpected pulse of power surge through the arm, sending a jolt of energy spiraling into my body. “Uh-oh, what’s happening?”

Maura's expression shifted to one of concern. “Corwin, focus! Remember, you control this!”

I strained to rein in the energy, feeling it swirl chaotically within me. I had to ground myself, to maintain control. I concentrated, forcing the energy back into the arm, willing it to stabilize.

“Corwin!” Maura shouted, her voice cutting through the commotion. “You’ve got this! Just breathe!”

With a few deep breaths, I managed to focus. The energy began to calm, and the chaotic sparkles subsided. As I regained control, I looked at Maura and Felix, who wore expressions of awe mixed with worry.

“I’m okay,” I breathed, a bit shaken but exhilarated. “I can do this.”

“Let’s keep practicing, then!” Felix encouraged, his voice brimming with excitement.

Just as I was about to demonstrate another technique, a sudden chill swept through the air. I paused, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

“Corwin? You okay?” Maura asked, noticing my abrupt stillness.

“Yeah, just... something feels off,” I murmured, glancing around the workshop. The flickering light from the forge cast long shadows, and in one of those shadows, I caught a glimpse of movement.

A figure lurked just beyond the edge of the light, watching us with keen eyes. I squinted, trying to make out the details, but before I could focus, the figure slipped back into the darkness, disappearing without a sound.

“Corwin?” Maura’s voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back into the moment. “What’s wrong?”

“I... I think someone’s out there,” I said, my voice low. A sense of unease settled in my stomach. “Watching us.”