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Darkness. That is all you can see. Dark but not black. There's light, it's just not for you. You can see it through the threads of the canvas bag that's been placed over your head. Where are you? Bad question, obviously you can't tell. A better one would be, where were you?
-
“Atticus, correct?” Asks a tall older woman before you. “I've been meaning to meet you all night. I’ve heard you’ve been researching mana crystals to see if they can power machinery. Is that right?”
“Oh uh, yes it is. I believe magic can be used as an energy source like any other. We just… need to learn how it works,” you respond reluctantly. Rarely do you come to the university's faculty events and for good reason. This is the fifth time you’ve been asked about your research. Here comes the part where they ask about your findings.
“And what is it you've found about mana crystals so far?” Told you so.
“Oh you know, magic stuff,” you lie. Nothing. You've found nothing. You got a grant from the university and nearly spent all of it in the first 6 months and you have nothing to show for it. This party has been an embarrassment.
“Could I show you something?” The woman asks. Show you? Show you what? To a noose? “My home isn't far from the university and I've been doing some research of my own. I wonder if you would like to compare notes?”
You think for a moment, and realize you aren't even sure who this woman is. She’s pretty, long black hair, big brown eyes, quite the green velvet gown as well.
“Wait, are you hitting on me? I'm not well equipped for flirtations to be honest,” you respond.
She chuckles, “Oh heavens, no! I'm being completely sincere.” Her beautiful powdered face shows a determined expression only a scientist could appreciate. “I've been fascinated with the idea of magical technology for a long time. That's why when I heard about the school giving you a grant, I was ecstatic.” Then she turns serious. “I know how people like to shun these ideas, Atticus. They say it's impossible or pointless. Dangerous even. Allow me to show you what is in fact very real.”
-
“Are we almost there?” You ask the woman you now know as Wanda. She said she's a large donor to the university and used to be on faculty but when she got the opportunity to retire early with her partner, she left.
“Just about. See that home over there?” She points to a large home surrounded by an eight foot stone wall and a wrought iron gate.
You choke a little as you respond, “That- That's yours?”
She turns around to smirk at you and says, “Why of course. Where else would a rich old lady live, hmm?”
You finally make it to the gate. The large home looms over you like the tall Wanda herself. As she walks up to the wrought iron, you hear a click as the gate is unlocked and it opens on its own.
“Was- was that magic?” You feel a spark inside you. That had to have been magic. Real magic. But there was no spell. No casting. She doesn't even have a grimoire.
“Hmm? Oh the gate? It's just a little trick. I hired a wizard to enchant the wall and gate so no one can enter or exit without my consent,” Wanda answers.
“That's incredible!” You respond. Wait did she say ‘or exit?’
-
“Thank you again for the tea,” you say as Wanda pours the last drops of oolong into your cup. You've been sitting here in her lounge talking for who knows how long.
“Of course, dear,” Wanda says and smiles at you as she sets the teapot back down. It's been very nice getting to know her. You two have a lot in common when it comes to your scientific inquiries. “I should thank you. These days, company is rather rare. Especially a fellow scientist with the same appreciation for magic as myself. Oh, one moment. Let me grab something,” Wanda says as she steps out of the lounge.
“I feel the same way. The taboo of my research has caused some professional loneliness. I'm still surprised the university even gave me the grant,” You say loud enough for Wanda to hear you just before finishing your tea.
“It wasn't easy. Ever since I was kicked out I've had to do everything through my husband's name,” Wanda calls out from her study. “Ah! There we are,” she says to herself.
“I'm sorry?” You ask into the empty lounge.
“I'm the one who gave you the grant, dear,” Wanda responds as she walks back in with a parchment and a pen. “Now, about what I wanted to show you. This is a non-disclosure agreement. What you see tonight, you will not be allowed to speak about,” Wanda says as she lays the parchment and pen down on the tea table in front of you.
“And what is it I'm about to see?” You ask.
“The merging of two worlds and the start of a new one,” Wanda answers.
“Wait wait wait. You just said you were kicked out of the university. Were you even invited to the party?” You ask.
“Atticus, I've been researching the possibility of magitech for 15 years. You're right, it is rather isolating. That's why when I heard about you and your interest in it, I funded your grant, but the truth is, the university wants to use you as a lesson. The university is orchestrating you to fail.”
“What? Why would they do that?” You ask.
“Because they're afraid. Afraid of what magitech could do to this world, but I'm not afraid, and I know you aren't either. Magitech is possible, Atticus. Not only is it possible but I've made my own. Let me show you exactly what the mechanical and arcane can do together. What ‘WE’ could do together.”
-
Darkness. That is all you can see.
“Is the bag over my head really necessary?” You call out, moving your head around to see, but you can't make out anything through the canvas.
“It's just a precaution. I've kept my lab hidden for years. Once I know you're fully on board I'll even make you your own set of keys, but for now I can't have you knowing its location.” You hear Wanda's voice say, coming from somewhere nearby.
“Well we're here now…” You respond.
“Oh, right.” Wanda says. You see the little light you can see shift as Wanda walks over to you. Her heels still on from the party, making clacks with each step. Suddenly you feel something tug on the bag and your eyes quickly readjust to the brightness. “Welcome.” She says with a smirk.
You finally lay your eyes on Wanda's lab. No. Her heart and soul. A wonderfully stocked laboratory with every arcane measuring instrument known to man. Notes and formulas spread out over a chalkboard and papers hanging from the wall. A large glass cylinder full of pink liquid sits in the middle of the room with a naked man suspended inside. He's hooked up to wires and a breathing apparatus, but he appears to be in an unconscious state. The glass cylinder stands firmly in a brass stand with a small glowing blue gem embedded in the metal. Cords and tubes spread out from under the brass base and lead all over the floor and up the walls.
“Well?” Wanda asks. You don't know what to say. This place is both amazing and terrifying. That man, whoever he is, floats ominously within your view. What in the world could the mana crystal be doing to him?
“It's… incredible.” You take a step forward, walking past Wanda who now watches you with eager eyes. Waiting for you to take it all in. “What is it?” You ask.
From over your shoulder Wanda answers, “This is what's powering this very room. It's powering my whole home in fact.”
You lean down and look at the glowing crystal as you say, “But how? I was never able to get mana crystals to do much of anything.”
“You see mana crystals are made of magic but they themselves are not magical. Do you know mana crystals come from The Age of Ancients? Goddess Myara created a rift between our world and the Sea of Stars. That rift didn't just shatter the sky and give us night but it left fractures throughout the earth. To keep the Sea of Stars from seeping into our world, Myara created mana crystals from the magic that already began seeping through the cracks to fill the space between our two planes.” Wanda explains.
“I don't understand. If mana crystals don't have magic, then how do wizards use them? How is this thing being powered by magic?” You ask.
“Mana crystals aren't a source of magic but, being made from magic itself, they're perfect for focusing and storing it. The power isn't coming from the crystal, the crystal is drawing it out and pointing it towards its destination.” Wanda says.
“Drawing it out. Drawing it from him?” You ask in shock. Now standing straight and staring into the sleeping man's closed eyes.
“Of course. When Myara opened the Sea of Stars to us, as her creations, we became connected to it. That's why wizards are able to do the incredible things they do. Wizards pull magic from the Sea of Stars through their very souls and weave it into spells.” Wanda answers.
“From his soul? You’re… you're…” You stammer and stop. What in the world is going on? What kind of machine could do this? What kind of person could do this?
“Atticus, it's okay. I know it's a lot to take in, but what's being done causes no harm. In fact it's quite pleasurable. The man you see in the tank is my husband and he's fully consented to this.” Wanda puts a hand on the glass and looks lovingly at her husband.”
“It’s safe. It can't be sustainable though. I mean he would have to live his whole life in there to keep things powered right?” Your mind begins to wander. This is all crazy right? Maybe so, but it's still working. She actually was able to create a magic energy source.
Wanda turns to you and says, “It's safe, but no it's not sustainable. That's why I need your help. I want you to be my assistant.” She takes a step forward and stands over you with pleading eyes. “We could be the architects of the new world.”
You look into Wanda's eyes. She seems sincere albeit a little mad, but either way, she's done what you haven't been able to. Not only that, but she shares your same dream and even wants your help. If you pass this up, you'll go back to the university and if what she says is true, no matter how hard you try, they'll make you fail.
“I have to know it's safe first. I won't be a part of this if it comes at the cost of others. No dream is worth that.” You say firmly.
“You have my word, Atticus.” Wanda says.
“You don't understand. I want you to hook me up,” you respond.
-
Wanda finished attaching you to a number of wires that will monitor your health while you’re in the tank, as well as giving you the same sort of breathing apparatus used by her husband. You had to take off your shirt to get hooked up but Wanda also insisted you undress the rest of the way. Apparently the slime can soak into the clothes and have lasting effects. You decided to keep on your underwear and throw them away afterwards. It didn't seem right to be so exposed in front of a potential co-worker. Wanda claimed it could cause discomfort once you're inside but you found the former much more uncomfortable.
“You’re all set. Let me get the ladder and you can climb into the other tank. I’ll warn you before I turn it on so you have time to adjust,” Wanda says.
“What’s the liquid?” You ask as you stare at its pink hue.
“It’s the secretion of a red slime. Took me ages to collect this much. Don’t worry, it’s totally safe. The red slime secretes a pink goo that causes whoever touches it to become relaxed. It uses it to make its prey more manageable to eat. I use it to make the process of soul tapping less… extreme,” Wanda says as she looks away from you with a shy expression.
“Extreme? You said it wasn’t painful,” You say sternly.
“I did. I also said it was quite pleasurable. Without the pink goo, well… It would become difficult to keep still. I needed a solution. You’ll see what I mean,” Wanda’s cheeks go red as she finally finds the ladder and brings it over. You help her set it up against the tank and then she turns to you. “Are you ready?”
You nod and say, “I am.”
“If anything were to happen, I can pull out the core mana crystal and it’ll end the process immediately,” Wanda says.
“How would you know if I’m being drugged by the red slimes secretion?” You ask.
“Since you’re hooked up to the monitors, I’ll be able to see everything your body and mind are going through. Don’t worry Atticus. My own husband is sitting right next to you. I haven’t let anything happen to him and I won’t let anything happen to you,” Wanda explains.
“Let’s get it started then,” You say. Wanda smiles and nods. You grab a hold of the ladder and climb to the top of the tank. Looking down you see the vat of pink goo waiting to embrace you. It’s a bad time to start questioning whether you should do this or not but the thought still comes to you. Either way, you have to know more. You place the breathing apparatus in your mouth and start to lower yourself into the tank.
As your feet touch the pink goo, you immediately feel like you’ve taken boots off after a hike. All the soreness from dancing at the party and walking back to Wanda’s has left. Once you’re down to your upper thighs, even the little pain you’ve had since hurting your knee in grade school disappears. There's something about the pink goo that doesn't just relax you but puts your body at peace. Finally you close your eyes and sink down, fully submerging yourself in it.
You focus on your breathing at first but you can't help but feel trapped. You can't hear, you can't see, and all of a sudden you can't move. Your body feels stiff like you woke up with sleep paralysis. Then everything gets cold. A soothing chill runs throughout your body. Your initial panic calms and your breathing comes back into focus. This is the power of the slime. If it wasn't for this pink goo, no one could stand such a state. Wanda said it was used for the soul tapping. Could it be much worse than the isolation? You try and ponder thoughts but they keep disappearing. As the goo seeps into your ear canal, all of your thoughts start to disappear.
Then you feel it. The energy that flows through you. Something is inside you. Something you've never felt before. The sound of humming makes its way through the goo and you feel like you've been shocked by one of Professor Eyghon's faulty prototypes, but the shock doesn't stop and it doesn't hurt either. It vibrates through all your muscles like the most excellent massage. You wonder if it would be painful without the slime, but the thought is interrupted by another.
You're getting hard. The vibrations through your muscles are causing an erection. Your cock begins to strain in your underwear. You begin to regret not listening to Wanda. All at once you hear another noise, a loud click, and a coldness runs through you veins and into your heart. You're dying it feels like. You must be. Then the coldness warms into a mellow rush of energy. A pulse of some sort. You feel like the tide. Sadly it doesn't help your current problem. With every pulse your cock twitches and your nerves light up throughout your whole body. You've never felt anything so pleasurable.
It's like the sensation of an orgasm with every pulse and it doesn't stop. If you weren't in the goo you'd probably be questioning if you really were orgasming, but you can't seem to care. Every thought that comes to your head falls away into a cozy nothingness. All you can think about is the feeling. The unrelenting pleasure. The complete stimulation of your body, but what of your soul?
It's at that point you feel yourself opening your eyes and the pitch black becomes a bright pink hue and you see The Sea of Stars. A beautiful endless expanse of light in darkness. You lower your head and look down at yourself. A large golden glow comes from your chest. It's getting brighter and brighter. You can feel something inside you. The rush of energy in your body starts to focus on your heart, but then you realize that it's not your veins and it's not your heart you're feeling. It's your soul and it's opening up. Sparks shoot out from the stars in the sky and begin to fly towards you. Fear tries to worry you, but nothing makes it through. You are completely contempt, happy even. You start to smile as shooting stars fly into you and begin to flow through you.
Wanda looks at you from outside the tank. Your eyes are closed. She looks down at your underwear and notices your bulge and the new white goo mixing with the pink. After making notes of her monitors readings, she pulls the crystal from the tank. You awake in the labs bathroom, lying on the floor of the shower, completely drenched. It's hard to speak but you manage to moan.
"Atticus are you awake?" Wanda calls. You hear footsteps getting closer as she enters the room. You can't lift your head but thankfully your face is pointed towards the door so you can see her. "Oh you fell over! I'm sorry darling. I had you sat down leaning against the wall. I washed you up and threw away your underwear. There's no more goo on you but it'll be an hour or two before you can start walking again. I brought a wheelchair for you till then. Are you alright? Can you say yes or no for me?"
You listen to her words. It's still hard to think. "Yes," you say.
"Alright. That's good," she says. You see a genuine smile come across her face. It's a pretty smile, you try and think. "Let me go bring the wheelchair in here and I'll help you get dressed and have a seat. I'm curious to hear how your experience went. I've only tested with my husband so I wonder if things differ. The readings seem to be similar."
Wanda walks off like the busy bee she is. Finally a thought makes its way through. You're looking forward to working with her.