9 Delving the Depths

30th September 1990

In a mere few months, significant strides had been made.

The sphere of influence that Bondrewd wielded had expanded, embracing new members from disparate backgrounds and ideologies. Cash flow now facilitated the distribution of incentives to various groups, particularly street children, amalgamating them into a unified entity.

Though clashes of belief systems momentarily disrupted harmony, the amalgamation ultimately fostered better development. These new entrants, eager to maintain the happiness they had found, inadvertently influenced the original members, enriching the organization.

This expansion, however, strained resources, prompting him to extend his reach into other territories—a calculated risk that, if uncovered, would not lead back to him.

As stability and structure permeated the organization, his role was relegated to overseer, with loyal followers executing his commands down the hierarchy.

With the foundational growth accomplished, he could now refocus on his primary objective: magical experimentation. Funding and manpower ensured uninterrupted progress, allowing him to shift his focus without fear of repercussions.

Recognizing the inadequacy of his modest quarters, he arranged a meeting with the matron. After some negotiation, she acquiesced to his request for the use of an unattached storage shed, granting him full autonomy.

The shed was promptly cleared out and furnished with basic amenities. Within its modest confines, a meticulously arranged a space that served as both laboratory and living quarters.

Upon entry, one would find themselves in a moderately large area, partitioned into distinct sections by makeshift dividers. To the left stood a row of shelves, laden with an array of glassware, beakers, and vials containing various substances of unknown origin. Illuminated by a single dim light bulb dangling from the ceiling, this section served as his experimental laboratory, where he conducted his arcane research.

Opposite the laboratory setup, a small sleeping area had been arranged. A simple cot adorned with a threadbare blanket occupied one corner, offering a semblance of comfort amidst the otherwise spartan surroundings. Nearby, a small table served as a makeshift desk, cluttered with parchment, quills, and a scattering of scholarly tomes.

The central area of the shed was left open, serving as a multifunctional space where he could move freely between his various activities. Here, a rickety wooden chair sat before a makeshift workbench, strewn with tools mostly mechanic in nature that would assist in yielding accurate results.

Despite its humble outward appearance, the shed bore the unmistakable signs of his ingenuity and resourcefulness. Every inch of space was utilized to its fullest extent, creating a functional yet modest environment where he could pursue his scientific endeavours with unwavering dedication.

Meals were delivered through a slot in the door at specified times, and any additional requirements could be communicated via notes.

With preparations complete, he retreated into the depths of his makeshift laboratory, consumed by the pursuit of knowledge and discovery.

With a flick, a thick-leather bound journal that had accompanied him for many years flapped open, its well-worn pages revealing the passage of time through discoloured edges and ink-stained scribbles. As new entries were added and old ones removed, unnecessary knowledge or speculative theories were purged and filed away into one of the many drawers scattered throughout the space.

The flickering light cast by a solitary lantern overhead came to rest upon a page labelled 'Log 2,' a meticulous collection of observations detailing the effects of magic when applied to living organisms—an intriguing departure from the inanimate subjects documented in 'Log 1.'

"Emotions again, it's all emotions..." Bondrewd murmured as his eyes scanned the neatly scrawled writings on the weathered parchment.

"Every experimental organism has exhibited drastically different yet categorizable responses to the application of unfiltered magic," he read aloud, his voice resonating softly in the confined space. "The type of organism appears to have little bearing on the outcome; cold-blooded reptiles behave similarly to warm-blooded rodents, though aquatic creatures display minor deviations affecting the function of their gills under certain emotional stimuli."

He paused, reflecting on his findings before continuing, "Control variables have proven to be elusive, as even slight fluctuations in emotional states can perturb the results. Conversely, the mere arousal of various emotions has shown potential for achieving specific effects, albeit with an inherent lack of precision."

His gaze drifted to the unfinished experiments scattered around him, a menagerie of enclosures filled with a diverse array of animals awaiting further study.

During his research, his mastery over magic had flourished, granting him finer control over its applications. No longer confined to mere manipulation of objects, he had honed his abilities to include levitation, rotational manipulation, fire control, and even the generation of light—a testament to the breadth of his arcane prowess.

"Mastery over magic extends beyond mere manipulation of physical matter," he mused, his thoughts wandering into realms of speculation padded loosely by tidbits of evidence

In his observations, sometimes simply willing something to happen with enough conviction and correct stimuli brought fourth an outcome beyond what he could achieve from precise control

"Could it, perhaps, be linked to the very essence of the soul—emotions and willpower intertwined with the fabric of reality?" Philosophical as it may be, it wasn't completely out the scope of possibility.

In addition, his magic had grown seemingly without bounds, tasks that used to prove strenuous now being completed with ease, this effect only grew stronger as time passed, perhaps in future merely wishing for something caused it to come to fruition.

The prospect excited him for if this were to be true, this is simply neigh omnipotence, the ability to edit reality as he saw fit and mould it all his own.

As he delved deeper into his contemplations, a glimmer of obsession flickered in his eyes, a fervent determination driving him to explore the boundless possibilities that lay before him. In his pursuit of knowledge and power, Bondrewd found himself once again consumed by an insatiable thirst for discovery, ready to brave the depths in search of enlightenment.

"I have nothing but time," he murmured to himself, a faint echo of his earliest speeches. Yet, unlike those lofty proclamations, the reality of which contradicted his more euphemistic outlook.