31 Research

Gerard closed the final page of a book. On the cover, several skulls shifted slightly to watch Gerard as he moved from the table.

*Bloody creepy.*

He grabbed another book to cover it.

[Still nothing? It's been six months! Where's that thrilling adventure you wanted? Where's the excitement, the drama, or anything other than dusty old tomes!]

*Let's take a walk, then, shall we?*

[Please!]

"Okay, okay!"

Another researcher in the library brought his finger to his lips to remind him about it being a site of quiet. Gerard placed two large stacks of books back in their places and stepped out of the library.

*Several times, I've wanted to murder and experiment on the people here. I need to find a way to eliminate these compulsions before I lose control. That's why we're here.*

[I know, I know, but I'm stuck with you, even when you're doing boring things. I could help you if I had a body, you know.]

Gerard turned down a hallway close to Leonhard's office.

*Yes, but without a way to replenish my mana, I'd have no choice but to be without magic until I evolve again.*

[Hmmph.]

*We'll find something soon.*

He knocked on the Head Researcher's door.

"Come in, Gerard."

The door swung open to reveal Leonhard sitting with another researcher.

*This guy is full of mystery. Extracting all of his secrets would be well worth it.*

[Keep it together. There's no need to recreate the events in this building from when you were a vampyre.]

"That'll be all. If there are any other changes, please let me know." The head researcher dismissed his current visitor.

The researcher grabbed some papers from the desk and promptly left.

"So, have you made any progress?" Leonhard asked.

"No. There is information on creating undead, destroying undead, the natural occurrence of undead creatures, undead heroes, and even a way to have undead procreate, but nothing about curses of undead or ways to turn an undead back into a human again." Gerard replied.

"I'm sorry; I thought that might be the case."

"There's another thing I'm here to talk about, though, if that's okay?"

"Go ahead."

"As an undead, I have no method of regaining lost mana. Because of this, I'm unable to experiment and test out any future theories without worrying about my reserves. Would you have a means to remedy this?"

"I see. I might have what you need, but it's a personal belonging of mine. If I am to offer this to you, I only ask for the results of your research as payment."

"That's it?"

"That is all I ask for."

"It's a deal." Gerard extended his hand.

Leonhard looked curiously at him but quickly understood the meaning and grasped Gerard's hand.

"I take it this means our deal has been struck? What sort of magical contract is that?"

"Magical contract? It's just a promise, no contract."

Leonhard closed his eyes for a moment and then smiled.

"Usually, we'd enter a magical contract, but you seem trustworthy. Just know that if you betray me, I'll kill you before my time comes."

"I believe you."

Leonhard stood up and opened a large cabinet. A long metallic staff, shaped like lightning, rested inside, hovering off the ground. Someone set a giant orb in the top of the staff, almost completely encased in the metal. He picked it up and handed it to Gerard.

"This staff has a mana conversion crystal which has been infused with a Slime King's core. When the person holding it wants to replenish their mana, it will happen automatically. But you will need a source of mana to absorb. Magical artifacts and living creatures have mana for you to absorb. So if you're hunting or slaying monsters, you'll have plenty of mana to store within the staff. It will also absorb mana from your surroundings at a very slow rate."

*This is precisely what I need, right?*

[So long as you don't use up all of your mana and then lose the staff, yes.]

*Don't jinx me!*

"Here, for now, I'll store some of my mana inside for you." Leonhard touched the staff, and the orb glowed blue before wildly spinning around.

"That should let you cast at least a dozen small-scale spells."

"Thank you, Head Researcher."

"Will that be all?"

"Yes, I thank you again for all the help you've given me."

"You're welcome. And please don't tell anyone where you got it from. An item from my personal collection might be something common folk would kill for."

"Got it..."

Leonhard gave him the same look every time he wanted Gerard to leave, and did so before being asked.

[What are you going to test out?]

*I'm not sure yet. But now, I won't be afraid to use my mana if I'm in a pinch.*

[Monsters?]

*Of course!*

Gerard hastily walked through the halls until a researcher caught his attention. He held his arms out towards a pile of wooden shavings.

"Materialisation!" The researcher yelled.

The shavings spun themselves into a cube of solid wood. He picked up the cube, tossed it from one hand to the other, and gripped it tightly.

"Hmm. The solidity of the cube is still less than if it were carved straight from wood." He sat the cube back on the table.

The researcher jotted down notes on a piece of parchment and then held his arm out again.

"Dematerialisation!"

The cube fell to pieces as it turned back into the shavings it once was.

"What is this magic?" Gerard stepped into the room.

"Who are you?" The researcher quickly grabbed his scattered pieces of parchment and set them in a stack before holding them close to his chest.

"Gerard, a guest of Leonhard himself." He pulled the seal from his pocket.

"Ah, you're the one people have been talking about. You caught onto Addis' twisted plans, and you've spent months in the library without leaving even once. Are you even human?"

*Shit. I didn't even think about pretending to be human.*

[I did tell you we should leave the building occasionally.]

*I thought you were just getting bored!*

Gerard cleared his throat.

"Human? Of course, I am. I'm just curious about the magic you're using, as it could aid me in an experiment I want to begin."

"And what experiment might that be?"

"First, tell me what your magic does."

"Since you are a guest of the head researcher, I suppose that's okay. Materialisation forces elements and minerals to weave themselves into the shape of your desire. You must have a clear image in your head and understand the materials you're working with; otherwise, it will fail."

The researcher demonstrated the cube regaining shape on the table before them.

"I see. And that other spell?"

"Dematerialisation breaks those materials down, allowing for further attempts without needing extra resources."

"That's just what I've been looking for!"

[It has?]

"It is?" The researcher repeated unknowingly.

"Yes, it's a little obscene, but I'll tell you. I'm attempting to create a human body from scratch."

[Now I see. Not a bad idea.]

"That's impossible! You'd have to know the exact amount of materials required. Nobody has that deep of an understanding regarding the human body."

"I did say it was obscene."

"Well, this spell I've cultivated over the last thirty years. I'm not going to teach it to you."

"For ten gold pieces, I just ask that I watch you use both of your spells until I'm satisfied."

"Ten? Make it twenty."

*He knows his worth, at least.*

"Deal."

A few months ago, Thorkin came to the institute to deliver a Reward. For bringing the bandits down in Therinus, Gerard and the Red Lotus Adventurers received fifty gold pieces each. He also handed Gerard a card which he was tols he could use as identification when requested by the city authorities.

*I don't have much use for money with this body, anyway.*

Gerard pulled out twenty gold pieces from his coin purse and set them on the table. The researcher quickly looked over the numbers and continued his spellcasting as if Gerard weren't even there.

As the day progressed, the researcher took several hour-long breaks to recoup their mana before returning to cast spells and record the changes in the materials. He moved from sand to wood, metal to stone, creating various shapes and recording the results in a journal.

[You've acquired the spell: Materialisation.]

[You've acquired the spell: Dematerialisation.]

*Finally. A whole day spent watching this man build, destroy, and rebuild these little trinkets...*

[Boring? Well, that's how I felt about you reading books for months.]

"Thank you for your time. It was very enlightening." Gerard smiled and left the room.

"Finally." The researcher purposefully raised his voice before sighing.

*Well, now we just have to get the materials, and we can try to build a human body.*

[How do you know how to do that, anyway?]

*Thanks to my Total Recall skill, every book I read and skimmed through is readily accessible now. A friend of mine, a doctor, had books on human anatomy in his office; one day, he was late for our meeting, but his receptionist let me inside. I took it upon myself to read some of the more interesting books for a couple of hours, and now I remember the quantities for the materials that make up a human body.*

[You're an interesting person, that's for sure.]

*Thank you. I liked to keep busy. Now, to dematerialise something and materialise it into an intricate shape for practice.*

Gerard visited the building's mess hall and helped himself to several pewter cups. After a short walk, Gerard found an empty room. He set down the three cups and focused.

*Dematerialise!*

Instead of shavings, the metal broke into tiny granules, the same as grains of sand.

*Materialise!*

He held the image solidly in his mind and the metal grains rolled into a central position and merged to create a small figurine of a man holding a giant sword.

*Well, that was easy enough.* Gerard fiddled with the moveable arms and legs happily before tearing them off with a satisfied smile.

[You're a creep.]

Gerard left the figurine in pieces in the room and headed towards the building's exit.

*That was a warrior from a popular animation in my world.*

[Animation?]

*Moving pictures.*

[Oh. Yeah, you're creepy.]

*Whatever. Now that I know I have the skill to use the spells efficiently, it's time to gather materials.*

Now at the main doors of the research institute, with his staff gripped tightly, Gerard focused his mana on the doors to reveal the busy streets of Solares.