Mana Mutation Menace (Journey to Chaos Book 3)

by Brian Wilkerson

  “Now, Eric...”

  “You let me mana mutate. You watched it happen. A punch is the least you deserve.”

  Tasio snapped his fingers and, once again, he was wearing a red and black pocketless uniform.

  “So if I can’t handle a bloody nose, I should crawl under my bed?”

  Eric grabbed one of the ping-pong paddles and threw it at Tasio. It passed through his body and clattered to the floor.

  “Don’t start that again! I appreciate you twisting Talbot’s arm into not locking me up, but it’s your fault I’m here in the first place.”

  Tasio snapped his fingers again to dismiss his cosplay and return to his standard Shakespearian outfit. Then he picked up his ball and restarted his game. This time, he played against the wall. With the utmost casualness, he said, “You didn’t need my help. You killed the dragon, saved the damsel in distress, and here you are, safe and sane.”

  “Sane?! I’m not a trickster, you abyss-cursed nutcase! I’ve attacked people. I’m still thinking about eating them. My memories tell me one thing and my senses tell me another. It’s like I’m looking through a funhouse mirror. I’m just now starting to make sense of it all.”

  “I thought you said you hadn’t changed.”

  “I’m possessed by a grendel. That’s all.”

  “That’s patently ridiculous. For proof of it, you should ask Kallen. She will show you the truth.”

  Winking at Kallen, he disappeared. She ran out of the room.

  Nine days after he woke up in his cell, Percy called Eric to a meeting room. Also present were Kallen, Talbot, guards without nametags, and scientists that forgot their ID badges. Percy invited Eric to sit down and announced the results of the genetic tests.

  According to them, Eric was a normal human. By blood, x-ray, and hair sample, there was nothing about him that was any different from any other human male his age. Not even his otherworlder status could be found. Indeed, there was a greater biological difference between post mana mutation Eric Watley and the one that arrived on Tariatla during the previous spring, than between the post mana mutation Eric Watley and other Tariatlan humans. The tests had been repeated three times over and the results came back the same every time.

  “See? I’m not a grendel. I just have some lingering monsterness lurking in my mind. I can control it. For example...”

  Eric brought out a listening crystal and played a recording of Quikis Limberpug. It was three minutes of sexism and hatred about Kasile. Through it all, Eric’s expression was as stoic as Percy’s.

  When the record finished, Talbot asked, “Where did you get that?”

  “Kallen gave it to me. I find it to be disgusting and offensive, but I’m not going to kill the guy over it because that’s not something a law-abiding citizen does.”

  Talbot glanced at Kallen, who stared back. He glanced at Percy, who gave no sign of anything. Finally, he spoke again,

  “Yes, it is clear that you are not a grendel...”

  Eric stood up. “Thank you! Can I leave now?”

  “…at this moment,” Percy finished.

  Eric plopped back into his seat. “What do you mean ‘at this moment’? You can’t keep me locked up because you’re afraid that, at some point in my life, I might re-develop monsanity.”

  “That is not what I mean,” Talbot said. “Kallen, it was your parents’ hypothesis. Will you please explain it for him?”

  “It’s called The Seloisan Hypothesis of Chaotic Transfiguration Permanence. In a nutshell, it states that mana mutation conveys limited shape-shifting to the sapient in question once they re-acquired sapience.”

  "I thought only elves can shape-shift," Eric said.

  The scientists gathered suddenly became agitated. They muttered things about “elven fundamentalists,” “lunatic heresy,” and “The Witch of Dnnac Ledo.” Only Kallen showed understanding and patience.

  She continued, “Elven shapeshifting is basically a controlled mana mutation. The elves believe that it is a divine gift to them from Lady Chaos, which is why only they can do it. The Seloisan Hypothesis of Chaotic Transfiguration Permanence states this is half-correct; chaotic power makes it possible, but it is their identity as elves that enables them to control the process. It allows them to take any shape they wish because elves were made to be quasi-tricksters. My parents developed this theory after working with elves in Siduban.”

  “So you think I can change back into a grendel if I believe myself to be a grendel?”

  “Yes.”

  “Tough! I’m not and I never will be.”

  Percy gestured to Kallen. She shook her head. He gave her a look that said she didn’t have a choice. The others joined in on the stare. Eric was picking up vague threat vibes from them, but as Kallen didn’t move, he didn’t either. Finally, Kallen sighed.

  “You don’t have to go all the way.” A bony horn grew out of her forehead and her left arm grew fur and claws. She held it up and then pounded it into the ground. She made a crater. “A partial transformation would help.”

  “Wow...”

  Kallen blushed. She wasn’t used to people looking at her true form with awe. Usually, it was disgust or fear. Eric reached out and touched her arm. He felt its fur and its muscles and compared it with the human skin on her other, more slender arm. He touched the feral claws at the end and compared it to the painted nails on her other hand.

  “How strong is this arm now?”

  “Five times stronger than my base human form,” Kallen replied. “I can use magic to augment it further. It’s a useful ability when fighting monsters or moving couches.”

  “Okay, so maybe it is, but why do you need me to do it? You’re proof enough, right?”

  Kallen shook her head. “No, I’m not. I was hit by genuine chaos while you were changed by mundane mana. Furthermore, I was treated by elves instead of humans, so their technology is a factor. Finally, once is a fluke, twice is worth considering, and three times is a pattern.”

  Eric backed away from her and the rest of the ICDMM. “I’d love to help, really I would, but I can’t change my form.” He shrugged helplessly. “My memories tell me that it’s impossible, both magically and biologically.”

  “Speaking of magic, yours won’t defeat Nulso,” Kallen said.

  “What do you mean? I’ve been enlightened. I’m on the second level of Chaotic Enlightenment. I’m a much better mage than before.”

  “That doesn’t matter. Ordercrafters can interdict magic in a given area, depending on their power, and Nulso is a powerful one. Even if you successfully cast, he’ll block or absorb it. The strength of a grendel is something else. Both physically and mentally, it’s harder for ordercrafters to overcome monsters than sapients because they are more chaotic.”

  “Turning into a savage, ruthless, and chaotic monster in order to defeat an orderly one sounds like a pyrrhic victory. I have a better solution: Chaotic Starlight. It was in Dengel’s Lair and I absorbed Dengel’s scholarly aspect. It’s only a matter of time before I figure it out.”

  At Percy’s nod, Kallen continued, “You’re out of time. Nulso doesn’t have to leave Annala alone anymore. His promise has expired. You don’t have time for chaotic study, but there’s a power you can grasp right now that would help you.”

  Eric didn’t say anything, but his expression said plenty. He didn’t like the idea. He didn’t believe in it. Feeling the weight of the room on herself, Kallen decided on another tactic.

  “If an elf were to transform into a monster, they would stay the same inside. If Annala were to transform into a grendel, she would still be the cute bookworm you know and love. If my parents’ hypothesis is correct, the only thing that will change is your body. Your mind will stay the same the whole time.”

  “I don’t know...”

  “Are you saying my parents’ hypothesis is incorrect?” She pouted.

  “Fine! I’ll try it. What do I do?”

  “First, you have to believe yourself to be a grend
el.” She raised her left arm again, and before his eyes, it became human again. “I couldn’t do this until I accepted the fact that I was a chimera instead of a human.”

  “For the last time, I’m not a grendel. It’s been scientifically proven!”

  Percy lunged and grabbed Eric’s collar. It was too quick for Eric to stop. The tiger man lifted him off the ground and snarled.

  “You know nothing of science. Your stubbornness is the antithesis of the scientific method and your fear of change is the antithesis of scientific progress. You hold the cure to mana mutation and yet you refuse to give it to us.”

  “Percy, please place my posture on the platform post haste, or I will pulverize you into paste.”

  While Percy listened to the parade of p’s, Eric kicked him in the nuts. Immediately, Percy dropped him and grabbed them. Eric landed lightly and he fell forward to his knees

  “Hey, Talbot, how was that? A non-lethal solution to a physical threat. Did I pass that test or did I ace it?”

  Talbot was shaking from restrained laughter. He clutched his mouth until it subsided. Then he clasped his hands behind his back and said, “Mr. Watley, that was not a test. He was genuinely angry.”

  A look of horror dawned in Eric’s eyes. “Really?! Oh...sorry about that, Tiger Man.”

  Percy regained his composure and his footing. He smoothed out his fur and said, “It is nothing. How about this? You were a grendel and transformed back into human on your own. That much has also been scientifically proven. Your eyes slit and your vocal cords shift when you detect threats. This too is a scientific fact. Even if you don’t want to accept that you are a demon like me, you have to accept that you are a humanoid mana breed like Basilard.”

  That got Eric’s attention.

  “My mentor, Basilard Bladi, is a humanoid mana breed?”

  Kallen nodded. “Uh-huh and so is Her Majesty. They’re essentially human, but they have traits that place them outside of the standard homo sapien. Basilard, for instance, is classified as homo sapien sangre. Believe yourself to be homo sapien grendel and it might work.”

  Eric looked to his right arm and thought about it. He willed it to change. Seconds passed and it stayed the same.

  “Imagine a threat. Something hypothetical.”

  Eric thought back to a time that would be relevant. The arm wrestling match with Gruffle came to mind. He won through deception and guile, but it would have been nice to crush that troll’s hand. That arrogant troll, who invaded his home, crushed his desk chair, and slept in his bed...

  The thought of retribution turned into savage glee. He thought of ripping the troll’s arm off and eating it while Gruffle lay on the ground bleeding. Because the troll was a threat and Eric didn’t like him anyway, he didn’t think there was anything wrong with this picture.

  His right arm grew bigger and more muscular. A metallic substance coated it from shoulder to fingertip. Subtle changes ran through his body to enable him to effectively wield such a weapon. He swung it around with ease. His instincts guided him through the proper way to manage its weight so it did not harm his balance. He finished by pounding the ground as Kallen did, and making a deeper crater. Then he noticed the staring.

  All the scientists and guards were staring at him. The room was as silent as a grave. Suddenly, Eric had second thoughts about this. Then all of them cheered. It surprised Eric so much he returned his arm to full human form. When they pulled champagne out of thin air, kissed each other, and sang the Ataidar national anthem, he thought he was having a mutation-induced hallucination. One of them tried to kiss him, but he held them back.

  “I don’t fully remember what that gesture means, but I don’t want to do it with a stranger, especially one as old and ugly as you are.”

  The scientist had the grace to blush in embarrassment.

  "Forgive me, Mr. Watley, but you have given us a precious gift. You have enabled us to acquire knowledge of mana mutation untouched by the elves.”

  "The Seloisan Hypothesis of Chaotic Transfiguration Permanence now has proof of concept!” a second one shouted. “It is now a valid theory!”

  "Screw those arrogant dagger ears!” a third proclaimed. “'Heresy' they called it; refused to consider it, but this boy and girl have done it! Eric Watley has transformed from grendel into a human and then human into grendel, and we have it on video! We have done this with mortal technology and mortal knowledge and mortal will!"

  He spun in place, flung up his arms, and laughed madly.

  "THE REINS OF HISTORY ARE BACK IN THE HANDS OF MAN!"

  Just as quickly, his arms dropped and he fell limp to the floor. His co-workers picked him up and carried him away.

  "Please excuse Cid," Percy said. "He hasn't slept in five days."

  "THE STARS HAVE ALIGNED!"

  Percy sweat-dropped. "However, the point he makes is still valid. The Trickster's Choice has recovered from a complete mutation, his teammate recovered from monsanity, and both of them in close proximity to a Mana Mutation Summit. It is hard for us to contain our excitement."

  Kallen popped in and said, "I've seen you more excited over bubblegum-flavored ice cream." She ducked the smack but failed to dodge the tickle.

  An inside joke?

  “This is a fantastic capstone,” Percy said with flat joy. “I suggest we allow Eric and Kallen to celebrate it.”

  “He’s not ready for the public,” Talbot replied.

  “Doing so today will aid our organization,” Percy pressed.

  “Just because you’re a tiger doesn’t mean you wear a crown.”

  Eric looked to Kallen. “What are they talking about?”

  “A good idea,” was all Kallen had to say to him. “Uncle Talbot, I will take responsibility for him. Between my true form and my magecraft, I can keep him under control and minimize potential damage to our organization. This is an opportunity that we should capitalize on.”

  “Stop calling me ‘Uncle’! Alright, as long as you don’t go into the city, a walk in the fresh air could be good.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll enjoy it. Trust me.”

  The ICDMM laboratory was built with high stone walls reinforced with steel and the most advanced protection runes available. Four corner towers dominated the fortress with floodlights and nasty-looking mounted weapons. Minor towers dotted the walls and courtyard and they were equipped with similar weaponry. There was no portcullis, double door, or a drawbridge. It was solid wall all the way around.

  This facility held monsters; dangerous monsters with varied abilities. No door would hold them if they escaped their cells. The only things keeping Ataidar sleeping soundly was a force field and a dry moat. The former was remotely generated and it could contain anything short of a god. The latter was a mile across and a mile deep, its sides made slick and smooth, and its bottom made of spikes.

  The air space was a no-fly zone, but about two weeks ago, Kallen brazenly flew in with her damaged Albatross IX. If she didn't work there, she would have crashed into the force field or been shot down. The only official way in or out was teleportation.

  Kallen explained that it was connected to the ICDMM's office in Roalt, ten miles to the north. It was also connected to a pedestal on the opposite side of the moat, and this was the one that they were going to use. Either way, Eric's stomach turned just thinking about it.

  At the door to the teleportation room, Kallen showed her ICDMM badge to the guard on duty. He shook his head. She showed him the paperwork from Talbot that authorized Eric’s temporary release and her authority over him. He still shook his head.

  “I’m his handler. Please let us pass.”

  The gatekeeper looked from the girl with the crystal staff to the boy with the crystal staff.

  “When the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into a pit.”

  “Clever; now let us pass.” The light of her crystal flashed and she smiled sweetly. “If you don’t, I might have to tell someone about the bribe yo
u took and who gave it to you.”

  At once, the order was given, the door opened, and the pair entered the teleportation room.

  “How’d you know about a bribe?”

  The teleporter was an arch of steel shod with mythril. Runes utilizing wind and lightning magic dotted the outer side, and spell diagrams describing the function coated the inner side.

  “The truth comes to light when you have a gift from the Goddess of Light.” The center white-grey sphere at the center of her staff’s crystal twinkled. “Just as you can conceal the truth with darkness, I can reveal it. Nulso wanted to keep you trapped here.”

  Before Eric could ask for clarification, the teleport initiated and his stomach twisted.

  The demons reappeared on a raised platform on the other side of the chasm. The exit rune was carved into a white stone dais made from three discs of progressively greater length. A trio of arches met in the middle and created a localized zone of warmth and light.

  Beyond the dais, the sky was cloudy, the ground was snowy, and everything was dark. In the distance, Eric could see the lights of Roalt, but none of the roads leading to it or anything else. This puzzled him. He remembered being able to see in the dark as well as he could in the light. Further puzzling would have to wait, because he leaned over and heaved into the snow.

  Kallen rubbed his back and waited for him. The teleportation nausea was as bad as he remembered, but there was also something new. He stared at the vomit in the snow and mourned the lost food. He was about to lick it up when he stopped himself. Why did I even consider that? A human wouldn’t do that.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Kallen said. “We’ll get more food later.”

  “You did it again!”

  “Did what?”

  “You read my mind! I was thinking about lost food just now. I remember you did the same thing when we reunited in Mambi about Emily being the second new kid.”

  Kallen shrugged. “It wasn’t hard to guess.” Smiling, she continued, “I’m flattered that you still remember that.”

  What Eric didn’t tell her was what else he remembered about that day. He had watched Patrick Lumberson, a human man like he used to be, transform into a Fizger. After that, there was nothing remotely human about him. Kallen had to put him down, and then she dissected him. There were already people who wanted to dissect Eric the otherworlder, like Captain Hasina. What would happen now that he was an otherworlder and a mana mutation survivor?