Tyrant

by James K

  ***

  During-ihis-ifree-itime,-iWilliam-icontinued-ihis-iresearch-ifor-ialternative-isource-iof-ienergy-iin-ipreparation-ifor-ihis-ijourney-iin-ithe-iother-icountry.-iHe-icouldn't-ibelieve-ithat-inuclear-ienergy-iis-inot-iexisting-iin-ithis-iplanet.

  His-itenacity-iin-ifinding-ithe-itruth-ibore-ifruit-iin-ithe-imorning-ibefore-ithe-iclass-istarted.-iHis-iface-iwas-iunkempt,-iobviously-itired-ias-ihe-ilack-ia-isleep-ibut-ia-ismile-ican-ibe-ifound-ion-ihis-ilips,-ihe-icouldn't-ihide-ihis-ihappiness-iin-ifinding-ithe-itruth-iabout-iit.

  The-iday-iwhen-iWilliam-iassisted-ihis-iseniors-ito-icreate-ithe-iArmor-iTech,-ihe-icreated-ia-iCompact-iMananuclear-iReactor-ito-isustain-iit's-ioperation-ibut-iit's-iprinciple-iworks-ientirely-idifferent.-iOnly-ithe-iname-ihas-isimilarities-ion-iwhat-iWilliam-ihas-iplanned-ito-icreate.-i

  In-ishort,-ihis-isleepless-inight-imade-ihim-iunderstood-ithat-ithe-iexistence-iitself-iof-imana-isuppresses-inuclear-ifission-ireactions-iby-iblocking-ithe-imovement-iof-ifree-ineutrons.-iOf-icourse,-inuclear-ifusion-iwhich-idoes-inot-irely-ion-ineutron-iemission-iwould-ibe-iunaffected-iby-ithe-iever-ipresent-imana.

  "I-ialready-iknow-ithe-iproblem,-ibut-ihow-ican-iI-iresolve-ithis?"-iWilliam-imuttered-ias-ihe-ishake-ihis-ihead.-iThis-iproblem-istops-ithe-iplanet-ito-ihave-inuclear-iweapon-iand-iobviously,-inuclear-ipower-iplants.

  He-ichecked-ithe-itime-iand-inoticed-ithat-ionly-i22-iminutes-iwas-ileft-ibefore-ithe-iclass-iwould-istart.-iHe-iwould-ibe-ilate-ifor-isure.-i

  At-ithe-ivery-ileast,-iwith-ihis-ienhanced-ibody,-ihe-istill-ihave-ienough-ienergy-ito-iattend-ithe-iclass-ieven-iwith-ithe-ilack-iof-isleep.

  ###-iChapter-i75-i--iProjects

  William-iarrived-ilate-iat-ithe-iacademy-iand-icourteously-iapologized-ito-iInstructor-iGaren.

  "Mhm..that's-ifine,-iwe've-ijust-idiscussed-iyour-iparticipation-iin-ithe-iinternational-icompetition.-iYou'll-ibe-iexempted-iin-iprojects-ithat-iwill-ibe-iassigned-ito-iyour-iclass-iso-iyou-ionly-ihave-ito-ifocus-iyourself-iin-ithe-icompetition."

  The-iinstructor-isaid-ias-iWilliam-iseated-iin-ihis-ichair.-iSince-ithere-iwill-ibe-ia-ilong-ivacation-ito-icelebrate-ithe-iend-iof-iyear,-ithe-iacademy-iinstructors-inormally-iassigns-ismall-iprojects-ito-itheir-istudents-ito-ikeep-ithem-ia-ilittle-ibusy.

  Since-ithey-iwere-iin-iMoon's-iFirst-iClass-iin-iSecond-iYear-iand-iSection-i1-iat-ithat,-ithese-ismall-iprojects-iwould-inormally-ibe-iabout-iproviding-iinsights-iin-isome-iunrealized-iMana-iArtifacts,-icertain-iMagic-iStructure-itheories,-iand-ieven-isome-icertain-iindividuals-ithat-iwas-ilargely-iinvolved-iin-iMagic-iEngineering-ican-ibe-itheir-ifocus-iof-iresearch.-i

  William-ithanked-ithe-iinstructor-ibut-ihe-idid-inot-ireally-imind-ieven-iif-ihe-iwas-istill-itasked-ito-ido-ithis-ismall-iproject.-iAfter-iall,-iit-iwouldn't-itake-itoo-imuch-iof-ihis-itime-iand-imay-ibe-iinteresting-ias-iwell-iif-ihe-iwas-igiven-ian-iengaging-itopic-iby-ihis-iinstructor.

  For-ithe-imean-itime-iduring-ithe-iremaining-iweek-ibefore-ithe-ivacation,-itheir-iclass-ihave-ito-icompletely-ifamiliarize-ithemselves-iin-iall-iimportant-iMagic-iStructure-itheories.-iThey-idon't-ihave-ito-inecessarily-ibe-icapable-iof-icreating-ithem-ias-ilong-ias-ithey-iknow-ihow-iit's-iprinciple-iworks.-iOnce-ithey-iare-iin-ithe-ithird-iyear-iclass,-iall-ithe-iknown-iand-iofficial-imethod-iin-iartifact-iforging-iwill-ibe-ilearned-ias-ithey-iwill-ibe-ireadied-ito-itake-itheir-ilicenses-ias-iMagic-iEngineer-iafter-ithey-igraduated.-iAfter-iall,-ilicensing-imay-itake-iyears-ibefore-ibeing-icompleted.

  The-iclass-iresumed-iand-iduring-ithe-iremaining-itime-iin-ithe-imorning-iclass,-iinstructor-iGaren-icompleted-ithe-iassignment-iof-iprojects-ito-ieach-iof-ihis-istudents.-iEveryone-ihas-idifferent-itopic-ithat-ithey-ihave-ito-itackle-iwhich-imakes-iit-ia-ibit-idifficult-ito-iothers.-iAside-ifrom-ithat,-iGaren-itaught-ithem-isome-iuncommon-iMagic-iStructures-ithat-iwere-iactually-iquite-ihelpful.

  These-imagic-istructures-iwere-ithose-ithat-iare-inot-ibeing-iheavily-ilooked-iinto-iby-iPrime-iMagic-iEngineers-iwho-iwanted-ito-ionly-icreate-ipowerful-iMana-iArtifact-ithat-iis-ihelpful-iin-icombat.-iIn-itruth-ithese-isimple-iMagic-iStructures-ican-ionly-ibe-ihelpful-iin-idaily-ilives-iof-inot-ionly-inon-imagicians-ibut-ialso-ifor-ithe-icertified-imagicians-ithemselves.-iSome-iexamples-iof-ithese-iMana-iArtifacts-iwere-imostly-ibeing-iused-ito-ihelp-ilaborers-iin-idoing-idetailed-iconstructions,-isome-iwere-iassistive-iMana-iArtifacts-ito-imake-icleaning-ieasier,-ithere-iare-ieven-ithose-ithat-ihelps-iin-iagriculture,-ithose-ithat-iprevents-itoxic-ismokes-ior-iair-ipollution,-ieven-ia-isimple-iMana-iArtifact-ithat-ihelps-iin-iremoving-ifine-idust-iis-ivery-iuseful-iand-imany-iother-isimple-ibut-iuncommon-iartifact.

  During-ithe-iremaining-iweek,-ihe-itaught-ithem-ithat-ilearning-ibasics-iwould-igive-ithem-ihigher-ichance-iin-isucceeding-iin-iMagic-iEngineer's-ipath.-i

  "You-iall-iknow-ithat-ia-ilicensed-iMagic-iEngineer-iisn't-ithe-iend-iof-ithe-iroad-iin-iyour-ipath.-iThere's-istill-ia-ilot-iof-ichallenges-ito-ireach-ithe-iapex-iof-icraftmanship,-iso-ilearning-ithe-ibasics-iwill-igive-iyou-isturdier-ifoundation.-iDo-inot-iforget-ithat."

  Garen-itold-ieveryone-iand-iwas-iacknowledged-iby-iall-ithe-istudents.-iThey-iagreed-ithat-ia-igood-ifoundation-iwill-ibring-ithem-ito-ia-ihigher-iheights.-iA-igood-iexample-iof-ithis-iis-iTracy-iGuilford,-itheir-inumber-ione-iin-iacademic-igrades.-iShe-idoesn't-ihave-iunique-iabilities-iand-ihasn't-isubmitted-ioriginal-imana-iartifacts-ilike-iRoss-iand-iWilliam-ibut-idue-ito-iher-iextensive-iknowledge-iin-itheories-iand-ipractice,-ishe's-ialmost-ialways-isuccessful-iin-iartifact-iforging.-iShe's-inot-ifailing-iin-iany-iartifact-iforging-ithey-idid-iduring-itheir-ipractical-iclass.-i

  ***

  "I-igot-ilucky,-iI-ionly-ihave-ito-igive-iinsights-iabout-iDr.-iMau-iZed's-itheory-iof-iMana-iDensity-iand-iConstancy.-iHow-iabout-iyou?"

  Gilbert-isaid-ito-ithe-igroup-iwhile-ihaving-itheir-ilunch-iin-ithe-icafeteria.-iTheir-igroup-ioccupied-ia-itable,-itheir-inumber-iincreased-ito-i7-ipeople.-iAfter-iall,-ieveryone-iin-itheir-iclass-iwere-ifriends-isince-ithere's-ionly-i30-iof-ithem-iin-iit.-iMost-iof-ithem-iwere-ialso-iclassmates-iwhen-ithey-iare-iin-itheir-ifirst-iyear.-i

  "What?-iThat-iwon't-ibe-ieasy-ialright.-iDr.-iZed's-iresearch-iprobably-icontains-i10-12-ithick-ibooks-iif-iI-iremember.-iAre-iyou-iaware-iof-ithat?"-iEricka-icommented-ion-ithe-iside.-iShe-iseems-ito-ibe-iaware-iof-ithe-itheory.

  "Really?-iYou're-iaware-iof-iit?"-iGilbert-iasked-iin-idisbelief.

  "Yes!-iI-ialso-istumbled-ion-iit-iwhen-iI-ivisited-ithe-ilibrary-ibefore.-iI-idon't-ireally-ithink-iit's-iuseful-iat-iall-iin-ibattles-ibut-ican-ibe-iused-ifor-iresearch-ipurposes.-iThat-idoctor-ihas-ia-iunique-iway-iof-iviewing-imana-ias-ian-ienergy-ior-isource-iof-ipower."

  It-iwas-ianswered-iby-iRen-iMorris.-iHe-iis-ione-iof-ithe-iseven-inobles-iin-itheir-iroom-iaside-ifrom-iTracy,-iMark,-iRoss,-iand-ithe-itwins.-iRen-iis-ia-ishort-iguy-iwith-ia-iblack-ihair-iand-iwears-iluxurious-iaccessory-iunlike-iRoss-iand-iTracy-iwho-ilikes-ito-idress-isimple.-iHis-iidentity-ias-ia-ison-iof-ia-iprestigious-ihospital-iowner-iin-ithe-icity-imade-ihim-ipopular-iin-ithe-iacademy.-iHe-irefused-ito-istudy-ithe-iMage-iDoctor's-ipath-ito-ijoin-itheir-ifamily-iranks-ibut-ihe-iinstead-iselected-ito-istudy-iin-iLeonhearts-iAcademy-ithat-ionly-ifocuses-iin-icombat-imagicians-iand-imana-itechnicians.-i

  "I'm-ionly-ifamiliar-ion-ihis-iname-ias-ihe-icreated-ithat-iuseful-iMana-iArtifact,-iZed's-iPoison-iDetoxifier,-ithat-istill-ibeing-iused-iuntil-ito-ithis-idate.-iRight?"-iGilbert-iasked-ito-iclear-ihis-idoubt.

  "Haha!-iThere's-imore-ito-ihim.-iBe-iprepared-ionce-iyou-ibegun-ito-iread-ihis-itheory.-iMy-iproject-iis-ijust-ito-igive-ireaction-ior-iinsights-iabout-ithe-isituation-iin-iNorthern-iContinent."-iEricka-ireplied-ito-iGilbert.-iThere's-ionly-ivery-ilimited-iinformation-iabout-ithe-isituation-iin-ithe-inorthern-icontinent.-iSome-iof-ithe-iinformation-istates-ithat-ionly-ipowerful-imagicians-ican-ilive-ithere-idue-ito-ichaotic-imana-ithat-iis-iexisting-ithere.

  "Oh!-iYou-ihave-ian-iinteresting-ione."-iKazimir-isaid-ito-iEricka.-iHe-iwas-ialso-iquite-icurious-iabout-ithe-inorthern-icontinent.

  "My-iproject-iis-ito-iprovide-iinsights-iabout-ithe-iLost-iTechnology."-iKazimir-itook-ia-idee
p-ibreath-ibefore-icontinuing.

  "Aeolia-ishouldn't-ihave-idied-ibefore-idiscovering-ithis."-iHe-ijoked-ia-ibit.-iRoss-iwasn't-ipresent-ihere-ianyway.-iApparently,-ibefore-iAeolia's-ideath-ior-idisappearance,-ihe-iwas-ifocusing-iin-ia-iresearch-iof-ia-ispecific-iLost-iTechnology.-i

  Everyone-idiscussed-itheir-ichosen-iproject-iexcept-iWilliam-iwho-isilently-iate-ihis-ilunch-iand-ikept-ilistening-iwith-ithe-iothers.-iTheir-iother-itwo-iclassmates-iin-ithe-itable-ialso-ijoined-ithe-iconversation-iand-ishared-itheir-ichosen-itopic-ifor-ithe-ismall-iproject.-i

  During-ithis-itime,-ibecause-iof-itheir-idiscussion,-iWilliam-iremembered-ithat-ihe-ihad-ialso-idiscovered-ithat-ithere-iis-iside-ieffects-iin-ithe-iexistence-iof-imana-ithat-iprevents-inuclear-ienergy.-iThe-iside-ieffect-iis-iit's-iability-ito-idisrupt-iradio-iwaves-ias-iwell,-iwhich-iheavily-irestricts-ithe-irange-iof-iradar-iand-iconventional-icommunications.-iThat-icould-ibe-iwhy-istandard-imachines-iwithout-imana-ienhancement-ihas-ivery-ilimited-iusage.-i

  William-irecollected-ithat-iprior-ito-ihis-ispaceship's-idescent,-ihe-iwaited-iin-ithis-iplanet's-iorbit-ito-ireceive-ia-iform-iof-icommunication-ias-ino-ione-iis-iresponding-iin-ihis-iown-iattempts.-iThis-icould-ibe-ithe-ireason-iwhy-ino-ione-iwas-ianswering-ihim,-ithe-imana-imay-ibe-ithe-ibarrier-ithat-istops-ithem-iin-iany-iouterspace-icontact-ior-iexploration.

  He-ishook-ihis-ihead-iand-icontinued-ilistening-ito-ihis-iclassmates.-iHe-imay-idiscover-imore-ionce-ihe-iget-ithe-iassistance-iof-ihis-iA.I.'s-icalculation-iability,-iso-ihe-ikept-iit-iat-ithe-iback-iof-ihis-imind.-iAfter-itoday,-ieveryone-iwill-igo-ito-itheir-iprovinces-ito-ihave-itheir-ivacation-iand-iwill-ionly-imeet-ithe-inext-iyear-ithat's-iwhy-ithey're-ispending-imore-itime-iin-itheir-ichat.

  William-iis-inow-ion-ihis-iway-ihome-iand-ihe's-ilooking-iforward-ifor-ihis-inearing-iunion-iwith-ihis-ispaceship.-iHe-icouldn't-ihelp-ibut-ifeel-ia-ilittle-iexcited-iand-iworried.-i

  ###-iChapter-i76-i--iVacation

  William-isold-i5-imagic-istructure-icrystals-icontaining-iFloat-iDrive-iSystem-iwithin-ia-iweek-ias-iplanned.-iBut-ibefore-ithat,-ithe-iGolden-iTrident-iGroup-ialso-icompleted-ithe-iconstruction-iand-iinstallation-iof-imagic-idefenses-iin-ithe-iproperty.-i

  Of-icourse,-ione-ithing-ithat-iWilliam-iadded-iafter-iin-ithis-idefenses-iwere-ihis-iexclusive-iMagic-iJammer-iCancellers.-iHe-idoesn't-ineed-ito-imention-ithis-idetail-ito-ithe-isecurity-icompany-iso-ihe-iproceeded-iand-iplaced-iit-ias-ihe-iwanted.-iThis-iplacement-iof-imagic-istructure-imay-ibe-iexaggerated-ias-imagic-ijammers-iare-irare-iand-imostly-ibeing-iused-iby-ithe-igovernment's-ifactions.-iSo-ihe-ionly-iplaced-iit-ias-ian-iassurance-ifor-ithe-iunforeseeable-ifuture-ias-iall-ihis-ithings-irelated-ito-ihis-iplans-iin-iMontego-ito-iretrieve-ihis-ispaceship-iis-istill-iin-ihis-iworkshop.-iApparently,-ihe-ican't-ibring-ithose-iin-ihis-iparent's-ihouse.

  After-iWilliam-iconfirmed-ithat-ihis-iproperty-iseems-ito-ibe-isafe-iand-iwell-iprotected,-ihe-itravelled-iback-ihome-ito-iwhere-ihis-iparents-ilive.

  Of-icourse,-ihe-ididn't-iforget-ito-ibring-ihis-igift-ito-ihis-ilittle-isister.-iHe-itook-ia-ideep-ibreath-iand-iremembered-ithat-ia-ilot-iof-ithings-ihappened-ifrom-ithe-ilast-itime-ihe-ivisited-ihere.

  William-iarrive-iin-ifront-iof-ihis-iparent's-ihouse,-ihe-isighed-iand-imoved-ihis-ifeet-ito-ienter-ithe-iplace.-iHe-istill-iactually-ihave-ia-imixed-ifeelings-iwith-ihis-ifamily-ihere-iin-ithis-iEarth-ibut-ikept-iit-iinside.-iAfter-iall,-ihaving-isome-ivague-imemories-iof-ihis-ilife-ihere-iand-iclear-imemories-iin-ithe-iouterspace-iisn't-isomething-ithat-ianyone-icould-irelate-iwith.-iHe-ionly-itries-ito-ikeep-istrong-iand-inot-ilose-ihis-isight-itowards-ihis-igoals.-i

  "You're-ialready-ihere.-iYou-ididn't-ieven-iinformed-ius."-iHis-imother,-iElaine,-ismiled-iand-iwas-isurprised-ito-isee-iWilliam.-iShe-ididn't-iexpect-ithat-iWilliam-iwill-ihurry-iback-ihome-ionce-itheir-iclass-iended.-iShe-iexpected-ithat-ihe'll-istill-itake-ia-icouple-iof-idays-ibefore-ideciding-ito-ireturn-ihere.

  "I-ijust-iwant-ito-isurprise-ieveryone.-iI-ibrought-isome-igifts.-iWhere's-iClaire-iand-iDad?"

  William-ianswered-ias-ihe-iput-ihis-ibag-iof-igifts-ion-ithe-iliving-iroom's-itable.-iHe-ionly-iasked-ihis-imother-iafter-i*noticing*-iClaire-iand-ihis-ifather,-iChase,-iisn't-ipresent.-iOf-icourse,-ieven-ibefore-ientering,-ihe-iwas-ialready-iaware-isince-ihe-iused-ihis-iDivine-iSense-iand-iwas-ionly-iconfirming-ito-ihis-imother.

  "They-ijust-iwen't-iout-ia-ibit-ito-iour-inew-ineighbor.-iTheir-ismall-ifamily-irecently-imoved-ito-ithis-itown-ito-ilive-ia-ipeaceful-ilife."-iHis-imother-iexplained-ito-iWilliam-iand-ieven-iwithout-iwaiting-ifor-ihis-ireply,-ishe-iadded-ia-ifew-imore-iwords.

  "Their-ifamily-ihead-iis-ialso-iin-ithe-iMagic-iEngineer's-ipath-ithat's-iwhy-iyour-ifather-ican-ieasily-iget-iclose-ito-ithem.-iThey-ishould-ibe-iback-iwithin-ihalf-ian-ihour.-iDo-iyou-iwant-ito-ieat-ifirst?"

  Elaine-isaid-iand-ishe-ididn't-iforget-ito-iask-iWilliam-ito-ieat-ias-ihe'd-ibeen-itravelling-ifor-iseveral-ihours-iin-ia-ibus.-i

  "Sure.-iI-imissed-iyour-icooking."-iWilliam-ihappily-iagreed-iand-isaid-ihis-iheartfelt-iremarks.-i

  Her-imother-ibusied-iherself-ito-imake-isome-ifoods-ifor-iWilliam.-i

  "I-isaw-ithat-iyou've-ibeen-iselected-ito-iparticipate-iin-iMontego.-iWould-iyou-irequire-isomething?"-iHis-imother-iseems-ito-ibe-iworrying-ifor-isomething-ibut-iultimately-iasked-ifor-iWilliam's-ineeds.-i

  "Nothing.-iI-ijust-ineed-ito-iprepare-isome-imana-iartifacts-ibefore-ithis.-iIs-isomething-iwrong?"-iWilliam-iwas-iable-ito-icatch-iany-ifluctuation-iof-ihis-imother's-iemotion-idue-ito-ihis-ihigh-isensitivity.

  Elaine-ismile-ito-ihis-ison-idue-ito-ithis.

  "Well,-ieverytime-ithat-icountry-iof-iMontego-iorganizes-ithe-icompetition,-iit-ialways-igo-ia-ibit-imessy.-iSo-ibe-icareful."-iShe-ireminded-ithis-ias-ishe-icontinued-ito-icook.

  William-iwasn't-isure-iabout-ithe-icompetitions-ibefore-ithat-iwas-iheld-iin-ithat-icountry.-iHe-itook-inote-iof-iit-iand-imade-isure-ithat-ihe'll-ispend-isome-itime-ito-isearch-iabout-iit's-idetails-ionline.-i

  "Don't-iworry,-iI-iwill."-iHe-ianswered-iin-iassurance.

  ***

  The-imoment-iClaire-inoticed-isomeone-ielse's-ishoes-iin-ithe-ifront-idoor,-ishe-iquickly-iconnected-iit-ito-ihis-ibrother-iand-ilooked-ifor-ihim.

  William-iis-ileisurely-iwatching-ithe-itelevision-ifor-ithe-ievening-inews-iwhen-ihis-ifather-iand-ilittle-isister-iarrived.-i

  Claire-iquickly-inoticed-ia-ibag-iplaced-iin-ithe-itable.-iIt-iwasn't-ithere-iwhen-ithey-ileft-iso-iit's-isafe-ito-iassume-ithat-iher-ibrother-ibrought-iit.

  "Here,-ithis-iis-iyours."-iWilliam-itook-ia-ismall-iwrapped-ibox-ifrom-ithe-ibag-iand-igave-ito-iClaire.-i

  The-ilatter-ithanked-ihim-iand-iopened-ithe-igift.-iShe-isaw-ia-igolden-ibrooch-iin-ithe-iform-iof-iRed-iStar-iflower-iwhere-itheir-itown-iis-ifamous-iof.-iThis-itype-iof-iflower-ican-ialmost-ibe-ifound-ionly-iin-ithe-iLuna-iLake-inear-itheir-itown.-iLooking-icloser-iat-ithe-ibrooch,-ithe-iflowers-iare-imade-iof-ifinely-icarved-iand-itinted-iivory-iand-iit-ionly-ihave-i9-icm-ihigh.-i

  Claire-isaw-ihow-ibeautiful-iit-iis-iand-ieven-iloved-iit-imore-ias-ishe's-ivery-ifamiliar-iwith-ithe-iflower.

  She-iquickly-itried-iwearing-ithe-ibrooch-iwith-ithe-ihelp-iof-iher-ifather.-i

  Chase-itook-ithe-ibrooch-ifrom-iClaire-iand-ias-isoon-ias-ihe-itouches-iit,-ihe-iwas-iable-ito-iclearly-ianalyze-ithe-imana-iartifact.-iYes,-ithe-ibrooch-iis-ia-iGrade-iA-imana-iartifact-ithat-iWilliam-imade-ispecifically-ifor-iher-ilittle-isister.-iThis-iwas-iinspired-ifrom-ithe-ibrooch-ithat-ihe-isaw-iin-ithe-iTMAC.-iIt-ilooks-imore-ilike-ian-ielegant-idecoration-ithan-ia-iweapon-iused-ifor-ibattle.

  As-ia-iMagic-iEngineer,-ieven-ithough-ihe-ino-ilonger-iheavily-iwork-iin-ithe-ifield,-iChase-inoticed-ithe-iexquisite-idesign-ifor-iit's-ismooth-imana-iflow.-iBased-ion-ihis-iexperience,-ihe-ifelt-ithat-ithis-imana-iartifact-iis-imore-ifocused-ion-idefense.-iHe-icouldn't-iclearly-ianalyze-ithe-imagic-istructure-iplace-ihere-iwithout-iproper-itools.-i

  After-ihelping-iClaire,-ihe-iasked-iWilliam-iabout-ithe-iMana-iArtifact.

  "I've-ionly-iplaced-iLayered-iMana-iBarrier-iand-isome-ilocator-ispell.-iI've-ialso-irecently-ilearned-iste
alth-imagic-iso-ii-itried-iputting-iit-ion-ithe-ibrooch-ias-iwell.-iBut-iit-idoesn't-ireally-ihave-iany-ioffensive-ispells-iin-iit."-i

  William-ianswered-ito-ihis-ifather.-iClaire-idoesn't-ihave-iformal-ieducation-iabout-imana-iusage-iand-iwas-ionly-ipersonally-itaught-iby-ihis-imom-iand-idad,-iit-imay-icause-itrouble-iif-ishe-ihave-idestructive-imagic-ispells-iin-iher-iartifact-iso-ihe-ionly-iplaced-idefensive-ispell,-istealth-imagic-iand-ia-ilocator-iin-icase-inecessary.

  Chase-inodded-iat-ithis,-ias-ia-iMagic-iEngineer,-ihe-iwas-ialso-icapable-iof-imaking-imana-iartifacts-ifor-ihis-ichildren-ibut-iwhen-iWilliam-imoved-ito-istudy-iin-ithe-iacademy,-imost-iof-ihis-imana-iartifacts-iwas-ileft-ihere-iat-ihome-ias-iWilliam-iis-inow-isomehow-icapable-iof-imaking-ifor-ihimself.-iAs-ifor-iClaire,-iChase-ihadn't-imade-ione-ifor-iher-iage-ibut-iprepared-isomething-ishe-igrown-iup-ia-ibit-imore.-iFor-inow,-ithey-iare-iteaching-iher-imana-imanipulation-iwithout-iusing-imana-iartifacts.-i

  Unlike-iWilliam-iwho-ipreviously-ihad-iweak-imana-iaffinity-iand-icouldn't-icast-ia-icomplete-iMana-iShell-ithat-iwould-icover-ihis-iwhole-ibody,-iClaire-ihas-ia-ivery-igood-imana-iaffinity.-i