107 Chapter 35 - Institution (2/2)
Kragg chuckled. \”Half.\”
Impressed, Kenji made a note and descended into the once noble's basement.
The torture equipment had been pushed against the walls, the spikes and chains, however, remained in use. Several men and women had their arms pulled wide within cages, a series of pullies, wooden tubes, and a rag resulting in the slight drip...drip...drip of water upon their heads.
\”Report,\” Kenji muttered of the foul chamber, Jed detaching himself from a dark corner. Blind as a bat he didn't seem to mind the gloom, even while one testee growled, and another panted heavily.
\”Few have awakened a potential as a Dark Magician, but less have quit. I'm impressed,\” Jed said with barely suppressed anger, \”I just wished more would prove fruitful.\”
\”And the spells?\”
\”Wonderful, progress has come swiftly. Especially your idea to raise a persons body temperature. The Merchants brought back a spell called [Heat] from the Far King for a lordly sum, and we have successfully augmented it to appear within a body at range to become [Body Heat].\”
A normal person might not understand why Jed cackled, or how serious a weapon such a spell could be. And that was the point, Kenji wanting it to be misunderstood and underestimated.
\”Rename it, to [Death Curse] or something,\” because raising the internal body temperature quickly would shut down their critical organs in seconds. People of this world wouldn't know the difference between simple temperature change and death magic, and Kenji wanted to provoke fear if this spell had to be put into use.
\”I'll make a note of that. [Store fireball] is also coming along well, although it requires the user to have a basic level of either the [Arcane] or [Enchanting] skills. The Elves had proven good at it, the rest of us less so. Still, able to store an explosive spell in objects would be useful-\”
\”Prepare to store it in live creatures as well,\” Kenji muttered, Jed, halting in his tracks.
\”A suicide spell?\”
\”No. We could use druidic magic to control pigeons for example, then have them detonate on any targets like homing missiles.\”
\”You want to call it [Homing Missile] than, eh? Fine, I'll add it to the list. A list that keeps getting bigger mind you. Developing new magic takes an exceptional amount of time and resources, perhaps it would be best if we focus on a more select range in future?\”
\”Jed, magic is a resource like any other. Once you know these things are possible, they have come quickly, right? It's about trying more than the difficulty, and when the time comes we have to fight demons, monsters and who knows what else...I think you can agree with me that we want our arsenal to be ready for any eventuality.\”
As Jed went to respond a scream tore through the dark, and a girl opened eyes shining with dark light. The rag above her smouldered with [Dark Flame] before the magic ceased and the girl went limp. Servants hurried out of the dark to pry open her cage and set her free, awakening her with smelling salts to then stand on her own two feet.
\”Another success,\” grinned Jed. \”And a slot for another candidate.\”
\”Are you having any trouble recruiting?\”
\”Not at all. Our other projects too, every 'institute' needs not take but a leisurely stroll before finding those desperate to do more. The Fae enchantments suppressed the memories of that bloody siege certainly, but they always resurface. Now that the enchanters have started to charge for their services, many are wanting to find other ways to cope.\”
\”And this...is what they choose?\” Kenji rose an eyebrow at the dark, while the werewolf who had awakened a dark magicians cloak from a peg on the wall and was led upstairs.
\”Of course. They choose power, something that gives them control. They want to fight, because fighting makes them feel they are making a difference. To stand still and do nothing? They destroys them far more than alcohol, drugs or hedonism ever could.\”
Nodding grim, Kenji turned away.
\”Carry on, I have a few more Institutes to inspect before leaving. I leave the Dark Magicians in your hands.\”
\”As you wish, Grand Master...\” turning back around with sightless eyes, Jed shuffled over to meet a powerfully build man descending the stairs. \”Welcome to your first day of training. Let's get you the dark elixirs, and then you can be strapped in.\”