Chapter 734: The Laboratory

Chapter 734: The Laboratory

Keldain deathlooked much as she had in life.

The young woman was pale and still, yet showed no sign of withering or decay. In many ways, the state of her body reminded Alex of Uldars lying dead in his sanctum; both looked as though they might take a deep breath and open their eyes.

But just like Uldar, it was clear that Kelda was long gone.

As were her assistants.

Ten men and womensome young and some oldwere laid to rest around her, clad in the robes and leather aprons of wizard-alchemists. Their skin was undamaged, free of wounding or mummification, but their expressions were flat, almost haunted. Looking at their faces was unnerving, the peacefulness of death was absent; something looked wrong.

Kelda, oh, Kelda, Birger groaned mournfully, stumbling forward. His crutch clacked against the white tile, and he reached out with a shaking hand.

Father, wait! Bjorgrund called. We don't know if it's safe!

But Birger would not be stopped as his son ran after him.

The young wizard doubted thered be any dangers, though, since the sanctum thought he was Kelda.

Alex slowly followed his companions across the chamber floor, gazing in wonder at the machinery around them. It was all old, of course, but of the highest quality three hundred years ago. Metal parts still shone brightly where the dust of time hadnt covered them.

Alex recognized most of the devices.

A huge complex mana conductorconnected to what appeared to be an archaic mana generator and mana vacuumoccupied part of the room. Next to it stood a glyph-encrusted cauldronenchanted symbols of power were etched into the metalone Kelda would have used to disassemble alchemical components or combine them. There were devices made to test the mana conductivity of assorted substances, to heat or cool them to specific temperatures, or suspend them in various essences.

He recognized a lot of the machinery from the history sections of his magic lore and alchemy textbooks. If hed been around three hundred years ago, he would've killed for a lab as well equipped as this, and the devices in it were still useful for a modern day alchemist.

However, he didnt recognise some of them.

There was a massive, spider-like machine filled with test tubes and glass cylinders, a long black one shaped like a tall metal tower, connected to

Alex paused.

Oh, by the Traveller He murmured.

A sinister looking device loomed above him like a vast bronze and steel cage, each bar was etched with glyphs of powerful magic. The kind of magic designed to touch ones soul. Inside the cage stood a narrow table, much like the one hed strapped Hart Redfletcher to when hed enhanced the Champion with blood magic. Surrounding it were dozens of flexible arms made of brass and copper.

A scalpel of bane tipped each arm.

On either side of the tableat thigh heightwere two rounded, golden control-handles.

This area looks like it was set up for someone to operate on their own soul. Most of those arms end with bane knives, instead of fingers, he noted with a shudder. It's hard enough using a single knife on myself to harvest soul essence, what kind of willpower would I need to be able to stand having dozens of them cutting into my soul all together. Itd be fasterif I survived. And those bars

The entire arrangement was blood chilling, especially the cage bars.

Carved into them were glyphs for disintegration, death, blood magic, and life force. The cage-like machine was connected to a power source that filled one corner of the room. It radiated more mana than the power sources Shale used in the workshop, or those the Generasians used in the Research Castle.

Much more.

This must be the machine she used to try to change the Mark, Alex whispered. This must've been the machine that took her life. He went to the glass caskets. And the lives of the rest of her team.

Birger had collapsed against his old friends coffin. He was weeping like his heart would break, shaking with grief, as his son patted him on the back.

I'm sorry Kelda, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry that you didn't let me be here for you. Did I do something to make you distrust me? I'm sorry if I did, he groaned. I wish you would have let me help you.

Father, if she did, you might've lost your life too, Bjorgrund said.

Are you okay? Alex asked, placing his hand on the door latch.

Me? The giant pointed to his chest. Oh yeah, I'm all right, I think. Maybe.

You thinkmaybe? Alex faced him, raising an eyebrow.

I don't know; part of me thought we'd never find this place. I was so happy earlier, but now fathers crying. And this is where we have to do all sorts of dangerous stuff, right? The young giant watched the door, shuddering. I mean, this is where you're going to do all that stuff to try and change your Mark. You're going to actually be messing with your soul. That's what Kelda was doing, wasnt it? And it killed her and her whole team.

Yeah, thats right, it did. Alex grimly reached into his satchel, pulling out Hannahs artefact, remembering her journal. According to the Traveller, it didn't just kill them: it completely annihilated their souls.

You said that before, while we were searching for this place, Bjorgrund said nervously. He shifted his weight back and forth on his feet. I'd fight and bleed against rune-marked or the nasty church filth. I'd even, uh, die A grimace briefly flashed across his face. if I needed to, but hearing about souls being destroyedit makes me feel cold in a way that even the deepest winter doesnt. What exactly happens to you if your souls destroyed?

Alex gave him a long, solemn look. My friend, I wish I knew. I don't think you get an afterlife; Hannah never met Kelda in the afterworld. I think you just cease to be, maybe? I dont know.

I wonder what that's likejust turning to nothing. A shudder went through the giants body. What's it like to be nothing? Is it just like floating in the dark forever? Or is it something elseI can't even imagine it.

I dont really want to find out, Alex said. That's one reason why I want to find her notes: I don't want to make the same mistakes she did.

How do you know you won't? Bjorgrund asked.

I have something she didn't. The original notes of the one who created the Marks. He tapped his satchel. With them, I'll be working with more information than she ever had. I'll be able to modify her methods, and account for any mistakes she might've made. I hope.

You hope? You mean you're not sure?

Honestly? No, no I'm not. All I know is that I need to try, Bjorgrund Alex bit the inside of its cheek. I don't know if you know what it's like to have so many people and monsters trying to kill you, and your family and friendsand not be able to do much about it.

You're a warrior: you beat an entire army of rune-marked, Bjorgrund pointed out.

That's not quite true. Not completely, Alex said. I used my staff to summon monsters that fought them. I used potions that might or might not have hurt them. I infused my friends and family with magic to battle them.

That was enough, wasn't it? Bjorgrund asked.

It was, then. But what about when the church attacked us? the young wizard clenched his teeth. They took us by surprise: the First Apostle nearly ripped my guts out and the only thing I could do was lie on the ground and bleed. What if I could've used blood magic to heal myself? I could've joined the fight.

His lips flattened to a grim line. What if I could've cast a spell on those archers that were skewering you? Or blew them up with fire, or put them to sleep or buried them in ice or disintegrated them? You wouldn't have had to protect me.

He swallowed. Were about to go up against some of the most dangerous enemies I've ever encountered and, believe me, I've encountered some dangerous bastards. We'll need every resource we can get if we're going to do this properly. Idon't want to risk my soul, but to put an end to all of this, I'll do it.

The young giant opened his mouth to say something else, when his father's voice came through the door.

Son! Alex! I think I found something youll want to see! Birger called.

The two young men looked at each other and rushed through the door.

Birger was composed now, and was standing in another part of the laboratorya part that was hidden by some of the larger devicesin front of a doorless stone cabinet.

Books were stacked inside.

Alex sprinted over to it, excitement surging through him.

He quickly eyed the book titles, finding a leather bound one marked with words written in Hannahs secret language.

Patch Reversal, notebook I.

With a shaking hand, he reached for it, gingerly turning to the first page while blowing away a layer of dust.

This is it his voice was barely a whisper. These are her notesthis is the process she used to try and change the Mark of the Fool.