In the HEM building, Ponder solemnly drew the last magic circle on the squash court that was now their laboratory. Splitting the thaum. His dream since his student days. And now he was making that dream come true for his students, eager young faces with riotous hair and dark circles under their eyes, faces not much younger than his, in fact. He'd never imagined it would happen so soon. Despite funding issues, mysterious breakdowns of equipment, and a breakfast tray that ate people, the plan had worked.

Cheap, clean, available magic. For everyone. Whole new ways to meld magic and technology, a whole new world, if only he could get it past the university board.

"Staffs in place," he called, directing the students into their own small chalked circles. They activated them, and Ponder could feel the magic in the room rise. The air began to taste of tin. Starbursts flashed at the corner of his vision, tempting him to turn his head, but he was too fascinated with what was happening in the middle of the room.

The container they'd set in the center of the circle was slowly filling up with liquid.

Liquid. Magic.

He reached out almost without realizing it, fascinating by the shifting colours. Octarine shimmered on its surfacing, overlaying a pure, clear pale blue.

And just like that the spell was over, the container filled, raw magic condensed into liquid form, there for anyone to use, wizard or no, for anything at all. Transportation. Communication. The possibilities were endless.

That had been two days ago. They had refined the process, drunk on the awareness that it was possible. Now it could be done with three wizards, six ounces of goat blood, and a large silver spoon.

This was only the beginning.

"So, young Stibbons, I understand you've asked to be allowed a leave of absence for research."

"Yes, sir. As you're no doubt aware, the possibilities opened up by splitting the thaum – "

"Yes, yes, I know, I hear you young fellas talkin' about it all the time."

"I can tell you what the research will be about, Archchancellor."

"Will it involve the word quantum?"

"Possibly."

"Thank you, no." Ridcully sighed and shuffled some of the papers on his desk. They were mostly there for show, since he felt anything that you had time to write down wasn't urgent enough to require his attention, but they were jolly good for moments like this, when he had to think.

"What," he asked, shuffling some more, "is the benefit to the university of this?"

"Well, since I'll still be an employee, you'll have full rights to anything I come up with," Ponder said, cautiously hopeful. "It could be quite profitable."

Ridcully considered this. " And you'll expect your post to still be open when you get back after, hmm, how long did you say?"
"A year, sir. Yes, sir. As I occupy no essential function in this university " – aside from keeping everything from falling to bits in the midst of this madness, he told himself, but didn't say that out loud – "I didn't think it would be too much to ask."

"Hmm, indeed." Ridcully stroked his beard for a moment, and then made up his mind.

"All right," he said. "We can't pay you wages, of course."

"I don't think I draw any now, sir."

Ridcully stood up, shook his hand. "Righto, Stibbons. We'll miss you, and all that. When will you leave?"

"Beginning of next week, sir. My students are throwing me a party."

"Jolly good."

Many thanks to the lovely LilMaibe, who gave me some excellent suggestions. You should go read her stuff as she has some amazing HEM-based fanfiction.
Also, this is my first real fanfic in...ages. And my first Discworld fanfic. And my first multichapter. Soooo, CC welcome. Also, Britpick me, I'm American.