Anthony was a brilliant mage. A former member of the Royal Arsenal. A genius born from nothing who had risen high despite his low birth only to be struck down, deleveled and imprisoned once he dabbled in forbidden magic.
His fellow mages who'd conducted experiments with him had merely been deleveled and sent back to their families with strict commands not to permit them to study magic.
They were from powerful families.
It was a sign of the horrible state of this world where talent was even more worthless than it had been in her original world.
"Princess," greeted the man she had freed, branded with her slave crest and interrogated before permitting him to work for her, "I'm grateful for the opportunity-"
Malty let him praise her. Allowed his effusive gratitude to flow past her. It wasn't for her, the words were meaningless, but it would reassure the traumatized man who had been isolated for the better part of a year with no one but his guards for company.
"Have you made any progress?" she asked, as they walked deeper into the underground complex that she had created only two days prior. It was a spartan structure in terms of comforts, but as a prison and a laboratory, it was amazing. She still had more work to do. It was well defended on a basic level, enchantments to hide and shield it and dug deep inside a mountain for physical defence.
Alchemy, to manipulate preexisting matter. Enchantment, to add magical properties. Plant Manipulation, to add features using the Cane with greater ease. All bolstered and enhanced by the Vassal Cane to create a truly incredible secret prison that could only be accessed by teleportation.
It was a sign of Anthony's desperation that he had agreed to work with her here in such conditions.
"I have finished studying the literature you provided, Your Highness," he said, without breaking stride as they headed towards the test subjects. The corridor was very well lit and the metal walls were covered with hundreds of runes anchoring the enchantment that lit up the place and reinforced the defences. The Cane permitted her to understand the entire array at a glance, "but Soul Magic is a complex and subjective domain of study. I cannot guarantee the same results. Replication is all but impossible."
Malty smiled at him and watched him relax, "Your honesty is appreciated," she said, "but do remember that I expect your best from you."
The man stopped, bowed deeply after turning to her and said, "Yes, Your Highness!"
"What will you need to speed it up?" she asked as they finally reached the prisons.
"More of everything," he admitted frankly. It made her realize just why he had struggled in the Royal Arsenal. Prodigious magical talent or not, he'd have made far too many enemies with his blunt behaviour, "Expendable test subjects, more materials and assistants to help with the process."
Malty waved her Cane at the apparently blank wall before her, alchemic processes started with a thought, shaping the steel and revealing a small room filled with vines. A thought and a pulse of mana commanded the plants to reveal the prize they had sealed away.
Eclair Saeatto's bound form became obvious.
"You'll have what you need," she said firmly.
"Thank you," he said with another bow, paused after glancing at the bound noblewoman and turned to her, "...about Lord Tenik and the others from his House. Is it okay to..."
Jessica had to admit that the reflexive adherence to the Class system that ruled this country was something useful to her. Simply being a Princess had given her a great deal of power. More than most could hope to have. Nobles had similar power over most and even Anthony who had suffered due to this system had not contemplated dismissing it. He didn't even consider bringing up a similar argument for all the other prisoners who would be their test subjects, simply because they were commoners like him.
"They are no longer nobility," she said, calmly, "At this point, they are merely criminals whom I have no use for. Criminals who deserve to suffer for the crimes they have committed. Use them freely and dismiss any thought of mercy."
The vicious smile that emerged on his face made her grateful that she still had a slave seal on him.
"Understood, Your Highness," he said, tone fervent with devotion, "Your will shall be done!"
He left after her dismissal and she turned her attention to the pink-haired girl who was groggily waking up. She struggled to stand up. Understandable, Malty had deleveled her and the woman had been trapped in the dungeons back home for weeks even before Malty had transferred her here.
Eclair Seaetto was a classic Knight archetype. Brave, loyal and devoted to following the law and protecting the weak. After the Wave, the Church and Aultcray's pet nobles had ruined her father's domain, enslaved her people and ravaged the land she had come to the King to demand justice.
For her troubles, she had gotten tossed into prison and had been forgotten by all. Nobility or not, she was a remnant of Mirellia's faction and both Aultcray and Balmus had been determined to keep the Queen's powerbase out while they summoned the Heroes.
She was straightforward and easy to manipulate as long as she believed that you were worthy of her loyalty.
A pity that the loyalty she had was directed towards Mirellia. Worse, the woman knew about Malty's petty cruelties. There was no way she would serve Jessica willingly as an ally or a servant or a Knight.
"Princess," spat the dishevelled, naked woman with the Slave Crest prominently visible on her forehead. She looked nothing at all like the proud Knight she thought of herself as.
Jessica ignored the words and waved her Cane. Eclair flinched but had no time to react as the steel that had sealed away the room surged inside and manacled the woman and bound her against the wall. A thought had the enchantments around the room flare-up. They absorbed mana and the tiny amount of light magic the level 1 warrior managed to muster was dispelled. The magic for absorbing mana was terribly inefficient. It took at least ten times more mana to absorb 1 unit of mana, but Malty's reserves eclipsed the pitiful girl's by several hundred times.
The Cane Hero sank into a cross-legged position. Palms flat over her knees and the Cane placed on the palms. The form changed into one that amplified her affinity for Soul Magic.
It was the most mysterious affinity she had. Her strongest affinity even more so than fire or wind that she had inherited from Malty, or the lightning that she suspected was hers.
It was also an affinity that seemed to do nothing other than absorb mana.
Malty wove a thread of Soul Affinity themed mana around Eclair.
The woman's screams rang throughout the room. The Knight's hands were suddenly gone, but blood didn't flow out of the stumps.
It was amazing. The problem was that she had no idea what she had done or how.
Jessica winced, her concentration shattered by the high pitched scream, shaped a steel mask around Eclair's face and continued.
She would unravel the secrets of her affinity. It was the least of what she needed to survive this world and the Goddess that loomed over it.
