Chapter 73

"Just sit tight until we've finished with everyone's exams." Ortho said then left the them in the room. 'I did what I could huh? I wonder what I can do for Idia.' Ortho thought as he glanced over his shoulder at the closed door.

Back in the control room Ortho greeted Idia happily. "I'm back Idia how's the testing going for Subject F?"

"Just finished running him through the battle sims. Hmmm, he's seriously mediocre in every single way. The preliminary report of him being a dire-beast with high blot density checks out through. What we've figured out so far is that he's a magical fusion of a dire-beast and some kind of animal. He's got a capacity for thought that's on par with humans, he's as lackluster with magic as he looks. And his blot accumulation could be phenomenally high." Idia informed Ortho as he pulled up Grim's charts.

"Could be? You're usually much more certain about these things. What makes you say that?" Ortho asked as he looked over the numbers.

"Grim's numbers go haywire every time I try to get a precise blot accumulation reading, one moment they spike into the red zone like a subject that's gone full Phantom then the next moment they bottom out and go infinitely close to 0. All attempts at blot treatments have had no effects whatsoever. And look at this." Idia explained then pulled up another screen, a video feed of a private room.

"Myah, Odette gimme a bit of that dessert." Grim muttered and he rolled on to his stomach.

"He's sleeping so peacefully, and all of his numbers are stable." Ortho said.

"He got abducted by a secret organization and yet he's snoozing away and exposing his belly then again I'm the Secret Organization Boss, placeholder title, so who am I to talk? I learned something else from the non-battle test we had him do. He's got traces of a powerful spell on him." Idia said closing the window then brought up a different window.

"I thought the blue flames coming from his ears were a dire-beast trait but do you think it's a curse manifesting like how it is for you?" Ortho asked looking up at Idia.

"I tried analyzing it to see but it's got layers of complex interwoven magic. I can't piece the whole thing together. Not even with Styx's supercomputer crunching the numbers it'd take a century for that analysis to finish, but what I found out from studying the outer layers of the spell is that seriously ancient sorcery's involved." Idia explained.

"How ancient are we talking?" Ortho asked.

"Like 1000 year old primeval magic. I've got no idea who cast such a complex spell on Grim or why they did it and it's currently unclear whether the blot resistance he has is a blessing or a curse." Idia answered.

"Those are technically the same thing. Blessing and curse are both types of sorcery that bestow magic on someone. The only difference is whether there's a positive or negative intent behind it." Ortho pointed out.

"Yup same goes for our family curse that incinerate blot the moment it accumulates. Some people would think a guaranteed overblot free life is a huge blessing. But I'm sure our illustrious fore-bearers viewed it as a curse placed on them so they'd never revolt again." Idia sighed deeply.

"The reason the Shroud family was ordered to be the Watchmen of the Island of Woe in perpetuity, was because the first family head took the Titans, the original Phantoms, and led them in a revolt against the Jupiter family right?" Ortho asked.

"Yup, their punishment was being tasked with managing Tartarus, a prison for Phantoms and the Underworld the Phantom graveyard. Ugh, what were they thinking trying to take down the Jupiter just to steal their spot at the top of the family? They must've known their chances were nil. Are they seriously my ancestors? They screwed over every generation since. Eventually they thought if they were no more Phantoms then we'd be free of this place so they threw themselves into blot research. That got us nowhere, we're still stuck here. Years back I thought that if we just cast our curse on everybody in the world the problem would be solved. So I ran analysis on our curse. But after about 3 minutes it hit me. If a curse is designed to incinerate blot but there's no blot to burn what would it go for next?" Idia asked.

"It would jump to the course of blot, magic right?" Ortho asked.

"Bingo, we have to keep producing blot, negative energy or else we'll get an MP draining debuff just from being alive. Dad and Grandma supplemented their magic with technomantic devices, and they were ultra negative and depressing to be around. It doesn't take a genius to understand this curse sucks royally. Was I dense as a kid or what?" Idia sighed.

"You're a genius big brother. You know I bet if you put your mind to it you could really change things." Ortho said smiling at him.

"Well yeah I am pretty exceptional but I'm not good enough ti solve a problem that generations of our ancestors couldn't. I'd just be wasting my time. Have you forgotten what happened to Ortho when we tried to leave this place? My fate was set the moment I was born. My only choice was to spend my life in this dark miserable place surrounded by spirits." Idia whispered.

Before Ortho could response he cut off by a technician over the speaker. "Acting Director all test for subjects A through E are complete, we told them to stay in their rooms until the River Lethe was ready but there's a slight problem."

"Yah, okay, be right there. What do those troublemakers want now?" Idia sighed as he shook his head and made his way towards the door.

"You could totally do it, big brother." Ortho whispered.

"Huh, you say something?" Idia asked turning back to him.

"Nope, not a word. Let's go." Ortho said following behind Idia.

Idia and Ortho entered the conference room and immediately felt five pairs of eyes on them.

"Ah, I see the 'acting director' and his aide have finally decided to grace us with their presence would you be here to offer some words of gratitude to the subjects who completed your entire slate of tests?" Vil asked.

"Hey Radish Sprout what's up with all this canned food and powdered junk? They make the cheap steaks at school cafeteria look like five star restaurant fare." Leona grumbled.

"Agreed, nutritionally speaking it's fine but I can't eat food with such unconsidered flavor and texture. Oh, but if this is traditional Island of Woe cuisine then I do apologize for my discourtesy." Jamil commented.

"Idia, I demand you supply me with tea this instant. Rule 339 states 'the post meal beverage is to be lemon tea with 2 sugar cubes'. I know we're not on campus but as Heartslabyul Housewarden it falls on me to uphold the rules whatever I can." Riddle demanded.

"Idia, I know better than to ask for unfettered internet access, but at least let me read the morning and evening paper. Preferably one that focuses on world and economic news. I need to stay on top of my investments." Azul said.

"Yap, yap, yap, what is this a zoo? You guys are forgetting the chain of command here? I really wish I didn't have to keep spelling it out but I'm the boss!" Idia snapped.

"In that case I have some choices words for you 'boss' Isn't it your job to make sure we're treated adequately after you dragged us here by force. If I might quote Styx's core mission you ensure our 'magical lives are safe to explore' and we're all contributing our data to your efforts for free. I think we're entitled to a reward. "Vil replied.

"Do you all realize you overblotted and caused serious problems for everyone around you?" Idia asked frowning.

"Certainly but I never cause any trouble for you." Vil frowned back.

"Some people just like playing the victim and lording it over the offender even when it didn't impact them at all." Leona added.

"Uh, excuse me you overblot has majorly impacted me, again, I didn't ask to do this. Now I'm way behind on my favorite character's event and all my consecutive login bonuses are shot. I've got a bone to pick with all of you epic troublemakers. Why did both of my parents have to step out now of all times?" Idia reminded them as he began to mutter more to himself then the others around him.

"Maybe they thought the subjects would be more at ease since you all know each other." Ortho suggested stopping Idia's muttering.

"Anyone with 2 brain cells could figure out that it's infinitely harder because we know each other, classic mom and dad always prioritizing efficiency over people's feelings, their travel logs show they're headed to the Land of Dawning to investigate things further. Probably to question the headmage y'know since he's the one in charge of the school with all the troublemakers. If they needed my help they could've at least given me that job instead." Idia grumbled to Ortho.

"But this is the first time you've had friends over right? I'm rather happy about that myself." Ortho smiled.

"Huh? Friends?" Idia gasped.

"Yeah, we haven't experienced this personally but I've seen lots of scenes in TV shows and anime where classmates or club mates hang out at each other's houses. It's called 'having friends over'. Isn't it perfectly common form of socializing for regular people." Ortho said.

"Maybe for regular people but for us? It's just fiction. Besides this wasn't 'having friends over'. It was forcibly dragging acquaintances into a lab and making them test subjects." Idia pointed out.

"But you still brought people you know into your residence." Ortho countered.

"It's not the same, those two things are as different as Elysoum and the Underworld you need to update your logic systems. And who would call this bunch of troublemakers friends anyway? You gotta be kidding me." Idia sighed.

"Excuse me, what are you two whispering about? Are you even listening to us? Now that we're finished with the tests I'd like to get in my daily workout or some yoga." Vil asked.

"I could use a bit of exercise myself." Jamil remarked.

"Give me meat, any kind." Leona snarled.

"I must have tea!" Riddle demanded.

"Bring me a business paper." Azul insisted.

"Augh! Shut up! You're all going home tomorrow would to kill you to exercise a little patience?" Idia snapped.

No sooner had he stopped when alarms began to go off. Red lights flashed in time with the alarm blasts.

"Testing subjects ROS- 859A and SUS3320B will commence at 1300. Currently thawing Phantom subjects' cages. The facility will go into full lock down for the duration of the test to ensure the safety of all personnel. All personnel please return to your stations immediately." The PA system informed them.

"Oh I guess there's an A-class Phantom test today, that's gonna take awhile. Well guys you're not leaving this room for the next two or three hours. You're gonna have to entertain yourselves." Idia sighed.

"What?!" Everyone else is the room exclaimed.

Thanks for reading and sticking around. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It feels like filler but at the same time it feels like connective issues so yet important. I tried to keep only what I thought was important but man can Idia ramble on. I tried to keep that to a minimum. Next chapter should be a fun one with everyone planning videos games. See ya next time.