"So, what can you do… uh, how should I call you?" Blaze said unsurely.
"This unit will assist User Blaze Romanov in creating—"
"No, I mean, do you do anything else other than managing blueprints?"
The school had ended. Blaze was now in his dorm room trying to figure out his new AI partner that the celestial forge granted him. it might give him answers on the app's origin or how it actually works.
"This unit specializes in Development and Reconstruction. This unit is not designed to perform tasks outside of this category."
"I see, that's sucks." He blew a sigh. He had hoped that the AI could help him understand more about the celestial forge, but it seemed even it was just a very smart Blueprint manager, "I think I'm going to call you Manager from now on."
"Affirmative. This unit will be labeled as 'Manager' from this point forward," the AI said followed by a beep. He waited for more response, but none came. It really was a very specialized AI; it couldn't even do small talk!
"…alright can you help me deconstruct something?" he asked, but the AI answered with a simple "No." made him sigh, "So it's all fall to me, huh? Eh, whatever. that's good enough for me."
Blaze stood up from his bed. He then scanned his room, looking for something to take apart. There were a few that the inside out he was already familiar with, like the tube TV on the table near the window, the small fridge by the door, and the coffee maker near the TV—
"Blueprints acquired." Manager suddenly chirped. Blaze raised his scroll in surprise, "due to User's familiarity with; Sunny Triton VK-10M13, Ms. Coffee 12-cup programable coffeemaker, and Darby Designer 1.7 cubic foot compact refrigerator. This unit was able to generate the blueprints based on the User's knowledge of them."
A tab then sprung up on his scroll. 'Blueprint' it said on top and under it were 3 blueprint files that Manager mentioned. Blaze checked them, and just like the AI said it was as detailed as he remembered them.
"How did you?"
"This unit possesses a certain level of synchronicity with User Blaze's memory core. This unit will extract any blueprints that the user already knows for ease of function." The AI said, "Do not be alarmed. This unit can only do this to memories pertaining to the construction of an object. User's privacy will not be violated in the process."
"That's… relieving to hear." He sighed. It was rather shocking, but he should've known better. Of course, the magic AI knew how to extract 'blueprints' from his head. Speaking of…
"Manager, do the composition of magical arrays and spells count as blueprints?"
"Affirmative. Although, due to sorcery's nature, this unit might not be able to perform to its full potential." The AI said. He shook his head.
"that's already good. It gave me an idea where to start."
And that was of course the basis of his newest perk; Deconstruction.
◆◆◆◆XVX◆◆◆◆
It was 7 in the evening; classes had ended a few hours ago and the academy was still bustling with students. The library was quite filled although not as crowded as school hour, giving Blaze some room to play with his power.
Walking around the shelves of books, he began to understand what 'Librarian' perk does. For one, it gives him an easier time dealing with information gathering, especially in a book. He also organizes things more neatly now, though it wasn't as noticeable since he was already kinda good at it. there might be more things that the power gives, but at the moment 'Librarian' gave him; enhanced memory, quicker information gathering, and stay organized.
Combined with his Hoarder's Eyes, it made his time in the library much less stressful with how he could know a book's title with but a glance. Although, they seem to share the same usage text; 'open and find out.'
Blaze stopped at a section and reached for a rather thick book, 'Programming for beginners' Hoarder's eyes supplied. He glanced around before asking in a whisper, "Manager, do your codes count as 'blueprint'?"
"Affirmative," the AI said through the headset in his ears, "so long it pertains to how an object is constructed, this unit will automatically save that information in the 'blueprint' tab."
So long it was information about how an object was constructed, huh?
"…"
"Blueprint confirmed. Object baby—"
"Manager, delete blueprint."
"Affirmative."
Seems like what Manager defined as an 'object' was a bit too broad. It gives him a lot of freedom in what he could break down and rebuild. He could technically deconstruct anything and he would get the blueprint of said object for future construction. However, could he construct that object? now that was an entirely different beast. For example, he could know how a planet was built, its layers and atmosphere compositions, and he would get the blueprint of it. but could he build it though?
"So, what programming language you're written in?" he asked while eyeing the books in front of him.
"Pytron 2.0." the AI said. Blaze's eyes ran through the books and he clicked his tongue. he didn't find it, heck the only programming languages here were 'Cobra' and 'X+'. he didn't know that there were only two programming languages in Remnant, he thought there would be more.
"I suppose you can't let me see your codes?" he asked and when the AI said "Negative" he blew a sigh and put back the book, "Figures. Well, it's worth a shot." He supposed he just had to wait for the app to give him programming-related powers.
He decided to borrow a few books regarding science and molecular bonds. He had a feeling that he needed these for what he sought to do.
◆◆◆◆XVX◆◆◆◆
It was 11 in the evening; night had blanketed the kingdom of Atlas in its cold embrace. At this hour, there were only a handful of people who were awake. Most of the dorm inhabitants had slipped into their slumbers, dreaming in peace. Yet, one person remained awake.
As he dove into the books, Blaze began to understand.
Molecules were microscopic particles that made up everything around us. they consisted of two or more atoms, bonded together, and created something be it dirt, gold, or even the oxygen we breathed. The building blocks of the world, if you will.
He put down the book he was reading, setting it aside while keeping it open. His attention then drifted to the papers strewn neatly in front of him, arcane structures being written on their surfaces.
"…And like any blocks, they could be pulled apart." He murmured as he inspected his work.
Since he had to be the one who deconstruct things, Blaze decided to pour his other knowledge into work. The idea was, since negative energy was a form of finer particles than molecules and could seep into them, he would make it so the energy would rip an object apart instead of tainting it.
A spell was ready in his mind; Rot, a simple spell to decompose the flesh of unliving beings. All he needed to do was improve upon that spell—which seems to be a part of what 'Real Research' does; making improvements to an existing spell much easier than making new ones. He just needs to improve upon Rot and make it so it affects more than the organics first.
The problem was, that negative energy exposure would corrupt if it was left for too long. If his calculation was correct, the amount of negative energy used to deconstruct a rice cooker would instead corrupt it in 15 minutes if it was left unattended, while the time to dismantle it was around 2 to 3 hours if he wanted it to be in salvageable pieces instead of fine corrupted mist.
So, here he was, trying to figure out the way to keep the thing he dismantled to be both salvageable and clean. The best he currently had was 27 hours of automatic clean dismantlement without alarming people with how nasty negative energy feels (thanks, Willow!), for something as big as a rice cooker. Something bigger would mean more time. He also still needed to slip an analysis spell somewhere as a precaution.
"…but I think it's good enough for now," he decided.
It was already late and he needed to sleep before midnight. He could continue to improve them later, but it was the best he could at the moment. he then pulled out his scroll and opened the Forge, "400… should I roll?"
He thought for a moment, "…nah, maybe tomorrow."
Sleep sounded more enticing than more power at the moment.
◆◆◆◆XVX◆◆◆◆
The cafeteria buzzed with activity even at this early hour of 7 am. Students who resided in the dormitories were already enjoying their breakfast. The hall exuded elegance, adorned with marble statues of knights adorning the walls. Sunlight flooded the room through a vast window on the eastern side, casting a warm glow over the space.
Blaze was in the middle of eating his meal; an omelet with fried rice on the side and a glass of apple juice. It was very simple compared to the meals his peers currently enjoyed. It was what he usually eats down in Mantle because somehow eating bread for breakfast won't fill his stomach.
While eating, Blaze was thinking of ways to improve the Deconstruction array he had made last night. the room for improvement was vast, but at the moment he needed to focus on refining the cloaking field around the array. They might think he was some envoy of the Grimm with something that nasty coming out of his room…
"You, Dust Rat!" a nasal voice called.
A group of students then approached his table. They were slightly older than Blaze and from the badge on their upper sleeve, you could tell that they were 2nd year students. the group was led by a portly young man with a bowl-cut hairstyle. His face contorted with a sneer, an expression his group mirrored.
Blaze looked up while shoving his meal to his mouth, "Oh, it's you, Shane."
"it's Shade, not Shane." His sneer turned into a scowl.
"Ah, yeah. Sorry, my mind's elsewhere right now," Blaze said, tone insincere, "so, what do you need, Shame?"
"You—tch! it's obvious that you're trying to get a rise out of me," he scoffed. Shade then tapped at the table, "This table's ours, you know? how dare you lay your filthy hands on it."
"Really? I didn't see your name anywhere on the table, Shape. Maybe you misremember. Like how you forgot that bowl cut decreases your sex appeal."
"Watch your mouth, Low Scum! You're talking to Councilman Gehrman's son!" one of the boys in the group shouted while hitting the table. Shade preened at the warning, crossing his hands haughtily.
"…and?" Blaze raised an eyebrow, "what do you want me to do? Grovel at his feet and lick his toes? We're not in the King's era anymore, you know? I won't get my head lopped off just because I don't want to kiss his hairy ass."
"You—!"
"Eh, you can have the seat anyway. I'm done eating," Blaze said as he stood up. indeed, while he was talking with the councilman's son, he didn't stop eating. He was a multitasker like that.
Blaze strode past Shade and his small entourage without a trace of fear. He understood that as long as no one resorted to physical violence, he was safe. It was merely a 'rivalry spat,' as some might describe it.
The councilman's son clenched his teeth in frustration, but he also recognized that he couldn't instigate anything with so many witnesses present. so, he tried to goad, "Backing down already? Tch, just as I expected from someone raised in dens of thieves and scum! I thought you were manlier than that, but you're just like those animals in the Crater—A Coward!"
"Yeah, I'm a coward. what are you gonna do about it?" Blaze stopped momentarily and shot the portly young man a raised eyebrow, he then continued his walk and waved, "Have a good one, Slade. Oh, and I think I wiped my booger on the seat, you should be careful."
"khh! it's Shade, you low-class bastard!"
Blaze ignored the shout and sauntered out of the cafeteria. The students around him murmured, some decrying his brashness, while others supporting the councilman's boy. Few were taken aback by his boldness, but they feared that if they openly said anything Shade's anger would turn to them. it might be foolish of Blaze to openly antagonize someone of Shade's position. There was a chance that he had put his future in jeopardy. because so long as Councilman Gehrman was in position, Shade would have some sway in every facet of Atlas society.
However, to him, none of it mattered. If he couldn't become an engineer in Atlas, he would try in Vale; if not there, then in Mistral, and so on. No man was infallible; their reach must have limits. He simply needed to persist and forge ahead, bulldozing his way forward if necessary.
On the corner of the cafeteria, a little clique watched the exchange between the 'upstart junior' and the councilman's golden boy. They were from a different class, so they weren't familiar with said upstart. They heard of him though, something about a 'scholarship student from Mantle.'
For the most part, the clique paid little attention to the altercation. However, one member observed the exchange intently. Their cerulean eyes scrutinized every detail, from the nuances of body language to the subtle shifts in demeanor. The glint in their eyes gleamed with a sharpness akin to surgical knives
Then, a soft click echoed through the air, followed by a series of scratching sounds.
Willow immersed herself in the notes Blaze had sent to her. 140 documents with roughly a hundred pages each on the knowledge 'Real Research' gave him. Pages upon pages containing knowledge of the arcane, each with their own taste (mostly necromantic) arcane revelation.
The nature of negative energy, how it affects the surroundings, and how it violently affects Dust. And most of all, how someone could be taught to manipulate negative energy.
This... this was all too much. Willow hadn't anticipated the depth of knowledge contained within the materials her friend had provided. Fortunately, most of it was manageable, as long as she approached it with an open mind. However, the sections concerning Death were another matter entirely. They delved into matters of fate and destiny, challenging her comprehension to the point of frustration. Unable to decipher their complexities, she decided to refrain from delving too deeply into them.
Manipulating negative energy, though... that was intriguing. As she read, Willow noticed parallels between it and the workings of aura. Both were produced by living beings and had some effect on Dust. But was aura a form of positive energy? Could that be why those who awakened their aura became more expressive? If her hypothesis was correct, then negative energy needed a name beyond its descriptive title.
"…Curse energy sounds cool," Willow whispered on her lonesome. It sounds like one of those fictional energy in the more action-oriented books she read.
She then stood up from her seat. The open window by the desk invited the cold breeze of Atlas, but it was mild for Atlesian like her. She moved a bit from her desk.
"Cursed Technique…" she moved her hands around, imagining the negative energy she was guiding. She finished her movement by folding her hands, fingers positioned weirdly, "…Grimm Thrall!"
"…no, it doesn't sound right," Willow murmured with a frown. She then repeated her movement while chanting, "By this ancient rite of my sacred bloodline. I—"
"—Ms. Willow!"
"Eek!"
Willow was startled by the call from beyond the locked door. good thing she locked it beforehand! If someone saw her little… imaginative exercise, she'd die out of embarrassment!
the call repeated and she recognized the voice. It was from one of her maids, Vanessa. She composed herself before responding, "What is it, Vanessa?"
"Breakfast is ready, young miss. and we have received a message from your father." That last bit caught her attention.
"…okay, I'll get ready and head down in a moment. thank you, Vanessa." The maid's footsteps fade away after a few moments. left alone to think over what the maid said. Her face shifted but she quickly schooled her expression.
She then turned off her scroll and went to the bathroom. she would continue her little learning session on her way to the academy later...
◆◆◆◆XVX◆◆◆◆
Once again, Willow came to the academy early. The only one who could beat her immaculate record was the only person in her class who lived in the academy's dormitory. That was of course—
"SPIRIT CANNON—!" Blaze screamed at the top of his lungs; arms pushed forward exaggeratedly. Willow stared with half-lidded eyes at the young man from her place by the door. he was sweating as if he just run a marathon.
—this guy…
"it's too early for screaming around, don't you think?" She said flatly.
"it's never too early to shout the world your greetings," he said in a sagely manner, arms crossed as he stood tall.
"you'd sing a different tune when the world greets back with a noise complaint." Willow sighed before asking, "Anyway, how's the AI? Does it explain anything?"
"Ah, no… not really. Manager's just too specialized to do that, isn't that right, Manager?" Blaze glanced at the scroll in his pocket. Willow noticed that the device was halfway unfolded and had its camera pointing at her.
"Indeed, Sir Blaze." The AI replied with a smooth baritone, it reminded her of a certain actor.
"Please don't call me Sir," he sighed and turned to Willow, "well, there you have it. no easy answer for the Celestial Investigation team."
"Manager?" Willow asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"Well, he manages blueprints hence Manager. What do you expect me to call him? Skynet?" Blaze shrugged exaggeratedly. His face then lights up in realization, "Oh, he also can extract blueprints of objects I'm already familiar with from my memories! Like—"
"Blueprint confirmed. Object; Baby—"
"—shut up, Manager." He met Willow's flat stare, "…yeah, said objects is… practically anything."
"…pervert."
"No, I'm not!"
Willow ignored his denial and went to her seat. She placed her books on the desk and sat down. Blaze followed her. he took a seat on a desk beside hers, flipped the seat, and leaned forward to her.
"So, regarding that destined weapon of yours, do you have any preference?" he asked.
Willow put a hand on her chin, "…I don't think I got to choose, it's 'destined' after all. But, if it's possible, I like an elegant weapon. Weapon that's… classy, even in the middle of a battle."
"Classy weapon, huh? There are hundreds of them, depending on which kingdom. In Mistral, it's either Naginata or Katana, while here in Atlas, during the King's era, the nobles use Rapiers and Sabers. Classy is subjective. Heck, in Vacuo a mace is considered classy!"
Willow blew a tired sigh, "I know, I know. that's why I'm not picky. Besides, my Lebensgefährtin could be anything. I just hope it's classy and not along the lines of greatswords."
"Huh, why? greatswords are cool!" Blaze pouted. He glanced down, "You're with me right, Manager?"
"Unfortunately, this unit is unable to make choices of its own."
Willow shook her head at the exchange. She considered a change to the topic, "Did you get any new powers?"
"Hm? No. I'm too tired figuring out a Deconstruction spell last night so I didn't get to roll." He slumped on his seat, "honestly, the hard part is to make sure it doesn't alarm anybody. People seem to be sensitive to negative energy, even more so people with aura."
"Is that so…?"
"Yeah, it's also easier for me to tell who got their aura unlocked now." he then gestured at Willow, "Like, there's this feeling around you that felt like the antithesis of negative energy."
"Hm, I see… so, the Curse Energy IS the opposite of Aura!" Willow whispered. it felt good that her little hypothesis was proven correct.
Blaze raised an eyebrow, "Curse Energy?"
'Crap, I said it out loud!'
Willow faked a cough, "I mean, you should label it. the negative energy I mean. Make it easier than saying negative energy every time."
"Is that so? hmm, I guess you're right," Blaze scratched his chin. His face looking thoughtful, "I get it. from now on, I'll call it Arua."
"…that's just aura spelled backward."
"Well, it's the opposite of aura, so Arua. Simple and memorable." The man shrugged.
"you're supposed to be an engineer, aren't you?! where's the creativity?"
"Hey, I'm not one yet so cut me some slack. besides engineers take shortcuts all the time."
"There's taking shortcuts, and there's being lazy, you candlehead!"
Willow crossed her arms, a pink hue on her cheeks, "alright, since you're too lazy to give it a proper name, I'll do it. from now on, negative energy will be called Curse Energy—"
"Beeeep! Denied."
"So quick! Why?!"
"…I don't know, I just had a feeling that madness would soon follow if we used that term."
In the end, after a long, drawn-out debate that lasted until the last subject, in the end, they decided (it was just Willow. Blaze let her name it because to Willow 'his naming skill needs improvement') to name that form of energy Curse Energy.
Points: 200 → 800
