Mark of the Fool

Chapter 358: Uldar's Guidance

You did what? Professor Jules cried, not believing what she was hearing. On her desk was a light grey orb with a small ward surrounding it in a half-sphere, shimmering like water.

I uhI controlled a dungeon core, Alex repeated, looking up at Baelin for back up.

Indeed, he controlled a dungeon core, Baelin shrugged.

Jules eyes bulged, looking about ready to roll from her skull. Muttering, and with an air of desperation about her, the alchemy professor staggered from her chair, eyes fixed on a cabinet in her new office.

It was an impressive stone chamber lit by forceballs and overflowing with polished alchemical apparatuses, endless shelves of texts, manuals, and constructsmostly butterflies. A slew of protective equipment hung from ornate hooks hammered into the walls, each pristine from meticulous care.

Beside these, stood her objective, an elaborate cabinet with carved doors that flew open when her muttering turned to spell casting. Inside, a few bottles of amber coloured liquidmaybe whiskeywere revealed. She reached for one with a shaking hand, then paused, seeming to think better of it and reached for a tin of tea, and a silver tea set instead.

On one side of her desk was a pitcher of distilled water which she poured into her teapot, dropped in six scoops of loose tea while saying something to herself that sounded like, ...strong today, placed the teapot on a round, grey stone occupying one corner of the desk, then pressed a glyphone of fire magicto the side of the stone, and turned back to Baelin and Alex. They were seated before her desk in sturdy maplewood armchairs with seat cushions filled with goose down, a gift from the Thameish court.

Professor Jules leaned forward, watching the orb.

Then she took a deep breath, as if steeling herself.

Excuse me, but what? How? Her eyes travelled between the professor of the Art of the Wizard in Combat, and his eager student. How did you even discover such a thing?

Well, the chancellor jumped in quickly. We set out to obtain a live dungeon core for a bit of experimentation. And after subduing it, we thought we should give it a close examination. So Alex volunteered, since he's most keen to aid his homeland.

Professor Jules look was piercing. You examined a living dungeon core in the field, alone, Mr. Roth?

Alex winced.

Alone? Come now, Vernia, I am old but I am no corpse. He was under my supervisionand encouragement the entire time. I assure you, he was in no danger, Baelin smiled.

I guess Professor Jules frowned. Your protection should ensure safety...but even under your supervision in the Barrens, there have been mishaps

As there have been in the Cells, unfortunately. Baelin said pleasantly. That is the nature of what we do. It has its dangers, but we strive for safety and survival. And being prepared to act when danger comes, but as I said, Alex was in no danger.

Professor Jules jaw clenched and released before she spoke again. Alex imagined the word, reckless speeding through her mind. Everything you say is true, but also moot, considering the deeds already done. She looked directly at Alex. Baelins way might be considered bold, Mr. Roth. But try to remember, safety trumps all, because without it, wizards would be as extinct as the tyranodopolus. Now, as I said earlier, the deed is done so let's not waste this opportunitywe can call itsetting up proper field examination safety procedures, but I stress, dont make this type of thing a habit, Alex.

Oh, do not stifle our students, Professor Jules. Think of the results. Baelin pointed to the orb. This changes everything, does it not?

Yeah, it really does, Alex jumped in, caught up in what theyd learned about the core. I didnt find out how it makes monsters like I was hoping to, but I did figure out how to make it alter terrain in a dungeonor at least what was left of its dungeon.

Truly? Professor Jules demeanour changed. Her eyes went wide. Thatthat changes so much. We now have new and confirmable knowledge that mortals are capable of controlling dungeon coreswhich means, Thameish understanding of their enemy, will radically change! And then theres the fact that it could still alter terrain even after its dungeon was physically destroyed.

Her enthusiasm built as she turned to the map of Thameland hanging behind her. Where did you say this occurred again?

Baelin stepped around the desk and pointed to an area in northern Thameland. Here. In this forest in particular. There was a ravine there where the core had made its dungeon.

Was? Professor Jules raised an eyebrow.

It is stillby all technical definitiona ravine.

...I take it you exercised your usual restraint when it comes to problem solving. Professor Jules shook her head and tapped the map.

Ah, I see. And Alex, you were able to modify the dungeon cores territory even after the dungeon was demolished. She tapped the map in thought. A dungeon core frequently alters the shape and structure of its dungeon, so its likely that its control over its home is based on area, and not structural integrity. Which would mean you could cave in an entire dungeon complex andas long as the dungeon core is whole and has a Ravener-spawn to wield it, it could just reshape and rebuild. Hmmmm.

She made her way to a bookshelf, removing a leather bound book and flipping to a passage near the beginning. Yes, just as I thought. It seems there have been early Thameish accounts of dungeons being collapsed without destroying the coresbut, the dungeons would always regenerate. Now we have a better idea as to why. Butmortals controlling dungeon cores...

She eyed the pale orb on her desk. How did they never discover this after so many cycles? Hmmm, its true that their magical technology isfrom what I've gatheredcenturies behind Generasis, no offence Alex.

None taken, he said. Youre thinking the way I am: we know the church and previous court wizards researched the Ravener as much as they were able to. They enhance the Heroes equipment with core remainsso youd think someone would have discovered this.

Yessomething just doesnt feel right, Professor Jules said. of course well have to share this knowledge with our Thameish allies, but we should be careful when we do so.

Agreed, Baelin said. When we reveal all, well have to watch their reaction carefully. Especially when one considers this next revelation. I cannot control the dungeon core.

Professor Jules squinted at Baelin. Youre teasing me.

I wish I were, the goatman said. Things went as such.

Baelin explained how hed struggled in vain with the dungeon core. Not able to even sense its entryways. Jules face grew ever more shocked as he told the story.

This complicates things further She looked at the core, curiosity and caution warring across her face.

Curiosity won out.

Alright, so youve had no ill-effects from interacting with its mana?

No none at all. Either for me or Baelin, Alex said.

If thats the case, then I think Im going to try it.

What about safety, Vernia? After all, it's only been tested by Aex and I. Two testers isnt what one would really call rigorous testing, wouldnt you agree? Baelin smiled, his face a mask of serenity.

Alex looked away, stifling laughter.

Jules glanced at Baelin, her focus still on the core. Youre clearly enjoying yourself a little too much right now, chancellor, but we have to understand why Alex can control this thing but you cant, and the only way to get any answers is to experiment. Besides, youre here, as you assured me you were for Alexs safety. She returned his smile, her face the picture of serenity.

Alright, then. Professor Jules cracked her knuckles. Time to give it a go. Please drop the ward, Baelin.

Over the next few minutes Alex watched Professor Jules examine, measure and attempt to connect with the orb. Her puzzled expression grew deeper.

Curious. Curious, curious, curious, she said. If it werent for the fact that you had a witness for yourcore take-over or challenge, as it were, Id ask if youd gotten into some bad mushrooms. Theresnothing. No way for me to interact with it.

Baelin and Alex looked at each other.

Let me try and guide you, Alex said. Well see if its any different for you than it was for Baelin.

He touched the core with Professor Jules and felt her mana. She was powerfulone didnt become a professor at the greatest university of wizardry in the world by having poor skills and being weakbut he hadnt known just how powerful she actually was.

Baelin wore his power like a robe, while Professor Jules didn't, but within her, a deep pool of mana moved with mathematical precision. She would have made a frightening battlemage had she gone that route.

Yet, for all her precision and powerhe couldnt guide her.

Like Baelin, she may as well have been trying to push her mana into a rock.

This isalarming, she said. It implies that there is a designa purpose to these dungeon cores that we dont understand yet. Gentlemen, Im glad you discovered this sooner rather than later.

What do you want to do? Alex asked. Let some of the other expedition members try to control it?

She shook her head, taking the orb back. No. Not yet. I want to run a few tests first. Then well figure out what to do from there. Ill pause everything we have scheduled for the next few days because we have to learn what we can about this core. I have a feeling it will take time.

Professor Jules looked at Alex. Alex, we dont know what this meansthe fact that you can connect to it while Baelin and I cant? Thats very, very troubling to me. It is a living thing after all, so I think that you should err on the side of caution and take some time off from the expedition while we figure this all out. We dont know what any of it means yet, but until we get some answers and begin to understand what there is about you that lets you interact with it, then there could be some danger.

Alex looked at her straight on. Is that a recommendation?

She paused. ...yes. I recommend you go home for a while. Dont worry about your alchemy credit, you have more than enough to miss a few days of lab work. Im sure you already have plenty of material for your final report. Butno, I am not forcing you to go home if thats what youre asking.

In that case, Alex said. If its all the same to you, I want to see this through, at least as much of it as I can.

Professor Jules sighed. Why doesnt that surprise me? Alright, then go and get your gear. We should get started on this right away. I suspect that this might be a mystery that eludes us for a long time.

You never know, Vernia, we might just get lucky, Baelin said.

Well see.

Yeah, Alex said. Well see.

###

I cant believe it, Carey whispered. A living dungeon core. Right in front of us.

Fear rose in her chesthere it was: a great enemy of Thameland.

An object more feared than devils and monstrous hags.

The subject of most of the scary stories told to her at bedtimeand the subject of many childhood nightmares. It was a vile servant of the enemy shed sworn to use all of her knowledge and research against for as long as it plagued Thameland, or as long as she had breath in her body.

And now? Now she had her chance.

The core was pale. Samples of dungeon core remains theyd experimented on were always as black as midnight, so why was this so pale? She spotted Professor Jules in Analysis Room 1.

Now that the research building was completed, the teams had access to a suite of rooms for their research work, as opposed to the giant tent theyd been using. The equipment was organised and placed in the appropriate room according to its function, giving the researchers more space to do their work. Each chamber was sealed and reinforced as securely as one of the Cells back on campus, which was especially necessary today.

There was no telling what experimenting on a live dungeon core might bring.

Well, here it is, everyone, Professor Jules said. A living dungeon core. I want all of you to take extra caution with todays experiments: while the core doesnt seem to be living from an organic perspective, it does have intelligence. Theres no information available on what to expect once we begin our study since, as far as we know, a living core has never been studied before. That said, I want to learn as much as we can,as quicklyas we can. This is a very exciting moment, but keep safety foremost in mind.

She gestured to the equipment. Today youll be examining its mana traits: its signature, conductivity and so on. I want to know if there are any variances in those properties compared to cores that have been crushed. While this project has come up suddenly, it must take priority. Any questions?

What about the rest of the team? someone asked, looking around the room.

Roughly about a third of the regular team was assembled for Professor Jules briefing. Carey noted Alex Roth and Isolde von Anmut were missing.

Theyre split between Analysis Rooms 2 and 3, and are prepping the equipment there. As soon as youre finished with your preliminary studies, I want the cores other properties tested immediately. Any other questions?

Silence.

Carey watched the dungeon core and exhaled.

It was time to work.

My lord Uldar, her head bowed and she whispered a prayer. Guide me. Guide my mind. Steady my hand. Keep me sharp. Let me find the way. Let me seek our enemys weaknesses so that your holy Heroes may destroy it forever.

As she finished the prayer, she swallowed her fear, then looked at the dungeon core in surprise.

Was she imagining thingsor was it a little darker than it had been mere heartbeats before? She pushed the thought away and got to work.

Under Professor Jules guidance, the team began running a series of tests on the dungeon core, passing it from one researcher to the next and placing it in various machines. An air of tension hung in Analysis Room 1, but the researchers kept pushing on.

Alright, Carey. A third year student handed her the core. Attach the mana conductor then well start the tests.

Right, Ill have it done in a tick, she said, carefully taking the core in her gloved hands.

Shock ran through her. She could sense the orbs manaas faint as it wasandsomething else. Agitation maybe? Was she imagining things?

Carey focused her full attention on the dungeon core, trying to see if the agitation shed sensed was real, or imagined. Maybe it was because she was so nervous. She passed her mana over the orb, searching for the best place to attach the mana

Wait, what was that? What were those?

She ran her mana over the core again.

Were thoseentrances?

Excitement rose in her chest.

Uldar had guided her.