The Siege of Ultopja 7 – Thunder Strikes [Aclysia]

‘Test #78.’ Aclysia writes down, ‘Subject: Weapon Class R-100-45-B. Batteries Charged, Contraption build. Magnetically pulling worked in previous incantations.’ She puts down the pencil and walks to the place of experimentation. On her right arm, normally pitch black up to the shoulder, are several white lines at differing, seemingly random intervals.

She is in the cellar of her tower, the experiment to be conducted in absolute secrecy could create a weapon that has the potential to be tide-turning. What she has built is a long, pipe-like construction which top half has been sawed off to allow modifications more easily. Inside the pipe lies a rail with two parallel metal rods, a small distance between them – big enough for a coin at best. The rods then connect to several batteries through tubes filled with alchemical liquids.

This is the fifth incantation of this machine. Aclysia is testing one of Uklag’s old tricks, electro-magnetism, for warfare. The theory: If she can manage the magic circuit in a way that pulls a metal object forwards along the rails through magnetism and then demagnetize the rails at the exact point of exit, the object should have an enormous speed and fly at a straight line. Compared to bows the projectile would have devastating reach and destructive capabilities.

It has however been proven difficult to pin down the exact moment where demagnetization is optimal. In an earlier version she had reduced the speed to have a better look at the steps at they unfolded, but the projectile was so slow that it became unfit for warfrare.

However, the experimentation has not been entirely without use. With each new parameter she added or changed she got more data. Which amount of magical energy resulted in which Force behind the projectile, the speed, the magnetisation of the rails. Slowly she works herself towards a formula and once she has that figured out pinpointing the point of exit is only a minor calculation.

Aclysia takes a flat piece of metal and puts it into the contraption. It will take twenty seconds for the rails to have charged and activate. Aclysia takes a couple of slow steps until she stands in front of the pipe. She stretches out her arm and waits. A humming noise comes from the machine, steam rises from alchemical chambers that will kill the enchantments at the points in the rail where the coin has already passed in order to prevent them from pulling it backwards.

“Three.” Aclysia counts down the last seconds. “Two.” The contraptions humming grows louder, the batteries rattle as they are being sucked out of power. “One.” The projectile slingshots forwards and out of the contraption into Aclysia’s outstretched arm. It rips a hole into her hand and penetrates up to her shoulder.

Painless as she made her arm she just closes the tunnel and creates another white line where the projectile has stopped. Her own body is the best tool of measurement she currently has at her disposal. Eclys being able to take on different density and her own intellect having quickly found a way to convert the penetrated distance into Force behind the projectile she fills out a couple of empty parts within a table before walking over to a chest filled with useless metal pieces. She grabs a handful of scraps and starts eating them to replenish the body mass that was just destroyed by the impact and continues experimentation.

No sleep needed, the only breaks she takes are to continue working on the Grimoire. The once acidic liquid has taken the form of a book now, but the enchantments within are still highly unstable, the magical matrix still shifting daily as alchemy and arcane try to settle. It takes constant monitoring to make sure the book does not overload and collapses. Aclysia is slightly interested in the explosion that would cause. However, the interest in what the final product will achieve is greater.

The immortal hums a little song as she steps in front of the pipe again. It has been a really good thing for her somebody as morally ambiguous as Ulal saved her. Otherwise she could not hope to make these kinds of experiments. Even in her past life she had a powerful backer that protected her from backlashes, although he was a lot more powerful than Ulal is. ‘Is a lot more powerful. Present.’ Aclysia corrects herself, as her backer is still very much alive. Likelihood is that he will always be. ‘She? It? Questions.’ Aclysia ponders as she catches the next projectile. Another mark on her arm and more notes into her books and tables. As she bites into a discarded plate of chest armour she ponders over the numbers.

There is a pattern. She can see it. She can almost grasp it. If that number rises, the other one falls by a margin. She takes a pen and starts calculating for a common factor again. It takes a few minutes of silence, only the scratching sound of a pen against parchment. ‘Found you.’ Aclysia thinks and allows herself a small smile. Finding numbers is always so much more fulfilling than finding people, they don’t talk about things they have no knowledge about. No, numbers simply state the single fact they are meant to hold, a value, nothing else. How calming if every human would be the same. A farmer, nothing else, a warrior, nothing else, a politician, nothing else. Instead, there are farmers that fight to become politically recognized. A headache.

Aclysia uses the newfound factor and from there out, she can finally pin down the formula that allows her to pinpoint the point of exit based on the amount of magical energy she puts into it. The theory behind the weapon is complete, now to design a standardized model.

She takes another piece of paper, one of the submission documents she designed for Catherine and the academy, and starts drawing. A long pipe made from hardened glass, two parallel metal rods that act as rails within. A long capsule with alchemical liquid at the side and a holder for batteries at the bottom. Fixed on a massive rotatable platform the contraption she just designed is a more streamlined and fluid version of the thing she has down here.

“Railgun.” Aclysia names the whole thing and leaves the cellar. In the darkest of night she walks through the city. Magical lanterns fill the streets with light. Her inhuman ears pick up the sound of a catapult hurling another boulder towards the city. ‘Useless.’ Aclysia thinks. She had respect when they simply probed for different angles of attack but now Estara’s tactic has changed to praying that the enchantment will eventually run out of energy.

She crosses the canal and enters the Arcana district. Unlike her own, where most houses are still empty, this one is still busy at this late hour. People run around with messages and materials, ideas and submissions. Through giant windows Aclysia sees young mages being taught in Evocation and the practical usages of Transmutation. A group of cultists crosses her paths; they are exchanging lewd comments and jokes. Likely one of the pleasure groups she has heard about, mages skilled in Conjuration that organize distraction activities of the sexual kind. A crude but effective way to keep the population happy.

Aclysia ignores them and they in turn do their best to ignore her. Only a few recognize the leader of the District to the west. No wonder, she only ever exits the tower for the council meetings and then hastes back. Only recently has she started to grow a few plants in the great alchemical gardens Ulal created with this city. Sometimes she teaches a few things to aspiring alchemists, mostly because they take the boring tasks of her hands afterwards. There is no knowledge to be gained in creating the same solution for the thousand time.

As such, the only people that do recognize her are the ones that have been here from the beginning, when she had to help in the administration. They show their greatest respect and bow as she walks past. A waste of their time really, but considerably better than having a pitchfork raised against her.

She enters the building at the heart of the academy and a few stairs and hallways later enters Catherine’s bureau. Inside she finds Catherine sitting on her table, her secretary between her legs. Aclysia looks around, the little orphan Catherine has picked up is nowhere to be seen. Likely in one of the many classes that are currently being taught. “Aclysia.” Catherine says half surprised, half moaning. The secretary wants to turn and greet the immortal as well but Catherine keeps her head in place and so brunette can only continue eating the witches’ pussy. “A moment please.” Catherine purrs and motivates the woman in her lap to speed it up.

She does and a few moments later Catherine let’s out a series of escalating moans that indicate her climax. Aclysia just stands there and analyses the situation. The way people behave during orgasms differs greatly in her experience.

The matter done Catherine let’s her secretary go. Her mouth still wet the brunette mumbles. “A good evening.” And leaves the room. As Catherine fixes her robes and takes her place back behind the desk she gives Aclysia a lewd smile. “Did not expect you to come her. Hope you didn’t mind the sight.” “No. The sight of copulation is not to my distaste.” Aclysia answers and walks to the desk. She wants to lay down the plan for the Railgun but the wet stain at the edge makes her think otherwise. “Oh. Sorry I will fix that.” Catherine follows her eyes and evocates a small amount of water that vaporizes seconds later, leaving a clean table.

Aclysia nods in agreement and now puts down the plan. Catherine unfolds it with great interest and her eyes go wide. “You finished it already?” She asks. “As you can see.” “Rhetorical Question.” Aclysia feels a slight twitch of anger. Three hundred years and she still does not understand that kind of conversation. Who ever thought that this particular rhetoric was a good idea cannot die enough. Probably has been one of the Arch-Incubi. In the whole line of these demons, all of them have been overly mischievous tricksters.

“Your inability to socialize aside.” Catherine says as she analyses the runes. “It really saddens me that you cannot use Transmutation anymore. A real loss for this world.” Aclysia looks at the clean spot on the table, then at her hands. “Yes.” She agrees, although she is more saddened about her personal loss.

“I guess this is only a prototype.” Catherine puts the paper to the side. “Correct.” Aclysia says. “I will send Amelia once we build it. Knowing your creations, it will function immediately but as the scientific thought teaches: Always test everything.” Catherine giggles and Aclysia nods happily. “I will be back in my tower then.”

“One more thing.” Catherine stops her. “How far is the Grimoire?” Her tone has become serious and she waits for Aclysias answer with calculating eyes. “Two weeks until usability. Months from completion.” Aclysia says. “Further Questions?” Catherine shakes her head and her smile returns. “Nah, go ahead and tend to your experiments.” ‘Exactly what I intend.’ Aclysia agrees in her mind and walks out of the room.