Chapter 20: The Hidden Mechanics

The Blade Fragment’s Secrets,

Arc threw the blade fragment away from him, repeating the same steps he had done earlier down to every little detail. The result was the same, except that the paper fragment had a different shape and texture. He repeated the experiment, slowly tweaking the parameters to see if he could achieve a different outcome. Each parameter was tested at least three times, methodically ensuring his conclusions were accurate.

Arc’s body was still frail, his hands trembling with effort as he barely managed to lift the fragment properly. Sweat clung to his brow, and the dim light from the nearby lantern cast flickering shadows across the room. At one point, the fragment slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor. To his astonishment, it didn’t change shape as it had before. "this seems odd."

Suspicion furrowed Arc’s brow, his sharp curiosity igniting anew.

“Could distance play a role? That might explain why the fragment is behaving this way now and not before--especially when the others found it. Let’s test that Hypothesis.”

Leaving the fragment on the floor where it fell earlier, Arc carefully backed away, leaning on nearby furniture for support. His eyes never wavered from the fragment, the tension in his gaze almost palpable. Each step echoed softly in the quiet room until he reached the nearest wall. But the fragment remained unchanged.

Arc’s intense focus betrayed him as his back hit the wall. Startled, he stumbled and lost his footing, collapsing to the ground with a dull thud. Pain radiated through his back as he groaned, wincing at the unexpected jolt.

As his attention shifted momentarily from the fragment, something peculiar happened. When his gaze returned, the fragment’s shape had altered once more.

“Ugh, that hurt,” Arc grumbled, rubbing his sore back as he clambered back to his feet.

“So, it changed shape? Could my sight also play a role?”

Ignoring the pain coursing through his body, Arc painstakingly repeated the experiment, testing his hypothesis with every ounce of determination he could muster. For nearly an hour, he adjusted variables with meticulous precision, finally concluding.

“The ideal distance is roughly between four to five meters, and I must not maintain constant physical contact with the fragment. Any barrier--like gloves--prevents a reaction. I’ve tested every conceivable permutation. That explains why the fragment didn’t react before. My hands--and even the soldiers’--were covered in bandages or gloves not to mention Everyone's eyes were always Fixated on the fragment whenever we handled it. Then when I was busy confronting the Goblin and the Wolf I hurriedly tossed it into one of my pockets. It is a mere coincidence that it remained untouched by bare hands until this moment. And the way sight plays a role in all this further complicates things. More Tests are to be done for sure to confirm and infer my findings. This is frustrating I have found so much yet I can't Write any of it down somewhere to make notes! The Room is filled with books but is Study material and nothing to write down on. I'll have to ask them later.”

Frustrated with his Predicamen yet fully Satisfied with his findings, Arc carefully placed the fragment which was currently in the shape of an old parchment paper, on the table beside his bed. His body was drained of energy and felt like Lead as he collapsed onto the bed.

“As far as the shape-shifting goes,” he murmured to himself, “the fragment seems to change shapes at random and doesn’t retain the memory of its previous forms--except for the blade. That form remains constant no matter what. I tested this by writing on the paper form, but when it changed shape again, there were no traces of the ink. Not even a scratch.

“Not only does it transform into paper, but sometimes it becomes other objects--a hollow pen, for instance. It seems to adapt to its environment perfectly, camouflaging itself. If I didn’t know what I was looking for, I wouldn’t have noticed it at all.”

Arc’s mind buzzed with thoughts, but exhaustion finally overtook him, and he drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.

A Startling Revelation,

Hours later, Arc stirred as faint movements in the room roused him. Sunlight streamed through the slightly parted curtains, illuminating the dust motes floating lazily in the air. He blinked groggily and noticed a group of maids bustling around the room, meticulously cleaning every corner.

Sitting up, he scanned the table beside him and froze. The fragment was missing.

“Where’s the old parchment I left on the table?” Arc asked his tone calm but edged with concern.

One of the maids, startled by his question, replied in a flustered voice, “I-I put it inside the drawer of the table, sir. We were cleaning, and it seemed too important to leave lying around.” She hurried over, opening the drawer to reveal the paper fragment inside.

Arc’s eyes narrowed slightly as he observed her actions. The maid mistook his expression for displeasure and began apologizing profusely.

“No, no, you’ve done nothing wrong,” Arc interjected, his tone softening to dispel the misunderstanding.

What truly surprised him wasn’t their actions but the fact that they had handled the fragment barehanded--right in front of him--and yet, the fragment hadn’t changed shape.

The maids finished tidying the room, leaving it spotless. As they departed, one turned back to ask, “Is there anything else you need, sir?”

“Thank you for your work. I’m fine for now,” Arc replied with a polite nod.

Once alone, Arc opened the drawer and retrieved the fragment using a towel made of cloth carefully checking every part every inch of it. His eyes widened in astonishment. The markings he had made on the paper form were still there.

“It didn’t change shape... The markings are still intact,” he muttered. “This can only mean one thing: I’m missing another key factor.”

He stared at the fragment, deep in thought. “Is it possible that the fragment does not respond to individuals who possess mana? I am not detecting any mana within myself after the incident at the camp. This seems logical. Further testing is required to confirm this hypothesis.”

The next day, Arc requested a proper meal as he was famished and had barely eaten yesterday apart from an occasional nibble here and there from the fruit basket. The reason for not eating wasn't concerning but a quirky habit arc had as whenever he got involved in his tinkering drills he would forget all the basic things a human is supposed to do including his appetite. Nevertheless, the Maids did not waste any time and they brought a wholesome healthy meal that looked tasty and packed with necessary nutrients which were much needed for Arc to recover. The Maids also brought a dosage of medicines that they asked Arc to consume upon finishing his meal and kept it at his bedside, he engaged with one of the maids in casual conversation while the rest departed as swiftly as they arrived, skillfully weaving his questions into the flow. as he began consuming his food without minding for manners. Arc by nature was a lackadaisical-minded person not caring for manners or attitude. All he cared for was his research and nothing else, his carefree nature ended when it came to conducting experiments. But he only showed this true form of his when he was in private and only a few people knew about this true Arc. 

“Would you mind opening the curtains for me?” he asked with a warm smile.

The maid complied, using a minor spell to draw the curtains open. The sunlight poured in, casting golden hues across the room highlighting the pleasant meal Arc was being served.

As they continued chatting, Arc casually asked her to place the fragment barehanded under a paperweight on the table beside his bed. The request seemed ordinary, and the maid carried it out without hesitation. "Do I have to eat this medicine? It tasted bitter when I tasted it yesterday." hearing this childish remark of Arc the maid attending to him chuckled a bit and mentioned, "The medicine is crucial for your recovery the doctors said it contains a strong sedative that not only is helping you with a speedy recovery but also keep your pain in check..." arc broke the conversation changing his expression from chatty extrovert to an inquisitive introvert mid-course the change was barely noticed, "you seem to be quite knowledgeable on medicines. how come?..." the maid answered his questions immediately as she was busy tending to the scattered belongings like books scattered across the room, "I was asked to tell you that by the Master if I found you Complaining or refusing to take your medicine." arc replied. "he did ha, by the way, where is he." arc said this as he finished his last morsel of food and began to unwrap the medicine package. "I am not aware but last time I saw him he was heading towards his Study." the maid went on rambling on in the background her voice muffling slowly to his ears while Arc shifted his focus to his medicine, "Too bad I have to eat something so awful tasting right after I had so much tasty meal." ark stated those words before squishing his nose with one hand and swallowing the medicine from the other hand. As he did he quickly chugged a glass full of water. His expression was full of bitter disgust as the lingering taste of the medicine remained stuck on the back of his tongue. Despite the vast knowledge of medicine, we still struggle to make medications taste pleasant. It's quite ironic. Regarding your dosage question, it's essential to follow the prescribed amount until full recovery is achieved. Arc questioned the maid only to regret ever asking the question in the first place. After all was done the Maid began to leave the room as she did Arc said to her, "By the way Please thank the Chef for cooking an appetising meal for me." the maid gave a short bow as she replied "Sure will do master Arc." and she left the room.

Once she left, Arc moved more than five meters away from the table and deliberately avoided looking at the fragment. Yet, nothing happened. The fragment remained unchanged.

“So, being magicless is also a criterion after all!,” Arc concluded, picking up the fragment and watching as it reverted to its blade form.

Secrets Beyond the Fortress,

Meanwhile, Outside the room where Arc was held resting on his bed, outside the manor’s walls, an old, seasoned officer stood before a group of recruits. These recruits were brought here by officers, just like those who accompanied Strossburg and Arc on their expedition. However, unlike what happened to them these Freshers were still green and in the initial stages of their training. The Veteran officer's voice carried authority as he gestured to a wooden board with a wooden stick made with the same material as the board was displaying a detailed topographical map of the fortress where they stood the base and the overall surrounding area surrounding it.

The fortress perched atop a massive plateau, its steep inclines forming natural barriers on all sides. Tall stone walls encircled the settlement or rather the base, patrolled by vigilant guards. Beyond the walls, vast plains stretched for kilometres before jagged cliffs rose in the distance. Hidden among these cliffs was a secluded vantage point--a lone tree cloaked in dense foliage.

Perched in his hidden vantage point, Aedelric scrutinized the fortress base intently through his spyglass. The cold glass misted over with each breath as his keen eyes took in every detail of the stronghold.

“I knew the base was large from the reports,” he muttered, his voice low, “but this... This is massive. Just what are the crafters up to???”

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