Chapter 42. Project ____

I drowsily rub my eyes, sleepiness pulling me back to bed. I agree with its wishes as I comfortably snuggle myself in its soft hug.

Unfortunately, a thunderous shockwave passes through me, making me fall to my bed. I look to the loud giggling to see Viktor twirling his cane.

He stops and steps on the ground, "Good morning, my dear apprentice." He clicks on his cane once more, making me spaz out a bit on the floor.

He stops, and I glare at him as I lay down on the floor. His smile turns brighter, "It's best we get a move on. A day late is a day wasted."

I groan as I stood back up, "Was this necessary?" A knock interrupts his reply as Faye enters the room, surprised at me for being awake.

She composes herself and spoke as the guards behind her bring with them materials and equipment. "Milord, Timothy has sent the things you requested."

I look at her with an eyebrow raised. She looks back at me, confused. I rub the back of my head, looking a bit embarrassed. "I just noticed you always called me Milord and never Charles."

She chuckles at me as she leaves and closes the door, "I shall leave the men with you, Prince Charles." I wave goodbye at her as I start dressing for the morning.

As I dress, another mild shock goes through me. I look at Viktor with an eyebrow raised, making him excitedly clap. "My goodness, you already did so well."

He ramps up the shock, making me once again spaz out on the ground. Viktor looks own at me with a smug smile, "Though it seems to be not far enough."

I stood up, holding onto the closet. I glare at him once more as I finish my clothes. I gather my notes from last night and ready myself for what to come next.

I open the door and nod to the guards, and I gesture for them to follow me. I walked for a few minutes to come in front of a door.

It's a simple door. I open it and only see dark stairs to a lower floor. I grip the necklace I'm wearing to lit a small fire up in my hand.

I continue to walk. As I do, I lit up each torch I came across. A few steps later, we stop in front of another door. I took the key given to me and open it to come across a simple room filled with tables and chairs.

I gesture to the guards to leave the materials and equipment as I stood there inspecting each corner of the room.

I sigh in content until a voice interrupts me. I see Viktor floating upside down, sitting on a chair, surprising me into a squeak. He spoke curiously, eyeing the brought materials. "What's your plan here?"

I smile. Before I could explain, though, another shock puts me to the ground. He tutted before he spoke, "Don't forget your training,"

He takes a book out of his coat, "Anyways, you seem pretty invested in this book." Does it have something to do with your plan? He waves it carelessly around him, damned sadist.

I shake my head as I get up, "I'm trying to make a magic computer." Viktor holds back his laughter as he pointed at me, "You? must I remind you of your experience?"

I pull out my hand, expecting him to give the book back, "Yes, I am more than aware of my inexperience." He stood back in front and looked down at me.

He smiles, "Let us hope you succeed then." he walks to the corner of the room and sits. "While you do that", He summons popcorn to his hands. "I'll be enjoying my time watching your experiments fail."

I glare at him as I continued. I take the tools I asked for and the materials I needed. I wear the magicbag and heat up the stick of metal I asked for.

I swallow dryly and set down the unused Caellum, and I try to weld the bits and pieces of colored Caellum to it to create a sequencing that'll create magic, hopefully.

I finish my first experiment, and as I take the feeling of magic coursing through the Caellum. It spontaneously explodes, nothing bad, but the smoke rising indicates its failure.

I continue to push forward, creating and experimenting continuously. Unfortunately, only explosions and smokes are the only things I've achieved.

Another failure, I thought to myself as I hold the sheet of caellum in my hands, smokes rising from it.

I slam it back to the table before I lie down on the carpeted floor. I spoke with disappointment, "I GIVE UP." Viktor started walking the steps echoing around the empty room.

Viktor stands above me with an eerie smile. The temperature dropping, he looks down on as he spoke, his voice filled with cold disdain. "Is that it?"

His red eyes burning right through me. He sits until his face comes closer to mine, and he spoke, "Is that really all she's worth?"

With us eye to eye, I feel visions rush into my mind. Siegcas burned to the ground as the sounds of screams echoes through the distance.

Julius and Jane's bodies littering the ground as blood and flesh mix with the dirt. Ariel and Aron stabbed through the sword as blood drips from their cold dead eyes.

Father's head on a pike surrounded by laughing maniacs and Mother's dead body, half-burnt and dead, reminding me of a nightmare come true.

"Quite a view, isn't it." The voice pulled me from the visions, only to once more stare into his glowing red eyes.

I glare back at him as I quickly stood up, finding a fire burning inside of me. As I turn my back on him, I shouted, "FUCK YOU."

I can feel the wide smile behind me as the echoing steps disappear with a message.

A voice filled with sympathy.

"My dear apprentice, Power is the only light in a road filled with darkness."