Exceptional Circumstances

"Exceptional! Truly exceptional!"

A long rift runs the length of the central hall floor and up the walls. Long, sharp cracks have spread out around the point of origin, where Elizabeth's sword is stuck into the floor.

"Woah!"

"Unbelievable!"

"I've never seen anything like it!"

Astonished gasps and murmurs emanate from every corner of the hall. I see the council members whispering together in shock. Vol shoots me a big grin from beside Elizabeth.

The reaction may have been more intense than expected, but our plan had worked. Apparently, the effect had been so extreme that the council must have decided not to throw me out, right then and there, because they never called a hearing for my expulsion.

The king and Cerla stayed for a few hours longer, catching up with Elizabeth, Vol, and I. The king was a surprisingly pleasant man, but before he left, he tried to recruit me one last time.

"Are you sure you won't join us? You'd be an exceptional addition to our magic researchers."

"Like I said, I'd rather stay here with Vol and Elizabeth."

The king turned, hopeful, to Vol and Elizabeth.

"Not interested," they said, simultaneously, before the king could even get his question out.

"Ah-ha-ha, I should've known."

The existence of the artificial mana store has spread quickly throughout Rosewood. The crack of Elizabeth's sword striking the floor could probably be heard through the entire city.

After seeing our demonstration, the elven council requested regular updates on our research. It seems like Vol has come around to my way of thinking now, though. Following the request, we agreed to give them delayed and diminished information. For the time being, we'll be keeping the method of creation a secret, as well.

I need to make sure that nobody tries to throw us out of the process. This might be the only way I'll be able to defeat the Demon Lord.

---

It has been a few months since the king's visit, and Vol and I have continued our research. Now with the close aid of Elizabeth, and direct funding from the council, we've started splitting our time more evenly. Sometimes we'll work from the academy, and sometimes from home.

Every now and then, we'll test our new creations on the mountain, where it's safe to apply the full power of the artificial mana stores. We'd prefer to avoid carving another room in half, like we did with the academy's hall.

Even Elizabeth has started getting caught up in our madness, the three of us working late into the night sometimes. Tonight is one such night.

"Would it be possible to embed a different spell into each section, so you can change which spell to cast by moving the AM-store?" Elizabeth inquired.

At some point, we've started shortening the artificial mana stores to "AM-stores." Considering how often we've started talking about them, it was only a matter of time.

Right now, we're working on a new magic tool. If everything goes according to plan, I'll soon be able to use magic again, albeit limited.

"Hm, that could work, but it might be too inefficient in a proper battle," I say.

"Oh-oh-oh, what if we make a mechanism that moves the AM-store around by itself??" Vol asks, excitedly.

"Maybe we could attach the AM-store to a rail and have it move to a different location with a switch," I suggest.

This is our seventh time iterating on the concept. It'll be very expensive to construct, so we need to get it right. None of us are skilled enough at metalwork to mold the metal ourselves, so we'll need to commission a smith, too. It's our most ambitious project yet, but once it's done, I think I'll be ready to start my hunt.

*Rumble*

Huh? What was that?

Vol and Elizabeth must have heard it too because they suddenly stopped talking. All three of us are standing still. Listening.

Another massive rumble breaks the silence, and sounds of cracking follow. They're loud, but somehow muffled, like they're coming from far away. We hurry over the the front door and out onto the main street to look around. Some of our neighbors are coming out to look as well, kids hiding behind the parents.

There it is again. That cracking sound. Where it it coming from?

Spinning around in every which direction, I search for any sign of the source.

The others on the street are still looking around, frightened.

I stop.

My eyes are fixed upon the mountain. There's another series of loud cracks and crunches. Tremors shake the ground. It's like the earth is quaking in fear.

Vol and Elizabeth see it now, too.

*RROAAARRRRRR*

*CRACK*

There, latched to the side the mountain that took us two days to climb, is a massive beast. No, "massive" is an understatement.

There's only one way to describe its absolute size.

It's gigantic.

Nearly half the size of the mountain, the horror seems to loom above us, casting a shadow across the city. Calling it a beast would be kind. It's a monstrosity.

There can be no doubt about it now.

Maybe it's my leaking mana. Maybe it's something else.

Either way, something is attracting them to me.

Those things.

The greater monsters.