In the research facility Brain was looking at the place where the magic bolt discharged by Severin left a hole. His fellows repaired the roof perfectly. There was almost no trace of the roof being destroyed. Almost… and it's because for some reason filling the hole in the roof included making the facility floating in the air several meters above the ground!
"Shit! You had only to repair the roof! Why is this place even floating?"
"But Sir, isn't it better? Now our base is not only looking like the moon but also can float like one."
"And that's…. You know what? Let's keep it like this... However let me ask a few things. If I make a hole in this place this what's going to happen?"
"The base is…."
"It's going to hit the ground, right?"
"Yes…"
"So we can't have this place destroyed again at any cost while we're afloat. Otherwise we're going to die."
"This…."
"Second question. Are you sure that thing whatever you've done is going to work perfectly non stop?"
"This is antigravity formation, Sir. It will work as long as there's magic to sustain it or there's nothing to disrupt the formation. We created it to be very sturdy. It should endure some magic attacks. Sir wants to try by himself?"
"No, thanks. We have plenty magic in our Lacrimas. But here's another question. Can we land that thing?"
"This will be complicated. We need first to find a good place to land. It has to be flat and level."
"And what happened to the basement?"
'Well… We moved those rooms into…"
"Are you sure you've just repaired the hole in the roof?"
"So… yes."
'*sigh* Let me give you a piece of advice. DON'T EVER REVEAL THAT TO THE COUNCIL or you prefer to be killed in the name of order. If the chairman knew what we're doing here, he would probably tear our bodies apart."
*gulp*
"It's a shame that such talented people have to be hidden from the Council. Such initiative."
Even if you are a genius, and know how your inventions should work, having someone to build it for you is always a problem. One can expect it's a job for craftsmen to prepare components suiting well for building. However Brain wanted to keep the secret so he had only two options: Finding his own team of craftsmen or having myself doing everything. As good a researcher Brain was, he wasn't able to perform such miracles. So he obviously did first. Members of his facility are mostly maniacs of crafting things, treating nuances related to implementing magic in their work as a fulfilling challenge. As happy Brain would normally be that created a difference of interest. He religiously wanted the answers for questions concerning magic and gods, and they religiously wanted to craft, and build things.
That's why their facility is a big flying crescent now. The crew takes opportunities to create new fancy things. Wanted a place for prisoners? Sure. You will get rooms made of colorful salt. Wanted to make a risky, dark ritual? Sure. You will get a wide room with ornaments resembling more some kind of a palace than a laboratory. In silence Brain was becoming more, and more annoyed. Not because of doing a bad job. He just didn't like their style. They were way too active to just manipulate them. If they had a bit more magic power, they could become confident in disagreeing with him. Then not only they would be just lower pawns, but also a politically uncertain element.
Despite evident successes in determining methods to grow stronger he's in the middle of doing preparation to abandon the Bureau of Magical Development before 'trust issues' will catch up. He's planning to take Severin with him. That boy actually has a good chance to become his partner for a long time because he was kept unaware of the reasons for which he was with Brain, and there's no one who cares about him. It's even better because Brain has reasons to think that Kibbe was dead because of Layla so in the future he's going to use that fact to fuel Severin's desire for revenge. Layla is a dangerous enemy for the fact alone she avoided being killed by his best assassin, and in the future she'll probably find him. For some reason Layla was seen in Era. It may be because of Lucy, but if they will find any relation between the failed assasination, and Lucy, it will be close to suspecting him. Before someone guessing it's about him he has to run away.
However first he has to consume results of his success. His crew has build all devices needed to forcefully unlock Second Origin. It would be beyond stupid of him to use them only once. Just running away would mean giving up on a rare opportunity to unlock the Second Origin. Until now he was too unsure about the safety measures, and had to experiment on someone else. Severin's breakthrough had provide him with good insight into conditions that have to be met to unlock Second Origin. So far progress in this field was achieved by using kids, whose ability to absorb magic power exceeded their capability to handle it. Such constitutions are a bit uncommon, but it doesn't mean that they are the only ones that can unlock their Second Origin. Ultear, and Severin were just good objects to experiment with. Some modification to the process would let him unlock it as well. Of course Brain started his preparations earlier and now he feels confident so he can try himself. He wanted to unlock the Second Origin yesterday, however out of nowhere the weather turned from clear night sky to heavy rain. He had to postpone his plans for the next day and it's a bad feeling to have something important to do, and yet not be able to do that. But he's not going to wait anymore.
"Severin, how do you do?"
"Uncle Brain, good to see you, I feel much better. That ritual really healed me."
"That's partially your own merit. I owe you apologies. Someone who was able to bear the ritual so smoothly doesn't deserve to be called 'maggot'. I shouldn't call you that before."
"I don't care that much. But why do you call people like that? Wasn't dad your helper?"
"He was, but he got an opportunity and betrayed us. People that defend their ideals and values on the surface, but abandon them, when it's a bit hard. Those I call 'maggots'."
"Aren't there good guys in the world?"
"If the only thing you do to make your idea of good reality is saying what is good, and what is bad, can you actually be called a good guy? I met a lot of people who believes in good but didn't do what they could to realize it. I wouldn't call them good guys. There's no many really good people in the world. They are sometimes kind, but not good."
"I don't know. I rather don't think people are this bad."
"You're young. You will have a lot of occasions to see the people. Today it's my turn."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm going to perform the ritual on myself."
"Why, uncle?"
"Because I want the Second Origin, and we want to deal with Layla in the future. I can't let you fight her by yourself."
"I want to get her for what she's done to dad. What can I do?"
"Train your skills to control your new power. I'm sure our guys prepared some light exercises for you. You're still not fully recovered from the ritual so take it easy to not get hurt."
Brain left Severin under the expert eye of Klodoa, his living magic staff. Klodoa as Brain's right hand knew the most about Brain's doings, and yet he's his the most loyal comrade. He knew everything about Brain, knew his methods, had comparable knowledge, and knew about the Second Origin more than enough to teach someone. In some way it can be even said that he is the Second Origin itself!
Most researchers know Brain as the person that knows the most about the Second Origin. The less known part of Klodoa is that Brain's experiments weren't his own idea at the beginning. Back then, when Klodoa was a human, he studied ways to increase his magic power. Then the idea of unlocking the Second Origin was born. As a lightning mage he has built an affinity towards the lightning element so he designed the Ritual of Second Origin to be based on electrical shocks. He presumed that his affinity will give him some resistance to electricity needed to… survive the ritual while being still weak. Unfortunately during the ritual his body turned into lacrima leaving only a skeleton behind. Why did it happen? Brain studied the ritual and find out that his comrade was mad enough to try to use some kind of sacrifice magic to strengthen the growth of his Second Origin in order make up for problems with technical preparations. Of course he couldn't leave his comrade that way. With some knowledge about crafting magic weapons he managed to turn the remains of Klodoa into a staff. Lacrima left behind happened to have incredible properties predicted by Brain. As it was what left of Klodoa's body, it was also the place where his spirit could settle down. When he connected the lacrima with the rest of this staff, it has become a living object capable of thinking, communicating, casting magic on his own, amplifying user's control, and more, strangely being much more powerful than when he was a human. While having some regrets about loosing his body Brain was the one that stayed with him in his worst moment. On top of that Brain promised that he will take the initiative to continue the work to perfect the ritual. Since that time their intimacy has reached levels so high that family bonds often would pale in comparison.
What would Klodoa do? Actually nothing too intellectual. The most important problem to deal with is that the power of Severin as a wizard has undergone a drastic change. To have magic inside and be able to perform some spells one doesn't really need to know anything. Otherwise entities with innate magic powers would not exist. They exist so spells can be performed without knowledge. That common truth of this world also applied in this case. It's important for Severin to get a better grasp of his magical power. Otherwise he would casually do mess with accidental effects of leaking magic. At the same time to some extent Klodoa helped him to establish some initial connection between Severin's body and spirit with the purpose to prepare him for slow cultivation of his type of magic into his body, which over time would make his magic simpler to perform. Magic of course can be performed without undergoing such process, however doing this requires transforming unattributed magic power into desired magic manually. That process usually goes with some loss of magic power, making the result more limited. Furthermore engraving magic into body is only one part of how wizard can train. Control requires developing right intents, mediums, and right habits. Habits, and instincts suitable to do well with one kind of magic can fail if it's about different kind of magic or utilizing different mediums. If for example two wizards specialized in different magic get their bodies swapped, their habits lead them to using it while not paying attention. So what Klodoa actually did for Severin is a lesson about keeping his own magic power in check.
…
At the same time Laxus was running around in laps. Makarov gave hims some tips about utilizing lightning attribute with his feets. As much as it worked, Laxus had a hard time running at such speeds, resulting in him crashing into surrounding trees from time to time. The healer assisted them by taking care of some little bruises. Dragon Slayer's body is tough, so Laxus had an easier time.
"Gramps, how did you know about that trick? From Yuri?" asked Laxus.
"A bit, but not necessarily. Yuri was never able to teach me, because of my low affinity with lightning back then. But I wanted to have it, so instead I had to learn a movement technique from light magic."
"Thought, I never saw you using it. Why is that?"
"Because my body these days stands it worse. Using it would put too much strain on my joints. I don't know what effects will have the lacrima that Ivan planted in you, but I have to admit, that the effect on your physique makes me jealous."
"It should be good. I trust father. He said that dragon lacrimas are spread through world and if done properly it's safe."
"Yet Ivan isn't a doctor. What would happen if he messed that up?"
"It wouldn't.happen."
"*Sigh* I don't know. Just if it didn't go well I would be left brokenhearted for the health issues of my beloved grandson. I guess he didn't even asked you if you want that lacrima.."
The atmosphere for both has become a little heavy. For young Laxus it's because he felt he's not able to give a good answer which means he can't calm his grandfather to stop raising such objections. For Makarov on the other hand is just a feeling that he's playing dirty, by using Laxus' feelings to pressure him. It was somewhat worse while the more he thought about the tactic he assumed the more was uncertain what he's really playing. Layla just charged him with the task to get on the better side of Laxus. Makarov instead wants to undermine Laxus' trust for his father.
'That's a drag! I can't just make Laxus into not liking Ivan. Even I have a hard time with that brat, because that's my son. He's not a tool to be kept in dark about everything.' thought Makarov.
"What do you want to say? You just don't like Ivan?" Laxus asked in demand tone.
That was the hardest question Makarov heard, but it's meaning is so unclear, and yet striking, that he could lose his cool. However Makarov wasn't a man, who would lose his cool in the face of moral questions.
"No, I can't really hate any of my children. It's worse. I love him and it hurts me to see things being like this."
"Like what? Tough like not you?"
"Tough? He acts like you're just my shadows, and tries to make for that with bravando."
"He's not like that."
"I really shouldn't talk about this… I might be wrong. I want to be wrong. Maybe time will show I'm wrong. There's still something we agree for. You should become a man in your own right.
"I promise I will, and surpass you."
"Mind that's not in my right or Yuri's right. Don't be deceived by the simplicity of those words. Because of me it's hard to achieve. Way harder than just flashing around." Makarov disappeared and his voice sounded from behind of Laxus.
"How?" asked Laxus.
"Like I said, it's just a bit bad for my joints. I can still use it. I'll show that again, but intentionally will slow the pace... Look after the way my legs are moving. Your spell technically works. It's just you don't see the right way to move at that speed."
…
Meanwhile Lucy and Ren had their session about Requip. Layla was making them go through all the lecture about the way to establish a space containing personal belongings.
"When the piece of space is established, you can only then place in it one set of things you would want to summon."
"Can't I just summon one thing at time?"
"In theory you can, but there are various disadvantages of doing so. First, do you really want to summon only one thing in the battlefield?"
"Sometimes maybe…"
"You would think so, but it's just now. In a combat situation things are happening fast, in matter of few seconds, you wouldn't really want to spend time, summoning your things five times. Not to mention greater consumption of your magic power."
"Would that also divide my attention?"
"Yes."
"But even in my home I can't consider many things as sets. Even then what about the rule I can only place one thing in that space?"
"You mean?"
"Ms Layla, proper set is made of multiple things, not just one thing."
"*sigh* You're getting something wrong. Take your magic motorbike as example. Can you disassemble it?"
"I would be unsure about how to put it then together."
"But can you disass…"
"Kind of yes!"
"Let's explain with this. If you disassemble it, is it still the same motorbike?"
"Yes, madame."
"Can you ride it then?"
"No, I can't"
"Now the hard part. Assembled motorbike is something different than parts of disassembled motorbike. In disassembled state is just a bunch of multiple parts, but in an assembled state it is a different independent whole. Because it's something being whole, it's one thing, not multiple."
"So… it's whole in my mind, and that makes it whole?"
"No, but you see it's as whole, because it is whole."
"Strange."
"I agree, but that's how it is. You really think too much about it."
Ren didn't listen to the last part. He came closer to his target, just sat down on the motorbike, and motorbike disappeared with brocate flashes.
"So you did it. That's unexpected"
"Mrs Layla, is that what it should look like?"
In the next moment Lucy made one of her whips disappear in a similar manner.
"It appears you're late, Lucy. Ren was first."
"Huh?" Lucy was surprised. She was sure she's going to master Requip first, and then her untaught friend surpassed her like nothing.
"It seems that in the end my experience doesn't mean that much."
Layla turned in the direction of Gran Doma. He was writing something on paper sheets. If looked with more attention, one could see that were actually sets of runes. It was obvious he has a plan of his own, and is unwilling to underestimate the enemy. That's a surprise he attempted to put everyone into shame.
'That bastard is bolder than one should expect. Maybe that thing before about responsibility was to make Ren want to shame him? Still, just depending on barriers in confrontation with Brain is too plain. Brain is going to destroy some of them anyway, if he knows a bit about letter enchantments, and I'm sure he has such knowledge.'
"Doesn't mean that much my ass! It normally takes two weeks to master Requip without any rush, and you did that one or two days before the battle. You're lacking something he has, but that's not the talent." Layla snorted in an irritated tone.
"Don't be disappointed, Lucy. If not for you I'm not sure if I were able to do that today. Also, it's just a few seconds of difference. Compared to how much one seemingly has to train, it's unimportant."
"Thanks, but I just like to complain sometimes. I didn't mean it even if I lack something."
Lucy actually knew what she's lacking. Back then when she got memories of her from the future, she had a feeling of being disconnected, which she called "losing my time". Back then she meant it. Everyone she knew was different. Sometimes not even existing yet. Even some of her favorite romance books have yet to be written down, for which she has to wait a decade. If it's not time, that was lost, what else? Losing a world? That's could be even worse! She just took the place of other her, and…
"Lucy, enough! You're blacking out!"
Mother's scolding brought her to reality.
"Sorry. I was thinking about your words."
"Tomorrow we're going to take Brain's base down. On the battlefield you can't be distracted. Remember what happened with Brandish when she sneezed before?"
"One of the Spriggan 12 was easily taken down."
"What is Spriggan 12?" asked Ren.
"That's very important part of her story. She's probably gonna tell you that someday."
"Why not now?"
"Ren, you know how you're felt about my explanations. My story is so crazy that I'm embarrassed to tell it if it's not really important."
"Why did you tell your mother?"
"So now you're curious? It's because without that knowledge she would die."
"..."
"I know, and can't help that."
"Maybe…"
"No, Ren, please."
…
'It works! I've got a decent powerup!'
The ritual has gone smoothly. So smoothly that one could wonder how comes the previous attempts were failures. But that thought only appeared in his mind as a vague flash washed off with the disturbing truth. Pain was unbearable. He was just too passioned to easily surrender to it. Also the smell was reminding him that he got burned a bit. Still beneath all of it he felt his magic being twice. Something
Somewhere deep inside his body there was a little dense lacrima crystal made of cloted ethernano particles. It was denying most of known to him logic. Despite being spatial and dolif it wasn't blocking anything. Despite his body not having controllable muscles around it was controllable. Despite being mate of homogenic ethernano that supposed to be it seemed to be living. And despite not having much experience with it he felt like he had something that others couldn't have. Something so extraordinary that he could as well stand above the fate of a humble researcher. And yet not be able to conquer the world. Not even able to conquer himself.
He risked a lot to keep all of that as a secret, and followed the plan he concocted for five years virtuously. Who is he now? What's his purpose? Is that what he wanted to be? Was it worth it? At first he thought that after getting to this point he's going to reflect on his life, and say ex post that he's happy. However nothing like this happened. Instead he was scared about what next, while at the same time he had a decent idea what to do next. He just was here, where he was. Ridiculously not sure if he even changed a bit or how much. His past goals on the other hand were so clear now so he felt strangely empty.
'Happiness is really an elusive thing.'
But it was all fine. He just needed to get accustomed to a new rhythm of doing things. Until now he lived on the boundary of science, and politics, scheming to not be seen, gathering his crew, and getting resources for his crazy projects. Sometimes he was splendid in placing people where he wanted them to be. Sometimes he did some mistakes. Soon however he's going to disappear and rest from everything.
'Layla… *tsk* from tomorrow you won't be able to get me. How are you going to keep your word?'
For now he fell asleep.