"Congratulation Chase!" Jane exclaimed.
I smiled back at her then turned back to the dean and Krylessi. Krylessi was casting a axiom spell sigil when I looked. Shadows suddenly creeped up the end table and swallowed up the contract. When the shadows receded the contract was gone.
"What the…?" I gasped.
"Shadow veil. A very handy spell for transporting important documents." Krylessi explained. He then turned to Dean Baxter and stood. "Now that the contract has been signed the school needs to uphold their part of the contract."
"Of course." Dean Baxter said and stood like Krylessi. "The laboratory has been fully prepared and stocked. All that is left is to show Mr. Kingston where it is."
"And the rest of Deilopho Salagor's works?" Krylessi asked.
"Already at the lab. Secure." Dean Baxter replied.
"The lab's ready?!" Jane exclaimed.
"More importantly, Deilopho's books are there!?" I exclaimed. Iris frowned and crossed her arms
"How are those books more important than you getting your own lab?" She griped.
"Did you forget about the assignment Baset gave us?" I asked. I got up and grabbed my book off the windowsill and showed it to Iris.
"This one book has helped me expand my knowledge of magic and it's not even about magic specifically. I have no idea what his other works are about they can only be helpful and they might even have a workaround for our current problem." I said. Jane's eyes widened and she rushed over to me.
"That's right! Deilopho Salagor was well known for his spell craft and research into mana!" Jane exclaimed.
"Oooooooh!" Iris gasped then turned to the dean. "Sir we need to see those books as soon as possible."
"Well come this way. As I said already the books are at Chase's new lab." Dean Baxter walked around the coffee table and made his way to the door. Everyone followed the dean outside and piled into his carriage.
The ride to the laboratory wasn't as long as I was expecting. It only took twenty minutes to reach the part of the campus where most of the labs were located. It looked like a field of warehouses all painted either copper, silver, or gold. The copper warehouses were the smallest ones whereas the gold were the largest.
The carriage finally came to a stop in front of a silver warehouse. As we all got out of the carriage I noticed that it looked different than the other silver or gold warehouses. While all the other warehouses looked to be one story this one was defiantly two stories, and the other warehouse's silver coating only covered the roof. This warehouses was completely covered in the silver coating, save a giant copper cover door.
"Wow this is huge!" Jane exclaimed
"Looks different than all the other labs around." I said taking a glance at the next nearest lab which was at least half a mile away.
"It's brand new." Dean Baxter said as he walked over to the copper door. Krylessi followed close behind and inspected the lab's exterior intensely.
"Not a lot of security." I said as I eyed the next lab which had a large chain link fence with barb wire surrounding it and a guard booth.
"There is more here than you think. Around two thousand enchantment and utility spells were weaved into the very foundation of the lab for security purposes. No one can even entire the lab without you three." Dean Baxter explained. He then motioned to the door. "Mr. Kingston, if you could please place your hand on the door?"
I walked over to the dean and did as he asked. As soon as I placed my hand on the copper door the whole thing lit up a bright amber color then a utility sigil formed around my hand. It started to scan my arm and got about to my elbow when the sigil suddenly shattered. The door stopped glowing and there was a loud click then the door slid into the ground.
"What just happened?" I asked.
"The door has a utility spell crafted into it. Anyone else it scans them and determines if they have access but for you it just scans as much of your DNA as it can before your mana manipulation spell kicks in and destroys it then it opens the door." Dean Baxter explained.
"What's to stop someone from destroying a wall to get in?" Krylessi asked.
"The silver that coats the while building is enchanted with a defensive spell. A Kong could come crashing into the walls and they'd still stand." Dean Baxter replied. Krylessi nodded slightly. "Now why don't we take a look inside."
"Yes please!" Iris exclaimed and tried to run past me but Jane grabbed her arm before she could
"Iris, it's Chase's lab. He should be the first one to walk in." Jane chastised Iris. Iris frowned and let out a groan.
"Fine! Chase first." Iris muttered.
"Why thank you Tri-clops." I said sarcastically. Iris rolled her eyes and stood beside Jane as I walked inside.
I was rendered speechless as I walked through the threshold. The lab looked even more massive on the inside than the outside. The lab looked to be split into four smaller sections each with its own function. While those sections were smaller they were still looked like could fit my entire floor back in the door in them with no problem. In the center of the lab was a floor to ceiling gestation tank that looked like it ground fit several hundreds of gallons.
"This place is huge!" Iris exclaimed behind me.
"Massive even." Jane added.
"The collage plans to start tearing down some of the older laboratories and make new ones on their place using this as their templates. It's larger size is better for more modern experiments." Dean Baxter said.
"I see…" Krylessi said as he examined the space around us. "Nice open concept."
"Now if you would all follow me…." The dean walked around me and lead the group into the lab. He lead us over to the first and closest section of the lab. "This is the storage and cataloging area…"
We walked down a massive row of shelves at least ten feet high with a rolling ladder attached to each shelf to make traversing of easier. There were at least fifteen rows saved far enough apart that the five of us could walk without bumping into each other.
"…here you can store and catalog thousands of specimens or projects and even less sensitive materials."
"Nice…" I said.
"Onto the next area." The dean said.
We followed him through the maze of shelves to the second area. When I saw what it was my heart nearly exploded in my chest. In the center of the room sat a piece of techno-magi that I had always dreamed of being able to use.
"This section is for evo gene reading and calculated genetic modification and splicing via the labs own…." The dean started.
"A Lysdale Gene Delver simulator!" I screamed. Everyone was startled by my sudden outburst and looked to me.
"Ow my ears!" Iris cried covering her ears. The dean quickly recovered and looked to me.
"Yes…I take it you know what this is." He said pointing to the machine.
"Well yeah, everyone back in the states knows what a Lyndale gene delver simulator is. Hell it's America's greatest contribution to splicing. It's a marvelous piece of techno-magi that allows you to see what the result of a of your sequences on a Lyndale readout will be." I exclaimed.
The Lysdal Gene delver simulator was a large vat about forty yards across, it had a raised platform that encircled the entirety of the vat with a control panel just in front of the stairs. The vat was filled with a thick metallic fluid that bubbled occasionally.
Both Jane and Iris looked at the simulator like it was a unholy abomination with Iris even going as far as to cover her nose like she smelled something foul from it. Though admittedly it did give off a smell.
"Urgh! Techno-magi!" Iris spat. "What self respecting splicer would even consider using this?"
"You'd be surprised. The simulator is gaining popularity among countries smaller splicer counts and its even being used by some militaries for training purposes for their battle mages." Dean Baxter explained.
Jane shook her head and let out a troubled sigh. The genuine look of disappointment on her face shocked me as well as Iris' reaction to the machine.
"Well I for one will not be using it. Splicing is a sacred and time honored tradition. It would be a dishonor to my ancestors to even consider using this device." Jane said.
"Well suit yourself! I plan to use the hell out of it!" I said. I smiled deviously and rubbed my hands together as I walked toward the simulator. Iris stepped in front of me and placed her hands on her hips.
"Star Child this might not be apparent to you because you're a idiot but you cannot ever use that machine."
"What?" I griped then narrowed my eyes at her. "Of course I can, I just need to read the manual."
"Iris is right, pretty soon the entire splicing community will have its eyes on you once more people realize you have a star farm crystal. Your standing in the community will go down if anyone finds out that you ever used techno-magi." Jane explained.
"Well I guess it's a good thing I don't care what the splicing community thinks of me." I said. "So far all I've seen of it is a bunch of spoiled brats and condescending assholes."
"Even still it's not the best idea to get on too many people's bad side." Jane said.
"A little late for that warning Jane." I said with a roll of my eyes. "We literally had a mob protest me getting into Baset's class. Besides if I worry too much what a bunch of random assholes think about how I operate then I'll never do what I want to do."
"But…"
"Do not forget Lady Soloman this is Chase's lab. You are just a guest. How he chooses to operate in it and what he chooses to use is entirely up to him." Dean Baxter said sternly.
Jane's eyes widened when she heard the dean say her real last name and she quickly turned to Krylessi. He barely reacted to hearing the name but was instead glaring at Dean Baxter. The dean was barely paying the looks he was getting any mind.
"Lets go check put the rest of the lab." I said to diffuse some of the tension. The dean nodded in approval.
"Of course. This way."
The dean lead us away from the simulator and to the third section of the laboratory. This section confused me. The set up was similar to one that you'd see in a techno-splicing factory when they're creating a new batch of evos. There was a large glass tank in the center of the room filled with gestation fluid. The tank had a bunch of tubed attached to the top that went to the ceiling and lead to the giant gestation tank in the center of the laboratory. Where it differed from a techno-splicing factory was the giant spell circle drawn around the bottom of the tank. Large crystals pillars stood in varying points in the circle and glowed with a feint light.
"Oh my gods! This set up is perfect!" Iris exclaimed and grabbed Jane. The both of them squealed and ran over to the tank looking over the spell circle and the crystals. I turned to Dean Baxter and pointed at the whole set up.
"What is that unholy abomination?" I asked. Dean Baxter opened his mouth to answer but he was interrupted by a ear shattering screech.
"UNHOLY ABOMINATION!" Jane and Iris screeched. I turned back to the tank and saw Jane and Iris looking at me like I had three heads.
"This is a splicing circle. The basis of all splicing. Without this the first evos would never had been made!" Iris snapped. I arched a eyebrow and pointed at the tank.
"Really? The ancient splicers had glass tanks?" I asked skeptically. Iris fumed and stomped over to me and slapped my arm.
"Obviously it's been updated over the years but the basic function is the same!" she snapped.
"Ow! Stop it Tri-clops!" I snapped and slapped her hands. "How the hell would I know what that is? I grew up in America!"
"What does that have to do with anything.?" Iris demanded as she shook the hand I slapped.
"Splicing is a federal crime there. Any splicer caught splicing in America can be put in jail for life." I replied with a shrug. "It happened to a splicer that lived one state over from me, me and her were the only splicers around for two hundred miles. The feds raided her family's farm and found that she was using the barn for splicing. A few hours after she was arrested she was found beaten to death in her cell by her cell mate. Her murderer didn't even get charged with her death."
Iris was stunned. She looked to Dean Baxter and Krylessi who both seemed unsurprised by my statement. Iris turned back to Jane who looked horrified.
"How does a woman get arrested and murdered for splicing and no one even gets arrested for her murder?" Jane gasped.
"She was a splicer. We're literally second class citizens there. Hell anytime growing up I could have been murdered in front of a fleet of cops and none of them would have lifted a finger to help me." I replied.
"I'm so sorry…" Iris muttered. She turned and walked away clenching her fists.
"Chase how old were you when that happened?" Dean Baxter asked.
"I was six. I remember adults talking about it all the time after it happened. For months afterwards whenever they saw me they'd say that I had better act right or else I would end up like her only they wouldn't wait till I got to jail, they'd kill me right where I stood."
"That's horrible…" Jane breathed.
"That's life" I shrugged then turned to Dean Baxter. "The last section where you're keep the rest of Deilopho Salagor's books?"
"…Yes…." Dean Baxter replied hesitantly. He looked like he was a thousand miles away for a moment but in an instant he bounced back and motioned for us to follow him. "Just this way."