As Kerren entered the door his vision changed. Around him were obscure images of different places, faces, even some intimate sessions, he didn't see anything but that, as if countless lives of different people were right in front of him.
He couldn't do anything with it, so he just waited. As time went by he saw more and more, eventually leading to their deaths. Even though a long time passed, to Kerren it felt like just a few moments.
-* Well, i'm not even surprised anymore. Maybe those were some leftover memories from soul crystals? They didn't look fake after all, but... They seemed incomplete? -- they sure were, if those memories were "full" he would've died.
-* Anyway, those are soul crystals, i assume? -- he thought as he looked in front, there was a straight line of shelves, tons of them -- That doesn't explain why i got those memories... Wait... i cant seem to remember anything?... -- as he was standing there...
- What are you doing here? Is it not dangerous for you? -- a voice suddenly ringed in Kerrens ears
- Huh? -- he looked at the source of voice, it was an automaton, before he could say something else...
- I can see you, dont be afraid little human, if we wanted you dead you wouldn't be able to even come to this place -- automaton stated.
- Uhh.. Well, okay? What do you mean by dangerous, i didn't know being close to soul crystals is dangerous -- Kerren asked somewhat quietly.
- It is not dangerous being close to one, but this place is different, it is of no use to you, but to us it is very important, so i would appreciate it if you left. -- he said without a hint of anger in his voice.
- Before i leave... Do all of you know that i'm here?.. -- Kerren asked somewhat hesitantly.
- Yes. While we do welcome guests to our facility, taking it too far will not do you any good. You can freely look around, but it is best that you dont engage in stealing or teaming up with those that went in before you, they are sentenced to death for killing us. -- his voice got angrier the longer he spoke.
- Well, it's not like i'm of any use to them, since you haven't killed me yet i can see that you know that i'm not on their side... Anyway, can i ask what this place is? -- he was curious, for the sake of profit ofcourse, if he left this place safely he could sell this information if the current raid failed.
- This an Experimental Facility of South Heldern. We mainly focus on producing new artefacts and researching new ways to make them. The place you were in before was utilization storage, faulty product are sent there - he elaborated.
- Well, that explain those things... Uhm, do you realize that South Heldern is no more, whatever that is? -- Kerren was asking stupid questions again...
- Yes. But it doesn't change our purpose, we were built to sustain this facility. -- automaton said without any change in his voice.
- ...Will i get killed if i try to take anything from here, or just go around talking to automatons? Can i, for example, live here? -- why is he even asking that? I can understand the former... but the latter?...
- You can take whatever is in the utilization storage, talking and walking around is not prohibited, but do not try to interfere with their work. While living here is not prohibited, i would advise you to leave as soon as possible, i think you have already experienced something unusual, it will get worse with time -- Is this automaton joking? What the hell is his program? This guy is a thief and he allowed him to live here???
- Ooohkay? I guess i will go then, thanks for not killing me. -- Thanking an?.. Ah, whatever.
- Take this with you -- he handed Kerren a ring -- This will allow you to wander safely, our guards aren't as kind as i am. -- he said with a smi... Why is he even doing that? What is going on!?
- Thanks, in return for your help i will give you this -- Kerren took out one of his phones -- This a technological tool of my world, it is made without the use of mana, so i think if u've researched it you will get some useful insights -- He did what? He gave a creature from a fantasy world a phone?... To... research?... Just... aaah my head!!!
- Thank you. Now, go, maybe you will get some insights from our work as well. -- he said as he accepted the phone.
Kerren left the place, still invisible, but now he was not trying to be sneaky. He went straight to the central platform he saw in the beggining.
-* Well, that went better than i expected. -- he exhaled -- I doubt that they will give me any of their good products, but i think i can ask them to give me a tour?... -- he thought about something sinister.
As he stood on the central platform his invisibility potion wore off.
-* What? So soon? Did i lose track of time or did i lag again? If it's the latter i need to get the hell out of here as soon as possible... -- whatever happened he was now visible, but none of the automatons even looked at him.
-* I guess he didn't lie to me... Why would he in the first place, i dont pose any danger to them... It's kinda nice being weak? -- he smiled.
- Khm..! Friends! Hello! I would like to get a tour around this place, i dont mean any harm as you already know, i am just curious at the wonders u've already made! I was amazed bu your faulty products and i want to be even more amazed by the ones that are good! -- Kerren loudly said, attracting attention of several automatons.
- Hello, little thief. -- one of them said, looking from the above -- I'm afraid we cant give you a tour right now, your comrades are posing danger to us, so we would prefer to not leave this place. -- he said nicely.
- Thief? I didn't steal anything, so why...
- But you will, given a chance, dont worry, you cant, so you will not be killed. We are merciful -- he smiled with a smile on his face. That was creepy.
- Uhm. Thanks, i guess? So... When you kill all of my comrades, can i take their possesions? -- he said with a... wait what? Is he really that cruel?
- Those we dont need you can. -- he was still smiling -- Do you not want to save them?
- Not really, i'm far below them and if they know i'm here they'll kill me... Also, will you not kill me if i say yes? -- Kerren curiously asked
- We will not. You are too weak to pose any danger. You are like a pet to us. -- his smile is getting creepier and creepier.
- A... Pet?.. Uhh... Well, if you feed me and allow me to get stronger... Wait wait wait, no! -- Is this guy... I hope he's joking...
- Haha! -- an automaton laughed -- Dont worry, i am joking. Come, i will show you around here while we wait. -- he then waved his hand and the platform Kerren stood on lifted in air.
Kerren was taken on a tour around the "beehive", or as they called it - "Research Room 2", while on the way Kerren asked about the location of his "comrades", turns out they really did enter another door, but not the one he thought.
It was the closed door he couldn't open with a scroll, the reason behind it being closed was related to a fight in the room it led to, it was a trap for the attack squad, and since Kerren didn't pose any threat he was not allowed it, after all those automatons were "merciful", they didn't kill absurdly weak beings for no reason.
W-wait... There is a reason to kill Kerren, he's a thief! Why are they not killing him!? They even welcome him here!? What the hell is actually going on!? Is there a malfunction in their damn program or something?! Are they perhaps lonely?
Eh... Forget it, i dont want to even think about it, they are TOO friendly... Wait... right! They want to lure hi... no... it's too stupid...
Whatever.
The tour itself was not really complicated or fun in any way, the automaton simply showed Kerren some of the things they're currently making and the process, of course, for someone as... smart... as Kerren it was useful, while he didn't understand even 10% of the whole process, he understood enough for his knowledge to improve a lot.
It was simply a matter of perspective, for example, Kerren learned a way to change artefacts! Turns out you need special crystals that spit out mana, like the ones he seen in the cabin. It was not something unknown to his world, but it was well-hidden from the public for unknown reason, only a select few knew the secret, but making those crystals was a problem.
Kerren, now filled with greed, asked how to make those mana-spitting crystals, but the answer he got was not the one he wanted.
- You cant make them on your level, this information is useless to you. -- was the answer. It is to be expected that he would be kept from knowing it.
Kerren didn't lose the initiative and asked many more questions, regarding magic, forging, alchemy and even the Dragon Heart, the conversation went for a long time until Kerren got sleepy.
The automaton, whose name was "5" then led him to a bedroom far away from the research room he was in.
Kerren started living in the facility. Some automatons were not happy with him being there, but under the pressure from 5 they didn't show their unhappiness too much.
What was strange is that 5 kept quiet about the attack squad, when Kerren tried to ask how things were going 5 always answered him with something that would lead his interest somewhere else, of course, Kerren noticed that and periodically did that to get useful information.
To be honest, from being here Kerren understood more about magic than in his whole life, several automatons even wanted to teach him their art! Be it forging, magic or even craftsmanship - he could learn it all. Sadly, it was not fated to happen.
As days went by one by one, things kept getting worse and worse. First were hallucinations, Kerren started experiencing them more frequently. At first it was nothing, he simply forgot what he was doing from time to time, then he started forgetting even more and more, until one day he found himself standing in the center of his room.
Was it that strange? Nope, the point is - from his perspective he just appeared there, last thing he could remember before that was talking to 5.
Other than that number of automatons kept dwindling. One day his favourite automaton, which had a body of an elf, dissapeared. When he asked 5 what happened to her - he said she's on a weeked. It was a lie, Kerren suspected it but there's nothing he could do.
Soon, a considerable amount of time went by, and 5 was the only one left in the facility. Friends that Kerren made dissapeared. Beehives, or research rooms 1 and 2 were completely empty. For some reason, even though Kerren was usually focused on his own profits, he was sad.
Still, 5 acted as if nothing had ever happened, and things went as usual, Kerren woke up, went to meet with 5 who would teach him different things. It is unknown wether or not 5 trusted Kerren more, but he shared more and more complicated things with him, such as art of magical battery crystals, those were used to charge artefacts.
Kerren was still happy as is, because at this point he was far above his world in terms of knowledge, if he ever got back he would overturn the world with such ridiculous knowledge he had. Forget about charging artefacts, Kerren knew how to make alloys he seen before! He even made some already, and was allowed to keep it!
Not only alloys, Kerren knew how to make armor, weapons, jewerly... If i were to simplify - Kerren knew all automatons knew. Of course, he was not smart enough to master everything, but somehow we was able to instantly get used to doing whatever they tried to teach him, if it was Kerren before - he would fail most of the time at first...
Kerren didn't know that, but it was work of 5, he amplified Kerren's cognitive functions, hence the hallucinations, it was not done because he wanted to harm him, on the contrary - to help him. Why? Maybe he was lonely, maybe we saw something in Kerren, but he always protected him from angry automatons and even shared secrets with him, like the place where good products were stored.
But... For Kerren it was no longer of use... He didn't want those artefacts anymore, he was just... sad... He wanted to continue living here, it was the first time in his life he felt happy, even tho not all welcomed him, almost all automtons were friendly and happily shared their knowledge... It made him feel needed.
Sadly, this dream of his was impossible. Even without the cognitive buff he got from 5 Kerren was somewhat smart, he understood that his "comrades" slowly overpowered the automatons, which was hard to belive at first, but with time he was sure.
Soon, 5 dissapeared.