The artifact's pulses had quickened, each burst of energy sending faint ripples through the air. Elaine stood at the workbench, her hands trembling as she arranged a series of alchemical tools under Aria's sharp gaze. The hum of the artifact reverberated in her chest, its resonance growing more erratic by the second.
Aria moved with cold precision, adjusting runes etched into the containment field surrounding the artifact. Sparks crackled along the crystalline lines of energy, and the air smelled faintly of ozone.
"You'll monitor the containment levels," Aria said, pointing to a set of dials on the bench. "If they exceed the threshold, notify me immediately."
Elaine nodded, though her mind was elsewhere. The Nexus had gone silent, its earlier warnings still fresh in her thoughts. "Catastrophic resonance cascade." She couldn't let that happen—but neither could she openly defy Aria.
The Experiment Begins
Aria activated the containment field, and the artifact flared to life, its multicolored glow spilling across the lab. The crystalline surface pulsed erratically, cracks forming and sealing as energy cycled through the sphere.
"Phase one: Stabilization through essence layering," Aria said, her tone clinical. She handed Elaine a vial filled with a viscous green liquid. "Add this to the conduit matrix. Slowly."
Elaine took the vial, her pulse quickening. She recognized the liquid—it was a stabilization agent meant to regulate resonance flow. But if she altered the amount, even slightly, it could slow the artifact's energy cycling, delaying the experiment without drawing immediate suspicion.
TACTICAL OPTION DETECTED:
Modify stabilization agent to introduce delay.
Risk: Overseer may detect sabotage.
Elaine glanced at Aria, who was focused intently on the artifact. Taking a steadying breath, she tilted the vial carefully, pouring just enough to cause a subtle shift in the flow.
The containment field flickered briefly, and Aria's gaze snapped to the dials. "What was that?"
Elaine feigned confusion, her eyes widening. "A minor fluctuation. The artifact's resonance is still stabilizing."
Aria frowned but said nothing, her attention returning to the artifact.
The Pressure Builds
The minutes dragged on, each second marked by the rising tension in the lab. The artifact's pulses grew stronger, the containment field straining against the surging energy.
Elaine watched the dials intently, her mind racing. The slight modification to the stabilization agent had worked so far, but it wouldn't hold forever.
"Phase two," Aria announced. She handed Elaine another vial, this one filled with a faintly glowing blue liquid. "Essence amplification. Add precisely five drops."
Elaine hesitated, her fingers tightening around the vial. Amplification would push the artifact closer to the breaking point—but withholding it would risk Aria's wrath.
She poured three drops instead of five, the liquid swirling as it mixed with the artifact's energy. The pulses slowed slightly, their rhythm uneven.
ARTIFACT RESONANCE MODIFIED. Instability delayed by 3.2 minutes.
Aria's sharp eyes flicked to the dials. "Containment is holding steady. Good."
Elaine exhaled quietly, relief mingling with the gnawing weight of her deception.
The Nexus Returns
As the artifact's energy cycled again, the Nexus flared in Elaine's vision, its tone more insistent than ever:
CRITICAL ESCALATION:
Artifact instability now irreversible without deactivation. Overseer's next phase will trigger cascade.
Recommended Action: Disrupt amplification process immediately.
Elaine's stomach tightened. The Nexus's warnings were growing more urgent, and she knew the next phase of the experiment would push the artifact to its limit.
Aria turned to her, holding a new vial—a swirling mixture of gold and crimson essence. "This will complete the sequence. Apply it directly to the containment runes."
Elaine stared at the vial, her thoughts racing. Applying the essence as instructed would amplify the artifact's energy beyond recovery. But if she sabotaged the runes, the containment field would destabilize, forcing Aria to shut the experiment down—or risk destroying the lab.
"Now, Caldara," Aria said, her voice sharp.
Elaine moved to the containment field, her heart pounding. She crouched beside the runes, the Nexus's faint hum in her mind urging her forward.
TACTICAL DECISION REQUIRED:
Sabotage runes to destabilize containment field. Apply essence and risk resonance cascade.
Elaine gritted her teeth. There was no real choice. She tilted the vial slightly, letting a few drops spill onto the edge of the runes—not enough to complete the sequence, but enough to disrupt the flow of energy.
The reaction was immediate. The containment field flickered violently, sparks flying as the artifact's glow flared brighter.
"Containment breach!" Elaine shouted, scrambling back.
Aria's head snapped toward her, fury flashing in her eyes. "What did you do?"
Before Elaine could respond, the artifact pulsed with a deafening roar, a shockwave rippling through the lab. The containment field shattered, and the artifact's energy spiraled outward, fracturing the air like glass.
Aria staggered, her hands raised as she muttered a rapid incantation. The fractured energy began to stabilize, drawn back into the artifact by the remnants of the containment runes.
The lab fell into tense silence, the air thick with the smell of burnt ozone.
The Fallout
Aria turned to Elaine, her expression cold and dangerous. "Explain yourself."
Elaine met her gaze, forcing her voice to remain steady. "The artifact's resonance was too unstable. If I hadn't acted, the cascade would've destroyed the lab."
Aria's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Elaine thought she might lash out. But then the overseer's lips curled into a thin smile.
"Perhaps you're more useful than I thought," Aria said.
Elaine felt a flicker of relief, but it was short-lived.
"This experiment is far from over," Aria continued. "You'll be assisting me again tomorrow. And next time, there won't be any room for errors."
Elaine nodded, her chest tightening as Aria turned back to the artifact. The overseer's trust was paper-thin, and her suspicions were growing.
The Nexus flickered faintly, its text cold and final:
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED: Secure leverage or face termination.
Elaine left the lab with her mind racing. Aria was more dangerous than ever—and the artifact was a ticking time bomb. If Elaine didn't act soon, her fate would be sealed.