Sylvie sat at her desk, the strange device in front of her, its runes still faintly glowing from their last interaction. The rhythmic hum persisted, steady and almost soothing, like the deep breathing of something ancient awakening from a long slumber. Her fingers hovered over her notebook as she jotted down her observations, her mind racing with possibilities.
It had responded to her mana—partially. But there was something missing, something she hadn't yet grasped. The fragmented phrases it had projected into her mind suggested a corrupted interface, a damaged system struggling to restore itself. But how could she help it? How did one repair something so foreign?
She tapped her pencil against the page, deep in thought. Her understanding of mana-infused artifacts had grown considerably over the past few months. That was thanks in large part to her secret excursions to Mystiron Alley—a place she had only gained access to through an unexpected deal with Dayne.
She still remembered the day clearly. It had been a routine trip to the market when she'd crossed paths with him again. Dayne, the odd but knowledgeable man she had met once before, had spotted her riding her bicycle through the streets and had been utterly fascinated by its mechanism. The deal had been simple: in exchange for the bicycle—something she could always rebuild—he had given her a token that granted access to Mystiron Alley.
The alley was a hidden part of the city, tucked away behind an ordinary-looking shopfront, only accessible to those who carried the right credentials. It was a place where artisans, enchanters, and tinkerers traded in mana-infused creations, their stalls filled with objects she had only ever dreamed of seeing up close. She had spent countless hours there since, moving carefully through the bustling corridors, pretending to be nothing more than a curious onlooker while secretly using her [Tinkerer's Archive] to analyze everything she could. She felt like a thief sometimes, stealing knowledge right under the noses of master craftsmen, but she had no choice. She needed to learn.
And now, that knowledge was being put to the test.
She took a deep breath, steadying herself. If this device was anything like the artifacts she had studied in Mystiron Alley, then it must have a structured mana flow—a pattern designed to interact with its intended user. But if it wasn't recognizing her as its owner, then that meant one of two things: either she wasn't supplying the right kind of mana, or it was locked behind an authentication system that required something beyond just energy input.
Sylvie flexed her fingers and reached forward again, pressing her fingertips lightly against the metal casing. It was cool beneath her touch, but as she began to channel mana, warmth pulsed from within. She focused, adjusting the flow, mimicking what she had seen done with similar constructs in Mystiron Alley.
The first rune flickered back to life.
Then another.
Then a third.
The hum grew louder, more distinct, as if something within was stirring in response. Encouraged, she increased the output, carefully modulating the energy to match the frequency shifts she had observed before. The crystal at the core pulsed steadily now, no longer erratic, its glow becoming more stable.
Then—
A sharp click echoed through the room, followed by a sudden jolt of energy. Sylvie gasped as the force pushed her back slightly, her chair scraping against the floor. The device's runes flared to life all at once, and then—
Darkness.
For a moment, everything was silent. Then, a low, distorted voice crackled to life inside her mind, its tone fragmented and disjointed.
"...Data... corrupted... Recalibrating... Incomplete… Verification... required."
Sylvie's heart pounded. This was progress—something new. But she wasn't sure what it meant. Verification required? Was it waiting for a command? A password? A specific input?
"Can you understand me?" she asked cautiously.
There was no response for a long moment. Then, the voice returned, clearer this time, though still fractured.
"...Recognizing… Language adaptation in progress… Access restrictions... active… Incomplete authorization."
She frowned, trying to piece together what it was telling her. It could understand her, at least partially, but she wasn't authorized to access whatever functions it contained. That meant it was still locked—possibly tied to its original owner.
Or, more likely, it required some kind of key to bypass the restrictions.
She chewed her lip, considering her next step. If it was like the mana-infused mechanisms she had studied, then it might require either a specific mana signature or a physical key to complete the authentication process. Unfortunately, she had neither.
She could try forcing it, but that was dangerous. There was no telling what kind of failsafes had been built into something this advanced. Overloading the system might destroy it entirely—or worse, trigger a response she wasn't prepared for.
No. She needed more information first.
With a sigh, she withdrew her hands, allowing her mana to fade. The device dimmed in response, its runes slowly losing their glow until only the faintest traces of energy remained. The hum quieted, returning to a barely perceptible vibration beneath her fingertips.
She reached for her notebook again, flipping to a fresh page.
Observation Log – Continued
Device responds to structured mana input, suggesting a specific attunement process.
Partial activation achieved; interface attempted communication but remains restricted.
System integrity compromised—possible data corruption preventing full restoration.
Authorization required to access core functions.
Further attempts at forced activation may risk damage or trigger defensive protocols.
She exhaled slowly, leaning back in her chair. This was going to take more than just trial and error. If she wanted to solve this puzzle, she needed to gather more knowledge—more than what she had gleaned from Mystiron Alley so far.
Perhaps there was someone there who might recognize the design. She had seen many relics pass through the hands of traders, but none quite like this. If she was careful, she might be able to slip a few questions into casual conversation without drawing suspicion.
For now, though, she would have to leave it be. As much as it pained her to walk away from a challenge, she had reached a dead end—at least until she had more pieces of the puzzle.
She carefully wrapped the device in cloth, tucking it safely back into her satchel. As she did, she felt a strange sense of anticipation. This was unlike anything she had encountered before. A relic from an age long past, containing knowledge that had been locked away for who knew how many years.
And she was going to uncover its secrets.
Just not today.
Pushing her chair back, she stood, stretching her arms. The afternoon sun had shifted lower in the sky, casting warm golden light across her room. She hadn't even realized how much time had passed.
A knock on the door made her turn. "Sylvie?" Mira's voice came from the other side. "Dinner's ready. Have you been tinkering this whole time?"
Sylvie smiled, rubbing the back of her neck as she walked over to open the door. "Something like that."
Mira gave her a knowing look but didn't press. "Come eat before it gets cold. And no more skipping meals for your projects."
"I won't, I promise."
As she followed her mother to the dining table, she cast one last glance at her satchel.
She might have reached a dead end for now, but this was far from over. She would return to Mystiron Alley, gather what knowledge she needed, and find a way past the device's barriers.
It was only a matter of time.
[Updated Status]
Name: Sylvie
Age: 9
Class: Unawakened
Attributes:
• Strength: 5
• Intelligence: 11
• Agility: 6
• Mana: 22
• Dexterity: 13
Aspect:
• [Tinkerer's Archive] (Rank 1) LV3
• Perfect Recall: Complete and flawless memory of all past-life knowledge.
• Magical Enhancement: Can imbue magical properties into objects, refining their function.
• Advanced Analysis: Breaks down an object's material composition and structure.
• Mental Processing Boost: Increased ability to sort vast amounts of technical data without fatigue.
• Blueprint Projection: Can mentally visualize and deconstruct complex machinery before assembly.
Equipment:
• Shifting Fang (Form Manipulation) – Can shift into different forms if mana is inputted with an image in mind.