It took a few hours before Rafie could gather all the books, he found six that could be of use. By the time he returned Kelivan had already written some arcane equations in the black board, he also had made the artifact float a few centimeters above the table spinning it slowly, spread over the table were also the tomes Kelivan already had and a note pad, carefully Rafied laid the books on the floor in chronological order.
He did try to examine the equations, seeking to better understand the research, to be of further help.
No words of thanks were said as Kelivan kneeled to the ground and began opening the books laid on the ground, almost like a child choosing presents, he skimmed through it’s contents, chose the very last one and brought up to the clustered table, marking the pages of interest.
Upon inspecting the transcripts and the board, Rafie understood it was fairly advanced arcane theory, about the flux alteration of energy, such undertaking was of very delicate complexity, much similar to how construct cores operated, but this one involved exponential energetic output, something impossible even with the use of a catalyst, that now seemed to be the purpose of this relic.
Piecing it together he was now sure his master had found a remarkable artifact, if it actually worked or could be understood was a different matter.
“This must be truly legendary” - Rafie managed a light tone - “Tell me master, have you figured out what powers it holds? Perhaps it’s purpose at least?"
He knew that if Kelivan did not answer was not beacuse he wasn't heard, just that his master's mind was in some other logical puzzle, he just had to wait till his mind had finished its thought process.
It took almost twenty minutes, the only sound were the flips of pages till finally, Kelivan laid back in his chair.
“This may be the last Arcane potency Generator…”
It took just two seconds for Rafie to place the name to history, this was indeed a relic that had shaped the world’s history. He would have taken a breath if he could, these generators were the epitome of Arcane artifice by the Kalmartak, a tool of the old age of magic that could absorb and recreate Magical potential to an exponential and theoretically infinite output, they had intended to use those to reach divinity, but were confronted by the gods, that castigated their civilization in a war that saw those creations destroyed, the knowledge on how to fabricate them, obliterated along with them, for it’s sheer capacity to reshape the known world, it was best lost to those not divine.
Kelivan could feel his heart beat in happiness, to finally confirm this was indeed a real remaining and functioning core, taking in a deep breath he slowed down his thoughts to reach more logic based actions.
“This will be the last time…” - Kelivan gave a sincere look - “If we fail now there is no way for my dream to come true”
Rafie wanted to say something, perhaps to embellish that statement or maybe lighten his master’s weight to the task.
“We could also make new dreams… no?”
He had believed in his words, to say that there could be more, but unbeknownst to him, even alien to Rafie, reason he could understand, but with those words he had denied the symbolism to his master’s words, the living much needed those.
Kelivan in a dry smile spoke.
“I must begin the structure of a ritual, I need you to craft this concoction, follow it to the letter”
He handed Rafie a two page recipe from the table, which he took with a small bow.
“I will help to my best”
He went across the room to the shelf loaded with alchemical ingredients, and began the selection according to instructions.
Turning his back Kelivan leaned Down under the table opening a hidden compartment, from under there he pulled a dark leather bound tome, much of its pages yellowed out.
This tome bore no name, but when opened, a sickly sensation washed over him, it felt like a living thing that expunged disgust, each page he turned sucked out hope, reading tore at the edges of his mind, as it told him how to become something that would forever drain the world as it also tried draining him.
<<<< >>>>
Rafie had taken 5 day to brew the concoction, he was however much worried, most of the ingredients used were very lethal, he knew however that there was still the step to boil it, something he was instituted to not do till before it was used, magic could render the final product beneficial, but he wondered how so.
Both of the men in the holding cells were released far away from the village when the maimed one recovered.
The laboratory where Kelivan worked became filled with papers and equations, none of which Rafie was allowed to analyze,his mastered ordered him out from his work space, only to bring in food and extra supplies.
<<<< >>>>
Two months went by in much the same manner. Kelivan chose to stay alone, at least he wanted to were not for his forceful companion, a creeping chill that carved itself inside his mind, growing each day, harsh as the winter outside his sanctum, though this place was shielded from the elements of nature, only he could shield his mind, a battle of attrition that he was beginning to slip.
After he had one last look at his notes, he drew his strength reaching for a piece of chalk, then walked to the center of the room.
At its epicenter was a pedestal, where in it lay the Arcane Generator, in the ground around it were drawn about twelve interlocking geometrical arcane sigils composed of squares, triangles and Circles, many of them seemed to be written as tridimensional shapes, despite their bidimensional nature, between them were hundreds of smaller Arcane letters of power and control.
Skillfully He drew two encapsulation circles, pining each cardinal point, finally finishing the diagram that now totalled about fifteen meters in diameter.
Finally done his body suffered a resounding hit of exhaustion, falling him to his knees, tears streaming down, it was however followed by a sudden wave of adrenaline, he stood up, tripping towards the table at torturing speed, then reached out closing the leather bound tome, his breath returned like he been drowning.
“It’s over…” - Kelivan Managed a smile
This peace was soon interrupted by another hit of numbing nausea and vertigo, grasping the book he threw it far, it slid in the ground stopping near the unfinished golem.
On the floor beneath an above the book a hexagonal shape encased it, the words spoken by Kelivan were explosive as it’s result, a small electric arc surged quickly turning into a raging fire, the shockwave and sound resonating in deafening equal measure, even if contained, it ripped off on of the arms from the construct, stirring wind, fluttering various papers all over the room. All that was left where the book had been, was ashes over the scorched ground and the lingering smell of burned paper.
The main door flung open as Rafie entered.
“Master?!”
He scanned the room, when his eyes saw Kelivan he rushed to his side.
“What happened?”
He had already deduced an explosion occurred, though what state it had left his master was unknown, he tried being as gentle as possible helping him remain on his feet.
His breathing was ragged, to his relief it slowly began returning to normal, along with those chilling feelings dissipating. It took him a few minutes to reorganize his thoughts, he finally spoke.
“I’m finished… I just couldn’t let that thing…” - he paused- “exist”
Rafie was confused, he did not fully understand what happened, the whole ordeal seemed odd but before he could question Kelivan spoke.
“Begin boiling the potion”
He did not want to, his master had been acting strange since his arrival months ago, but without concrete proof he felt pressured to do as told, choosing only to question.
“My master, it has been a long period of secrecy” - Rafie spoke walking to the alchemy table - “Most ingredients of this substance are harmful, may I ask what you wish to gain from it?”
“Would you want to stop me?”
Kelivan begun walking towards the pedestal at the center of the room
“To deprive me of my final attempt at achieving my dream?”
“If it would stop you from destroying yourself, yes”
“It has already, this world has taken all of me”
Rafie finally had concrete belief in his master’s intentions towards demise, he stopped his task, put on the most compassionate yet indignated voice he could.
“You would kill yourself for it?”
A sound like a hidden laugh escaped Kelivan’s lips
“I” - Rafie went on - “ Do not want to see you die, mostly for you, then myself, what would dying help your dream?! Besides escaping from it?”
“I will find out” - Kelivan had tear in the corners of his eyes - “If I can return, it will be the only proof I need that my talents can help… that there is hope”
A silence fell between them, Rafie began thinking about possible rituals, only one came to his mind that involved the death and return of its caster. The feeling of fear was most adequate for what he implied.
Necromancy was based on the siphoning of energy, to empower oneself, to mimic the miracle of life at the cost of other sources, this very land was less lush with life because of Kelivan’s long lasting presence. But to truly return from death, it would require a constant supply of real life to chain one’s soul to the mortal planes after death.
“You want to become what you have hated all your life?!”
Rafie screamed flaring out his frustration
“It will chain you to killing forever!”
“It will not be so…” - Kelivan responded - “If my theory holds, the generator will supply my needs, without killing”
“Your theory? You are ready to base your life on theory?”
“Kingdoms were built with these! It will create that possibility!”
“Is that based on theory?!” - Rafie took a few steps forward - “You are a Sage Father! there should be testing, you are making yourself a lab rat for something you can't even know…”
“You would have me trial innocents?” - Kelivan interrupted
It became clear to Rafie, there was no reasoning, much desperation was in his master’s voice, deciding to take more physical action, he went to the alchemy table in order to smash the bottle, a sudden voice stopped him.
“I order you not to move”
Rafie simply froze, unable to control his own body anymore, anger flared up in his voice
“Do Promises also mean nothing to you?!” - He wanted to but could not even rotate his head - “ Make me a puppet! Undo my will! Take me down this shitty grave with you?!”
“I order… that you watch the ritual to it's end and do not interfere"
In a robotic motions, Rafie spun around and faced the pedestal, only being able to shift his eyes at will, Kelivan walked by him, lit the flame that began boiling the brew.
Feelings that should emerge were clear, anger at his master for taking away his agency, shame, for he was reminded that as an artificial life, could always be overruled by his creator's will, yet mostly fear. He feared losing his only connection to his origins, a fear he had to process alone, this would be forever carved in his memory, forced to watch all unfold, unable to do nothing but watch.
Kelivan waited in silence the bubbles rise to the surface in the boiling liquid, his heart beat was loud, at least to him, it was like a drum beating, his expression a mix of shame and fear.
He waited patiently as a thin layer of purplish gas rose from the surface of the brew, when it began rising and spilling out the top he turned the flame off, wrapping a cloth around his hand he grabed the vial. Stamped in his face was a morbid determination that tried to hide his fear, he raised the vial up to his lips, in one move he tilted its contents down his throat, it was surprising warm but not boiling, the gas spilled too, filling his nostrils with a sweet smell that made his adrenaline explode, immediately clearing his mind, sharpening focus.
In a burst of will Rafie tried to speak.
“Please father don’t…spit it out”
His words fell on deaf years
In silence Kelivan strode towards the pedestal.
In his head his thoughts were clear as day, the magical words he voiced were sharp, fast and inexplicably complex, moving his hands in synchronicity, a true master at work. His heart however was now a loud bagging like a thunder in his ears.
Without losing focus for a second he went on, the circles began lighting up, multicolored particles rising, unbordered by it, he went on.
He did not notice when the beating in his ears stopped, when his body went cold, Kelivan would not stop, he could not.