Entreri Parasite - #05

Click!

As Adrian finally ascends up to the second floor of the Montbell Sanctorum, the scholar quickly snaps his glowing blue fingers. The runic ward placed around the sample containment chamber, which was nothing more than an ordinary antique cabinet, was quickly disarmed.

Carefully, Adrian opens up one of the doors and removes the lockbox containing the various samples the two had drawn from Aesperus so many years ago. He beckoned for Eldwyn to follow him back down stairs.
(Adrian Montbell)

Eldwyn simply watches as Adrian retrieves the sample, and follows along as he is beckoned to. He assumed that this was going to be taken to a controlled area, such as discussed in the past, so he would quietly follow along until then.
(Eldwyn Oakcrest)

Once they entered the small back room, Eldwyn a large runic circle situated at the center of the ground. Small pointed pillars of adamantite were situated in the cardinal and ordinal directions.

"This, Eldwyn, is a containment field. It is where we will apply the contagion to the daemon."

Adrian crouches down. He rests his hands between his legs for a moment, rocking back and forth as he carefully observed the runic designs.

Eldwyn noticed that it was.. nearly identical to the ward that was on his wrist, only much larger.

"This is the runic ward I devised to cure Aesperus, which would later influence the brand that you are garnering. It is ready to activate at my discretion, and I will not hesitate to permanently terminate this virus alongside my own daemon if I feel our procedure is flawed."

He points to each adamantite pillar. There were eight smaller runes around each of them, connecting seamlessly into the central rune of the ritual.

"These are in place to ensure no magical energy escapes the confines of this barrier. Think of it as an additional contingency, in the case that something else goes wrong."

Finally, he stands. Adrian hoists a hand at the waist, and the other goes to firmly grasp Eldwyn. A smile stretches across his face.

"This is the day we make history, Eldwyn."
(Adrian Montbell)

Eldwyn observes the marvelous set-up that has been provided by Adrian. Not only was this an obvious prerequisite for safety, but he had managed to make it look so aesthetically pleasing also.

"Mmm. Safety ensured-- most importantly for anybody outside this room. Good start."

Despite Adrian being his superior when it came to the R&D department, Eldwyn continued to be critical of experiments and always ensured that it would have the most positive outcome. Hopefully this did not come across in a condescending manner.

"I see. So we're standing in a barrier, coupled with the cure, in case of emergency. I'll admit, that makes this feel a lot safer, and a lot less risky. Again-- Good start."

Eldwyn was not a runescribe, but he wasn't clueless to the skill. He walked around the room inspecting each and every rune, just to double-check for mistakes or issue. He did not doubt Adrian's skill, but safety first, of course.

As Eldwyn would finish pacing about, Adrian would grasp Eldwyn and make his bold final statement.

"History indeed. For better, or for worse, Adrian. Though, given the collective intelligence of just the two of us in this room-- I would like to hope it will be for better."

Eldwyn was exuding confidence in this experiment. It had been in the works for such a long time now, how could he not?
(Eldwyn Oakcrest)

"Better, worse. At the end of the day there is really no telling how these sort of things could work out. We've established a plethora of appropriate contingencies, and I am of the mind that because of this, everything will fall into place."

Adrian smiles.

The scholar takes a step forwards. The runic barrier hadn't been activated yet. He held his hand forwards over the center of the array, wherein the daemon containment cube fitted into a fancy ring exploded into a magical miasma of unadulterated mana.

Swuisarme stood idle, completely docile. Unmoving. Daemon taming was.. well, it lacked practical uses. That said, it was certainly a powerful and unorthodox means of assuring absolute control.

Adrian was convinced that the bindings and tethers over the creatures through the practice of daemon taming were much more powerful than the ones utilized by necromancers. Daemon taming enabled authority.

The scholar procures a scalpel out from under his coat, making a sizable incision into the creature's side. Blood slowly drips onto the ground.

Then, he steps back--outside of the bounds of the barrier and runic ritual.

"Eldwyn. Apply some gloves and a mask. I want you to take the blood sample we took from Aesperus and inject it into the incision I made."

"Then, I want you to exit the circumference of the barrier and ritual."
(Adrian Montbell)

"I'm doing the dirty work on your daemon, then?"

Eldwyn made a joke, though did not intend to make light of the matter. He did as instructed, and equipped himself with a mask and gloves for his own protection.

He then took the sample of the infection that once plagued Aesperus, shortly after which he would move it from the vial it was in, to a syringe.

He then approached the daemon. It sat idly, blood dripping into the center of the room. It did not move, or flinch at all. Adrian truly did have absolute control over it.

"Right... Here I go, then."

Eldwyn prepared the syringe and placed it at the center of the incision that Adrian put on Swuisarme. Slowly injecting the fluids into the daemon.

The moment he had finished doing so, he would back away and step outside the barrier and ritual circles.

"Alright... now we see what happens next."

(Eldwyn Oakcrest)

He smiles, watching in anticipation. The runes around the miniature adamantite pillars light up, and before long a small dome encompasses the area of the ritual.

"We spent two years studying this. Deducing the effects of the disease, how it is transferred and spreads. Now, Eldwyn, we will see our efforts rewarded."

And so.. it began.

The infection spread throughout the daemon's body within a few moments. Its arteries and capillaries were stained green, and a strange fungal mucus began to protrude from it's available orifices.

Its eyes were misty and clouded, and before long spore-like growths began to sprout from its paled blue skin.

It had been established that the affliction only affected those who had an affinity and a connection to mana. Magi, namely. That it could only be spread through bodily fluids. Blood, mucus, urine, saliva--etcetera.

The swuisarme began to spew water out of its mouth and fins. It had a strange green tint, and it splashed around the inside of the dome.

A malicious smile stretched across his face for a brief second. It was barely noticeable

"We've done it, Eldwyn."
(Adrian Montbell)

Eldwyn observed from outside the barrier as Adrian's daemon flailed around and spewed toxic water from it's mouth, as well as just about every hole the thing had.

"Indeed we have done it, Adrian. Although-- It's akin to a child having a seizure at the moment."

Whether or not this flailing fish would be of much use with the disease was uncertain--- but also, it was hardly the point.

What this confirmed for the most part was that the infection works the way we expected, which means the rest of the plan should too. The brands with the cures, and the ability for the infection to act as a deterrant for war.

"Two years well spent, Adrian."

Eldwyn smiled. Though the biological warfare aspect may have been a bit extreme for some, he genuinely believed this was an appropriate measure. Not neccessarily to use--- but to have. It was a last resort, and it gave Jianghu and Gehenna a reason to not mindlessly lash out at Valmasia, as now they should have fear of a consequence.

"Well-- We know this is going to work, now, so what next?"
(Eldwyn Oakcrest)

Adrian siphons his energies into the daemon.

That smile of his never seems to fade, and if anything it only seems to grow wider as the daemon stops moving completely. The strange liquid being procured from it seizes. Even the most fearsome of contagions could not disrupt the laws of the natural world that enabled the thralldom of daemons.

He turns his head towards Eldwyn.

"It is completely under my control, Eldwyn. I can choose when I want it to secrete the liquid and when not to. What next, you ask?"

The daemon is reduced to a blue miasma as it's ethereal form returns to the daemon containment cube, safe and sound. The runic ritual finally activates, as to completely eradicate any lingering liquids that might have been left on the ground.

Finally, the adamantite barrier subsides.

"Now, we wait. We wait for Jianghu or Gehenna to force our hand--then, and only then, will I set swuisarme loose into their water supplies."
(Adrian Montbell)

"I see. Attacking the water supplies as the last resort."

Not a terrible idea at all, but a vicious one. Adrian may not be a warrior, but he was a mastermind nonetheless. It's clear to all who know him-- his battles are won using his mind. Eldwyn was impressed, and inspired. After all, he looks up to the man to some degree.

"I suppose our testing--- not only for today, but, for the past couple of years, is finally complete, then?"

His smile grew also, though for different reasons to Adrian most likely. Eldwyn was just happy to finally see something come to fruition.

"Now all we have left to worry about is that expedition."
(Eldwyn Oakcrest)

Adrian places a hand on Eldwyn's shoulder, guiding him out of the room with a smile on his face. He closes his eyes for a moment and releases an exasperated sigh.

"That is, assuming all of our participants aren't already dead by the time we're ready to depart. War looms over our shoulders yet again, Eldwyn."

He gives him a playful slap on the back.

"Well, either way--yes. Our testing is now done. The disease is ready to be utilized as soon as it required of us. That said, there is still much work to be done."

He snaps his fingers.

"Meetings I need to schedule, so on and so forth."
(Adrian Montbell)

Eldwyn turned to face Adrian, coupled with giving him a slight nudge.

"Don't let me stop you then. Go schedule meetings, and whatnot. I'm sure I'll find myself some work to get done around here anyway."

(Eldwyn Oakcrest)