Chandra - Vent Pack

“You just have to be more careful. I have something for you, something that should help.” Her father handed her a small mechanism. It was a finely-etched metal box with vents on one side. It had a shoulder strap and a flexible cable that led into it.

Chandra turned it over in her hands. “What is it?”

“It’s called a vent pack. It’s based on an old invention from long ago. Your mother and I made this for you.”

“Should I be greeting this with skepticism? Because I am.”

“Try it on.”

Chandra stood and looped the strap over her shoulder. The vent pack settled in the small of her back. Her father touched the loose end of the cable to a spot of bare skin near her shoulder blade, and it adhered to her skin.

“What does it do? It’s heavy.” She twisted around to look at it. The metal of it felt cold through her shirt. And at the place where the cable met her skin, she felt a slight electrical charge.

Her father put his hand to his chin and regarded her. “Now some bad news. I’m afraid you can’t go back into the woods again. Ever.”

Chandra whirled on him. “What? Why?”

The pack hissed, venting a quantity of steam.

“Test successful,” her father said.

Chandra narrowed her eyes. “Skepticism turning to outright distrust, dear father.”

“I’m sorry. The vent pack converts excess energy into steam. The design is usually used for safely offloading surplus power in Æther collectors. In your case, your temper is an energy source. It feeds your gift. And this will help you control it.”

***

CHANDRA’S ORIGIN: FIRE LOGIC