Half Life

Without saying much, the young woman was brought... To her house, which was the closest spot where they could work!

And the scientist, was already going to the nearest table where he dropped a bag of components upon, while from his lab coat he removed tools and especially..

A small toy, more exactly an automaton - a small mechanized golem, clearly something made out of magitech and that only a great artificer such as him could do.

"I've been working on this for sometime, recently having the most success in my research.. But there are still some things to do before I can present this to Oracle!

So now, we're going to sort this out.. Conclude my project!" And where did she get into that exactly? Well, "And you'll keep me company, since Sahra isn't around right now.

You will be my second head of opinions today!" He concluded by placing that little metallic creature on the table.

It was a small humanoid, with small legs and arms - plus a place for a crystal in its chest. Its head was simple, but it had details such as eyes! It was quite ingenious.

And today, he would complete that.
(Acantho)

Dragged to her own home, Reese looked at Acantho a bit confused, he said she would be his assistant, so she thought he would guide her to his laboratory or wherever he worked. Walking to the table, she drag a chair for herself and looked at the things he put on the table, listening to him...

They would finish something to show to the Oracle?! That surely was some pressure over the girl's shoulders, but... It was Acantho's project, she just have to help and don't mess up with everything.

"Second opinion... Right... I can do that..." She said, as she sit and looked at the table... The tiny... Human? No... It was something else. First, she was surprised, then a bit intrigued. "What is exactly we... You are making? Looks like a tiny... Human, but still... " It wasn't, was incomplete, but have some details, well... She could help with that.

"You aren't trying to make life, are you?" Playing god isn't something she would find nice...
(Reese)

"This is an animunculi, a wonder of magitech - something that once great places like Barsburg did in droves! And now, I'm trying to replicate it.

I used my knowledge of runes and magitech, as well as the meager details I could find - to begin my research.

Which the result is before you." Explaining this, the scientist was already starting to work.

With his tools, on the back of the small automaton he removed a piece of metal - creating a new socket. It was a lengthy process that needed attention, so he focused on what he was doing.

Yet, took his time to offer more details.

"Last time I tested it and it almost worked, yet, due to the presence of a more advanced rune system - this one drained all the energy from the energy crystal I placed in it.

At the chest.

However, this time I will insert in a second source of energy, this way it should work as planned." And that was exactly what he was doing at the moment, preparing the area - modifying the little automaton.
(Acantho)

"I see..." An ancient magitech, a thing that comes from the past... She wondered where Acantho found about that, but as admirable that the young scientist could replicate something like that.

"Seems like a complex system... But... If it is draining all the energy you put in it, you should take care to not... Overload it... Would be pretty bad if it explode..."

She said as she watched him work, surely Acantho was smart enough to already know that, but was always good to remind him. She wasn't an Artificer, but her knowledge of alchemy and magic circuits could help somehow.

"And... When it works, what it will do? Walk? Do some tricks? Or you will detail more the body?"

The girl looks curious, as she put her elbows on the table and leaned in a little to see better, how she worked in that 'animunculi' as he called...

(Reese)

"It's quite complex and to avoid that, I'll make a better management system for the mana usage inside it - once I'm done with this part here, that is." He explained as he finished his work.

And after a long time, the area for the gem on the back was finished! And so, he proceeded to the next step - which was the inside and for that, he would open his golem. Once opened, the interior was revealed.

There was an inner rune system there, as well as the presence of adamantite threads - something used to conduct magical energy. It was quite the sight, something far beyond the simple staves - truly, this was what magitech could become.

"Hand me the mercury powder, it is in a bag inside of the box." He asked before then listening to her question, which made him shrug and then say - "They will serve to assist me, as an assistant, couriers and even - to defend me from possible threats.

It will be quite useful for many things." As expected, a creature made to serve - but without a conscience of its own.

A machine, made by an artificing genius.
(Acantho)

A lot of time spent in watch and assisting the scientist in his project, adding the powder and adjusting the systems, she watches him write this rune, and how he did all these things, maybe she could learn something from it.

And as the conversation continues... "So you will make more of then... Well, it would be good, you could focus on other things as they do part of the work..." She wondered how would it be to see Acantho being followed by lots of tiny humanoids... And she hides a small smile with the funny idea.

"Oh... So one that can climb walls and another that can fly... I can assume that if you make one bigger they would carry things and fight... Defending you?"

"I can see how this experiment of yours is useful..."
(Reese)

The work was extensive, but extremely rewarding - at least for Acantho who was conducting a important research for him!

The research, of a dreamy young scientist.

One that decided one day, that he would become someone to be remembered.

Which now, smiled at what she said - "Looks like we're on the same page, regarding future ideas." And as he said that, the system was completed.

Using his tools he closed the carapace of his creation and then took it in his hand. Going to the side, it was placed on the floor, before then a gesture was made towards the box.

"Reese, bring two crystals of lightning, these are in the crate you got the powder from - it's time for the truth, whether this is going to work or not." Yes, it was time to put the cores that will give the 'half life' to his creation.

This time he will not accept failure.
(Acantho)

The girl remove the hand from her mouth and stopped hiding her small smile, as she nodded, she would like to see the progress of this project! And finally, that looked to be ready... She Looked Acantho get up and took the golem in his hand, placing it on the ground some steps far from the table.

"Right...!" She would leave the chair and search for the crystals, knowing how they looked, she didn't take a lot of time on it, walking toward Acantho and giving him the crystals. "So that's the charge he needs.."

Standing at his side, she looked at the Golem and put her hands together, clearly, she was silently cheering for Acantho's experiment works! "Hopefully it will work... I'm rooting for it. Hm... The crystals will activate the systems in the animunculi?" She made her final question...

And her eyes focused on the golem in the ground... Would it move?

(Reese)

The golem was on the ground, everything was ready and this time, it should work.

"Last time I tried to activate, that is, the last two.. Both ended up in failure, the first one almost exploded - having caught fire! The other? Lack of energy, due to the addition of more rune systems.

Yet this time.. Everything should work as intended." He explained while the crystals were brought to him, such that then..

Were taken to the robot. Carefully, the scientist would first insert the crystal in the back, which was already providing energy and starting the activation of the runes, but it would only truly start to act when the other one was inserted and that's what happened, because then the chest crystal was placed and now..

With a simple influx of mana from Acantho himself, the golem's activation began.

The runes would start to glow one by one, before then lights came from the little creature! Spasms of the arms and legs began, as did a faint bluish light come from the creature's eyes.

This hadn't happened before and so it made the Director very excited! Which, smiled and couldn't hide his excitement for the completion of this project.

After several minutes, the activation was completed and the animuculi received its 'half life'! The metallic entity began to move across the room, taking a few steps to one side and then the other before then.

Standing still in front of Acantho, almost.. As if waiting for commands.

The scientist at this point was in a state of basically 'stun', given what he saw - however, he would cough in order to clear his throat, before uttering a few words.

THE TEST IS NOT OVER YET AFTER ALL!

"Bring me that box." And then, he would point to the resource box he had brought there.

And after a few moments the little creature went to that box! And as much as it had difficulty, it managed to take the box and then, bring it to its creator as commanded - but nothing more was said or done after that, it just stood there.

Waiting once more.

This thing was simple and acted on commands, so that being the case.. Perfect, for what Acantho sought.

And here, this moment, it concluded his project! He had finally managed to create such type of beings - yet, he still had to show this to the Oracle, as way to begin his climb in the hiearachy of that city.
(Acantho)

The first caught fire?! That made the girl look at Acantho and then at the golem... Maybe preparing her mana for the case wasn't a bad idea... Just protecting her house from the fire! The second takes all the energy... And now he prepares himself for both cases, right, it would work...

At least she thought. Reese watch as Acantho places one crystal and the other, the energy beginning to activate the robot, then he put some of his mana and... It was moving! She opened her eyes as she was surprised by the lights that came from that creature... She looked at Acantho, seeing him so surprised as her...

"Oh... It's moving...!" Even the normally calm and silent Reese was showing signs of excitement over what had happened, she place her hands on her knees as she watches the robot take a few steps... Then Look to Acantho... "He recognizes you..." Maybe it wasn't the right way to say what was happening, but she watched intently, while Acantho gave an order to the robot...

With some difficulty, the tiny golem brings that to him, Reese watched the robot that just waited for some orders... They didn't talk or move too much, but they followed what was said... It worked... Acantho probably was proud of himself, he should be after all.

"... You did it Acantho... Your experiment worked... Hm... Now you can say that you recreated a 'wonder of magitech'..." As he said!
(Reese)

After so much study, having advanced so much in the artificery field and focused his efforts on the magitech area - he had managed to create an automaton.

And now, he was a step closer to his plans, to his dreams! Even so, there was still a lot to do, but at least..

A success had been acquired.

"Exactly! And now, I can show the results of my research to the Oracle and maybe that way, get some position in the local government!

And soon, I will be able to advance this art even further." Exactly, he thought big and didn't want to be just a merchant in Aphros forever..

No, he was going to have everything he planned on.

"Well.. thanks for your participation today, Reese.. It's out of paramount importance for me to have someone who's my friend here to watch this project come to an conclusion." He would give her a friendly pat on the shoulder, before going to collect his animunculi.

Which, was placed inside his lab coat.. For a future time.

"For now? We can rest." And that, concluded that experiment.
(Acantho)