Mind Stone and Chimeric Sphere

Hanna had just drained the energy from the mounted Mind Stone, but the unmounted one, dirty as it was, had an untapped charge. I looked at the Chimeric Sphere, feeling for spectral lines in the Mind Stone and in the metal ball.

The fog elemental spun closer.

“What are you doing?” Hanna said. “Let me have that!”

Wings sprang into shape on the sphere. “Not the sphere!” Hanna cried. “I have a bett—”

I turned my shoulder to her, keeping the bag out of reach. “You wanted a test!” I snapped.

My control was imperfect as I set the wings to buzzing. Imperfect, but why should it be any better when, as I say, artifacts are beneath my notice? I managed. The sphere lifted into the air as the fog elemental made a sound like the long inward rush of breath. Glittering claws descended.

And closed on metal.

There was the sound of metal bands snapping, springs cracking, and rivets creaking until they popped.

The elemental melted into mist, and what was left of the Chimeric Sphere fell to the ground with a crash. I handed the stone to Hanna and brushed the dirt from my palms. “You might clean that rock,” I said. “It’s quite unpleasant to handle.”

***

Rath and Storm, Ertai's Tale