The body and the Mind

[14:46] Annete clears her throat as she makes her way into the square of Achyon. A place she has hardly ever been before to...

For rather obvious reasons. But, it is not enemy soil for her now. Not anymore.

Steps are taken towards someone in particular - someone who has been described and mentioned to her before...

"Excuse me," she calls out, adding a brief pause before continuing so as to get the necessary attention, "are you Nidaz?"
(Annete Alricht)
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[14:46] Benedict Delisle says, "Tch, speak of the devil."
[14:46] Benedict Delisle says, "I'm off for contract work. I'll be back later."
[14:47] Annete Alricht says, "Huh?.."
[14:56]
{LOAD GAME}

[15:00] In the middle of the square with other people, the figure of the old man was.. His silverish gaze was turned to the sky, while undead servants bandaged his left hand that had a small cut.

Some.. First aid, as necessary.

Upon having his attention called, the figure would incline his head in the direction of the voice that was addressed to him and then he would answer, "Mm? Yes, yes.. This is me.

High Councilman Nidaz Vanreth." He would promptly introduce himself, in the simplest possible way, "What do you need?" He would question, as he stared at the young figure in front of him.
(Nidaz)
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[15:08] A tilt of her head comes. Injuries?..

"I may treat you, if you wish-... perhaps that would be suitable payment for your time and knowledge."

The faintest of smiles comes to adorn her porcelain features - and thankfully she has come to the city after feeding. Probably for the best when one has to display their best in regards to social aptitude...

"I would like to speak of your art. The one thing you are renowned for." Emerald greens shift towards the undead servants surrounding the aging man.

"... I do not ask for lessons, yet. I merely want to understand it, at first."
(Annete Alricht)
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[15:14] Annete Alricht says, "Oh-..."
[15:14] Annete Alricht says, "I'm Annete Alricht, a retainer to Viscountess Avelin Alricht. A pleasure."
[15:14] The servants finished wrapping their master's hand and then they would walk away, disappearing into the crowd of the square.. Going somewhere else.

And the figure of the necromancer itself, would close and open his hand a few times, while listening to the woman speak. In the end, he just tilted his head to the side.

"First of all, the wound is of a delicate origin and I doubt that you will be able to treat it.

Truly." He would promptly respond, while hiding his hand away into his pocket, pausing for a few seconds, "Secondly.. You little Mrs strange one, comes here to me already asking for something and you don't even introduce yourself to me?

What a thing..

Apparently the current generation does not recognize what is 'proper manners'." He would say in a harsh way. A sigh would escape the man as he shook his head, slowly from side to side.
(Nidaz)
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[15:18] Niffty suddenly hands over an aple to Annete, mid whatever she's saying or doing.
(Niffty)
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[15:18] Alexander sits and listens silently for the time being.
(Alexander Vol Hellstrom)
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[15:19] Annete clears her throat.

"I see. My apologies, then - on both accounts..." She lowers her head - though only for a moment.

"But-..." she trails off only to take the apple from Niffty amidst the conversation(alongside a thankful nod to the Razuka) before her attention promptly returns to Nidaz.

"Ahem. Yes. Annete Alricht, retainer to Viscountess Avelin Alricht. For the sake of posterity." She is nothing if not polite, after all - as long as such is reciprocated.
(Annete Alricht)
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[15:27] The man would frown when he saw that the stranger would receive an apple and he would not! Rude.

Regardless, he would lift his cap for a moment, in a sign of greeting, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Annete Alricht.

Also as a side note.. It is sooo unfortunate that I have not yet been able to meet other figures from the Court..

Truly.

But well, I have so much to do in Achyon, rarely going out there in the world.. Even though I literally can just step to the side and appear in the middle of your castle." He comments quickly, shrugging, "Regardless.. Well now, which one of my arts?

Fleshcrafting and its immense capabilities to distort everything or Riftmancy and the 'cracks' to other worlds.

Which one do you want?

But I think I already know what it is! This being the first, isn't it?" He would say, his gaze falling on the young woman again, where a nod was given.

He was recognized for many things! But mostly the art that he practiced for years, so that was probably it. But it was good to ask to be sure, since he was a practitioner of numerous infamous arts..
(Nidaz)
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[15:31] "Ah-..." A faint smile once again adorns her features at that. "Whenever you have time, I am sure you would be quite pleasantly received. Do come to visit, sometime-... especially since you have the ability to do so at anytime." Even though her invitiation may not be worth much.

"I did mention the one you are most renowned for, did I not?.. Frankly, I was not aware you practice Riftmancy, as well." Though the ways he speaks of the art does not seem to surprise her at all. Considering she already knows two other practicioners of such...

"It would be the former, yes. I wish to understand it - how it is executed, more precisely." It would be best to be direct with what she seeks... even if there is a price to be paid in exchange for such knowledge.
(Annete Alricht)
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[15:34] "That is true, so... Let's talk.

In my lab." He would say as he waved for her to follow him.

Slowly the figure of the Councilman would start to rise in the air, his feet would come off the ground and then he would start to fly! Soon he went towards the sewers entrace, stopping right at the gates to wait for the woman.

"This way." He would say it again.
(Nidaz)
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[15:35] Claudette followed them both in silence!
(Claudette)
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[15:36] Annete silently abides, and follows suit. "Your lab, hm?.. Very well."

A rather warm reception, though she had little expectations coming into this. With nothing to complain about, she walks behind the Councilman silently, occasionally looking around - it is, after all, her first time in this area of the city.
(Annete Alricht)
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[15:47] So into the depths they went! Through corridors in the sewers, until reaching a huge structure in the underground, which held the Fleshcrafters' banners.

"Almost there." He commented as he went on and entered that place, probably being followed by them.

From this point on, the sight of the undead was frequent. Humanoid creatures, some skeletal, others more normal than the others, but some already totally deformed and abnormal, even carrying part of animal bodies in place of their limbs. But something that every single one of them did, was to carry out tasks, such as cleaning and carrying resources around the place..

Doing the their job, for their master..

And the group would go through that, deeper and deeper..

Into the undergroud.

Until finally they went through huge doors and arrived at the laboratory! This was huge room full of boxes full of resources and other things. On the ceiling were hooks that had bodies hanging from them, some bodies that perhaps the woman would recognize, these being from Trife, Alkhea and also of Hunter.. Now in the center of the room, there was a huge Vat, containing a colossal creature that held the appearance of a humanoid rat, with a rocky skin.

An abomination.

And there was the lab of the necromancer, in the greatest possible simplicity.

"Sit down and now.. Tell me, young Annete, who are you exactly, why do you want to learn my art, for what purposes!

What endeavors..

And how do you intend to retribute me for such knowledge? As this is not for free, of course." He would speak in a calm but serious tone. Steps were taken to the side and the man would then move to his desk, sitting down in his chair.

His silverish gaze would fall upon the Retainer, waiting for an answer, before he could provide the knowledge for her.
(Nidaz)
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[15:51] Silent as a quiet spirit, the woman followed them both to the Vanreth's lair, a place rumored to be the birthplace of many. It is with a solemn expression drawn across her face that she watched the on-going interaction between the two but her hazels were mostly drawn to the Alricht, a woman who clearly knew what she wanted.

But would Father oblige?
And if so, what would be the price?

The daughter freely moved around the laboratory, helping the many creatures who lurked here in their tasks. After all, she was also… one of the man's creations.
(Claudette)
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[15:59] The laboratory is given a proper appraising look. The so-called resources are all very much observed with... only the tiniest bit of aversion to the sight of it. Though her interest may lie with the dead, she has not been accustomed to the sight of them just yet - especially in such gruesome forms.

The undead servants themselves, while of great curiousity to Annete, get hardly any attention. They are just that - servants. While it has certainly interested her how they came to be and how they function, there is one tiny detail that draws her back.

They are hardly what they used to be in life.

The bodies seem to barely be recognized. Only Alkhea gets a lingering glance - and then, only for mere moments. There is little emotion written on the retainer's face at the sight of it.

Claudette, too, gets a glance - a most curious one, indeed. A synthetic, isn't she?..

With the invitation to take a seat, she does just so. "Who am I, why do I want it, and for what purposes... hm." Good questions, all.

"First and foremost... I have already introduced myself, I suppose. I am not certain how much more I can add to it - I am but a retainer to the Viscountess, aspiring to one day become a vampire in my own right." There is little secret in that.

"But... whilst I seek immortality for myself in such a manner, it is not enough."

"I wish to bring the dead back to life-... though, as I understand, your art does not do it exactly in the form I wish to achieve that. I need the people be brought back, not their bodies."

She tilts her head to the side as that declaration is made. "To that end, I'm not certain how much of your art I actually want to learn. What I do want is to understand it, to know how it works."

"As for the payment..."

She shrugs. "I am not certain what payment youwill find adequate. What is it you wish for? A favour to call in at some point? Money?.."

"Or, perhaps, a taste of a vampire's blood?"
(Annete Alricht)
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[16:12] Few really find the view as pure as that of the dead pleasent, yet there they were in the middle of it all, to talk, to learn from each other!

"This is what I wanted to know! The introduction of how you are classified, your name, where you come from and everything else had already been said, but I wanted to know the motivations that would make you come from your home to here, just to learn.

Yes, yes.

Many seek my art, many seek to unravel its mysteries and reach new milestones through it! But little are really worth of it.

Sadly." His would begin to echo across the room, as he pulled some documents out of one of his desk drawers, "Then you will want to learn MY art.

Fleshcrafting was Trik's creation in his delusions which led him to play with bodies, manipulate magic circuits and then reach what we have today and use it to create the most hidden distorted ideas from our minds.

However, at not a single moment did I say thatI was not a Necromancy practitioner, quite the contrary, these bodies that you see hanging in hooks, are the resources that I am using to reach the pinnacle of my arts, the ability to pull the souls from the Stars.

And not of only bodies.. Ugh.." He would continue to speak, in a clear demonstration of their knowledge in order to show the woman what she could achieve.

As if it was expected of someone like him.

"So if you want to learn Necromancy to bring people back to life, you will first need to learn how to manipulate their bodies, their magic circuits!

For while Fleshcrafting is the Body, Necromancy is the Mind. A very simple way to understand both arts.

One deals with the raw resource that is the bodies, the Flesh, the other with the refined resource that is the Souls, the White Sphere." He would add even more to what was said earlier.

Finally, the he wanted as retribuition!

"You see.. I am an extremely objectiveperson, I see the usefulness to have people around! To.. Add them to my collection." His eyes would stray towards some undead that wandered in the middle of the room, while such words were spoken.

Perhaps through that she would understand what he wanted as payment.. Maybe.
(Nidaz)
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[16:24] Nidaz is listened to quite intently - and rather slowly does the sight begin to... settle in. She has to be comfortable if she wants to learn, after all.

And that she does. Already learning a very important differentiation - that of the Body, and that of the Mind.

"I see..." There is a nod to what has been said - and a follow-up question. "The White Sphere? Where does this term come from?.."

As for the payment?..

"Ah." She tilts her head to the side, humming ever so quietly. It is rather quickly understood what exactly the aging Councilman wants. There is the faintest of smiles to this - not that she enjoys killing... but rather the thought that in this very laboratory death may one day be fully reversed fills her with happiness.

It is what she has sought for so long, after all.

"That can be arranged. I shall do my best to bring anything here..." She nods slightly. "We are rather harsh on those who tread upon the kingdom's laws. So, the supply might be quite steady... hopefully so, at the very least."

"I will see what I can do, in return for the knowledge. It would be the least I can do to - to provide payment, to provide subjects from which to learn, and to prove myself worthy."

She is nothing if not confident about this. Whilst it may have been the one thing she strived for in her life, there are... even more pushing factors now.
(Annete Alricht)
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[16:34] She called it the shift.

His behavior, his eyes, the way he spoke. It always seemed to change when Father stepped in their laboratory. No, he rarely seemed as lively on the surface. As if he wasn't interested or rather bored of what the outside world had to offer. Yes, that's how she knew her father. Only down below, in the void he really seemed to be at his place. It is where he thrived the most… or so she thought.

Out of all the secrets hidden down here, none of them seemed as interesting as the one they called Nidaz Vanreth. Methods she could learn. Puzzles she could solve. Procedures she could follow-
But her maker, would she ever understand him?

Her porcelain hands were hard at work but make no mistake, his words, they nestled around her ear, thrumming beneath her deadly cold skin. That's all that mattered for the silent observer.
(Claudette)
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[16:35] She understood it easily, perfect. That way he could secure more specimens to continue his research towards what he wanted to achieve!

But that was probably not all that is wanted.. Still for now, was more than enough.

Finally finishing organizing the paperwork he had previously taken out of the drawers, he would go to the young woman and drop a small, blank notebook, in addition to a pen.. Into her table.

Material for her to take notes, obviously.

Having done that, he would return to his place, but instead of sitting down he would go to the blackboard behind him, take a chalk and begin to draw some things, "The term White Sphere, which was gave by myself to the soul during my research on how to extract one from a body, is derived the fact of two things!

Listen..

First, souls are usually white, but they can vary in color, largely because of the mana to which the soul belongs. And two, for the simple fact of what protects it! An extremelypowerful barrier, in which nothing can cross it, but.. There are few things that really can..

Damage it..

One of the most obvious is the extremely powerful Occult magic variant, Death Magic. You must have heard of this disgusting magic by now.." He would roll his eyes at the mention of Occult.

And the drawing in the board that he made, it was about the human body and in the center a Sphere, which was interconnected to several filaments, lines that crossed the whole body.

A simple way of seeing it..

Now, if there was a barrier around the soul, how Necromancy is able to manipulate it? There must be a trick, obviously.

That would be explained soon.

"But before I get into more details about Necromancy, let's focus on the beginning! So tell me, what is your knowledge about Magic Circuits and obviously my art..

Fleshcrafting.

What did you hear about or study before you came here, that is." He would promptly question, in a way of understanding the size of her knowledge, for him to have a main focus on his explanations.
(Nidaz)
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[16:51] The offered pen and notebook are taken - with clear surprise on her face. It is, however, met with an appreciative nod and rather quickly does she begin to actually take notes! Eyes dart between the parchment in which she writes, the blackboard and Nidaz himself. She catches on quickly.

"A barrier, yes... I've heard of that." She tilts her head to the side. "As I have heard of Death Magic... and have seen the Occult in its lesser manifestations." Many, many times.

The trick is, indeed, pondered upon. What could get through the barrier? Or is it meant to be broken?.. Many questions arise, but for now she listens - and answers the questions posed at her.

"The circuits are the patterns that run through our body. So to say, the 'muscles' that allow us to use magic." She briefly pauses.

"They can be damaged, they can be healed... and without them, we wouldn't be able to do what we are trying toachieve here." A nod is given in conclusion to that.

"As for fleshcrafting-... I know hardly anything at all. I've only seen your... results." For that one needs only to look around the laboratory itself.

"I have no knowledge of the art, and it is why I decided to seek you out, in the first place. Though... now I see that I have much, much more to learn that just that." A faint smile visits her features once more at that thought.
(Annete Alricht)
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[17:05] Claudette stared off blankly into the distance for a moment still, the words penetrating the haze of her mind not quite yet. Words, she heard many of them a day but for first time since she opened her eyes to this world, she saw opportunity. An opportunity to not merely learn but truthfully assist Father with his dream.

To conquer both body and soul.

It slipped from her hands, the book she held dearly close to her chest. It fell heavily to the ground causing a loud 'thud' to echo through the room which in turn, caused the many abominations that swarmed the place to momentarily turn in Claudette's direction. She was usually not clumsy. In fact, out of all of Nidaz's creation, she was perhaps the least susceptible to drop an object.. . Was this an error? A dysfunction in this true wonder of technology?

"Pardon me." The Synthetic muttered as she dropped down to her knees to clean the mess she caused. As mundane and casual this accident seemed to be, there was one in this room who could tell that something blossomed within his daughter's heart. An idea?





(Claudette)
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[17:09] She had a basic concept of what is magic circuits, knowing some of the things that were possible or not.

It was a start.

Now.. Her knowledge of Fleshcrafting was basically nonexistent. They would have to review some things along the way.

Now, it was time to continue the class, or start it to be more precise, "Exactly that, magic circuits are innumerable filaments that run through the bodies of living beings! In some they are more active than in others, such as of Animals and Humans Magi, one of them being able to use such circuits to manipulate mana in the form of magic and the other not!

Truly amazing.

However, something that is also connected to the magic circuits, are the bodily functions! Functions of organs, muscles, blood, everything.

The magic circuits are interconnected to this in such a unique way, that we would not be what we are without them." He would explain, in the end pausing his speech for a moment, as he moved to abox and took from inside rabbit's body, which was held firmly in his hands, "The reason we need to understand what magic circuits are all about, is the fact of what I just talked about! Because that they are so interconnected with our bodies.

Through this we can easily conclude one thing, the key to Fleshcrafting and subsequently Necromancy, is through the control over the magic circuits.

If you.. Have control over them and you will have control over the bodies of living beings, to manipulate them at your will." He would finish his speech, stopping to see if she followed what was said.

Meanwhile, the man's gaze would fall on the figure of his daughter, who seemed to be interested in the subject, as she wandered around the laboratory.

Good.

This is, before she drops a book on the floor, out of nowhere, "Uh.. It's not a problem, just be more careful." He would say as he raised his eyebrow, confused by what just happened.

He clearly didn't expect this from a Synth.

That was.. Odd.

He would only gesture at the end to his servants, commanding them to return to their tasks.. As all of them also had to stopped to see what happened.

As expected.
(Nidaz)
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[17:18] Little knowledge she may have coming into this, she is certainly an incredibly invested student. Hailing from Osrona and having such knowledge be absolutely forbidden, it is unfortunately what she has to work with. But thankfully the Councilman has the patience to explain...

This has certainly grown into something unexpected. What she did expect was a discussion on how it worked, but not at all a full-blown lesson. But it is certainly appreciated.

As Nidaz explains away - and even demonstrates, notes are taken extremely quickly. Emerald green hues remain focused upon the parchment of the notebook as she intensely continues to write, keeping up with the explanations.

But at the mention of control, a very obvious question arises...

"If that is what's necessary, then... how does one do it, exactly?" She has heard of people absorbing mana of their foes, she has observed other people's circuits and treated them to the best of her ability, but not once has she manipulated them.

Rather abruptly is her attention stolen by the synthetic dropping the book - even Annete, for all her lack of knowledge surrounding these creations, seems rather surprised by this momentary display of... imperfection? Humanity?

It all seems very strange to her, but she does not speak up or cast judgement.
(Annete Alricht)
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[17:32] It didn't take long for the answer to be provided.

"As soon as living organisms, mainly humans and animals, die, their souls leave their bodies and go to the stars! In that the source of mana that fed the circuits originally no longer exists and the circuits are drained of it..

Becoming empty over time.

With this an opportunity is presented for those who wish to take control of the body! How you ask? Simple.. Making your mana flow to the magical circuits of a body and then taking control of them for you!" He would explain as he approached Annete's table, slowly positioning the body of the Rabbit he held on his hand, over the table.

Until now, he was still holding it.

"Having control of the circuits, we can carry out the simplest function of Fleshcrafting, the creation of Puppets! Undead like.. These." He would then point in the direction of the undead around, while concluding his speech, "But this art also for those who advance further in their studies, makes one more thing possible!

The Manipulation of Biological matter! Thing such as meat and flesh, bones and organs and everything else.

At that point, it depends from person to person what uses they will make of it! Some people choose to just modify their undead in extreme ways, to create things like the creature inside the Vat over there.

My lovely Biff.

Others like me, go a little further and can do.. This.." As he finished his speech, his hand was raised and his finger snapped.

Mana flowed from his body and went to the bodies of his undead servants, something that made the flesh of these beings fall from their bodies as if it were a piece of clothing and began to float towards the necromancer! The flesh would stick around the figure of the man, molding around him in living armor.

In the end, he was covered with a thick protective layer of flesh, which emanated energy from the Void.

The Void Flesh.
(Nidaz)
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[17:50] The rabbit is observed - with just the tiniest bit of confusion. After all, nothing has been done with it just yet whilst the man simply holds the body of the animal... for now, though, the emerald greens patiently observe.

"I see..."

Tap-tap against the parchment. There is a pause from the constant note-taking.

These words are weighed, considered... endless possibilities of demonstrating such an art. Manipulation of biological matter is-... not necessarily what interests her. Though the forms in which the dead may be brought back to life does.

"Creation of puppets... I see." A tilt of her head comes - that armor formed of the flesh of the dead, reinforced with the power of the Void is observed with a slight... frown. She rolls her shoulders a little at the display. Though... a question is asked.

"That is the simplest function, then..." She nods several times over as she hums. "And further manipulation of the flesh can lead to something like... this. Hm."

"And what of necromancy proper? Bringing back the souls of the dead?.."

Of course, Nidaz himself hasn't quite reached the answer fully yet. But she couldn't help but probe for the knowledge in this regard... to try and get the answer she has sought for so, so long.

At least the tiniest bit would make her happy.
(Annete Alricht)
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[18:06] Nidaz's knowledge was extremely varied, dating from several moments lived in his life, countless things seen, observed, cataloged in his mind.

Fleshcrafting was probably the simplest within them at the time he once learned it, but through countless research, he ended up reaching great heights with the way in which he could manipulate that art, distorting it to his vision.

What Trik created was one thing, but what Nidaz transformed from that was another.

It was better.

"Exactly, the simplest of the skills of this art! But it is all just that, puppets controlled by a person's mana! Empty beings, devoid of mind, soul.

Such undead creatures.. Are connected to a Fleshcrafter, in an extremely unique way, as we can even feel what our servants feel.

Amazing, right?

That's why I call this art the Body, where Necromancy complements it, giving the soul to a being, giving a Mind to the Body.

Giving life to the dead." He would readily say, explaining in a relatively simple way, "And yes, Necromancy is about the manipulation of the soul! But in an indirect way, using mana to trap the soul in bodies, in the magical circuits.

And therein lies our trick, we use mana to manipulate the soul, as if it were an extension of our body! But well, it is.

Truly.

For after death the soul loosens itself and cannot come back! Unless it is forced, through a necromancer who imprisons the soul to the body, using his own mana for this." He would continue his explanation, until in the end he nodded firmly.

On the contrary, Nidaz's studies in the field of necromancy had already advanced a lot, but these were limited to only non-magi, something that led to failure consecutively.

Maybe it's even the reason for the undead wandering around, without a master to control them.. Such as the skeletons..

Maybe if he manipulated amagi’s body it would be different? This was his plan, his idea of ​​how to use those bodies, which were attached to hooks.

Something that he would do soon enough.
(Nidaz)
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[18:18] If Father could accomplish this much with the manipulation- then with the soul, what would he be able to do? What wonders he would be able to create?

Ultimately this would be for him to answer but her mind was set. I will do it, she told herself, I will crack the secrets of the soul. Because there was nothing more, nothing else to her life than fulfilling her maker's wishes. He, who with Mother created her piece after piece, wire after wire. What better present could she offer him?

Perhaps they had both noticed it by now. Those usually cold hues, now locked on them, bore the faintest of sparkle in the corner of her hazel. She did not speak a word and yet she completely betrayed herself. Claudette was no longer the discreet observant she was moments ago but now an active participant… as the topic discussed deep underground had awaken more than a mere interest within the Synthetic.
(Claudette)
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[18:26] "... Feel what they feel?" She blinks slowly. An interesting prospect, most certainly. "Amazing indeed."

"Mm..."

Annete nods lightly. At this point, the note-taking has ended for certain. Hands are interlocked as the emerald greens gaze upon Nidaz as he explains away his theories - as he shares his advancement in the study of the art that she has coveted for so long...

"Manipulation of the soul... imprisoning the soul inside the body. Hm." She tilts her head to the side.

"I'm not certain I understand. Let me run this through..."

She shifts a little in her seat and clears her throat. "When we reach out to the circuits of the dead body, we use our mana to keep the soul within?.. This would imply that this has to be done right after the fact of death, wouldn't it?"

"Or am I misunderstanding this?"

It is important to clarify, after all - every tiny detail in such an endeavor matters. And she would certainly not allow this to escape her.

Soon enough there may be more bodies to experiment with. Provided Annete brings something, of course...

Hopefully some of those recently piled up corpses at Asphodel have preserved well enough.
(Annete Alricht)
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[18:41] Interesting questions arose, which should be more than easy to answer at that moment, within Nidaz's knowledge.

"Not that it is something that can only be done after a person's recent death, no.. But the more recent it is, the easier it will be to 'revive' the individual we are targeting!

Yes, yes.

But something learned during my researchs, is that as soon as we fill the circuits with our mana, the soul is attracted back to the body! Thinking that it is still alive, but the problem is that the soul will just remain around, unable to enter..

Sadly..

In this, the necromancer has to force it to return to the body, using its mana." He would answer the question, adding even more knowledge!

As expected.

Now going back to the subject of Fleshcrafting, there was something the Councilman had previously prepared, but it hadn't been used! Something on Annete's table, more precisely.

"Back to the subject of body manipulation! I have a very simple task for you, my dear, I want you to control the body of this rabbit in front of you!

Good, right? Some practice!

How you ask? Make your mana flow to the circuits, then make the animal's body act at your will! As this is about animals, it is something easier to do, unlike humans.

That you will learn in another time..

So this here, is a good start." He would say as he got up and approached the woman's table, "But an addendum, little quantities of mana flowing and nothing will happen.. Too much mana and it will be all over!

In a beautiful explosion.

Control is the key to success, concentration is necessary and practice several times too! Remember this..

Now, can you do that?" There was the task for her, an easy one, one to start her studies.

That would help her to have a better understanding of circuit manipulation, how to control them! Before focusing on something complex like the soul.

For that she should be able to do at the moment.

While waiting for a reaction, he would gesture to his daughter, for her to approach, "Come, watch this closely." He would say, while a brief smile showed on his features.
(Nidaz)
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[18:54] Claudette promptly nodded to her father, moving closer to the scene that was about to unfold before her eyes. In this quest to help her father, she would need to learn more about the manipulation of flesh after all. And… this brief smile… it caused Claudette to smile as well. It would seem the Synthetic was not just an amalgamation of complex technology, no, there was much more to that.

"Yes father."

Standing by his side, her hazels locked onto the rabbit. Each of his words, they nestled around her ear. She would not miss any. No, she would not miss one. This entretien with Mrs Alright would also be a lesson for the still very young Vanreth. Her hands behind her back, she hummed cheerfully. Yes, the daughter felt the faintest glimpses of happiness in this laboratory.
(Claudette)
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[19:20] All of those ideas in regards to necromancy are put into the notebook, taken proper care of in her mind - shelved for future use. She understands fully well that such art lies beyond her current capabilities.

And naturally Nidaz understands that, as well.

"Practice... is always good." A faint smile visits her face. It is just what he wanted her to do, after all... and yet, she does it out of her own volition, rather than somebody's wishes.

"So it is about a balance, then." With that understanding - and the sheer hope that the beautiful explosion wouldn't occur as she wouldn't want to ruin her favourite clothes(and also the gore on herself would not be particularly welcome either), she begins to focus.

Channeling mana into something is not particularly new to her. After all, she has had to tap into other people's circuits before-... even if not for such a purpose. Experience is still experience.

"Let's see if I can." With that, it begins - she reaches out with her hands for the rabbit's body, though not quite touching it, as she begins to tap into the dead animal's circuitry with her own mana.

With that opening made, it begins to be poured in - slowly, bit by bit, gradually...

Just enough to make the creature twitch - make its eyes move and react to its environment, and even flick its own ears...

But that seems to be the extent of it for the moment. "Hrmph." Clearly unsatisfied with her own performance in this first practice, it would seem... ever striving to excel. Or perhaps just a little too rushed in her pursuit of knowledge.

"Not too little, not too much. It's always so hard to find just the right amount, isn't it..." She is an alchemist - she would know. A tut occurs.

"Did your first attempts go any better?"
(Annete Alricht)
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[19:37] Notes were taken and it was time to practice! First, she would begin to make her mana flow to the creature's body, little by little, in a controlled manner.

Something that would receive a nod from Nidaz, who was content so far.

He was already too used to his other students blowing up the bodies of their animals of practice, something that was totally normal, so this was change of pace..

The procedure progressed and then the first signs of 'life' began to show, with small spasms and other reactions.. So far, so good.. However, it remained only in that and the creature did not rise, the procedure was incomplete.

Well, still it was a good result for a first try, anyway.

"Mm, it's a shame. Apparently there was not enough mana flowing through the body for the animation process to work." He would say, while reaching out and taking the body of the inanimate rabbit, with his right hand.

Mana would flow from the hands of the necromancer and then envelop the rabbit's body, slowly filling it with energy and giving life to the creature without further effort. The animal would rise and then remain in the necromancer's hand, looking around after being animated.

A little demonstration.

"Mm, ah.. It ended this way.." He would say, while making even more mana flow from his body, going to the rabbit.

Slowly the mana would invade even more the magic circuits of such creature, subsequently overloading them! Something that made only one thing happen, the rabbit would swell, increasing in size like a balloon, until it did one thing..

Pop.

It bursted, but instead of organs, flesh and blood flying everywhere, they were contained in a sphere that swirled above Nidaz's hand, under his total control.

Another demonstration of such powers.

"It ended this way, but with everything flying sideways.. Of course." He would add with a shrug, before simply reassembling the rabbit, but in a distorted and monstrous shape, it didn't even look like a rabbit anymore.

It was a abomination.

A small one.

"Anyway, I will ask that starting from today and on, that you start practicing on more animals such as this one, when you have a free moment that is..

This will come in handy for the next classes!

Other than that, we are done for today, because we covered a good part of what was necessary to talk. Any doubts before we go back to the square?" He would ask at the end, while dropping the small abomination over the table of the Ghoul.

A gift, probably.

A reminder of her first attempt..
(Nidaz)
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[19:48] "... yes, I would rather not have blown it up-..." She explains away before that demonstration of the man's first attempt is shown. The loud pop sound makes her turn away, if only for a moment in which she realizes that guts and blood isn't flying in every single direction upon the rabbit's implosion.

Even still... it is an unpleasant idea to think of. But to observe that mastery of flesh and blood certainly fascinates Annete. Even though it is not quite what she wants...

It could do, for now. Though that sight of the newly-made abomination does make her frown. It seems so... unelegant, unrefined, horrid. And yet it is accepted nevertheless.

A good reminder for what happened today, and something to reflect upon as she devises her own ways to improve the craft, or, perhaps, to even have her own take on it all, utilizing her magics.

But that will have to be done later. For now... she gets up slowly, the abomination of a rabbit still in hands. "Thank you, mister Vanreth."

A hand is extended - for a handshake. "This was... far more than I expected initially. I most sincerely appreciate this opportunity to learn from you..."

She tilts her head to the side. "Perhaps you may make my goal attainable within a single life time."
(Annete Alricht)
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[19:53] Like a curious little creature, Claudette stood behind her father, a question hanging from her lips. Would she make it on the first try? The beautiful explosion, would it be avoided?

Her eyes riveted on the little rabbit's body, Claudette waited patiently for the phenomenon to occur. She didn't try to hide, not if the risks were only a couple stains. Claudette was intrigued. This blonde-haired woman who seemed shallow at first glance by the looks of her attire had a certain depth to her. To come down here and seek for father's help, yes, she could come to the conclusion that…

She was driven. Perhaps it took a little more time to understand that than it should have but the subtler aspects of human interaction were still quite foreign for the Synthetic. But her father had an eye for that. To sort the good and the bad of all the bunch who sought this knowledge. Was it because he was born human and not her?

Either way, the faintest of smiles betrayed her usually stone cold features. This human was promising. Balance was not reached in this session but even the inexperienced Claudette could tell that it would only be a matter of time until mastery would be reached. Silent as a mouse, she watched the woman extend her hand for a handshake. Her reasons were trivial but she found them to be pleasant.

But even in the end, she would not address to them. No, as they both shared their goodbyes, the daughter turned to go back to her occupations. Keep their working space clean and tidy.
(Claudette)
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[20:02] Normally, no one expected much from Nidaz. What was he on the outside? An old man, a war veteran! But in the inside, he was someone who continued to work, always looking to innovate, always looking to achieve more and more.

The work was never done and he was always working.

In the end the handshake was accepted and he added a few words, "That was just a brief start, as I move forward in my own research, it will be possible to add even more to the knowledge of my apprentices.

You included.

Sooo.. I hope to be counting on your presence in Achyon, in the days following this one, so that we can continue our classes. You can even participate in the creation of Vengeance, would be something great." As he spoke the last part, his gaze strayed to the creature at the Vat, which was an abomination that he had been working on for some time.

And indeed, the man's knowledge surpassed what many have achieved in just one life. And was that enough? Of course not.

He wanted more, to seek more.

Always.

And for that, he needed to complete his necromancy research, to achieve true eternal life.

"Well then, let's go back to the square, will we? Come with us, Claude my dear.

This way you two.." He would say, waving to the side, as the air beside him broke in half and a Rift opened up, opening a path to the square.
(Nidaz)
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[20:03] Claudette asks, "May I stay father?"
[20:03] Claudette says, "I still have much work to do..."
[20:03] Annete Alricht says, "Hm..."
[20:03] Nidaz says, "Mmm.."
[20:03] Nidaz exclaims, "Very well!"
[20:03] Nidaz says, "Take care then my dear."
[20:03] Claudette bows her head.
(Claudette)