Blood 003

[15:21] Ethric gives a decisive nod, leading on calmly.

Haarper MAY still have a slight glow- But, fortunately, the potion's effects would probably be swiftly fading. He makes his way across the courtyard, carefully avoiding rat-topia in it's glory. It's a swift shuffle around!

"Miss Falstaff? A moment of your time?" His voice is not loud, but it is echoed distinctively.
(Ethric Athelier)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[15:24] Guinevere occupied a moment of her time outside by catching the early morning light. Holding a hand mirror, she examines her overall appearance when called out. "Hm!" Perking up her head, she turns to the source of the voice, free hand rising up to wave. "Hi-hi, Professor Athelier. What is it?"

The Falstaff makes way over to him, hand mirror closing and taking refuge in her purse.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[15:25] Poking his head out from behind the professor, the youth decided it best not to remain entirely silent. "I-I was hoping. You could help with use of your magic." A small pieces spoken, but enough to at least ease the tension from talking with a stranger.
(Haarper)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[15:25] Kale says, "Alchemy. I don't know much about po-- Ohhh, that one. "
[15:25] Guinevere Falstaff asks, "Oh... my magic?"
[15:25] Guinevere Falstaff exclaims, "Wha- Are you okay!!"
[15:28] He reaches into a small pouch within, pulling the cord open.

"Here is a simple way that you can assist another individual's livelihood." A small, clear gemstone is removed, the size to barely be visible between thumb and forefinger.

"If you have the ability to focus, I need you to take this white sapphire, and render at least six shards so small they are barely visible. It is an important undertaking, and I will explain the necessity and import as we go. The slivers must be perfectly round- No points, on a scale you may be unused to working with."

"Do you think you can do this, Miss Falstaff?" He stands straight, proffering the gemstone that already seems smaller than most pebbles in the palm of his hand.
(Ethric Athelier)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[15:37] Guinevere peers into the pouch. "Oh that's so pretty!" She comments first until an explanation rolls in. "O...Oh."

Not quite practical usage but specific. Concentrated, focused. She doesn't focus too well, always does it drift one way or another.

But no one has never needed her. Her chest rises, swelling almost before she nods. "Yeah! I can try! Can we go somewhere quiet?"

Perfectly round, barely visibly. It'll truly challenge the girl. In truth, he should've made way to the local Teraphim or someone far more proficient with their abilities.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[15:39] A small smile plays at the dour-seeming man's lips.

He makes a small gesture to follow. "Of course. I was about to suggest it." Shoulders roll, and he pivots neatly on his heels, coming to orient himself back towards the main building.

"Allow me to explain. Your work is shortly to go inside Mister Haarper here... Do you have your goggles, or some other assistive filters?" He murmurs, as he makes to head back inside!

He pauses, however, to not to Ty'raj. "Not quite done yet. Have not forgotten."

Ethric makes to continue on, if the message was received!
(Ethric Athelier)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[15:43] Guinevere follows. All is well until her heart falls through a little pit and crashes downward. She's convinced it stopped for a pulse or five.

"Wh...What?"

One could say she's pale, like she saw a ghost. "Ah- Ahaha! Y-Yeah I did pick some up." They're in her school bag. To think Guinevere will start so soon.

A petite hand falls at the Professor's arm. The grip a bit tighter than she anticipated. "..You'll guide me through it, right?"

If flung to the deep end, she could drown.
(Guinevere Falstaff)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[16:01] They DEFINITELY reach the very real medical bay, unless there's a medical bay that hasn't been found yet. That would be terribly embarrassing, but for the purposes of narrative cohesion, the team makes their way into a nice, sterile office!

Ethric exhales warmly, heading over to a table, and finding a proper bed for Haarper to lie down on, a hand pats on the white linens. "Up and onto here, Mister Haarper."

"Miss Falstaff, you are going to be making beacons out of the smallest gemstone slivers you may have worked with." A patient, slow tone. "Find a counter, take your time, meditate."

"As I had said, your work will be going into Mister Haarper's body to help augment and direct his circuit's flow. Take deep breaths, and center yourself. Once you have made them small and harmless enough, I am going to need you to channel your energy into them in order to properly imbue them as beacons, over here- Do not fear. I will handle this part..."

A small piece of paper is slid onto a nearby counter, as he begins to draft a small circle. "Do not worry. You'll be channeling through this resonance; It should do most of the work, but thank you. Your aid here is somewhat essential."

"I will be over in just a moment to assist. Make yourself comfortable, so you can hold still for an extended period of time as you work."

"Mister Haarper, would you like to explain the situation in your own words? As you are both medical students, it will likely assist you in in comprehension. I can correct details."
(Ethric Athelier)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[16:14] Settling up top of the counter or table or bed... Haarper continued in preparing his mind for the procedure about to be. As Ethric explained Falstaff's portion to this, he eventually spoke up when called upon.

"W-well... After a brief examination. It's been judged that my mana circuits at one point in my life were uh... Mistreated. By my own accord, of course. An accident regardless though. One that apparently continues to devolve as I grow."

Remembering the words Ethric used to him earlier. "Like a broken bone... Poorly put back together. My circuits are growing disorganized. Which is applying a ton of pressure to my body. Muscles, etc." Of course, he lacked the proper terminology and finesse our professor had when describing the details to what ailed Haarper.

But hopefully what was spoken could be corrected, but not enough to make haarper feel as though he wasn't somehow paying attention to his own internal disfigurement. "From what the professor explained to me? Your crystals will act as a medium to redirect the growth of my mana circuits... It'll probably take a couple years to fully assimilate, but better than growing up all messed up; forever. Right?" Forcing a smile as he finished, doing his best to make light of the situation.

After-all, even he could come to understand the pressure of being relied on.
(Haarper)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[16:30] When arriving somewhere sterile, she removes her purse and school bag. For safety purposes, Guinevere finds somewhere to clean the general outdoor contact from her hands.

Googles take to her face but they rest at her forehead for the time being. She's careful to turn away to do such before moving her bang back in place.

Turning back, she hears the explanation once more. Beacons from six small gemstones. "I'll try my best. I've never worked on anything like this before."

Thankfully, his words offer an encouragement to this new process. It's more important than she initially thought. She'll be assisting in a long term issue.

If the pressure wasn't enough to make her cave then it was now. "...Right!" Guinevere wears a smile as she approaches the table. Emotion doesn't have much hold over her magic.

"Six shards. So small that they aren't even visible." She repeats for her own sake. Thin digits touch the white sapphire. "They look really pretty."

Concentrated mana gathers at her tips. Upon contact does it pitter and feather out. Moving along the surface much like a growing vein circuitry. Mana pulses at a steady, controlled rhythm, one matching her heart beat. So long as she keeps calm...

Falling silent, the girl leans closer to her work. Faint crack sounds ring out and the gemstone begins to chip bit by bit- It's a slow, meticulous process. Mana glows a bit brighter- Warmth gathers.

Chip. Chip. Chip. Chip. Chip. Chip...

So small and almost like glints of light caught on the table, when concluding did she exhale heavily. A bead of sweat falls down her forehead. Leaning closer, she starts to separate the main gemstone from the six little shards. Each contains a moderate amount of her mana.

Taxing, even if imbued in something so small. "How-" Huff... "-Is this?"
(Guinevere Falstaff)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[16:47] "... Excellent work, Miss Falstaff."

The white sapphire has a translucent sheen, like a particularly fluid diamond- It's almost a pity to take it apart, as small as it is. But when each chip is finished... They're like tiny, physical slivers of light in her hand.

It's almost awe inspiring how they can remain together at such a miniscule size.

"Do not worry. This is where it will begin to get slightly messy. If you begin to feel uncomfortable, you are absolutely welcome to excuse yourself, and take time. If you can endure and assist, that is also fine."

He flashes her a thumbs up, and points to a tray wheeled up next to Haarper's bedside! "Get them laid out on cloth there- White. It will already be hard to see them, but it should work perfectly."

As Ethric speaks, he slowly pulls on gloves- A faint acrid sizzle briefly rushing along them, and sputtering out. It leaves behind a harsh chemical scent lingering in the air...

Eyes shut for a moment! He pulls his bag up onto the table, and a small key is fished out a pocket.

Sliding it into the lock on a thinner metal case, it seems to contain a slim, elegant orichalcum wand with a slit at the bottom. A flick of Ethric's thumb, and a small, slender blade of blue light emerges.

Wow!

Sure would be a nasty thing to have stolen.

He turns it off, satisfied, as he reaches for a pair of quartz-capped tongs, setting it next to the arcane scalpel, taking up a more mundane one from the side, alongside forceps and hemostat from his main case.

Finally...

He picks up an empty vial. Biting into the cork with a canine, there's a strange slicing noise, and after two seconds, he wrenches to he pulls it off to find the thin, chartreuse fluid within. Wait. Wasn't the vial just empty?

He dips the tip of a needle within, and begins sucking it into the delicate glass. Carefully, he brings a glove to Haarper's neck.

The sensation briefly burns, with another acrid pop- Someone paying attention might realize it's a very light, flash of concentrated cleaning fluid harnessed through a finesse of poison magic.

Brows furrow. "Are you prepared, Mister Haarper?"
(Ethric Athelier)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[16:52] While watching the two prepared, all he could come to think about. Was how long it would take to see him back in full recovery. Admittedly, the suffering now didn't seem to bother him nearly as much anymore. Possibly thanks to the guidance of professor Ethric's rather humane way of pointing things out.

"I am, sir..."

With a deep breathe, hazel hues shifted over in direction of the Falstaff. "Don't get too nervous, heh... I trust you'll do great." Throwing a thump up in approval. His head naturally came to cant off to the side.

Space made for the professor to inject cleanly into his veins with.
(Haarper)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[16:56] Haarper says, "brb a moment."
[16:59] "Thank you, Professor!"

As of late, she's been starved for praise. A light flush takes her cheeks before she pulls her goggles over her eyes. Gloves shield her hands. At any point she can leave.

A lot occurs. Ethric gets out a bunch of tools and even an empty vial. Why is it empty? She watches, standing close but a fair distance to not bump into him or disturb his work.

"Just let me know...!" Yet another chance to tackle her fears. Inhaling lightly, she keeps her more shielded view on the sight. "What are those fluids, sir?"
(Guinevere Falstaff)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:02] A soft, resonant hum.

It's actually a vocalization of the professor, as the needle slides in. He locates the vein in one shot, and slitted eyes narrow.

It's a cold rush through Haarper's veins, and more than a little disorienting- His face feels a little flushed, but the numbness from the rest of his body starts up within seconds. Extremities fail to respond, and his entire body ceases to be a part of him, in sensation, save for his face.

It's probably a strange hyperawareness- Like he's just a severed head on the table. Fortunately for the dizzying, floaty sensation, his eyes can look down and see a little bit! Haarper is still there, and alive.

More clearly visible from Guinevere's perspective, is Ethric very carefully flipping Haarper onto his back, peeling his shirt off. "Most of the clusters with the most damage are the main thoroughfares along the spine, that connect his central circulation to his extremities. It looks to be a closed loop, from what I could see, keeping the power trapped inside him painfully."

"He had to wait until it ebbed out until the pain would subside, I presume."

Reaching through the case, he pulls out a flask, and upends it- A translucent, silvery, and pretty sparkly slime viscously oozing out! A gloved hand deftly starts running it over the young man's bare back, avoiding spots where another flash of bleach.

Hey! It was that gel made earlier in the classroom with Haarper! "This is a gel used to detect mana eminations. I want you to hold his hand, Miss Falstaff, and very carefully send a measured amount of mana into him."

"This will let me see the shifts as I work clearly, while his vitals are slowed. Anything I fed him would slowly come to a halt while under the paralytic."

"If you need to turn away, it is alright. Let me know if you need to stop channeling, however, as I will need to stop."

He take the more ordinary, steel scalpel, to slowly begin to make some initial cuts into Haarper!

If Haarper tries to speak, his vocal chords might be a little sad and sleepy, but he can find himself able to do so.
(Ethric Athelier)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:10] Haarper wasn't planning on speaking up, feeling the subtilities already occuring through phantom pain like motions.
(Haarper)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:03] Nerves are getting to her. So much so that she lets out a quiet melody. A series of hums string together to keep her calm throughout the process and keep her focus, oddly enough. Very easily can she get lost.

Haarper doesn't seem to be in any pain, even if he lies more... limp. Her shielded gaze meets the boy's spine. In short, there's a blockage and no flow. Much like a stopped river kept back from nasty gunk.

"The gems will be like beacons?" As said before but merely repeated for herself. "Like points to assist with the flow. Keep it going so it's not backed up?"

She steps closer, forcing herself to watch the initial incisions. As crimson spills and seeps out, she tenses. Features twist on an instant.

Quiet humming continues...

"I'm okay..." Moving to Haarper, she takes his hand, gloved but still rather dainty. It reminds herof comforting her Nan. "Are you okay, Haarper?" A steady stream of mana flows about from her to Haaper. It's not connecting. It's not connecting. Her thought process warps. Thinking of this as a mere exchange rather than fine tuning herself with him.

Alas...

It feels like she's connecting with him and that's bad. Another thin bead of sweat down her forehead...
(Guinevere Falstaff)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:08] Although he could still hear everything that's been going on, the drowsy state he felt himself to be in. Made most of it muffled, as if he were inches below the surface of water as they talked above it.

"Hrm…"

A subtle humming as knew, movement was impossible at the moment. Even if he wanted to. Maybe this was one of the reasons Ethric recommended the chance to be asleep the entire time. The fear of being trapped, like sleeping awake.

Even as his hand was taken into the girls, she was met with no resistance. With his face already turned in their duos direction. The youth simply stared at the girl for a moment. A slow nod followed by a weak smile.

"Fi-fine..."

Beyond that, he could only return to labored breathes in-between the strangeness that came from this entire act. Although he couldn't feel himself in the flesh.

Maybe it was just his mind playing tricks on him.
(Haarper)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:20] Ethric's hands work deftly.

With circuits lit up- And their unfortnant blank voids- Underneath the gel, the incisions fly smoothly. The older man's hands may be uncomfortably large, but he works quietly. Flesh is parted, then carefully pinched between the clips of metal to hold it in place.

However, what Haarper DOES feel is when that orichalcum-hafted scalpel of flickering light goes into him. It sends an unpleasant reverberation through his entire form, that the physical can't completely numb.

It is by no means divine magic- Incapable of piercing his spirit or soul by far, but it IS a concentrated blade of energy magic enhanced and aligned into a tool for damaging circuits directly, as it ignores flesh. The physical incisions are merely vectors for the gemstones-

This is what is cutting his magic free.

It's perhaps an idea he might be able to refine for combat, depending on his future.

The alchemist narrates quietly- "Over here. See where the gel isn't lighting up? It should look a bit more like tree roots, rather than the snarl you see here. When we snap this..."

Zip. It's like a swift shanking, than a delicate drag like a real scalpel. He picks up the quartz tongs, dragging them over. The gel is disturbed further around the wound, but the prickling, severed tendrils of light move towards the tool...

And, dipped into a rich, orange fluid, a hovering sliver held aloft by the medical potion being direcly manipulated through magic is guided into the incision.

It's a painstaking two hours, as all six slivers are guided to points near his shoulder blades, spine, and lower back. A slender needle, bearing red thread comes through in the aftermath of each- "See this?" He murmurs, quietly. "It's made from silk of Evermarch Butterflies. They pupate in groves with high magical content, and can be separated into incredibly fine threads that will naturally encourage healing, and be slowly absorbed by organic forms."

"You can find a few similar properties in Blackeye Spiders' silk, and, if you can bear refining it for four days, Bloodthorn shoots. I believe the latter has a variant in Esshar..."



Time passes.


Soon, however, while Haarper's back is littered with welts and stitches...

Ethric's finger taps it. A rush of water manifests, coalated from the air. It rushes over skin, dissolving the gel into no more than water as it goes.

He reaches for gauze! One hand easily hoists Haarper up, as he starts wrapping bandages. "Apologies. You will feel this when this wears off... Deeply. However, for now- Miss Falstaff. How strong are you? Do you think you can walk him back to his dormitory?"
(Ethric Athelier)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:26] Paca Elementa says, "A small tea room..."
[18:27] Hunter says, "Fancy."
[18:27] Paca Elementa says, "Let's leave the professor to do his work haha."
[18:31] Time had flown and maybe haarper had went along with it? From his perspective, the moment it all began barely felt a hand-stretch away from where it soon came to an end. Despite the comforting hand having been made to inject him with a flow of mana during his bodies inactivity.

There wasn't anything that could prepare him for the surgical dissection. In that instance, he realized what the professor meant by metaphysical boundaries. For a split second, he truly felt to have crossed it.

Mind drawn, then divide. The sensation of being beneath the waters surface only intensified behind every clip than replacement. Deeper, he sank, until the abyssal sight became ambience to his ears.

Muddled out entirely, it's after the realization he was being hoisted up-right that his consciousness finally came to. Left only with a weak nod in the mans direction, his eyes felt the difficulty of remaining open.

Speech was the last thing he'd bother with, instead. He could only look over in the Falstaff's direction. Hoping she agree, considering he couldn't do so on his own.
(Haarper)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:35] She's merely a stream of mana. Though- She's young and only recently getting a hang of it all. It pours in steady amounts yet even then, the process is taxing- Especially after creating such fine pieces of the white sapphire gemstone. What a pretty thing, reflective and gorgeous.

Guinevere exhales shakily- Her humming soon ceases and she loses that latch. Maybe if the process becomes idle then she'll feel more at ease. Primary function shifts to listening to the Professor.

Slice, slice. Slip. She forces her gaze on the motion of the scalpel. It lights on occasion. "Woah..." Impressive, truly. Guinevere is still trying to wrap her head around the entire process. Later, she'll try to document it properly if possible.

An hour passes, then another. Her legs ache but she refuses to sit. Instead, a tired lean against the table, hands still at one of Haarper's.

She looks.. exhausted. Butterflies, silk. Guinevere nods. Never before did she realize how taxing this is. Readjusting her grip on Haarper's hand, it feels weak.

"Can we have a lesson later about the silks?" Time passes, and oh boy is she in worse shape than the one being performed on! When his back patches and gets cleaned, she releases his hand.

Taking a few steps back, she heaves and bends forward, hands on her knees. "A moment- Please..." From that, not strong enough to assist Haarper back to his dorm. "And water..."
(Guinevere Falstaff)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:43] "Ah. Of course. There are a lot of natural reagents I hope to introduce, either in such instances as this, or in class properly. Much of understanding the realm's natural ebb and flow can lead one to finding comfortable and safe sources to harvest effective tools from..."



As they have him, however, he respects NOT instantly tossing the young man onto the girl! He casually puts his fingers in his mouth that held in the scalpel and got got splashed with scarlet, sucking them neatly clean of Haarper's blood.

Maybe he WAS a vampire like rumors said???

Who knows! He doesn't even seem to be thinking twice of it.

But, with his free hand, he proffers a flask from his hip- There are two, one much smaller than the other. The big one is proffered to her!

It has some very lightly sweetened, cold tea. It's clear the canteen is enchanted to remain about fridge temperature. It might be easy to recognize that while the man hasn't mentioned exceptional aptitude towards artificery, he has had at least access to someone skilled in it in the past.

He goes to take Haarper up casually. With the old man's somewhat deceptively reticent appearance, it might be easy to forget that he was about 6'4, with hands for easily strangling a man.

He definitely shows no discomfort hoisting him up, and holding Haarper aloft casually.

Eyes flit over, and halfliddedly stare at the half conscious, physically and spiritually taxed boy.

"... Excellent work, hanging in there. You may rest, if needbe. Do not worry. You will be getting back to your room. When I purge your system of my venom, you MAY jolt awake. But, I advise a lack of panic."
(Ethric Athelier)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:47] Akin to a rag doll, the bodies physical control was long gone. At the whim of the others in his current state. "M-..Hmm.." A low pitched hum whilst he dangled a bit over the professors shoulder.

An actual reminder as to how tall he was. Briefly noticing how far from the floor he was before things returned to its blurred state.
(Haarper)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:47] Guinevere Falstaff says, "I'll go sit down then."