Chapter 16: The Symbol

Aren and Leo exchanged glances and, carefully avoiding the scattered scrolls, hurried to opposite corners of the lab as Jaxx'im had instructed. The sphere continued to pulsate, its dark red light throbbing rhythmically. Jaxx'im, positioned between Aren and Leo, hesitated, then moved toward Leo. He approached, paused, and stared intently at the sphere, lost in thought. Then, he turned and walked toward Aren, and as he drew closer, the sphere's reaction intensified once more.

"How very intriguing," Jaxx'im began, his voice laced with scientific curiosity. "This is an artifact detection device, and it's reacting to you, Sir Aren. Do you have something unusual on your person?"

Aren shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Only this rather expensive doublet the Duke so kindly provided." And a lifetime of bad decisions, he added silently.

"Take the sphere," Jaxx'im instructed, extending the device toward him.

Aren took it. The moment his fingers brushed against the cool bronze, the sphere pulsed even more intensely, the runes blazing with crimson light. A low hum resonated from the device, vibrating in Aren's hand.

"Sir Aren," Jaxx'im said, his green eyes wide with scientific glee, "I have never seen or heard of anything like this. You appear to be radiating Ether… like an artifact. It's far too early to draw definitive conclusions, but it's possible you possess your own internal reservoir of Ether, independent of the ambient Ether around us." He paused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Valerian did mention sensing a powerful surge of Ether in your library during the attack on Lady Isla. Perhaps your memory loss, that Ether surge, and the artifact detector's reaction are all connected." He stepped closer. "Please, come to my laboratory again. I will assist you in discovering what exactly is happening with you. You may visit every day if you wish; this is a most fascinating phenomenon that demands further study."

Aren's mind reeled, overloaded with information. This all sounds highly suspicious, he thought, a flicker of unease in his gut. I've got a bad feeling about this, even if this Smurf isn't radiating any hostility. "I appreciate the offer, Jaxx'im. I'll definitely take you up on that."

"Am I allowed to come closer now?" Leo called from across the room, his voice tinged with impatience. He hadn't heard their conversation, and his curiosity was clearly eating away at him.

"Of course, young sir," Jaxx'im replied, slightly raising his voice. "Sir Aren has found himself in a most interesting situation…" Jaxx'im then proceeded to explain to Leo what had happened and his working theory about Aren's unique condition.

"Wow, I've never heard of anything like that!" Leo exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder. "Aren, maybe you need to channel Ether from the inside, not from the outside?" He offered his suggestion with youthful enthusiasm.

"Good idea," Aren replied, nodding thoughtfully. "I'll try that tonight during training." If I can even figure out how to do that.

With their curiosity satisfied (for the moment), Aren and Leo left the laboratory and headed toward the training grounds. They discussed theories about Ether and Jaxx'im as they walked. Leo was overjoyed by the news of his impending Tier 3 status and couldn't wait to begin experimenting with the speed of his flows under Valerian's watchful eye. Aren, on the other hand, felt a renewed sense of hope about mastering Ether, shifting his focus inward, even though his unique situation continued to trouble him. Why did that sphere react so strongly to me? Is it connected to the fact that I'm from Earth? And even if it is, what does that even mean? The questions were piling up faster than he could answer them.

At the training grounds, they shared the news with Valerian, who approved of their new approaches to training. However, despite his best efforts, Aren was unable to channel Ether, even when trying to find it within himself. Leo also didn't make any progress in a single day. This slightly dampened their enthusiasm, but Valerian reminded them that nothing worthwhile is achieved quickly. "Patience, young sirs. The path to mastery is long and winding."

During dinner, with the now-familiar group gathered around the table, Isla no longer ignored Aren. She exchanged a few words with him, careful not to reveal her plans in front of her family. Aren played along, keeping their conversation a secret. Leo, meanwhile, regaled everyone with the events of their day. Darius expressed his happiness for the young men but couldn't help but ponder Aren's situation. He glanced at Aren, a thoughtful expression on his face.

As the dinner concluded and the group began to disperse, Isla hurried to catch up with Aren as he made his way toward his chambers. Her steps were quick and purposeful, her eyes darting around to ensure they weren't overheard.

"Aren," she said, her voice low and urgent, "meet me in the map room tomorrow after lunch. We're going to the city."

Aren raised an eyebrow, a flicker of excitement in his chest. "The city? Already?"

"Yes, I've prepared the disguise. I'll explain everything tomorrow. Just be there," she replied, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. With that, she turned and disappeared down the corridor, leaving Aren to ponder in solitude.

"Going to the city, huh?" he mused as he continued toward his room. "Things are happening a little too quick here; it's only been three days since I arrived in Atheria."

Reaching his chambers, Aren practically shed his clothes, tossing them carelessly onto a nearby chair. He then gratefully collapsed onto the plush expanse of his bed. The silk sheets, cool against his skin, were a welcome contrast to the day's events. He closed his eyes, a sigh escaping his lips. Tomorrow, the city. I just hope she doesn't get herself into too much trouble. A frown creased his brow as he drifted off to sleep, his mind a jumble of bustling streets, potential dangers for Isla, and the unsettling implications of being a walking, talking… artifact.

A jolt. A sudden, jarring awakening.

Arthur gasped, his eyes snapping open to the sterile white of a high-tech capsule. Wires snaked around him, sensors clung to his skin, monitoring his vitals. A wave of disorientation washed over him, blurring his senses. Where was he? The castle, the Ether, Isla… it all seemed like a distant dream, a vibrant memory fading at the edges.

Then, recognition dawned. The Chronos Labs. He was back.

With a hiss of escaping air, the capsule opened. A figure approached, his face illuminated by the soft glow of the monitors. It was Noah, the lead scientist on the project. His brow was furrowed with concern, his eyes filled with anxiety and anticipation.

"Arthur, are you alright?" he asked, his voice tight with worry.

Arthur blinked, trying to clear the lingering fog from his mind. "Yeah, Noah, I'm… I'm okay. Feels like I just went twelve rounds with a heavyweight champ, though. How long was I out?" He flexed his fingers, wincing at the stiffness in his joints. "My whole body aches."

Noah sighed, a visible weight lifting from his shoulders. "You were in the capsule for three days. Because of your lack of movement, your muscles will need some time to recover optimal function. It's clearly an oversight in our design; we need to find a way to keep your body active, even when you're on the other side." He shook his head, a hint of frustration in his voice. "We'll get it right eventually."

"Three days…" Arthur muttered, his mind still trying to reconcile the two realities. "That's how long it was in Atheria, too."

"Atheria? Is that how that world is called? Fascinating!" Noah's eyes lit up with scientific curiosity, but he quickly reigned himself in. "As much as I'd love to hear all about it, Mr. Albright has ordered that you be sent to him immediately. And the walk will do you good. Ethan, check Mr. Steelhart's vitals. You two," he gestured to a pair of lab assistants, "escort Mr. Steelhart to Mr. Albright."

Ethan, a young man with perpetually narrow eyes and a tablet glued to his hand, approached, his gaze fixed on the screen. "Mr. Steelhart, despite your immobility for the past three days, your vitals have actually improved. We connected you to our most advanced nutrient formula, which covers all of the body's needs and beyond. We'll immediately begin developing a new version of the capsule that will automatically keep your muscles toned." He paused, glancing up from his tablet. "I need to run a quick scan, just like last time."

As Ethan raised the scanner to begin the process, the sleeve of his white lab coat shifted, momentarily revealing a glimpse of his wrist. Arthur's eyes narrowed. There, partially hidden beneath the fabric, was a tattoo. He only caught a glimpse of half of it, but it was undeniably similar to the symbol he had seen on the book in Jaxx'im's laboratory.

Okay, that's not fucking weird.