A part of me wanted to just scream, looking at the feed from the sensors I had deployed in an attempt to gather data on ‘magic’. My eyes could see the not-light, my mind could process the visual information to some degree but the sensors, supposedly able to gather a wider spectrum of radiation remained absolutely blank. And while my eyes were only able to perceive visual light at the distance I was at, I got the impression that there was some infra-red radiation given off as well, but the sensors supposedly able to detect that remained silent, too. It was as if there was nothing there, when using my electric sensors, while my eyes could see the light clearly.

Similarly, my ears were able to pick up her words, the cadence and word-structure making me think she was using Latin or maybe Greek, though I had no idea what the meaning might be, speaking neither language. But when I tried to translate it with Galatea’s help, she played back what she picked up from her sensors. It was gibberish, completely different from what I was convinced I had heard. Worse, when we tried to compare my memories to her saved recordings, they differed too, as if she was recording something entirely different.

Closing my eyes for a moment, trying to rid myself of preconceived notions and form a working hypothesis, my first instinct was to distrust my eyes, or rather my brain. After all, I knew that there were people out there who could create a wide range of mental effects, psychics capable enough to completely alter the perception of a human. Taking a look at Fey, I tried to figure out if she was deliberately messing with me, only to realise that trying to second-guess the mischievous Councilor would only result in further headaches. For now, I had to accept that I was unable to record any meaningful data about her ‘magic’ and make another attempt at a later date, hopefully with a better sensor-setup.

After another moment of contemplation, I decided to act as if nothing had happened regarding my sensors, that I had captured everything I wanted. There was no way I would let Fey know I had utterly failed to gather any information and hear some joke about their magic being something supernatural or some other nonsense.

Luckily, it did not take long for the lightshow to end and as soon as it did, Fey looked at Nisha, telling her that she could step back out of the circle, while Fey herself picked up a silver bracelet, made from thin interwoven rings, with a simple clasp.

“May I see that for a moment?” I asked, curious if there was anything special about the silver.

“Certainly, I don’t mind. For everyone but Nisha here, it is just a pretty piece of jewelry, not even terribly fancy.” Fey nodded, easily handing it to me. I could see some small glyphs, similar to some of the symbols my nano-fabricators were carving into the foci I was creating for her, but there seemed to be nothing special about them. That is, until I compared the visual data my eyes picked up, with the visual data Galatea was able to record, both from my eyes and from a small camera she had deployed. For her, the glyphs were smudged out, almost as if someone had placed a bad censor-filter over them. It was barely possible to guess their forms but the details were completely concealed. It took an act of utter willpower not to start glaring at Fey, instead I handed the bracelet to Nisha, who gladly placed it around her wrist.

“Great. Now, even when you are outside the wards down here, you will only feel the emotions of those you touch. I suggest caution and gloves, as your empathy will be much stronger than before, the charm merely focuses everything you perceived before into that one point of contact.” Fey explained, sounding far too amused for my liking.

“Be that as it may. Nisha, depending on your plans, you can either wait in one of the offices for me, or I can send you off now. I will have to make sure the things I promised Fey are taken care of.” I told them, trying to get past the magic-nonsense and back to something I could actually understand.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll wait in one of the offices. I might even fall asleep.” Nisha replied and I only now realised just how weary she looked.

“Certainly, let me show you.” I nodded, before focusing on Fey, “Do you want to join me when I check your Foci? That way, we can both be certain that they are what you want them to be.” I asked, getting a nod in reply.

“Great. Follow me, both of you.”

With the two of them in tow, I first went into the room I used as my own office, as it one of the most secure places in the complex, the doors sealed in a way similar to the one that secured Technica’s office, just with far fewer exotic security-measures, as neither Technica nor I could actually instal them, even the ones around her office had been put in by Fey and Fyodor. In addition, there was nothing important in there anyway, only a comfortable chair, a couch that I had mostly installed for Sophia and a large, empty desk, it’s legs filled with a large reservoir of nanites, formed into a set of computing-clusters. Those made the room special but without linking them to the nanite-system integrated into my body and Galatea’s support, they were inert, a heavy, silvery-grey liquid not too unlike mercury in appearance.

“Here, you can rest on the couch if you like.” I told Nisha, getting a grateful, tired nod in response. She looked as if she was about to fall asleep, though I made sure that a set of cameras kept an eye on her, just in case. While I was confident that I would be able to find any technological listening devices she may put in, I was not about to take any risks, not with what might one day turn into my sanctum.

Together with Fey, I took another of the hidden doors, moving into the parts of Technica’s lair that I had appropriated as my workshop.

“Say, what brings you to Accord Island? I thought you were based somewhere in Australia?” I asked,simply trying to make conversation as we went.

“We, the Guild Council, meet at least once a year, face to face. That Council Session is in a month and as Accord Island is our headquarters, we meet here.” she explained and I tried to remember if Technica had told me about it before.

“It’s nothing really fancy, us councilors communicate a lot anyway, making sure that our respective parts of the world are running smoothly. But there are some things that need to be done face to face, especially when it comes to introducing people, pretty sure Technica wants to introduce you at some point. She might want to retire soon.” she added, sounding amused. I had been aware of the council, obviously, but the idea of having a seat on it was still foreign, especially considering that the Councilors had an almost continent-sized area of responsibility, with additional duties as appropriate. Reading reports and giving my recommendations to Technica felt far removed from the responsibility of making decisions that would affect millions, maybe even billions of people.

“Hopefully not, I sincerely doubt I am ready for that.” I shook my head, not able to even try projecting confidence in myself.

“That’s fine, I doubt she’ll resign tomorrow. Or even next year, but at some point, she might want to retreat into the background, letting you take over. That’s how I plan to do it, that’s how our teachers did it. Unless one of us is killed in the line of duty, that’s how it’s done:” she told me, as if to reassure me.

“Anyway, those foci should be done soon.” I told her, and the way her hood moved made me certain she was staring at me in disbelief. Given that engraving with the tolerances needed would normally take days, maybe even weeks depending on the tools, hearing that it would be done within an hour had to be a surprise.

“Most impressive, I’ll have to admit. I might have to give you something extra, just to make sure you stay on my good side.” she said, that damn amusement back in her voice, though now with a bit of respect mixed in. Reaching into the unremarkable, small purse she was carrying on her side, she suddenly pulled out a book, or maybe calling it a tome would be more appropriate. Just watching made my earlier headache return, as the book was larger than the bag, easily twice the volume of the purse. It could not fit, not in any way I could imagine, it barely fit the opening of the purse, looking like it was stretching its seams almost to the breaking point.

“I offer this to you as a gift, freely given, without obligation, let or lien.” she intoned, sounding oddly formal. I must have looked at her funny, especially as I did not move to take the book, and she suddenly started giggling.

“Oh, don’t be boring, it’s just a joke I read somewhere.” she laughed, before continuing in a serious voice.

“This is a primer of sorts for psychic and magical methods, what different Powered have done in the past and my personal thoughts on how their Powers might actually function. Written by yours truly, it might be the finest work on the subject ever written. I would ask you not to copy or otherwise disseminate it, but other than that it’s yours to do as you please.” she explained and I finally took the book. It was simply too good to pass up, even if I was not certain that she was entirely trustworthy. Or rather, I was not certain she was entirely sane. But then, I was regularly talking to a voice in my head, who was I to judge.