'As you know, madness is like gravity...all it takes is a little push.'

- Heath Ledger, The Joker

Vanessa listened to Asandria. “So it is like this. Did you really find a crystal seed? Isn’t that too coincidental?”

‘It was found in the deep archives of the greatest institution of magical learning in Margrinar a land that overlaps with the fallen empire. If one were to ask where such a thing could still be acquired it would be there, wouldn’t it?’

“True. So she will attempt a fusion?”

‘That is the plan.’

“I will assist of course but does she know the dangers?”

‘I explained it to her. We should nonetheless make a rejuvenation elixir for her after the act.’

“Mh. Of course, for an elf a few decades is not that much but for a human…”

‘It will be a little bit less than that. It is in part proportional after all and humans don’t have that much longevity.’

They stood together on the roof of the townhouse. There was a small balcony in front of the windows to an attic room which was quite suitable for their talk.

Down in Alea’s room, the three friends and Iseret were sitting on whatever was available, the bed, some chairs, Mireille was sitting on the table.

Mireille was playing with her lightning forming a cat's cradle and then elongating the arc to become a circle. Cyrus tilted his head and hissed.

Alea looked at Alyssa worriedly. “You are no elf do you really think that will work?”

“I don’t know too much about it but I trust Asandria. She never steered me wrong. And there are problems that have to be addressed.” Alyssa looked down and then added somewhat defensively, “Well, it’s true isn’t it?”

Mireille laid back on the table and swung her feet. “I think it will work out. I got branded, didn’t I? And I think this will be a bit similar but worse? But instead of having a disinterested old geezer do the deed and standing in a line in a training yard, you will have several sorcerers to care for and protect you. It will work out you will see!”

There was a knock and after Alea called for them to enter Iseret and Vanessa walked in.

Mireille looked interested. Did the little vampire enter a room through a door for the first time? She thought back and it should be the case. She grinned.

Vanessa looked at the grinning fox on the table and had an incipient headache. “Where do we go for the ritual. It would be best to prepare a bit. We don’t want to be caught lacking.”

Alea rubbed her chin and said, “We could go into the study or the basement. The study is much nicer and even if the floor is damaged it would not be a big deal but there is furniture that would have to be moved. There is an empty cellar with all the lacking amenities you would expect.”

“I think we should take the cellar. I would feel guilty for damaging a perfectly good room.” Alyssa mentioned.

“Then the cellar it is. I would like to start preparing. If someone could show me the way? When I am ready I will call for you.” Vanessa nodded decisively.

Alea rang a bell and one of the servant girls entered and bowed. “You called?”

“Please guide her to the unused cellar. We have to do some magical practice and that seems to be the best location. Make sure that she gets what she needs but is otherwise undisturbed.”

The black-haired girl in the frilly uniform nodded and there was only a fleeting expression of confusion as she heard about leading someone into the cellar. “I will do so immediately my lady. Please follow me.” She politely gestured for the little vampire to follow.

Iseret nodded, “I will come along too. I can be an intermediary for materials or other necessities.”

Vanessa seemed deep in thought and simply nodded along.

Down in the cellar.

Iseret did what she seemed to be doing a lot in recent times, she lurked in a corner.

Vanessa meanwhile was painstakingly carving symbols into the smoothed stone.

Slit-yellow eyes followed the careful cuts and admiration could briefly be seen in her gaze before returning to the prior cool regard.

After she inscribed the runes and checked their alignment she took out several batches of mana dust and some impure mana jewels. Without looking up Vanessa said softly, “Those were the best I could get on short notice without resorting to darker methods.”

Iseret thought for a bit and answered, “It looks like it should be enough. You could ask Alea though, she recently had some project where she was rebuilding an older automaton. Perhaps there is some dust left over?”

As it turned out there was.

Completing every preparation all assembled down below. The frigid air of the cellar crept into their bones only Vanessa was unaffected though Iseret proficiently pretended to be indifferent.

‘It is simple. The seed was made with the intention of being used without much additional effort. But you are no elf and the seed is old. It will take more from you than from a member of my kindred. It will work out have no fear. Make a slight incision on your left arm and simply place the crystal on the wound, the rest will happen on its own.’

Vanessa looked a bit uncertain and after Alyssa walked away from them toward the circle engraved in stone she asked, “Asandria, are you sure?”

‘There will be no problems and we are running on borrowed time. An investment like her will not come again.’

The words were spoken softly, like the wind blowing through an ancient ruin at night without a moon. And she looked at Alyssa with a possessive gleam in the dark hollow of her eyes.

Alea and Mireille stood near the entrance and Mireille began to be a bit nervous about the whole thing and leaned over to her smaller friend, “Should we do something? I think we could ask the school if there are other methods. I heard that they have ways of helping with most common problems. And that void is damaging to living things is something even I know.”

Alea shifted her clockwork spider to her other shoulder and looked a bit uncomfortable. “The academy uses tried and true methods, that is correct, but I don’t think they fit Alyssa. Do you want her to stop?”

“I don’t know enough and don’t want to hurt her by keeping her from a great opportunity but I fear that this will get ugly. Just a feeling.”

Asandria floated closer to Alyssa, ‘It is time. Vanessa has to charge the warding circle and then you should activate the seed.’ Expectation colored her voice.

Alyssa swallowed dryly and took the crystal seed into her hand. Vanessa nodded and activated the runes. The circle burst into brilliant life the crystallized mana infusing each and every line. A low hum hung in the air and there was the reek of ozone. Some of the more prominent runes in the central circle began to heat up and the stone began to shimmer in a dull red. A prepared razor cut a long thin line along her arm while the white-haired girl hissed with the sudden sharp sensation. The tendrils waved agitatedly and she did not hesitate any longer and pressed the crystal against the wound.

There was a faint cracking sound and the formerly stiff crystalline object shifted in her hand before she felt a soft touch like fine hair brushing over her flesh.

Then there was the disgusting sensation of something burrowing into her arm as pain spread from the point of entry and the whole arm throbbed with unhealthy warmth.

The tendrils shot into her with the speed of a striking snake boring into her bone, her muscles, and along her sinews.

Pain.

Pain that flayed her mind with hooks of jagged ice. Hot and cold at once. And then there was the feeling of something burning, shriveling in her breast. Faintly she sensed the runes in the circle flaring with actinic brilliance wreathing all in light and shadow.

So much pain that there was no pain only a white-hot emptiness. And then the gate inside of her opened wide, wider than she ever thought it could, or should, go.

The agony flared anew and she saw herself as if standing beside a mirror, her arm was covered by bloody rents dripping fluid, black tendrils dove into and out of her body weaving runes and symbols into the very fabric of her existence. Another sharp flash of rending pain and her left eye slowly filled with inky black while the left half of her face was traced with fine runes just under the surface. A sort of hollow ringing sound filled her awareness and someone- or something?- said something to her in elvish.

The void completely escaped her control. The gate opened wide and she was unsure if she could ever close it again. Something that had been there at the duel looked at her and a hand grasped at her soul. A formless hulk of lightless matter, it sucked in light and life its presence like the first knowledge of mortality. The border between the worlds crumbled.

Asandria looked at the being that crossed the threshold from the dimension of void and spoke a short sentence. The elemental froze and the glowing eye shrank back containing a hint of fear as it retreated cautiously in the presence of a predator greater than itself.

Alyssa gratefully embraced unconsciousness.

The stone around the runes glowed a sullen orange and cracks appeared. Mana jewels grew dim, dust flashed into grey falling to the uncaring ground as inert dirt.

Mireille jumped forward sparks flying and hugged the falling Alyssa. The arm was streaked in vivid red, runes marked every inch, the nails had become blackened and the color was greyish white. On the inside of her lower arm was an elongated crystal with a shining reflex in the center. The left half of her face was lit by darkly glowing runes from within, the eye was completely black. While she watched the blood began to burn with colorless flame and flaked off. Rubbing her teary eyes on her shoulder while holding her friend she ground out, “I knew that was a bad idea. Why! Asandria what were you thinking!” She felt a cold that went beyond the physical radiate from the marked hand.

Alea was only a short distance behind her and concentrated on a healing spell, glyphs spun and warm light shone from her palms. Alyssa’s back bowed as she violently seized and black smoke wafted from her left side which blackened beneath the benevolent rays of positive energy. She hastily stopped and clumsily applied a potion she got from her belt.

Vanessa looked tired and faintly displeased. Iseret leaned towards her and raised an eyebrow questioningly while whispering, “I take it this was not as it was discussed?”

“No. But what did we expect? I only heard about the seeds when they banished the clan. The Keralis Erh, the Soulweaver Clan. They were the first to be banished since the end of the age of titans. That should have told me something. But on the other hand, it seems to have done as needed, in addition to all the...improvements.”

Iseret raised her hand and hesitated before placing it on Vanessa’s shoulder. “And you feel responsible for them.”

“I taught them and tried to help them. They are among the few who don’t meet me with weapons drawn. Yes, I feel uneasy when I see that happening before me. But I don’t want to steer or lead, I only want to help. So I can’t complain about their choices.” She sighed, “And before you ask. The runes give me a lot of information about her health. She is not in danger at the moment but I fear her vitality is severely drained. We will have to get access to a real laboratory. The one in Grunewald would be good but I don’t think they will want to travel.”