Mana Mutation Menace (Journey to Chaos Book 3) (5 page)

“That is not what I mean,” Talbot said. “Kallen, it was
your parents’ hypothesis. Will you please explain it for him?”

“It’s called The Seloisan Hypothesis of Chaotic
Transfiguration Permanence. In a nutshell, it states that mana mutation conveys
limited shape-shifting to the sapient in question once they re-acquired
sapience.”

"I thought only elves can shape-shift," Eric
said.

The scientists gathered suddenly became agitated. They
muttered things about “elven fundamentalists,” “lunatic heresy,” and “The Witch
of Dnnac Ledo.” Only Kallen showed understanding and patience.

She continued, “Elven shapeshifting is basically a
controlled mana mutation. The elves believe that it is a divine gift to them
from Lady Chaos, which is why only they can do it. The Seloisan Hypothesis of
Chaotic Transfiguration Permanence states this is half-correct; chaotic power
makes it possible, but it is their identity as elves that enables them to
control the process. It allows them to take any shape they wish because elves
were made to be quasi-tricksters. My parents developed this theory after
working with elves in Siduban.”

“So you think I can change back into a grendel if I
believe myself to be a grendel?”

“Yes.”

“Tough! I’m not and I never will be.”

Percy gestured to Kallen. She shook her head. He gave her
a look that said she didn’t have a choice. The others joined in on the stare. Eric
was picking up vague threat vibes from them, but as Kallen didn’t move, he
didn’t either. Finally, Kallen sighed.

“You don’t have to go all the way.” A bony horn grew out
of her forehead and her left arm grew fur and claws. She held it up and then
pounded it into the ground. She made a crater. “A partial transformation would
help.”

“Wow...”

Kallen blushed. She wasn’t used to people looking at her
true form with awe. Usually, it was disgust or fear. Eric reached out and
touched her arm. He felt its fur and its muscles and compared it with the human
skin on her other, more slender arm. He touched the feral claws at the end and
compared it to the painted nails on her other hand.

“How strong is this arm now?”

“Five times stronger than my base human form,” Kallen
replied. “I can use magic to augment it further. It’s a useful ability when
fighting monsters or moving couches.”

“Okay, so maybe it is, but why do you need me to do it? You’re
proof enough, right?”
Kallen shook her head. “No, I’m not. I was hit by genuine chaos while you were
changed by mundane mana. Furthermore, I was treated by elves instead of humans,
so their technology is a factor. Finally, once is a fluke, twice is worth
considering, and three times is a pattern.”

Eric backed away from her and the rest of the ICDMM. “I’d
love to help, really I would, but I can’t change my form.” He shrugged
helplessly. “My memories tell me that it’s impossible, both magically and
biologically.”

“Speaking of magic, yours won’t defeat Nulso,” Kallen
said.

“What do you mean? I’ve been enlightened. I’m on the
second level of
Chaotic
Enlightenment. I’m a much better mage than
before.”

“That doesn’t matter. Ordercrafters can interdict magic in
a given area, depending on their power, and Nulso is a powerful one. Even if
you successfully cast, he’ll block or absorb it. The strength of a grendel is
something else. Both physically and mentally, it’s harder for ordercrafters to
overcome monsters than sapients because they are more chaotic.”

“Turning into a savage, ruthless, and chaotic monster in
order to defeat an orderly one sounds like a pyrrhic victory. I have a better
solution: Chaotic Starlight. It was in Dengel’s Lair and I absorbed Dengel’s
scholarly aspect. It’s only a matter of time before I figure it out.”

At Percy’s nod, Kallen continued, “You’re out of time. Nulso
doesn’t have to leave Annala alone anymore. His promise has expired. You don’t
have time for chaotic study, but there’s a power you can grasp right now that
would help you.”

Eric didn’t say anything, but his expression said plenty.
He didn’t like the idea. He didn’t believe in it. Feeling the weight of the
room on herself, Kallen decided on another tactic.

“If an elf were to transform into a monster, they would
stay the same inside. If Annala were to transform into a grendel, she would
still be the cute bookworm you know and love. If my parents’ hypothesis is
correct, the only thing that will change is your body. Your mind will stay the
same the whole time.”

“I don’t know...”

“Are you saying my parents’ hypothesis is incorrect?” She
pouted.

“Fine! I’ll try it. What do I do?”

“First, you have to believe yourself to be a grendel.” She
raised her left arm again, and before his eyes, it became human again. “I
couldn’t do this until I accepted the fact that I was a chimera instead of a
human.”

“For the last time, I’m not a grendel. It’s been
scientifically proven!”

Percy lunged and grabbed Eric’s collar. It was too quick
for Eric to stop. The tiger man lifted him off the ground and snarled.

“You know nothing of science. Your stubbornness is the
antithesis of the scientific method and your fear of change is the antithesis
of scientific progress. You hold the cure to mana mutation and yet you refuse
to give it to us.”

“Percy, please place my posture on the platform post
haste, or I will pulverize you into paste.”

While Percy listened to the parade of p’s, Eric kicked him
in the nuts. Immediately, Percy dropped him and grabbed them. Eric landed
lightly and he fell forward to his knees

  “Hey, Talbot, how was that? A non-lethal solution to a
physical threat. Did I pass that test or did I
ace
it?”

Talbot was shaking from restrained laughter. He clutched
his mouth until it subsided. Then he clasped his hands behind his back and said,
“Mr. Watley, that was not a test. He was genuinely angry.”

A look of horror dawned in Eric’s eyes. “Really?! Oh...sorry
about that, Tiger Man.”

Percy regained his composure and his footing. He smoothed
out his fur and said, “It is nothing. How about this? You were a grendel and
transformed back into human on your own. That much has also been scientifically
proven. Your eyes slit and your vocal cords shift when you detect threats. This
too is a scientific fact. Even if you don’t want to accept that you are a demon
like me, you have to accept that you are a humanoid mana breed like Basilard.”

That
got Eric’s attention.

“My mentor, Basilard Bladi, is a humanoid mana breed?”

Kallen nodded. “Uh-huh and so is Her Majesty. They’re
essentially human, but they have traits that place them outside of the standard
homo sapien.
Basilard, for instance, is classified as
homo sapien
sangre.
Believe yourself to be
homo sapien grendel
and it might
work.”

Eric looked to his right arm and thought about it. He
willed it to change. Seconds passed and it stayed the same.

“Imagine a threat. Something hypothetical.”

Eric thought back to a time that would be relevant. The
arm wrestling match with Gruffle came to mind. He won through deception and
guile, but it would have been nice to crush that troll’s hand. That arrogant
troll, who invaded his home, crushed his desk chair, and slept in his bed...

The thought of retribution turned into savage glee. He
thought of ripping the troll’s arm off and eating it while Gruffle lay on the
ground bleeding. Because the troll was a threat and Eric didn’t like him anyway,
he didn’t think there was anything wrong with this picture.

His right arm grew bigger and more muscular. A metallic
substance coated it from shoulder to fingertip. Subtle changes ran through his
body to enable him to effectively wield such a weapon. He swung it around with
ease. His instincts guided him through the proper way to manage its weight so
it did not harm his balance. He finished by pounding the ground as Kallen did,
and making a deeper crater. Then he noticed the staring.

All the scientists and guards were staring at him. The
room was as silent as a grave. Suddenly, Eric had second thoughts about this.
Then all of them cheered. It surprised Eric so much he returned his arm to full
human form. When they pulled champagne out of thin air, kissed each other, and
sang the Ataidar national anthem, he thought he was having a mutation-induced
hallucination. One of them tried to kiss him, but he held them back.

“I don’t fully remember what that gesture means, but I
don’t want to do it with a stranger, especially one as old and ugly as you
are.”

The scientist had the grace to blush in embarrassment.

"Forgive me, Mr. Watley, but you have given us a
precious gift. You have enabled us to acquire knowledge of mana mutation
untouched by the elves.”

"The Seloisan Hypothesis of Chaotic Transfiguration
Permanence now has proof of concept!” a second one shouted. “It is now a valid
theory!”

"Screw those arrogant dagger ears!” a third
proclaimed. “'Heresy' they called it; refused to consider it, but this boy and
girl have done it! Eric Watley has transformed from grendel into a human and
then human into grendel,
and we have it on video
! We have done this with
mortal
technology and
mortal
knowledge and
mortal
will!"

He spun in place, flung up his arms, and laughed madly.

"THE REINS OF HISTORY ARE BACK IN THE HANDS OF
MAN!"

Just as quickly, his arms dropped and he fell limp to the
floor. His co-workers picked him up and carried him away.

"Please excuse Cid," Percy said. "He hasn't
slept in five days."

"THE STARS HAVE ALIGNED!"

Percy sweat-dropped. "However, the point he makes is still
valid. The Trickster's Choice has recovered from a complete mutation, his teammate
recovered from monsanity, and both of them in close proximity to a Mana
Mutation Summit. It is hard for us to contain our excitement."

Kallen popped in and said, "I've seen you more
excited over bubblegum-flavored ice cream." She ducked the smack but
failed to dodge the tickle.

An inside joke?

“This is a fantastic capstone,” Percy said with flat joy.
“I suggest we allow Eric and Kallen to celebrate it.”

“He’s not ready for the public,” Talbot replied.

“Doing so today will aid our organization,” Percy pressed.

“Just because you’re a tiger doesn’t mean you wear a
crown.”

Eric looked to Kallen. “What are they talking about?”

“A good idea,” was all Kallen had to say to him. “Uncle
Talbot, I will take responsibility for him. Between my true form and my
magecraft, I can keep him under control and minimize potential damage to our
organization. This is an opportunity that we should capitalize on.”

“Stop calling me ‘Uncle’! Alright, as long as you don’t go
into the city, a walk in the fresh air could be good.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll enjoy it. Trust me.” 
 

The ICDMM laboratory was built with high stone walls
reinforced with steel and the most advanced protection runes available. Four
corner towers dominated the fortress with floodlights and nasty-looking mounted
weapons. Minor towers dotted the walls and courtyard and they were equipped
with similar weaponry. There was no portcullis, double door, or a drawbridge.
It was solid wall all the way around.

This facility held monsters; dangerous monsters with
varied abilities. No door would hold them if they escaped their cells. The only
things keeping Ataidar sleeping soundly was a force field and a dry moat. The
former was remotely generated and it could contain anything short of a god. The
latter was a mile across and a mile deep, its sides made slick and smooth, and
its bottom made of spikes.

The air space was a no-fly zone, but about two weeks ago, Kallen
brazenly flew in with her damaged
Albatross IX
. If she didn't work there,
she would have crashed into the force field or been shot down.
The only
official way in or out was teleportation.

Kallen explained that it was connected to the ICDMM's
office in Roalt, ten miles to the north. It was also connected to a pedestal on
the opposite side of the moat, and this was the one that they were going to
use. Either way, Eric's stomach turned just thinking about it.

At the door to the teleportation room, Kallen showed her
ICDMM badge to the guard on duty. He shook his head. She showed him the
paperwork from Talbot that authorized Eric’s temporary release and her
authority over him. He still shook his head.

 “I’m his handler. Please let us pass.”

The gatekeeper looked from the girl with the crystal staff
to the boy with the crystal staff.

“When the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into a
pit.”

“Clever; now let us pass.” The light of her crystal
flashed and she smiled sweetly. “If you don’t, I might have to tell someone
about the bribe you took and who gave it to you.”

At once, the order was given, the door opened, and the
pair entered the teleportation room.

“How’d you know about a bribe?”

The teleporter was an arch of steel shod with mythril.
Runes utilizing wind and lightning magic dotted the outer side, and spell
diagrams describing the function coated the inner side.

“The truth comes to light when you have a gift from the
Goddess of Light.” The center white-grey sphere at the center of her staff’s
crystal twinkled. “Just as you can conceal the truth with darkness, I can
reveal it. Nulso wanted to keep you trapped here.”

Before Eric could ask for clarification, the teleport initiated
and his stomach twisted.

The demons reappeared on a raised platform on the other
side of the chasm. The exit rune was carved into a white stone dais made from
three discs of progressively greater length. A trio of arches met in the middle
and created a localized zone of warmth and light.