“I see we have fools in class that feel they can cheat their way to an early grave. Mana assist devices should stay in medical, with the weak, and infirm” Instructor Phi said in a near whisper to his nervous audience.
The black board of the lecture hall twisted, and turned white. Alarmed shouts of surprise filled the air, as I impacted a white tile floor. “Why do people keep appearing here?” gasped an elderly lady from her bed. She clapped wildly “Do it again, again”
I stood up to see that Fen had not followed me. I needed to get back to that classroom, back to her. Why did I need to get back to her? Wait, I don’t need her. I was just told to find a squad member is all. I was interrupted from my thoughts by a voice I had almost forgotten already.
“Back so soon, mage cadet Walker?” Doctor Offsman asked as she slid her chair from behind a white curtain just a couple of beds down the wall. “I could use your help, come here” She demanded before sliding back into the curtain.
I could not help my curiosity. It seemed to have spiked as soon as I arrived and never released its tangled grip. I was never so nosey before, why now? I thought to myself as I almost exploded off the ground trying to step over to Doctor Offsman’s current patient. The gravity was much less than the rest of the station. I had almost forgotten how heavy I had felt at the start. As I was now I simply felt weak and out of shape. I could fix weak and out of shape with enough time.
I stepped into view of a bed that was more smear than form. “Get a look at this and tell me what you think” the doctor casually asked me. I couldn't control my stomach as I did my best attempt at modern art all over the tile below us. I heaved as I tried to catch my breath and calm myself. A little droid flowed out of a flap in the wall and started ruining my artful addition to the floor. It was retreating before I could pull my eyes back to the bed. “I see, so this is not a normal way to die I am assuming?” asked the doctor after another sweep through her tablet. “Not in the slightest” I replied hoarsely. “For shame, I was hoping that the simplified circle we designed would be more useful. That mad scientist of a summoner that brought you here is going to get a huge head after she hears that her circle was right.”
“Cadet, lend me your ear for a moment, I would like to confide in someone and there are very few in the know.” Doctor Offsman said grimly. “I don’t mind listening for a minute, doctor. I owe you that much for saving me at least” I replied. “Magic is capable of great feats, however healing the living has always come with an exorbitant price tag. The ability to break the laws of the world like creating and destroying matter is a simple feat when sized up against healing even a scratch” the doctor paused to take a deep breath.
“I, may as well have tried to duplicate the entirety of the station with the magic I would need to heal even this human’s left foot. Does it make me a bad doctor if I could only manage this much healing” she asked me with a shaky voice. “Don’t answer that cadet,” she added quickly.
I took a more careful scan of the body that laid on the bed. Only a few fingers looked to be untouched by the carnage experienced by the rest of the corpse. I guess she tried to heal them, and it didn't go well. They were most likely dead before she tried to bring them back. I felt bad that she even felt the need to attempt reviving this, this human? “Is this a human?” I asked suddenly. The doctor turned to me in her chair. “I tried, I swear,” Offsman said forcefully, through teary eyes. I put my hands up to show my palms to her. “I don’t doubt your effort to save them but no one except a monster could bring back this mess. I doubt this carnage was your fault either. Please don’t cry over it.” I said, trying to calm the sobbing doctor. How did another human make it here? I guess Jun could have summoned another but from what I remember she had been laid out after the attempt.
“Doctor Offsman, could you explain what happened? I don’t understand why the summoning brought you this corpse” I asked quietly. She took a few deep breaths, calmed herself, and collected her tablet back. “This is a video of your summoning. She played a few seconds of me blinking into reality with a small white glow. Both Jun and I collapsed immediately after. “This is the summoning conducted by the highest rated summoner we have or I should say had on station. The video began with the summoner forming a white circle on the ground in front of them. No hand motions, dances, or chants, the circle just formed and glowed. I watched in horror as blood shot through the air coating the ground and the summoner before a wet mass fell to the ground. I could see an air tank and the remnants of a wet suit on the pulp that made it through the spell. The mage collapsed onto the ground a moment later.
As you can see the summoning was not successful. The parameters were adjusted to lessen the burden on the mages mana bank. Those changes seem to have backfired onto the mage leaving them without a mana filter and permanently crippled” The doctor explained trying to return to a stoic posture.
Seeing the confusion on my face the doctor dropped a little more wisdom on me. “The circle is just a tool we use for more complex uses of mana. While simple actions like creating a sound, light, or matter are easy. Summoning is rather precise action” She offered.
Just as I was about to speak a tumbling noise came from the door near the end of the hall. Fen tripped over herself through the doorway and used two beds to regain her balance before shuffling awkwardly over to me. “You were cheating in front of that scary ass professor!? It’s almost like you want me to kill you. Of course he would kick you out of class for that” She yelled. “Whats going on with the gravity in here?” she demanded, coming down from her rush. “This room is for the infirm, deary. We keep those too weak to live in normal gravity here to ease their pain” The doctor explained to the stumbling Fen.
Fen glanced at the collar around Ben’s neck. “That's the mana device you are using isn't it” she yelled, reaching out with both hands.how could this idiot could get any dumber. I'll fix this problem and we will head back to class, I'll get my free ride through the next year, and this space cadet will GET, ME, HOME! With one more effort she yanked the band off his neck. “There lets go” she said, watching the feeble human fall to the ground with a desperate look in his eyes. The groaning from between his gritted teeth was not going to sway her. She turned away, throwing the broken collar on the ground hard for good measure, before making an admittedly less than graceful exit from medical.
Ben tried to intercept Fen's quick hands as she eyed his collar. I can’t take this off he said while struggling to hold the collar in place with both hands. The mana device fell away with the collar and a creeping sensation of fire flooded my nerves. The choking followed soon after. Before I could notice I was on the floor straining against the pain threatening to turn the world black. I heard Fen say something before leaving the room.
A shadow covered the light of the ceiling and a much clearer voice spoke directly into my ear. “You would have had to confront this eventually, and you will not be the last. Good luck” I think Doctor Offsman had spoken to me but all my other senses took over before I could muster a response. The world spun a million miles an hour, illusions passed before my eyes of eldritch horrors, and mythological gods before fading into random colors and shades. The world around me stilled for just long enough to see that I had been placed in a bed and covered fully over my head in a blanket.
Eternities passed while I searched desperately for a cure to my suffering. Eventually the pain became standard, not lessened, but predictable. I took moments to remember the feeling after the mana assisting device and the refreshing coolness. The effect before had been automatic when I was assisted by the crutch. What could I do to replicate the effect myself? I felt for my mana filter, the membrane that kept me safe from mana’s influence. The slight glow seemed to thrum in rhythm with the surges of pain throughout my body. That small connection was all I needed to carry me through the next action. I teased, pulled, pushed, and rubbed the filter in an attempt to sooth it. In my efforts I discovered I could somewhat flex the barrier and get an almost imperceivable amount of relief from the pain. I could also relax the barrier and greatly increase the sensations racking my body. My filter was straining constantly in a desperate attempt to pull mana into my bank. Except, Its capabilities were so awful I could barely manage to absorb the smallest hint of mana. The pain was like muscle soreness.
The breakthrough in my mind brought me my only reprieve for the next set of eternities I lived through. Instead of sleeping, I would black out. Instead of comfort, there was burning from the soft bed and warm blanket. My stomach churned as my only form of sustenance was from a rather more uncomfortable tube. The lack of control in my life was killing me, just like it almost did back in the salt flats. This time was different. My purpose was to get away from the crutch that had held my hand for the first two weeks here. The doctor seemed to spend long days next to my bed based on the shadows I could make out and the slight change in volume of ringing in my ears. She seemed to enjoy having someone to confide in based on the frequency.
I woke up, still in pain but not under the threat of blacking out. I rolled my head to the side of the bed to see a figure in a fluffy chair slumped against the wall wearing a light color. The pain of my movement immediately knocked me out cold. My eyes opened again, re-aimed at the ceiling. I could make out a muffled voice before two shadows blocked out my blurry vision. I attempted to talk much to my regret as I fought to stay conscious. Barely succeeding in my efforts to remain awake, I redoubled my efforts to train my mana filter. The two shadows changed to one, and then after a minute returned to none. Leaving me to the ringing, and burning of my world, the shadow mercifully stopped trying to talk and resumed their day.
Many more days passed in a similar manner while I continued my daily grind before my hearing and vision returned rather abruptly upon my waking. I gave into curiosity and tried to roll my head over to the chair, hoping to find comfort in the doctor’s presence. The pain grew from my movement but had not been unbearable like before. Dark hair and a tired face slid into view framed by long black legs slumped on a space beanbag. Fen was asleep in a light green medic smock beside my bed. Tears threatened to well up as I watched her resting comfortably beside me. I enjoyed the new view while I pushed myself again to strengthen my filter. A determination grew inside me as I felt a need to stand beside her in the future, just like she had for me. The thought of her watching over me while I struggled under my own weakness infuriated me before I remembered that I was only the first human that would have this personal hell.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Doctor Offsman carefully slid around the corner of the curtain, her deft footsteps not revealing her approach. A tube and bottle was visible in her hands as our eyes met. “Ben?” she asked, freezing in place. “I nodded in response with a grimace as I moved my neck. Pain flared up as I flinched. She stepped closer, most likely preparing to feed me. “Hhhhh” I attempted to use my voice. A refreshing feeling focused in my throat as I felt the pain fade away across my whole body. The pain surged back as I tried to repeat the refreshing effect across my whole body almost reflexively. The pain completely subsided as I could finally feel the plush mattress and weight of the blanket over me. “HHHH” I tried again. I moved my arms to sit up, expecting the pain, but nothing came. I leaned my weight onto my arms, slid back, and propped myself up to a sitting position on the bed.
“Whoa, Ben. Take it easy” The doctor said in a whisper. I tried to respond again as doctor Offsman placed the bottle and tube on the bed next to me. She visibly focused, causing a strange shifting feeling in my throat which faded almost as quickly as it started. “Try now, quietly,” she said. “Fen” I looked over at my sleeping guardian. “Don’t worry about her, the doctor said with a quiet laugh. She almost took me out after I stopped her from putting that collar back on you. She has been here every evening since you left us. She sleeps here so long as she doesn't get in my way” the doctor quietly explained.
I paused after the doctor explained Latrod's actions. I looked back at Fen’s face and appreciated her for a moment. “I don’t have money to pay for the bed or treatment” I said looking at the resources I had used up. Someone else could have used this bed, and the doctor's time. “Don’t bother yourself over it. I’ll put it on your tab and you can pay me back with your pay from clearing out those damn pests” She commented. “I promise to pay you back. Thanks for your help” I replied a little too loudly.
“Im headed out to the cafeteria for some dinner. I'll bring you and your sleepy watchdog back a meal. Trade you some good grub for a detailed written guide on surviving that little inconvenience of yours” offered the doctor as she picked back up the feeding tube and bottle. “Deal” I whispered back. The doctor shuffled off. A loud slam of the door followed by an oops sorry about from Doctor Offsman yelling back echoed through the room. Looking around I could see I had been moved to a private room and the curtains were moved to only cover the view of the door on one side of the bed. Just as I was about to turn back to Fen, a shadow overtook the ceiling lights and the world went dark.
Gibberish erupted from Fen as she smothered me with a hug. I had to wrestle back control of my mana filter, after losing focus from the sudden tackle. She gave up on speaking, her arms holding me a little too tightly. The embrace hurt but I was much more comfortable with this feeling compared to what I had just experienced. I reached around her to return the hug only for my arms to fall back to the bed a moment later like bricks of lead. “Fen, I think I am good now” I said, speaking through the smock she wore. “You better be. I usually like surprises but you keep doing it wrong” she said, trying to joke. I felt an arm pull away from my back, move a few times, and then land on my shoulder. Her other hand matched the first on my other shoulder, while Fen pushed me away, and scanned me. Her face was one of a kid searching for something wrong with their food. After a moment she released me, pulling back to land in her beanbag with an exasperated sigh.
“So, how long was I out, Fen? I said, adding her name at the end just as an excuse to repeat her name. “About a month” she replied after a moment of contemplation. “Ish” she tacked on. “Want to hear about it?” I asked jokingly. “Offsman said that it was a burning, and suffocating feeling” Fen replied casually. “Yeah, that's the gist of it. Fen, do you remember when you first felt soreness?” I replied. “Dial that up to fifteen,” I continued. “Ish,” I added. Fen, chuckled for a second before responding. “You looked like death most of the time” she stated plainly, while staring down the ceiling light. Damn, I said. I was going for cunning. What did I look like the rest of the time?” I asked “Like you were constipated?” She replied through a grin. The ceiling light must have won the staring contest because she looked back at me with a few blinks. “I’m starved. The gym was empty most of the day for some reason. I think I may have overcooked my workout” she said.
The door to the room slid open with barely a hiss from the mechanism. “Alright you two break it up, break it up.” The doctor said entering the room with three glass bowls. She divided the bowls and spoons out to everyone, being extra cautious with mine. I picked up the lead spoon and fought gravity for every bit of soup as we talked.
“Cadet If you can eat you can type. I want a report for record, and a guide for the next humans” Offsman said in between savoring bites from her hot meal. “Have them both to me by the morning,” she added. “Ill get them written tonight. I think I have rested enough for now” I replied, straining to get another bite of the most delicious soup I had ever eaten. “Good lad” she replied. “When will he be leaving medical?” Fen asked, having almost polished off her meal already. Offsman tapped on her tablet for a moment before responding. “He is released from mandatory bedrest now. HOWEVER, He will return to speak with our newest arrivals first thing in the morning” she announced. Her eyes met each of ours in turn making sure we understood. “I'll drag him by the ear, if I have to doctor” Fen said with an evil look my way.
“New humans?” I asked, giving up my attempt to lean into the bowl after almost falling over my soup. “That is correct, Cadet” Offsman said. “One arrived just yesterday but she is refusing to cooperate with us for the language implant procedure even if we speak in english. The other is currently being summoned by Keeps as we speak” She explained. “You should have seen the poor girl after the first summon didn't leave her blacked out on the floor. Her smile was practically contagious when the human appeared in mostly one piece” Offsman narrated. “The sheer amount of healers on hand ensured that the injuries of the human were healed within a few seconds” The doctor paused to continue her meal.
“I think I will need a few aids before I talk to the other humans” I said “We can be quite skeptical especially after watching some of the movies back home. I doubt that I would have agreed to a brain surgery after appearing here if I was conscious” I muttered to myself rather than the room. “Ill have a comfortable space made for you all at Earth's gravity where you can talk it out with them” the doctor added. “Lets use standard gravity for the station. I think the difference will help convince them of their reality” I said, watching my soup slowly cool under my spoon. I frowned at the thought of cold soup. Fen must have seen my plight because a moment later, she had stolen the spoon, and was helping me eat.
“Take the bowls back to the cafeteria when you are done feeding the cripple, Ashford” the doctor ordered. Swiping her tablet up, Doctor Offsman left the room. “Tha—” I attempted to say as Fen quickly moved another spoonful of the rapidly depleting soup to my lips. “Shut up and eat so we can get out of this stupid room. We are hitting the gym after this. I refuse to work with a baby who can't even feed himself” Fen almost shouted at me. I shut up and finished eating. “I am twenty years old" I said, watching Fen put away the bean bag chair. The bowls and spoons were stacked in one hand while I was folded over her other arm like a waiter might carry a towel. This wouldn’t draw attention at all I thought to myself, but I was literally not in a position to say no.
We left medical, returned the dishes, and Fen made good on her promise. Depositing me at the top of a rope ladder obstacle like a limp eel, Fen left me hanging. She watched me squirm from below while she mocked my weak attempts to right myself. Eventually, I pulled myself upright. I celebrated my victory before remembering how long I had been in the bed, unmoving. At least the gravity was kept at standard for the station. My muscles still had strength. I knew that I just needed to get used to using them again. This was going to be a long night. Mercifully , Fen had taken to words of encouragement after seeing that I was truly trying to break the rust off. That little injection of motivation really propelled me through the early morning.
Panting and resting back on the ground, I watched Fen conquer the obstacle course I had struggled to escape earlier in the night. Her fluid movements and careful foot placement would have allowed her to skip much of the smaller obstacles. She seemed to think that they were there for a reason, making sure to use every hold and stand. I realized that her goal was not speed right now, It was precision. Her practice entertained me for a few more minutes before I resumed my efforts. I peeled myself off the ground and crawled back onto the rope obstacle.
I was just catching my stride when my tablet sang to life with a notification. Even though I was closer to the tablet, Fen had made it there first. She picked up the device and read. “Cadet Walker, You are requested in Summoning Theater two. Urgent, do not delay.” Fen looked up at my now worried face. “Its probably a strong willed person trying to fight off the evil probing aliens” I replied. “Probing what” Fen asked. “I’ll explain later, help me down please, so we can get moving” I said impatiently. “You can get down yourself. You are twenty years old after all” Fen smiled innocently back at me. “Can a big strong male not get down a rope ladder by himself?” She said dramatically. “No, You are right. I am sorry for snapping at you” I apologized. “If you are really sorry then get your rear moving so we can go make some new friends” Fen said in a good mood. She picked up the uniform top I shedded after my first shaky descent earlier in the night. I did not like to work out in thick clothes. So I left the heavy uniform top on the ground before my next ascent. A thought crossed my mind, causing me to smile. I climbed to the edge of the ladder and slid down the last few rungs, landing hard on my feet. I stumbled back and thudded to the floor breathing hard. The drop was only a couple feet but the gravity made it feel like way more. Rolling over to my uniform top, I reclasped the front. The effort I made to stand was not enough and after a few attempts, Fen lost her patience. “Alright Ill carry you to and from the gym until you can walk again. Don’t forget my chivalry now when I ask for favors in the future” Fen stated with her nose in the air, and a small smile threatening to break across her face.
I was carried while giving directions to the speeding Latrod. We made good time across the spheres, from connection to connection. She was clearly pushing herself to move as fast as possible. I could only assume she was still in the training mindset, trying to sneak in a bit more stamina work. I could not fault her for wanting to push herself. I felt the same way back on Earth when I had first started trying to escape the summoning circles. The rush of blood through the body, and the feeling after could easily become addicting.
We split a crown after passing through an administration building as a shortcut to the rapidly approaching summoning area. I had not gotten a good look at the rooms before, and was feeling nervous about reliving that dark day. Fen must have picked up on the nerves I was feeling because she asked me “you going to be okay? I mean, I know we pushed you pretty hard last night, but I don’t think you hurt yourself from the practice.” “Im fine, and the practice on the rope obstacle helped me loosen up a lot. Don’t worry. Left at the T” I replied calmly. “Oh, you are shaking and I just thought you might be uncomfortable after the gym” she said timidly. She was right, I was shaking badly. I had not noticed until Fen said something. The combination of the nerves, and my muscles trying to vibrate off my bones, had me feeling like a massage chair. “I think I can hold out until after we get some breakfast. Right after the office block ends” I said, forgetting that both our funds were at zero. “Right down the wide hall straight ahead. Look for room number two” I said. As we got to the door we could hear shouting. I sighed as I immediately recognized English coming through the door, listing off demands like a shopping list.
The door opened revealing Jun face down on a smooth black stone floor being pinned down by the textbook definition of a cowboy. People surrounded him in the room from all angles, but his attention shifted to me as soon as the door opened. “What in the kentucky fried fuck is goin on?’ he demanded, the revolver in his hand shifted. A glint off the shiny barrel magnetized my attention to the firearm, and its aim, directly over the back of Jun’s head.
