Reinventing Magic: An Inventor's Tale-Chapter 36: Awakening Alice

Kael kept his back turned as Keira draped the summoned cloak over the mysterious woman from the capsule. His mind churned, processing the fragments of information they had uncovered so far. The words from the hologram echoed in his thoughts—the seals would fail, chaos would return, and Project Golem might be their only hope.

He turned back to inspect the young woman. Her long, silver-gray hair cascaded around her shoulders, shimmering in the soft light of the chamber. Her features were strikingly beautiful, with high cheekbones, a delicate nose, and full lips. Despite her serene appearance, there was an undeniable strength and power emanating from her. His gaze fell on the spirit crystal embedded in her chest, its faint glow casting an ethereal light.

"Kael, what is she?" Keira asked softly, her voice trembling with confusion and worry. "I’m really starting to get confused about what’s going on."

Kael took a deep breath and turned to face Keira, his expression a mix of determination and uncertainty. "She’s... something extraordinary. This spirit crystal embedded in her chest, it’s sustaining her, keeping her in this stasis."

Keira glanced down at the woman, her brow furrowed with concern. "But why? What was the purpose of this Project Golem?"

Kael’s mind raced as he pieced together the clues. "The hologram mentioned the rifts and the chaos they brought. Project Golem was meant to counter the creatures from beyond. This young woman... Alice, she must be a key part of that plan."

He knelt beside Alice, studying the faint glow of the spirit crystal. "This crystal is a magical repository, designed to store vast amounts of information. It can hold spells, knowledge, and memories, making it an invaluable tool for any adventurer. We need to figure out how to awaken her fully. She might hold the answers we need."

Keira nodded, determination replacing her earlier confusion. "Alright. So, what do we do?"

Kael’s gaze hardened with resolve. "We search this ruin for any information on how to activate her. There must be something—records, manuals, anything that can help us understand this technology."

Turning back around, Kael approached the capsule and examined the intricate runes etched along its edges. They pulsed faintly, indicating the presence of an enchantment. His gaze shifted to the spirit crystal embedded in the console beside it. The faint glow within seemed almost...alive.

"The crystal," Kael muttered. "It’s acting as her brain. If it contains part of Project Golem’s data, it might also hold the key to waking her."

Keira frowned. "Can you access it?"

Kael nodded, already extending his hand toward the console. His mana surged into the crystal, and a holographic interface materialized in the air above it. Rows of text and diagrams scrolled rapidly across the screen. One heading caught his eye:

Project Alice: Status Report

Kael selected the entry. The details that appeared made his breath catch.

---

Project Alice

Status: Enchantment Incomplete

Result: Activation Failure

Data Uploaded: Partial (Includes Project Golem Framework)

---

Kael’s thoughts raced. "She isn’t just part of Project Golem. She’s...something more. A prototype, maybe? Or an entirely different experiment?"

Keira stepped closer, her curiosity piqued. "But if the enchantment wasn’t completed, does that mean she’s...broken?"

"Not necessarily," Kael replied, his tone measured. "The enchantment might be incomplete, but the data stored within her could still be intact. The problem is that without a functioning enchantment, she can’t move or communicate."

Kael’s eyes lit up as an idea struck him. "I need to inspect the enchantment itself. If it’s a written formula or a code, I might be able to fix it."

Keira raised an eyebrow. "Fix an enchantment that even ancient scholars couldn’t complete? That’s ambitious, even for you."

Kael smirked. "Let’s just say I have a unique perspective on this kind of thing."

Keira’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded. "Alright. Let’s get to work."

He crouched beside the console, examining the connection points where mana flowed between the capsule and the surrounding machinery. To his surprise, he found another spirit crystal embedded within the console. Its glow was faint but steady. He channeled a small thread of mana into it, and another hologram appeared.

This time, the display showcased a detailed diagram of Alice’s internal systems. Her core components were highlighted, including a section labeled "Mana Conduit Enchantment." Beside it was a red status marker: Incomplete.

"This is it," Kael murmured, tracing the lines of the diagram with his finger. "Her enchantment’s structure is flawed. It’s like a circuit with a missing connection. If I can identify the gaps, I can rewrite the formula."

Keira watched him work, her expression a mixture of skepticism and admiration. "You make it sound so easy."

"It won’t be," Kael admitted. "But it’s possible. I’ve worked on similar systems before... in a manner of speaking."

He didn’t elaborate further. His memories of Earth, of being a robotic engineer, were something he could not share. Before his untimely demise and reincarnation, he had spearheaded a groundbreaking project known as Luna, an advanced AI designed to adapt and learn autonomously. The idea of incorporating elements of Luna into Alice’s program flickered in his mind, a tantalizing possibility he couldn’t yet explore. For now, he focused on the task at hand, his fingers deftly manipulating the holographic interface as he analyzed the enchantment’s structure.

After several minutes of intense concentration, Kael leaned back and exhaled sharply. "I think I’ve got it. The missing connection involves a synchronization between her mana core and the spirit crystal. If I can replicate the right mana flow, it should activate her."

Keira’s eyes widened. "You’re going to try it now?"

Kael hesitated. "Not here. The equipment in this ruin is too unstable. We’ll take the capsule and the console back to Valtieri Manor. I’ll need my workshop to ensure everything is done safely."

"Can you move all of this?" Keira asked, gesturing to the massive console and the capsule.

Kael grinned. "With a little ingenuity, yes."

He activated his infinite storage, a spatial dimension capable of holding vast amounts of material. Carefully, he began detaching the console from its power source, instructing Keira to trace the mana conduits and help disconnect them without damaging the equipment. Once the console was free, he stored it within the shimmering portal of his storage space.

Next came the capsule. Kael inspected its base, ensuring that its enchantments would remain intact during transport. Satisfied, he stored it as well, the glowing sphere disappearing into the void of his storage.

"What about the other artifacts?" Keira asked, glancing around the room. "Some of these could be important."

Kael nodded. "We’ll take anything functional. Especially that artifact with the red mana crystal. It might’ve been used to enchant Alice."

They spent the next hour scouring the ruin, collecting artifacts, and storing them securely. Kael made sure to retrieve the holographic projector from earlier, knowing it held critical information about the ancient civilization and their desperate efforts to seal the rifts. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel-com

With everything secured, Kael summoned his Aetherwing Skiff, a sleek airship of his own design. The skiff materialized before them, its metallic haul gleaming in the faint light of the ruin. Keira couldn’t help but marvel at the creation.

"Every time I see this thing, I’m reminded of how insane you are," she said with a laugh.

Kael smirked. "And yet, you’re still here."

As they boarded the skiff, Kael took one last look at the ruin. The ancient structure had revealed its secrets, but it also left him with more questions. Who had created Alice? What was the true purpose of Project Golem? And most importantly, could they prevent the seals from breaking?

The skiff lifted off smoothly, its wings slicing through the air as they ascended. The journey back to Valtieri Manor was swift, though it didn’t pass without incident. As they approached the estate, the sight of the skiff caused quite a stir among the townsfolk.

"Is that a bird?" Someone shouted.

"No, it’s a dragon!" Another cried, scrambling for cover.

By the time they landed in the manor’s courtyard, a small crowd had gathered, including Count Edgar, Oswald, and Victor. The count’s stern expression softened into one of astonishment as Kael stepped off the skiff, followed closely by Keira.

"Kael," Edgar said, his voice laced with disbelief. "What have you done this time?"

Kael bowed politely. "Father, I need to speak with you. Privately."

Edgar’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded. "Very well. Let’s talk inside."

As they retreated to the manor’s study, Kael began to explain everything—the ruin, the holograms, the dire warning about the seals, and the mysterious woman they had found. Edgar listened intently, his expression growing graver with each passing moment.

"If what you say is true," Edgar said finally, "then we are facing a threat unlike any other. We must prepare."

Kael nodded. "And to do that, we need Alice. She might hold the key to saving us all."

Edgar’s gaze hardened. "Then do whatever it takes. Our future depends on it."

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