Augmented Aspects: Chapter 254 A Few Sympathetic Hands (Patreon)

Chapter 254

A Few Sympathetic Hands

“Now it is time to see who passes this mid-term and who will need to come back for more classes next week.” I state, as the real fun is just about to start.

“Wait? What?” Eighty-nine voices ask out in near perfect unison.

But it is already too late.

“MUWHAHAHAA!” I cackle lightly as I rub my hands together.

“WAIT!” Maranda yells out, concern clearly evident in her voice.

Seeing that even she doesn’t know what I am about to do, I just turn tor her and smiling mischievously ask, “yes?”

“Uh, you haven’t finished your cream.” Maranda stammers out.

“Yeah, at least get in a good mood first.” Penelope adds.

“Fine,” I say, realizing that I am not exactly certain what will happen to any food left in the impact area after I do what I am about to do.

Grabbing the spoon, and picking up the bowl to eat, my students who have bought themselves a minute to think begin hitting me with a myriad of questions.

“What exactly do you mean by see who passes?” Jhonny asks.

“Good question, but really the answer is simple. This is an elective, one that really only has either a pass or fail status.” I begin answering between bites. “As such, I realized if I wanted to stop being stuck with these classes, then my only clear way forward is to pass you all. Which I intend to do right now.”

With that, I take the final two bites of whipped cream, even feeling a slight tingle as the external sugars start interacting with my normally dormant physiology, causing mild tingling sensations that might make this next part a bit tougher than originally intended.

Then again, this might be just the mix of chaos that I need in order to pull this next part of the examination off with a nearly perfect record. While I want a perfect 100% success rate, I realize that this would be a pain, and a logistical nightmare.

Already, I am making plans for what would happen if more than five people pass this next part.

I’m certain I can get all the spies, or rather all three people that have been infected with my mana and qi rotting techniques from stealing my corrupted manual. Those three individuals, which includes Charlaine my secretary, are all but begging to be pushed the final step into having a Bloodline Awakening event occur.

Everyone else, they have just been sitting around for close to a month now wasting Mallory’s and my evenings by having this class.

“Wait, so this next exam is all meant as a way to awaken our Royal Bloodlines?” Ulliynafent asked.

“Yes,” I reply.

“But how?” Rilefat asked.

Hearing his question, I just smile and as if on cue, drop the empty bowl of homemade whipped cream and spoon. Don’t worry, no silverware or dishes were injured as a part of this experiment as everything was saved with the help of Telekinesis.

“Like this!” I say, before Teleporting away from the front of the room.

Poof.

Only to reappear right in the middle of my gaggle of students, right by Charlaine and her two co-conspirators, making them the effective ground zero for this.

Everyone is still looking forward, watching the bowl and spoon gently glide through the air and rest on the desk, while I quickly pull out the eighty-nine just signed contracts and began casting Arcane Geomancy.

I know I’ve been using this ability as a sort of catch all recently. Which really it is, or rather it has the potential to be.

Arcane Geomancy at its very core is the fusion of mana and Qi in equal measures that can be used to give items with Pyschometric energy the semblance of a soul.

Thus my taking the eighty-nine freshly signed contracts between myself and my Royal Bloodline students is able to go one step further.

Normally at this point, the item that is brought to life would just be influenced by my own will alone. Whereas these documents are infused with not just my will, but the limited will of the student. Meaning that the student will also be bound to this document.

To put it in layman’s terms, by using this document and allowing this document to fuse with the two of us, I am not only increasing the chances of a forceful bloodline awakening by linking their body and effectively part of their soul, or at least a sliver of their will or intention to the document. By then going one step further and having that same document linked to my will and intention, we add an extra layer of energy, as now the signer, the previously noted Awakenee is now in fact linked to a semi-mythical grade item.

Yeah, think about it, the concept blew my mind when I came up with it. Also given the fact that I felt I could get most of this taken care of within the first twenty minutes of class and call it a day, I was doubly sold on this as an event.

SHWOOP, SHWOOP, SHWOOP!

The sound of dozens of magical documents first linking to me, and then branching out and making unique Tesla Coil strands of energy branch out and connect directly to the signee of the document.

For a moment everything is bright, vibrant, and beautiful.

In this one moment, I saw the true inspiration of creativity coming to life. As fear, awe, and wonder filled not only my face, but the face of all students who had gathered to see the experiment.

Unfortunately, that is what this was, an experiment. While I was fairly certain this would work, I didn’t know how it would work. I didn’t know that it would be this beautiful to behold.

For not only was I creating a layer of energy up top, that shot up from me, reached out to the now floating magical documents, and then down to the students who signed their intent to the documents. But down below, a second layer of Arcane Geomancy was also at work, grabbing inanimate objects and imbuing part of my own essence into each and every item.

This made it so, regardless of distance traveled, I could now and hopefully forever come back to this exact spot any time I wished.

More importantly, I felt minor connections being made between me and the different items that were around the room.

Desks, chairs, and even the carpet came to a very minor form of awareness. Meanwhile, items that had more energy to begin with came to life almost instantly.

Suddenly the different things that all came to life from my activation of this power all made sense. The warehouses where two or more mana using officers would sit, the chairs they sat in, and the desks they all operated while in Legrand territory came to mind. So too did the Ma-Mes and Di-Mes that were coursing with mana and Qi. Also, my books that I infused with my knowledge of skills also had intense amounts of my own mental energies coursing in them.

It took me a bit, but I finally understood what Arcane Geomancy was, what would create sentient magical objects, and likely how to avoid doing so in the future.

This was especially important, as now there were highly enchanted weapons, and live, maybe double-live rounds that were suddenly becoming self-aware. Not just aware of the fact that they were now sentient weapons, but sentient weapons that were infused with my morality, and the faintest hint of my own concern for Mallory and my students. Had I known this last part would cause self-aware weapons to effectively martyr themselves, I might have considered an alternate path.

Yes, that’s right.

The weapons that Charlaine and her co-conspirators had all brought to class, in what appears to have been a blatant attempt on Mallory or other students now backfired. Not just figuratively in the fact that the weapons detonated themselves before they could be used against their wills for evil acts. There was also a literal component to this too, as many of the rounds and items were in fact strapped to the three co-conspirator’s backs. Making quite an impressive fire, when they all went off and burst in unison.

FWOOSH!

A magical wave of force erupted from the items and it was all I could do to create two layers of vertical protective domes that both covered me, but also protected the other students from damage.

New Spell Created: Dual-Linked Vertical Protective Barriers [Tier XIV] (C): A spell created by Dr. Cassiopeia Spiritlight that creates two concentric rings, one around the caster, and one around the intended source of a violent explosion. This design forces the majority of released energy from an explosion to be directed upwards.

Note: While the majority of the energy will be directed upwards, parts will be directed towards both the encasing, and the original source of the explosion.

Kind of generic the name of the spell, while that was the original idea I had in my mind while constructing the spell on the fly. Had I been given a bit more time to think about the name, I probably would have tried to come up with something cooler like cork-less mortar tubes, or maybe the fountain firework trap, or something. You know what, those other names are all terrible as well.

Okay, with that, we had for a moment two competing wave forms of energy.

We had vertical flames that seemed like they would be in direct conflict with the electrical bolts of the Tesla Coil spells that were still in effect. But in this case electricity won, which I think makes sense, remembering lessons on how electrical fires were the most dangerous, and how people were trying to devise ways to put out fires with electricity.

In this case, the electrical beams that were created from the soul binding contracts between myself and the other students cut into the leaping flames. This made odd triangular and other geometric shapes to appear in the flames that shot upwards, into and through the roof of the school.

I watched as the flames surged forth, infused both with Qi and mana and met the roof of the ceiling with intricate patterns. Patterns that instantly burned away as the flames just rejoined once they met at the ceiling and began burning everything away in a straight vertical line.

Honestly, the little pyro in me was ultimately impressed with the sheer amount of devastation I managed to create by this one oversight.

While I know this is likely going to get thrown in my face, I would like to point out that students shouldn’t have weapons in school. I don’t think there is any jury of peers that would argue against that logic, and then hopefully we could throw in a few things of equal and proportionate force to neutralize the threat.

Oh wait, things are on fire, I should probably stop that before I get lost in my own defense trial.

Cryogenic Freeze.

Focusing on the still smoldering remains on the floor and on the roof, I cast Cryogenic Freeze on both the damaged parts of the classroom and on the three students that looked like they were now close to being flash frozen hot dogs. They likely had some resistances to heat and flames, which is why they are all alive right now.

Chime.

Chime.

Chime.

Chime X 32 more.

For a moment, I am about to begin surgically trying to save the three students, when I get a mental chime in my mind.

For a moment I try to understand what is happening. Then part of my mind realizes that a contract I have signed and promised to try to help with has become activated.

Contract with Jhonny has now become active.

Contract with Charlaine has now become active.

Contract with…

Yeah, that’s not distracting.

Realizing I need to call in help, I instantly put two fingers in my mouth and perform the best Wolf Whistle ever.

It isn’t a real wolf whistle, as I still haven’t had time to practice and master that skill. It doesn’t help that every time I try to devote time to learning to whistle something else always comes up, like having to take over a class full of delinquent students trying to kill the Guild Leader, or my finding out that electricity created by Arcane Geomancy will cut through flames created by the same burst of Arcane Geomancy.

Honestly, I need to look into that more, but for now I think I have fairly irrefutable proof that this is the case.

“WOOF!” A bark that echoes through space races out and passes through me. Feeling that cleansing wave of energy, I can’t help but feel relief knowing that Kujo, and by extension one of my Simulacrums are coming to help with this area.

Realizing that my Simulacrum will take care of this area, I immediately reach out to my Second Simulacrum, the one still on the 200th floor of the Arcanarus Tower and instantly begin evacuating the thirty-five total students who have now awoken their Royal Bloodlines.

Three of these of course are the noted spies that effectively tried to blow themselves up by getting too close to my magic. That is my final story, and I am sticking to this one, less liability on my end.

Fortunately, my Simulacrum gets here in short order with Kujo and with their help, we are easily able to grab all of the thirty-two students and three Legrand spies and send them through the portal.

Then just linking my mind with the fourth Simulacrum via Telepathy, I get a full breakdown of everything that has happened. How Ms. Kujo is doing, how Mr. Kujo is showing his own signs of awakening a Royal Bloodline.

“Congratulations buddy!” I say, patting him, but then feel sorry for the fact that I can’t do more.

Mr. Kujo gives a slobbery lick to let me know we are still good. Then with that, I join my Second Simulacrum on the 200th floor of the Arcanarus Tower.

Why the Simulacrum on the 200th floor you ask? Well, the answer is simple, first the floor is mostly closed off. Despite being a library filled with nearly countless volumes of knowledge, almost no one gets permission to enter. Then there is the fact that those who are in charge are often avoided by most people at all costs.

“My queen.” The leader of the fairies who guard the 200th floor library says, coming forward.

“Hello, I desperately need your assistance.” I begin, saying words that no one would ever willingly state to a fairy. That said, I quickly open my mind via Telepathy, making it so my thoughts are shared both with my Second Simulacrum, who has stayed behind to help me here, along with the fleet of Fairies that are all coming to apparently assist me.

Normally, I would cringe at the idea of being called a queen by anyone, but from these fairies, I don’t really mind. In fact, given that they don’t do so out of malice or feigned piety, a fact that is transmitted via my Second Simulacrum’s shared consciousness, I am kind of fond of the girls.

With my mind open, I begin sharing the details of the first thirty-two, I share their contracts, what they mean to me. How these people are all effectively under my protection.

Then, quickly shifting glances, I next focus on the three Legrand spies.

“Eww!” The fairies all let out in unison upon seeing both their physical and spiritual states. Not only are they now burnt, and frozen on the outside, but their insides are almost beyond recognition due to not having any stable channels to move or contain energy.

Using our open mental link, I share how these three are spies. Then I detail how I trapped the one secretary with a trap. A trap that she then shared with her two compatriots.

As I share the details of what I did, the other fairies all begin to smile viciously, some try to hide their smiles behind their hands, but it is clear that they not only get what I did, but seem to delight in my processes.

Vindication.

Seeing their obvious joy to my actions, I can’t help but feel the most perverse sign of pleasure at the fact of what happened to get them here. Even sharing how they were effectively injured by their own weapons that they tried to use to kill my friends and family.

Chitter.

At this last part, they all angrily gnaw and mash their sharp little piranha shaped teeth at the trio.

“No, just wait.” I say, holding up my hand to stop them.

They pause just long enough for me to share the contract they signed with me, then how I bound myself to give them what they wanted. And more importantly, what it would take to get what they wanted.

That is when, once again, I realized I was in the right spot, for all of these girls instantly understood the cruelty that would soon be unleashed, while reaffirming that I didn’t go too far.

It was that last part, the part of wondering if I was going too far that made me worry for a moment. But knowing that the fairies not only approved, but were willing to help just to see this come to fruition, I couldn’t help but smile.

“What do you need from us my queen?” The first of the fairies once again asked.

With that, I asked something for my own amusement and personal knowledge. I had read about it, this very process from this very library, but I didn’t even know such a thing was possible.

“Can you cast these three in Stasis, so that they don’t die before it is time to operate on them?” I ask, indicating the three still living, if barely, co-conspirators and Legrand spies.

“With pleasure,” a few of them all say in unison, as devilish smiles come to their lips.

Seeing their delight in helping me, made me realize two things. First, I made the right choice in coming here for assistance. And second, I realized that I might need to spend more time here, these girls seemed fun.

But before I could get too lost in my future machinations, I began with the basics.

“Jhonny, I’m going to get you first. But know I can’t let you go back right away, as I will need you to help assist me with working with the others.” I state.

Jhonny for his part, just nodded as stoically as ever.

“You ready?” I ask.

Jhonny took in a deep breath, and then seemed to steady himself. “Should I lay down or what?”

“Yeah probably for the best that you lay down,” I admit. And like that the other students who had all been queuing up to get treated all began to lay down.

As he got down, I pulled up the binding document that linked both of us together. Knowing that no one other than Jhonny and I could read what was on this soul contract I begin.

“So it says here that you always wanted to be a Cowboy…” I begin to say as I already begin the process of helping Jhonny transition.

“Wait, what?” Was all he managed, before the world around me went silent, while I began to work my magic.