They've talked about getting their hands on the crystal they need to power the Hexcore almost from the moment they learned of its existence. It had, however, never quite seemed worth the risk, given their various stop-gaps and the time they thought they had. Better to work their way up in the Academy the right way, acquire it through above-board means. They still, technically, got their hands on one through legitimate means, though Viktor isn't exactly pleased about the deal they had to make to do it.
All of those worries--the anxiety that the government might discover the exchange--might as well vanish when the activate the device for the first time. It's just as beautiful as he remembers it, though it looks a bit different now, with arcana symbols inscribed on the facets, instead of familiar runes. The feeling in the pit of his stomach that he gets when it finally--finally--levitates from the surface of the worktable and starts to spin of its own accord, however, is much the same as it was back home. He grins at Jayce, then, beaming. It reminds him of how things used to be, just the two of them and the thrill of boundless discovery.
Of course, the work isn't done. Testing comes next, which is less exciting and much more grueling. Viktor faces the same problem he did back home, where the arcane power pushed through his subjects is simply too much for them to bear. That's where the blood and the sap from Ikorr and their own magic comes in, the two of them doing everything they can to fortify the plants that they then subject to the device. The good news is that it's promising--given the correct application of their various substances, the plants are lasting longer and longer.
But it's not perfect, yet. They can't try it on Viktor until it is. He brushes the latest round of plant matter off the worktable.
"I think we're almost out of subjects," he says, and despite the situation and the long hours of testing and adjusting, there's fondness in his voice. This reminds him of first puzzling out the Hexgates, years ago. "What do you think about a cactus?"
jayce, early Jan (closed)
All of those worries--the anxiety that the government might discover the exchange--might as well vanish when the activate the device for the first time. It's just as beautiful as he remembers it, though it looks a bit different now, with arcana symbols inscribed on the facets, instead of familiar runes. The feeling in the pit of his stomach that he gets when it finally--finally--levitates from the surface of the worktable and starts to spin of its own accord, however, is much the same as it was back home. He grins at Jayce, then, beaming. It reminds him of how things used to be, just the two of them and the thrill of boundless discovery.
Of course, the work isn't done. Testing comes next, which is less exciting and much more grueling. Viktor faces the same problem he did back home, where the arcane power pushed through his subjects is simply too much for them to bear. That's where the blood and the sap from Ikorr and their own magic comes in, the two of them doing everything they can to fortify the plants that they then subject to the device. The good news is that it's promising--given the correct application of their various substances, the plants are lasting longer and longer.
But it's not perfect, yet. They can't try it on Viktor until it is. He brushes the latest round of plant matter off the worktable.
"I think we're almost out of subjects," he says, and despite the situation and the long hours of testing and adjusting, there's fondness in his voice. This reminds him of first puzzling out the Hexgates, years ago. "What do you think about a cactus?"