I was very relieved to discover that the Mad Admiral wasn't an evil individual. Vakra was a rude and very blunt man, but he wasn't really that bad.
Although I couldn't figure out why someone like him seemed so attached to this country...
For starters, he had a demeanor of someone that didn't care about his subordinates. A mad scientist that only cared about the data and results he could glean from a person or an event. As far as I could tell, such a man shouldn't be commanding soldiers or running a ship...
This type of person was better suited to live in a laboratory and rarely see the light of day.
Yet...
Vakra was highly respected by his peers and treated almost like a King.
But aside from his 'comments' about Leiso, Rune, and Isabella, I didn't find him to be all that bad.
And this was after a couple of days living in his laboratory.
It seemed like Vakra had very little time to spend with women. Although, he very much enjoyed their company.
And after I asked him about it, he gave a fairly simple response. One regarding Rastair.
"If you must know, I enjoy studying the female body. Closely and intimately... My condition prohibits me from keeping anyone closer than arms reach. For example, the night with Rastair was both enjoyable and embarrassing. I became a skeleton before we finished. She seemed to find it funny and was willing to wait, but I decided that it was enough. Now, would you like to help me out and drink this? Others reported that it burns their insides."
"I can't feel pain from outside sources anymore, remember?" I said.
Vakra sighed.
"Then stop bothering me!" He said angrily.
I suppose it was understandable...
I was only curious as to why he made mildly sexual comments at Isabella and the other girls despite claiming to have no interest in dating.
Regardless, as the degradation continued, he came up with a solution several days later.
* * *
Vakra held something in his hands that looked like a safety harness used for construction work. Although it had needles and a strange device that looked like a small metal spike hanging off of it.
"I have a temporary solution for the problem you're facing. Although you might not like what it entails..." Vakra said.
"Fine...go for it..." I said.
"First, based on the data you've given me, I have determined that it is absolutely vital for you to be able to use magic. Is that correct?" Vakra said.
I nodded.
"If you can use magic, you can access the Archmage Aspect. I have a theory about modifying the status interface to connect it to your power source. Unfortunately, magic is impossible to use because of the extreme buildup of energy in your bodies. This harness will rectify that. And since the only pain you feel is from the degradation process, this won't hurt at all... At least it shouldn't."
"Umm...is that thing going to...stab us?" Isabella asked.
Vakra nodded.
"Once you've put the harness on, you'll connect to a machine I have here twice a day. Based on the data collected from the Heart of the Deep, I've determined that this is the best method of doing so."
Isabella made a somewhat disgusted face at the thought of further damaging her body, but ultimately decided not to protest.
Vakra showed us the proper positioning of the harness, and left us to place it underneath our clothes.
Isabella helped me with mine, and I helped her get hers in place. Once we finished, Vakra came back into the room.
"Don't worry, I don't have any hidden cameras in this room. I have no interest in viewing the degrading body of a woman I've built ten times already," Vakra said.
Isabella looked like she wanted to punch him for that, but had no energy to do so.
"Next, we'll connect the two of you. And there's no need to fight, as there are two places to...plug in, per se," Vakra said.
He hooked a metal apparatus to each of our necks and showed us a switch to flip.
Immediately, the machine roared to life and began absorbing the excess energy from our bodies.
After a few minutes, I felt almost normal again. Best of all, I could use magic.
"This is amazing!!! I feel so light!" Isabella said.
"Uwaaa...Vakra has done Mizik a service that I won't forget. I am in your debt!" Cassandra said.
"Thanks, Vakra..." I said.
"Shut up! You don't have time to thank me. Mizik, use that Aspect of yours to fix your power situation. Connect your status menu to the heart," Vakra said.
Not wanting to argue at the moment, I began quickly modifying the status menu.
After a few minutes of adjusting things, I got a new message.
{ALERT: UNSTABLE POWER SOURCE CONNECTED. DEGRADATION SLOWED BUT NOT STOPPED. Time until full degradation: 201:21:45.}
Good, I bought myself some time... Now for Isabella and Cassandra.
I quickly turned to Isabella and fixed hers as well.
Once it had finished, she activated her Priestess Aspect and healed the two of us. She restored our original appearances and sighed happily.
"Mizik! I feel so much better! I'm still in horrible pain, but at least I don't look like a zombie, right!?" Isabella said.
"That's...good..." I said.
The curse began to flare up again and helpfully reminded me that it was still painful.
"Mizik! You look like your old self again! I'm so happy!!!" Cassandra said as she lunged forward and hugged me tightly.
"Eh...too close..." I said.
"Heeee...Mizik is so warm and comfortable..." Cassandra said happily.
"Let go of him!" Isabella said.
"Nooooo! I don't want to! I'm just so relieved that I won't hurt him again is all!" Cassandra said.
"How odd..." Vakra said.
I looked at him as he eyed Cassandra curiously.
"Multiple personality disorder? Or perhaps something else? I sense two completely different powers... No...two souls. Interesting..." Vakra said.
"You may not study my wife!" I said angrily.
"Mizik called me his wife!!! This feeling is amazing!!!" Cassandra said joyfully.
"He was talking about me!!!" Isabella said angrily.
"But I was in control when he said it! I don't mind being his second wife. The Second Princess can be the second wife! Ehehe~!"
I decided to ignore them for now.
"Vakra, the degradation hasn't stopped. It's just been prolonged. Do you have a plan for fixing this?" I asked while Cassandra buried her face in my chest.
"I do, but the designs I'm working on may take some time to fully manifest. Leiso is aiding me in making sure the alloy I'm using will be strong enough. Also...there is the matter of implanting the device.."
"Device?" I asked.
"I will be implanting a device in each of your chests to house the heart stones. The device will prevent your bodies from being overloaded and normalize the energy flow. It should help to stabilize the stones as well. Although, I have theories about using necromancy to further boost the potency..." Vakra said.
"Like a phylactery? We met a lich a few months ago named Aldaril. Would it be possible to make a legendary heart stone into a phylactery?" I said.
Vakra seemed to think for a moment.
"So the lich is alive...? Or, not alive...? Being undead and such... Hm...unsurprising. But yes. Like a phylactery. You'll probably have to construct the spells on your own, as I do not typically practice lesser forms of magic. I usually deal with time-space manipulation along with gravitational and azure chaos energy magicks. Necromancy isn't my specialty," Vakra said.
What kind of crazy magic is that!?
"Noted. I'll get to work on it right away," I said.
"Oh, and I don't believe that the implant will be an issue for you. But Isabella's breasts are quite large. Unless you want her to be lopsided, I would suggest implanting the device from her side just under the arm. Is that accept-"
"YES PLEASE!" Isabella suddenly shouted.
"Even if this isn't my body, that would be weird... Besides, I want to look my best for Mizik!" Cassandra said.
"I agree... I don't want to lose my boobs... Even if they are kind of heavy..." Isabella said.
"Who cares if they're heavy!? Mizik likes them and that's all that matters! Ah...if only I had my own body... Then I could please Mizik as much as-"
"Stop it, Cassandra!" Isabella said angrily.
"Ahem... That's very good. And might I say, you're looking much more...desirable now..." Vakra said with a wide smile.
Immediately after, his skin shifted in an azure light, and he became a black skeleton.
"Damn it all... That's what I get for making passes..." Vakra said.
"Serves you right, pervert!" Isabella said angrily.
"This body belongs to Mizik!" Cassandra said as she clung to my arm.
"Regardless... I have already made preparations for your decision. I have much crafting and testing to do, so it might take a few weeks. But soon, I should be able to help you. Just be patient," Vakra said.
"That's fine. We have about two hundred days until we degrade to dust, but please hurry," I said.
"I will. There is also the matter of meeting the Emperor and his Advisor. I will make an appointment for you to meet and I will call for you when they are ready," Vakra said.
"Thank you, Vakra. We appreciate-"
"Admiral Vakra. I have a title, please use it. Unless you wish to get to know me a little better..." Vakra said after interrupting Isabella.
"I'll pass..." She said.
"Suit yourself. I'll be going now... I have a date with Leiso," Vakra said.
Then he just left the room.
"I'd like to beat the shit out of him for his behavior towards you... But that would be a bad idea. At least until we're fixed..." I said.
Isabella nodded sadly.
After that, we went to the room that Vakra had prepared for us and laid down.
Beside us, was a room for Carlos and Leiso and then one for Jallah and Rune.
As I breathed out, Isabella laid her head on my chest.
"I guess this means you'll be working on those spells...?" She said.
"Yeah. But you can stay if you want," I said.
"I think I will. This is my favorite place to sleep..."
"Mine too!!! Mizik's chest is so warm! It's so comforting and manly..." Cassandra said happily.
The two of them quietly fought for control again as I gazed into the chasm of magic.
* * *
After that, we would get rid of the excess energy twice a day.
The magical buildup was somewhat inconsistent, however, so we had varying times of expulsion. Sometimes we would when have to do it three times a day...
It made sense to me, at least. If it had a set time, then it wouldn't be unstable now, would it?
Regardless, a week later, Vakra finally called us into the throne room of Elysium to meet the Emperor.
We were made to wear special robes that were red and silver, lined with gold.
We were told to address the Emperor as a his Majesty, and to treat him like an adult instead of a child.
He was an elven child and was still only ten years old.
Additionally, we were told to not insult the Advisor.
Vakra didn't say why, just that it would be very difficult not to.
We walked through the immaculate and beautiful halls lined with white steel.
Eventually, we arrived at a set of massive, red and silver double doors. Two elite guards wielding halberds with energy blades and hollow barrels for firing stood on either side.
They wore intricate metal armor in the colors of red and silver.
"Be careful, once again. Emperor Alwen Silexandross Elysium, prefers the name Alwen. You will refer to him as Emperor Alwen ONLY if he gives you permission to do so. Otherwise, call him 'your Majesty'," Vakra said.
"And the Advisor?" I asked.
"I don't give a shit. His name is Jarbold. But if you don't want to piss him off, I recommend calling him Advisor Jarbold. Now then, let's enter," Vakra said.
He was wearing his mask, but I could tell he was currently in his skeletal form based on his stiff movements and voice.
Vakra motioned the two guards and they opened the doors.