A Hard Work
My heart clenches at the thought of him, while María approaches trying to analyze the mysterious "Lamicta."
"How, like the ones that appear on rocks?" Marco inquires, to which the professor nods.
"Lamicta, sounds kinda magical," María approaches, trying to unravel it.
"I'm gonna sketch it out, but I'll need everyone's help," Marco turns to his group. "Each one, if possible, brainstorm everything that comes to mind from your field, don't think or talk with others about what you're doing, try to do it solely with the knowledge you have."
Marco's proposal aims to harness everyone's fresh minds, allowing all ideas to converge. He's done this with us in previous cases, and it's undoubtedly functional.
Weeks go by, and everyone begins to understand more about how Lamicta works. Marco, María, and John are the ones who've worked on it the most. While one team focuses on understanding it, the other uses what they comprehend to build the machine.
Marco, designated as the leader, actively participates in all aspects of the project. After a month, they realize they shouldn't consider Lamicta as something from their world, but as a new form of energy.
"Following our standards hasn't led us to any conclusions, so, as much as it pains me, we need to try to forget a bit about the laws of physics," concludes one of his team.
Marco's smile grows, getting more and more excited. He looks at María, and they both smile and continue with the work.
They decide to simply harness the phenomenon, asserting that the energy source is probably inexhaustible. A pyroxene crystal won't break unless it's impacted by special weaponry or a source of mana greater than it can absorb.
The conclusion is certainly accurate. Through their sensations, I perceive that Marco, despite not having a door, has been accumulating mana as if his door existed beyond the physical.
"It's as if his soul already knows how to contain the mana," Echidna looks towards Marco, then adds, "Marco's world has never been exposed to mana, even if it's a benevolent force, who knows what problems it could cause."
My confused look surprises Echidna, who lets out a laugh.
"Seems like a fool like you couldn't identify it," Echidna closes her eyes slightly. "Let me explain."
It doesn't make sense to say something; after all, she's not wrong about it.
In the end, it's true that I'm a fool.
'I have to believe better to be better!' Marco's thought catches me off guard, I curve my lips, feeling his determination in me.
I have to contain it, all these emotions he experiences, all the emotions I feel. I must be stronger, not show myself to anyone.
"Th... Thank you," I manage.
Echidna smiles at my weak expression of gratitude.
'Don't be like this, Emilia, you can't keep being useless.'
Fool!
"Mana is, in its essence, a living being," Echidna creates a mana sphere in front of me. "If Marco's world never had magic, and we assume someone planted those crystals, then..."
Echidna begins to expand the sphere, making it grow until it pierces me completely.
"Mana, from a single tiny source, will expand and invade everywhere," Echidna smiles, as I feel my knees hit the floor of the room.
A harsh blow, but the pain is only temporary. I place my hands on the ground, watching as my hair touches the floor.
"Mana will expand and begin to change everything, starting with the simplest living beings and reaching the most complex, that is, humans."
Marco's world must face a change.
"That is if they survive the less complex beings," Echidna chuckles lightly.
They were cruelly exposed to an unknown fate.
"Soldier Ramirez!" a soldier shouts inside the laboratory, looking for one of Marco's comrades.
'It doesn't seem like he's going to make it in time.'
Nervousness grows in Marco's hands. My body feels tense, and my breathing begins to quicken.
Marco is a fool, always, always sacrificing himself for others.
"Sir!" Marco steps in, catching the soldier's attention.
Some time ago, Marco talked to his friend so he could meet his parents, something not allowed during military academy days.
His friend had been depressed, and Marco used his connections to get him out of the military academy for two days, but now it's the third day and he hasn't shown up.
'I guess he had some trouble; anyway, I must support him,' He think to himself.
Marco never asked his friend for the reason, he just rejoiced when he returned.
He's, according to what I read in Marco's book, an altruist.
He doesn't care what he has to do to ensure others' well-being, he doesn't mind if he has to suffer for others to be okay, as that makes him happy in the end; he gladly endures it.
I know this word very well because Marco has scolded me before.
This Marco and I... we're more alike than I expected.
Time passes, and the work intensifies when Marco figures out how to make the machine.
They slowly create it, and during that time, everyone in the group becomes close. Thanks to Marco, the group keeps progressing despite the challenges.
"I know we haven't slept much but think about how much we'll achieve when we have the chance to release this to the world; let's make an effort to get this out as soon as possible."
Years go by, and after three years, Marco reaches adulthood in his world. To my surprise, everyone there is almost three years older than Marco.
"As dangers in their world are fewer, they can afford to raise their offspring more," Echidna adds, smiling at the scene. "In Marco's case, he's there because he skipped a few years of what they call school."
Marco and María are together; they're both in bed, just waking up.
My soul hurts a bit seeing it, but the feeling in my heart is something new to me. I don't know what to say, but this feeling, this must be what they call "love."
It's not the love I feel towards Puck, or towards my mother.
They hug each other and share a delicate kiss.
It's this feeling, this emotion that makes me feel on cloud nine. It makes me feel like the strongest, the most alive person.
All that sadness my soul wants to give, that oppressive feeling, that stab in my heart.
All of that is overshadowed by happiness.
I feel like I'm flying, strong, confident. My own body seems to deceive itself just to be strong. 'Is this the power of love?'
"Hello, María!" Marco's mother greets.
His mother already knows they're in a relationship. After exchanging greetings, Marco asks his mother a question.
My soul aches, despite this intoxicating emotion, the pain seeps through every pore of my being.
"Mom, today we finish the entire project, we're going to present it to the professor and check its functionality," Marco smiles, while Maria hugs him. "We'll both come to see you when we can leave."
They managed to connect magic with their world, to use it without even knowing it was magic. Marco found a way to make the most of it. Just that makes me proud, somehow, even though I know he's smart.
His achievement, something even I can understand the rarity of.
Marco is...
"I'll be able to come see you soon!" he exclaims, hanging up the call.
Maria and Marco shower and head out together to the laboratory. Their entire team is there, cheerful about the situation. John is with another girl, also part of the team.
Three years have passed, and now Marco's body resembles mine a bit.
"How's the first place in close combat?" John asks Marco, who smiles a bit awkwardly.
"I was one of the worst in long-range weapon use," Marco sighs. "They say in a war I'd be toast."
It's a contrast with the current reality. Marco's aim is formidable, I've seen it myself, especially when he acquired the flying magic.
Hours and hours spent on the theory of shooting and using flying magic to aim, imbuing mana in his eyes to the point of doing it unconsciously.
"But you were a monster in close combat, even the evaluators couldn't believe it."
I smile, I saw him at his best.
"His reaction speed is truly incredible," Echidna sighs, pouring herself more tea. "It's been a long time, thinking that Od Lagna would conduct such an extensive test."
It's not that three years have passed, but it's been over a month.
In all this time, I can't help but wish it stays this way.
Let it not go beyond this day.
'I don't like it when they tell me those things.'
Marco doesn't enjoy compliments; he always feels uncomfortable when people say those things to him.
This Marco reacts even faster than the one I know; that surprised me at first. But knowing the truth.
I sigh, trying to calm this nervousness.
The professor makes his entrance, and they begin to explain the machine. A large machine, almost so big it's about to touch the laboratory ceiling. However, it perfectly contains the operation of the lamicta fire crystal.
It moves the pyroxene closer and farther away so that the fire crystal's reaction generates heat almost to the point of explosion, but at that moment, it moves away slowly so it doesn't explode.
That reaction causes a small explosion that doesn't damage either of the two crystals, but it can be exploited.
"The machine has an efficiency of 95% of the energy, only 5% is lost. I think we can improve it in the future; reaching 99% should be possible," Marco concludes. "Since the machine has been running for a month, with the tests, it could be said to have been running for years. I would attest that it is, ideally, an unlimited source of energy."
'God, we did it, a new era.'
An electric sensation runs through my entire body; now I understand things a bit better, but I try not to get carried away.
I have to be cold; I can't allow myself to fall.
The conclusion they reached is that there is a type of unknown energy in the environment; that is, Marco's world now possesses mana. However, since they cannot feel it and it's something that cannot be measured, they don't know it.
'I can't believe I'm witnessing this; we finally did it.'
They've just discovered it; they've just confirmed that there's a new type of energy that seems to be unlimited.
"The machine can power a city; in fact, we tested it with car batteries and its charging is so fast that it ended up damaging their cycles," John adds.
In the end, it seems like their world is about to change.
Or so I thought back then.
"This is..." the professor's amazement is evident, but quickly a smile spreads across his face.
A smile I don't like.
Everyone is sent to their rooms except Marco; he stays alone with the professor.
Marco looks cheerful, while he seems to admire the machine operating on its own.
"This machine will be the beginning of a new industrial revolution," the professor puts his hand on Marco's shoulder. "The United States is interested in the project."
'So, now I can go further.'
A tear falls from my face as I watch what's happening without blinking.
"The president of our country is determined to make contact with us; since it's a government-funded project, it's necessary to establish a company in the country; also, they will give us the patent rights."
Then, he hands a document to Marco.
"To hand over all the plans, the machine, the creation guides."
Marco just stares at the sheet, his hands trembling.
This time, not out of happiness.
"The United States wants you to go with them, they want to use the machine to generate a special type of weapon. The president wants you to go with them too."
Marco looks at the professor; he seems surprised by Marco's gaze.
My stomach hurts, my heart hurts. Now, all that's left is to see what's about to happen.
"And the others?" Marco asks, but the professor pulls out his gun.
Marco reacts, grabbing the professor's arm and with a quick blow, disarms him, leaving him defenseless.
The gun falls to the ground, Marco tries to grab it, but he quickly feels an unfamiliar presence.
"Stop!" another man behind Marco points his gun at him.
The professor smiles, a clear indication that he never intended to help the growth of humanity.
A clear indication of how dark the human soul can be.
I fall to the ground, yielding to the pressure. Marco somehow stands. I don't know what I'm doing.
"No wonder you're the best at close range, but don't worry," the professor takes the gun again and aims it at Marco. "You'll have to make a decision; if you want to save your family and yourself, it's best that you leave for the United States."
"My parents..." My lips start to tremble as I try to catch my breath.
"What will happen to my friends?" Marco asks, while I struggle to stand up. "What about María?"
The professor smiles, takes the gun, and puts his hand on Marco's cheek.
"They'll die. As a leader, you're the only one necessary."