Chapter 47 : Waiting
Hey guys ! I'm back. In black (actually, only the pants are…). First, I'll get my own ad out of the way : you can read more chapters and other stories on my Patréon page. Simply search for Cathbel on the website and you should find me. In addition, please leave a comment, a review or a spare stones. It helps me get an idea of what I'm doing wrong… or right *wink wink*
Now the reading of the week… Persephone Falling by Skyler Grant, and the sequel Persephone Rising (still waiting for another time…). A pretty neat story in a dystopian, cyberpunk future with a few LitRPG elements. The story's about a girl who used to live in a space station… regular utopian society. Until it was destroyed and she woke up on Earth.
Now then… see ya guys and enjoy !
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Chapter 47 : Waiting
It's been a few days since my meeting with the Ancient One. What a weird name… I know that, in magic, names have power but couldn't she have chosen something a bit better than that ? I thought women were sensitive about their age… This might actually simply be a cliché. Or a norm that doesn't apply to the Sorcerer Supreme.
Anyways, I'm still waiting on her answer right now… Thing is, my project simply can't be put into motion without a bit of help from her. Unless… Sitting at my desk, drawing a character that is supposed to come to life in my dimension, I suddenly mutter :
« Maybe the other Bald One could actually help me with the printing machines… »
Charles Xavier surrounds himself with powerful and brilliant people. There's Hank McCoy, for one. Forge, though I don't know if he's a X-man or belongs with Magneto… Who else ? I'm drawing a blank… I'm sure there's more !
I have a lot of plans for my new dimension and I can't put much of them into motion without certain equipments. Printing machines so that I don't have to write all the books by hand. Since they're destined to be read and modded by other people, it's a must ! Special bottles or ink cartridges to sell my clients, that they'll use to create their avatars, add to their character sheets and maybe later, use it for other things. The containers will be used for the ink to retain a limited version of its properties. Not enough to influence the world around them, but enough to have some impact on my dimension.
Also, since I don't exactly want to openly advertise my powers on TV, the net or whatever, I'm planning on making one or several dream-ads. It feels wrong though… Even to me. We're bombarded by so much advertisement all day, I'm reluctant to… use dreams like this.
I shake my head and tell myself that it can't be helped. Hopefully, it's not something people will replicate anytime soon. And I don't plan on making a habit of it anyway. I'll only advertise in the beginning and once my clientele is made, I'll stop. Word of mouth will take care of the rest. Hopefully…
But it raises two problems. One, how to make people dream my ads ? Psychic power or magic is the best way for that, of course. Unfortunately, I don't have the mastery and control required for it. Especially if I have to pay attention to what I'll make people dream. I also don't want to advertise to people one by one. I want to do it on a larger scale. A few dozens, maybe hundreds a night… Can't go much beyond New York though, since that's where the store will based out off.
Secondly, how to make sure the people dreaming are good people ? I don't want sociopaths and psychos to taint my dimension with their darkness. Not at the beginning at least… And probably never.
In time, I hope to implement a program to give powers through my dimension to a select few… At least, that's an idea that's been trotting inside my head. Can't have potential villains get their hands on super-powers, right ? There're enough of them going around already. And, during universal existential crisis, where are most of them ? Nowhere to be seen, that's where ! Well… Except people who hope to benefit from the crisis itself, like Doom, Thanos, the Maker… The Big Bad, with capital Bs.
Actually, I'm not even so sure that Doom is evil… Twisted, egoist, arrogant and self-centered, sure. But not evil. That's probably the same with Thanos and the Maker… Although, in the latter's case, I fail to even recognize how Mister Fantastic could turn into… that ! It also shows how, in Marvel, the smart people make for the most dangerous and epic villains…
Back to my earlier thought ! Someone in Charles Xavier's school might be able to help me with the printing machines at least. They're the de-facto experts when it comes to super-powers, aren't they ? They teach their people how to wield them, they study them, practice and train them… With Beast's big brain, it might be something in the realm of possibilities. The man did diagnose the problem caused by my over-production of ink, after all… Even devised a treatment for it.
« I'll wait for her response and advise… »
I'm reluctant to let go of this project. Extremely so ! This will be my bread and butter, but also a way for me to power up. Also, it might help me send a message to my readers that, they don't necessarily have to fear people with powers. And it'll popularize the term Alter-Human or simply Alter.
Even if she decides not to support it… And if she actively opposes it… I don't know how I'll react. I won't turn all evil and start doing whatever but, I might go over her head. Not like there's any authority over the Ancient One. Not on Earth in terms of Mystic Arts.
Actually, Doom might be a good patron. He knows magic, has means, money and is the ruler of his own nation. If I can interest him…
No, Nate ! I think, admonishing myself. Don't turn toward a villain… Not right away.
I might be more desperate to this come to fruition than I thought. Let's wait a bit. If she doesn't agree, I'll turn to Xavier and his people. And if that doesn't pan out… Guess I'll have to put it on hold. But I will make it happen. Even if I have to harass a powerful sorceress or telepath ! In the end, they'll come to see things my way… Or decides that it's just not worth it to have me arguing about it every two days.
« Let's get my mind off it for a while… » I mutter and grab a handwritten book on the left part of my desk. I get up and head for the bed, lying on it and open the book.
The words, as if by magic, which of course, it is, appear on the page slowly.
Once upon a time, in a place far, far away.
Floating in space was a young world. It was a green world, filled with plant life and water, a perfect breeding ground…
As I continue to read, my eyelids grow heavy and I feel my Astral form leave my body…