Letters from the Past

The machine began to whirl the moment I gave the green light. The berth I was strapped to began to flatten as it rose into the air. Behind me, a small conveyer belt started to move; a large assortment of parts were now being carried over to my position.

[SCAN COMPLETE. CURRENT ASTURITE FORMULA IS OUT OF DATE. SEVERAL FIRMWARE UPDATES ARE AVAILABLE. UPDATING... COMPLETE. SYSTEM WILL NOW RESTART.]

Wait, is it goin-

….

..

.

[REBOOT COMPLETE. OPERATING SYSTEM AND ALL ANCILLARY PROGRAMS ARE NOW UP TO DATE. CONTINUING OPERATION IN SAFE MODE.]

-g to reboot... me?

"You back with us, Arlan? You were out for a couple of minutes." Erwyn's voice rings out of my sight.

"Um, yeah. I had to restart." I replied.

"Uhh, I'm not sure what that means..." he stated.

[COMMENCING DISASSEMBLY.]

The arms went to work, surrounding my body like a flurry of tentacles. Whizzes and whirls echoed around me. I started losing control over every extremity until I was a complete quadriplegic. I became nothing more than a stump.

I could hear Aelinor in the background directed at another person, "Why are you looking away?"

"I-It's weird seeing Arlan like this! It's like watching him getting torn apart!" I could hear Tessa's voice wavering in the background.

[NOW UPDATING ASTURITE FORMULA ON CORE BODY.]

Some of the arms reached towards a slot running along their pivot and returned with a magnitude of needles. Another arm had reached for a hose attached to a large syringe. The hands began to work fast as a multitude of magic circles began to hover around my body. The hose started to drip a viscous mercurial fluid onto my chest as the needles began, to my utter shock, puncture and sew the fluid through my chest. These things must be either atomically sharp or a huge concentration of mana is being channeled through them.

Only a few minutes had passed until the needlework had finally stopped. My once blocky torso is now fully covered in almost soft and fabric like material with a metal plate covering my torso. My upper chest looks much sharper and more defined. It's most definitely a step up from before.

[CORE FRAME UNIT UPDATE COMPLETE. NOW UPDATING INTERNAL COMPONENTS.]

My chest cavity opened to reveal my core. The machine reached inside with tiny hands and tools. Bits and pieces were surgically removed only to be replaced with more refine looking parts coming from the assembly line. Splashes of liquid mana hit my face as the tubing inside my body was replaced. Another hose filled with the glowing liquid was brought down to inject more into my body as new tubing was attached. Even the plating around my mana core was removed, engulfing the ceiling above me in a blinding azure light, only suddenly disappear as fast as it appeared when the liquid metal was poured on it and weaved into a new shape.

[ALL INTERNAL COMPONENTS ARE NOW UPDATED. TESTING FUNCTIONALITY...]

My body begins to spasm as electrical currents were suddenly being pushed through me. I guess this is what the safety harnesses were for. Good thing I can't feel it, at least.

[ALL COMPONENTS ARE RESPONDING POSITIVELY. NOW ATTACHING UNIT SEGMENTS.]

Two arms and legs were brought in and attached to each of the sockets on my body. I'm like a doll on a factory line. Pieces of me were being screwed on and welded. Even the tubing was being reconnected. I could see sparks flying from the corner of my vision.

[FINALIZING LIGAMENT ATTACHMENTS.]

More liquid metal was being dripped on each of my joints and shaped into plates. Huh? It's making a metal covering all over my joints!? If they do that, I wouldn't be able to move my arms and legs at all!

[NOW UPDATING HEAD PIECE.]

I begin to freak out a little when all the arms began to converge on my head. While I couldn't see what was going on, I had the feeling everything was being taken apart. I could hear gasps coming from my onlookers as my face was disassembled and exposed for everyone to see. The final straw was when several of the arms started to unscrew my eyes as my vision went dark. I could hear more whizzes for a moment before my sight returned and sharper than ever. The slight static I was used to was now gone. Everything looked so crisp now!

[UNIT UPGRADE IS NOW COMPLETE.]

Thank god! The novelty of this was starting to wear off.

[COMMENCING FULL SYSTEM REBOOT TO FINALIZE UPDATES.]

Wait, no! It's going to-

…

..

.

[REBOOT COMPLETE. ALL SYSTEMS ARE REPORTING GREEN. GOLEM MODEL CK-01 IS NOW FULLY OPERATIONAL.]

-do... that. I was now standing upright again and facing my comrades with an astonished look on their faces. Well they did see me get disassembled in front of their eyes.

Tessa snapped out of her bewilderment to speak, "Is... is that you, Arlan?"

I looked down at my new body. This... this was... odd to say the least. Most of the robotic look was gone. In fact, I'd say my body looks downright human now! Except my skin is some kind of dark blue fiber weave and flexible metal plates were covering my joints and vulnerable areas. Disregarding the fact I was still compiled of synthetic parts and looked like I was in a gimp suit, you wouldn't be able to tell if I was a golem if I had clothes on. Hopefully no one in this world knows what THAT is. The only thing that betrayed that image is my head. It was still the hilariously sized block shape as before. Granted, it was less cube-like. The sharp edges were now rounded at least, except where my faceplate was attached.

I gave Tessa a thumbs up, "This feels... great!" I moved and stretched to test everything out. It really was like I was in a human body again. Movement was as natural as when I was alive. I feel like I could do anything that required precise actions with ease. Looking back at them I noticed they were all staring below my waistline. Suspiciously, I followed their gaze down.

No surprise there. I was still a eunuch. I was doing cartwheels and backflips but their minds went directly to that first...

I reached into my magic bag and began to put on a new set of clothes along with my cloak. When they realized why I was doing it, they all looked away in embarrassment; coughs and nervous humming were all abound.

"How is the new body, Arlan?" Tessa says as she regains her composure.

"Well... I certainly feel much stronger. I won't know until I test it out, of course." I replied.

I grabbed a hold of my spear and, lifting up my tunic, I tested the synthetic skin with a poke. The tip sunk in a bit but it didn't give way. Hmm... I can't test it properly like this.

"Hey, Erwyn," I called him over, "Take my spear and stab me with it as hard as you can."

"D-Do you know how ridiculous that request sounds!?" he shouts.

"It's fine! I still don't feel pain, you know. And I still repair on my own," I enthusiastically replied, "Stab me as hard as you can!"

I hand him the spear and begin to brace myself for the hit. Erwyn however stares at the spear the moment he grabs it.

"Wh-Where did you get this!? The mana conductivity on this thing is insane! If you could channel enough mana, you could go through a wall!" He seemed absolutely stunned by what he was holding.

"Huh? It's an enchanted weapon I got from Lord Selvin as a reward for stopping the orcs. It used to belong a former knight-captain." I stated.

He was locked in thought, "What Knight-Captain was...?" he shook his head, "You know what? I shouldn't be surprised around you anymore." He took a stance and thrust towards my torso with all his might.

I felt myself pushed back a bit by his force but nothing else happened. The tip was just pushing onto the synthetic skin and the tip merely rested on my top lair.

"W-What!? I put in every ounce of mana I could into that strike!" he laments.

[This Unit now has the most up to date formula and now covered with an Asturite metal weave providing excellent defense while not sacrificing mobility. Physical resistances and dexterity have improved dramatically.]

Huh, I wonder how my stats have changed now with this new body. I rummage through my bag again and pull out my guild card.

================

Name: Arlan

Race: Golem (Spirit)

Class: None (Species Based)

Status: Normal

HP: 1000/1000 MP: 200/200

Level: 10(50)

STR: 340

DEX: 400

AGI: 390

MAG: 350

VIT: 500

LUK : 50

[Active Skills]

<Golem Arts - Lvl 3> <Elemental Magic - Lvl 2> <Sword Mastery - Lvl 3> <Spear Mastery - Lvl 2>

[Passive Effects]

<Hallowed Spirit> <Physical Resistance (Advanced)> <Magical Resistance (Superior)> <Poison Immunity> <Corrosion Immunity> <Repair> <Celecia's Blessing of Light>

[Titles]

<Magnum Opus (Version 2)> <Celecia's Favored> <Orcbane> <Champion of Haldin>

================

This... was a big improvement. My magic reserves were still low though. At least casting Tier 2 magic now won't be as much of a hassle. I really only have the Guildmaster as a base as his stats were pass the seven hundred mark. Of course, he didn't have any passive effects unless he was wearing his enchanted equipment. He gave me a lesson one time on the benefits of such gear when I came home that day from meeting with Lord Selvin. His capabilities during that fight was bonkers. Like he was a completely different person.

"B-But how!? You improved this much!?"

My group was suddenly looking over my shoulder and staring at the projection of my stat screen. I was smart enough to just display my stats at least. Everything else was hidden. Something Hina taught me how to do during my downtime just in case.

"Is this good?" Turning around to face them, I asked inquisitively.

Aelinor looked at me in shock, "If you were a living being, this would be highly abnormal."

"A normal person usually has stats around 10 to 20 depending on their lifestyle," Tessa explained, "A C-Rank fighter like Kleid would have around 100 Strength and he's just a little over double your level!"

"Must be the new parts you got," Johann added, "Hmm, you think I could get some of those golem parts too?"

Erwyn looked at him with absurdity, "You kidding!? Step into that machine and it'll just dismember you!"

"But think of how strong you could be if you could give yourself a golem arm..." Aelinor said in thought.

Their conversation continued amongst themselves. I went back into the computer though. There was one more thing I needed to check out.

I looked over the journal once again. This was left open for a reason and I can only guess this may have been Celecia's doing. I was still angry at her but she did give me the next step. Hopefully this one won't try kill my friends this time.

Most of the journal was just status reports on the facilities but it did have a few entries that were of interest. Hmm...

***

4-2-355

Today was my first day as Direct of this new facility; Site 10. We're now the bleeding edge in Golem R&D. I wonder if Father would be happy if he was still alive. To know his daughter is taking over in his footsteps. Mother was at least. I'm sure she's behind all this. I'm already getting dirty looks from my subordinates, thinking I was promoted because of her. Gil must be the one talking behind my back. He may have been Father's apprentice but he doesn't have his aptitude when it comes to design. He was furious when he found out I was the one chosen for the job. I'm just glad to have Tali and Brie giving me support. I don't think I could do this without them... I just wish they were here with me too.

***

7-28-355

Our first prototypes were a success. The smaller form factor meant they could be mass produced with less materials. Without Brie's new formula, we wouldn't have been able to use such smaller Tenebrae Crystals as the power source. Asturite is still hard to come by despite Site 6 bringing out carts filled with the stuff along with crystals. They've already requested a couple hundred more combat golems. Why do they need combat golems for mining?

***

8-2-355

I began to work on Father's last project. I still have his old blueprints and I've been tinkering around with its design; updating it here and there. I even have Brie and Tali helping me out. I know it was Dad's best work but with all the improvements in technology the past few years, it could even be better! We're keeping it a secret from Mom for now. She did help with the original design before he died. She might not like the idea that his daughters are messing with his life's work.

I'm still trying to convince her to take it out of his makeshift shrine at his lab. It would be too embarrassing if someone saw what he made for it! I love you Dad but you were too dramatic for your own good!

***

11-5-355

Good news and bad news.

Good News: Tali made a breakthrough in her Spirit Art research. It's only a theory right now but there's a good chance that if it works, we could transfer a living being's consciousness inside an object. Actual soul transfer!

Bad News: Tenebrae Crystals are the easiest medium to transfer souls to. Almost too easy. I told her that maybe we shouldn't go too deep into this. I don't like the idea of putting a person inside of a golem. It would just be too cruel.

***

This Director... Was her father Volkan? Considering these upgrades were tailor made to this specific unit, that might be the case. They were planning on updating this unit, it seems like. I still need a clue to my next step though. This frame is fully updated but Celecia says there should be something else I can get. But what?

The final entry gave me what I was looking for.

***

6-7-358

Site 6 has been quarantined. Something happened down there but the Senate is keeping everything sealed tight. I haven't been able to contact their Facility Director or any of their staff since it happened. I'm starting to seriously wonder what they were doing there.

I'm being transferred back to the Capital. Since we can't get our hands on Asturite or Tenebrae Crystals right now, this facility is being shut down. Only the main manufacturing plants are staying online. Instead they're bringing me in for another project of theirs. Whatever it is, they won't give me details until I'm on site. At least Tali is coming with me. Brie is coming too once she's finished on her new project on Tenebrae Crystals. Once she's done, a single crystal's power output could quadruple, according to her. Maybe even more. When she's ready, they'll shut Site 9 down too. She's whining that she'll miss her little island paradise.

I can't wait to be with them all again.

***

An island, huh. With a discernible landmark like that, finding the ruin should be a snap. I just hope it's been discovered already. I'll save this to my own database for reference. There were other entries I wanted to read on my own time.

It was then I noticed that everything became quiet. I looked over where Tessa and the rest of the group were before and they were still there.

Motionless and stuck in mid conversation. The area around me was drained of color once more. All except for one area. A place where a familiar blue glow was seen.

I walked over there to find a large glass display. Multiple tubes and wiring were encircled around it. It seemed the entire facility was connected to this thing. And in the center of it all, covered in a giant glass display, hovered a single azure crystal...

…

WE FINALLY MEET FACE TO FACE, LITTLE LAMB.