It had taken me the better part of a day, blood, sweat, and more than a few electrical burns but the prototype version of the clean water device had finally been completed. Much like my initial designs had scoped out the device was small and cylindrical with a tap at the top. I’d chosen to go with a classic vintage crosshead design, twist one way to turn the device on and twist the other way to close it again. I held the device out over a bowl and twisted the tap handle. It sputtered for a moment, vibrating in my hand, and then a steady stream of water began to pour from the tap. “Fantastic!” I muttered to myself, “I knew that the prospect of Magitech was something worth going after. This’ll put me onto the map again without a problem.” I twisted the tap the other way and the water trickled to a stop. While I knew it worked in a standard laboratory environment I still had no idea whether the device would work in other environments. Considering the device pulled what it needed fro

Leaving the sand and soil shop behind I strolled through the lively and bustling magical marketplace. Overhead the simulated sky that was cast over the ceiling of the cavern that the Immateria City was placed in had fallen to dusk, with the fake sun setting somewhere off in the distance. This left a warm, golden light over the crowd of people that were still haggling, browsing and chattering in the marketplace. Lanterns, which had been enchanted with a variety of different charms, flickered into life across the marketplace adding their own soft glow to the mix. When Sophia first told me about the underground city I had never imagined it looking so beautiful. My eyes darted around, taking in the endless rows of shops, filled with all kinds of curiosities and trinkets. Suddenly I caught sight of a vendor selling bags. Just what I was after. With my arms now laden with glass boxes and a bag of magical sand I couldn’t just keep adding to the pile. Eventually it’d become too much to ca

I studied the map intently, feeling the rough texture of the aged parchment under my fingertips. My eyes traced over the faded ink lines, marking the location of the Cloak’s hidden lair. Sophia stood beside me, her intense gaze fixed on the same spot. I looked up at Sophia, and saw that her expression mirrored my own determination. "We have to be careful," I said, my voice low and urgent. "Who knows what they're up to in there." Sophia nodded, her jaw set. "I agree. We need to gather as much information as we can before we make a move." I bit my lip, thinking. "Perhaps we could stake out the hideout for a little while, observe their movements. That way, we'll have a better idea of what we're up against." Sophia's eyes brightened at the suggestion. "Yes, that's a good idea. We could hide on a nearby rooftop and keep an eye on things." I grinned. "I'm glad you agree. I've got a feeling this is going to be dangerous, but I'm ready for it. We need to put a stop to whatever the Cloa

“We don’t have time to plan, Parker,” Sophia hissed. “You’re new to magic, but I’m strong and you can hold your own. We have to do this, or Marcus is going to die… and gods know what will take his place.” Sophia, who I had previously known as someone who couldn’t ever be unnerved, someone who laughed in the face of danger and stayed cool no matter what… was practically beside herself with worry. I could tell she knew we needed a plan, she didn’t want to run in half-cocked, but she was also quickly running out of time and patience. “Fine then, the plan is we go in hard and fast. Take them by surprise and try to overwhelm them with superior force,” I said with a sigh. It wasn’t much, it wasn’t even really the beginnings of a plan, but given the circumstances, it was all we had and it’d have to do. The air was thick with the stench of blood and the smell of burning incense. Sophia and I broke cover and smashed through the door together, finally alerting the cloaks to our presence. T

My eyes remained glued to the fierce battle unfolding before me, the sheer ferocity of the combatants sending waves of trepidation coursing through my veins. Sophia and the demon were locked in a dance of death, each striving to gain the upper hand and deliver the killing blow. The brutality of their exchange was both terrifying and mesmerizing, a testament to the deadly forces at play.Sophia's movements were fluid and agile, her lithe form gracefully weaving through the demon's lumbering attacks. The creature's strikes were powerful, sending tremors rippling through the ground with each devastating blow. Even as an Immateria, I knew that if Sophia were to suffer the full brunt of the demon's strength, it could very well be the end of her. To make matters worse, she had to contend with the sporadic potshots from the remaining Cloaks, their spells merely adding to the chaos and danger of the situation.Despite her agility and prowess, it was clear that Sophia's lightning-infused claws