Pub
Author: Matthew Harris
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

“We’re back at the lab?” I asked as Sophia led him around a corner, revealing the pub and the space that his lab resided in below it.

“Not quite the lab, no,” Sophia said. “I understand you’re probably eager to get started in creating more Magitech, but the new rogue takes precedence.”

“Ah, I get it,” I said, “This is like back up in London when we went to the club in Soho, right? You’re going here to mingle and find out any information you can.”

“So you are learning! And there was me thinking you were all distracted by the humans dancing around at that club,” Sophia said with a smirk.

She knew full well that the only thing the humans had distracted me with in that club was the stink of their sweat thanks to the enhanced senses that being an Immateria granted me. I still had no idea how she managed to get in amongst them the way that she had.

We entered the bar together and I couldn’t help but be a little bit disappointed. It looked just like any bar that I would have expected to
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  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   Newton

    “It’s not much,” The Barkeep started. “Word around the bar is, in some of the more… unsavoury… clientele, that there’s someone up top making some pretty big moves, moves that are going to change everything down here as well.” Sophia and I glanced at one another. She looked just as uncomfortable as I felt with a declaration like that. I picked up my drink and took a sip, noting that it went just as blue as Sophia’s had earlier. “Can you give us anything else?” Sophia asked. “Something more solid to go on?” The barkeep shrugged, “I only hear what I hear Sophia, you know that. If you want to speak to someone who knows more you know what you’re gonna have to do. What me to get him down here?” Sophia sighed, it was long and aggravated, “Yeah, fine, do it. I already have to deal with one smart ass, why not another.” I couldn’t help but think that jibe was directed at me. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked as the barkeep moved away from us to call this mysterious other person to

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   Gunnersbury

    By the time we were ready to begin the next stage in our mission the midday sun was already high in the sky. We would have already been on our way to Gunnersbury park if not for the sudden realisation that we had left my car in Soho while we tracked the first rogue Immateria from the alley we had first encountered it all the way down to the City of London Airport. That meant we had to wait around for a cab, have it take us all the way into the heart of London, and then drive all the way out to the outer zones of the city. I had been wrong about the park being in the borough of Ealing. It was actually in the borough of Hounslow, which was right next to Ealing. Either way, it was right out at the edge of the city in an area in my mind that could hardly be called London at all. What could be said for sure was that the park was a beautiful place. We drove up a little dirt path to a little dirt car park and got out of the car. “Almost feels like the countryside,” I muttered, mostly t

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   Search

    The inside of the old tower had clearly seen better days. The air was thick with the musty smell of decay and the brick walls were crumbling and cracked. It was a wonder the thing hadn’t collapsed already. I hoped that it didn’t choose to fall apart while we were still inside. It was a relatively small space with a main open room and a flight of stairs leading up the side of the wall to the upper levels.“You really think we’re going to find something in here?” I asked. “It doesn’t look ancient or grand just… decrepit, really.” “Trust me, Parker. Cultists love places like this, and there’s a good chance that one of them has put something here for safekeeping,” Sophia said. The room was a cluttered mess. A heavy oak table sat at its centre, covered in rat poop and old documents that looked yellowed and fragile. I was sure that if one of us tried to pick them up they’d just disintegrate in our hands. “You search down here, I’m going to go and check things out upstairs,” Sophia said

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   Temple

    With our map in hand Sophia and I left the tower behind. Sophia now wore the backpack we had found, with all of the letters and other documents stuffed securely back inside of it and zipped up so that none of them would fall out. It was likely that the letters wouldn’t be useful, but it would be better to have them rather than not just on the off chance that some other hidden detail was written down on them that we’d so far missed. “The temple is back on the other side of the park,” Sophia said. “Right next to the boating lake, though from this drawing the lake is less of a lake and more of a pond.” “It shouldn’t be hard to find then,” I said. “What do you think could be so important about this temple that whoever made the map would risk their lives to stow it away like this?”“It could be anything,” Sophia replied. “I’m betting on some kind of ancient artifact, though. Cults always have an ancient artifact or something like that kicking about.” I wasn’t sure how some random artif

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   Idol

    Unlike the tower that we had searched previously there weren’t any upstairs or downstairs areas in the temple, so Sophia and I were able to search the same area at the same time. This meant things were going much quicker than they had before. “What are we even looking for in here?” I asked for what was probably the hundredth time. “If you ask that again I’m going to come over there, chop your head off, and set fire to it,” Sophia grouched. I rolled my eyes. It wasn’t the first time she’d made that threat either. “All I’m saying is, there aren’t many places for things to be hidden in here and we don’t even know what it is we’re looking for,” I sighed. I was right, too. Not only was the space small there weren’t any boxes piled up on one another or piles of garbage perfect for nesting rats. The area was compact and relatively tidy with a series of cabinets and chests of drawers that things could be hidden away in. “Urgh, I hate to admit you’re right, but yeah, you’re right,” Soph

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   House

    I had been expecting Sophia to direct me back to the pub where my Lab was located when we got back down into the undercity, but that wasn’t what happened at all. In fact, we hadn’t gone back down into the undercity at all. Sophia had led us back to my car and then punched in a postcode deep into the east of England, just north of Cambridge. I’d realised pretty quickly that it was likely Newton’s actual magical Laboratory. No doubt he liked the area because he had studied at Cambridge back when he was still a mortal man. Not all Immateria seemed to divest themselves completely of the lives they used to lead, it seemed. The drive from London to Cambridge took a couple of hours, and in that time I felt the thirst in my throat beginning to build further and further. “I think I’m going to need to uh… drink… soon,” I said as we pulled into the location that Sophia had plugged into my car’s navigation. “I’m starting to feel the thirst grow in my throat.” She glanced over at me, “Y

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   Ancient Magic

    It took a few moments, but before long the confused form of Professor Newton strode over to the window and opened it up. “Sophia… Richard…? What are the two of you doing up here?” He asked as the window swung open. Sophia pushed past the other Immateria, “Well, once again Professor, you were so engrossed in your studies of the arcane that you were unable to hear us all but breaking your door trying to get your attention downstairs.” The professor had the good sense to look cowed under Sophia’s admonishment. “Ah, I apologise, Sophia, you see I’d just gotten into the midst of a particularly interesting piece of magical lore from an Immateria priest who lived back in the fifth century BC, it was a fascinating work-” The Professor was clearly getting riled into his storytelling. “I’m quite sure it was incredibly interesting, Professor Newton,” I cut him off before he could annoy Sophia too much. “But what we have to show you today will no doubt tickle your intellect just as much as a

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   Baby

    My head span as my mind battled with the ragged edges of the transformation to becoming feral. I couldn’t believe I’d let it get to this stage. I hadn’t even been this far gone the first time I’d refused to drink. This time it wasn’t even about refusal, either. Id become so wrapped up in our mission and learning more about the history of magic that I hadn’t noticed how bad my thirst had become. “Quickly, follow me,” The Professor said, I barely understood him through the haze of my weakened mental state. “I fear that young Richard doesn’t have much time left before he turns completely.” Sophia grabbed my arm, her grip was like iron and it almost felt like she was going to crush my bones. The Professor led the way and Sophia followed, dragging me along as I moaned and groaned, desperate for relief from the burning that was in my throat and chest. My breathing had become hot and ragged and I felt as though I was two steps from plunging my fingers into my own body to rip my damn t

Latest Chapter

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   

    Council Report

    As Sophia and I huddled together over the massive oak table in the heart of our lab, we meticulously compiled our findings on the ominous runes and the Cloaks' sinister intentions. Our research painted a terrifying picture: a plan to bring about the end of the world. I could feel the weight of the knowledge in the binder we carefully assembled, its pages brimming with secrets that could tip the fragile balance between the Immateria and human realms. Our hearts raced with the urgency of the situation, and we knew we had no time to waste.The moment we finished, we rushed out into the labyrinthine underground old city, our feet pounding against the cobblestones as we wove our way through its ancient passages. We exchanged glances, our expressions a mixture of determination and fear, fully aware of the importance of our mission.As we raced through the city, the shadows around us seemed to dance and flicker, as if they were alive. The air was thick with the scent of centuries-old stone a

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   

    Research

    Standing amidst the remnants of the chaotic battle, I hesitantly approached Sophia to offer my condolences for the loss of her friend. The words caught in my throat, my voice wavering with the weight of what we had just experienced."I'm sorry about Marcus," I finally managed to say, my gaze lingering on the table where he had met his gruesome end.Sophia's expression remained stoic, her eyes betraying no hint of the pain she must have been feeling. "It's okay," she replied, her voice strong and resolute. "I know we'll avenge him in the long run. I just wish I could have killed him myself."I couldn't quite grasp the complexity of her relationship with Marcus, but I knew better than to pry. Instead, I decided to shift the focus to the task at hand. We needed to unravel the mystery of the runic symbols and the ritual Marcus had mentioned before his death.Together, we approached the table, our eyes drawn to the intricate runes carved into its surface. Neither of us recognized the symbo

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   

    The Final Cloaks

    As Sophia regained her composure and launched herself back into the fray against the remaining Cloaks, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. With her renewed vigor, I could now focus on providing her with much-needed support. The adrenaline coursed through my veins, and my mind raced with the possibilities of spells that could turn the tide of battle in our favor.Deciding on a strategy, I drew upon my magical reserves and cast a wide-range frost spell, chilling the air and coating the floor with a treacherous layer of ice. The temperature in the room plummeted, and our breaths fogged in the frigid air. Sophia, ever the agile fighter, vaulted into the air just as the icy surface began to solidify beneath her, avoiding the frosty trap.The Cloaks, caught off guard by the sudden change in their environment, found their feet frozen to the ground. Their attention momentarily diverted from Sophia, she seized the opportunity to eliminate several of them with swift, brutal efficiency. The f

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   

    Take Down

    As I continued to face off against the Cloak, it became increasingly clear that they were an exceptionally formidable opponent. Their raw power and proficiency in magic far exceeded what I would have expected from someone who was supposedly just a member of a random gang. I couldn't help but wonder if this was simply due to my own lack of magical experience, or if there was more to the Cloak than met the eye.My thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of a barrage of ice shards, each as thick as my arm, hurtling through the air towards me. Reacting on instinct, I managed to narrowly avoid the freezing projectiles, feeling the icy wind that accompanied them as they whizzed past. Had any of them struck me, I had no doubt that I would have been incapacitated, if not worse.Seizing the opportunity to retaliate, I drew upon my eidetic memory to replicate the Cloak's own spell. With a swift motion of my wand, I sent a flurry of ice shards back at my adversary, hoping to catch the

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   

    One on One

    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

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   

    Demon

    I groaned, the pain radiating through my body as I gradually regained consciousness. My head throbbed, a dull ache pulsing in time with my racing heartbeat. I hadn't anticipated the intensity of the spell I'd crafted, and the lingering disorientation was a testament to its potency.Shaking my head in an attempt to dispel the discombobulation, I squinted through the hazy aftermath of the magical explosion, straining to make sense of the situation. Though my ears still rang, muffled and distant, I could perceive the sounds of battle continuing to rage around me. It seemed that my desperate gamble had not been in vain.As my vision slowly cleared, I could see that my rudimentary spellwork had provided the opening Sophia needed. Some of the Cloaks were beginning to recover from the disorienting effects of the flashbang, their expressions contorted in a mixture of rage and confusion. But they were no match for Sophia's raw power and finesse.With the grace of a skilled dancer, Sophia had w

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   

    Flashbang

    “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

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   

    Hive

    I walked through the darkened halls, my heart pounding in my chest. The air was thick with the stench of mildew and decay. The walls were covered in peeling wallpaper, and the floorboards creaked under our feet. I held my wand tightly, ready for anything that might come our way.Sophia walked beside me, her claws extended and at the ready. Her sharp eyes scanned our surroundings, searching for any signs of danger. She was the best partner I could ask for on this mission. She was fierce, smart, and unwavering in her determination to stop the Cloaks.We had received intel that the Cloaks were planning something big. Something that could spell doom for the entire Immateria City. We couldn't let that happen. We had to stop them at all costs.As we walked, the sound of chanting grew louder and more distinct. It was coming from downstairs. We shared a look of concern and horror, knowing that we were getting closer to the heart of the Cloaks' operation."Sophia, do you hear that?" I whispere

  • Rise Of The Immaterial Man   

    Stakeout

    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