Fenza and I have been conducting our experiments at night; since the director has said to keep this a secret. I've been spending less and less time at home. Sleeping at the Academy. I begin the experiment when Fenza groans. "Ugh! C'mon Nephra. We've been running the same experiments for months now." He walks across the courtyard.

  "How about we try something fun?" saying as plops onto the bench.

  We have only been running practical experiments. "What do you have in mind?"

  "I don't know. What even is; your end goal?" I haven't really given it much thought.

  "Like- what is the most important thing to you- to do with magic?"

  I sat for a second and pondered. "Protecting my family."

  He pointed to the statue "And how exactly would you do that; moving a statue?"

  He was right. None of what I was experimenting on would be useful protecting my family. I haven't even given it a thought. How would I use wind as a weapon?

  He jumps up from the bench "How about pushing something! But with some force behind it!"

  I looked at him with one eye brow raised. "What do you mean?"

  He raised his arms to his side. "Similar to a bubble. Maybe have it push objects away from you? Lets try."

  He grabs a good sized stone. "Now hold on! You don't even know if it'll work!"

  "You work well under pressure Neph. You'll be fine." He smiles ear to ear.

  A scowl ran across my face as I walked to the center of the courtyard.

  "Fine." I groaned

  "Haha! Yes!" Almost looked like he jumped out his shoes the way he was celebrating.

  I raise both the shield and spear out to my side. Taking in a deep breath and exhaling while I envision an air bubble around myself.

  "How exactly am I going to push something with this?" My mind drawing a blank.

  Fenza tossed the stone in his hand. "Maybe imagine it starting on your body; and finishing further."

  He said as he caught the stone. "Gather it unto yourself. Than, all at once push it outward." as he mimicked the motion.

  "Okay, I think I have it." I close my eyes and imagined a thin layer of air encasing my body. The warm air starts flowing toward me until I can no longer feel the temperature on my skin.

  I then open my eyes. "Ready."

  Fenza winds up and throws the stone as hard as he could. With the stone flying toward me with tremendous speed. I lose my focus and a force of wind came roaring from my body. Pushing the stone back in the direction from which it came. Scraping past his head before embedding itself into the wall.

  Eyes wide. "Haha! Amazing!" he turned around and ran to the wall. "You see? Now that was exciting!"

  I looked at him with a scowl still on my face "You almost died."

  "Yeah. Almost." He says while examining the stone.

  A crack echoes through the courtyard. I look to my spear and the Mythril tip shatters into tiny pieces.

  "Well that's not good." Fenza says after he finishes his examination.

  What do I do now. Mythril is scarce in the city; and Mythril mines are on the other side of the country. Thinking about it started my mind into a fray.

  "Without Mythril; we can't experiment with the spear." I raise my shield. "This wont last much longer either."

  He walks over and looks at the Mythril. "We need to find something more durable." smashing what remained of the Mythril into the ground.

  "And what's more durable than Mythril?" I said with a smirk.

  He curled his lips and rolled his shoulders "I don't know- but there is bound to be something."

  Leaning over to examine my shield "Maybe the chairman can help."

  "You're right; maybe Olyssar can help figure something out." Fenza's eyes darted to me as he stood up straight.

  "Ooh. On first name basis now are we?" He grinned.

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  "Should I be worried Nephra?" he said, barely holding back a chuckle.

  I scoff and start walking toward the building. "Hey wait!" he yells out as I walk away.

  I need to find something that could work as a catalyst; but what?

  The thought encapsulating my mind.

  When I arrive at the Academy the next morning, no sooner than my feet touched the halls,

  "Nephra!" I look over and its Olyssar. "Do you mind joining me in my office?"

  I'm not ready for this. Still half asleep due to last nights adventures with Fenza. I exhale slightly "Yes sir."

  We enter his office, when the door closes Olyssar says "I heard about your spear." walking over to his desk. Opening the cabinet door; he pulls out a bag full of coins. "Take this." He tosses it to me. "Go to Olgun and find something that will last with your experiments. There is Five-Thousand gold pieces there."

  I'm lost for words. "Don't think about it."

  Don't think about it?

  "Sir, forgive me but- that's an three week trip. I won't see my family for over a month." He looked at me and grinned.

  "Take them too. It will be a nice family vacation." He walks up to me and throws his hands on top my shoulders.

  "Nephra-" he exhales "You and your family have been working non stop. I'm sure they will appreciate it as well." He drops his hands and turns around.

  "Plus; I have already made the arrangements. You leave next week."

  Once again I am lost for words and just silently agree.

  When I exit the office Fenza is waiting for me. "So how'd it go? Did he find something to use?"

  I give him a glare, sharp enough to cut stone. "Ouch! What'd I do?"

  "The Chairman is sending me to Olgun. To find something that'll last." I let the tension slip away.

  "Ooh." Fenza groaned.

  "He's sending my family with me." That makes this better at least.

  "Look another family vacation. The chairman is feeling generous this year huh?" back to his joking self.

  "Yeah. I don't know if Ava will agree though." Asking her seems like a task at this moment.

  "Well best of luck!" he slaps me on the back and walks away.

  Fenza. Always making my job harder.

  Ha-ha-ha.

  The day went by and I could not stop thinking about the trip to Olgun. I have traveled there once as a soldier. The roads aren't particularly dangerous- but the weather is terrible. The air is dry and when you finally reach Olgun, the moisture begins to cling to your skin. It's not horrible but it's not the most comfortable either.

  On my way home I decide to go to a sweets shop that's still open. Hopefully I can get something for Ava and Ol' to butter them up. I walk in and the bells ring.

  Ring Ring

  "Hello Director Peranze. Haven't seen you in a while." I start rubbing my head.

  "Yes- it's been a while. Work has just been hectic lately." I say chuckling. "Well how have you been Gia?"

  she places down the cloth she was using to wipe the counters. "I have been doing well," she pauses and looks around me as if something was missing.

  "Where is your family?" placing her hands on her hips.

  "They're at home. I'm just looking for something that'll butter them up; for when I bring home some news that I pretty sure they wont like."

  She pulls her lips to the side. "Director. I am positive that your family will be understanding. Your wife especially." She smiles.

  "You're right. What would you recommend, just-in-case?" I asked as I skimmed the display case.

  "Our new triple chocolate cake is popular." I don't think so. She's trying to have me killed.

  "Ava isn't the biggest fan of chocolate." I spoke with a fearful giggle.

  "Oh! I forget. My apologies." covering her mouth.

  "It's okay." saying as something caught my eye. I pointed into the display case. "What's that?" The cake was covered in red and white crumble.

  "That is our red devil cake, it has been our best seller. It has a cheese frosting and there is no chocolate!" She says while softly clapping her hands.

  Cheese frosting? "Is it sweet?"

  "Oh very. I promise they'll love it." I believed her. Ol loves sweets and as long as it's not chocolate Ava enjoys them.

  "Well, I'll have one please."

  "One red devil; coming right up!" The way she danced around the shop- she enjoys her work. She handed me the bag and said

  "Good evening Director, come again soon!"

  I waved as I exited the doors.

  As I approach my door I pause for a moment before walking in. "I'm home." Nothing.

  Strange

  I peek around the corner, checking the kitchen- no one. "Hello- is anyone home?" Silence.

  "Where are they?" as soon as I turn to walk up the stairs. "ARGH!" I jump back almost sending the cake flying.

  "MY GODS!" Ol starts cackling and then Ava walks around the corner, laughing just the same. "Oh, you should have seen the look on your face father!"

  I place the cake down on the table. "Oh think you're funny huh." I grab him and we begin to wrestle.

  After about twenty minutes of that, Avaline grew tired. "Okay now, it's late." she looks over to the bag. "What is this Nephra?" unwrapping the bag.

  "Is this the new cake from Gias?!" Her face lit up, and then back to normal. She then turned towards me. "What did you do?"

  I threw my hands in the air. "Nothing I swear." her glare sticks to me just a moment longer, before she continues to unwrap the cake.

  "Well than, let us enjoy." grabbing a fork and taking a bite. Ol joins her.

  "I do need to speak with you though. Both of you." Ol stopped with the fork still in his mouth.

  "What is it?" Ava asked.

  "The Chairman wants to send me to Olgun to find a new catalyst for my experiments. The Mythril on my spear crumbled last night."

  Ava's face saddened for a moment. "He also wants the two of you to accompany me. I-"

  Ava looked at me; then at Ol. Her face twisted up at me "Of course we'll go."

  I look around the room, then back to Ava. "Is that why you bought the cake?" Ava laughs. "Nephra. We have all been working very hard these last few months." she walks over to me and wraps her arms around my neck. "If anyone deserves a vacation it is you." Giving me a kiss. "Plus; our last vacation- you almost died." kissing me again "So lets go and spend time together." I smiled and returned the kisses.

  I swear Ava never ceases to amaze me. What was I even worried about?

  Ol removes the fork from his mouth "Yesh! It'll bwe fhun fwather!" Mouth still full of cake. Ava and I both burst out in laughter.

  "Yes it will be."

  Yes it will.

  B2-17-96

  Start Note:

  Experiment NO. 463

  Materials: Remain the same.

  Layers: Remain the same.

  End Note.