"It seems… it looks no different from my previous one."
Professor Kettleburn stared at the prosthetic arm in front of him, scrutinizing every detail, yet he could see nothing unusual. In terms of appearance, it was identical to his old arm. Curious, he even removed his current prosthetic and placed it side by side with the new one. Apart from a few scratches and burn marks, the two arms looked indistinguishable.
Still, Kettleburn was certain there was something extraordinary about this new limb. After all, Vinson had sworn he would make him the most perfect prosthetic possible.
Observing the professor's puzzled expression, Vinson smiled faintly, as if he had anticipated this reaction all along.
"Put it on and try it, Professor. Feel its effects for yourself," he said confidently.
Kettleburn nodded, carefully lifting the new arm and slowly fitting it onto his residual limb. The moment the prosthetic touched his arm, a faint magical fluctuation passed over him. Almost instantly, he realized he could control the limb completely. From his fingers to his upper arm, every nerve seemed to synchronize perfectly with the prosthetic.
Lowering his gaze in surprise, Kettleburn raised the arm, gently opened his fingers, and marveled at the fluid motion. It was smoother and more responsive than any magical prosthetic he had ever encountered.
Vinson watched with satisfaction as the professor's astonishment grew, the corners of his mouth curling into a broader smile.
"This… this is simply incredible!" Kettleburn exclaimed.
Vinson's eyes glinted with confidence. "Professor, this is just the beginning. There's an even more remarkable feature."
He gestured toward the table, prompting Kettleburn to place the prosthetic down.
Raising an eyebrow, Kettleburn complied with a hint of doubt. "What are you going to do?"
Vinson waved his wand mysteriously. "Explosion!"
Kettleburn's eyes widened in disbelief. Before he could react, Vinson cast an Explosion Charm on the new arm.
"Boom—!"
The sound of the explosion filled the room, scattering objects across the table. Kettleburn stood dumbfounded as his brand-new prosthetic shattered into two pieces along with the table.
"What are you doing?" he asked, unable to comprehend why Vinson would destroy something so meticulously made.
Vinson scratched the back of his head. "Ah… it's been a while since I used the Explosion Charm. I'm a bit out of practice."
After mourning the broken table, Vinson picked up the shattered prosthetic and handed the portion nearest the residual limb to Kettleburn. "Try putting it on again, Professor."
With a mix of skepticism and trust, Kettleburn fitted the half-broken prosthetic onto his arm. "Will this still work?" he asked hesitantly.
The prosthetic fit smoothly, and he could control it, though the lack of sensation in the forearm and hand felt unusual. Suddenly, the broken end of the arm emitted a black-green glow.
"Hey, it's biting me!" Kettleburn exclaimed, shaking it instinctively.
"Relax, Professor," Vinson reassured him. "Look, it's reacting."
Kettleburn stared as the black-green light flickered along the prosthetic, sensing a subtle growth at the break.
"Don't resist your magic. Treat it like casting a spell," Vinson advised.
Kettleburn nodded, releasing all tension. Almost immediately, the fracture in the prosthetic began to close, like a sprout breaking through the soil. The arm slowly regenerated before his eyes. Within seconds, it returned to its original state, though the newly grown portion was slightly lighter in color.
The rapid recovery came at a cost—Kettleburn felt a dull headache from the intense magical consumption—but the self-repairing limb amazed him.
"You're simply a genius, Little Ed. I think I won't need to change my prosthetics so often anymore," he said in admiration.
Vinson's eyes gleamed with pride. "I used a special type of magical wood with innate self-repairing properties. With some processing, it becomes an exceptional prosthetic material."
Curious, Kettleburn asked, "Can I see it?"
Vinson produced a dark wooden stick from a cabinet and handed it to him. "This is leftover from the ebony tree we harvested earlier."
Kettleburn examined the wood carefully, rubbing it between his fingers and even biting it lightly. "Perfect material, Little Ed. But isn't using this for a prosthetic a bit wasteful?"
"Oh?" Vinson paused, intrigued by Kettleburn's comment.
The professor smiled faintly. "May I take this stick? Xiao Zuoke has entered his teething period, and he could use a teething stick."
Vinson blinked, momentarily speechless at the unusual reasoning. For context, Xiao Zuoke was a Mortlap Mouse, a magical creature resembling a large rat. Ultimately, Vinson agreed—he had multiple ebony trees in Greenhouse Number Two, so the wood wasn't scarce.
"Also, Professor," Vinson added, "you should pay special attention to the core of the prosthetic. It's located at the innermost end. If that part is damaged, regeneration will be severely compromised—or even fail entirely."
Kettleburn patted his chest reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'll use it carefully."
For the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of security with his prosthetic, amazed by its responsiveness and magical adaptability. It wasn't just a replacement for a lost limb; it was a technological marvel infused with magic—a perfect fusion of craftsmanship and enchantment.
Vinson, observing the professor's admiration, felt a deep sense of accomplishment. Seeing someone appreciate the subtle ingenuity behind his creation was reward enough.
As Kettleburn flexed his new arm, marveling at the seamless motion, he couldn't help but smile. This prosthetic wasn't just an object—it was a symbol of progress, of magical innovation, and of the careful attention of someone who genuinely cared.
The black-green glow of the arm faded, leaving it looking as ordinary as it had at first glance. Yet, Kettleburn knew better. Hidden beneath the familiar exterior was the magic of regeneration, a reminder that even the most mundane-looking object could hold extraordinary potential.
Vinson glanced at the professor and allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. "Remember, Professor, this is just the beginning. I have plans to make even greater improvements."
Kettleburn nodded, a newfound confidence in his voice. "I look forward to seeing them. But for now, this is already remarkable."
In that moment, surrounded by scattered shards of the broken table and the lingering scent of charred wood, both men shared a quiet understanding: magic, when combined with innovation, could surpass the ordinary limits of imagination. And in the hands of the right wizard, even a simple prosthetic could become something truly extraordinary.
FOR MORE CHAPTERS
patreon.com/STEPHENHART427