[95] The Genius Who Lost the Light (4)
Viltor Arkein knew someone had broken into his dungeon last night. He didn't care. Countless people came into an archmage's dungeon looking for treasure. By now they'd have fallen to monsters or traps and turned into corpses.
He shrugged off the thought and returned to his research. Lately he'd been probing how dark magic affects memory. His frantic writing hand stopped suddenly. He took off his glasses and looked toward the door. The mechanisms were being disarmed at high speed. This was no ordinary intruder.
"Got a big one at last?"
For Viltor Arkein—who, once holed up, could disappear for years—a dungeon intruder was fine entertainment. And tonight the bait looked promising: a decent man had taken it.
With a clang the iron door opened and Arkein checked his clock. Exactly 32 hours, 28 minutes, 5 seconds. The time it took to disarm the mechanisms from the entrance to here.
"Archmage… Viltor Arkein?"
A bloodied man stood in the doorway. Handsome enough, his eyes shone with a weapon-like intensity.
"You don't look like someone after money. Who are you?"
"Mirhi Alpheas. I had no other way to meet you, so I came in person."
"Oh?"
Arkein's brow rose. Even shut away in his dungeon, it made no sense to ignore the outside world. Through secret channels he'd already heard of Alpheas's photonic quantum theory.
"A light mage seeking out a dark mage—quite unusual. Sit. I'll treat you."
Arkein activated the life-support apparatus. Alpheas was placed in a hemispherical device filled with green liquid; the moment he submerged, he sank into a deep sleep.
Three hours later.
"Puhah! Hah!"
Alpheas lurched up from the liquid. He'd nearly suffocated. How had he fallen asleep at all? Puzzled, he glanced over and saw Arkein sitting at his desk, writing a paper. Scholarly, not the world-shaking archmage type—at least in appearance.
"Thanks for the treatment. That's an impressive device. I'm curious how it works."
"Don't change the subject. That doesn't erase the fact you're an uninvited guest. Tell me why you came."
If a man was driven by curiosity and genuine interest, there was no need to stall.
Alpheas got straight to the point.
"I want to learn dark magic. Take me as your disciple."
"Oh?"
Alpheas—the current hot topic of the realm—asking to be a disciple. Even Arkein couldn't help but be intrigued.
"Any particular reason?"
"I have a wife. But she lacks intellectual ability. I heard you research storing memory with dark magic. I want to give my memories to my wife."
Arkein's eyes flashed. Since they already understood each other's fields well, long explanations weren't necessary.
"I've done considerable work on memory manipulation. But what you're asking is on another level. There's the issue of personality, and above all, you're proposing transferring an entire life."
"I think it's possible. If we combine dark magic's absorptive properties with photons' ability to transmit information, couldn't we implement a kind of artificial intelligence?"
"Hmm—construct a nervous system with photonic magic, then imbue it with memories?"
It was a novel idea. Until now photonic magic had been limited enough to be called almost a time magic, but with the photonic quantum theory revealed, Arkein expected it to shine in information sciences.
"Before we examine the theory, one question: has your wife consented to this experiment?"
"She doesn't know yet. But she'll agree."
"Sounds like there's a story."
Alpheas explained why he'd come. Hearing it, Arkein understood him—and the proposal was undeniably brilliant. For a day the two of them reviewed possibilities. When they reached agreement on the theoretical foundation, Arkein accepted it wasn't mere fantasy.
"Good. If you're truly willing to stake your life on this, I'll take you as a disciple. But convincing your family won't be easy."
Alpheas was to become the archmage's disciple, yet he was also heir to a respected house. The chance of someone giving up a guaranteed post in the Yongroe magic department to enter a dim research lab seemed slim.
But Alpheas wasn't considering other options. If Erina was unhappy, he would be unhappy. He wanted nothing more than Erina's happiness.
"Thank you. I'll bring my family soon."
Back home, Alpheas discussed the matter with Erina. Klump also sat in; this was a life-changing decision. Alpheas stressed that the procedure could cure Erina's intellectual limitations. Klump immediately objected.
"Alpheas, what are you talking about? Why go to someone like that? He's a criminal!"
"A mage's reputation isn't the point. What matters is he understands dark magic better than anyone on the continent. He's learned about human memory and brain structure. It won't be a loss."
"No, it is a loss. You're bewitched. Implanting memories into a human brain? That's impossible!"
"Klump, the reason you think that is—"
"That's right! I'm dumb! Not clever like you, not a genius! But even I know this: you're throwing away a blessing. If you stick with that man, your position at Yongroe will be canceled. What about the family? Do you really think they won't abandon you?"
Alpheas knew that well, but he had reached his conclusion after endless thought.
"I don't care. Those things won't decide my life. Yongroe, the family—I don't need them. If Erina can be happy, I can be happier than I am now."
Erina hesitated, but Alpheas's final words settled it. If her husband could be happy, she could be too.
"All right. I'll do it."
"Missus! This is something you must think through!"
"I will do it. Because I trust my husband. Alpheas will make me happy."
"Of course he will! Who am I? A Gold Circle mage. And my teacher is an archmage. If we join forces, we can easily fix whatever flaw you have."
Klump came daily to persuade them, but the couple's resolve held. Finally Alpheas liquidated his assets and entered Arkein's dungeon with Erina.
"Good to meet you. I am Viltor Arkein."
"Hello. My husband is grateful to you."
Erina bowed politely. From now on he'd be her husband's master; she had to be proper.
Arkein waved it off and tried to reassure her.
"Don't worry. I've devoted decades to this field. This is a major decision. If it succeeds, many mental illnesses can be cured. Your husband will earn renown far beyond what he'd get at Yongroe."
To become an archmage's disciple—and with success meaning he could reclaim everything he'd given up—Erina thought it worth trying.
For two years Alpheas lived in the dungeon conducting research on transferring his memories to Erina. Arkein was an expert at running a private dungeon for experiments. Under his careful, rational care, Erina spent her time there without much discomfort.
"Hello, missus. How are you feeling?"
Once a week Klump brought food. Even if the busy couple could manage, he wouldn't let Erina go without.
"I'm fine. The experiments will finish soon. Then my husband can return to the world."
Klump laughed heartily. Two years of testing must have been exhausting, but Erina had borne it well. In a way it was bittersweet—her intelligence may lag, but her willingness to sacrifice for her husband was not base.
When Klump arrived, Alpheas went to the room. As Erina said, he looked haggard each time, as if pushing the project forward with every ounce of strength.
"You came? Thanks, as always."
"How's the experiment? Any progress?"
"It's nearly complete. Clinical trials went off without a hitch. Next month Erina will finally be free from endless scorn."
"Next month? That soon?"
"What do you mean? It's been two whole years. I've stayed up night after night with my master researching this. Anyway, you must come on the day—bring plenty of alcohol instead of food."
A month felt long to everyone.
But time passed, and the long-awaited moment arrived.
Erina lay on the bed and waited. Arkein and Alpheas were busy checking the machinery, so Klump stayed by her side to keep her calm.
"How do you feel, missus? After today you'll have Alpheas's memories—you'll even remember wetting the bed as a child. Try to recall whether you ever looked at other women, haha!"
At Klump's joke Erina laughed. Tension was inevitable, but the mood was hopeful. Everything seemed in order; the devices had been declared safe.
"All right, we'll begin, Erina."
Alpheas lay beside her and stroked her hair. He was giving his memories to the person he loved most. Shameful memories, humiliating ones—none mattered if it was her.
"Thank you, my love."
"What are you talking about? I should be thanking you. You've endured so much. Let's live happily. Let's have children."
Alpheas worried whether his smile looked natural. He was so nervous he might faint. Arkein approached and attached the devices to both their heads. Reports from mage engineering, mage biology, alchemy, photonics, human biology—every field was assembled for the experiment.
"We'll begin. Relax. It'll be over soon."
As Arkein prepared to activate the apparatus, Klump nervously rubbed his hands in the corner. With a clank the mechanisms descended. Dozens of submechanisms whirred, crystals emitted light, and the lab filled with a dazzling display.
Alpheas accepted the dark magic penetrating his mind without resistance.
The core principle was simple. Alpheas's memories would be absorbed by dark magic, then transmitted via photonic output and overlaid onto Erina's memories.
"Hah!"
Erina's eyes flew open. A massive torrent of information poured in and sparks seemed to flare in her gaze. From Alpheas's earliest memories to the conversation a moment ago, every moment that made him streamed at light speed.
Erina faintly smiled. She felt truly one with Alpheas.
The excitement of their first meeting, the worries, the hope of marriage, the bliss of newlywed life—uncorrupted feelings that had loved her without prejudice came through intact.
"Thank you, my love. And I love you."
Erina closed her eyes. No regrets. She had been born and received more love than she deserved.
Meeting Alpheas… she was glad.
The light faded and the experiment ended. Arkein checked the gauges. Information transmission rate: 100 percent. All memories had been delivered perfectly.
"My love! My love!"
Alpheas turned to Erina. She looked pallid, cold sweat beading on her skin.