Earth Prime, District of Innovation
Two years after the Second Pact
The sound of hammers shaping steel and crystal reverberated.
The clang of technomagic echoed throughout the District of Innovation.
Under the banner of Codex Innovatio, the Custodes Mutatio were forging groundbreaking discoveries that transcended the boundaries of traditional magic, merging science and arcane practices in an unprecedented way.
Magic swirled through the air, creating dazzling light as the architects of technology manipulated energies from nature. A series of advanced tools glimmered in the darkness, radiating a mystical aura that envisioned a bright future. Carefully selected steel interwove with sparkling crystal, as if united in a harmonious dance of inseparable energy and mechanics.
Joanna Fate led the development.
She ensured that all technology remained in accordance with the Second Pact.
"Technology must aid freedom, not dominate," was her unwavering message.
Yet behind this success, unspoken ambition began to grow.
Amidst the orderly routines, dark ideas flowed like a quiet river, unnoticed by many. While some innovators were content to immerse themselves in established scientific practices, Luthar quietly observed, absorbing every grain of truth and potential that existed; new ideas full of possibilities soared in his mind, challenging the existing reality and pushing the boundaries formed by tradition.
His name is Luthar Caereth.
A young innovator from Earth Prime.
Smart, charismatic, and one of the biggest contributors of ideas to the Codex Innovatio.
Yet his mind is... sharper than others.
And more dangerous.
"Why do we limit ourselves?" he said one night to a small group of radical thinkers.
"Gaia Primordia compels us to respect nature.
Tekhnos forces us to limit possibilities.
Even Joanna rejects technology that could manipulate great probabilities."
While most adhere to the existing Codex, Luthar believes that greater discoveries await beyond conventional boundaries, envisioning a future where technology could synergistically interact with the forces of nature—creating a harmony across dimensions that humanity has yet to achieve. This radical idea not only ignites his spirit but also fuels his passion to change the world, granting him resolve that remains unfazed by the constraints of tradition, thereby challenging society's understanding and acceptance of transformative change.
"But if we could create machines that do not obey the laws of nature or the will of anyone... we would no longer need the Pactum."
And someone... or something, hears his whisper.
In his laboratory, Luthar investigated the rifts in reality that had opened during the Beyond Time Invasion.
There, he discovered a voice.
"Luthar Caereth."
"You do not have to obey the Codex Innovatio."
"Give us the blueprint for technology that manipulates vast probabilities,
and we will grant you the key to create a machine free from will."
The voice was neither Gaia Primordia,
nor Tekhnos,
nor Chronos.
But a remnant of the Beyond Time entities—a remnant of possibilities that had not yet fully vanished.
"If I accept, I will break the boundaries set by Jeanne and Joanna," Luthar thought.
"But I will create a world where human will is truly free,
without the constraints of the Codex."
In the gripping atmosphere of the Innovatio District, shadows of magical technology flickered between towering structures. Arcana-based devices consumed magical energy, emanating a shimmering light that danced in the night air. Webs of energy enveloped various laboratories, creating a mysterious aura, while in the dark corners, skilled operators chanted spells to refine machines that defied the laws of nature and sought to reshape the boundaries of existing reality.
And he accepted.
Luthar formed a secret organization called Fraksi Nullborn, uniting those frustrated by the confines of the Codex Innovatio.
Its members were scientists and wizards disillusioned by the confines of the Codex Innovatio. In the shadow of predictions and probabilities, they plotted a bold move to free themselves from the shackles that constrained their creativity.
They began:
Smuggling Beyond Time artifacts into Earth Prime.
In hidden labs, ancient tools were merged with cutting-edge technology, creating instruments capable of predicting possibilities with astonishing accuracy. The rustle of advanced machines blended with whispering spells, generating a magical ambiance that permeated every corner of innovation.
Developing predictive technology that can control the probabilities of human life.
Infiltrating the idea of "absolute freedom" into the academy and the Earth council.
"Joanna and Jeanne won't stop our progress," whispered Luthar, determined despite the looming threats. "Because we will move beyond them in ways never imagined before."
That night, in the Sanctum Aristeia, Jeanne studied the energy anomalies in Earth Prime.
"There is magical activity similar to the rift Beyond Time," she reported to Joanna.
"Impossible. All rifts have been closed," Joanna replied.
"But the activity is real." Jeanne placed the sensing crystal on the table. "And it's getting closer to the heart of Earth Prime."
Sheena, who was present at the meeting, spoke up:
"I recognize this pattern.
It's not just external will...
It's human will choosing to violate the Pactum."
As they delved deeper, the atmosphere in the Innovatio District felt tense and charged. Blue neon lights shimmered from the towering buildings, reflecting dancing shadows on the streets. Through the gaps in the factories, a blend of metallic and magical aromas emerged, creating a sense that every corner held secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Jeanne carefully observed each device left scattered around. The Codex Innovatio technology served as an extension of magical abilities, allowing users to intervene and manipulate the flow of energy with frightening precision. "This is what sets us apart," she thought, as her objective filled her mind.
With cautious movements, Jeanne picked up a small, glimmering crystal device hidden within a pile of metal. "With this," she whispered, "we can extract further information about the detected activities." Her eyes sparkled with determination, as if feeling the power flowing between their world and Beyond Time.
Jeanne and Joanna led a secret team to the Innovatio District. The atmosphere in the district vibrated with magical and technological power. Blue neon lights dazzled, creating a sharp contrast with the slowly moving shadows. In every corner, advanced instruments shimmered, all interconnected within a magical network known as the Codex Innovatio, a system regulating the liquidity between time and probability.
They discovered evidence:
The Beyond Time Energy Flow Map beneath the Luthar laboratory was unlike anything ever seen; its pathways wound like nerves carrying energy, forming intricately complex configurations that ordinary minds could not comprehend—leaving every observer in awe and fear of the potential revealed through those mysterious lines. Each line contained untold potential, connecting various competing future possibilities, eager to be born, and inextricably shaping crucial decisions.
The probability machine prototype that can control the outcomes of human decisions. The machine hums softly, producing barely audible sounds, much like the gentle whispers of scientists devoted to forbidden knowledge. This technology is forged from metal enhanced by ancient rituals, rendering it not only visually stunning but also radiating a dangerous aura.
Documents of contact with the entity Beyond Time claiming to be Vel'Zarith. As Jeanne opened the document, its structure seemed alive, dancing before her eyes. The writing on it glowed, as if harboring secrets from another dimension.
"Vel'Zarith," Joanna murmured.
"One of the names previously mentioned by Tekhnos as a fragment of the outer will trying to endure."
"If it gains access to human probabilities...
It could influence will without anyone realizing."
This is not merely betrayal.
This is an attempt to seize the future of the world.
Jeanne and Joanna confront Luthar in the Innovatio Hall. The building is magnificent, filled with technology radiating its own energy, surrounded by glowing walls that seem to thrum with life. The room has an atmosphere of tension as the trio prepares to face Luthar, with the weight of the moment hanging heavy—every second passing is a decision that could determine the fate of all humanity.
"You violated the Second Pactum," Jeanne says.
"I have transcended the Pactum," Luthar replies calmly.
"Gaia and Earth need more than free will.
They require a definite direction to avoid suffering from poor choices."
"With Vel'Zarith, I will create a world where mistakes do not exist.
Only the best outcomes will always prevail."
Joanna shakes her head.
"That is not freedom, Luthar.
It is a prison without choice."
"I will not allow you to take away human will," Luthar declared, the intensity in his eyes betraying his firm resolve.
Luthar activates his probability machine prototype.
Magic and technology merge.
Jeanne and Joanna's attacks are deflected by probabilities that always favor Luthar.
In an atmosphere filled with shimmering light from the realm of algorithms and spells, the Innovatio District vibrated with a mysterious aura. The room was brimming with colorful holograms depicting various choices and possibilities, as if the future were tangible. The scent of metal blended with magical energy, conveying the impression that every existing power was intricately tied to human desire, depending on who wielded it.
"You cannot win.
Yet there was one possibility he could not control: the inherent unpredictability of human choice.
Yet there was one possibility he could not control.
Human choice.
Joanna summoned fluctuating magic:
"Fluxion Severance!"
She severed the threads of probability woven by Luthar's machine.
Jeanne called out:
"Unity Spiral: Vastrum Vitae!"
She stabilized the free choices around them.
Amidst the encroaching silence, the Codex Innovatio screen trembled and displayed a myriad of separated outcomes, as if affirming the unexpected presence of the will of those sorcerers. The pillars of essence flowing with magic and technology resonated in sync with the battle, creating an invisible mana wave that ignited the spirits of all those present.
Luthar's machine collapsed.
"You have lost, Luthar," Jeanne's cold gaze fixed on him, her voice assertive and filled with conviction. "Not because of physical strength.
But because you have forgotten the meaning of free will."
Luthar and the Nullborn Fraction were brought before the Concordia Tribunal.
During the hearing, Jeanne and Joanna decided:
"We will not condemn you to death."
"But you will be exiled to the realm of Fractura Lux,
where you can live with uncertain possibilities."
"If you wish to exist without the will of Gaia or Earth,
then live in a place where free probability cannot be predicted."
In the power and beauty of the light-filled Innovatio District, the thin threads between technology and magic were severed, struck with an impact that left an indelible mark on the minds of all who remained. It was as if they could feel the spirit of the district itself speaking, warning that, though technology can predict outcomes, the true essence of existence cannot be replaced by mere calculations of probability, but rather by the choices and moral decisions made by each individual.
In the dim light of the night, the air in the Innovatio District felt tense, filled with the rumble of advanced machines working incessantly. The whirring sounds of magical devices flowing from the Codex Innovatio filled the empty space, creating an atmosphere that was strange and unpredictable. Every corner of this district was illuminated by the soft glow of technology panels, forming a magical combination of science and magic that seemed to come alive.
That night, Sheena wrote in her journal:
"This is just the beginning.
I see the first seeds that will one day grow into the rift between Gaia and Earth."
"Not merely due to external influences, but because of human ambition, which often leads to unforeseen consequences."
But because of human ambition."
"I must warn Jeanne and Joanna that even pure choices can be twisted by fear and the desire for control."
Amidst the dimness, Sheena recalled her first encounter with the integrated magic technology of the Codex, witnessing how ancient artifacts were synergistically combined with cutting-edge innovations—creating a bridge between the material and non-material worlds that held vast implications.
"But I still believe...
They will preserve this legacy as best as I can hope."
Outside the window, the vibrant twinkling lights of the magical aircraft traversing the night sky reflect both hope and threat. The Innovatio District stands as a silent witness to every decision made, as if warning its inhabitants of the consequences of their choices. For Sheena, the path ahead may still be shrouded in uncertainty, yet one thing is clear: the light of hope and the shadow of darkness will continue to wage war within the soul of every individual daring to step into this new world.