Mark of the Fool

Chapter 490: Hart's Transformation and Cedric's Horror

So, this thing youll be doin wont kill Hart, right? Cedric was strapping the Champion of Uldar to a long, narrow table. He gave the thick leather bindings a dubious look, eyeing the heavy metal buckles. What in all hells is this place for anyway; torture?

Its actually an operating room: its used to do research on certain living specimens when theyre captured in the wild: you know, Ravener spawn and the like, Alex said distantly, checking his notes one last time. Hence the straps.

Riiiiight, the Chosen eyeballed a glass cabinet full of instrumentsscalpels, bone-saws, brain-hooks and eye-gougers. But er, Im bein mighty serious herewill dis kill Hart?

Probably not, Alex said.

Probably. Hart shrugged.

Ugh, I hates thboth o yous, Cedric muttered. An tthink, I was wonderin if I could be next in line if dis works on Hart.

Alex looked up expectantly. You could be.

Er, no thats, er, nevermind, I thinkIll be fine jus the way I

Actually, youre right, Alex interrupted him, picking up a wooden bucket and placing it on the floor at the head of the operating table. We need you for healing when I inevitably start ripping Hart apart.

Yeah, right, speaking of that, you got a gag or something? Hart asked. Might start screaming and dont wanna bite my tongue.

Good point, Alex looked at Cedric. So yeah, you wouldnt be able to heal yourself if Im ripping you apart, man. At least, not reliably.

The Chosen looked from the Fool to the Champion. Yboth are bloody touched in the head, yknow that?

Meh, sometimes being crazy gets things done, Alex rubbed his hands together. Now, lets get started: I want to get this done so I can go cure Thundars hangover, and have you upstairs in time for your dateI mean tutoring sessionwith Isolde.

Cedric grinned at him. In due time, friend, in due time. Once all dis Ravener an trainin madness has calmed down, Ill step out wit her proper-like, if shell have me.

Alex was a breath away from saying: I dont think you have to worry about that. She was already looking up marriage traditions. You should probably run, but he managed to resist.

Can we get started already? Hart asked. Operating tables cold, and Id like to be either powered up or dead by meal time, please.

Right, lets get to rebuilding your body, then Alex rubbed his hands together again. So, Cedric. What Im going to be doing is pretty similar to a technique that Grimloch and Theresa use: life-enforcement. It literally enhances your lifeforce and body.

Oho! The Chosen raised an eyebrow. Explains why the pair of em are so bloody quick on their feet an why shes so strong, tboot! An ifn its makin that big sharkman even stronger, why dont everybody do it?

Yeah, I want a piece of that, Hart agreed.

Well, you can only use it if youre compatible with it. What Ill be doing is brute-forcing the first stage of life-enforcement using a little cocktail of spells to clear your body and lifeforce of impurities, Alex cracked his knuckles. When Im done, maybe see Theresa. She might be able to teach you the real thing, if youre compatible with it, that is.

Aye, Ill keeps that in mind, Cedric said. So, you was explainin somethin?

I was saying, Alex continued. What Ill need you to do is use your divinity to heal Hart the second I tell you to. These spells arent exactly the mostrefined, so Im going to make mistakes. Youll be our safety net.

Ill be ready, Cedric vowed. Seems simple enough. Whenr we startin?

Alex looked down at Hart. You ready, big guy?

Yep, just give me that gag, and Im good to go, the Champion rumbled.

Oh ya, Im sure youre gonna need it, Alex went to a nearby shelf, picked up a sanitised gag and secured it around Harts mouth, making sure the wooden tongue depressor was set between his teeth. Alright, dont hate me for this. You ready?

The Champion of Uldar nodded.

Alex looked at Cedric. You ready?

Aye, lets see this fancy, dangerous shite o yours, the Chosen said.

Okay, then lets get to it. The Fool placed his hands on Harts bare chest.

He cast his spells.

Mana to Blood.

Warp Flesh.

Then poured his mana into Harts body, seeking the miniscule fibres that made up the Champions form. Calling on the Mark, he passed mana through him repeatedly, exploring every aspect of his lifeforce.

From the Mark, images of the examination hed conducted the day before appeared, helping him guide mana though Harts body. For a span of twenty minutes, Alex simply moved his energies back and forth, letting the Mark hone his skills as he directed his mana through the Hero.

Alright, I think Ive gotten used to your insides.

Mmmmf, Hart mumbled.

What was that? Alex lifted the tongue depressor from between clenched teeth.

I said, well thats something you never want someone saying to you, Hart grunted. I take it this is where the pain starts?

Yep, could be. You ready?

Not exactly thmost comfortin thing ycoulda said there, Alex! Cedric shook his head.

Better hard truth than sweet lies. Alex shrugged.

I hear that, Hart agreed. Gimme the gag, then lets go.

The Fool placed the tongue depressor back between Harts teeth, and once again, poured mana into the Champion. Using Warp Flesh, he ran a mana current through muscle fibres, ligaments, and even bones, hyper-stimulating the tissue.

Harts body abruptly stiffened on the metal tablemana current contracting the very fibres of his beinglimbs twitching from intense stimulation. The Champions eyes flew wide, his skin reddening with each heartbeat.

Alright, Alex said, I think itsNo wait, shit!

Something tore.

Hart roared into his tongue depressor, his hands balling up in agony.

Cedric! Alex cried, cutting Warp Flesh.

Shite! The Chosen leapt in, both hands shedding a blueish-white light.He called upon a miracle of Uldar and pressed his hands to Harts midriff.Oh, Mighty Uldar, I ask you hear the call of your servant and share your divinity with the stout-hearted soul before me.

Glowing divinity swelled into incandescence around his hands as light flooded Harts body. Beneath his skins surface, dozens of injuries healed as the ruddiness retreated from the giant mans skin, leaving him drenched in sweat.

You alright? Alex watched him with concern.

Hart shook his head.

Should we stop?

Hart shook his head harder.

Holy shite, youre a bloody pair omadmen, Cedric stared at the Fool and Champion.

YeahI get that a lot Alex said. Hmmmm, I wonder He reached back into Hart, feeling out the mans muscle fibres. Dammit, I was hoping for a shortcut.

Mmf? Hart grunted.

Well, the Thameish wizard said. Part of what Im doing is hyper-stimulating your muscles so they tear themselves apartat the same time, Im feeding you with Mana to Life to lessen the pain while your muscle growth accelerates and you get stronger. He nodded toward Cedric. I was hoping Uldars healing miracle might make things easier if we used divinity to put your body back together, butseems like the miracle heals you back to exactly how you were when we first started.

He shook his head. So wed just be tearing your muscles apart to always put you back to square one. You wouldnt retain any gains.

There was a long pause.

Ididnt understand most o that, Cedric admitted. But whatchyou means we cants use my divinity to make this go any faster?

A little worse, Alex said. Until I get this right, were going to lose any progress we make each time you heal Hart.

The Champion let out a sullen grunt.

Yeah, I agree, its annoying as hell. The young Thameish wizard turned to his notes, willing a Wizards Hand to cross out a notation. But thats the thing with science, sometimes eliminating a possibility is progressin its own way. Even if its a possibility you were hoping for.

No offence, but science sounds like a load o disappointing shite, Cedric looked completely unimpressed.

Well, sometimes thats absolutely right, Alex said. Ah well, thats often how it goes: theres no shortcuts for things worth doing. Alright, are you ready, Hart?

The Champion nodded silently.

Cedric? Alex looked up at the Chosen.

Hey, I aint the one bein shredded up like a piece o leaf in a bucks mouth. He held his hands up. Im just the one puttin things back together. Im good whenever youre good.

Alright, back to it then, Alex placed his hands on Harts chest.

He called on the Mark, letting its images wash over him, searching out what hed done well previously.

Then, he ran the mana current through Harts body again.

The Champion stiffened, his skin turning bright red and a choking sound escaping his throat. Alex adjusted the current with care using warp flesh, searching for the right balance of hyper-stimulation.

Another tearing sound.

Hart jerked in his restraints.

Shite! Cedric was at his side in an instant, healing divinity knitting the Champions body. Harts breathing calmed and Cedric let out a deep breath.

Ysure ywanna keep goin, mate? This shite looks brutal, Cedric asked the fellow Hero.

Mo, came Harts muffled, determined, reply.

Jeez, youre tough, Alex said, admiringly. Alright, again then.

He channelled his mana current through Hartandagainsomething precious tore,Cedric called on his healing miracle. But the Champion again nodded for the Thameish wizard to keep going. Again and again, Alex passed the mana current through Hart, always tearing something within minutes. But each time, he made progress, advancing a bit more before hearing that now familiar tearing sound.

Were getting there, Alex said, watching more of Uldars healing light pass into the Champion.

Saycant we just, I dunno, give im a bunch o booze or somethin? Cedric asked, his eyes pleading. Somethin tput im tsleep, or at least kill the pain.

Alex sighed. I thought of that. Theres a sleeping draught I could brew, and theres herbs and tonics that dulls the nerves and reduces painbut theres a couple of problems with that, he focused on Hart, monitoring his condition. One of the reasons this is so hard is because Im working semi-blind here. When I did it to myself, I could feel it the moment I did something right, or the moment I did something wrong.

He tapped the table beside Hart. But the problem right now is that I cant feel what youre feeling, so Ive got to rely on whatever my spells are telling mewhich isnt all that muchand whatever reactions youre having. If youre asleep, thats one less set of reactions for me to go by, and more chances that Ill really mess something up. The other thing isif youre asleepyou cant tell me to stop. And the moment you say stop, this ends.

Doth shtop, Hart growled, resolve filling his large eyes.

Cedric threw up his hands. Youre bloody right round the bend, mate. Both o yous.

For what its worth, youre going to feel like a new man when were done, Alex began pouring mana into the Champion once again with care.

Heartbeats passed.

Heartbeats turned to minutes.

Minutes to an hour.

An hour to two.

Over and over, Alex ripped Harts body apart with Warp Flesh, poured vigour into it with Mana to Life, and had Cedric heal the injuries hed caused. And he caused many over the slow passage of time.

Yet, each time, the damage took longer to happen. Each time, his control over Harts flesh grew more precise.

After two and a half hours, his control had finally reached the point of being fine-tuned enough for Cleanse Flesh

And so another hour passed.

Then another two.

Then three.

All three young men had fallen silent, consumed by determination and concentration. Alex was in awe of Harts resilience: even with Cedrics healing miracles supporting him, there was little doubt in the Thameish wizards mind that the process would have killed most people he would have tried it on.

Only the Champions bottomless well of stamina kept his heart beating and his body from collapsing into lifelessness as Alexs mana lashed his every fibre over and over again.

With the Marks supportand their perseverancethe mana currents passing through Harts body finally balanced. Life to Mana fed him, flooding him with renewed vitality, and with Cleanse Flesh washing through every fibre

the giant of a man gave an immense shudder.

A stench filled the air.

A sudden ripping noise cut the air as Harts muscles flexed, then his limbs burst free of his restraints. The Champion flipped onto his side, tearing the gag from his mouth and retching onto the floor.

A stream of black gunk poured from his lips, splattering on the stone.

Oh shite! Cedric shouted, charging forward with Uldars light shimmering around his hands. Are ydyin?

No! Alex stopped the Chosen. No, no, nothe exact opposite of dying! A huge smile took over his face. It worked! His bodys cleansing itself of all the impurities that it was holding onto: his lifeforcell be a lot stronger after this!

Raising a trembling hand, the Champion gave them a thumbs up while he spewed foamy, black filth on the floor.

Shit, Hart, use the bucket! Alex grabbed the pail, quickly shoving it below the stream gushing from the Champions mouth. Congratulations Hart, your new path to power begins! He looked up at Cedric. What do you think?

I think its stinkin like manure in here, and that yous both are cracked! Cedric shook his head, one hand pinching his nose. I mean, I hopes this does wonders for yHart, but youre bloody cracked. And ugh! The Chosens face scrunched up. That stuff bloody stinks!

Hart hawked out a wad of slime then grinned, showing now black-stained teeth. Lets see you call me cracked when Im tearing demons in half with my bare hands.

He gagged, cringing away from the bucket. But youre right, that stuff really does stink.

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