Colin's posts

Hal thought about it for a moment.

"...I think I can do that." he said.

He then paused, and sighed.

He snapped his fingers, and she felt something... overcome her. She felt better, but still not quite right.

"I slowed it... well, as much as I could." he said.

"The mana is powerful. VERY powerful." he told her.

"I think I managed to reduce the speed by 33% or so." he finished.

"....." Hal was silent, taken aback by this.

"You feel strongly about this." he said.

"I cannot stop you." he sighed.

"But what of what's happening to you?" he asked.

"Surely you agree it is unwise to let it go unchecked."

"This is dangerous." Hal said.

"This might not be worth you being there." he told her.

"If THIS is happening?" he continued.

"No. You're in danger. Active danger." he went on.

"Do you want to be pulled from this assignment?" he asked.

"....my God..." Hal whispered.

"I... I didn't expect THIS..." he admitted.

"I've seen a lot... but never something like THIS..." he went on.

"It's... it's like... it's artificial." he told her.

"Like... a doll." he continued.

"This is happening to you!?" he exclaimed further.

"....." Hal was silent for a moment.

"....sure." he replied.

He then got up from his chair and made his way towards her, stopping when he was close enough.

He paused for a moment, steeling his nerves and taking a small breath.

'All right, Hal.' he thought. 'You have no idea what's coming, but you've seen a lot in your life. Nothing should surprise you.' he told himself mentally, exhaling the breath he took.

He then undid the back, and opened it up.

Hal nodded again, and snapped his fingers...

...but nothing seemed to happen.

Until his fingers sparked a little, and he had to shake and waggle his hand vigorously.

"Ah, ah, ah!" he exclaimed.

"THAT was a heck of a blowback." he muttered.

"Sorry, Roxie. Looks like there's some serious mana preventing me from granting THAT wish." he told her. "Which is... alarming, actually." he mumbled.

"But what did you learn from the first wish?" he asked her.

"................" Hal was silent for a long moment, before just sighing again.

"I..." he stammered.

"You know, there IS a way we can find out what might be happening." he told her.

"But that's all I can say." he muttered further, cursing what he was, internally.

Hal just pinched the bridge of his nose.

"All right." he said.

"Fair enough." he told her.

"I still don't like it." he said further.

"Something is clearly happening to you, and I can see it, but you cannot, apparently." he went on.

"If only you could see what I see." he commented.

"Maybe you'd be able to tell something's up."

"Cool." Ryker said, turning off the main road and down a dirt road.

"20 minutes or so, and we'll be there." he told him.

And sure enough, 20 minutes later, he stopped the RV in a bit of a clearing, and Eke could see a gorgeous crystal lake before him, surrounded by untouched nature.

"Wow." Ryker said.

"This looks good."

Hal was silent as Roxie said what she did.

"Agent Culverton." he said.

"Are you SURE you're all right?" he asked.

"You're acting... well, a little out of sorts." he told her further.

Hal almost melted when he felt what she was doing.

"...wow..." he said.

"That is... amazing." he told her.

"That is a real talent for massage." he went on.

"Feels like you can just ERASE tension."

"....I..." Hal stammered.

"Something else might be at work here." he said.

"Roxie... I think there might be mana actively affecting you. Physically." he told her.

"It's like your movement is... hindered." he continued.

"Are you able to make more... complex and finite movements?" he asked her further.

"If you understand what I mean."

"......" again, Hal was silent.

"Roxie, do me a favour." he then said.

"Bend and stretch your torso some." he told her.

"...I know it sounds weird, but... humour me." he said further.

"Please?"

Hal paused for a moment when he witnessed her get up.

"...Roxie." he addressed her.

"Hang on." he said.

"....something's different." he commented.

"Your posture." he said further.

"It seems a bit... off? More... proper?" he went on.

"Or maybe... stiff..."