Evon looked at her screen in amazement. As announced some days before, Sev had made one of his rare appearances on television, and was giving a brief explanation on magic. Yes, magic was real, and apparently with some effort, anyone could do it.
“So, take your salt and draw it out in a circle around your sugar…” The former Enclave lieutenant followed along attentively to the simple instructions Sev was demonstrating. Bowls of ground sugar, salt and pepper sat beside her as she knelt over to form the circle like he was showing on the TV.
With the six scratch-runes of sugar enclosed, Evon then took the pepper and drew lines across the white ritual circle, and then chanted the words along with Sev. “Mh’al in-ais ig’huina qa!” It took a few tries to get the pronunciation right, but the broadcast was helpfully looping the chant a few times, as well as repeating the previous steps to make sure nothing was missed.
She got it eventually, and Evon cried out in surprise as the ritual circle burst into brilliant green and blue flames, and died out just as quickly. The muted cries from outside told her that she wasn’t alone in following Sev’s instructions.
The smoke that lingered filled her home with the smell of some sweet citrus. The circle of condiments was charred black, but in the middle of it was a crystal the size of Evon’s thumb. She picked it up and gingerly gave it a lick.
Sweet, salty and peppery… Just like Sev had said it would be.
“So, if you’re following at home, you should now have a novel little crystal, just like this one,” he stated with a smile, holding up the same kind of crystal in Evon’s hand. “And that’s our simple demonstration of magic. Interesting, isn’t it? Well, there’s plenty more to explore about it, to be sure. And that’s why I’m putting up this challenge…”
She watched as the Nexus’ ruler laid the crystal down on the counter and gazed out the screen intently. “A curated list of known rituals and…spells…will be made available on your terminals soon. A separate list for the known effects of ingredients will be out as well. Anyone that can add to these lists will receive a lump sum of credits, or an audience with me to air any complaint or request something reasonable. There will be steps taken to verify the discoveries, and the limitations for…”
Evon tuned out the sound as Sev continued presenting the rules for this open contest, marveling instead at what had just occurred. Sev had just proven magic exists to the Nexus’ citizenry, and now he was making a contest about it. Her old Enclave sensibilities told her that this was a mistake, that such knowledge would be better off hoarded to avoid abuse or waste. Her neighbor, Keeley, a former Brotherhood Knight, would probably feel the same.
This was a dangerous move…and yet, Evon didn’t feel as concerned as she should be. After all, Sev was putting restrictions on this, which likely meant the Nexus probably had censored information away from the general public’s eyes. Still though, for him to just open up a whole new field of magic to everyone like this…
Old sensibilities gave way to her new lifestyle, and the former Enclave soldier eventually shrugged off her worries. The Nexus took care of its people, and it has yet to risk its populace on anything dangerous. This time should not be any different. Sev probably had the whole thing figured out to minimize the hazards to zero, and maximize the gains to his empire.
Evon returned her focus to the repeat of the challenge’s rules. Sev was still smiling casually as he spoke. No rituals to cause harm, no human blood or organs could be used, the ritual had to be done in an easily accessible location…
“...the eyebots will appear to directly monitor your household if they detect anything, so don’t be surprised to find something right in front of your window. But Nexus security will only intervene if things accidentally take an ugly turn…”
All in all, it seems that this open contest would be well monitored. Evon waited for the program to end, and then dashed out of her door to find Keeley and some other neighbors exiting their homes as well, presumably all sharing the same idea.
“Team up and share the spoils?”
You are reading story Uncommon Wealth at novel35.com
*****
Tara Delois gave a respectful bow to the ruler of the Nexus who stood before her front door. The attention of her neighbors peeking out was a minor thing compared to the attention Sev fixed on her. The older woman managed to reign in her emotions at seeing his sad smile, barely noticing the box he held in his hands.
“Mrs. Delois,” he started, bowing to her as deeply as she did to him, “I would like to thank you again for allowing us access to your husband’s body.” He offered the box to her, which she took with faintly trembling hands, but dared not open it just yet.
“I promised you that the contribution would not be wasted in the Nexus, and Ethan Delois served the Nexus well.” Sev nodded at the box, and Tara drew in a breath as she slowly opened the box, finding a bronze and silver plaque along with several rolls of paper. “Those are the copies of the documentation to commemorate his deeds.”
She could barely make out her husband’s name on the plaque due to the steep angle, so Tara glanced up at Sev instead. “What…could you tell me what they were?”
He obliged in a heavy, serious tone, the sad smile never leaving his face. “Thanks to Ethan’s heart, the greater Boston region now has access to clean water without the need for heavy filtration. With his lifeblood we found a means to…correct genetic defects within the womb. His eyes and tears banished the nightmares of those haunted by their trauma. There are many more accomplishments that you would find within the box. I know it is little consolation to your loss, but through your selfless donation, your husband helped better a lot of lives within the Nexus.”
The words threatened to fuel Tara’s emotions, and when Sev took a step back to bow deeply again before her, the widow found herself sobbing softly. “I thank you once more, on behalf of the Nexus, and those hundreds of lives that Ethan had greatly aided. I thank you for your willingness to trust me with your loved one.”
“It…it’s what he would have wanted...” Trying to smile through the sobs, Tara struggled to compose herself before the ruler of the Nexus. “He was such…such a good man, even back when things…when things were so much worse…”
She didn’t know when, but at some point Sev was sitting with her in the living room, listening intently as Tara shared tales about her husband. He listened to how Ethan played a big part in the village’s defense before the Nexus came, and how he eagerly continued being a protector and joined the Nexus Minutemen. Tara also shared the bright moments in their lives as a couple, with Ethan’s cute and bumbling attempts to woo and propose to her, and how he always got her birthday wrong by a week earlier.
The accident was not mentioned, the grief veered around and avoided in favor of retelling the highlights of Ethan’s life. Sev sat patiently throughout it all, commenting about Ethan’s feats and laughing along with her during the funnier moments. He finally left hours later, but not before giving her a reassuring hug and thanking her one last time.
Alone again, Tara returned to unpack the box, and the emotions she had so recently vented returned as she read the plaque and the unfurled certificates of appreciation.
“To Ethan Delois,
As generous in death as he was in life.”
As each sheet of official paper was read out, Tara learned how Ethan’s body was used for the betterment of others. Her husband was responsible for the cleansing of Boston’s waters, healing of newborns, discovery of new diseases, and increase in harvest, among many other things. With no one around to witness her anymore, Tara finally allowed herself to break down into an ugly wail, the grief of missing her Ethan mingled with the joy and pride that he continued to help those in need even with his passing.