Chapter 1005: The Artificial Dragon
Selene led the two away from the Congregation’s main avenues, crossing a sequence of suspended platforms that gradually descended toward an isolated region at the far northern edge of the crater.
Unlike the towers full of windows and the laboratories that seemed to compete over which one could defy the greatest number of natural laws at once, that area was almost empty.
An enormous circular structure had been built directly into the mountain, protected by four visible layers of magical barriers and a set of pillars that constantly absorbed excess mana from within.
Frieren recognized almost immediately that those defenses were not meant to keep something from entering.
They were meant to make sure whatever was inside did not get out.
"I assume that’s the dragon," Strax commented.
Selene smiled as she twirled her staff once between her fingers.
"You sound disappointed that I didn’t put an artificial dragon in the middle of the city."
"After knowing you people for a few hours, I honestly expected it."
"We’re not irresponsible."
A green explosion went off on one of the floating islands behind them.
Selene waited for the noise to fade.
"Most of the time."
Frieren walked past both of them before Selene had even finished deactivating the first barrier.
The Great Witch had to grab her by the shoulder and pull her one step back when a band of energy passed through the entrance.
"This first layer disintegrates any organic matter that crosses without authorization."
Frieren looked at the barrier.
Then at Selene.
"Interesting."
Strax placed a hand on top of the elf’s head and kept her in place.
"Do you have any survival instinct?"
"I do."
"Doesn’t look like it."
Selene laughed and tapped her staff against the ground.
The four barriers recognized her authority one after another, opening perfectly aligned circular passages into the mountain.
The main gate came next, separating into six gigantic pieces that slid into the walls with such a heavy sound that the entire platform vibrated.
A current of hot air escaped from the laboratory, carrying the smell of metal, alchemical reagents, and a very familiar concentration of artificial draconic energy.
Strax lost part of his smile.
That caught his attention for real.
The hall beyond the gate was large enough to hold a small fortress.
Observation platforms surrounded a deep central depression, while hundreds of magical cables descended from structures in the ceiling and converged on something enormous lying at the bottom.
Witches occupied different stations throughout the facility, some working with control crystals, others recording data or inspecting gigantic formations drawn directly onto the walls.
At the center was the dragon.
Forty meters had been an accurate description, but it had not prepared Strax for the creature.
Its body was long and heavy, covered in artificial dark-gray scales, each one individually constructed and fitted over a structure that imitated real muscles.
Two enormous wings remained folded against its back, supported by bones made from a metallic alloy Strax did not recognize.
Its head vaguely resembled a western dragon, with four horns pointing backward and a jaw far too large for any natural animal.
Even completely motionless, the creature possessed an impressive physical presence.
Frieren stopped in front of the railing.
"You built all of it."
"Practically," Selene replied. "The muscular system is alchemical, the bones are a composition of five magical metals, and the scales were developed to absorb energy before redistributing it. We managed to reproduce some respiratory capabilities and even a limited form of regeneration."
Strax watched in silence.
Selene continued explaining as they descended a side staircase.
"It can fly, attack, and respond to commands. There is no true intelligence, but we can control it through a Dominion matrix. It is similar to an extremely sophisticated golem."
Frieren tilted her head.
"So it isn’t exactly a homunculus."
"No. Not yet."
One of the nearby Witches overheard the conversation and approached carrying several enchanted clipboards.
She was younger than Selene and had dark-blue hair tied behind her head.
"The problem is still the heart."
Strax looked at her immediately.
The Witch noticed his gaze but continued.
"We managed to create cores capable of supplying enough energy for simple movement, but none of them can simultaneously support metabolism, regeneration, flight, and the magical functions we planned. Every time we increase output, the core begins to deteriorate."
Frieren looked toward the artificial dragon’s chest.
There was an opening partially covered by plates, and through it they could see an empty receptacle surrounded by dozens of conduits.
"You need something that functions as an organ and a core at the same time."
"Exactly," the researcher replied. "A true draconic heart would solve much of the problem. Or at least an artificial structure close enough to one."
Strax stared at that cavity for several seconds.
Then he spoke.
"It’s better to leave it as it is."
Selene turned toward him.
"What?"
"Magical control. Advanced golem. War machine. Call it whatever you want."
Strax pointed at the enormous body.
"But I wouldn’t try to turn this into something alive."
The younger Witch looked confused.
Selene, however, noticed that something in his tone had changed.
"Why?"
Strax rested his arms on the railing and kept watching the creature.
"Because you’ve reached a part of alchemy that doesn’t depend on knowledge alone."
Frieren remained quiet.
She knew exactly where this was going.
"Only a Dragon can create a true artificial draconic heart," Strax continued. "I’m not talking about a powerful core or an organ that imitates mana circulation. I’m talking about something capable of sustaining a draconic existence, recognizing essence, adapting to the body, and continuing to evolve after it has been created."
Selene narrowed her eyes.
"You know how to do that."
Strax turned his face slightly.
"Yes."
The silence around them seemed to deepen.
Even some of the Witches working nearby slowed down without realizing it.
Selene watched him for several seconds before asking the inevitable question.
"Could you create one for it?"
"No."
The answer came immediately.
"Even if the Congregation provides the materials?"
"No."
"Even if—"
"Selene."
She stopped.
Strax was not angry.
That was what made the answer more definitive.
"I’m not making another heart like that for anyone."
Frieren briefly looked toward him but did not interfere.
Strax had made exceptions before for very specific people.
People connected to him in a way no organization, kingdom, or academic proposal could replicate.
This was not a technique he intended to turn into a product or bargaining chip.
Selene became serious.
"Is that an order?"
Strax shook his head.
"No."
"A threat?"
"Not that either."
He looked back at the artificial dragon.
"It’s a warning."
Selene waited.
"You can keep trying for a thousand years if you want. I’m not going to forbid it. It isn’t even my right to forbid it as long as this remains your research."
Strax indicated the creature.
"But reaching this level without a Dragon’s cooperation is going to consume an absurd amount of time. A draconic heart isn’t simply a recipe you can replicate after studying enough."
The younger Witch frowned.
"So you believe it’s impossible?"
"I never said impossible."
Selene smiled faintly at that.
Strax noticed.
"Don’t get excited."
"Too late."
He sighed.
"I’m saying you’re trying to manufacture something that depends on properties the draconic race carries naturally. My wives and I are not going to provide that. So if you continue, be prepared to discover an entirely different path."
Selene remained silent.
Her eyes returned to the enormous dragon.
For several seconds, Strax imagined he might have discouraged the Great Witch.
It was exactly the opposite.
"Then we’ll continue."
Strax let out a short laugh.
"I knew it."
Selene crossed her arms.
"That is the core of almost every relevant piece of research in the Congregation. If someone tells us something is simple, we do it. If someone says it is difficult, we study it. If someone says it is impossible..."
Frieren finished for her.
"You want to do it even more."
Selene looked at the elf and smiled.
"Exactly."
The younger Witch beside them also seemed quite pleased with the answer, and Strax realized at that moment that he might have just given them fuel for several hundred years of research.
He shook his head.
"Then be careful."
Selene raised an eyebrow.
"That’s all?"
"I warned you. The rest is your problem."
"I expected a bigger argument."
"I live with Frieren."
The elf looked at him.
Strax pointed at her.
"I already gave up trying to stop insane researchers from doing dangerous things."
Frieren replied without emotion.
"It has worked quite well so far."
"You built forty-eight artificial bodies beneath my house."
"It worked."
Selene started laughing.
After a few more minutes observing the artificial dragon, she decided to end that part of the tour.
She tapped her staff against the ground, and a violet formation appeared around the three of them.
"We should go somewhere else."
Strax saw the portal beginning to form.
"Where?"
"My office."
"You have an office?"
Selene looked offended.
"Of course I do."
"After seeing this place, I imagined you worked while floating in the middle of some magic circle."
"On Thursdays."
Strax opened his mouth.
The portal swallowed all three.
When they reappeared, they were at the highest point of the Congregation.
Selene’s office occupied practically the entire top floor of one of the upper towers.
The walls were formed mostly from enchanted glass, offering an absurd view over the entire crater thousands of meters below.
Clouds passed beneath part of the structure, while floating islands looked like tiny pieces on a board from that height.
Bookshelves covered entire sections of the hall, crammed with books, memory crystals, scrolls, and boxes whose contents were probably better left unknown.
Strax approached one of the windows.
"Where exactly are we?"
"My personal office."
Selene placed her staff on a nearby stand and finally removed her hat.
"I wanted to talk a little more with both of you without half the Congregation listening."
Frieren was already examining a shelf.
"I don’t have much to say about politics."
"It isn’t about politics."
Frieren turned her face slightly.
Selene pointed directly at her.
"Join us Witches."
"No."
The answer came so fast that Selene froze.
Strax slowly turned his head.
Selene blinked.
"I didn’t even—"
"I would never join."
This time Frieren turned completely around.
She was smiling.
Technically.
The nearly closed eyes and delicate curve of her lips might have looked gentle to someone who did not know her.
Strax, however, did.
That smile clearly said:
Keep going and I may experimentally determine how many pieces a Great Witch has.
Selene noticed something similar, because she fell silent.
Strax walked over to Frieren and placed a hand on her head, stroking the elf’s hair with some amusement.
"She would never abandon me."
Frieren did not move his hand away.
Strax continued:
"Even if that means failing forever and rejecting all the knowledge you’ve accumulated."
Frieren’s smile disappeared.
She slowly raised her eyes toward him.
"Did you need to add that part?"
"I did."
"You didn’t."
Selene looked from one to the other.
"I wasn’t asking you to abandon Asgard."
Frieren answered immediately:
"Then phrase it better."
"I was going to if you had let me."
"You said, ’Join us Witches.’"
"As an academic title."
Silence.
Frieren blinked.
Strax started laughing.
Selene pointed at her, now indignant.
"I was offering formal recognition as a Witch of the Congregation, not trying to steal you from him!"
Frieren remained motionless.
"Ah."
Strax laughed even harder.
Selene ran a hand over her face.
"You were ready to kill me."
"No."
Selene narrowed her eyes.
Frieren gave that same smile again.
"Maybe."
Strax kept stroking her head.
"Cute."
"Stop."
Selene stared at the two and slowly began to understand that working in Asgard would probably be an extremely productive academic experience.
And socially exhausting.