The one you see in the mirror
There are many phobias in the world. There are silly ones, ordinary ones, rare, and even some that are 'interesting' in the Chinese sense. Usually, people are afraid of what they don't understand or what they don't know; insects, reptiles, viruses, bacteria, robots, demons to list a few. Of course there are phobias that are simply common sense survival instincts like fear of heights or the dark. There are as many phobias as there are 'things' that people can fear. And one of the most normal fears out there is the fear of other people.
Humans are the hardest things to 'understand' in existence. Therefore, it is natural that humans are very afraid of their fellow humans.
Magicians, the ascended, the highest caste of humanity are also part of that dynamic. They had cast aside the Sleepers' superstitions and weaknesses to see the Tellurian as it was, but they didn't stop being human just from that. It would take a lot more than the ability to mold reality as you see fit to stop being 'human'. Magicians, the Awakened, do not lose their weaknesses, fears, aspirations and desires when they part ways from the Sleepers.
Jonathan for example was afraid of mirrors. Though if you know what he knows about mirrors, then you would feel the same way as well. Is what he would tell you if you were to ask, hiding an embarrassing secret.
He was afraid of mirrors not in the sense that he was afraid of the mirrors themselves, afraid of polished metals or objects with reflective surfaces applied to them. Jonathan was not one of those who would freeze in panic when their sight pass over a mirror. And he was not afraid of mirrors because he was once cursed by someone from the inhabitants of Speculum Orbis Terrarum.
It was simply an ordinary fear from childhood, an irrational fear borne out of immaturity. People do fear what they don't understand after all, and for the immature Jonathan, a mirror was something truly alien.
Foolish childhood fears permeated the minds of people. Superstitions and delusions from the very beginning of their lives plagues everyone, as it did to Jonathan in the distant past.
Jonathan was afraid that one day he would look in a mirror and not see his figure reflected.
Jonathan was not afraid of the curse one could cast from the other side of the mirror, nor did he fear imagining that another person would smile at him from inside the mirror. As the Order of Hermes loved mirrors as it was used for communication and observation, Jonathan got used to the last part quite quickly.
He was afraid to one day see in a mirror the Jonathan Goodman that he was not.
And so Jonathan, looking in the mirror, always asked himself the same question - who does he see in front of him? Would he see Jonathan Goodman, the son of an old man, a young Adept, a hopeful follower of Ars Unitatis?
Jonathan could have ditched Cinder to her fate. Logically speaking, it would even be the smart thing to do. Survival, convenience of life, and efficiency of action were things that were held in high esteem in the Order. As a part of that culture for the better part of his life, it was a creed that he was very familiar with.
But, having found a base for himself, even if only a tentative one. With bountiful tass in hand, it was only a matter of time of him acquiring a suitable standard of living as an Adept of the Order of Hermes. But, if he were to abandon Cinder now, when he looks in the mirror in the future, who would Jonathan see looking back?
He would see a Jonathan, but not himself. A Jonathan who had the opportunity to make the world better, even if just a little, even for just for one person, and chose not to do so. A Jonathan that did not save Cinder, who said nothing in her defense, A Jonathan that had run away, abandoned a person he could have easily helped. He wasn't sure that he liked that image.
It doesn't mean he has the solution to Cinder's problem though, he still had no plan. His current plans were nothing more than things done in a state of heightened emotions. Truly what kind of plan is to just kill everybody? Or his second best, just grabbing Cinder and running away, with no actual end goal and no means of preserving her livelihood. In all honesty, he was flying by the seat of his pants.
But, Jonathan was scared shitless of one day looking in the mirror and not recognizing the person in the reflection.
Therefore, looking at Cinder through the mirror, who was being tortured with electric shocks whimpering on the ground. Gritting his teeth at the cruel mistress and Satan spawns mocking Cinder relentlessly as she apologizes for things that were not her fault. At last, when he saw Cinder retreating into herself to preserve her sense of self, Jonathan came to a decision.
So it is done.
***
"I want to help you." Jonathan's words sounded like cannon shots for Cinder, making her tremble uncomfortably. Cinder stood with her arms raised, as if to defend herself. Her personal little sanctuary, her personal world. It had been defiled. Destroyed. Not empty.
"How did you come here!?" Cinder didn't know what she was supposed to do, she didn't know what to expect next. Why did Jonathan come here? What is he planning to do?
Why is he interfering with her life again?! And how did he find her Sanctuary!?
"Get out! Get out of my room!" Cinder barked as loudly as possible, trying to sound threatening. But, as expected, she was too drained to do anything too strenuous, so the result was not at all what Cinder had hoped for. Cinder, at best, could reach Jonathan's armpit when comparing their height and size, so any physical fight is no contest. Furthermore, the whirlwind of emotion boiling inside Cinder made her threat come out more like a panicked exclamation than a true threat.
Jonathan sighed slowly before repeating what he said to Cinder again. "I want to help you."
Cinder froze, she literally couldn't understand what Jonathan was saying.
It was weird. It was something that she couldn't parse - those words were not things that are spoken to her. Never.
Not in the orphanage, not at this hotel. Neither by the visitors, by Miss Sunny or her sisters. It's not something that were ever said to her as she was tortured every single day.
Cinder drew in a deep breath, her collar still scorching under her clothes. After the punishment, the pendant had a disgusting side effect of heating up, leaving burn marks on her skin. After each punishment session she needed to concentrate on her dwindling Aura to not get another burn on her chest. However, with her mind in disarray, she couldn't help the panicked reflex of trying to take off the burning collar. With the need to keep the collar secret, Cinder stopped her hand before touching the damn necklace.
However, judging by Jonathan's gaze, she didn't do it fast enough for Jonathan to not notice.
"I want to help", - Jonathan said it again, with a tinge of sadness to his voice. He then looked down, staring into Cinder's eyes and… he smiled. Not the taunting and angry smile Cinder was used to from her sisters. Not the patronizing or condescending ones she could see from the many Hunters passing through Miss
Sunny's hotel. But… a kind one.
Jonathan just smiled kindly at her, as if he wasn't going to do anything else. As if he wanted to help her.
"Get out!" Cinder cried out again, but this time there was no anger in her voice that she should have felt, there was only panic and resentment. But most of all, confusion.
"Get out now! Go away!"
"Cinder," Jonathan then raised his hands slowly, as if showing that he meant no harm, still smiling all the while. "I just want to help."
Cinder clenched her fists until she could feel her nails piercing skin, to mask the pinching feeling in her eyes. It was a vile feeling, Cinder didn't like this feeling.
To cry is to be weak, and Cinder hated weakness.
"You will help me by going away!" Cinder squeezed her hands painfully, staring at the floor. "I don't need your help!"
"It's okay, Cinder." Jonathan slowly got up from his seat, before taking a step towards Cinder, "I'm here, and I want to help. I promise I don't want anything else."
"I don't need help! Not from anyone and especially from you!" Cinder broke down, shouting, stamping the floor loudly like a child throwing a tantrum.
"Needing help is a sign of weakness! Needing help is an admission of your weakness!"
"Cinder" As Jonathan called out to her softly, Cinder can only look at the floor in front of her, powerless to do anything, as Jonathan begin to approach her.
"Needing help is not an admission of weakness. We all need some help, sometimes."
Cinder clenched her fists till it turned white, still not looking up. Hearing only the approach of footsteps, she hissed barely audibly, "I don't need help! I'm not weak!
"Of course not, Cinder," Jonathan's kind voice made Cinder choke on air.
He didn't sound evil or derisive. Neither arrogant nor condescending. No, he sounded... So strange, so alien. "You are very strong, Cinder. Very, very strong."
Jonathan was now next to Cinder, forcing her to freeze in place, waiting for... Something. Anything! A Strike! Ridicule! Or even some Punishment! Cinder suddenly felt hands on her head and she reflexively looked up, looking at Jonathan.
"You are strong, Cinder." And he smiled at her. He looked fatherly, supportive, and so, so sad. It looked so wrong...
Cinder looked down the pinching feeling on her eyes growing stronger.
"You are the strongest person I know of, Cinder," Jonathan said. So stupid! So strange! But… also very kind. "You've been through so much, you have endured for so long, enduring a torture I cannot even imagine. You are very strong, Cinder."
Jonathan slowly raised his hand to hug Cinder, then pulled her to him. It was a simple human action. One that people would do to console one another.
It was so warm. It was so strange...
"That's why I want to help you, Cinder." Jonathan talked, talked and talked, but her ears for some reason is no longer working. "Because you are the strongest person I know."
"I'm not weak…" - Cinder said quietly, feeling the pinching on her eyes again as tears started falling down. "I'm not weak!"
"No, you are not weak", - Jonathan hugged Cinder, burying her head in his chest, - "You are very, very strong."
"I'm not weak... I'm not weak…" - Cinder, who had been standing with legs trembling from exhaustion raised her hands in response, hugging Jonathan. As the crying Cinder pressed against him, Jonathan could feel his shirt starting to get wet.
"I'm not weak... I'm not weak... I'm not weak…"
"No, you're not weak." Jonathan slowly raised his hand and ran his fingers through Cinder's hair, once, then another, and then another… "You are the strongest…"
***
Cinder, having spent the last remnants of her strength, was absolutely exhausted. She did not even try to resist when Jonathan took out a handful of Dust from his pocket.
With a sharp movement, he pressed Cinder into himself, blocking her view. After a second, Jonathan let go of the barely on her feet girl.
Cinder blinked blankly before letting go of Jonathan, whose T-shirt was now wet through and through, and rubbed her eyes. Eyes which were now dry and starting to pinch unpleasantly. She then looked at her surrounding with tired confusion.
For some reason she now found herself in Jonathan's room, even though she had previously stood in her room… it seems that she's more tired than she thought.
Cinder sniffed before looking around and slowly yawning. She needs to sleep, she had only four and a half hours of sleep left… After that, she must wake up to continue cleaning the carpet...
Jonathan sighed as he stared at the dead at her feet Cinder before shaking his head and looking at the shirt sticking to his body. Cinder suddenly felt ashamed that she had stained Jonathan's shirt as she looked down.
"Do not lower your gaze, Cinder." Jonathan noticed Cinder's movement, speaking quietly and calmly. "Better look at me in the eye. When you look down, I start to worry that I disappointed you somehow"
Cinder froze as she glanced at Jonathan. He was an adult, a lot younger than Miss Sunny, but also much older than Cinder herself. He had money, strength, connections, with the way he could travel to cities, Kingdoms. And he smiled at Cinder. He was good and not at all judgmental… So to think that he had disappointed Cinder somehow…
He looked at her calmly, with a smile, with... kindness.
Cinder dropped her gaze instantly, before remembering Jonathan's words and looking up... before lowering it again.
Jonathan, noticing Cinder's strange behavior hugged her again a little. Then he lifted her, making her sit on the bed, and then sat down next to her.
Cinder frowned at the fact that someone had hugged her, but did not pull away. Finally, making up her mind on what to do, she buried her gaze in her knees.
"Why do you want to help me?" Cinder said quietly and with a frown, continuing to look at her knees. "Nobody cared about me, no one."
"Why? Hmm… " Jonathan sighed before hugging Cinder a little more, pulling her a little closer. Cinder did not have the strength to resist, so she allowed herself to be pulled, being hugged with one hand. "Indeed, why…"
Jonathan sighed again, and then looked from Cinder to somewhere forward and up. Cinder, who glanced at him, noticed how Jonathan was looking at something far away...
"Probably because... So it is done." Jonathan said something ridiculous nonchalantly. "As you know, my name is Jonathan Goodman, and the surname obliges…"
Cinder made a slight sneer at Jonathan's words as she continued to stare at him.
"I want to help you, Cinder, I really want to." Jonathan closed his eyes, then exhaled slowly and looked at Cinder, eye to eye. "So tell me, Cinder. What can I do for you?"
"What can you do?" Cinder looked away, hearing Jonathan's passionate words.
After which, no longer caring to keep Miss Sunny's secrets, she reached out her hand under her shirt. With a projection of Aura around her hand, she grabbed the still sizzling pendant, no, her collar. She pulled the collar that keeps her chained out from under her clothes, literally poking Jonathan in the face.
"This is… this is my collar. No matter what you do, as soon as Miss Sunny presses the button I… "
Imagining the shocks that would run through her body, Cinder flinched. Jonathan hugged her tighter, allowing her to unclench her fist. As she let go, a large
Dust crystal fell off her opened hands, pulling Cinder's neck with it. A reminder of who she was at this hotel.
"If you try to take it off without Miss Sunny's key - it will explode." Cinder shuddered. "If the collar is three hundred meters away from her - it will explode."
"Oh, the metric system…" Jonathan said it quietly, with his lips only, but Cinder could hear him calculating something. "About... A little over three hundred yards? I see…"
Cinder ignored Jonathan's words, lost in thought.
"I can just destroy it," Jonathan came to the obvious conclusion. His exclamation making Cinder flinch and immediately shake her head in fear. Her shaking forcing Jonathan to hold the girl so that she does not fall out of bed.
"No!" Cinder disagreed vehemently. "If you break it, then…"
"Explosion." Jonathan sighed, instantly figuring out the unspoken consequences.
He shook his head at imagining what kind of person would stick a bomb to a young child's neck. He suddenly froze, a realization. Suddenly, he looked again at
Cinder's collar attentively.
"It's… just a Dust crystal, isn't it? An Electric Dust crystal welded to metal as a protective barrier, and... probably with a small command element... Hmm…"
Cinder looked up at the deep in though Jonathan carefully. The idea coursing through his head forced him to slowly close his eyes to think.
"Maybe… maybe I can turn it off without destroying it?" Jonathan suddenly looked at the collar with scrutiny.- "Like, hmm... Like pulling the battery out of a remote control."
"A battery?" - Cinder frowned at the unfamiliar word uttered by Jonathan. "What's that?"
"Ah, ahem," Jonathan blinked, quickly trying to think up some kind of explanation. " It's Dust... from the remote control… yeah, something like that."
Cinder sighed, then looked down once more. "Miss Sunny always monitor the charge on the Dust. If its level drops low enough, she will simply replace it…"
Jonathan thought about the new information for a second, before smiling at Cinder. "Then the solution is simple no? It will just be necessary to extract all the energy from the Dust instantly… and safely."
Cinder looked at the confident Jonathan carefully. Then, while not letting her hopes rise, she asks. "Can you do this?"
"Yes," Jonathan answered instantly and confidently, then shook his head. "But... I need some preparation and time... But I can do it, I'm sure of it."
Cinder perked up, as she could the chance to finally leave Miss Sunny and her cruel daughters. But her joy was short-lived, when she realized another crucial fact.
"What then? Even if you can remove this collar what then? Where will I go?" Cinder asked Jonathan.
"Do you have other relatives or friends?" Jonathan asked.
Cinder looked down instantly, her future now uncertain again. "No."
"This is a big problem." Jonathan now looked less confident about his plans.
"Take me with you then." Cinder said it quietly, but Jonathan heard it.
"What?" Jonathan was pulled away from his thoughts.
"Take me away from here, with you." - Cinder repeated, again. "Away from here, from this jail."
"I…" - Jonathan sighed slowly and shook his head, and his response almost broke Cinder's budding hope. "I can't."
"Why?" Cinder looked at Jonathan, feeling a large and disgusting lump rise to her throat.
"I…" - Jonathan sighed. "I may have… lied a little to you. I am not a traveler and Atlas... I've arrived here illegally. And… furthermore, I'm not exactly the best company for little girls. Huh…"
Cinder averted her gaze. She was a smart girl, she understood that these words did not mean anything good for her future.
"And so what?" Cinder looked up, looking at Jonathan with desperation. "Take me away from here. Please."
"I don't… I don't have a place to stay." Jonathan shook his head, - "All I have is a room rented here at the moment... I have nowhere to take you."
Cinder lowered her gaze again, feeling her eyes begin to pinch again, before speaking in a lower voice. "Please... I... I only eat a little... and I can clean up and wash the dishes, and the floors, and wash clothes, and, and, and…"
"Cinder." Jonathan's voice sounded like a death knell to Cinder. "I... I'm not really a good option for you to stay with. I have no house, am here illegally, and don't even have a source of income, I have serious problems with money and... You should not live in such conditions. Maybe an orphanage... I can take you to an orphanage, there must be another place where you can stay."
"No." Cinder suddenly looked up, full of determination, - "No. You're going to take me away from here."
"Cinder, I really can't and…" At that moment Jonathan suddenly realized an important thing. Cinder was holding on to him very tightly, and she can make her hands melt plastic, not a great combination.
"Cinder... Let go of my T-shirt, please."
"No", - Cinder frowned as she looked into Jonathan's eyes. "I will leave here only with you."
"Cinder," Jonathan sighed slowly and exhaled. "I... staying with me is not really the best option for you."
Cinder, not listening to Jonathan's protests, pulled on Jonathan's shirt and made Jonathan sway with a force he obviously wasn't expecting from the little girl in his arms.
"I won't let go." Cinder then buried herself in Jonathan's cloth. She, frowning, continuing to puff out, while her hands were clenched so hard they were trembling. "I won't let go if you don't take me with you."
"Cinder," Jonathan sighed again, - "I... Really, I... I would be happy to do so were my circumstances are different. I would like to take you with me, but I cannot provide you with a house, or food, or even a decent living conditions... I cannot give you what you need and I… Believe me Cinder I really would like to, but I cannot, for your sake. Think about it, I…"
Cinder did not listen to Jonathan anymore, buried in him completely. She didn't want to listen. Jonathan suddenly felt his T-shirt, which had begun to dry out, become wet again.
"I won't let go… " Jonathan heard a sob and felt a child's face pressed into him with all her strength.
"I won't let go, and you won't go anywhere! You will not leave me and I will not be alone! I won't... I won't be alone! Everyone... All left, nobody helped me! Only you stayed! You will not leave!" Jonathan froze at Cinder's heartfelt cry before taking a slow breath.
"This is a bad decision, Cinder." Jonathan slowly put his hand on Cinder's head and ran it through her hair, - "You know, I can't give you the life that you deserve. Staying with me is…"
"You won't leave!" Through her sobs, Cinder pressed into Jonathan with such force that he was forced to exhale so that Cinder would not accidentally burst his rib cage open. But, in the end, Jonathan was forced to concede.
"Fine, I won't leave you behind, you win" Jonathan slowly ran his other hand through his hair. An Adept of the Order of Hermes being defeated by a little girl, how embarrassing.
"This is still a very, very stupid and bad decision, but if you are so vehement… Okay, Cinder. I will not leave."
Cinder continued to press against Jonathan and furthermore, sobbing every other time. So Jonathan continued to run his hand through her hair.
Slowly, gently, soothingly...
So strange.
Cinder herself did not know when she fell asleep...
***
Jonathan put the asleep Cinder to bed with a sigh.
This is a bad decision. Bad decisions awaited people at every step of their lives, a foolish, impulsive action with unpredictable consequences, ha...
The old man once said that the day when Jonathan realizes the difference between a 'good' decision and a 'right' decision will be the worst day in Jonathan's life.
The old man knew what he was talking about...
Jonathan ran a hand over his face, slowly trying to calm himself down before realizing that another of his T-shirts was wet through and through...
Haha, he bought three T-shirts, and it weren't enough.
If this was not a metaphor for how Jonathan's seemingly excellent foresight proved to be so inadequate in the real world, then Jonathan knew nothing about metaphors.
Jonathan sighed, thoughtful.
He has made a promise to Cinder.
Jonathan had not broken any promises before. And even if he admits to himself that one day he could make a promise that he could not do, this is not that day.
Jonathan wasn't stupid, nor is he weak. Jonathan could have easily escaped Cinder's grasp, but... Why would he do that? What will he achieve by doing that?
What will happen to Cinder?
Cinder won't forgive him.
Jonathan, that Jonathan in the mirror won't forgive him.
Jonathan sighed and grinned grimly.
Well, Jonathan, it seems that you have begun to determine your plans and take decisive steps in this world! The old man would be proud of you, Jonathan.
Jonathan wasn't sure if his last line was sarcastic or not. Jonathan generally wasn't sure about his life at the moment, but Jonathan understood the bare minimum of what he needed to understand.
He knew for certain that he would take Cinder with him. It was an extremely idiotic decision. It was a Bad decision, but the Right decision.
He will also need to flee to a new state as there's no way a person like Miss Sunny will let Cinder go. Another very bad decision, but in the light of the past it is also a good decision.
He also needs to find a significant amount of money, taking care of another person isn't cheap after all. So to recap; he needs to prepare a teleport, remove the collar from Cinder; develop a few rituals - and conduct them...
The last part didn't even sound as idiotic as all the previous parts. Jonathan could even pat himself languidly that his bani Bonisagus nature was made manifest in this world.
Jonathan sighed again before looking closely at the sleeping Cinder.
So small, she's about the age that children had to go to school now... First or second grade of elementary school. The age where she would go with her parents every weekend to a café, asking for new dresses, or discussing the stupid boys in her class...
Jonathan sighed and rubbed his face before shaking off his silly and pointless philosophizing.
Yes, he had chosen a very, very bad path, but it was the right one. And so now he, at least, knew what he needed to do.
The first thing Jonathan needed was to look at what he wanted to destroy - or, in this case, deprive of its essence.
Looking at Cinder, huddled in a fetal position, Jonathan slowly took a step towards the sleeping Cinder. He then gently turned her onto her back, causing
Cinder to reflexively tense even through her deep sleep. With a steady hand he reached out to the collar lying on the girl's neck...
Jonathan found it unpleasant to even touch such a thing as this. But with a sigh, remembering the Art of War... A book the old man appreciated… Know your enemy as you know yourself.
Jonathan closed his eyes, exhaling slowly, while reaching out to the nearest sealed container of Dust he had bought.
He opened the lid, before pouring a generous handful of Dust on his fingers and slowly applying the resulting powder to his eyes, creating a kind of mask of light gray color.
Through the eyes and his gaze combined with the quintessence, he sees it. He sees through it. After another moment, he raised his hand to his eyes, feeling how the quintessence reacts to his actions.
He touched the tass applied to his eyes, and with a swipe erasing its corporeal form. Instantly, he could feel the power of the quintessence contained in the tass following his Will. With it, he frees himself from the veil that prevents him from seeing this world.
As he opened his eyes, he now looks at the world in the way that only the Awakened can look at it. Then, he turned his gaze toward Cinder.
The girl herself looked... probably the way umbral beings was supposed to look like. Jonathan was not the greatest expert in this area, so he could not say anything more specific.
A force glimmered inside her that Jonathan had never seen before... Which also did not say much. Though, he admits, he wasn't interested in this aspect at the moment. With that out of the way he picked up the pendant on Cinder's neck with his hand and slowly brought it closer to his face.
The artifact in front of his eyes was a rather rough, but powerful artifact. It was powered by a huge amount of quintessence contained in the rather large Dust crystal in its center. Though the way the pendant uses it was so inefficient, such that Jonathan internally groaned on the wastefulness of it all. Yet, its purpose being such, perhaps it is for the best.
Dissatisfaction at the wastefulness of the artifact over with, he began to inspect it more attentively.
Apparently, his early assumption was true, the built-in tass, a crystal of Dust, was the main source of power for the artifact. At the same time, it is also used as a storage element filled with quintessence with a distinct resonance... Lightning, or electricity to be specific.
Jonathan frowned. While the craft was rough and clumsy, it was also its strength. There were no knots or cunning schemas that could be easily confused to destroy or deactivate the artifact. What was left for Jonathan to do was to manually 'de-energize' it by taking the quintessence from the Dust crystal and transferring it to a new 'battery'.
Again, it was not so difficult to do - the collar was not protected from such interventions and Jonathan could easily do it. However, looking only at the truly magical nature of such an artifact, Jonathan could not predict how the possible connection between the collar and Miss Sunny's remote control would behave if he were to tamper with it.
It is quite possible that in the case of a slow transfer, she would be able to detect such changes. And if the creators of the artifact understood what exactly they were creating and how their artifacts would be used in the future, then she would wake up from some kind of alarm.
This means that the transfer had to be instantaneous... Which somewhat complicated the matter.
Jonathan breathed out - transference of energy... Jonathan did not know how to 'freeze' spells as well as some Adept Major of Ars Temporis... But he knew how to create... 'certain' types of artifacts.
So he needed to create an artifact that, when used, would extract all the energy from Cinder's collar. It also needs to be done at the last moment, as he prepares for teleportation...
However, this created other problems as well. As it was highly desirable for him to at least understand where exactly he was going with Cinder. Furthermore,
Cinder needs to not attract any attention to herself until they are ready to leave.
The problem also remained that if Jonathan and Cinder disappeared from the hotel at the same time in an unknown way, this could very eloquently indicate the interconnection of these events...
Not to mention the fact that Miss Sunny would probably file a police report for the missing Cinder. And, given that there were only five major cities in this world, surely Atlas would easily pass information about him and the missing girl to the other cities...
Jonathan grimaced - so he needed a lot of preparation.
A cover for both him and Cinder. A lot of money to guarantee their livelihood, and a place where kingdoms would not seek him while remaining somewhat safe from the Grimm.
And, oh that's right, Jonathan also shouldn't forget that he still did not have any proper documents. He should remember to get Cinder's too at the same time… Ha, Cinder's documents. No, it would be better for Jonathan not to take them. Cinder's documents probably also contain the identity of her foster family and place of residence.
Jonathan ran his hands over his face again.
So, to reiterate. He needs to pump out the quintessence from the artifact; find a place of residence that is not related to the Kingdoms and their legal and documentation system.
Then what's left is to officially check out and leave the hotel and find a lost of money.
Jonathan exhaled slowly and closed his eyes. Magic, Magia. Magia will always help him find a way out. So, all he needed to do at the moment was...
Jonathan rubbed his temples, feeling a plan slowly form in his head. It was bad to steal, very, very bad. But Jonathan needed a lot of money and quick.
Well, he could at least make sure not to inflict too much damage... Or at least the damage he did had to be bearable for the target of the attack.
And... He has a goal for all that money. A noble goal even.
And while the ends did not justify the means, but… Jonathan shook his head.
So it is done. The words that exemplify his Order… Jonathan has already made a bad decision… all that was left for him was to follow his decision to the end so that the bad decision did not become meaningless.
So Jonathan sighed and figured out exactly what he needed at the moment.
A Knife, a small penknife.
A Video camera. The cheaper it is, the better, perfect if it is a consumable one.
The simplest electric circuit diagram with a control element. Jonathan could draw this himself.
Scissors, the sharper it is, the better, but any will do.
Glue, durable and high quality.
A permanent marker, Black.
Dust, both electrical and aerial.
A pair of air-tight containers, but a box is better.
A crowbar, or really anything else that could move a sewer hatch.
Glasses, Jonathan needed the glasses for many activities.
Bag, the most common bag albeit very large. Very, very large.
Jonathan inhaled and exhaled noisily. As one could understand from the list of necessities...
For Cinder's sake, Jonathan was going to rob a bank.
Jonathan's Ten Millions
Luckily for Jonathan, there were twenty-four hours convenience stores in the Atlas! Jonathan was somewhat surprised by this fact - but it was certainly for the best.
Of course, perhaps Jonathan would have been much better off formalizing the final list of required purchases and buying his items in one purchase, rather than rushing headlong into the first convenient store that he came across. Never mind the fact that buying such strange items in such a public place could rise an eyebrow or two, he was that desperate.
Jonathan understood that every second of his delay had consequences. Consequences that he won't be the one paying.
Cinder was tortured, maybe not daily - but regularly. Every day, every moment, Jonathan spent in idle thoughts and preparations could turn into a new round of torture for Cinder.
Jonathan was not going to hesitate.
Therefore, finding a fast and good enough round-the-clock supermarket, in which Jonathan found without any problems everything he needed, he plunged ahead.
A small knife, glasses, a set of trash bags - and other things necessary to rob a bank - for Jonathan anyway after saying goodbye to a hundred liens from his pockets later - Jonathan sighed.
Buying all sorts of office supplies was the easiest of all the steps in Jonathan's plan.
The next step was buying the Dust.
Tass was surprisingly cheap in this world. And, even though Jonathan needed a fair amount of tass, with which he planned to be extremely wasteful with - Jonathan's money was more than enough for such a spending spree.
Jonathan was still surprised that people in this world can just buy tass, but at the moment, unfortunately for Jonathan himself, he had more important concerns.
Purchasing the Dust he needed, turned out to take a slightly longer time than Jonathan expected, since finding a 24-hour Dust store was a bit more difficult. But luckily and to Jonathan's unending surprise - such a service was available in Atlas.
Furthermore, there was no extra charge for the Dust... However, only because the tass store belonged to the Schnee... Like, apparently, all the Dust stores in the Atlas.
Not that Jonathan cared about the local monopoly of Dust, of course.
Finding his target was the next step for Jonathan. For the bank robbery that is.
Shaking his bag full of various miscellaneous materials, which would be useful to him in the subsequent robbery of the bank. Jonathan was still a bit mystified that casing a bank would one day become his goal.
Shaking his head, Jonathan began searching for the appropriate bank to rob.
A bank robbery - especially the one Jonathan had in mind - had to be done under certain very stringent conditions.
First, Jonathan could not steal intangible money, so he needed to find a bank with a vault containing cash bills... Or, um... What were the names of the plastic lien squares in this world? Tautologically speaking, banknotes could consist of plastic...
Either way, Jonathan needed a bank with an available vault filled with cash. Also - it was necessary that this storage has strong lockable doors and thick walls… the stronger, the better. A requirement, however, that was not particularly stringent, since, one way or another, any bank vault had to have a similar level of protection.
Lastly, the security system. Any bank clearly had a security system - but Jonathan needed that security system to be effective.
In other words Jonathan needed to find the most secured bank there is.
Maybe um… Jonathan looked around. This is much harder than they make it seem in the movies.
Of course, the movies usually lied about the presence of security laser beams and such in bank safes, people still need to enter and exit after all. A commercial bank usually needs regular access to their vaults so a too stringent security measure is usually a detriment.
But in this world there was a working robotic security, and most of the local technologies used tass in one way or another. An energy source which could, after being used, strike with electricity or create fire. Jonathan did not particularly want to suddenly find himself cut into pieces by a laser cutter that appeared out of nowhere. And oh, a so Technocrat favorite, one that he needs to be prepared for nonetheless.
Robbing a bank in an unknown new world suddenly seemed like a very bad idea to Jonathan.
But, there's no other choice, so he only pulled his cloak, rushing further along the roads of Atlas, trying his best not to meet the gaze of the rare passers-by this late into the night and the various robotic patrols.
In any case, the bank robbery Jonathan planned was something he could only pull off during the day, and only during the bank working hours.
Not because the light of the local moon threw him off or something that esoteric. It was simply because Jonathan was well aware of how significant of an event a bank robbery was.
It will most likely make it to the front page of local newspapers... Or the main Atlas TV report.
And Jonathan really needed to be on the front page for this to work.
Without his face and any specific references to himself of course, Jonathan was not that stupid, but… In the event of a bank robbery - especially the one that
Jonathan had in mind - the police will definitely be on the lookout for any possible suspects. So, Jonathan has to be especially stealthy since his lack of identity would definitely be a great big red flag.
Though the Bank employees would be the first suspects if he were to be 'too' successful in hiding his identity. And Jonathan did not want one of the bank workers' to be charged with what Jonathan did.
He had already done too many things that he was uncomfortable with, he didn't want to also become guilty of the unfortunate bank employee's jail term.
Anyway, the next few days are going to be uncomfortable no matter what happens.
Jonathan sighed again.
No more second guessing. Only forward.
***
The nearest bank Jonathan found that would work, of course, was not open round the clock. Not that Jonathan was looking for one that does.
Now, the first part of the plan is to locate if there are any surveillance cameras nearby. It didn't take Jonathan a few seconds to do, the bank's outdoor cameras weren't hidden. Good.
The next step is to find the nearest manhole, one that is not in sight of the cameras, and also where a bystander wouldn't see him. This was found within walking distance, which was also good.
Putting his bag full of various things on the ground, Jonathan took out a crowbar for testing. After making sure that there's no one around, he tried to pry the manhole cover, and tried to move the heavy lid. It turned out to be much more difficult to try than Jonathan initially thought, and only after several attempts, did he manage to move the lid from its place.
Jonathan is then presented with a view of the deep darkness, which immediately threw out a very unagreeable smell. What a surprise, a sewer not smelling like roses.
Jonathan's breakfast almost exited, digested food trying to rise to his throat before he forcefully swallowed it back.
Excellent. He didn't want his plan to fail at the very last stage because of some trifle such as a sewer hatch that did not budge.
As Jonathan nodded to himself, he turned to his bag, and pulled out the penknife. Sighing as his hands felt like ice as he removed his gloves for a second.
Concentrating all his Will, his Quinta Essentia, Jonathan then cut the palm of his hand with one swift movement.
Blood quickly started spilling from the wound, causing Jonathan to hiss in pain. He waits for the wound to bleed sufficiently before putting the knife back in his bag and pulling out a small vial of Dust.
His blood is the same quintessence, the same tass that carries power. Shedding his blood, full of quintessence, he appeals to the world of Quinta Essentia, his Will. Shedding your blood with your own hands is an act of Will, it is a manifestation of your resolve to the world.
And his Will is his Quinta Essentia. His blood is his Quinta Essentia.
A moment later, his blood mixed with the Dust scattered on his hand, the quintessence is mixed with Quinta Essentia, erasing the border between Will and Prime. Ars Potentiae, for Will is the unification of everything and the beginning of everything, as the quintessence is the beginning and end of everything.
Kneeling down, Jonathan with his bloody left hand, Aer's hand, quickly drew a small pentagram on the manhole cover. He then put his hand, still stained with tass just below the pentagram, leaving a bloody imprint on the hatch as his signature. His job done, he slowly waits until the remains of tass, whose power he had used, slowly begin to fade.
After another moment, Jonathan exhaled. The ritual had been successful. Mixing his blood with quintessence, he used his power, his personal seal on this hatch.
It is like the ritual of people becoming blood brothers. By exchanging their blood, two people that have no patrilineal relationship with another, symbolically become brothers by blood.
So in a ritual, Jonathan donated his blood to a household item, and created a bond by taking for himself a part of its constituent, ordinary road dust and quite a bit of stone chips, chipped from the hatch itself. Thereby formally exchanging 'blood' between himself - and an object that had no blood. In a sense the manhole cover and Jonathan were now linked.
Furthermore, since the tass and blood were one at that moment, the drops of Dust that fell on the hatch also became linked. At the same time, by leaving his own seal, his bloody palm, his personal signature, Jonathan had ritualistically turned the hatch into his property.
And since his property was mixed with his blood, giving its 'blood' in exchange, it also meant that this property has become a part of his body.
Jonathan grimaced slightly at the remains of dust and other debris on his wounded palm as he stood up. The stinging pain caused him to suck in a breath of pain. Jonathan quickly reached out for some sanitary napkins in his bag, immediately trying to wipe the dirt off his palm, as the small cut in his palm slowly stopped bleeding.
This step was important in many ways. In particular, teleporting to a 'part' of your body, albeit separate from the body itself, was much easier than just teleporting to the marked sewer hatch.
Of course, other magicians might say that such a level of preparation was excessive. He was a foolish mage. None of the magicians of the Order of Hermes and absolutely none of the bani Bonisagus would say such a foolish thing.
The Magicians of the Order knew that magic does not tolerate even the smallest neglect. They know that there's no such thing as being 'over-prepared'
After another moment, Jonathan hooked up the hatch with a crowbar, and then turned it over, hiding his bloody marks from a possible bystander. No need to make them start worrying over a bloody cult or some such nonsense.
Jonathan then looked at his bloody and dirty palm. "I'll have to handle it later," Jonathan sighed and looked around him.
It seems that he can take the next step only in the morning, when the bank is open… Sighing, Jonathan yawned when he looked at just how late it was at the clock on the bank.
Almost four in the morning...
A bank robbery was a lengthy affair. The sort of business that sometimes needed to be interrupted by sleep.
***
Cinder had a strange dream. A very, very strange dream.
In it, she had met some strange guy doing strange things, with strange feelings and strange motives… Cinder twitched in her sleep from the strange dream before freezing.
Something was wrong.
The surrounding sensations were unusual. It was too bright, unlike her room. There, there were no lights and no windows, so it was always dark. And the electricity was not running in an abandoned warehouse.
Cinder didn't try to deal with electricity, she had no knowledge and… Cinder didn't want to be electrocuted.
The sensation on her back was also unusual - almost unpleasant even. It was too soft - not like the sensation of the usual assembled sheets separating her body from the planks of the broken bed. It was not so hard, without the unpleasant torn holes...
There was a pillow under her head — not the usual folded clothes. With that last confirmation, Cinder shuddered sharply. She immediately rises from her stupor, in panic checking her surroundings.
The bed that is dirty from her clothes, which Cinder had not taken off before she fell asleep the night before. The blanket that fell from her, the pillow that she smeared with her hair, and the bedside table besides her that is empty...
"Did I accidentally sneak into an uninhabited room?" Cinder gritted her teeth. "Damn it, Miss Sunny would be... Okay, no need to panic Cinder, you just need to take off the bed linen and throw it in the pile. Say that one of the guests climbed on it in his shoes... Maybe one from Mantle? Is there anyone in the hotel from
Mantle currently? Miss Sunny said the people from there had disgusting manners..."
Stopping for a moment, Cinder unexpectedly found a discarded white T-shirt lying on a chair… One that is definitely not hers.
"Is this a... rented room?!" Cinder froze from shock, if it really was a room somebody rented - then she was done for!
After another moment, Cinder heard a familiar noise. The sound of a key being turned and a lock being opened.
Cinder, purely on reflexes, fell out of the bed, and rolled under its bottom.
'Damn, the tenant, the tenant is here!' Cinder froze as she hid under the bed, trying to hold her breath.
'Damn, go away, go away, don't find me!' However, having made a step into the room, the visitor froze for a second at the entrance. He then closed the door behind him - after which, as if knowing that Cinder was in the room, he approached the bed.
"Cinder?" Cinder suddenly heard a familiar voice.
'Ha?' - Cinder blinked - 'This is the same voice... As in the dream…'
"Cinder" Cinder again heard the voice, followed by a sigh, - "You're not under the bed, by any chance are you?"
Cinder froze in horror, as if trying to grasp her situation. Dream... Her dream…
"You…" Cinder felt so strange as she questioned the voice from her dreams. "Who are you?!"
"Cinder", - the voice of the speaker sounded... A little mocking. Kind, - "Can you crawl out from under the bed, please?"
Cinder froze, the scene seemed surreal to her… not that Cinder knew what the word means.
This... This... It was just a dream! It doesn't work that way! It was just a dream!
Her torment could not have ended so easily! With a snap of your fingers - and that's it! No more problems, just salvation.
In one moment, out of nowhere like a fairy godmother making her wishes come true.
"I-I will not get out!" With her mind in disarray, Cinder tried to threaten the dream in response, but stumbled on the very first word.
"You're not real! It doesn't work that way! I'm still sleeping!" Hearing these words, the invisible observer sighed before Cinder saw through a small gap how someone - Jonathan - knelt down, then tilted his head, causing his eyes to appear in front of her face.
"All is well, Cinder." Cinder looked into such... Such... Such disgustingly understanding eyes, hear his disgustingly soothing voice… Everything is like in a dream.
"This is not a dream…" - Cinder blinked, - "You're... Real…"
"As far as one can know one's real at least." - Jonathan smiled, and then sighed, - "By the way, can you crawl out from under the bed? It's a little uncomfortable talking to you while… although, if you want to lie on the floor, I certainly do not blame you." Jonathan smiled.
His mocking smile making Cinder frown, just now realizing the stupidity of the current situation. She hurriedly crawled out from under the bed, rising from the floor at the same time as Jonathan did.
After a moment, being in front of Jonathan, Cinder involuntarily lowered her head. "Cinder, please do not lower your eyes."
Cinder shuddered, looked up at Jonathan, looking him over. The same T-shirt... Cinder could even notice a couple of wet spots on it. The same pants, the same pose, the same face, and even the same voice… it was not a dream.
"It ... Was ... Not a dream." Cinder blinked, as if she couldn't believe her eyes as she looked at Jonathan.
"As you can see, I'm as real as it can get." Jonathan smiled at Cinder kindly, after which… he petted her head. Cinder froze at the act of care, looking at Jonathan like he's an alien.
"I… t-thought… y-you… and you…" Cinder felt completely lost, without any words to describe what she's feeling. She felt like she's stupid, completely unable to pronounce even a phrase.
"Y-you're... Real... I thought…" A moment later, Cinder was pulled in and hugged with one hand, while with his other hand, Jonathan continued to stroke her head.
"Well, well... I'm real…" - Jonathan smiled, - "I promised you, didn't I."
Unable to bear her rolling emotions, Cinder again clung to Jonathan. She was holding Jonathan as if afraid that as soon as she let him go, Jonathan would suddenly disappear.
Cinder could feel her tears rushing out.
"Crybaby…" - Cinder heard Jonathan's voice... Still so stupidly kind...
"I… I… Me n-no... c... cr... crybaby…" - Cinder, continuing to sniff, rested against Jonathan's chest, through rolling tears she could squeeze out an answer.
"Of course not, Cinder", - Jonathan's voice could be heard again, his hands softly rubbing her back. "You are the strongest…"
***
Cinder pulled away from Jonathan a few minutes after she was able to calm down. But, as if fearing that he would disappear if Cinder just looked away, she did not even take a step back, wrapping her arms around Jonathan and continuing to look up at him.
"What's next?" Cinder looked at Jonathan carefully with red teary eyes. Jonathan swallowed inaudibly.
'I wonder if the old man also saw me like this when I was a child?' Jonathan sighed.
Cinder looked at him… With absolute trust. If Jonathan had told her to jump out the window right now, that she would fly, caught in the wind - Jonathan knows, that Cinder would not hesitate even for a second. She would even take a run for a better jump, and jump she would. Fully trusting that she would either grow wings or that gravity would not affect her.
If Jonathan had told Cinder to take her collar off right now… Her collar - even knowing what was coming next - she would have trusted Jonathan. He could do anything and Cinder would have believed him.
The feeling was pressing. Suffocating.
It was the heavy burden of responsibility. Jonathan has yet to even start taking responsibility for himself, he's barely an adult for god's sake! And, now unexpectedly, he needs to care for Cinder. Jonathan could feel the physical weight of his responsibility for Cinder.
Jonathan exhaled. Is this what those teenage parents he watches on the TV felt?
If until that moment he was worried that he was going to rob a bank, now all his doubts have completely disappeared.
Cinder was like a little wolf cub, a wild and distrustful wolf cub. But, humanity had made the most faithful creature on earth from a wolf through long selection and domestication.
Jonathan... Jonathan had repeated their same feat, having domesticated a wolf cub in three days. Though Jonathan feels that comparing Cinder in any way to an animal would give him some very serious burns.
And so, even if he robbed a bank, perhaps even ruining the day for several rich people, a dozen workers, and maybe someone will even incur huge losses, but...
So it is done.
His Order's motto had never sounded so close to Jonathan's heart. As he wills it to be, So it will be done.
Therefore, smiling at Cinder's forceful behavior, Jonathan tried to pry himself from the girl. Only to find himself taken into a tight grip, which Cinder did not plan to release under any circumstances. Jonathan exhaled.
"Cinder, let me go, please." Looking into his pleading eyes, Cinder frowned. But, finally, if still with great slowness, so reluctantly released her grip… But she did not even take a step back. Instead, she just stands in place, to look up into Jonathan's eyes.
"Cinder." Jonathan breathed out... Ha, what was the worst? That Cinder would believe absolutely everything that Jonathan tells her. Or that Jonathan knows how much power he had over Cinder? "You still want to go with me ? I can…" "Yes!" - In a threatening gesture, as if preparing to grab Jonathan and gag him if he even tries to say something about an orphanage, Cinder raised her hands, interrupting his words. "I will leave only with you!"
"Okay." Jonathan sighed and smiled at Cinder. He then laid out his plans. "I... I'll take you away from this hotel and take off your... That pendant. But it will take me... at least several days to prepare. I'm not sure how long it would take, but I think... at the most by the end of the week everything will be ready."
Cinder nodded attentively and very seriously to Jonathan's utterance, catching every word.
Jonathan almost flinched at how attentively and seriously Cinder listened to him.
She was ready for anything. Why? Because Jonathan said so. Jonathan was the first, the ONLY person who treated Cinder well, that helped Cinder. So she will do anything for Jonathan.
Jonathan was almost physically ill from the realization of how high the stake was at the moment. At just how important his actions were to Cinder. Only the realization that he was responsible for Cinder kept him from shuddering, forcing him to continue talking.
"So before that, I need you not to draw attention to yourself,", - Jonathan sighed, - "Avoid any pun…" Jonathan stumbled on that word before continuing.
"Punishments by all means, don't draw attention to yourself. I... I need to prepare a base where we can stay at and... lastly don't tell anyone about me and…"
Jonathan hesitated continuing on, noticing just how Cinder was nodding in time with not even the words - but every letter he uttered. She followed every movement of Jonathan's face with her eyes. She was transfixed.
Jonathan swallowed his saliva as he looked at Cinder before finishing his sentence. "And good luck."
"Good luck!" Cinder immediately replied seriously...
And there was nothing else, no tears, no hysterics, no denial... Nothing.
As if it was Jonathan that was taking the risks now, as if he needed Cinder's luck. As if it was not Cinder herself that is carrying the greatest risk, even with that damn collar around her neck.
"Oh, that's right, the carpet! I almost forgot!" - Cinder exclaimed suddenly. She didn't even flinch at the thought of what Miss Sunny would do to her.
She was just surprised that she forgot about such a trifle.
"I need to hurry!" - Cinder then unexpectedly with all seriousness nodded to Jonathan, taking on faith that his plan will succeed. "I must not attract any attention!"
Then, almost jumping up and down with excitement, she rushed out of the room.
Jonathan, left alone with himself, swallowed the lump that rose from his stomach. Cinder… Responsibility pressed on Jonathan with such force that he could only grit his teeth so as not to turn his stomach inside out.
But… Jonathan chuckled so sadly to himself, now he was sure…
He will clean the bank vault to the last speck of dust.
***
The next day, two p.m in the afternoon. Jonathan was sitting in the lobby of the bank, with several sheets of paper, scissors, and a marker in his hands. Luckily for him, none of the robots present took any notice of Jonathan's strange behavior. Nor is there anyone trying to kick him out of the place. And whatever the guards were doing now, they clearly considered the lone teenager sitting peacefully in the bank lobby as not something to pay attention to.
Okay, it's time.
Jonathan felt herds of goosebumps galloping through his body, nervous thoughts swarming in his head like a hurricane. The feelings overwhelming him were so strong that Jonathan simply physically could not show them outwardly even if he wanted to. It is as if the dozens of emotional stimuli had drowned each other out, turning into white noise. But outwardly, he was calm and his demeanor was unassuming.
Okay, no need to panic, one step at a time.
Jonathan continued to slowly cut small white circles out of the sheets of paper, then marking them with the marker.
Number one, number two, number three…
Window number one, window number two, window number three ...
Bank employee number one, bank employee number two, bank employee number three...
There was the bank fire evacuation plan hanging in front of Jonathan.
Okay, time to do this.
Jonathan tugged at his cloak a little, all the while drawing the floor plan on a new sheet of paper before spreading the circles in place.
People, they were representing people.
Glancing at the workers at their desks, Jonathan sighed, placing the mugs in their supposed places.
Number one, number two, number three...
Then he sighed, he needed more power. Unfortunately, no one was allowed to bring any Dust in the bank. And Jonathan was no exception, he did not bring any Dust with him.
Well, not in any form that anyone can find anyway.
Jonathan remembered his lessons. Although the human body could only withhold a certain amount of accumulated quintessence, that amount was enough for Jonathan.
After carefully distributing all the marks in their places, Jonathan took a deep breath.
First, he needed to determine where all the people in this bank were, he needed to do some magia. And, of course, he could not cut his hand to draw out the quintessence in his blood to do it. Not to mention the fact that his wound had just begun to heal from the night. But this did not mean that Jonathan was deprived of a way around.
After all, the blood inside Jonathan's body and the quintessence inside Jonathan's body were basically the same thing. Really, spilling blood was only needed for some ritual, Mages don't go around cutting their wrists to cast magic.
Slowly burning his quintessence, Jonathan placed his fingers on a few of the round circles marked with a simple 'v'.
Visitors.
After all, before his eyes was a ready-made layout of the location of all the people in this building, it just lacked a couple of details.
Jonathan smiled as he slowly moved the circles indicating the customers' footsteps. After all, he did not just create a layout - he created a layout that displays the position of all the people in the bank in real time.
After a moment, he picked up a few sliced circles - and blew them off, letting them fall where the people who were supposed to be in this model were. After all, it was with the help of Aer, air, that he could determine their form - coordinates.
After another moment, several circles fell into place, identifying the other people in the bank. The circles slowly moved around the model of the bank, as if under the influence of an invisible wind.
The place with a lot of staff looks like the main office? The security room or an observation post? Unfortunately, the evacuation plan went without clear signs about which room was a storage room and which was responsible for the security cameras.
Next step… no wait.
Jonathan noticed one of the circles marked 's', the security guards, move towards him. Apparently, his actions had attracted the attention of one of the guards, and he had little time. Okay, he'll have to do this quickly.
A moment later, Jonathan ducked into his backpack for the control circuit diagram, also cut out before. He then picked up the old camera he bought.
As he saw the guard rounding the corner, he feigned a yawn as he picked the camera up, 'accidentally' blowing off a few more cut out icons. This time squares marked with the letter 'c', representing the security cameras.
In his hands he held a video camera, which was also marked on the diagram. Lifting that up - he imitated the position of the other camera, in fact, blurring the difference between his camera and surveillance cameras. After all, there was only one word difference between them, right?
And so Jonathan, through his camera, watched himself and the visitors in the diagram, just as the surveillance cameras should have, looking at the entire building in miniature. Naturally, it follows that he already knew the position of the surveillance cameras.
But most important of all, of course, were not the surveillance cameras themselves, some of which Jonathan had previously located. But the control element, the server that stores all information from the surveillance cameras.
But, Jonathan already knows the location where his camera information is stored. So it follows that Jonathan already knows where the surveillance camera's information is stored.
After another moment, the 'server' square fell into place on Jonathan's model, at the same time as he heard the voice of the guard. "Sir, is there something wrong?"
There was little time, so Jonathan had to act quickly - after a second, the last few icons fell on the diagram - triangles marked with the letters 'l'.
The last thing he needs is the location of the main vault. After all, he already had the layout of the staff and the surveillance cameras in the bank. In the next step, he only needed to define the most important 'element' of the entire bank.
The Vault.
"Sir?" The guard approached Jonathan exactly at the moment when a dozen small triangles landed on the model at once, - "Can I help you with something?"
"No, no, nothing." Jonathan smiled at the guard. "I just... Completely forgot to do my homework for school... I'm in High-school you see. I'm sorry, I just wanted to get out of the elements and take a break…"
"Really…" Not really believing Jonathan's words, the guard looked at him, suspiciously. "In that case, I have to ask you to stop... Your homework... The main
Lobby of a bank is not the place to do that."
Jonathan exhaled slowly through his nose, smiling innocently at the guard, - "Yes, I beg your pardon, I... must have been more tired than I thought... I understand, I'll be on my way then."
"Excuse me, sir." Now, carefully looking at Jonathan, who slowly rose from his seat, the guard smiled tightly at what Jonathan was holding. "I'll help you pack your stuff…"
"Of course", - Jonathan smiled, more than okay with the guard's undisguised desire to get rid of the strange visitor of the bank.
The guard also glanced at Jonathan's strange mock up of the bank. But, as one might expect, although the final version, Ars' result looked strange, it didn't look suspicious.
After all, what is the chance that the strange guy has made a complete layout of the bank? With the various paper shapes indicating the location of the
surveillance cameras, the CCTV servers, the bank employees, and where the money is kept?
Jonathan rose from his seat, smiling at the guard, then, under the man's watchful eye, walked away. He walked carefully, trying to move while not shaking the markers that have fallen in completely random places.
So with an escape plan, a marker, scissors, glue, an electrical circuit diagram, a video camera, and a little creativity…
Jonathan was ready to rob a bank.
***
Leaving the bank under the watchful eye of the security guard, Jonathan walked away to the previously marked sewer hatch.
Jonathan watched the layout marked on his makeshift map carefully. Unfortunately, since this was not an artifact, after only a few seconds, the markers stopped accurately displaying the position of objects inside the bank in real time.
The main proof being that the marker showing the position of Jonathan and his camera did not budge even when he left the bank. But apparently, none of the bank staff were currently in the vault or near the server... The likelihood of the server, security cameras or money vault would be moved in the next few minutes were… well zero really. Unless the bank is secretly a Technocrat's one, where every part of it can move to different places.
Jonathan approached the hatch, staring at it, then exhaled one last time.
That's it then, he's all prepared.
Jonathan exhaled one last time as he glanced at his layout. The model is no longer showing the real state of affairs and the placement of people, so Jonathan needed to act quickly before one of the staff entered the money vault.
He needs to act quickly and decisively.
After another moment, Jonathan took out his camera. Fortunately, there were eight cameras in the vault - and two in the server room.
Very good.
Jonathan pulled out a marker, quickly drawing a small diagram of essentially only three nodes. The camera is in the center, the server room, and the vault.
After all, his camera was already connected to the network of cameras, so it was not difficult for him to connect to the surveillance camera inside the server room.
His new diagram mirrored the diagram he had drawn a little earlier - only now his camera served as his control element, processing the signal from the surveillance camera inside the server room - taking information from that element as a control element.
And, if Jonathan was in control of the camera controls, of course he could see what the surveillance cameras saw.
He sprinkled some Dust in front of his camera, as if like a veil, changing the view in front of it, before turning into nothing, giving its quintessence to a good cause. Unfortunately, Jonathan had used all the quintessence he had stored inside the bank.
But now, not limited by the bank's security, he could afford to be wasteful.
A moment later, Jonathan's camera now displayed the view from the security camera in the server room. Jonathan grinned, then picked up a crowbar he had left nearby, which he had left here a little earlier before entering the bank, and opened the manhole cover.
After all, he could see something in front of him, which means that what he saw could not be far. And, by dropping a bag full of dust, full of tass, exactly where it would fall if he doesn't know where it would fall, it would probably drop somewhere near where he's seeing. After all, it was a completely random movement of an object into the unknown.
And, of course, the Dust inside the garbage bag might not explode, instantly splashing out into an electric storm with a force that could instantly fry an ordinary person to the bone. Coincidentally also destroying the server and any video recordings...
But Dust was full of energy. Many explosive things were full of energy. And many explosive things exploded because of fire. And among the electric dust there was a bit of fire dust mixed in. Which Jonathan, of course, had shaken up.
After all, fiery things easily created a spark when shaken.
An instant later, the bank alarm howled as an electric tornado burned out the camera controls and all surveillance footage as the server room was engulfed by an electric fiery tornado.
The picture from the security camera, broadcasted on Jonathan's camera, also disappeared - as, most likely, the camera itself...
But Jonathan's camera was also connected with the circuitry and security cameras inside the bank vault. And, although, after the destruction of the controlling element, it meant little.
After all, the surveillance camera was only an organ of vision invented by people. And the best help for an organ of vision that did not perform its function of observation, of course, was glasses.
After another moment, the glasses, covered with Dust, were in front of the camera. With a quick movement of his hand, Jonathan wiped the Dust off his glasses, revealing the possibility of seeing again. He grins at the vault of money that he could see from the eyes of the security camera.
The surveillance camera certainly didn't work anymore - but not Jonathan's. It still had a little charge.
Jonathan grabbed a few large trash bags, then grinned, and, looking at the picture in the camera, jumped into the open manhole.
After all, if he saw his goal, it was very close. And who knew where he would be the moment he jumped into an unknown place?
***
Finding himself inside the bank vault, Jonathan grinned as he saw barriers of light around and within. The walls of light separating the racks of money from each other, while also wrapping around the outside of the shelves creating a whole wall of light around the room. The wall of light preventing anyone from getting in, or leaving the crime scene.
A great way to defend against the usual ways of robbery. Even just standing in the room, Jonathan could feel the heat emanating from the hard light barriers.
He definitely doesn't want to touch them.
However, Atlas really did not know how to handle teleporters at all.
An instant and a blink later, Jonathan grabbed a group of liens on the shelves sharply, pulling them with his hands, throwing the money into a trash bag.
A garbage bag that he immediately threw into another garbage bag. As if passing from hand to hand. Or, well that's what an outside observer might see.
The sewer hatch, under which now bags of garbage rested, bags full of money, was also a kind of part of his body. And what could be easier than passing a thing from one hand to the other?
Jonathan continued until he had completely cleared the shelf of banknotes, before grinning and closing his eyes, taking a step into the unknown.
He was instantly next to a new shelf, full of lien. The limitation for Jonathan, of course, was only time… Which he had a lot of, due to the fire he had created.
And the number of trash bags… And Jonathan took a lot of bags.
***
The bank hummed like a burning hornet's nest with activity. There was a lot of police activity, helping the people that were inside get out, while also securing the building. This was not surprising.
Not too long ago, an explosion inside the server room destroyed all the surveillance equipment. Someone, somehow had carried several kilograms of electrical dust and blew it up!
Naturally, there was no chance of rebuilding the sensitive electronics, not any time soon anyway.
Then came the alarm that everyone dreaded, someone was in the vault of the bank, illegally at that. However, after the surveillance system was sabotaged, this was probably to be expected. Of course, the shields of hard light activated instantly, trying to delay the intruder. But, in the general panic, this news did not give any solace to the bank staff.
Who?! How?!
Rob was having the worst day of his life. And he was already feeling kinda shitty after he had sent that strange guy out of the bank... Perhaps he had cursed the bank...
Rob, of course, did not believe in the curse of the faunus, but his grandmother told him stories... And Rob really didn't want him to turn into a frog after getting curses!
The evacuation of the personnel took place without any problems as the robots immediately cordoned the bank. After just a minute the police and other reinforcements appeared.
Rob could only pray that the culprit of all this trouble, the robber, would be caught red-handed. He watched from behind the back rows of the police cordon.
Explosions... Robbery... And all this on his shift! That guy obviously cursed him...
"Oi, mate!" Rob shuddered when he heard the address to himself, "What's going on over here?"
Rob turned around with the clear intent of swearing at someone spoiling Rob's already disgusting mood. But, instead of anyone else, his eyes stumbled upon the boy he had been thinking of just a few seconds ago. The boy who had probably cast a curse on him
He was wearing a confused look, holding his bag in his hands...
"R-robbery," Rob swallowed loudly, trying his best not to have himself cursed again.
"Oh…" The guy exhaled and looked sadly at his feet, - "It's a pity... I wanted to put money into my account…"
"D-don't", - Rob swallowed slowly, - "Better... Contact... Another branch…"
"Of course, mister", - the guy smiled, and then looked at the cordoned-off bank, inside which robots continued to enter slowly, preparing to arrest the perpetrator. "I don't think they'll let me into this bank anyway…"
"Ah-yeah", - Rob swallowed, trying desperately to wet his suddenly very dry throat. - "And... please... forgive... rudeness…"
"Hmm?" - the guy looked at Rob and smiled, - "Of course, it's no problem. You were just doing your job, please… excuse me too…"
"It's okay", - Rob smiled, looking at the slowly retreating boy.
Rob thought that he urgently needed to contact his grandmother... And ask her how to make amulets to protect from the evil curse of the fauna correctly.
That he had just spoken to the twenty-first richest man in Atlas, with a fortune of ten million liens, was something that Rob could never even imagine.