A blade of grass swayed softly in the caressing wind. It flowed without form. Blending in with the rest of the field, it billowed and rolled at the foot of a tall stone pyre. It yearned for rain. Maybe just a light spritz of the morning dew to come.
Zap
A sharp sound of flowing electricity crackled through the air. Sparks and bolts lingered for a second longer, a quick gust of hot wind left in its wake.
Unfortunately, the blade of grass was charred to bits. It was trampled, ashen, and crumbling. It was the same for some surrounding blades of grass too. No amount of sunlight or water would be able to repair it.
'So much more uneven than I thought.'
A young woman zipped across expanses of grass. Her speed was exhilarating. With each step, she left a footprint of sparks and energy behind. Her pace was constant, sweeping down green and rocky hills, zipping up inclines, and leaping over fissures of sizable width.
A moment later, she slowed.
Her light body landed on the smooth stone construct of a staircase. She stood at the bottom of it. The stairs were grand, the steps cascading upwards towards an even grander looking gate, its red and green accents standing out in front of the monotonous gray skies.
It was time to find a suitable subject.
Preferably, Valerie wanted to use an Etrean guard. Those were much easier to deal with for two reasons. They weren't as skilled in combat as the palace guards, and they seemed to not have any bonds or a sort of spiritual tie to the lord. That way, when she planned to fracture the mind veil, she could do so without the fear of interruption.
The former reason didn't really pose much of a benefit to her. She could easily take on an Etrean guard or a palace guard. Both were synonymous to her in terms of strength. Though, it may be a different story for Quies. While she is in the process of breaking the mind veil, Quies would be the one guarding her.
The process was very delicate, and she didn't like to use her backups.
Speaking of which, she had never really gotten the chance to hone in on the process to break the mind veil.
The process uses a much more scientific approach, and requires the meddling of one's brain signals to try to break the mind veil. Because of this, only thundercall users, people who have grown an affinity to electricity and energy, are able to use this method. That was why she couldn't delegate these duties to Quies, among other reasons.
Her plan was simple. First, she would bring the target into her Illusory Realm. That way, there would be no… loud sounds that would alert anyone nearby. Everything would be consolidated in the Illusory Realm. It was her domain.
After bringing the target into her illusory realm, with their physical selves situated at the spot Quies is currently securing, she would begin the process of trying to break the mind veil.
To tell the truth, Valerie didn't even know if the method would even work.
But, she couldn't worry about that now. The plan was already in action, and if it didn't work, it didn't work. And if it doesn't work, she'll… She'll be able to figure it out, hopefully.
She would begin by placing her hands on the skull of the subject. Specifically, she had to make sure her fingertips made direct contact with the subject's scalp. If the subject has hair, which it definitely will, then she'd have to gesture her hands in an almost claw shape, and make contact with the scalp that way.
Once contact is made, she'll run a few tests to make sure the 'circuit' is stable. If it wasn't… then she'd have to find another subject.
Then, she'll start by pushing a small amount of voltage into the subject. During this, she'll note any observations worth noting down. It would be useful if she had to do this procedure again.
During this, she'll ask the subject different questions. These preliminary questions aren't going to be specifically about what the subject knows about the lord, but more general questions to check the effects of her thundercall on thought process and memory.
For example, she might describe a fruit, and the subject would have to guess what fruit she is describing.
That is, if the subject would be willing to comply.
In the case that the subject isn't, Valerie has a drug… potion that she can administer, intravenously if needed.
However, Valerie also theorized that she might have the ability to project the subject's thoughts in her Illusory Realm. Her ability tampered with the mind, after all. If she was able to conjure anything she thought about in her Illusory Realm, then why couldn't other people do the same?
In that case, she would only have to prompt the subject, and then view the projected thoughts.
Taking from the previous example, she would give a description of a fruit and watch as an object slowly molds into the item that she is describing.
'Focus. You have to administer the amnesiac now, and take the subject back to Quies.'
Having crossed a bridge which connected the main town of Etris to the palace, she now stood behind a smaller gate. The only sources of light were two torches on either side of the gate and the dim lamps up ahead. On each side of the wall stood an Etrean guard.
She rummaged through the pockets of her black pants. This suit had more protection on her upper body compared to her lower half.
Her right hand held a soft cloth.
Her left hand held a small vial of the amnesiac, mixed with another drug which would cause near instantaneous unconsciousness if inhaled.
Biting into the cork sealing the potion, she opened the vial and carefully poured a light amount of the drug onto the cloth.
Putting the vial back, she held the amnesiac stained cloth in her right hand.
'If Quies was here, I'd take the chance to teach him how to do this. He's a quick learner.'