After all these procedures, most of the work was finished. I simply installed two output electrodes at one end of my "ladder," consisting of simple polished metal balls on insulated stands. The distance between them was just a few centimeters, and it was between them that the final lightning would pass. Beneath these balls, I placed a resonator cage to "excite" the quartz crystal. The generator was ready, and it seemed the System thought the same!
[Created a simple electrical construct, the "Marx Generator." Difficulty: Low. Gained +50 OP!]
It's damn nice. Confirming the System is the best guarantee that I did everything correctly and the design won't kill me—well, provided I follow basic safety precautions, of course. The one-hand rule is the most important rule for high-voltage workers. When working with a live or potentially charged circuit, one hand should always be kept behind your back. This prevents current from flowing through the chest and heart in the event of accidental contact. Insulation—for which I worked in sneakers, standing on linoleum—and a clean work area, all wires must be securely fastened, and the generator must be turned on remotely, using a remote switch.
Before charging the crystals, I prepared boxes for them. A charged crystal would be unstable and sensitive to external fields, so I needed some kind of "energy thermos." Essentially, I took small wooden boxes and lined the insides with thin lead foil, then with foam rubber. I'll place the charged crystal in this box, and then add the box containing the crystal to my inventory.
Deciding not to push the issue, I placed a dielectric ceramic stand under the output electrodes, placed the crystal itself on it, and, stepping back, turned on this monstrous contraption, feeling like a mad scientist. Within microseconds, the capacitors formed a circuit, and the output voltage was a total of 60,000 volts (twelve capacitors at 5,000 volts each). Even though the discharge lasted literally millionths of a second, it was enough to "shake" the quartz crystal lattice, which was at the epicenter.
A sharp, clean scent of ozone hit my nose, like after a severe thunderstorm. Even though it all lasted a split second, in that moment I felt the primal power of the elements locked within my apartment. Tens of thousands of volts unleashed with a single flick of a switch. It was simultaneously terrifying and incredibly exciting. Real, man-made lightning. I forced myself to calm down and waited for the voltage on the residual capacitors to subside. Everything inside me rejoiced. It worked! I hadn't just thrown together some gimmick; I had created a working high-voltage pulse generator. And even the System awarded me points, but the real satisfaction wasn't that; it was the success itself. I had done it. I had brought a complex technical project from the initial idea and the search for components to the final result.
The quartz crystal lying on the stand now seemed to have subtly changed. It seemed to have absorbed some of this energy, and its internal structure now hummed softly at an inaudible electromagnetic-pulse frequency. Finally, I carefully approached the stand with the crystal and opened the box with one hand, while with the other I picked up the dielectric pliers with ceramic tips, which I had already used to remove the crystal and place it in the box, which I then placed in my inventory. The first one went, four to go, and then I could begin alchemy!
After repeating the crystal procedure four times and then turning off the generator, I set about preparing the area for the full-scale creation of the Potion of Intelligence. Even though it would be created at night, it was best to be prepared in advance. According to the information on the nuances of the Phantasmine extraction stage, this step must be performed in complete darkness, but red light, like in a darkroom, is acceptable, so I had to run to a specialty store and spend another ten bucks on a light bulb. This step also requires slow, even heating to 40 °C... I had to scramble online to find ideas for how to do this, and settled on the obvious and simplest: a dry heating block! Compact, adjustable, and relatively inexpensive (used, of course). Another $200 went down the drain, but now I was definitely ready!
It was 6 PM, and there was still some time left before nightfall, so I decided to tackle the last thing I'd been putting off due to a plethora of other things, but which I'd spent money on—Leatherworking! Naturally, I wasn't expecting to get the 200 OP needed for leatherworking, especially considering my current 55 OP, but it's probably worth understanding what this beast is and how it works.
Opening my beginner leatherworking kit and laying out a couple of scraps of leather, I naturally first looked at several guides on crafting a simple cardholder with two card slots. It seemed straightforward, so I placed a 20×20 cm piece of leather on a cutting mat and began cutting, first transferring the template for the cardholder itself (10×7 cm) and two 10×4 cm rectangles for the pockets, leaving a 0.5 cm seam allowance.
Next, I sanded the edges of the cut-out pieces to make them smooth and marked the seam line with a ruler (approximately 4 mm from the edges). I then punched holes with an awl at 4 mm intervals. After all this, I applied glue to the edges of the pockets (10×4 cm) and glued them to the main body, one pocket on top, one on the bottom, thus creating two compartments. I then let the glue dry. Next, I stitched the main body and pockets together with waxed thread and two saddle-stitch needles. I sanded the edges, applied wax, and polished them with a wooden stick to make them smooth. The final touch was applying a protective cream for durability, and after about an hour and a half of careful and meticulous work, I received the coveted notification.
[Crafted a simple leather item. Difficulty: Low. Gained +20 OP!]
Ah, the cardholder turned out to be too simple for the System and not personalized, so I didn't get many OP, but I did get some good initial experience and enjoyed the work. Now I had a total of 75 OP, and with the remaining leather I could make a few more simple things, like a passport cover, a key holder, a leather bracelet, and maybe another cardholder, but with, say, three compartments. In any case, there were still over four hours until midnight, and extra OP is always a good thing, so I got to work.
After the stress and ozone-laden scent of high-voltage discharges, working with leather was like balm for the soul. There was no risk of instant death from a single mistake. Just the material, the tool, and your hands. I inhaled the rich, tart scent of genuine leather, and it was soothing. The process was slow, almost meditative. The smooth movement of the knife along the ruler, creating a perfectly even cut. The rhythmic tap of the awl, punching holes for the seam. The precise, measured movement of two needles, weaving waxed thread into a beautiful and incredibly strong saddle stitch. There was a magic to it, completely different from what I had sought the previous night. Not the magic of the finer points of reality, but the magic of craftsmanship.
Transforming a shapeless scrap into an elegant, functional object. If assembling a Marx Generator was an act of brute, primal force, taming the elements, then leatherworking was a dialogue with the material. You had to feel its thickness, its flexibility, understand how it would behave under the tension of a thread or when treated with wax. I realized I was enjoying more than just the System notification about the accrual of OP. I enjoyed the process itself. I loved seeing something beautiful and useful being born under my fingers. Perhaps that was the key. To create complex, world-changing technologies, you had to remember such simple, earthly things. One gave power; the other, concentration and peace of mind. And, as it turned out, I needed both.
I spent the next few hours in a leather frenzy, if you can call it that, and the last things I made were a few simple leather bracelets, each worth only 5 OP, but then I had no more leather left. In total, I gained 70 OP from my leather creations, bringing my balance to 145 OP. Since I'm unlikely to get 55 OP in the next few hours, I can begin crafting the Potion of Intelligence. The recipe isn't complicated, but the prep phase required much more effort and money. Alright, let's gather our thoughts and begin!