"Try to stay still, Sir Filo," Zirko pleaded from behind a mesh screen.

  Taka wriggled around under the bright light that shone down on him. The room was painted an uncanny shade of white, and the light made Taka even more uncomfortable.

  Taka sat on top of a glass plate that resembled a petri dish, on a table in the middle of a laboratory. There were various jars of strange liquids and the remnants of other projects around the research lab, but at that moment, the room was still, save for the sporadic movement of Dr. Quinoth.

  Dr. Quinoth was a dwarf with a long white beard and could've been mistaken for a child's drawing of a mad scientist. The dwarf wore large goggles that pressed tightly against his otherwise bald head, and his eyes blazed with an intense curiosity. He mumbled to himself as he danced around the room, grabbing various instruments and other small objects that Taka couldn't even begin to guess the uses of. Taka had already used his TELEPATHY skill to open links to both Zirko and the doctor, and could sense the anticipation both of them felt.

  Are you sure we can trust this man, Zirko? Taka asked as he tried to keep the panic from rising in his chest. He seems... unstable.

  Reika trusts him, which means we should too, because if we can't trust Reika, we might as well be dead already, Zirko replied.

  Taka had the irrational fear that Dr. Quinoth was using him for some sick experiment and knew about the full extent of his powers, from his connection to the gods to his ability to use raw magic. Taka also knew that his fear was illogical, but it kept eating away at him regardless. As badly as he wanted the ability to speak, his fear of Dr. Quinoth seemed like it might be greater. The dwarf didn't seem particularly intimidating or strong, but something about the doctor was deeply unsettling to Taka and made him want to run away, or burrow into the ground far away from the dwarf's grasp. The Ambassador had been transparent that this 'procedure' that could give Taka the ability to speak was still an experiment, and Taka was the lab rat. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, and Taka felt queasy every time Dr. Quinoth looked at him with palpable excitement.

  If the doctor tries anything, I'm right here, Zirko sent.

  The lizard man was doing his best to reassure Taka, but Taka still hadn't forgotten about the last time he'd seen the battle mage's power in action. He knew that Zirko was under mind control, likely from the very people who were responsible for the attack, but Taka was still working through his feelings and trying to become comfortable around Zirko again.

  Dr. Quinoth dumped the objects he had gathered on the table next to Taka. The doctor picked up a tiny box that could fit on Taka's back and placed it before the worm.

  "This is the device," Dr. Quinoth said, his voice ringing at a higher pitch than Taka had been expecting. "If our working theory is correct, then a strong enough psychic magic user should be able to make the device produce sound."

  Taka looked at the box. It was black on all sides and appeared eerily soft. Taka focused his senses and felt something emanating from it -- not a full presence, but more than the residual mana left behind after casting a spell.

  What is it, exactly? Taka asked Dr. Quinoth, looping in Zirko as well.

  The doctor frowned in response, "unfortunately that's classified--"

  "--Dr. Quinoth," Zirko said with a dead smile, cutting the doctor off. "We are here as the Ambassador's esteemed guests, sent by Lord Jukartha himself. Do you understand?"

  Dr. Quinoth paused for a moment, considering his options. He looked to Taka, then to Zirko, and after sizing them up, tilted his head down.

  "Yes, sir," Dr. Quinoth said, quieter than before. "It is a device made of... recycled biological material -- ethically procured, donated -- that, ah..." the doctor clicked his tongue as he searched for the right words.

  "That ah, what?" Zirko prompted.

  "That, that was created to mimic the process of producing sound," Dr. Quinoth elaborated. "There isn't a living creature inside, but psychic magic should still be able to manipulate it."

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Taka felt unnerved by the brief explanation, and could tell Zirko was, too. Not scared, and he didn't think the doctor was lying, but something in the back of his mind told him to not press any further... don't look a gift horse in the mouth, Taka remembered fondly, something his mom used to say. Even if it came back to bite him later, gaining the ability to speak could prove useful, and above all else, Taka missed having a conversation that wasn't through thought.

  How does this work? Taka asked the doctor.

  Dr. Quinoth smiled as his shoulders dropped, the tension he had been holding, probably from the fear of Taka backing out, melted away in an instant.

  "It's fairly straightforward," Dr. Quinoth said, his voice now at a more relaxed, standard pitch than the almost squeakiness from before. "I'll affix the device to your back, inject you with the Magia serum, then it'll be up to you."

  The Magia serum? And what do you mean by 'affix,' is it permanent? Taka asked, fear starting to rise again.

  Dr. Quinoth opened his mouth as if to answer, but clenched his jaw shut before any words came out. His gaze shifted upward as he pondered something; Taka looked to Zirko for any clue of the battle mage's take on the procedure, but the lizard man's face remained quintessentially stoic, a deeper level of neutrality than Taka could read. He considered sending Zirko a message, but if the battle mage wanted to share his opinion with Taka, he would've done so already.

  "It isn't affixed permanently, it can be held in place directly with your skin with mana," Dr. Quinoth said. "The serum is to activate, or perhaps kickstart is a better word, your link with the device. Due to its.... unique, properties, each device can only be paired with a single caster. The serum will, without going into the many layered technical principles behind the solution, allow you to 'link' with the device, which should be similar to the functionality of your Divine Art, if the information I received about you was accurate."

  Taka almost asked what information the doctor had received about him, but chose not to. It's not important right now, Taka told himself.

  "If I understand correctly, Sir Filo will be able to speak through the device as soon as the procedure is complete?" Zirko asked.

  "Yes, that is our hope," Dr. Quinoth said. "Although, I have to be honest, we have not had the opportunity to test this device with a powerful enough psychic magic user yet, so even though we are confident in what the outcome theoretically should be, I cannot guarantee anything. Magia is beautifully unpredictable."

  Taka was able to relax a bit after hearing Dr. Quinoth's words: Taka believed the doctor and felt the dwarf's passion for Magia in his speech, the sentiment echoing in Taka's own heart. Something buzzed at the back of Taka's mind, something that made him more sure of partaking in Dr. Quinoth's experiment.

  Taka opened his status window.

  It felt like he hadn't seen the window in ages, and as Taka read through the menu he realized that he was at risk of falling into the unfortunate habit of not using his skills efficiently or effectively. Although he had limited combat experience, he needed to start pushing his uses of both the FEAR and CHARM skills, as well as figure out how else he could use the strange magic he awakened with Beja's help.

  Taka stared at his class, wondering if being a 'Magic Scholar' had something to do with why Taka was now more excited at the prospect of being used as a Magia lab rat, and still had absolutely no idea what 'Veil Observer' meant, except he had an inkling of suspicion that it was linked to his LIFE STEAL skill...

  "Sir Filo," Zirko said, breaking his chain of thought. "The decision is yours, you have my full support regardless of your choice."

  Taka appreciated the sentiment, but in his heart, he knew that even with all the risks, it was a no-brainer. He at least had to try to get the ability to speak, because this opportunity may not come around again for a long time, if ever.

  Let us proceed, Dr. Quinoth, Taka sent to both the doctor and Zirko.

  Taka could feel Dr. Quinoth's giddiness even if he only gave the worm a slight smile. Zirko nodded his approval and watched closely.

  "We shall begin with the injection," Dr. Quinoth explained as he picked up a syringe-looking device that radiated mana. "You will likely feel a light pinch, then a jolting sensation as the serum works its way through your body."

  Dr. Quinoth paused again, "...as I've said, you are our first live trial, so I cannot say what comes after that, but you should gain the ability to 'link' with the device."

  Taka nodded and braced himself as Dr. Quinoth positioned the need against his side. It would've been a small needle for a humanoid creature, a 'butterfly needle,' his mom would say, but relative to his worm body, it was massive. Taka steadied his breathing and looked up at the ceiling, I'll be fine, he told himself, this is worth it.

  Before he knew it, Taka felt the needle break his skin, and the serum was injected into his body. Taka felt a rush of energy.

  "Sir Filo," Zirko said, "are you feeling..."

  Taka's vision became spotty as his hearing faded, and then, black.