The lab was cold and sterile, the air heavy with the scent of chemicals and the low hum of machinery. Glass cases lined the walls, each holding shattered gems , some faintly glowing, others completely lifeless.
In the center of the lab, a large screen displayed a diagram of a Null Gem , a gem that had absorbed emotions but remained blank, unable to express them as colors.
Standing beside the screen, Magnus Vir kept his eyes fixed on the image. His expression was calm, but his jaw was tight. Beside him, Dr. Eryx, the lead researcher, nervously adjusted his glasses.
"How's the research on the Null Gems?" Magnus asked, his tone cool.
Dr. Eryx swallowed, eyes darting to the screen. "It's… not ready yet, sir. We've managed to extract some emotional energy, but it's unstable. The energy is trapped inside the gem, refusing to release or become usable."
Magnus's jaw clenched. "But it has potential, doesn't it?"
Dr. Eryx nodded quickly. "Yes, sir. If we can refine the process, we could potentially convert the trapped emotions into a controlled power source. But…"
"But what?" Magnus's gaze sharpened.
Dr. Eryx hesitated. "If the emotions stay trapped for too long, they could build up, causing a violent surge. The gem could shatter and the energy release could be dangerous, even deadly."
Magnus's expression remained stoic, his fingers tapping the edge of the table. After a beat, he leaned forward, his voice low.
"Don't rush the storm. Let it gather strength."
Dr. Eryx nodded, his face pale. "Understood, sir."
Magnus's eyes drifted to a glass case in the corner. Inside was a single Null Gem, dark and lifeless. It had once been one of Nullen's charms , a gem that had never absorbed any visible emotion.
A faint, bitter smile touched Magnus's lips.
"One day, my son, you will be more than just a void."
---
In a dimly lit, circular chamber, the Lucents' Council Members gathered around a polished obsidian table. The room was illuminated only by floating Aurelith orbs, casting a soft, eerie glow.
At the head of the table sat Dr. Xevin, the head of the Lucents' Research Division. He leaned forward, his fingers steepled, his sharp eyes glinting with barely concealed ambition.
"Our current charm system is outdated," Dr. Xevin began, his voice smooth and controlled. "It merely suppresses and absorbs emotions. But it does nothing for the user or for us."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the room.
A woman with silver-streaked hair and piercing eyes leaned forward. "We've been collecting emotional energy from shattered gems for years. Why not use it to our advantage?"
Dr. Xevin's grin widened. "Exactly. The new charm upgrade will not only absorb emotional energy but will also store and convert it into a usable form."
"What kind of form?" one council member asked.
Dr. Xevin's eyes darkened. "A reserve power source. The user can tap into stored emotional energy to amplify their physical strength, heighten their senses, or even unleash a burst of energy. The more intense the emotions absorbed, the stronger the power."
"But what about the Dyscols?" the silver-haired woman interjected. "Their emotions are more erratic, more intense. Wouldn't their charms become… unstable?"
Dr. Xevin leaned back, a sinister gleam in his eyes. "Precisely. That's why Dyscols will be our primary targets. Their gems deplete faster, releasing more potent emotions. They are walking reservoirs of emotional power."
Another council member frowned. "And the public? How do we convince them to accept these upgraded charms?"
Dr. Xevin smirked. "Easy. We tell them it's for their protection. After all, if emotional echoes are dangerous, who wouldn't want a charm that can defend them against surges of uncontrolled emotions?"
The council members exchanged approving nods, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Then it's settled," Dr. Xevin said, his grin widening. "Let the production begin."
Flashback – Dr. Xevin's Discovery
A Bustling Marketplace
Dr. Xevin weaved through the crowded marketplace, his eyes scanning the crowd of people. Around his neck, his Lucent pendant glowed faintly, detecting emotional fluctuations in the area.
Ahead, two men stood arguing. One, a middle-class Aurelith user, his gem flickering dangerously between red and black , anger and fear. The other, a low-class Duskstone user, his gem barely glowing.
"You think you can talk to me like that?!" the Aurelith user shouted, his voice echoing through the marketplace.
Dr. Xevin's eyes narrowed as he noticed the flickering glow of the Aurelith, a sign it was on the verge of shattering.
Then ... CRACK.
The Aurelith shattered, releasing a burst of red and black energy.
Nearby, the Duskstone user stumbled back, eyes widening as the energy washed over him. His Duskstone absorbed the residual anger, and his expression twisted with unprovoked rage.
"What the hell did you say to me?!" the Duskstone user shouted, fists clenched. His gem, already fragile, shattered, releasing more chaotic energy into the air.
Within seconds, the surrounding crowd was caught in a wave of unexplained anger, fists flying, voices shouting. A chain reaction of emotional chaos.
Dr. Xevin's heart pounded as he watched, eyes gleaming.
"This isn't just emotional confusion," he muttered. "It's a weapon."
At Lucents' Lab (Present)
Back in the lab, Dr. Xevin stood alone, his eyes fixed on the data on the screen, a visual representation of the emotional energy surge he'd recorded that day in the marketplace.
He clenched his jaw, a manic gleam in his eyes.
"If I can replicate that surge… harness that energy…"
He glanced down at the Null Gem in his hand, its surface dark and lifeless.
"If I can control that energy , weaponize it, I could make anyone a walking conduit of raw, untamed power."
Dr. Xevin's smile twisted into a dark smirk.
"Who knew shattered emotions could be so… explosive?"