by Riana Maren 14th December 2021, 8:59 pm
Riana decided to let the comment regarding being last choice go; it was obviously a joke and her ability to read social cues was not that dull. However, the warning regarding the Queen was... mildly concerning, to say the least. Was she that volatile? Reports were inconclusive, but first-hand experience could not be substituted.
Fortunately, that train of thought was interrupted by information that was incredibly important. Not only did they have the facilities for Riana to set herself up, there were plenty of test subjects - perfect. As for her speciality...
"My speciality is a little hard to explain, so perhaps a demonstration would be more efficient."
With that, fingers trailed through the air for a moment, orange-red particles trailing through the air as she allowed the conjuration of three separate items to form - one, her Ebon Fury battlesuit as it formed helmetless, standing beside her lifeless. The helmet itself manifested between her hands, its finned edges and glowing panels a savage countenance in contrast to her own human features. Finally, upon the table, a small device; little more than a five-inch circle much akin to a drink coaster, but a smaller circle inside it appeared to be little more than a darkened screen.
"I study a field that, as I understand, is primarily unknown to most nations - magitechnicka. While countries such as Pergrande study high-tech equipment, and we here in Fiore have developments such as the SS Endeavour belonging to Meliora Vitae, it is only Fiore's most secretive mages that study a true fusion of magic and technology. Specifically, I am an expert in weapons development - particularly very high-powered weapons that, on a good day, tear atomic bonds apart. This is an extension of that research. My Ebon Fury is my pride and joy. I also have managed to successfully create a single artificial intelligence, who will now commence the demonstration. SOFI?" At that mention, a small transparent blue form about eight inches in height appeared from the screen of the projector that rested on the table, the screen itself now glowing a dulled off-white as it displayed the hologram. The redheaded scientist stared down at the artificial intelligence, their eyes locking for a moment before SOFI turned around and folded her hands behind her back. There was a smile on her face as the little figure stared up at the maid, with nothing but glee in her eyes.
Greetings, Miss Sanguine. I am the Subcutaneous Operation and Fabrication Intelligence, and I will gladly be addressed by SOFI - you may deduce my operational parameters by my designation. For your perusal, we will now commence the Ebon Fury unmanned combat demonstration. The helmet, if you please, Riana?
Riana complied, affixing the helmet to the neckseal with a hiss; as the interior of the human shaped battlesuit began to equalise its own internal atmosphere and flood with scrubbed oxygen, it came to life; the eyes and glow-panels of the black, red and gold machine began to glow that same orange-red that Riana's fingers had previously been coated with only moments before. As it did so, the wing binders on the back began to flex and move, jets of air emanating from them as vernier re-positioning thrusters began to fire off compressed air in order to repoisition specific body parts. Individual panels that were due to move began flexing back and forth, testing flight surfaces - then, in the next moment, a conical device between the shoulder blades of the battlesuit began to emanate the particles that had only moments before been dancing off Riana's fingers. At that, it began to hover a few metres off the ground, asa series of weapons formed across its body - rifles, missile pods, long cannons; self-manipulating equipment on a self-arming battlesuit was entirely handy to have. This demonstration carried on for some time, where it floated around the skies and attacked invisible targets with its weaponry in the distance.
Ebon Fury Mark One is capable of infinite self-sustained flight and near-infinite weapons use thanks to a revolutionary magitech reactor. These are advancements that will not be deployed to the public, though many of these weapons are available to the public - it uses the innate magical abilities of the wielder in order to discharge magiparticle attacks. As you can see, this is an effective way for a mage to channel their magic into a high-tech series of weapons that can keep up with the advances of other nations. Given the currently highly-volatile political climate, this has been considered to be the most forward-thinking option. At that, SOFI's form vanished, the screen itself vanishing later - and the armour itself not moments following.
That said, as Riana took the tea that was kindly proferred by Madeleine, she could not help but enjoy its flavour. This was precisely what she had asked for, but there was one thing that she was mildly distracted by instead: Sanguine herself. It was an interesting and rather mesmerising experience watching the maid's hair manipulate objects around it. While the curious part of her brain contemplated that it might be a technological advancement that she simply could not divine immediately, the logical part interpreted it very simple: magic was a very real thing. After all, she too had blended science and magic in her own ways, and this was no exception to the rule; the most highly likely method of strengthening one's hair enough to lift something so heavy as a filled teapot was that it was just plain magic.
"I must ask. What manner of magic is that?"