Zexion, in a way very much opposite to L, was allowed free use of the library whenever he saw fit. That was, of course, largely because Aizen didn't see any harm in allowing a boy with a book for a weapon into the room. He was tediously sensible, arrogant and easily a genius, the same as L, but he lacked all of the annoying and loathsome habits that he had
( ... )
L perched on his haunches, the tip of his thumb between his teeth as he scanned the information the computer was bringing up. The problem he was having was that, after Midgar had begun, Trema, and the others, effectively disappeared, taking their knowledge with them. Finding even a minute trace was proving difficult
( ... )
Zexion largely ignored all of L's papers and books on the desk as he went to pick up his own.
Generally, he lacked any interest in what L looked into. He'd been informed that he was an expert at digging up information on people, through the means of expert research, hacking and having various outside channels dedicated to watching and finding things out, but none of it was really relevant enough to make him really look hard at any of the notes he'd seen lying around before. Reading upside down and skim-reading were both skills he had, without a doubt, but he didn't consciously put them to use unless he felt it might yield something important.
As such, he gave them a cursory look over and went to leave. At least, until he noticed the cyanotype diagram. His brow wrinkled and he looked down at the sheet, confused. Why was L looking at something like that?
L worked for a few more seconds on his computer, but Zexion's interest in the papers didn't escape his attention. He looked up, and then followed Zexion's gaze with his eyes until they rested on the diagram.
L was used to Midgar's layout. It was just Midgar, and its strange design. What intrigued L was the fact that it was designed. There was a clue in the plans somewhere, he knew, he just hadn't found it.
"What has caught your attention?" He asked, his voice soft, and quiet. Zexion had been on Spira long enough that he should know about Midgar, and its plate, so the plan of the city shouldn't be a surprise to him.
"That," he said, indicating the page with a finger. "The Transmutation Circle."
He was familiar with Midgar, but he had never been there. Not once. It was like knowing that Sidney had a famous Opera House, but having only ever seen pictures of it. From one angle. He'd seen pictures of Midgar, but never before had he looked upon a diagram of the plate itself, either a birds eye view or an internal one. It put a whole new spin on it and, of course, he viewed it as what he was familiar with, which was his current area of research -- Alchemy.
"It is the blueprint for Midgar," L said, quietly, "and over a hundred and fifty years old."
Yet....
That timing was far too convenient, wasn't it? Trema and his group disappeared, a group specifically interested in the most forbidden forms of Alchemy, just as these plans were made, just as Midgar began.
It was a stretch. It was certainly a long time to wait for a plan to come to fruition, but someone with a suitable amount of mist exposure, or an Unsent, might hedge their bets at lasting long enough to see it through. It wasn't impossible.
"You're quite sure that's an alchemical array?" L asked, turning his attention back to the computer to bring up the expected completion dates of the final parts that were still under construction.
"Yes," he said, looking mildly affronted at the need for confirmation.
He circled around behind him, to get a better look at the blueprints. He scowled, looking at it through an Alchemist's eyes and nodded once more, definitely. It was a little difficult. He knew the theory backwards, but his lack of need for a circle himself, due to being able to perform Alchemy without one, made it guesswork. Still, the flow of power was correct.
"It could not be anything else. The circle around the outside is the conduit for the flow of energy." That was, after all, the point of a circle. "These eight points should have runes on them. They are there to focus the energy created by the circle. What they are would depend on what effect the alchemist who drew the circle desir--"
He stopped, alarmed.
"If that is Midgar, that would indicate that they are the Mako Reactors, correct?"
"That would be correct," L replied. The change in Zexion's tone from simple explaining to muted alarm didn't escape L, either. He was beginning to have his own suspicions as to the exact purpose of the array.
L had studied alchemy, but only enough to get by. He didn't use it, and he certainly hadn't studied it to the same level as Zexion. L knew enough to understand the principles, and that was the most he'd ever required.
"Alchemy is powered by the Chakra of the Alchemist and the natural energy of the planet." He said, perfectly calmly.
The realisation that the Mako Reactors could act like batteries to fuel a Transmutation Circle that large had given him a jolt, but he masked the shock perfectly after the initial surprise.
"Having reservoirs of that much Mako at key points of a Circle would give the Transmutation itself immense power. On that scale..."
It was almost beyond comprehension.
"Nobody has enough Chakra to control it." It was impossible. They would have to be insanely strong and have expert control of it to even hope to put something like that into effect.
L looked at the proposed completion date the computer had brought up. It was... worryingly soon, but in reality, the project should have been complete years before. There had been setbacks, pushing the date further into the future, but now....
"What is this particular array for?" He asked, delicately, his spine prickling but his outward reaction being no different to his usual placid demeanour.
Zexion shook his head slightly. He wasn't entirely sure. He had only seen a mention of a Transmutation Circle with that many points in one book and that was, for the most part, the one with all of the information on the forbidden side of the Craft. Alchemy without a circle, Human transmutation, that sort of thing.
The kind of book that Izumi kept away from him.
"I'm not entirely sure," he admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "Eight-point circles aren't usually used. I recall reading some old wives tails about bad luck and, more seriously, power fluctuations, but I didn't look into it further -- I don't require the use of one myself."
L didn't appear to react, but internally he was disappointed, as well as a little frustrated. This was something he didn't understand, and that shouldn't be allowed.
It would sting if he had to take this to Aizen as a mystery.
He could at least find some answers first, which was why he began to search through the information he had for references to eight-point arrays. Even if he couldn't find what the array was for, if he could link the design to the group Trema was likely with, then he could make an educated guess, which was close enough.
"Thank you for your assistance," L said, softly. His search didn't turn up what he was looking for, but he had at least a direction in which to look, which was better than before.
He gathered up the blueprints of Midgar, and then went to find Aizen.
Reply
Reply
Generally, he lacked any interest in what L looked into. He'd been informed that he was an expert at digging up information on people, through the means of expert research, hacking and having various outside channels dedicated to watching and finding things out, but none of it was really relevant enough to make him really look hard at any of the notes he'd seen lying around before. Reading upside down and skim-reading were both skills he had, without a doubt, but he didn't consciously put them to use unless he felt it might yield something important.
As such, he gave them a cursory look over and went to leave. At least, until he noticed the cyanotype diagram. His brow wrinkled and he looked down at the sheet, confused. Why was L looking at something like that?
Reply
L was used to Midgar's layout. It was just Midgar, and its strange design. What intrigued L was the fact that it was designed. There was a clue in the plans somewhere, he knew, he just hadn't found it.
"What has caught your attention?" He asked, his voice soft, and quiet. Zexion had been on Spira long enough that he should know about Midgar, and its plate, so the plan of the city shouldn't be a surprise to him.
Unless he was just curious.
Reply
He was familiar with Midgar, but he had never been there. Not once. It was like knowing that Sidney had a famous Opera House, but having only ever seen pictures of it. From one angle. He'd seen pictures of Midgar, but never before had he looked upon a diagram of the plate itself, either a birds eye view or an internal one. It put a whole new spin on it and, of course, he viewed it as what he was familiar with, which was his current area of research -- Alchemy.
Reply
Yet....
That timing was far too convenient, wasn't it? Trema and his group disappeared, a group specifically interested in the most forbidden forms of Alchemy, just as these plans were made, just as Midgar began.
It was a stretch. It was certainly a long time to wait for a plan to come to fruition, but someone with a suitable amount of mist exposure, or an Unsent, might hedge their bets at lasting long enough to see it through. It wasn't impossible.
"You're quite sure that's an alchemical array?" L asked, turning his attention back to the computer to bring up the expected completion dates of the final parts that were still under construction.
Reply
He circled around behind him, to get a better look at the blueprints. He scowled, looking at it through an Alchemist's eyes and nodded once more, definitely. It was a little difficult. He knew the theory backwards, but his lack of need for a circle himself, due to being able to perform Alchemy without one, made it guesswork. Still, the flow of power was correct.
"It could not be anything else. The circle around the outside is the conduit for the flow of energy." That was, after all, the point of a circle. "These eight points should have runes on them. They are there to focus the energy created by the circle. What they are would depend on what effect the alchemist who drew the circle desir--"
He stopped, alarmed.
"If that is Midgar, that would indicate that they are the Mako Reactors, correct?"
Reply
L had studied alchemy, but only enough to get by. He didn't use it, and he certainly hadn't studied it to the same level as Zexion. L knew enough to understand the principles, and that was the most he'd ever required.
He regretted that now.
Reply
The realisation that the Mako Reactors could act like batteries to fuel a Transmutation Circle that large had given him a jolt, but he masked the shock perfectly after the initial surprise.
"Having reservoirs of that much Mako at key points of a Circle would give the Transmutation itself immense power. On that scale..."
It was almost beyond comprehension.
"Nobody has enough Chakra to control it." It was impossible. They would have to be insanely strong and have expert control of it to even hope to put something like that into effect.
Reply
"What is this particular array for?" He asked, delicately, his spine prickling but his outward reaction being no different to his usual placid demeanour.
Reply
The kind of book that Izumi kept away from him.
"I'm not entirely sure," he admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "Eight-point circles aren't usually used. I recall reading some old wives tails about bad luck and, more seriously, power fluctuations, but I didn't look into it further -- I don't require the use of one myself."
Reply
It would sting if he had to take this to Aizen as a mystery.
He could at least find some answers first, which was why he began to search through the information he had for references to eight-point arrays. Even if he couldn't find what the array was for, if he could link the design to the group Trema was likely with, then he could make an educated guess, which was close enough.
"Thank you for your assistance," L said, softly. His search didn't turn up what he was looking for, but he had at least a direction in which to look, which was better than before.
He gathered up the blueprints of Midgar, and then went to find Aizen.
Reply
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