DEPTH

Dolores looked out to the group of students surrounding a tall man, coat hanging loosely on their shoulders, a dress suit worn underneath, a noticeable and large whitetail branching out from his back, fur and feathering lines across it, a thin and barely noticeable sheet of scales sat atop. Dolores’s eyes focused on the man’s mask - made of marble, carved - the top half of the mask had lines running across it all the way to the nape of the neck, a jaw-like mechanism attached. Between the top half of the mask and the jaw, teeth jutted out of these black fleshy gums. Dolores pushed up her glasses, looking over to the young man beside her with short black hair, a smile on his face, his eyes were of a beast’s, black slits down the middle, the colour yellow surrounding it. Dolores looked back at the crowd, pushing her glasses up to the bridge of her nose, “People seem to admire him.” Dolores commented. “I do as well - do you not?” The young man asked, looking at Dolores. Dolores shook her head, “I don’t care much about science. I didn’t take you as being one who indulges in science, Kyte.” Kyte chuckled, “Well… I don’t really admire him for his achievements in the scientific field but rather the things he has done politically, plus, well, he knew my father.” “You admire him because he knew your father?” Kyte shook his head, “No, not exactly…? It’s hard to put it into words…” Dolores shrugged, “Alright…” She paused, “Kyte, what do you want to do? As a profession - once we’ve graduated from here?” Kyte pursed his lips, “I… I want to become a part of the Slayer Regime.” Dolores’s eyes widened, “You want to become a Slayer!? Isn’t that s**t dangerous?” “I get that but… I want to be able to protect people plus, you know me, I’m good with animals.” “Well… they aren’t exactly animals, they’re more monsters than animals, right? Plus, you’d have to get involved with a Dreamer and that’s a whole different issue altogether!” “I’ll be fine… it's what I want to do.” Dolores sighed, “Yeah… alright, just make sure to keep in contact with me. Don’t want you going dark like everyone else involved with the Slayers.” Kyte nodded, focusing on the and especially the taller man in the middle of it all, “I do have to wonder why Doctor Marvello is here though…” “In search of new talent maybe?” “Maybe.” Marevello turned towards the both of them, waving from afar before approaching. “Kyte!” Marvello shouted, stopping a few inches away, leaning on a nearby railing, “How’ve you been!” Marvello’s arms were outstretched before quickly relaxing. “I’ve been well Doctor, what brings you here?” Marvello looked to the crowd, now dispersing, “Looking for workers, those perfect to fight for my cause.” “You have a cause?” Marvello chuckled, “Course I do, boy. Why do you think I’m in my profession, better yet,” Marvello flashed his arms, scars lined across them, skin blackened, “Why do you figure my body is the way it is?” “You did that to yourself? Is it alchemy?” “Indeed it is,” Marvello sighed, “It’s the beast’s blood, from a god long dead.” Marvello paused, looking at his arm. “A god?” Marvello nodded, “Yes, it’s why the people of Faer look the way they do - to the west,” Marvello paused, “They drink the blood like wine, which is why they are the way they are. The body is of quite a significant size too, spreading throughout the north and south quadrants, it's why they even have their own sections of races and such.” “Well, I’ve seen those which have alchemy used on them here and they don’t become a different race or anything.” “That’s because the blood has to be tampered with outside of the Faer climate. It’s why some come out wrong - currently, I’m attempting to create a safer and more… well… kinder solution for those whose bodies it affects. I’m trying to keep it more reasonable compared to the others out there attempting to do the same things as I do… plus, it could lead to something even greater…” Marvello paused again, taking in the air around him with one big gasp, “I want to be able to keep someone young. Not necessarily immortal but… I want to be able to delay the process of death, somewhat, and those who ingest the blood should be able to do so. I must perfect it.” “So you’ve been using yourself as a test subject?” Marvello chuckled, “Sorry… I think what I’ve said has caused a bit of a misunderstanding. I wish I could help you understand too but it’s just too complicated.” “A-alright.” Dolores raised an eyebrow, clenching her jaw and looking straight at Marvello, “Couldn’t you just answer the question or something?” Kyte looked over to Dolores with a quizzical expression, “What’s up Doll?” Dolores sighed, “Nothing it’s just, I find it f*****g suspicious that he’s just not saying anything about it.” “I… don’t understand?” Kyte tilted his head to the side. Dolores sighed, “Nevermind, it’s none of my business anyway.” Marvello walked over to Dolores, looking into her eyes. “Are you interested in alchemy, or science, by any chance?” Marvello asked, hands in his pockets. Dolores shook her head, “No, not interested in the slightest - I’m more of an engineer type of gal.” “Ah! So you’re interested in machinery!?” “Yeah…?” “I happen to also be interested in engineering myself. Currently, I have a young robot that I made named Yamin.” “Referring to a robot as young?” Marvello chuckled, looking out into the distance, “Funny thing about that - the reason why I call it young is due in part that it literally has what would constitute, the brain of a child. Not an actual brain of course,” Marvello spun around, looking back over to Kyte and Dolores, “I made it so that it would grow mentally from a child to an adult. I had to employ some magicians to help me but… I managed to do it. An AI that can perfectly mimic the human mind.” “You’re serious?” Marvello nodded, “Very, it has something to do with my more scientific endeavours after all.” “How?” Marvello brought his index finger to where his lips would be, “That is classified.” Marvello shrugged, “Unless… you want me to show you directly. You’d have to sign a few papers though,” Marvello turned to Kyte, “Consider it to be a favour for an old friend.” “Really?” Kyte leaned forward with anticipation, “I’m kinda curious…” “Indeed, but I won’t be able to do it in a while, you’ll be included with multiple other people, after all, it’s going to be quite a large showing.” “So, you’re doing a big tour thing?” Marvello nodded, his hands clasped together, “Yes, but you two would be special instances since those who I am showing my work to are typically going to be workers or those within politics,” Marvello glanced at both Dolores and Kyte, “Would you want to go?” “I… don’t know about that,” Dolores said hesitantly, looking at Kyte. Kyte approached Marvello with great enthusiasm, “I’d totally be down, when is it?” Marvello chuckled, turning around and showing Kyte and Dolores his back. “Conveniently, it will be taking place tomorrow,” Marvello looked to them over his shoulder, “Would you be willing to go?” “I’m down, I’m 100% down to go.” Kyte turned to Dolores, “Would you go with me?” Dolores sighed, glancing over at Marvello, “I have a question for you Doctor.” Marvello bowed slightly, “What is your question?” Dolores bit her lower lip, anxiety swelling in her chest, “Those… you’ve experimented on yourself right? Is it…? Is it bad, those… mutations? Whatever made your body that way? What other ways do you test the… ‘blood’?” Marvello chuckled, “I’ve only tested on myself so far and other animals,” Marvello looks at his body, “The mutations also haven’t ever really affected me but I definitely wouldn’t recommend them, which is why I’m trying to find a better alternative at the moment - I apologise for answering your questions in the opposite order by the way,” Marvello began laughing to himself, “Felt like the last question was more important, there has been quite a controversy around such a thing as of late after all.” Dolores shook her head, “It’s no problem.” Marvello began pacing for a few seconds, spinning on his heel to look at Kyte and Dolores, “Well, there are other things I have yet to say in regards to your previous question but we’ll go over that during the tour, yes?” “I’m more interested in the robot you mentioned before.” Marvello nodded, “I will go over that as well. You’ll see.” Marvello took out a clockwork watch from his back pocket, flipping it open and checking the time, “I’m afraid I must be going.” Kyte smirked, “Princely troubles?” Marvello broke out into boisterous laughter, “What a great guess! Yes, indeed it has something to do with my duties as royalty,” Marvello bowed to both Dolores and Kyte, “I must be on my way now.” Marvello quickly went on his way, leaving the both of them to their own devices, a silence following, slowly being filled out with the sound of chattering from afar. “Makes me nervous…” Dolores commented. “What does, Doll?” Kyte asked, walking a few paces away from Dolores. “Him… this tour thing.” Kyte snickered, “It’s not a big deal, it’ll be fine. Again, I can’t reiterate enough that I’ve known the guy since I was a kid.” Dolores shook her head, “Maybe the politics around him are starting to get to me.” “It’s all just hit pieces from the other Princes who wish to defame him, nothing more.” “You say that…” Kyte walked over to Dolores, placing a hand on her shoulder, “We’ll be fine, you’re too suspicious of people. You even reacted this way with the Dean of the school.” A hesitant expression could be seen on Dolores’s face, “I dunno… it’s just hard trusting others.” “I get it.” Dolores Santiago - short brown hair, black irises, pale skin, glasses sitting on the bridge of her nose, dark circles surrounding her eyes - a migrant from the Vir’Radagd Alliance, also known as the Dreamer’s paradise. She stopped tying -- sitting in front of a computer, eyes glued to the screen before falling back into her seat, looking up to the ceiling, spinning in the chair. She stopped herself from spinning with one foot. “What else…?” She sat straight up in her chair, placing her hands back onto the keys of her keyboard before being interrupted by a knocking at her door. She spun around in her chair to look at the door, immediately getting up from her chair to open it, “Yes?” She asked Kyte, standing right behind it. “Marvello said that I-” Kyte’s face became flushed, looking away from Dolores before pointing to her outfit, “Doll, clothes.” “Hm?” Dolores looked down at her own body, barely wearing anything but a loose semi-transparent shirt with her underwear underneath. “Sorry, hold up.” She spun around on the balls of her feet, shutting the door behind her, leaving Kyte to awkwardly mull over what he saw on the other side of the door before seeing it swing open once again, Dolores stepping out, adjusting her shoes, now wearing a black leather jacket with fur lining and jeans. “Shall we go?” Kyte turned to look at her, “Could you be a bit more ready next time we go somewhere?” Dolores shrugged, “So, where are we supposed to go?” Kyte held back a sneeze before yawning, tears welling up in his eyes before looking to the end of the dorm hallway they were in, pointing, “Follow,” Kyte went on his way, waving for Dolores to follow him who stayed close behind. “Look, van,” Kyte pointed to it, a long van with blacked-out windows, “They’ll drive us to the Doctor’s compound.” Both Kyte and Dolores entered the back of the vehicle, instead of it being more of a van it resembled more of a limo, just with a higher roof than usual. Kyte and Dolores sat in the corner of the van, a cup holder separating the both of them. Kyte noticed other passengers, one man near the driver’s cabin, scars spread across their hands and face, a ragged beard sitting on their jaw. Another man sat next to him, a younger man with slicked-back black hair and crystal blue eyes, glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose, analysing Kyte and Dolores, who had just entered. Near the middle of the van were a woman and an older man with a curled moustache and a suit covered in mechanisms -- the woman had short red hair that reached her nape, a dress wrapped tightly around her body, black leather tights on her legs. The man with the curled moustache looked to Dolores and Kyte with a quizzical expression, glancing at the others in the van. “Who are these…?” The man with the curled moustache pointed to Dolores and Kyte. The scarred man sighed, “They know the Prince, Harry.” Harry’s eyebrow looked to raise even higher than before, almost to a comedic extent, “These two commoner pests?” The red-haired woman placed a hand on his shoulder, grinning, “Oh, come now Harry, what does it matter if they’re a commoner?” “W-well, I never knew I’d be walking around with two rats from the boonies! I thought this was just going to be a normal tour!” The black-haired man with glasses groaned, “With all due respect Senator, they are students, as well as I,” He placed a hand on his chest, “They have as much right as I, and I’d doubt they would be actual commoners due in part to that, understand?” He looked to Kyte and Dolores, “I believe I recognise you from the Uni, right?” Kyte furrowed his brow, pursed his lips, trying to remember him, “We do go to the Uni, but… I don’t recognise you.” The black-haired man chuckled, “I can’t assume you would,” He paused as the car started moving, “Sorry, like I was about to say, I am Gregory.” “I’m Kyte.” Greg pointed to Dolores, “I assume she’s Dolores Santiago?” Dolores nodded “I am Dolores Santiago, nice to meet you, Greg.” Greg broke out into laughter, “Just calling me Greg straight off the bat!?” “I assume you know her Gregory?” Harry pried. Greg nodded, “Yes, she’s a prodigy in mechanical engineering and anything generally related to robotics within our university. She’s even lucky enough to use the prototype computers only given to those especially high up in the noble hierarchy for her accomplishments.” Harry grew wide-eyed, “You mean she’s allowed to use hex code!?” Greg looked to Dolores, “I’d assume so?” Dolores nodded, “I’m able to use the hex code, but at the moment I normally use it for writing.” Harry put a hand on his chest, “I really must apologise for my impudence earlier, I was not aware of your accomplishments, I truly am sorry if I had offended you in any way!” Dolores shook her head, “I do not mind, honestly I could care less.” Greg looked to Kyte, “And you’re Kyte Soterios, I heard you were quite the competent hunter!” Kyte chuckled, “I guess you could say that.” Harry pointed, “So he’s a good hunter?” Greg shook his head, “Not just that, this is the same kid who took out a bear during a noble’s hunting competition without any weapons!” “Huh!?” Harry whipped his head around to look at Kyte. “You’re giving me too much credit!” Kyte interjected with a smile, “I used traps like any other person.” “I think you’re giving yourself too little credit!” Greg yelled, “No weapons, only stuff crafted on the fly,” Greg tapped the scarred man’s shoulder with his elbow, “Don’t you remember, a young man dragging a bear behind his back, smile on his face and all,” He looked back over to Kyte and Dolores, “And that wasn’t the only thing you hunted, huh!?” The scarred man sighed, smacking Greg on his back, “You’ve done enough fangirling for now,” He turned to Kyte, “I am a knight of the 2nd Prince, Isaac Tusk.” Isaac looked to Dolores, nodding at her, she nodded back. The red-haired woman chuckled, “You all sure can talk, didn’t even give me an opportunity to introduce myself,” She turned to Kyte, “My name is Ghislaine, nice to meet you, Kyte.” She looked into his eyes, giving him a flirtatious smile. “Nice to meet you too.” The van stopped, the driver knocking and opening a slot to his small cabin, “We’re here.” They said, closing the slot. “Already!?” Harry burst out laughing, “Maybe we were all too immersed in our conversation?” The doors to the van slide open, everyone exiting, greeted by a large metal door, Marvello standing in front of it, waving. “I’m glad you all-” Marvello cut himself off, tilting his head to the side, “Seems we are missing a few people.” “Ah, yes!” Harry spoke up, “Lady Marabell and Senator Fisk couldn’t make it!” Marvello nodded, looking at the others. “Well, I’m glad that the rest of you have made it,” Marvello paused, “Especially you two, Kyte, Dolores.” Marvello scanned the group before bowing, “Welcome to my compound! Or lab, whatever you wish to call it.” He chuckled, “I don’t really have a name for this facility,” Marvello paused, standing up straight before looking at the group, “Shall we head inside?” As Marvello made his way into the building, the group followed behind. His steps were both slow and quick at the same time, taking long strides -- when someone was too slow, he’d slow his pace, if they were walking too fast, he’d walk faster as well, his gait never changing, staying as long purposeful strides. “You see, the reason why the blood can’t be used at the moment,” Marvello paused, making his way to stand in front of a large sheet of glass on a wall, “Is due to this…” The lights turn on in the room, revealing a tall creature, foam spilling from its mouth before sprinting to the window, slamming against it and proceeding to lick the glass, “Those who take the blood seem to go mad within our quaint walls here in the Taiyang,” He turned to the group, “It’s why we see those from Faer wearing masks, it's the smell of the blood that keeps them sane, the problem is, that’s also not enough for us in particular. We all can’t just go to Faer and become sane again once taking the blood as they can. They’re used to it, we’re not, but I also don’t want others to be forced to have some sort of physical deformity just to extend their lifespans.” Marvello stopped himself, “Sorry, I have forgotten to tell you why we’re using the blood.” Isaac scratched at his chin, “Yeah, what is the blood used for? How is it useful or whatever, I’ve never understood it -- I keep hearing about scientists going mad taking it and stuff too. I just don’t understand it all. Plus, seeing your body, Isaac pondered, looking Marvello up and down, “What makes you so different than those guys, don’t you use the same methods or whatever?” Marvello chuckled, “I get what you mean, I should start from the beginning,” Marvello cleared his throat, “When we encountered the Fae, I found it odd that their lifespans are so long. So I asked them and they explained to me it had to do with the blood -- it’s why their race existed in the first place. In different parts of the continent, they took the blood. Then their bodies adapted in tandem turning them into the many races that populate their country today. I wondered if this could be applied to us. I brought the blood back and started my experiments, of course, as you can see,” Marvello spread his arms out and spun around, “I experimented on myself,” Marvello’s arms fell limply at his sides, looking at the beast behind the glass, “I realised that without the smell of blood, or even the taste… I would go mad. Then… rumours started spreading. Other scientists mimicked me, information regarding the blood and its connections to the monsters the Slayers face daily started surfacing as well. So… I figured I needed to make it better, something that can help others because, this blood,” Marvello brought his hand out, showing people his palms, “It just won’t work with civilians since they’ll either become beastly like the scientists who had fallen before me… or, they’d be forced to live with horrid limbs,” Other rooms light up, showing more chambers like the one they were next to showing similar beast-like monsters -- bloated creatures, one’s with necks longer than what could be considered natural, some with as many limbs as that of a spider, some creatures being polymorphed into a completely different type of animal entirely. “It’s horrible… so I’ve just been looking for a solution for this. A way to extend one’s lifespan, a way to save those who are dying of disease because it can cure that too! I could create a new age for humanity that doesn’t involve magic or dreams… no, it can be created by us.” He looked back over to the group. “I wear this mask for a reason though… it’s so I don’t go mad… so… I can only ask one thing. Can you all help me? I’m so close.” Harry began clapping, “It’s all so very admirable but, whatever could we do to help?” “All I need is funding and actual workers and volunteers.” “Volunteers?” Asked Dolores, “How would something like that work?” Marvello looked back over to the creatures down the hall, “Though I’d rather not, we need volunteers to experiment on, BUT,” Marvello looked to the group, “We only need a small few, preferably those who have committed heinous crimes, maybe even those who want to do it themselves, of course, we’d also tell them what they’re getting themselves into. We need this.” “This…” “I know that I have technically lied but I promise to make this as humane as possible.” “I want to volunteer…” Kyte raised his hand, Marvello’s head whipped around to look at Kyte, “What!?” Dolores stared at Kyte wide-eyed, “Kyte…” “Doctor…” Kyte went on, “I’ll still be able to become a Slayer, yes?” Marvello nodded, “Yes, but…” “Then I want to help. I want to make sure that this project of yours actually comes to fruition,” a smile grew on Kyte’s face, “You helped me when I was young, so I’ll help you now!” A gap in memory, a cascade of noises and shapes filled the senses, pain washing over as they try to piece themselves together, processing the environment around them. The sound of screeching, the crushing of bone and flesh, the mauling of creatures played out before them. Horrid shapes, hard to see amidst a dimly lit room. Arms felt heavy, they looked down towards them, larger than they should, white hair covering them, hands as black as obsidian. The creatures ignored them as they began walking, looking for an exit, they clearly didn’t see them as a threat. Still in a daze, hobbling towards whatever destination that could be found until finally coming upon a door, a massive glass wall sitting beside it. They attempted to look through the window but it couldn’t be seen through, completely blacked out before fading into a clear picture of what was there. Marvello stood, hands behind his back, someone in the foreground, people surrounding them. Marvello sighed, glancing over his shoulder, “I must apologise… but… his experiment was not a success… he died.” They didn’t remember who they were until they saw their reflection in the window, they didn’t understand what Marvello said until people moved out of the way to show whoever it was. “We tried saving him but… guess the blood… can’t revive the dead. I liked the child too…” Dolores looked at her reflection, then what was behind the mirror… a blob, a mess of flesh with just a face in the middle… Kyte was dead. Anguish filled her body and she fell to the floor, hands shaking violently before profusely vomiting on the ground, tears running down her cheeks, though it was somewhat of a blur, she could recognize that face anywhere. Dolores stood up, placing both of her hands on the window, “You’re lying,” she repeated, glancing at the body, “It can’t be she said…” Marvello shook his head, “You’re smarter than to be in denial, girl.” “What did you do!?” She screamed, other creatures approaching, a look of desperation on their face with Marvello’s reflection in their eyes. She continued screaming and screaming, vomiting before long, looking at her arms in disgust. She bit down on one arm and ripped her face away from it. She continued the process until the arm was gone entirely, ripping the tendons, grabbing it with her gorilla-esque hands and pulling as hard as possible, quickly moving onto the next one as blood poured from her now missing limb. The other arm, torn apart, hair and flesh peeling from the bone, teeth cracking and falling apart in her jaw, blood pooling in her mouth, tears and saliva being mixed in with the blood, viscous liquids dripping out from her mouth and face until she passed out.