Norris once again prepared the rented lab, making it more suitable and comfortable for him. He made the walls white like modern laboratories while inscribing runes on the wall to isolate energy. The runes also lighting up the lab due to the magical energy used, creating a magical barrier, enhancing the magical atmosphere, and being aesthetically pleasing. Preparing the lab reminded him of his academic spell lab, which irked him, leading to him creating little tricks(0 tier spells) to help him quickly fix a lab to his taste. The artificial being, which he had acquired in exchange for his research, sat on a nearby workbench, its glowing eyes fixed on Norris, though Norris ignored it completely.
Now that the lab was done, Norris was was ready to study the spell 'Juske Artificial Soul Creation'(5th tier spell). To get this spell, Norris met up with Mage Juske after the forum to exchange knowledge with knowledge. A simple ritual to the Arcane realm was used to check if the knowledge was equivalent. With Juske putting his spell template on a scale. Norris followed suit, placing his self-created spell template 'Death Radar'(4th tier spell) with some knowledge about rays and radar. This knowledge aids the necromancer Juske to edit the spell template Norris designed.
The Arcane realm indicated, though, that it wasn't equivalent. Norris, greedy for knowledge, was happy. A few tricks could've completed the knowledge transaction as was the norm, but Norris took out a scroll and a pen from his storage bag and cast a spell 'Greater Arcane Scribing'(3rd tier spell). The pen started writing down knowledge of Soul Tools, a project Norris studied in the Death Realm. Norris, confident in the weight of this knowledge, added it to the scale. The Arcane realm indicated that Norris was on the higher side of the transaction, with Mage Juske needing to supplement more knowledge.
Mage Juske, seeing what Norris did, raised an eyebrow and brought out a second scroll containing knowledge related to the spell template. This led to a new dynamic in the transaction. The Arcane realm indicated that Norris needed to supplement some knowledge since Juske had brought Knowledge with more weight than Norris. The knowledge needed to be able to adjust the spell template was much higher in weight than the spell template itself. This was reasonable to both Norris and Juske. They were mages, not warlocks. The spell template is important, but the knowledge is more important. Norris took out a few tricks (0 tier spells) he created in his spare time, like sleep inducement, music magic, and other magic tricks that Norris uses to make his life easier. This finally set up an equivalent or relatively equivalent transaction. They completed the transaction, satisfied. They nodded respectfully to each other and turned to leave.
Now, Norris in his lab was ready to start studying the spell he got at the cost of a spell, knowledge from his previous life, and a recent project of his. Norris took the spell template given to him by the necromancer, whose name he had gotten to know as Juske. Juske was obviously narcissistic, naming the spell 'Juske Soul Creation'(5th tier spell). Norris sat down, opening the scroll that recorded the spell template. He decided to see if he could understand it. Much like an engineer skilled in crafting automobiles can deconstruct the design of a toy factory's model car at a glance, a magician with advanced arcane knowledge can swiftly dissect and comprehend even the most intricate spell templates crafted by novice mages in their line of casting. At that moment, he felt like a novice engineer stumbling across a machine made with a knowledge system he was completely unfamiliar with. Norris, having only gained preliminary knowledge of the soul, was not fit to understand the intentions and knowledge of the spell creator through the template.
Norris, not ready to give up yet, could only try looking at the spell template for familiar elements. The part that represents a soul was mystically represented by fire, typical for a necromancer who plays with the undead. The energy used were undoubtedly necromantic. It was also attuned to the signature of the Death Realm. The catalyst of the spell was a soul fragment. That part was straightforward. Incantations were said in a language Norris didn't understand. Gestures for casting spells were like videos playing on the scroll, with each gesture having mystical meanings. The core of the spell contained in the incantation and gestures. Material components consumed during the spell casting prices; Lodestone and powdered gemstone.
Norris quickly headed out to get the materials needed to cast the spell in the city; The city of Makarsd, with its dark history and fascination with death, seemed like the perfect place for Norris to conduct his research. Materials are readily available, the city's inhabitants, accustomed to the each other mad experiments, went their ways after a simple greeting but disturbing each other. After he got back, he stood up, ready to try.
First, he started arranging the ritual environment and components, drawing runes, magic circles, and preparing the materials needed as catalyst and fuel for the spell. Under a dim, ordinary twilight—a time when magic touches the real world—Norris works. He holds a dark vial that absorbs light, except for a glowing wisp inside: a piece of a soul. He pours it out. It's not the whole soul, just enough to imprint memories onto a new artificial spirit without trapping it.
At the center of his workspace was the lodestone carved with runes to control wild magic, keeping it grounded.
Next, Norris sprinkles gemdust. It floats midair, each speck holding the spell together. Gems, he knows, are Earth's essence—their dust links solid reality to magic's flow.
As Norris begins the incantation, he spoke in a language he couldn't understand. The use of this language aided visualization, helping to focus intent. He felt the language speaking softly to the arcane energy. Telling it what to do and how to do it. He made gestures, further refining the instructions givien to the arcane. With his intent known, the arcane takes root. Energy flows as the forces commute. Norris held his breath, the air thick with anticipation—had it worked? For a moment, everything seemed to pause, the tension rising as the magic reached its crescendo.