Chapter 3: Chapter 2: Auto-Arthysis
Location: Observation room
"Arth #737 seems to be doing well after his awakening," A person in a plain white coat reported to his supervisor, "He received a data core from Arth #373 and went to the library soon after. He then went through 22 books about the 22 different paths of magic before selecting the book on the Rune magic system and performing some experiments. During the whole process, he was in a state of complete focus not knowing how and where he got the equipment necessary to practice Rune Magic. Arth #737 used 53 pieces of rune paper, and 100 ml of magic ink. During the process, he seemed to have been able to establish a Rune Magic core and trigger several different variations of the 'Light' spell. However, due to overexertion at the ended he fainted and had to be carried back to the resting area."
"Impressive, we have a quick starter. It usually takes about a week for them to become accustomed to their humanoid body. But this one seemed to be familiar with it from the start. However, its recklessness is beyond comprehension; it is the first time I saw an Arth overexert themselves and try to refine a core on a single day. Do you know what was done differently compared to previous creation rituals?" The supervisor asked
"I've looked at how Arth 737 was created and didn't notice any deviations from the usual procedures. Might be a stroke of luck or a blessing from any of the Gods that people at this facility believe in." The lab worker casually said.
"Hmm," the supervisor mumbled, "Keep a close eye on him. I have a feeling he might be able to resolve the issue that causes the Arths to disappear after a period of time. At that point, we can finally have a steady supply of soldiers for our kingdom, one that can be produced endlessly."
The lab worker watched the supervisor leave the observation room and focus back on the screen. It was showing Arth 737 being hooked up to a large crystal as various devices scanned and stabilized his state; the lab worker looked at it and shook his head. The treatment that the group was performing on Arth would have cost at least cost a month of his salary, yet it was being used on a creature that might not even last a month. It was the first one to destabilize itself on the first day so it might be a short but interesting show to watch.
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Xylos slept like a rock for the night, he constantly felt a steady but warm flow of mana through his body which rejuvenated every part of his body. He felt that if he could feel the same thing every day, he would be energized every morning.
Before he lost consciousness, he noticed something missing from his core. It was something he would not notice if he didn't overwork himself the first day he arrived in this place.
It seemed that every time he allowed mana to flow through him and perform magic, a small amount of his core was carried out with it. As a result, the more mana that flows into him for a spell, the more of his core he loses and eventually all of his "true self" would be lost and he would disperse.
That was the flaw with the body. As a being created from magic, the individuals that formed from the mana has a strong inclination to return to the source. Thus, the more that he uses magic, the less of his "true self" remains and eventually, he would disappear. It was ironic that to live longer, he has to not use magic.
Since that was the conclusion, he decided to refrain from using magic for today and see if there are further complications. The only thing he can clearly remember from yesterday was receiving the "core data" of another ARTH, designing his magic system at the library, and collapsing from "core" loss in the evening. He didn't have a chance to learn more about where, or what kind of place this was.
He strolled to the breakfast area following behind several other people. All of them were wearing the same clothes; a generic white shirt and light grey overalls. The whole style expunged a sense of hopelessness and apathy.
Xylos looked around the breakfast area but didn't find person with the rough features that gave him the map of the facility yesterday. Looking at the stoic and emotionless features of other Arths around him, made him feel completely out of place. It made him wonder if everything that happened yesterday was a routine planned by the facility's employees.
The moment he finished his breakfast he left toward the courtyard quickly; away from the suffocating silence, gloom, and indifference of all the other Arth there. What would one expect when he/she wakes up for the first time, injected information, and finally told that they only have about one month to live.
Xylos sighed at the predicament and then unfurled the map that he received yesterday to take a closer look. The facility was well organized with all the buildings required to run a makeshift academy of sorts. The dining and sleeping area was to the south and various other faculties were either west, northwest, north, or northeast of it
To the west is the library where a generous amount of information about the world can be accessed for free and some equipment was offered to assist in one's study like the rune paper and ink he used yesterday.
To the northwest is a training ground the size of football field with wooden weapons, straw dummies, target circles, and weight training equipment scattered about. Left of the entrance to the training ground was a board that listed the time for various team exercises such as sparring, running, weight training, and shooting.
To the north was a large building shaped like a pentagon with five floors and five large crystals on the roof that seemed to feed energy into a much larger crystal in the center of the building. The first threes floors are accessible to anyone and were filled with rooms that had various alchemical tools, and crafting equipment. There were fifteen rooms in total and any one of them can be rented out by a person for half a day for free.
The northeast and east quadrant was occupied by what looked like a combination of a vegetable garden, livestock farm, a park, and a monster stable. Most notable of the area however is a large building walled off from the rest of the facilities behind a heavy metal gate that was as tall as the 20-meter walls surrounding the whole facility. It was clear that the area was off-limits for the Arth. Xylos can only imagine that building was where all the employees reside, and also the only way out of this place; if he can even live long enough to do so.
He looked over the map again to see if he missed anything. Everything looked the same and all the faculties were accounted for. But the more he looked at the map the more he felt something was out of place. There was something about the way the map was shaded that irked him. He tried looking at the map from different angles and orientations until finally, a message appeared.
What the message said surprised him a lot.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
eextreme
eextreme Behold! A cliff (^o^)