The intense, quiet cold pooled at Alex's core was a constant, unnerving companion—the full Stillness tank purchased at the graveyard. It felt like a dense, freezing weight, but its presence meant security: he now had a protective buffer against the deadly draw on his Biological Time.
He used the first clear afternoon after acquiring the Stillness for his experiment. Theron was gone, off to the nearest Thorp to sell a batch of high-quality finished goods, relying on Alex's continued, precise labor. The shack was empty and silent.
Alex chose his focus object: a heavy, iron leather punch, lying inert on the workbench. It was dense, metallic, and utterly still—perfect for testing the limits of his power to lend unnatural vigor.
The First Spell: Simple Command
Alex positioned the punch on the workbench. He closed his eyes and initiated the draw, pulling a controlled thread of energy from the full Stillness tank.
"Rise. Move three inches to the left."
The Stillness flowed from his core, out through his hand, and into the dense iron. The process was seamless and cold. The punch shuddered, then silently lifted, hovering three inches above the wood, and slowly slid to the left. It moved with the heavy, uncompromising stillness of deep water.
The mental effort was minor, but the physical recoil was a sharp, localized chill—a quick, cold payment. Alex instantly checked the status of his tank. It had dropped only a tiny, almost negligible amount.
Conclusion 1: A simple, short-range movement costs almost nothing from a full tank. The Stillness is potent.
The Second Spell: Complex, Sustained Vigor
Alex needed to simulate the chaotic, multi-step commands required during an escape—a command that required the power to flow continuously and change parameters on the fly. This would test the rate of depletion and his capacity for sustained focus.
He focused again, drawing a stronger, steadier flow of Stillness.
"Move the punch to the far end of the bench. Circle the oil lamp once. Then strike the bench twice and return to the start point."
The punch shot forward, covering the five-foot distance in a blur of chilling speed. It circled the lamp smoothly, creating a draft of freezing air. The true test came during the strike and return. It paused, drew on the supplied Stillness for kinetic force, and slammed into the wood twice, the sound muffled by the magic. Then, it reversed course and returned precisely to its starting position.
The duration of this complex sequence was approximately ten seconds.
When the punch settled, Alex severed the connection. The physical toll was immediate: a sudden, powerful wave of exhaustion rolled over him, forcing him to grip the bench. The energy wasn't just physical; it was mental resource allocation.
He ran a quick internal audit of his Stillness tank. It had dropped significantly—Alex estimated by fifteen percent.
Conclusion 2: A complex, sustained spell is incredibly taxing, but the full tank provides a significant fifteen-second safety margin. Most importantly, no Biological Time was used. The buffer held.
The Final Preparation
Alex slumped back onto the cot, satisfied. He now understood the mathematics of his power. He could execute one short, catastrophic burst of magic (like forcing a door or stunning a guard) and retain enough Stillness to stabilize himself afterward. More importantly, he confirmed that his body was the perfect conductor for lending vigor to inert objects, making him a terrifying master of the mundane.
The only thing separating him from freedom was the physical risk of the escape itself.