The Power of Symbiosis

      The cool morning breeze felt refreshing, carrying with it both the scent of the coming battle and a sense of nervous anticipation. In the center of the field — elf warriors stood in formation. Each held modern weapons learned from Moris. Marksmen like Lucas and Darion were guiding the others, explaining how to aim precisely. “When aiming, distribute your mana evenly into the weapon. Feel the weapon as a part of your magic!” Darion shouted. “Your hand is a bit loose, Lucas! Grip the handle tighter!” 

  Nearby, another group — close-combat fighters — trained. They too fused magic with their weapons; sparks of flame or gusts of wind flashed from the tips of spears and swords. The atmosphere was intense. But everything fell silent for a moment because Moris appeared at the edge of the training ground. He was accompanied by Queen Mia and several elders. Moris walked slowly, carrying heavy iron suitcases in both hands. 

  The light clinking from the metal handles filled the whole field with an uncanny sound. All the warriors saluted Moris and the queen and formed ranks. Moris set the suitcases down and looked at the weight of them. After a short while, Mia stepped forward and addressed everyone: — “People of the elves! Today the curtain of a new era will be lifted. Moris is our ally, our teacher. He has combined science and magic to create new weapons. Today we will present these weapons to the warriors deserving to wield them.” Whispers began across the field. — “What kind of weapon is it?” — “They say it enhances magic…”

   — “Perhaps it’s a power never seen before…” Moris smiled slightly and stepped forward to stop the murmurs: — “First question: who here masters ice magic?” A brief silence fell. Then someone stepped forward — Darion. — “I do, master. Ice magic is my primary ability.” — “Very well,” Moris said calmly, — “Then this weapon may be meant for you.” He opened one of the suitcases, and a white steam billowed out. Through the mist, a strange weapon appeared — black, but with blue energetic lines pulsing across it. It looked alive, even as if breathing. Darion, astonished, asked: — “This… what kind of weapon is it?” Moris looked at the weapon and said: — “This is the first model born from the union of science and magic. It absorbs your mana and converts its own energy into a projectile. When you strike with your ice magic, the weapon directs it precisely and amplifies it a hundredfold.” 

  The spectators gasped and looked at each other. Moris offered the weapon to Darion. When Darion took hold of it, a faint bluish current seemed to run through his hand. It felt as if the weapon and he became one for a moment. — “The weapon responded to you,” Moris said with a smile. — “Now focus your mana and press the trigger.” Darion took a deep breath and released a flow of mana. A flash of light shot from the weapon and an ice projectile flew at the target. The target split and froze into ice. Everyone’s mouths fell open. Moris simply said: — “Again. 

  More mana.” Darion redirected and sent more mana this time. The weapon glowed blue; it felt as if it was preparing to fire a powerful shot. The shot fired with a loud boom. The target and a large area around it froze into ice. Sounds of amazement rose from among the elves: — “Such powerful ice magic is impossible!” — “This is a real miracle!” Moris calmly warned: — “The more mana you send into the weapon, the more power it gives. But be careful, excessive power will tire you.” Darion’s eyes shone; now he wanted to move and fire while in motion. He ran, switching targets, and shot with precision. Each shot pierced the targets. The field erupted in joy. Elder Eldran wiped his eyes: — “Moris… what you have made is marvelous. We doubted you, but you awakened our hope. Forgive us…” 

  Other elders nodded and apologized. Moris merely smiled: — “No forgiveness necessary. Even if you didn’t trust me, I worked for you. No regrets about the past.” At that moment Mia pointed at the second suitcase: — “And the second one?” Moris opened the second suitcase, and a light reflected out. A large, dark metal axe emerged. Purple energy ran along its shaft and blade. — “This is meant for close combat. But to master it, your mana must be strong.” Several warriors came forward to try the axe. The metal was heavy, and the energy seemed to resist them. Only one — Kail — stepped forward. When he placed his hand on the shaft, the axe flashed with purple light. Moris nodded: — “Exactly. You are the one for this weapon, Kail.” A large stone was brought to the center. When Kail swung the axe, the stone split apart. 

  — “That was so easy?” murmured the elves. — “Now,” Moris said, — “press the mechanism. Direct your mana.” Kail obeyed. The axe flashed and sent a purple beam skyward. When it struck, a wave of energy cut through and felled several nearby trees. The field thundered again. Pride glinted in Queen Mia’s eyes: — “Our army is no longer just reliant on bows and magic…” Moris bowed his head: — “This is only the beginning. More models will come.” Lucas, Lira, and Talion approached with slightly jealous expressions: — “Master, what about us? Don’t we get weapons?” Moris laughed: — “Be patient. Weapons for you will be ready soon. These were only the initial trials.” Darion and Kail laughed, boasting with their new weapons, teasing the three. — “Little ones, win the master’s favor, and perhaps you too will receive one!” Darion joked.

   At that moment Moris turned and went to his laboratory. The camera followed him as he moved through the shadows of the forest, carrying another heavy suitcase. Inside the lab, a dim light burned. On the table lay one last unopened suitcase. Moris stood silently for a moment, took a deep breath: — “This one is for me.” He placed his hand on the suitcase and opened it. A heavy, gray hammer gleaming with electric arcs emerged. Moris picked it up and turned it over for a moment: — “Osmium. A metal with high density. Its weight is about five hundred kilograms. No one in this world can lift such weight… except me.” At that moment he activated magnetic magic and the hammer floated slightly in the air, fitting lightly into his hand. — “Let’s see…” 

  He stepped outside and stood before a large stone. The hammer crackled electrically and began to charge. The air hissed, blue flashes and short waves swept the surroundings. When Moris raised the hammer and struck the stone — there was a flash. The impact wave shook the ground and dust and debris scattered around. Lucas and Talion ran over from the nearby training field. — “Master! What happened here?” — “A new weapon… has passed its test,” Moris said calmly. Talion, curious, looked at the hammer: — “Master, you said you had no weapon!” 

  How do you explain this? Moris simply smiled and dropped the hammer to the ground. When it landed on the stone, the earth trembled slightly. — “See. If you can lift it — it will be yours.” The elves fell silent for a moment. Talion’s eyes lit up: — “Really? Master, if I lift it, will it be mine?” — “Yes. But be careful. This is not just iron.” A confident smile curled Talion’s lips: — “You must have forgotten my strength, master. I am not weak either.” He loosened his belt a little and approached the hammer. The camera dropped to show the moment his hand touched the metal shaft — the floor trembled a little. He strained with all his might, veins bulging, sweat on his brow, and Moris sighed: — “I warned you to be careful…” 

  — “Come on, master, I’m not ready to give up! You’ll be surprised when I lift it!” Talion pulled with his whole weight but the hammer barely moved and returned to its place. A loud sound rang out and the ground shook. Lucas laughed from behind: — “Haha! Talion, maybe have breakfast first? You look weak!” Lira laughed: — “You’re lifting soil instead of a weapon, Talion.” — “Stop laughing, I’ll show you!” he retorted, but again failed. The elves laughed louder, and Moris watched calmly. Talion paused, wiped his sweat, and asked the master in surprise: — “Master… your strength is less than mine. How can you lift it?” 

  Moris was silent for a moment, looked at the weapon, then in a low voice: — “It’s not strength. It’s control.” He raised his hand and directed his palm at the hammer. At that moment the metal shimmered and slowly rose into the air. Everyone was astonished. The hammer seemed to submit to Moris; a magnetic field crackled around it. — “My magic is magnetic control. I can sense a metal’s own field and move it by will. This hammer may weigh five hundred kilos to you, but to me it is as light as a feather.” Talion’s eyes nearly popped out: — “Five hundred… kilos?!” — “Exactly.” Lucas turned to Lira and whispered: — “Hm, so Talion tried to lift five hundred kilos. Brave fellow.” Lira laughed: — “Yes, but bravery didn’t help.” 

  The elves all laughed. Talion flushed, trying to stop them: — “Laugh all you want! Tomorrow I will hold such a weapon too!” he said to Moris — Master, make me a weapon stronger than theirs so they are green with envy. Moris agreed: — “Alright, but you’ll have to wait a bit.” Talion replied confidently: — “Don’t worry, master, I’ll wait as long as it takes.” According to Moris’s designs, the symbiosis of science and magic resulted in these three weapons. After such an exciting moment, night fell soon. Under the night light a mysterious blue glow spilled, illuminating the entire forest. Moris smiled like an old warrior and whispered to himself: — This is wonderful... but this is not it... this is the real wonder. At that moment a huge shadow gradually became clearer — in front of him stood an AC-130 gunship.

   A large gray aircraft with four big machine guns and cannons on each side — a true gunship. Moris placed his hand on the aircraft’s side and closed his eyes. — This... will be our greatest aid. In my old world this was the lord of the skies in war... But I modified it a bit more, he said. He looked at the lower part of the plane, smiling: — I installed an infinite-power electric motor made from mana crystals that does not depend on fuel. Now no aircraft can match it. This plane can fly endlessly. If it existed in the old world, entire nations would fight for it, he thought. The 4 engines of the plane rumbled slowly. The night’s silence was broken by the hum of a force born from the union of metal and magic. 

  Moris looked around and smiled lightly: — Now we can not only attack but transport anything. I added the cargo capacity of a C-130 Hercules to this AC-130 gunship; this plane has now become a universal aircraft, he said. He ran his hand over the control panel beside him and pressed the final button. The aircraft’s rear hatch slowly opened, revealing a spacious cargo compartment. — I prepared extra space as well... — he said, a spark of pride in his eyes. —   

  Now we can transport any target, he added. Lightning flashed in the sky and the image of the AC-130 gunship shone. Moris took a step back and smiled at his aircraft. — Science and magic together spread the wings of a new era...