Elias,after searching for and finding the desired book, settled into a plush armchair by a towering shelf, the air thick with the scent of aged parchment and polished wood. The Velvet Archive was almost done absorbing the information from his previous journal so he decided to read about Arrays while it completed the process.He looked down at the book on his lap and ran a small finger along the spine, its leather binding cracked with age, its title etched in faded gold: 'The Fundamental Principles of Artifacts: A Treatise on Arrays and Their Application.'
He took a deep breath and carefully opened the book, the pages rustling like dry leaves. The script was elegant, formal, but Elias, with his prodigious mind, quickly adapted to its cadence. He began to read, his brow furrowed in concentration, eager to unravel the secrets that powered his mysterious journal.
The text began with a foundational definition:
'Arrays are not merely designs etched upon a surface, nor are they simple conduits for Flow. Rather, they are intricate instructions given to Flow, meticulously designed patterns of energy that serve as a fundamental 'language' for Flow's direction. They dictate how raw Flow will behave, guiding it to achieve specific, desired effects.'
Elias paused.
'This means that if Flow were magic, Arrays would be akin to enchantments, incantations, or spells, providing a structured, repeatable method to achieve specific outcomes within a defined medium. However this isn't magic. This is...engineering.'
He understood the basics of what Arrays were. Now it was time for him to find further explanation.The book continued, delving into the creation process:
'The crafting of an Array requires an individual of profound understanding and meticulous precision, known as an 'Artisan'. An Artisan does not simply draw a pattern; they infuse their own Flow into the design, imbuing it with precise conditions, parameters, and instructions. This is the very act of setting the purpose and the limits of Flow within the construct or medium. Though Arrays can be infused into anything; buildings,locations ,clothes, even people, they are almost exclusively imbued into artifacts. These artifacts often possess an inherent trait, a 'Characteristic' born from the residual Flow found in the material from which it was made; a sword's natural sharpness could be amplified, a gem's resonance to spark healing, a fabric's absorbency of force making it resistant to wear and tear all because of their thier inherent characteristics. The Array does not create this inherent trait, but rather enhances, manipulates, or directs the artifact's natural properties using the Flow it channels. A shield, for instance made from the scales of an Imbued Beast, might possess an inherent trait of durability. An Artisan might then imbue it with an 'Enhancement Array' to make it unnaturally resilient , or a 'Binding Array' to ensure it always returns to its wielder's hand, increasing it's grade.'
Elias looked at the Velvet Archive on the table which had just finished absorbing the information. Its Characteristic was clearly its ability to absorb and store information.The Array within it, then, was not creating this ability, but manipulating it, amplifying it to an impossible degree, allowing it to perfectly replicate and store entire texts. It was a masterpiece of Flow engineering, far more complex than any simple enchantment. He felt a surge of excitement. This was the true power of Flow – not just raw force, but intelligent design. Perhaps the artifact even had other functions he was yet to discover.
He read on, eager to learn about the various applications:
'Arrays manifest in diverse forms, each tailored to a specific function:
'Containment Arrays': These are designed to imprison or restrict. They create powerful, often invisible, cages or barriers of Flow, used to hold chaotic beasts, volatile Flow surges, or even serve as barriers. Their patterns are often circular or interlocking, designed to prevent escape.
'Enhancement Arrays': As previously mentioned, these are used to strengthen or improve an object's inherent properties. A shield with an Enhancement Array might become nigh-indestructible, or a tool might gain unparalleled efficiency. Their patterns are typically hexagonal and layered, building upon the object's existing structure.
'Sensory Arrays': These constructs are designed to alter or enhance sensory input. They can be used to create illusions, render objects or individuals invisible (cloaking), amplify sight or hearing, or even create a shared sensory experience between multiple users via the artifact. Their designs often involve intricate, overlapping wave patterns.
'Binding Arrays': These Arrays forge a powerful, often unbreakable, link. They can bind objects , concepts and other Arrays together, or, more commonly, bind an artifact to a specific Flow user, ensuring loyalty or enabling unique interactions, such as a weapon returning to its wielder's hand or a piece of armor adjusting perfectly to its wearer.
'Transmutation Arrays': are basically used to instructions used to change or alter the physical properties of artifacts. Such as an array imbued into a body of water making its surface solid enough to walk on while leaving the fish beneath the surface unaffected.
'Summoning Arrays': which are used to open breaches in space to move objects and sometimes living thingsthrough normally requiring a pre imbued Binding Array to lock the coordinates of the target and pull them towards the required location.'
Elias absorbed the information. He immediately recognized his own Velvet Archive was clearly a complex Sensory Array combined with an Enhancement Array, allowing it to perceive and then perfectly replicate information.
He nodded to himself. This was the missing piecehe needed to complete his Programming technique. He couldn't readily program what he wanted to do due to problems like ever changing variables and parameters as well as the fact that his 'programs' would be too rigid. He needed to make something that was flexible and could be easily changed. The implementation and use of Arrays would make up for that hole. They were basically the same but to varying degrees.
He made a mental note: he would incorporate some of the core principles of Array design—their precision, their defined conditions, their intricate layering—into further developing his own Flow Programming technique. He could make his own Flow commands as elegant and efficient aspossible with these.
The text then turned to the inherent dangers of this advanced craft:
'The power of Arrays comes with inherent risks. They are susceptible to corruption, particularly by strong residual Flow from their Component Characteristics. If the Flow used to power or interact with an Array is chaotic, unstable, or of a conflicting nature, it can distort the Array's function, leading to unpredictable and dangerous malfunctions. A protective Array might turn destructive, a healing Array might cause decay. Furthermore, attempting to create, modify, or destroy an Array without proper understanding is fraught with peril. Improper dismantling can cause the Array to violently explode, releasing uncontrolled Flow in a devastating Backlash. This backlash can be severe, often manifesting in ways that mirror the Artifact's characteristics. An Artisan attempting to destroy an powerful Array of an artifact that creates a barrier, for instance, might find themselves trapped or restricted, their movements bound by an invisible force of the Array. An Artisan trying to create a Transmutation Array might accidentally transmute part of all of themselves ,turning themselves to stone in one instance,if they don't go through proper procedure, highlighting the profound personal risk involved in this high-level craft. They are also susceptible to being corrupted.'
Elias shivered, a chill running down his spine. Corruption.He had to be careful in this venture. There was the possibility that his own power could be a source of corruption if he didn't tred carefully.
He closed the book, his mind buzzing with a thousand new ideas and possibilities.
As he shifted in his chair, preparing to find another book, something slipped from his pocket and clinked softly on the polished wooden floor. It was the silver coin Roric had given him. Elias picked it up, turning it over in his fingers. It was a simple coin, but it represented another aspect of this complex world he was only beginning to understand. Money.
Finance.
He had read about it in passing, but never truly focused on it. And he hadn't really handled money since all his need had been met almost instantly so there wasn't really the need.
"Just out of curiosity," he muttered to himself, a new, unexpected line of inquiry sparking in his mind.