It wasn't always easy to work in a lab.

A conclusion that Jayce and Viktor had both come to many times. Between prototypes blowing up, a concerning lack of raw materials--to be expected, since working on magic wasn't exactly common--and impromptu visits from Heimerdinger, it was a wonder any advancements had been made at all.

But yes, they had made progress, at least. The hexgates were almost fully operational, first of all. Only a few details were left to work on, like stabilising the energy flow so the airships could travel at variable distances. Jayce had three theories. Either the energy was controlled by the size of the rune, the number of runes on the lenses, or the number of lenses themselves.

The first theory had been a failure. So they went on to test the second one, which resulted in... A less than reassuring situation.

A circle of runes had been drawn on the larges worktable. A circle that had ended up more or less exploding, sending both men tumbling back the second the last symbol had been drawn on. Well, just the average dangers of working in a lab with volatile magic, right? Wrong. Because this time, it was practically impossible to stop what was happening. Usually, problems would calm down after a second, but now, the circle seemed to be sucking in whatever wasn't bolted down, like some sort of weird portal. The only thing they could do was hide behind a table and wait until it stopped. If it did stop.

"I told y--" Viktor interrupted himself as the air shifted. The portal wasn't sucking stuff in anymore. It was spitting stuff out.

Namely a large stick that smacked Jayce on the head. And all the lab equipment.

And--a dull thud. A groan of pain. Something. Someone? Viktor looked over the table, watching your crumpled form try to get up, the dissipating portal behind you coughing up the last of the equipment. This would be hell to clean.

Jayce was quickly doing the same, rubbing where the stick had hit him and gawking at you. "Uh... Hello? Who are you? What are you?"