"This seems... no different from my previous one."
Professor Kettleburn stared at the new prosthetic arm with suspicion. It looked exactly like his old one. To make sure, he even took off his old arm and placed it next to the new one. Aside from a few scratches and some burn marks, there didn't seem to be any difference.
But Professor Kettleburn was certain that there must be something special about this new arm. After all, Archer (formerly Xiao Ade) had promised that he would create the most advanced prosthetic possible.
Archer, seeing the Professor's uncertainty, smiled with confidence. "Try it on, Professor. Feel it for yourself."
Nodding, Professor Kettleburn carefully picked up the new arm and slowly attached it to his stump. The moment the prosthetic touched his skin, a subtle magical fluctuation rippled through him. Almost immediately, Professor Kettleburn felt an overwhelming sensation of control. Every movement, from his fingers to his upper arm, felt perfectly synchronized with the prosthetic.
Surprised, he raised his new arm and spread his fingers without any effort. It was smoother, more responsive, and far more efficient than any prosthetic he had ever used before.
Archer observed the Professor's astonishment with a pleased smile. "This... this is unbelievable!" Professor Kettleburn exclaimed.
Archer, with a grin that reflected his pride, replied, "Professor, this is just the beginning. There's even more to it."
Archer gestured for Professor Kettleburn to place the arm on the table. The Professor raised an eyebrow, slightly confused, but did as instructed. "What now?"
Archer's eyes gleamed with a hint of mystery. He drew his wand and cast a spell. "Thunderbolt explode!" he said with a flourish.
Before Professor Kettleburn could react, Archer waved his wand. A violent explosion followed, and with a loud boom, the table and the prosthetic were both blown apart.
Staring in disbelief, Professor Kettleburn's mouth hung open. His new arm was in pieces, and the table was reduced to rubble. "What is this?" he demanded, still trying to process the chaos that had just unfolded.
Archer, seemingly unbothered, scratched his head. "Ah, I haven't used the blasting charm in a while. Guess I've gotten a little rusty."
Professor Kettleburn glared at him, still stunned. Archer calmly picked up the two pieces of the arm and handed the section closest to the stump back to the Professor.
"Try it on again, Professor."
Professor Kettleburn hesitated. He attached the prosthetic once again, but this time, something felt off. Although the fit was still perfect, the sensation of the forearm and hand was missing. It felt like the arm had lost its complete connection to him.
Suddenly, a black-green light flickered from the half of the prosthetic still attached.
"Hey! It's biting me!" Professor Kettleburn yelped, shaking his arm as if it were attacking him.
"Relax, Professor," Archer reassured him. "It's working."
The Professor's fear faded as he watched the arm begin to react. The black-green light pulsed, and he felt something growing at the broken edge of the prosthetic. His eyes widened in realization.
"What is happening?" he asked, captivated.
"The arm is self-repairing," Archer explained. "Don't resist the magic; it's just like casting a spell."
Professor Kettleburn, with a tentative nod, let go of his resistance. Almost immediately, the gap where the arm had been blown apart began to close, as if something was pushing its way out of the broken stump. It was like watching a plant sprout from the soil.
With a gentle rippling motion, the arm reformed itself, the damaged section gradually becoming whole. Within seconds, the arm looked as it had before, though the newly grown section was slightly lighter in color. Professor Kettleburn marveled at the quickness of the recovery, but the sudden rush of magic left him with a slight headache.
"This is amazing," he muttered. "I won't need to change my limbs anymore."
Archer, clearly pleased with the Professor's praise, smiled with satisfaction. "I used a special magical wood. It has self-repairing properties, so with a bit of enchantment, it works perfectly as a prosthetic material."
Professor Kettleburn, intrigued, asked, "Can I see it?"
Archer nodded and, after a moment, retrieved a dark wooden stick from a nearby cabinet. He handed it to Professor Kettleburn.
"This came from an Ebony tree. The offcut material is perfect for making prosthetics."
Professor Kettleburn took the stick, scrutinizing it. He rubbed it between his fingers and even gave it a bite to test its sturdiness.
"Perfect material, Archer," the Professor commented. "But, don't you think it's a bit of a waste to use such material for prosthetics?"
Archer raised an eyebrow, curious about the Professor's thoughts. "What do you mean?"
Professor Kettleburn grinned. "Can I take this wooden stick home? Little Zoc just entered the teething stage, and he needs a chew stick."
Archer stared, slightly speechless. He had never expected this request. Zoc, the Mortl rat, was a magical creature that resembled a large rat and was the Professor's pet.
In the end, Archer agreed. The magical wood was not a rare or precious material to him, as he had plenty more in his second shed.
However, before the Professor left, Archer had one more thing to say. "Just a warning: The core of the prosthetic is extremely delicate. If it's damaged, the recovery ability will be greatly reduced, maybe even impossible."
Professor Kettleburn patted his chest, confident. "Don't worry, I'll use it carefully."