Chapter 60: A Looming Addiction Crisis
The young wizards, fired up by Ryan's speech, were all eager to get started. After he had explained his design and the various spells involved, they all fell into a thoughtful silence.
"We have two main problems to solve," Ryan began. "First, what other features should this communication device have? And second, how can we reduce the production cost?"
"I have a question, Ryan," Penelope said. "Muggle mobile phones require batteries and chargers. How will our device be powered? Will it run on the user's own magic? Even if a magical object doesn't require as stable a current as a Muggle one, in the hands of a wizard who can't control their magical output precisely, it would be easily damaged."
"Don't worry, Penelope," Ryan said, pulling out a handful of small, shimmering beads. "I've already created a magical power converter."
"What are those?"
"They're a byproduct of my alchemy experiments," he explained. "They can store a certain amount of magic. After they've been enchanted to release a stable, fixed amount of power, they can be used to safely charge the communication device." He tossed the beads to the other students.
Vaisey caught one and infused it with his own magic, studying its properties. He then grabbed one of the small, animated astronaut models. "The little astronaut again," he said with a smile, comparing the feel of the bead to that of the model. "On our first day here," he said, "we all wondered how these little models could have their own internal power source, and how they could absorb ambient magic to recharge."
He raised an eyebrow at Ryan. "It seems your alchemical skills are even greater than I had imagined. Is this a kind of portable, miniature magical core? And you say it's a 'failed' product? Are you trying to create a full-fledged external power source?"
"Good eye, Vaisey," Ryan said with a nod, briefly flashing the faintly glowing, "Enchantment +15" version of the black-and-gold pin on his own sleeve. "But a full external power source is still in development. And the cost is still too high. Let's just call these 'mana beads' for now," he said, silently discarding his original, much less cool-sounding name, "magical batteries." It's better this way, he thought. When Muggles and wizards finally make contact, they won't accuse us of stealing their ideas.
Soon, the other students began to grasp Ryan's design, and they started to offer their own suggestions.
"I think we should add games!" a Muggle-born student suggested. He then gave an enthusiastic presentation on the wonders of Muggle video games, to the astonishment of the pure-blood students. The entertainment options in the wizarding world were, after all, rather limited. Besides Quidditch, there was only wizard's chess and gobstones. The idea of video games was met with a wave of enthusiastic approval.
Even Malfoy was on board. "Ryan," he said, "if you want to get more people to use it, to get the whole wizarding world on board, you need a killer feature. Starting with the students is a good idea."
Ryan looked at the sea of hopeful faces and felt a wave of despair. My Adventurers' Club is about to become an esports team, he thought. Don't these kids have any sense of priorities? We're trying to change the world here! But then, he had another thought. Well, a bit of gaming on the side wouldn't hurt. And the device requires magical energy to operate. A young wizard's magical reserves are limited. They'd only be able to play for an hour or two at most. It's like a built-in, physiological anti-addiction system!
Selectively forgetting about the existence of his external power sources, Ryan convinced himself. "Of course," he said with a magnanimous smile. "I will handle the game development."
A chorus of "Hooray!" filled the room.
Ryan had envisioned a grand meeting of the minds, a Socratic dialogue on the future of magic. He had not expected it to devolve into a discussion that would soon unleash a crippling video game addiction upon an unsuspecting wizarding world. And all these future leaders of the magical world were cheering. He decided, with a grim sense of satisfaction, that when the games were released, he would personally and repeatedly crush all of them in online battles. That would surely cure their addiction. And maybe, he thought, a slow grin spreading across his face, I can even get Dumbledore to play. Imagine the glory of utterly dominating the Headmaster in a one-on-one match.
"Alright, alright," he said, "back to business. What other features do we need?"
"More games!" Fred yelled.
"And a continuous stream of new games!" George added. "We thought our joke shop was the pinnacle of wizarding entertainment! But it was just the bottom of your genius!" The two of them looked at Ryan with an almost religious fervor. They were ready to abandon their dream of becoming beloved shopkeepers and embrace their new calling as despised "game balance designers."
You poor, misguided souls, Ryan thought with a twinge of pity. He didn't want the Weasley household to be flooded with angry letters from disgruntled gamers. "So what are you proposing?" he asked.
"Please, Ryan," they pleaded, "let us join you in the game creation process! We'll do anything! Please, take us!"
The strange, desperate plea hung in the air. Ryan, a kind and benevolent leader, took pity on them. And on the future generations of young wizards who would be deprived of a "critically acclaimed" gaming experience. He agreed. "Of course," he said, a compassionate expression on his face. "I have just the idea for a wonderfully… kind-hearted… card game." He then proceeded to explain the concept.
"I call it," he said, as a look of dawning comprehension, and then horror, spread across the twins' faces, "Hogwarts: The Betrayal."
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn