The effect was fascinating, and Felix wanted much more than thirty-six seconds to investigate it. Did he keep breathing? Did his heart keep beating? Would he be thirty-six seconds older when the bubble ended? There were too many questions to even begin asking them, and Felix had a task to accomplish, anyway.

The wizard's hands moved in complex patterns around the door and part of the wall, where his magic sensed the concentration of electricity that hinted at the security system sensors. Coaxing the energy to stop flowing through the system without triggering the alarm took a bit of a delicate touch. After that, disabling the lock on the door was simple.

"Whenever you like," Felix said, just before the time ran out. He kept one hand raised, holding the electricity in stasis, against its will and its natural course.