The machine's iron metal structure rose two levels inside the corner tower, occupying the entirety of the building. Its body consumed the full height and length of the room, and there was little leeway to move around.

Finding a location inside the Ozaro Palace to accommodate it had been difficult. The builders needed to renovate the corner tower before the smiths could start the project.

Kazuri had visited the machine every day since the smiths finished the recreation. It was unfortunate that he still did not have any lakar to test its capability as a weapon, but his excitement didn't waver.

He visited often in the mornings. But now, he came late in the afternoon because he had slept through the early part of the day.

The memories of his dinner with Gat Kida had kept him sleepless the night before. It was only casual. They spoke more about their work, and he enjoyed her company.

Kazuri had a particular attraction to Gat Kida that he'd never had with anyone else, and he spent the rest of the night thinking about it—about her. There was something in the way she smiled, the way she gazed at him, and the way she laughed at his desperate jokes. His chest felt loose and tight at the same time whenever their eyes met. He didn't understand what it all meant, but he took pleasure in it despite how annoying it was that he couldn't think of anything else. It was a beautiful distraction.

During their dinner, Gat Kida had not shown the worry she'd had before. She told him that she was only flustered by an upcoming test and that she needed to study in the library. Kazuri had not pressed her to explain further.

They spent the night enjoying their meal and their light conversation. "I wish we could dine together more often," Gat Kida had said, looking sheepishly down at her plate.

"Perhaps we should," Kazuri gave her an immediate answer, and she looked up at him. "We could dine together as often as you like."

Gat Kida smiled. "Only if you invite me."

"I will invite you every day then." Kazuri matched her smile with a wide grin.

Gat Kida laughed as if what he said was a jest, but she nodded and agreed. A twinkle of delight spread over her eyes.

"When I've finished my project, perhaps we can travel together. I would very much like to visit Aradack, and I would very much like it if you could join me," Kazuri suggested. He expected her to agree, but there was a change in her expression, and her smile died.

Something lonely crossed over Gat Kida's face when she spoke. "That won't be for a while. I'd prefer not to think about what will happen after you've completed your work. At least for now."

"Oh." Kazuri took in her answer. He wasn't disappointed, but he felt there was something more to her thoughts. "Of course." He fell silent after that, and his grin faded too.

"But I would love to join you on your travels, Master." Gat Kida regained her smile, and Kazuri was satisfied with her response.

That had been the most wondrous of his nights, and he had no rest afterward—the recent memories flooded his mind. Only when the sun rose in the morning did he finally shut his eyes, exhausted.

Now the late sun's light came dimly from the windows beneath the rafters above, causing the shell of the machine to shine.

He touched a metal latch on the machine's side, one of the many fasteners he'd added to the design. The Kahani requested a feature that could make the machine transportable, and he'd devised a plan for the structure to be taken apart. It was a feature that would be useful during wars.

With that request, he added more ideas to the late Master Taoro's creation, tweaking its design here and there and making it his own.

The metal latch was cold and hard under Kazuri's palm as he pressed on it, making a click and releasing its lock. He pushed again, and another click made it lock back.

"Master Kazuri," someone said from the other side of the machine. He had been so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear anyone enter the tower.

When he rounded to the other side, he saw the Matu in a cream barong with intricate patterns over its delicate front fabric. Prince Reiji had only visited with the Kahani's company, so his presence surprised Kazuri.

He bowed to the Matu. "My Matu. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" he asked before straightening.

The Matu also bowed to Kazuri before he spoke. "Master Kazuri, I'm here to inform you that I am now involved in governing Daracka." He raised his head proudly.

"How wonderful for you." Kazuri was genuinely happy for the boy. He hadn't given it much thought, and though the Kahani was doing a fine job as the regent of the kingdom, he sided with the opinions of the few that the Matu should be ruling their lands despite his age and inexperience.

"Thank you," Prince Reiji smiled and glanced around the tower—there was nothing else to view but the machine. "I would like to learn more about the machine. If you don't mind, and if you have the time, I would like you to tell me how it works."

Kazuri regarded the Matu for a moment. "Well," his voice filled with enthusiasm. He wanted to have this every day—the opportunity to share his knowledge with an audience. "Where do I even begin? There's so much for you to learn." He grinned, gesturing a hand at the machine behind him

If he could give a proper lecture about it, he would start with the history of the old kings and how they used lakar. But beginning with that would take all day, and he wanted to get straight into the exciting parts.

"Let's see." Kazuri rubbed his chin. "That chamber up there is a temporary container for energy. After converting the lakar, it passes through there for exothermic processing." He pointed at the glass container above them; only its edges were visible due to the narrow walls of the tower. "The procedure goes through a series of steps. It connects to a metal tube that goes into this chamber." He then patted the main body of the machine, his palm thumping hard over the iron plate.

"Temporary container of energy?" The Matu asked. "Couldn't you create a more permanent one?"

Kazuri looked at the boy. It was not a question he hadn't thought of before, but not many would ask. Master Taoro had notes about it too. It was one of the biggest problems with the design. Even the late Maestro had not solved it, opting to experiment on human bodies as the more permanent containers when he failed with others.

"Well, the design is all based on Master Taoro's documentation. But that is a good question, My Matu. I could study how to do that." If he found the solution, it would mean he'd solved a problem that his late Master could not. It would mean that he had surpassed him. His mind raced now as he planned his steps. "I can temper the glass. With the right amount of heat, I could do some experiments." His excitement came with a slight shake of his fingers.

"Good. I'd like to know if you find a solution."

Kazuri grinned. "I will let you know, My Matu."

The Matu looked up at the height of the machine, craning his head to the high rafters of the tower. "And how do we transport a structure so massive?" he asked a sensible question. The machine was meant to be a weapon, and its portability was a crucial feature.

Kazuri's grin widened. He had the perfect answer to that question. He'd thought about the machine's design for months and devised an intelligent solution. When he raised his finger in the air—poised to speak proudly—someone interrupted them.

"That is something the Maestro is still working on. Isn't that correct, Master Kazuri?" Master Hatari had entered the room without Kazuri noticing, and with her was the Kahani in a dark blue mestiza.

Kazuri glanced at the elder Maestra and the Kahani, then looked at the Matu, who now had his focus on the two women by the entryway of the tower.

Kazuri was confused at the suggestion. The latches on the machine were included in the design even before the start of its construction. Their sole purpose was the answer to the Matu's question. Both the Kahani and Master Hatari were aware, but the Maestra denied it now.

"Yes?" Kazuri paused for a long time. He looked to Master Hatari, who gave him a commanding glare, and he was compelled to lie. But he wondered if Prince Reiji would see through it. "Yes, I'm currently working on that. I will let you know once I have found a solution."

"Aren't you supposed to be studying in the library today, Reiji?" The Kahani spoke, looking to the Matu.

"Yes, but I think if I'm to start ruling Daracka, I should learn about this too," Prince Reiji answered with a smile, gesturing at the metal body beside him.

"But you will waste your time on alchemy and machinery. You are more valuable to study politics," Master Hatari said with a raised brow.

The smile on the Matu's face faded, and he looked desperately to the Kahani, but a deep frown grew on his face when she agreed with Master Hatari.

"I think Master Hatari is right," the Kahani said. "You should be studying politics, but I think it's also important for you to understand that this—" she waved a hand at the machine "—will be our power, Reiji. We will bring the greatness back to Daracka." She glanced up, admiring the towering structure of metal and glass.

Kazuri had thought of what the machine could do when it came to war. Daracka had once been powerful, but its power dwindled over the two hundred years of the reign of the Kaharazas and Kahanis of the modern age. They were weak now, and they would not survive another war. He believed the Kahani intended to use it only to defend their kingdom. He was confident that she would not wage war upon their neighbors. But Gat Kida had warned him, and Heneral Arkan did too. Watching the Kahani now made him doubt his beliefs.

Kazuri observed her as she stared at it with wonder. It was a look that he recognized. He had given the same gaze to the machine. He loved his creation, but something else was in the Kahani's stare—something with more intent and hunger.

The short silence in the tower was cut when Master Hatari spoke. "I believe you need to return to the library now, My Matu," she said, addressing the Matu.

Prince Reiji pressed his lips together—defiant. He didn't want to leave yet. "I would like to stay for a while," he challenged the order. "I don't want to miss anything undocumented."

Master Hatari snorted, and she looked to the Kahani for support, but Queen Ara only nodded, allowing the Matu to stay as he pleased. And Prince Reiji's enthusiastic smile returned.

"We should document things more often," Kazuri suggested. "It's very helpful to note everything we learn," he pointed out. "Master Taoro did the same thing with his work, you know. Which reminds me, I'm delighted you're both here." He addressed the Kahani and Master Hatari. He'd been meaning to discuss something fundamental with them. "I would like to talk about Master Taoro's notes."

"Go on," the Kahani nodded, striding toward the machine and stepping closer to where the Matu stood. Her gaze still examined the metal body, but her ears listened.

This thought had been on Kazuri's plate for quite some time since he started the project. It was not of the highest priority, so it was set aside, but now that the recreation of the machine had been completed, it was time for him to bring it up. "Well, as you know, Master Taoro started to send his notes to me months before the Brilliance. He wanted me to replicate and archive his documents in the public library. I would like to do that," Kazuri said, and the Kahani's eyes and attention snapped to him.

"Are you out of your mind?" Master Hatari's tone was coiled with a hint of anger. "This study should never go into the hands of the public."

"But it's Master Toaro's wish," Kazuri argued. He expected a different reaction, especially from Master Hatari. As the Keeper of Knowledge, she should advocate distributing this information. "He wanted to share his work with the people."

"It was not his wish," the Kahani corrected, and Kazuri looked at her. "It was not, at the end of his life."

"What do you mean, My Kahani?" Kazuri asked.

The Matu also gave the Kahani a curious look, waiting for the same answer.

"Master Taoro was proud of his work, but his mind changed. I received a letter from him a few days before the Brilliance." The Kahani paused and dropped her gaze to the ground as if she was regretful. "He begged me to destroy his documents."

"What?" Kazuri could not believe what he was hearing. "Destroy? Destroy his work?" Years and years of work—a life sacrificed.

"Yes, Master," the Kahani said. "I could show you his letter."

Why had Master Taoro wanted to do that? It was impossible. Kazuri knew that the late Master wouldn't do such a thing. Master Taoro was a proud man, always searching for truth and knowledge, and like Kazuri, Master Taoro was always sharing his learnings. This was the Maestro that Kazuri knew.

But then again, Master Taoro drastically changed after moving to the island of Bickra. Kazuri no longer knew the man. What could have made him write such a letter?

"What changed his mind?" It was the Matu who asked—another intelligent question.

Kazuri wanted to deny it to himself, but he realized that he knew the answer.

.