"How exactly do you spend so much time in the workshop yet still have so few inventions? Based on how quickly you built your glider, I expected more." Laura leaned against me at my desk.
"I feel like more of a scientist than an engineer, I have to get to a point where I can stop researching and just do practical stuff." I made the piece of metal in my hand stop spinning, flow manipulation had been going well.
"You're going to go so far, you're already talking about revolutionizing the way everyone moves stuff with your engine thingy and we're not even adults yet." she clung to my shirt as a child would to a toy that was being taken from them.
"I still need to find a way for humans to use it, I absolutely refuse to use combustion"
'My old world had such bad air that I wore a respirator any time I went into town.'
"Why? Isn't that combustion thingy a really easy way to make your engine thingy?"
"Not a thingy first of all, second, combustion makes a bad gas that makes it hard to breathe. I think my dad was working on a battery for Eneru, but I need to find a way to charge it without relying on naturals."
"Is it a bad thing that humans have to rely on naturals to charge their devices? We have to rely on them to make the devices themselves."
"You're right! If I could just centralize the charging and somehow move Eneru to people's hom- oh my god it's just like electricity!"
"What the hell is electricity?"
"You know lightning mages?"
"Yeah."
"They make electricity, a form of energy that can easily be transformed from its original form to many others, and the more I think about it, the more it sounds like Eneru. There are a few differences in that Eneru can be used for plants and healing and all that, but they are super similar."
"So you're telling me you're about to completely flip the infrastructure of Gluaze, and you wonder why I stay up all night studying."
'Girls are an enigma aren't they?' I thought, having no clue why she had to study and I didn't
"Yeah, I can imagine."
"Your lying face is getting better, but it's not quite there. Maybe you've got the blessing of Truth or something, you can't lie properly and you always seem to be able to find the truth in anything concerning Eneru."
Just then, a tiny sapling walked into my front door. Walked.
"What the fuck!?" The treantling was immediately restrained by my tree.
Devin rushed through the door and took in the scene.
"Damnit. No one was supposed to find out about him."
"What is it?! Why is it in my tree?! I need answers!"
The sudden noises agitated the creature so Devin pinched its nose and in a voice reminiscent of a mother talking to a child, said:
"Who's a good little Banzai? You are! You are! My adorable little Banzai."
"What's a Banzai?" Seeing Devin play with it like I play with Orin calmed me a bit.
"It's what I call this particular treantling. One day a while ago I was walking around near Gond for ingredients and I found it sitting around, unable to hold up its own weight, so I pruned it and it followed me home. I considered using it in alchemy, but I couldn't bring myself to do it, this is too adorable." he put a leaf in front of Banzai's face and it tried its hardest to grab it while in its restraints.
"Now, why is it in my tree?"
"It uh, well, it was exploring."
"You know that the school would kill you if they found it right? Probably literally."
"Yes, I know, but I think Banzai is potentially useful in my own research into alchemy. His branches have regenerative properties and are easily grown."
"That is intriguing, considering the Tennade paradox of regenerating plants growing slowly. As a fellow researcher, I will not interfere." I released the treantling with a flick of my wrist and went back to my spot at my desk.
"Hey Laura, aren't you into alchemy? Professor Thorward talks about you like his greatest prodigy." I noticed her eyes were glued to Banzai like a criminal about to steal a diamond.
"That is some research I understand! Ingen, why don't we all research in here from now on, I can't imagine Devin has a very sophisticated lab."
A new desk came from the ground and my alchemy set rode the moving floor until it was on the desk.
"I'd love to have you."
"I'll take you up on that offer, despite how rude it is to point out that I have to do illegal science in my dorm."
"Alright, you got it."
And so began a ten-hour research session with Laura going in between the two diligent scientists learning everything she could.
"Why are you using water in this reaction?" She asked
"Well, a potion's gotta be a liquid." He explained as she ran over to me
"Ah! So that's what torque is!" She exclaimed when I explained the principles of rotational energy.
"Yup! It's super important." I put my hand on my engine and put Eneru into it and after a very short delay, it roared to life, only to rip itself apart. "Hmm, I need a lubricant," I spoke not only to myself, but also to the nearby alchemists.
Falling for my trap, Laura found a project and suddenly there were three diligent researchers, and as time went on, we were all united under the banner of lubricant.
"Have we tried milfoil? I think milfoil will work."
"I just tried milfoil, for once it's not the answer."
"Hmm, what about vendus?"
"Maybe, its oil is pretty slippery, I'll try that after I try sap."
"Hey! If you freeze the water it compounds the lubricating effect!"
"Good job Devin, more breakthroughs like that and we'll have an engine in no time."
This went on for a very long time, and at some point, it became morning.
"Shit! I've got Dueling in thirty minutes! I'm out, let's go Devin."
I strapped Devin in on my glider and ordered my golems to the dueling yard, today we finally finish the task.