"What do you mean by 'see'? That doesn't prove anything, nor does it help in the current argument. I suggest you shut your mouth," Lydia replied flatly.
"That's how you do it," Freya butted in, laughing a bit.
"I meant it metaphorically. Are you that slow?" Beaugois retorted.
"No, it wasn't," Lydia shot back.
"It was, and I thought you were the smart one. Maybe it should be Luca or Anita. How could she be regarded as the smartest?" Beaugois scoffed, adjusting his chaperon.
Anita sat back, unmoving, not muttering a single word.
"Why drag Anita into your mindless quarrel?" Ashur said, sitting next to her.
"Do not talk now, Ashur. I'm a bit busy," Beaugois snapped.
"You're a sorry old man, you know that? I wouldn't care for compensation if it meant wiping that smug look off your face," Lydia sneered.
"Oh my, it appears my bones are shivering. I'm beyond scared. Lydia is trying to hurt me," Beaugois taunted.
"Lady Lydia hath spoken, hath she not? Then delay no further and make your departure forthwith," Sir Eadric said, his voice unusually stern.
"Is the translator broken—" Beaugois began, but Sir Eadric cut him off.
"Mark this well: a loose tongue will bring about your—" The translator seemed to glitch before finally finishing with, "death."
Where Sir Eadric sat, light seemed to surround him, casting a subtle, ethereal glow.
"You'll have to compensate now, and you don't want that, you said it yourself you know, you have to stay true to yourself in times like this" Beaugois said, sweat dripping from his temple. But a mischievous grin still etched in his face
"The compensation will be worse, 'Sir Eadric,'" said a man sitting on the left side of the table. "It gets worse if we all remember clearly. It's one of the rules. If we could go over it again—"[left side of the table]
"Shut up, will you?" Lady Xiu said indifferently, ignoring what she had just said to Lydia.
"Alright then," the man replied, focusing on his spherical orb with intricate lines. He was hunched over in his chair, wearing a long, tailored coat made of rich, deep burgundy velvet, reminiscent of the luxurious fabrics popular during the Renaissance. The coat was adorned with intricate gold embroidery along the cuffs and hem, featuring swirling patterns that echoed the artistic flourishes of the era. The coat flared slightly at the waist, allowing for ease of movement, and was lined with a subtle, dark blue satin that complemented his hair.
Beneath the coat, he wore a high-collared shirt of fine, white linen, with ruffled edges at the neck and sleeves—a nod to Renaissance fashion.
Over this, he had a fitted, dark leather vest that added a rugged, practical touch to his ensemble.
The vest was equipped with multiple small pockets and straps, holding various tools and instruments he might need for his work.
"You always seem to change your clothing, Luca," Inti observed.
"There are better ways to dress; I just haven't thought of them yet," Luca replied.
His trousers were made of sturdy, black fabric, tailored to fit comfortably yet snugly, allowing him to move freely as he tinkered with his creations.
They were tucked into knee-high, polished leather boots, reinforced with metal buckles and plates, giving them a slightly armored look.
On his head, he wore a pair of brass goggles with tinted lenses, perched just above his eyes, ready to be pulled down when needed.
The goggles were intricately designed, with small gears and adjustable lenses that hinted at his inventive nature.
A leather strap held them securely in place, and they bore subtle engravings that resembled the ornate designs of the Renaissance era.
Around his waist, he had a utility belt laden with various pouches and small, cylindrical containers, each holding different alchemical ingredients or tools essential for his experiments.
A small, finely crafted knife with a handle inlaid with mother-of-pearl was sheathed at his side, both a tool and a symbol of his craftsmanship.
His hair, a striking shade of dark blue with lighter streaks, was styled in a tousled yet deliberate manner, reflecting both his creativity and his focus on his work.
The color of his hair, unusual and eye-catching, complemented the overall palette of his outfit, adding a modern touch to his otherwise Renaissance-inspired look.
As he worked on the orb pulsing with Rasvian energy, the soft glow from the orb cast a faint light on his face, highlighting the intensity and focus in his deep, thoughtful eyes.
His entire appearance was a seamless blend of the old and the new, with each element of his outfit carefully chosen to reflect his unique identity as a Renaissance-inspired inventor in a world of Rasvian energy.
"I suppose you are right," Sir Eadric said simply, the former glowing light slowly dimming out.
"Hah! You're all so funny. You know you can't beat me," Beaugois mocked.
"Could you all keep quiet? I'm trying to sleep, which is impossible when all I hear are grown-ups talking about mindless stuff. Most of you aren't meant to be heads. Do most of you realize I've made more progress in 12 years than you have in multiple decades? I've—"
"Enough, Zorion," Henri interjected, veins bulging on his forehead.
"You should listen to Henri, Zorion. Unlike Beaugois' sharp tongue, he is on our 'level.' You just merely joined. Do not overestimate yourself. You do not want any more enemies in the tower," Inti warned.
"He doesn't want enemies," Alphonse muttered under his breath.
"Alright then," Zorion simply replied, raising both hands as a sign of defeat, unwinding from the conversation.
Luca focused on his work, not using any equipment, only his fingers as he spun the spherical object watching it as it changed shapes seamlessly, manipulating it from the two holes on each side.
He scoffed multiple times before, his eyes only getting brighter when he realized he solved it,
He heard a click when his fingers were inserted
"That should work. The newer version is undoubtedly harder," he said smiling towards Lydia and Anita as the object began to glow brighter slowly
another mishap.
"the object is playing with me" Luca mutters slightly as veins seem to protrude, his usual nonchalant attitude seems to be breaking slightly.