Kael walked around his lab, proudly showing Nachtan various inventions cluttering his workbench and shelves, most half-built, some buzzing with faint lights, others covered in scorch marks from the inevitable trial-and-error of experimental science. Nachtan did his best to pay attention, his eyes following Kael as he explained each one with a level of detail that was… overwhelming, to put it mildly.
"This device," Kael said, holding up a peculiar machine made of copper coils and flashing circuits, "is a prototype for a sustainable energy generator. It works by harnessing a unique resonance within anomalous frequencies, kind of like how a chemical bond aligns atoms, but on a multidimensional level where frequency and particle oscillation synchronize to create an exponential increase in energy output—"
Nachtan's eyelids began to droop, the long string of scientific jargon washing over him like a wave of exhaustion. Kael was animated, his hands moving as he spoke, explaining the chemical makeup of the core, the layered glass oscillators, and the intricate balance of pressure needed to keep the whole thing from imploding.
Nachtan, however, only managed a quiet, "Uh-huh," in reply.
"And over here!" Kael continued, moving to another strange contraption with tubes running in all directions, "is my molecular condenser. I designed it to break down objects on a molecular level and recombine them, based on principles of atomic bonding and elemental realignment. Imagine the possibilities for recycling! The only issue is, well... He scratched his head, glancing at the machine, which sparked faintly as if in protest. "It's… temperamental."
Nachtan gave him a polite nod, his eyes beginning to glaze over. At this point, he was just trying to find something else to focus on, lest his brain shut down entirely. Kael didn't seem to notice and continued to his last, and favorite, project.
"Now, this," Kael said, moving to a larger machine partially covered in a silver tarp, "is what I'm hoping to present at the Invention Showcase." He lifted the tarp, revealing a sleek device with an array of panels and crystalline cores, faintly pulsing with energy. "This invention, if I can get it to work, will provide an endless source of clean, affordable power. No more energy shortages, no more unequal resource distribution. It'll level the playing field for cities like Nexuria and other regions—no one would be left behind."
Nachtan's interest piqued at this, but it didn't last long, as Kael launched into another tirade of scientific terms. "…by using harmonized frequency matrices and adjusting the electromagnetic field resonance, the device should theoretically amplify anomalyte energy into a self-sustaining loop. But the issue is the phase divergence, which—"
Nachtan, trying to stifle a yawn, managed to joke, "Maybe it just needs, like, an on switch or something?"
Kael blinked at him, then chuckled, as though the suggestion was far too simple to merit consideration. "Nice try, Nachtan. But trust me, it's a little more complicated than that."
Just then, the lab door opened, and Elora entered, her expression still clouded from the Council meeting. Her gaze softened slightly when she saw Nachtan, though the tension from earlier lingered in her eyes. "There you are," she said. "Hope you didn't give Kael too hard a time."
"Oh, not at all," Kael replied, laughing. "I think he's got a natural curiosity. You know," he continued, glancing at Nachtan, "this one might have a bright future ahead. There's something special about him."
Elora raised an eyebrow, glancing at Nachtan with a hint of mockery in her gaze. "Special?" she asked, a touch of disbelief in her voice. "Kael, you're giving him far too much credit." She let out a soft chuckle, her expression hovering between amusement and condescension like she'd been humoring a misguided notion.
The mocking tone didn't go unnoticed by Nachtan. He felt a familiar weight settle over him, a biting sense of inadequacy that he could never quite shake. His shoulders slumped, but he said nothing, keeping his face impassive as Kael and Elora exchanged a few more words.
After a brief farewell to Kael, Elora gestured for Nachtan to follow her. They left the academy and began the journey back to Nexuria. The streets were quiet as the city moved into the evening, and the sky was a soft, dusky purple. Elora walked with a steady stride, but every so often, she felt a prickle at the back of her neck, a sense that someone was watching them. She glanced over her shoulder, but the street behind them was empty.
She frowned slightly but brushed it off as a trick of her imagination. Too many hours in the council chamber, she thought.
They arrived back at their home in Nexuria, where the familiar, worn-down streets contrasted sharply with Abranta's polished grandeur. Elora stopped at the doorstep, giving Nachtan a quick, appraising look. "Get some rest," she said, her tone cool. "You've got a long day tomorrow."
Nachtan gave a silent nod, keeping his gaze low. He lingered at the door as Elora turned to leave, heading back into the winding streets toward the café where the other kids were waiting for her.
Once she disappeared from view, Nachtan let out a sigh, his chest tight with disappointment. That brief moment in Kael's lab, when he'd felt a glimmer of interest, a small sense of belonging, faded quickly in the face of Elora's dismissive tone. The fleeting feeling of being valued, of being seen for something more, slipped away, leaving him feeling hollow.
He stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him, trying to push the frustration down, but it lingered, like a shadow that followed him into the silence of their home.