Hot air from the Athanor continued to heat the mixture, turning the laboratory into an oven. Shaan's throat felt dry, and sweat streamed down his face without end, soaking the edge of the mask covering his mouth.
"I have to keep this machine running." Shaan cranked the handle connected to the stone wheel tasked with crushing the cluster of crystals with all his might. "I have to keep fighting."
He had lost track of how long he had been turning the crank. He couldn't remember anymore. His arms ached, and exhaustion weighed heavily on every muscle in his body. The relentless heat only made things worse. Warm, humid air filled the laboratory, forcing him to gasp for breath.
At this point, he wanted nothing more than to stop. But he couldn't. Everyone else still worked tirelessly around him. The thought of giving up never crossed his mind. Adrenaline surged through his veins and pushed his body forward, allowing him to ignore the fatigue little by little.
