I let out a soft sigh, stepping away from the bright morning air of the balcony and back into the warmth of the master bedchamber. The heavy velvet curtains settled behind me as I made my way toward the center of the room, my mind still racing with unanswerable questions about the invisible mastermind pulling the strings.
Before I could sit down, the Arcanet Crystal resting on my vanity table began to hum with a gentle blue light, its surface ringing softly with an incoming transmission. I picked up the glowing gem immediately, placing it near my ear as a familiar, rough voice echoed clearly through the mana wave. "By the ancestors' beard, Your Gracious Majesty! I've finally hammered out the last rivet on the bloody prototype!"
Hearing Gerald's triumphant tone, my eyes lit up with instant anticipation. Without wasting another second, I channeled my spatial magic and shifted through the void, teleporting instantly to the subterranean Dwarven settlement beneath the mountain range.
