“Alright, you can do this,” Yukina told herself, while staring at the white door in front of her. Tall and wide like a gate to a mansion, sleek and minimalistic without a single piece of decor placed throughout the entire fifteenth floor hall. “All you gotta do is to step through this door. Isn’t that right, DA-1, DA-2?”

Her two dog automatons sat idly on the floor, not understanding the query they’d been given. Yukina contemplated on whether she ought to upgrade their six-year-old CC-03 processing system to the new CC-12 iteration for more complex commands.

No! Put those things aside for now. Priority first!

Ten minutes rolled by and Yukina still had yet knocked on the door. If it were five years ago, she'd have stormed into the office without a care in the world, shouting, “Fenghuo-sama! There’s a project I want to work on!” Now though? New laws and a number of restrictions were placed in the Overseer position, of which one forbade unappointed meetings.

Another being that appointments and proposals were no longer handed to him in person, rather through the small mailbox placed next to the door and at the same placement floors below down to the fourth floor, where the experimental office section began. The once crowded floor became quiet and serene soon after, with the only ones present being either the janitors or head section leaders, who seldom brought up their businesses directly to the Overseer.

“The appointment is processed and he said he was free anytime today. This is anytime. It’s alright Yukina. You may not have met him in four years, but rekindling a relationship is the foremost development in need for this situation.”

“So, why aren’t you entering?”

“Because I’m afraid to seeeeEEEE!” Yukina jerked away, as her whole body turned to see the cheeky and giddy maroon-haired colleague. “Oki-san … Please, don’t creep up on me like that. You almost gave me a heart attack,” she said, while catching her breath.

“While I am sorry about that, it really pleases me to be seeing you here, Yukina. However,” his jolly attitude turned perceptive; brown eyes narrowing on Yukina in a concerned look. “seems to me that you have a bit of a predicament in your hand. Let me guess. Afraid of meeting him?”

“You always see through me,” she appreciated the sentiment. “But it’s fine. I’ve got my meeting with Fenghuo-sama all under control. That’s why, Oki-san, will you—”

“No, thank you,” he immediately said.

“But I haven’t said anything!”

“This is your business, Yukina. Not mine.”

“I only wanted you to be there for moral support,” Yukina pouted. She’d had one of her close friends accompany her, but the appointment’s date time was too sudden. There was no way she could ask them to open up their schedules overnight. Then again, it’d also be unreasonable to ask Oki the same thing.

“Don’t tell me that the genius engineer is still a little kid,” he smirked.

“I’m not a kid … physically … Anyway, enough of that! What are you doing here? Do you have an appointment with Feng—I mean the Overseer?”

“Why bother correcting now?” Oi raised his brows, at the same time reminding Yukina that she’d mentioned the Overseer’s name less than half a minute ago. “I don’t know what to ell you. The so-called news of your connection to the overseer ain’t exactly a secret.”

“Eh, for how long?!”

“Since the day you started working here. Everyone’s just either too afraid to ask you or are waiting to see you fall due to lack of competence. Although, after your achievements in the automaton industry, I’d say you’ve shut up everyone who has ever held a grudge against you or accused you of nepotism.”

“You may be right, but that’s a rather harsh statement to say. But how do you know all this? Haven’t you only been here for a year, assistant researcher.”

“I worked at PiRS. Where else can I talk to the most chatty and obnoxious set of people?” Satoshi relaxed his shoulders, as if time spent here was a peaceful rest away from his problematic colleagues. He then pulled out a set of papers. A research proposal from the looks of it, peaking Yukina’s curiosity, as she scurried over to see the details.

“‘Analysis on the Binary Code of Magion. Collaboration Between the Prima Research Section and the Energy Research Section’ … So, Onodera-sama really did get her research published,” Yukina sounded both excited and disappointed.

It went exactly as she predicted. There was simply too much leeway given to the Heads of each section, that the already restricted Overseer would certainly have problems restraining them and their projects. And the expenses of their ambitious, yet often disastrous experiments have surpassed the monthly national budget by now.

Freedom was a blessing, anarchy however was ruin. All Yukina hoped was for her crazed mentor to be able to practice self-control on her research. And seeing the details of the papers, perhaps the case was indeed—miraculously—true. The collaboration only pertains to understanding the logic and nature behind the ‘Binary Code’ of magions and how they led to mages capable of forming them into various forms through the calculative formula they used in everyday life.

If things went well, this could lead to new advancements in both magic and magical technology. By understanding magion, it’d give a further understanding to the inner work of a mage’s mind, which could perhaps be later translated into heavily complex command inputs for a new Command Cube iteration. The next generation of automatons looked very bright, so long as Onodera would no longer attempt to artificially synthesize magions and cause a mass accident which might destroy a few small villages.

“Still though, is ‘Binary Code’ the official name Onodera-sama came up with?”

“Seems so. Who else could think a nonsense of a name?” Satoshi placed the documents inside the mailbox, which after going through a series of pipes should arrive on the Overseer’s table right about now. “And thus, my work here is done. Good luck on your meet—”

“DA-1. Hold him.” Yukina’s dog automaton bit on Satoshi’s coat.

“What are you doing?”

“I just remembered. PiRS doesn’t have a lot of projects now, right? You guys are the most free section out of all of us, so—What is that in your hand?”

Satoshi took out what seemed to be a pen-like device. Its tip lit up, emitting an electromagnetic pulse that caused both automatons to drop dead. Then without a word, he skedaddled into the elevator like a road runner, shutting the gate and saying a simple, “Nope!” before descending down the floors.

You’re really going to leave me alone with him?

Seconds after, the two dog automatons returned to power, as Yukina then went to pat their metal-plated heads. “Sorry, DA-1, DA-2. I’ll make upgrades to you both right after this.” That being said, where on Antyrion did he get an EMP Fielder? And a miniaturized version of that. It should be a pretty regulated magical device by the Weapons Research Section.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Putting the thought aside for now, Yukina looked at the white door with great awe and a nerve wracked heart. Regardless, it was a barrier which she needed to pass through for not just one, but two things. Taking a long deep breath, Yukina stepped in, as the door automatically slid open.

A long dark hallway, cold to the touch, leading to a dim blue light source, flickering like fireflies and emanating a buzz-like sound similar to wasps. It was a box-shaped device with a vent at the back attached to a computing processor underneath as well as a board of keys labeled in unrecognizable symbols in front of it. And on the other side of the desk another one of the same device, except it less bulky and more sleek, and only had the monitor without the rest of the essential parts, thus leaving the screen black since the day it was brought here.

In addition to that, were the numerous devices planted in this room of wires and cables, attached to parts of other peculiar devices and never-seen-before automatons both advanced and archaic-looking. The latter being the source of inspiration to a number of Yukina’s creations, and Fenghuo had even given her permission to research a few. However, the majority remained as wall decorations apart from a certain more useful ones. Or in one device’s case, a fun function.

On her right, a light source emanated. It was a screen, far larger than the rest, displaying a myriad of colors moving and switching constantly and to the controller’s command, which was currently in the hands of the old man sitting right in front of it. Despite already being in his sixties, his fingers moved at lightning speed, as buttons pressed and sticks twisted in order to make the car within the screen move along the imaginary track, while launching rockets and bombs at other cars behind it.

On taking a steep left turn, the car arrived at the goal post and a victory sign appeared upon the screen with a golden trophy in the middle. The old man punched his fist in the air then turned around to Yukina to give her another one of those controllers, but she refused with a sign gesture.

The lights suddenly switched open and Fenghuo’s wrinkly face was in full view alongside the office room, or rather what should’ve been an office room had it not been for the rolled futon inside the open cupboards and two wardrobes of clothes, and a few paces next to it was a small kitchen which also led to the bathroom. The overseer’s office had basically been turned into a small rental apartment, yet surprisingly clean and neat for a shut-in, with no garbage or unwashed dishes in sight.

Fenghuo’s hazel eyes cast a slightly disappointed gaze, but understood nonetheless, as he then stood up and walked over to his desk in a plain white shirt and unkempt green hakama, while holding onto something. You’d think that the Overseer of the Kagemusha Research Institute would look more regal or professional, but members of the Ten Seat Council could only be said as an eccentric bunch. The same went for Fenghuo-sama, the Second Seat, a.k.a the mage known as the Noble Wind.

But to Yukina Satomi, he was simply …

“It’s been a while, Uncle Fenghuo,” Yukina said. Not in words but in signs formed by her hands. They moved a bit awkwardly, for it’d been some time since she last spoke in sign language.

“I don’t think four years is a ‘while’, little Yuki,” he chuckled loudly to her reddish face. She was partially embarrassed, but partially glad that he understood her. “However, I am indeed glad to meet you after so long. You won’t leave this old man alone again after this, will you?”

“Then what about we go outside some time?” she suggested.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” he set it straight. “So long as I am part of the council, this humble abode of mine is where I shall spend the rest of life in.”

“Why don’t you quit then? Uncle seemed more gloomy than when you became one.”

“I’ve given that answer to you already,” Fenghuo signed. He was the type of person who did not like to repeat himself, though never raising his voice when showing displeasement or any form of stressful emotions. Always soft and gentle like the winds flowing calmly down the river.

As for the answer itself, Yukina understood. Or perhaps not. The phrase ‘to be chosen is not always something to be proud of’ very much sounded puzzling when looked through an ordinary human’s perspective, but when entered through a mage’s perspective, as Yukina once talked to Kazuko, they could seemingly understand it with no question.

Then again, rarely anyone understood a mage’s mind, let alone a mage who’d reached the highest peak of magic, who kept purchasing weird stuff from the KAISEI Auction for some reason.

Chair sat and hands on the table, one covering the item he was holding, the other on a towering sheet of papers which he immediately started to work on. One by one, the topmost layer glided down by gentle wind, each read quickly yet thoroughly and promptly signed or stamped with the crimson word ‘rejected’ on top of it. As always, the Overseer did his work quicker than one could think.

But that tower shouldn’t exist, thought Yukina. Halfway in and Fenghuo finally gave her the letter of proposal from her friend, Mingzhu. Deciphering the Contents of the Divine Droplet, so the title said. That and the letter of request from Kazuya Ryosuke, Takamichi’s Third Division Captain of the Murikami Order. Yukina felt relieved, but at the same time worried.

He was being unusually quiet. Sure, he couldn’t hear, so speaking was a no go, but Fenghuo’s signs would almost always be brimmed with life. Like that one time when Yukina first started working here in the institute, and she got called by the overseer, surprised to see that her uncle was the one to greet her there.

They talked on and on and on, and her eldest brother, Kouki, would join in whenever he had a chance. Although, most often it would only lead to him being scolded by Fenghuo for talking too much about Yukina. He even came up with a new gesture for the word ‘siscon’ to be implemented on the official book of sign language.

At other times, the dear old uncle would visit and invite her entire family to play these strange portable games in the form of devices, which he’d gotten from the KAISEI Auction. Daisuke was pretty fond of them and got him to give a few as birthday presents. The jolly Satoshi Household at its beautiful prime.

Those moments even reached into a most vivid past, when Fenghuo did all sorts of things to cheer Yukina up in the hospital. Whether it’d be through shadow puppets, wind magic tricks, or singing by using hand signals instead of a voice. He did so despite the pain wrenching within their chests, stabbing their hearts and burning them inside out.

However, it worked.

I … we feel happy again. So why … Why are you looking at me like you did that day?

Yukina tried to ask her question, but Fenghuo stopped her by holding onto her hands and placed on her palm the item he was grasping so tight.

“Pretty …,” she said, distantly, admiring the illustrious form the silver pendant took. Especially of the three birds chasing each other tightened together by a vine. How did the makers create something so intrinsic? What was the symbolism? What significance did it have for her uncle, who looked so awfully sorrow behind the calm visage he now put on?

Fenghuo then closed her hands and the pendant within them, as if trying to say, “This is a present for you.” But Yukina couldn’t accept. It surely must be something valuable and priceless for her dear uncle. Except he kept on pushing her away whenever she tried to give it back, all while expressing the most gentlest of smiles.

“Why are you giving me this?” she uttered, before quickly doing the sign gestures for them.

Fenghuo simply replied, “I no longer need it. It … no longer has any worth for me.” His hands moved slightly robotic. “Perhaps you’ll give it a new meaning, or maybe find a better owner for it.”

With an answer as sincere as that, there was no way Yukina couldn’t accept. However, what new meaning could be given apart from it being a beautifully designed pendant?

Getting the signature for Mingzhu was done and it could be said that this pendant could be the answer to the second thing on her itinerary, but it was too vague of an answer to be called a true answer, yet it appeared Fenghuo had no intention to spill it out anytime soon.

“Thanks, Uncle. Really I am,” Yukina stood idly for a while, waiting for a response or anything that could leave her feeling satisfied.

“Forgive me, for being neglectful of my work these days. Nevertheless, you need not to worry about me, Yuki-bao,” he signed. “I simply need time.”

The words behind those kind gestures breezed into her mind and heart, filling up the tank which desired an end to her curiosity, replacing the missing concrete answer with this calm moment they shared together after so long. A tender reunion between family, despite not being related at all.

If Dad was still here, I wonder how he’ll be.

Yukina returned to the cold hallway after a wave, leaving the Overseer’s office feeling full of content.