The workshop of Les Artisanats d'Éclair hummed with the cadence of industry, as its crew of artificers worked diligently at their crafts. Several metal cylinders lay spread across several worktables, their mechanical guts exposed as gears, wires, crystals, and magical runes gleamed in the bright light cast by hanging Magelight orbs. The artificers huddled over them, tweaking components with small tools or drawing precise arcane lines with an artist's skill.

Sunlight filtered through clerestory windows, casting a mosaic of light upon the floor, while a cool breeze drifted through the open shutters. A myriad of metallic devices, ranging from clockwork mechanisms to elaborate crystal arrays, cluttered shelves, desks, and tables, while scrolls and diagrams hung upon wooden boards adorning the walls.

A few cast glances at the newcomer from time to time, but continued with their tasks uninterrupted, seemingly unfazed by Kelzryn's intimidating appearance and eerie glow. They remained engrossed in their projects, oblivious to his presence.

"How may we help you, good sirs?" Pierre asked, smiling brightly at the two men standing before him. He wore a crisp green coat with golden embroidery adorning its front, complimenting his trim blue doublet underneath. His matching hat sat cocked at an angle atop his head, tilted jauntily to one side.

Bjorn nodded in greeting. "Pierre, I'd like to introduce Kelzryn. He expressed interest in discussing your Magitech knowledge."

"Ah, an esteemed visitor? My apologies. I am Pierre Vallois. I serve as a diplomat for Les Artisanats d'Éclair," Pierre introduced himself in a pleasant tone. He removed his cap, making a slight bow before replacing it. "Delighted to make your acquaintance."

Kelzryn turned from observing a device embedded within a wall, its various component parts spinning rapidly and emitting a series of electrical pulses. The metal shafts inside the contraption glowed faintly as they spun in a blur. He gave a short dip of his head in acknowledgment of the introduction. "Likewise. Please, carry on. I will observe for now, until I know more about what you craft."

"Feel free to look around," Pierre invited cordially, waving a hand invitingly. "Let me know if you have any questions. I'd be happy to explain anything you'd like to learn more about." He picked up a Magelight orb, his nimble fingers twisting the ring dial on its outer shell as he adjusted the intensity. Satisfied with his adjustment, he placed it into the device built into the wall and carried on with his other duties.

Kelzryn scrutinized each individual piece of Magitech, from the smallest mechanical gear to the largest arcane crystal array. He paced through the room, stopping from time to time to examine certain items in greater detail, though he never touched any of the objects, nor attempted to prod or poke at them. Instead, he regarded each object with keen interest, studying them with a critical eye.

The Artisanats d'Éclair, perceiving no hostility or subterfuge from the newcomer, largely ignored him, save for polite greetings and cursory glances as he passed by.

----------------------------------------

Evelyne Blaise stood at her worktable, her mind a maelstrom of arcane equations and Magitech schematics. Her hands moved with practiced grace, manipulating the delicate gears of a device that was both a puzzle and a promise. Careful concentration marked her face as she fitted two pieces of metalwork together. Sweat beaded her forehead and dampened the roots of her hairline, the heat of the forging furnace contributing to her discomfort. She wiped her face with a cloth from her belt, smudging charcoal and dust across her cheekbones.

Her latest project lay scattered before her, dozens of gears, screws, springs, and other bits strewn haphazardly upon the surface. Her attention focused on one particular section: A spherical mechanism composed of a dozen interlocking rings, each overlapping and interconnected with the others through a series of mechanical joints. A single jewel, shaped like an egg, hovered within the center of the sphere, connected to the rings by a slender rod.

She fiddled with the alignment of one of the rings, tapping lightly with a wrench to ensure a perfect fit. Once satisfied, she twisted another knob, activating a hidden runic trigger that sent the whole mechanism spinning smoothly into place. It rotated seamlessly within its socket, forming a continuous ring around the central gemstone.

As she reached for an adjacent gear, Evelyne glanced over her shoulder and spotted a curious figure lurking among the workspaces of her colleagues.

A tall man with glowing cracks under his skin, dressed in shifting and moving robes of shadows and starlight. She squinted for a better look, her hand frozen halfway toward her work as she pondered who, or what, exactly this person could be.

Evelyne didn't need to use her Arcane Sight to know that the man wasn't human. She could tell at a glance that the polymorphic glamour that clad his form was straining to maintain its stability. The intricate weave of transmutative threads frayed in places, causing minor glitches in his physical manifestation—the jagged rifts along his flesh revealed an unstable underlying latticework of raw, arcane power that emanated a soft violet luminescence.

An untrained mage would have mistaken these flaws for a mere illusion spell, but Evelyne recognized them as the symptoms of a complex shapeshifting magic. One that required immense concentration to maintain. Even now, that magic constantly toiled to mend the crevices that marred the man's skin. His garment bore the same irregularities, struggling to retain a cohesive shape, reknitting itself whenever cracks appeared within its fabric.

Despite all the instability, his disguise remained stable enough to pass for a human if not for that—and his pointed ears, and horns, and glowing eyes, and...

Never mind. He barely passed for a human at all.

Bjorn was with him, so he couldn't be a threat, right? Bjorn would never allow any harm to come to Ebonheim and its people. That, she trusted. But who in the Abyss was this other man?

Intrigued, Evelyne placed her tool aside and slowly approached, carefully choosing her steps to avoid disturbing her fellow artisans as they worked. She caught sight of her reflection in the window, and cringed inwardly at the disheveled state of her hair, hastily arranging loose strands into a semblance of order.

No sooner had she made herself presentable that she realized that the newcomer had already noticed her arrival, his azure eyes locking onto her the moment she entered his periphery.

Swallowing a lump in her throat, Evelyne straightened herself and maintained a professional, formal tone. "Good day, messieurs. May I inquire the reason for your visit to our humble workshop?"

Bjorn offered her a casual nod. "Miss Evelyne, this is Kelzryn. He's...an acquaintance of Ebonheim," he stated with a note of hesitation.

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Evelyne nodded, doing her best to keep a straight face as she stared at Kelzryn, who watched her impassively, his head slightly tilted to one side. Long, unbound hair cascaded over his shoulders like a veil, framing his angular face perfectly. His elegant, long-fingered hands rested crossed in front of him, clasping his elbows loosely.

An air of aloofness surrounded him, accentuated by his casual poise. His posture exuded confidence, yet his countenance conveyed neither hostility nor arrogance. He spoke at last, breaking the silence, his voice smooth and resonant, "Do you lead this workshop?"

"Yes," Evelyne admitted reluctantly. She struggled to keep her voice steady as she addressed him. "My name is Evelyne Blaise. And you, Monsieur Kelzryn? What brings you here? Are you seeking a commission from our workshop? If so, then I apologize, but I'm afraid we're rather busy at the moment." She forced herself to smile politely, gesturing toward the crowded benches.

"No, not at all. I'm simply curious." He raised his chin, studying her intently, his piercing gaze boring into hers. "I'm curious about the nature of your work, and the workings of your minds. Mortals such as yourself have demonstrated ingenuity unmatched by any of the lesser races. It's remarkable, really, how far you've progressed compared to centuries ago."

He leaned toward her, closing the distance between them without warning.

Evelyne shrank back involuntarily, her back colliding against a shelf filled with various odds and ends. She tensed as her nose registered the sharp tang of a storm's breath, mixed with something else...something earthier and more primal...but not unpleasant, by any means.

"Would you mind explaining the principles behind these devices?" he requested in a soft voice, his breath washing over her, carrying a slight scent of mint with just the faintest hint of frost.

For a moment, she froze, transfixed by his proximity, unable to look away or break her gaze from the searing intensity of his stare. It took all her mental fortitude to snap herself out of the reverie and find the ability to speak once again.

"...certainly...uh...it's not complicated. Um..." She gestured vaguely around the workshop, grasping for a proper explanation. "I'm sure you're aware of how Magitech operates. Most of us here use Arcane Synthesis, fusing arcane energy with physical matter to create new magical materials or constructs.

Then, using runecraft, we imbue these new materials with specific properties. It's just a matter of knowing which combinations work together properly, and getting them to function as intended, but sometimes you have to be creative. It takes experimentation, lots and lots of trial and error, to produce practical results..."

Her voice trailed off uncertainly, unsure whether she had adequately conveyed her ideas. "...and that's really all there is to it, I suppose."

"I am well aware of the basic principles," Kelzryn assured her, straightening again as he took a step back from her, granting her breathing space. "But thank you for elaborating nonetheless. You have provided a good overview of the process. However, I'm referring to the inspiration behind those inventions."

"Huh?" Evelyne blinked owlishly, feeling like a student being questioned by an inquisitive professor.

"What led you to create this, for instance?" Kelzryn tapped on a Magelight lamp that hung suspended from the ceiling above, illuminating the workshop. "Is it purely a utilitarian convenience, or something else?"

"Oh, the Magelights." She stared at the lantern for a moment, contemplating her answer before replying. "Um...I guess, for the most part, we wanted a more reliable source of lighting since candles and oil lamps burn too fast and aren't cost-effective enough. Magic-imbued torches only lasted for so long too.

And so, we needed something that would last longer without burning out overnight. Plus, you can adjust the intensity and color based on need and preference. That's all the Magelights do."

"Indeed?" Kelzryn peered at the Magelight with interest, examining its construction. "So, this lamp is mainly intended for illumination? Nothing else?"

"It can do other things, depending on the specific enchantment you imbue it with," Evelyne explained. "Some of the later designs incorporate heating elements to warm a room or ward off the chill, but that requires a higher level of precision during synthesis to avoid overheating or scorching the casing. They're also a bit costly, as far as mana reserves go."

"Fascinating. Such versatility..." Kelzryn murmured, his tone carrying a note of approval.

Evelyne warmed up to the topic, growing bolder in her explanations. She started to relax, talking animatedly while gesturing around the workshop.

As their discussion veered into the more esoteric aspects of Magitech, the surrounding workers gradually abandoned their efforts, drifting over to listen in with rapt attention. Soon enough, the entire group huddled around Evelyne and Kelzryn, their eyes locked intently on the latter. Their eagerness grew visibly apparent with each new revelation shared.

Kelzryn patiently continued to ask probing questions regarding many facets of the craft, encouraging further inquiries, and stimulating deeper discussion between the assembled artificers.

His measured enthusiasm sparked a chain reaction among the rest of the Magitech researchers, who quickly chimed in with additional comments or theories. As they delved further into the subject, the initial awkwardness between them dissipated entirely, replaced by mutual interest.

Eventually, the conversation came to a lull as Evelyne ordered her crew to resume their work. They filed back to their stations, albeit with less enthusiasm, grumbling among themselves about the abrupt ending.

Bjorn stayed by her side, watching them return to their labors, while Kelzryn lingered by a table, staring out the window pensively. The afternoon sunlight illuminated his profile, casting a soft glow upon his skin and clothing, rendering him almost ethereal in appearance. He stood motionless as though lost in thought, his expression distant and far away.

Evelyne found herself admiring the elegant lines of his face, the noble sweep of his brow and the defined planes of his cheeks, the graceful curve of his jaw, the chiseled hollows beneath his cheekbones, and the exquisite symmetry of his features, all framed by long hair that fell past his waist, shimmering like liquid night. The cracks in his flesh formed a stark contrast against his pale skin, catching the light in such a way as to emphasize their presence.

A peculiar aura exuded from him, drawing attention without effort. It radiated a palpable sense of power. A presence both captivating and unsettling at once, as though something deeply dangerous slept within.

Maybe if she used Arcane Sight to peer into—

"I would not advise peering beyond the surface," Kelzryn's quiet voice broke the stillness. His face remained forward, his gaze fixed outside. "It might...unsettle you, to behold the truth within. And, it may prove hazardous to your health."

Evelyne flinched, snapping her mouth shut in embarrassment at being caught staring. She looked away quickly, hoping she hadn't offended him. "Er, sorry about that, I got lost in thought. Don't mind me." She busied herself tidying up a pile of spare gears on her workbench.

"So, um, you're an acquaintance of our goddess?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Is that why you're visiting the town today?"

"Hmm, Ebonheim and I share a certain...bond, you could say," Kelzryn remarked cryptically. "Although I can't claim to have known her for long."

A bond?

Evelyne considered his words, but failed to divine their meaning. She had spoken with Ebonheim many times already, and not once did she mention having a bond with this "Kelzryn" character.

Just what kind of relationship did they share? Were they close? Or perhaps they met briefly sometime in the past, and merely struck up a fleeting friendship?

Her mind buzzed with speculation, eager for answers.

"I see. I'm not quite certain I follow what you mean," Evelyne said carefully, trying to choose her words with caution. "Did you meet recently, or...I don't really know what sort of relationship you two have. Can you describe it?"

Kelzryn faced her again, a strange glow flickering across his features—or maybe she imagined it—before fading away just as quickly. "Perhaps in time, you might learn more. For now, please accept that Ebonheim and I have forged a connection. Let us leave it at that."