19th day of Lustertide, 1369

Viviane replaced the rivet on the Aetherframe's arm, compressing it until the metal plating was firmly secured and the bit popped satisfyingly. She wiped her brow, sighing as she leaned back and admired her handiwork.

The Aetherframe stood at a towering three meters tall, its hulking form dominating the space inside the workshop. The crystal core emanated a warm glow, and the whirring of the mechanisms within added a pleasant background noise to the scene.

It was mid-afternoon, and a cool breeze drifted in through the open window, bringing with it the scents of pine and freshly cut lumber. Outside, Viviane could see a group of miners unloading the latest batch of raw materials from their carts, while others carted the ores and stones away to be processed.

The workshop itself was a mess of parts, tools, and machinery, all scattered about in a seemingly chaotic manner, but Viviane knew that there was a method to the madness. She had arranged the Aetherframe near the table where the majority of her tools and equipment were, and she found that having everything in close proximity made her work considerably easier.

Another Artificer entered the workshop, carrying a crate full of small gears and components. They set the box down on the workbench and began unpacking the contents, arranging the pieces on the tabletop in an organized fashion.

"Bonjour, Emile," Viviane greeted cheerfully.

Emile acknowledged her with a nod, her gaze focused on the task at hand.

Viviane returned to her work, applying the finishing touches to the Aetherframe. Once she was satisfied with the repairs, she grabbed a rag and started wiping the exterior.

"This should do it," she said, stepping back to admire the Aetherframe.

A few minutes passed in silence, before Emile's voice broke the tranquility.

"Viviane, can you come over here for a sec?"

"Bien sûr, just one second." She went to the other side of the workshop and helped Emile organize the contents of the box.

While Viviane was busy tidying the tools and gadgets, Emile spoke to her in a low voice. "So, Viviane, have you seen the soldiers from the Silverguards practicing in the training grounds lately? They look mighty impressive, n'est-ce pas?"

"Hm? Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason. Just curious. They're quite skilled with their weapons, no? And handsome, too! Some of them, anyway..."

"Ah, well, they do seem like nice people," she answered, shrugging.

"Nice? Pfft, I suppose, but that's not the point," Emile shook her head. "Viviane, don't you think they're quite attractive?"

"Mmm. I suppose so. Why?"

Emile's eyes widened. "Seriously? What are you, blind? You have to admit, those tall, muscular men wielding swords and shields, fighting and sweating together...they're pretty hot."

"Uh...I guess?"

"Oh, come on! You don't have to play coy with me. I know you've noticed the way some of the male soldiers have been looking at you. They're practically drooling over you. Especially that one, the guy with the dark hair and the green eyes. You know, the one who's usually with that blond-haired archer. I swear, the way he looks at you, it's like he's undressing you with his eyes, or something."

"Huh." She blinked, her face blank.

"Seriously, Viviane. Have you never had a man, or woman, catch your attention before? You have a beautiful face and figure, and that wild blonde hair. You're a gorgeous girl, and if you just put in a little effort, I'm sure you could catch the attention of a certain someone."

"Huh. I didn't realize," she muttered. "You think they're interested in me? They barely talk to me."

"What? Seriously, Viviane? You really have no idea? You haven't noticed them ogling at you whenever you climb in and out of an Aetherframe, or bend over to grab a tool, or, oh, I don't know, whenever you're basically doing anything at all?"

"Uh. No?"

Emile rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. "Look, all I'm saying is that you should go out there, meet people, try to find that special someone, you know? Maybe you'll meet that one person you can connect with, that you can share your passion for Magitech with. Life is short, Viviane. You should enjoy yourself a little while you can. Trust me, you don't want to spend the rest of your life alone, working in a dusty old workshop all by yourself."

"Hey, I'm perfectly fine being alone!" She protested. "I like my workshop and my Aetherframes. They're like family to me."

"Aha, okay, now you're starting to sound crazy," Emile shot her an incredulous look. "You can't seriously be telling me you're happy with the life of a single, lonely Artificer whose only friends are constructs?"

"I have plenty of friends, d'accord? I have...you, um, Mademoiselle Blaise, Monsieur Montiel, and, uh..."

Emile raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms and staring at her pointedly.

"...Okay, fine, I get it. Maybe I'm a bit lonely. Sometimes. It's just that, well, I'm too busy working and researching to even think about romance. Ogling at sweaty men while they practice with their swords is, um, not really my thing, tu sais?"

"Eh. Suit yourself." Emile shrugged, then their expression turned mischievous. "For what it's worth, though, if you've ever seen the ones from Hrafnsteinn, those tall, broad-shouldered men, with the intense gazes, those toned abs...the bulging—"

"Non, non, stop right there!" Viviane raised her hands, palms facing outward. "I don't want to imagine any of that. I am perfectly content being alone and focusing on my work, merci beaucoup. You're such a pervert."

"Hahaha! Oh, come on. Live a little, Viviane. Don't forget, we're only young once. Enjoy your youth while you still have it. There's nothing wrong with appreciating the beauty and sensuality of the human body, or lusting after a good-looking célibataire."

"Oui, oui, whatever you say," Viviane snorted. "Anyway, I'm trying to help you set up your inventory here. Stop distracting me with these foolish fantasies. Otherwise, I'm leaving."

"I'm done, I'm done. Sorry, I'll be quiet," Emile conceded with a laugh.

The pair returned to organizing the items. After they finished, Viviane headed outside. The sun's rays shone brightly, casting a warm light upon the forested hills.

A fresh, pleasant breeze caressed her face. She breathed in deeply, enjoying the sweet and earthy smells of the wilderness. The sounds of hammers and chisels echoed throughout the village center, and the gentle murmur of conversations reached her ears.

Suddenly, a deep, rumbling voice spoke directly behind her, and a massive shadow fell over her own.

"Oi, you one of the people that use those big, ol' Magitech armor?"

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Viviane yelped in surprise, nearly dropping the box of rivets and bolts she was holding. She whirled around, craning her neck up to meet the giant man's gaze. He towered over her, his massive bulk filling the space between them.

"Oh, um, hello," she stammered, her face growing flushed. "Er, yes, I am. How may I help you, sir?"

The man flashed her a crooked grin, his teeth flashing white beneath his beard. "Heh. That's a good one. The name's Thorsten Gustafsson, and I ain't no sir. Just call me Thorsten. Those suits, they're kinda like armor, eh?"

"Er, yes, they are, in a way. Do you, er, need assistance with anything?" She asked, regaining her composure.

"Hrmm. Been meaning to ask about those things for a while, but kept forgetting to bring it up. Seems ya lot are friendly, though. Maybe ya can answer my questions. Go on, I'll listen."

"Sure." Viviane nodded. "Um, what did you want to know?"

"All sorts of things. Like, are those suits magic?" Thorsten scratched his chin. "How do they work? Does the magic make 'em move? Or does the person inside 'em make 'em move? And if it's the person, how do they control the suit? Is there some kinda invisible magic strings connected to the limbs or somethin'? Or are they all controlled by their mind?"

The questions came out in a rush, and the giant Hrafnsteinn warrior stood there, staring at her expectantly.

"I...uh, that's quite the barrage of questions you've got there." She laughed nervously, averting her eyes. "Where do I even begin...?"

Explaining the intricacies of Aetherframes, let alone Magitech engineering, to a man who obviously knew nothing about the subject seemed pointless. But he looked so genuinely intrigued, and the curiosity in his eyes seemed so sincere, she couldn't bring herself to deny his request.

She inhaled slowly, mustering the courage to explain the basics to him. "Okay, so...there's a lot to cover here. I'm afraid we'll need more time to discuss the more technical aspects of the technology involved, but I'll give you a brief overview."

"Right. Let's start with the simplest question. Aetherframes are magical suits of armor powered by an energy source called Aetherium Epoch. These crystalline cores are housed in the chest region of the Aetherframe, and they allow the suits to move and function as the wearer's external body. So, you can think of the Aetherframe as a sort of exoskeleton, or even a second skin for the operator."

"The operator, you say? That's the person inside, yeah? So, the magic makes them move?" Thorsten interjected.

"No, the person inside actually controls the movements," she replied. "The Aetherium Epoch provides the power to the armor, but the user is the one who guides the armor's actions after they've linked themselves to it. There is no invisible string or magic controlling the Aetherframe. The individual is completely in control of the armor at all times."

"What do you mean 'link yourselves to it'?"

"The Aetherium Epoch establishes a connection between the core and the operator's mana. The energy from the crystalline core flows through the suit's mechanisms and connects them to the operator's will. Think of it as a shared consciousness, of sorts."

Thorsten raised an eyebrow. "Wait. You're telling me these suits of armor got a mind of its own?"

"I wouldn't say the Aetherframes are sentient entities," Viviane clarified. "The crystalline cores retain a fraction of the Aetherium Epoch's original consciousness, and they respond to the wearer's mental commands. But they're not truly alive in the sense that they possess independent thought or free will."

"Huh. Interesting. Go on." Thorsten leaned in, his eyes fixated upon her.

His imposing frame and intense gaze made her incredibly self-conscious, and she had to force herself to focus on the conversation. "Ah, um, so, er, there's also an array of enchantments and runes on each Aetherframe that helps regulate the suit's performance."

"Yeah, like what?"

"Well, for instance, the runic enchantments on the surface of the armor can strengthen and reinforce the metal plating, enhancing its resistance against physical impacts. Similarly, the enchantments on the inner lining of the suit can create a thermal barrier that protects the wearer from extreme heat and cold. Of course, these enchantments rely on the suit's energy source to activate. So, without a proper Aetherium core, the Aetherframe is nothing more than an empty shell."

"Hrmm. So, what about the armor itself? How hardy are those things? Is the material more durable than Runite?"

"It is. Though not every Aetherframe boasts the same level of quality as others, the ones we produce use Aurichalcum alloy, which is a stronger, lighter, more resilient version of Runite. Aetherframes are built with specific combat styles in mind, so depending on the intended purpose of the suit, different designs may be adopted for certain features. For example, Artisant frames tend to be more lightweight and agile, while battle-oriented ones are designed to be more robust and heavily armored."

Thorsten stroked his beard contemplatively, nodding slowly as he absorbed her words. "Hrm. Right. All this Magitech stuff is beyond my simple mind, I'm afraid. Still, interesting. Real interesting."

Viviane smiled, sensing that the conversation had reached its end. "I'm glad you found the explanation useful."

Explaining the concept to such a large, intimidating man seemed unusual, but she enjoyed having a chance to show off her knowledge and expertise to someone who appreciated her input.

She had grown accustomed to the teasing and dismissive remarks that she sometimes received from people, mostly those who regarded Aetherium Enginners as unnecessary specialists. So, having someone actually take interest in her work, and ask her questions sincerely, gave her a new sense of pride and confidence in what she did.

Maybe it'd be more helpful to demonstrate how Aetherframes worked in action, instead of just speaking of them abstractly. Thorsten might not understand the more intricate details, but a hands-on approach would help illustrate the importance of Aetherframes, as well as the skills needed to operate them effectively.

Besides, it was almost time for her shift at the construction site. She might as well kill two birds with one stone: give this Hrafnsteinn warrior a closer look at her beloved Aetherframes and assist in the construction simultaneously. There were no important trade secrets kept in the workshop at the moment, so bringing him in wouldn't be a problem.

"Actually, I'm supposed to be assisting in the construction of the Conduit Chamber for the Ethervein Enclave, which is located just over there. Would you like to join me? You could witness the Aetherframes in action first-hand."

"Aye. Sounds good to me. Lead the way."

Viviane guided him inside the workshop where Emile and another assistant were already present. The two Artificers were huddled in a corner, fiddling with some minor adjustments on one of the other Aetherframes stored here.

"Hey, I'm going to head out for a bit. Please watch over the workshop in my absence, d'accord?" She told them.

"Absolutely, mon amie," Emile answered, waving her hand absentmindedly. "Have fun at the Chamber. Hopefully you won't be stuck there for the rest of the afternoon aga—"

Emile finally turned her head to look up at Thorsten, and when her eyes met the large Hrafnsteinn's, her entire demeanor shifted. Her smile froze, and her lips parted slightly in shock.

"Holy. Wow. Hello," she stammered, glancing back and forth at Viviane and the behemoth of a warrior.

Viviane chuckled in amusement. "Emile, meet Thorsten Gustafsson. Thorsten, this is my friend, Emile Leclère."

"Ooooh," Emile cooed, batting her eyelashes and flashing a flirtatious grin. "Hello there, monsieur. My, aren't you a tall drink of water? If you wanted a demonstration of our Aetherframes, you need only ask. I'd be happy to oblige, of course, if you want a private tutorial. One on one."

The implication in her tone was not lost on Viviane, who suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. She was used to Emile's overtly flirtatious nature, but this was the first time she had witnessed the other woman behave this way with a man.

Thorsten seemed oblivious to Emile's blatant advances, and merely nodded in greeting. "Hullo there. Nice ta meet ya. Anyhow, lass, we have important business to attend to, so we best be goin', right?"

"Oui. Yes, that's correct." Viviane nodded in agreement, glancing back at Emile, who still stared at Thorsten in a dreamy trance.

She approached the Aetherframe she had just repaired and started climbing inside its access hatch.

Emile's earlier comment about people ogling her when she wore an Aetherframe suddenly ran through her head, and she blushed fiercely at the mere thought of Thorsten's piercing eyes watching her from an awkward angle. She couldn't imagine him or anyone else finding her attractive in such a state. She was a slim, petite girl, not a voluptuous, curvy woman, so what would be the point?

Calm down, Vivi. Get a hold of yourself!

She admonished her intrusive thoughts and pushed aside the embarrassing images conjured in her mind.

Viviane slid into the suit with ease, moving her arms and legs as naturally as possible as she adjusted her posture. Once she was fully positioned and comfortable, she reached down and pulled the harness over her shoulders, snapping it securely around her torso.

Emile walked behind the Aetherframe and began attaching the wires and cables to the suit's mechanisms while the other Artificer handed her various tools and supplies.

Meanwhile, Viviane checked the Aetherium core's power levels and made sure the suit was functioning properly. She tested the suit's mobility by lifting her arms, swinging them forward and back, and bending her knees to crouch low to the ground. Everything moved smoothly without any stiffness or delays.

Satisfied with the results, Viviane turned back to Emile and thanked her for the assistance. Then, she proceeded to walk toward the exit, pausing only briefly to glance back at Thorsten, who still waited patiently beside the door.

She now towered over him, standing a full meter taller than he, and when he gazed up at her, she found that she rather enjoyed having the advantage of height for once.

"Are you ready?" She asked over the Aetherframe's comm.

"Let's go," he responded gruffly.

With that, she led the way out of the workshop, and they made their way toward the construction site.