Adelaide led Ethan into her workshop, and his eyes widened at the sight before him. The space was a interesting blend of order and chaos, with shelves filled to the brim with crystals, lenses, and various optical instruments.

Sunlight filtered through the small windows, casting soft beams of light that danced upon the myriad of gleaming surfaces. Crystals of all shapes and sizes adorned the walls, catching and refracting the light in a dazzling display of colors, their vibrant hues painted the workshop in a multicolored glow.

The workbenches were meticulously organized, each holding an array of intricate tools and delicate apparatus. Polishing cloths, tweezers, and tiny brushes were neatly arranged, ready to be employed in the delicate art of crafting lenses and crystals. The room was a treasure trove of materials and knowledge.

Ethan felt a sense of awe and inspiration as he gazed around the workshop. As he took a step forward, the wooden floor creaked softly beneath his feet. The air carried a faint scent of the workshop's unique blend of chemicals and natural materials.

Adelaide smiled at his reaction and gestured to a workbench, ‘’You can work here, and you can use any tools you wish. Now, what are you planning to make, Ethan Okamura?’’

Ethan sat down and put his hands to the smooth wood, ‘’Well, I have a problem. There are a bunch of books I want to read, but I don’t know the languages. I thought I would try and figure out a way to do so.’’

Adelaide nodded along, ‘’I have heard of such things, not in Bilgrad though.’’

Ethan looked at her with interest, ‘’Really? That is interesting, but why not in Bilgrad?’’

Adelaide shrugged, ‘’It's a small city, isn’t it? We get some trade, sure, but most of the major trade routes go by sea. We are close to the mountains here, but not very close to any of the major trade routes going through them.’’

Ethan nodded in understanding, ‘’I see, so less traffic in the area means less appeal for any crafters. Makes sense.’’

Adelaide nodded, ‘’Just so, but we still make a good living here. Bilgrad is a fine place to live.’’

Ethan smiled, ‘’I am sure it is. Now, what would you like in return for helping me?’’

Adelaide looked around as if making sure no one was around, which they weren't. Then she sighed and went over to another workbench. She showed Ethan a worn tool, and he instantly recognized it. It was a grinding tool, for polishing lenses, and it was a manual version at that.

Adelaide grimaced, ‘’I am getting older, and I am having a harder time using this. I heard of skilled enchanters creating clothes for polishing, that will give the lenses the perfect finish. I was thinking that perhaps you could make something like that?’’

Ethan looked at the worn-out grinding tool in his hands. The once-efficient tool had seen better days, its gears creaking, and its grinding wheel showing signs of wear. His mind churned, and a few of those crazy ideas began popping up. He nodded to Adelaide, ‘’I will try something. It won’t be a cloth, but more of a contraption. I am an engineer as well as an enchanter, so I will try to combine the two, and make something completely new.’’

Adelaide looked skeptical, ‘’Sounds difficult, are you sure you... Hey!?’’ Adelaide shouted those last words because Ethan had begun taking the tool apart.

He looked over at Adelaide, ‘’I can do this! Give me a few days, I will make something that will shock you.’’

Adelaide frowned, ‘’I am already shocked, you are taking apart my grinder!’’

Ethan shrugged, ‘’I want to know how it works, then I will put something new together for you. Can I use the materials in the workshop?’’

The older woman looked around and sighed, ‘’you know what, fine. But don’t overdo it, you are paying for anything you take if I am not satisfied when you are done.’’

Ethan grinned, and his attention was already back on the tool as Adelaide left the room shaking her head. He meticulously disassembled the tool, carefully arranging the components on the workbench before him. As he examined each part, he pondered over its function and how he could enhance it. Ethan's mind raced with ideas, imagining a more streamlined and automated version of the tool.

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Since he had nothing else to do that day, he began working on a new design. He held a piece of parchment in one hand and a charcoal pencil in the other, his brow furrowed in concentration.

With careful strokes, he sketched out the design for the improved grinding tool. His hand moved swiftly across the parchment, tracing the shape of the sturdy base, the intricate gears, and the slots for interchangeable grinding stones. He visualized the enchantments he would incorporate, the golden threads that would connect the crystals to the rotating plates.

As he worked, his mind raced with ideas, contemplating the intricacies of the enchantments he would need to make it work. He considered the properties of the crystals, how their energy could be harnessed to power the rotation of the plates. He envisioned the magnetic fields that would be manipulated to create a smooth and precise grinding motion.

The design began to take shape, combining the elegance of traditional craftsmanship with the marvels of enchantment. Ethan added annotations and notes, detailing the necessary materials, dimensions, and steps required for construction. His hands moved swiftly, driven by a mix of excitement and determination.

As he finally finished his design, he looked down at the small pile of papers in satisfaction. They depicted a standing frame, with a rotating plate on top of it. The plate would be interchangeable, making it easy to change between different grinds. When polishing a lens, you wanted fine grinds sometimes, and at others, a more rough one.

The plate would rotate on an axle in the middle, and around the axle would be placed small metallic blocks. Each block had to be enchanted with negative magnetism, and the axle itself with positive. Once energy from a crystal was put into them, the axle would begin to rotate. Just like that, Adelaide would have a powertool instead of having to manually grind the lenses. He grinned, and looked out the window.

It was dark outside, and his stomach growled. Adelaide appeared in the doorway and sighed, ‘’you are one of those then?’’

Ethan frowned, ‘’one of what now?’’

‘’Those people who keep working until they drop, I half expected you to work through the night.’’

Her face darkened when she saw Ethan’s expression; he had totally planned to do just that. ‘’No! None of that, Ethan Okamura. Come with me!’’

Ethan sighed and followed Adelaide, but he made sure to roll up his plans carefully and took them with him, just in case. Adelaide led him outside, closed the store, and then down the street. They reached a lively place a short time later, and as they stepped inside, the tavern revealed its simple and unpretentious nature.

The walls, adorned with faded tapestries depicting local legends, seemed to lean slightly, evidence of the tavern's age and wear. The worn wooden floor creaked underfoot, polished smooth from countless footsteps over the years.

The low-ceilinged room was bathed in a warm, flickering glow, thanks to the scattered oil lamps that hung from the rafters. The tables were occupied by a mix of patrons, but mostly what looked to be local workers to Ethan.

The air was filled with the mingling aromas of hearty stews, sizzling meats, and freshly baked bread. A bustling bar lined one side of the tavern, its weathered surface proudly displaying an array of mismatched mugs and bottles. Behind it, a stout innkeeper poured frothy pints of ale, engaging in boisterous banter with the patrons.

The room resonated with the sounds of clinking tankards, jovial conversations, and the occasional outburst of raucous laughter. A musician strummed a lute in the corner, his melodies blending with the ambiance, adding a touch of merriment to the atmosphere.

Adelaide guided Ethan to a vacant table, and in minutes, food was brought to them. Adelaide shared a few words with the barmaid, who was looking at Ethan with interest. The meal was decent, large chunks of grilled meat with sauce and potatoes. Bread was served on the side with butter, and a large pint of ale.

They ate mostly in silence, Ethan’s mind was mostly somewhere else, constantly thinking about how to make his design of the automatic grinder work. It was so interesting to combine magic and engineering, and he literally felt his creative juices flowing.

Adelaide, for her part, seemed to understand him to an extent, she didn’t seem to mind his silence, and there was no awkwardness between them. When the meal finished, Adelaide paid for them both, despite Ethan’s protests, and he was led back to the workshop.

Adelaide led him to a small room and pointed to the narrow bed, ‘’this is where my apprentice used to stay; you can use it tonight.’’

Ethan smiled, ‘’thank you, Adelaide, I can start working bright and early then.’’

Adelaide rolled her eyes, ‘’you know, I am not expecting miracles, Ethan, and not in a matter of days either. I was thinking more like weeks or months.’’

Ethan shook his head, ‘’I will finish most of it tomorrow, I think, or perhaps the day after. Then there is just the enchantments to consider. I will have to think up a few new ones to make it work.’’

Adelaide looked at him incredulously, ‘’you need to invent new enchantments just to make it work? Have you lost your mind, boy? That usually takes months alone!’’

Ethan shrugged, ‘’I will worry about that when I get to it, for now, there is plenty to get going with. Goodnight, Adelaide, I appreciate the hospitality.’’

The older woman sighed, ‘’yes, goodnight, Ethan. May the gods have mercy on you.. Bloody fanatics..’’ She mumbled those last words fondly as she closed the door behind her.