Chapter 37

As we settled into a quiet corner of the crafting area, I could see the curiosity flickering in Corwin’s eyes. “So, what was it like outside of camp? Did you find out anything about my sister?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with concern. I took a deep breath, knowing how important this was to him. “I wish I could say I have good news,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “But honestly, I have no idea. After we took out Matt, there was a lot of commotion. Nothing obvious stood out from the raiders. It sounds like she made it away from them. Let’s hope she’s holed up somewhere safe. She’s a very smart girl.”

Corwin’s shoulders slumped slightly, and I could see the hurt in his eyes. “I figured as much,” he said quietly, his gaze dropping to the ground. “I keep hoping that she’ll just walk back into Galene. But not knowing… it’s like a weight on my chest.”

“I can’t imagine how difficult this is for you,” I said softly, wanting to comfort him. “I promise we’re going to keep searching. I won’t stop looking until we find her.”

He nodded, but the sadness in his expression remained. “It’s just that when I heard about the plan to take Matt down, I thought maybe you’d come to see me right after. I was worried sick about you, you know?”

“I’m sorry, Corwin,” I said, guilt washing over me. I’d failed to realize how much I meant to Corwin. “After everything that happened, I didn’t even think to check in. I was so wrapped up in the fight and the havoc afterward. It was a lot to process, and I should’ve come to check on you right away.”

His voice dropped, the weight of his feelings evident. “I get that it was a lot for you too. I just felt… abandoned, I guess. Everyone else was out doing something, and I was stuck here, waiting and wondering. I’ve been trying to keep up with practice, but it’s hard. I feel so inept with just one arm. John wouldn’t let me join in on the fight.”

“I can understand that,” I replied, my heart aching for him. “But I want to make it right. I want to be here for you now. We can work on the prosthetic together, and I’ll keep looking for your sister. You’re not alone in this.”

He sighed, frustration etched across his face. “I’ve leveled up a few times, but it doesn’t feel like it means anything when I can’t do what I used to. I see everyone else training, and now choosing their craft, getting stronger, and here I am—unable to even tie my shoes. I feel worthless.”

“You matter, Corwin,” I insisted. “Your strength and determination are still here, even if you’re not fighting right now. Helping me with the arm is a way to channel that. You’ll have the chance to contribute in a new way.”

He looked at me, his expression a mix of hope and despair. “But what if I can’t? What if the arm doesn’t work, and I’m stuck feeling like this forever? What if I can’t even wield it properly?”

I reached out and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You’re not defined by what you’ve lost. The prosthetic will be designed for you, to enhance what you already have. We can make it work, and I believe in your ability to adapt. You just need to trust yourself.”

His eyes brightened slightly at my words, and I could see the hope beginning to rekindle within him. “Alright, let’s do this. I want to be part of the process. You can teach me how to build things and I can learn to help in my own way.”

“Exactly!” I said, feeling a surge of excitement at his enthusiasm. “Let’s sketch out some designs and figure out how we can incorporate those nanobots effectively. I think we can create something truly unique.”

After our conversation, I led Corwin to a cleared-out area near the crafting tables. We pulled over a makeshift table and set up some stools where we could sit. The space was quiet, surrounded by trees that provided a sense of privacy. This would be the perfect spot for us to sketch out the designs for his prosthetic arm.

“Alright, let’s get started,” I said, pulling out a piece of parchment and a few quills I had purchased earlier. I laid the paper on a flat surface and began to think through the features we could incorporate.

Corwin settled beside me, his expression shifting from uncertainty to focus. “What do you have in mind?” he asked, leaning closer to see what I was writing.

“I was thinking we could integrate an arm panel like the one I have that could allow you to communicate and maybe summon your own robots if you really end up liking engineering,” I explained, scribbling down ideas. “I feel like incorporating nanobots into this could allow for some interesting machine learning capabilities.

Corwin nodded, his enthusiasm growing. “That sounds incredible!”

“And we will add extra focus on fine motor skills, like picking up small objects or even using tools.” I drew a rough sketch of the arm, noting where the joints would be and how they would articulate.

“Definitely,” Corwin replied, excitement shining in his eyes. “Will I need to worry about someway to charge it?”

“No charging necessary. It’ll be powered by mana. It should be a low draw so you won’t have to worry about running out.” I turned to him, ready to take measurements. “Let’s get your dimensions so we can make sure everything fits perfectly. Can you show me where your shoulder is? I want to make sure the attachment point is just right.”

Corwin lifted his remaining arm and pointed to the area where the prosthetic would connect. “Right here. I’ve been thinking about how I want it to feel. It should be secure but not too tight, you know?”

“Got it,” I said, taking out a measuring tape from my inventory. I carefully took his measurements, focusing on the length from shoulder to wrist and the circumference at various points. “I’ll make sure the design accommodates your comfort.”

As I worked, I could see Corwin’s confidence returning. He was engaged, offering ideas and suggestions as I sketched. “What if we added some kind of quick-release mechanism? That way, if I ever need to remove it for any reason, I can do it without hassle.”

“That’s a fantastic idea!” I replied, scribbling down his suggestion. “We could integrate a simple latch system, something that won’t get in the way but will be easily accessible when needed.”

After we had taken all the necessary measurements and discussed various features, I stepped back and surveyed our blueprints. “I think we have a solid foundation here. Now it’s just a matter of getting to work.”

Corwin grinned, a spark of excitement in his eyes. “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this. This is going to be really cool.”

“It is,” I said, feeling a rush of satisfaction at what we had accomplished together. “You’re going to make a great engineer!”

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With our blueprints finalized, the next step was to gather the materials needed for Corwin’s prosthetic arm. I began pulling out materials from my time in the dungeon—metal scraps, bits of webbing from the giant spiders, and even remnants of the traps we had dismantled. It was all potential.

“Let’s see what we can salvage,” I said, leading Corwin toward a pile of debris we had set aside. I bent down to sift through the materials, pulling out pieces of metal and other useful items. “We’ll need a solid base for the arm, and these scraps could work perfectly.”

Corwin joined me, picking up a twisted piece of metal. “This could make a good joint,” he said, inspecting it closely. “And if we can melt down some of the larger pieces, we can forge them into more manageable shapes.”

“Exactly!” I replied, feeling the thrill of creativity bubbling inside me. “Let’s head to the blacksmith station. We can melt down these scraps and start shaping the arm to fit your specifications.”

Together, we made our way to the blacksmith station, which had been set up in a cleared area not far from our crafting tables. The rhythmic clanging of metal being worked echoed around us, and the heat radiating from the forge felt welcoming.

As we approached, we found Aiden, a blacksmith, diligently hammering away at what appeared to be a very intricate piece of metal. He looked up, wiping sweat from his brow. “What brings you two over here?” he asked, a friendly smile breaking across his face.

“We need to melt down some scraps for a prosthetic arm,” I explained, gesturing to the pile we had collected. “Can you help us with that?”

“Of course!” Aiden replied, his enthusiasm infectious. “Bring me what you have, and I’ll get it sorted out for you.”

We unloaded the metal scraps onto the workbench, and Corwin helped Aiden organize the pieces. As he began to stoke the forge, I felt a surge of excitement. This was more than just crafting; it was about giving Corwin a new lease on life.

As Aiden worked, he turned to Corwin. “You’re making a prosthetic arm, huh? That’s impressive!” His voice was encouraging, and I could see Corwin’s confidence swell in response.

“Thanks! I’m really looking forward to it,” Corwin replied, his enthusiasm evident.

While Aiden was busy with the forge, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. I turned to see Jessica standing off to the side, her expression unreadable as she observed us. It was strange how she seemed to hover nearby, always within sight but never quite approaching.

“Is she always like this?” I whispered to Corwin, trying to keep my voice low enough that Jessica wouldn’t overhear.

“Only the last few days,” Corwin replied, glancing back at her. “Her whole personality shifted when she started hanging out with Matt. It’s a bit unsettling, to be honest.”

Shaking my head I replied, “It’s kind of creepy.”

As Aiden worked on melting down the metal scraps, I noticed Jessica had shifted closer, her gaze fixed intently on the forge. It felt like she was analyzing every movement we made. “Do you think she’s going to say something? I know she really wanted me to work on phones. Maybe she wants to update her Insta.” I said, half-jokingly.

“Maybe she’s hoping to learn something,” Corwin said with a shrug. “Though it’s hard to tell. It’s like she’s both fascinated and… I don’t know, judgmental?”

“I guess it’s not that surprising. This whole situation is a lot for everyone. Maybe she thinks she can get in touch with someone she’s lost.” I replied. “But I wish Felix were here. He’d know how to break the tension.”

Corwin nodded. “Yeah, it’s odd that he’s not around. You’d think he’d want to help out with something like this. I saw him yesterday and he seemed pretty weird. Did you get into a fight?”

“Hmm. I don’t think so. Unless he was mad at me for getting hurt again.”

The forge began to roar to life, and Aiden focused on the process of melting down the metal scraps. As the molten metal glowed an intense orange, I felt a comforting warmth enveloping us. It was a reminder that amidst all the uncertainty, we were still capable of creating something meaningful.

“Alright, we’re ready,” Aiden said, pouring the molten metal into molds we had prepared. “This will take a bit to cool, but when it’s done, we can start assembling your arm.”

I felt a surge of excitement and pride. “This is going to be amazing.”

“While we’re waiting for those to cool, let’s go and harvest some Techvine. We’re going to need them for all kinds of projects. I’ll show you what to look for,” I suggested, eager to make the most of our time.

Corwin nodded enthusiastically. “Sounds great! I’ve seen those around but didn’t know they could be useful.”

We made our way into the woods where the Techvine typically grew in abundance. Byte was in stealth mode keeping an eye out for monsters while we hunted for our own prey. The vibrant green tendrils climbed up trees and twisted around rocks, glowing faintly in the dim light. I had learned that this unique plant had properties that could enhance technology when integrated correctly, making it an invaluable resource for our upcoming projects.

“Look for the thicker vines with a slight shimmer,” I explained as we approached the patch. “Those are the ones we want. They have the best energy conductivity, which will be perfect for your arm.”

As we started to carefully harvest the vines, I noticed Corwin’s focus shift. He was fully engaged, inspecting the vines with an intensity that showed his newfound interest in engineering. “This is really cool,” he said, gently pulling a particularly vibrant piece from the ground. “I never thought I’d be out here collecting plants for a prosthetic arm.”

“It’s all part of the process,” I said with a smile, feeling a sense of camaraderie growing between us. “All of these little things can be used to create something new.”

As we worked side by side, I took a moment to appreciate the transformation in Corwin. He had gone from feeling worthless to actively participating in our project, his confidence visibly growing with each passing moment. It was a reminder that we were all capable of more than we realized, especially when we had the right support.

Once we had gathered a sufficient amount of Techvine, I led Corwin back to the blacksmith station. Aiden was still at work, tending to the molds with meticulous care. “How’d it go?” he asked, glancing up as we returned.

“Great! We found some really good Techvine,” Corwin replied, holding up the glowing vines proudly.

With the metal from Aiden and the vines we had the makings of the right supplies to get started. “There’s only one thing left that we need before we get started.”

“What’s that,” Corwin replied curiously.

“Your phone. Hand it over.” Corwin grimaced as he took the long dead phone from his pocket and gave it a last look of farewell.”

“Oh stop,” I told him teasingly. “It’s just going to be connected to your arm instead of your hand now.

We worked for hours in relative silence long past dark. I was instructing Corwin and ensuring he was a part of the process every step of the way. I showed him how to update the circuitry on cellphones to create the communication devices.

After hours of meticulous work, the arm was finally taking shape. The metallic frame gleamed in the light of the fire. “We’re almost there,” I said, wiping the sweat from my brow. “Now, let’s incorporate the nanobots and finish it off.”

Corwin grinned, but I noticed a spark of doubt creeping into his expression. “I hope this works. I mean, what if it doesn’t? What if I can’t control it or it doesn’t respond the way we want?”

I paused, sensing his uncertainty. “Corwin, we’ve done everything right. This arm is going to be amazing. The nanobots will enhance its functionality and give you capabilities you never thought possible. Trust in the process and in what we’ve created together.”

He took a deep breath, and I could see him steadying himself. “You’re right. I guess I’m just nervous about how it will feel. It’s a big change.”

“Change can be daunting,” I acknowledged, “but it’s also an opportunity. This arm is a chance for you to reclaim what you’ve lost and to redefine what you can do. But even if it fails, you will still be amazing.”

Corwin nodded slowly, a flicker of determination igniting in his eyes. “Let’s do it then. Let’s finish this.”

I attached the arm to Corwin, and we made several adjustments for comfort. With a deep breath, I pricked my finger and allowed the nanobots to flow into the arm.

Connecting with them was easy, and I willed them to integrate with Corwin’s nervous system. But when the connection was made, everything spiraled out of control.

A sudden jolt of energy coursed through Corwin's body, causing the arm to convulse violently, crackling with unstable power. “Maura!” he shouted, his eyes wide with fear as the nanobots within the arm surged uncontrollably, their chaotic movements threatening to engulf him. I stood frozen, dread pooling in my stomach as the energy intensified.

Level Up!

Level 14 Technomancer

Corwin began writhing on the ground, screams of pain escaping his lips. Panic surged within me, and I shouted for Felix as I tried to support him, cradling his shaking form. But just as abruptly as it had begun, Corwin’s screams fell silent, and he went still.