As we moved away from the corridor, the sound of the boy’s sobs faded, and the sll of the explosion was left behind.
It didn’t take long before we stopped in front of a structure that caught my attention.
An elevator cabin made of steel.
The cabin was a spectacle of magical engineering.
Its walls glead with a faint silvery sheen, reinforced by bronze plates.
At the top of the cabin, gears of various sizes shed together, spinning in perfect synchronization, while thick chains descended into a shaft that disappeared into the floor.
"Sufffff~~~"
At the center of the cabin, an engine glowed intensely, releasing blue smoke that dissipated into the air with an ethereal shimr.
Charlotte stopped in front of the cabin where the engine was and said, almost proudly,
—This cabin was built by our senior, Mateo. He built it alone after studying for only two years.
I looked at her for a mont, then stepped closer, observing the structure more carefully. Silently, I gave a ntal command to the biochip.
—Biochip, scan this cabin and project the engine’s internal design for .
["Beep!"]
Before my eyes, the biochip’s interface was projected.
["Internal engine operation"]
["The operator initiates the process by feeding the boiler with a blue crystal-shaped item."]
["The liquid inside the boiler is heated until it reaches boiling point, generating pressurized steam."]
["A decorative pressure gauge, with numbers engraved on a copper fra, displays the steam levels."]
["The pressurized steam is channeled into the piston cylinders."]
["As the steam enters, it pushes the pistons in alternating movents, activating the crank system and the master gear."]
["The rotation of the master gear turns the main pulley."]
["Depending on the direction of the control lever, the pulley winds or unwinds the rope, moving the elevator cabin up or down."]
["The centrifugal governor automatically adjusts the openings of the steam valves based on the engine’s speed, ensuring smooth and safe cabin movent."]
["If the speed exceeds the safe limit, the governor partially closes the valves, reducing pressure."]
—Interesting, I murmured, crossing my arms and looking at Charlotte.
—How many magic crystals did he earn for building this?
Charlotte, who had been admiring the elevator cabin, paused and turned toward . She thought for a mont before answering.
—I don’t know... I didn’t have the courage to ask Mateo.
—After all, no one likes telling others how rich they are, right?
I gave a slight nod but kept watching her.
It didn’t seem like a complete answer, but before I could press further, she grabbed the lever on the side of the cabin and pulled it.
"Suuuuufffff~~~"
The engine vibrated softly, releasing another wave of glowing blue smoke, and the gears began to spin.
The cabin trembled for a mont before starting to pull the elevator.
Charlotte, noticing my still-unsatisfied expression, smiled differently this ti.
It wasn’t the casual smile from before, but sothing more ambitious, almost greedy, like soone dreaming of swimming in mountains of gold.
—But...
—If we were hired to build an elevator like this, the price would easily be thousands of magic crystals.
My eyes widened and I nearly shouted.
Holy shit!
I’m going to get very rich.
As soon as the elevator arrived, my brow imdiately furrowed, and the feeling from a few seconds ago vanished.
The cabin doors opened, and I was hit by a strong sll of damp earth mixed with sweat.
Inside, a group of burly miners occupied almost the entire space, each one seeming bigger than the last.
Their tower uniforms, which must once have been as white as the one I wore, were now stained gray, brown, and with darker blotches whose origin I preferred not to imagine.
Pickaxes and shovels were firmly gripped in their calloused hands or hung on their backs, their tips still coated with mineral residue.
Overstuffed backpacks, filled with tools and chunks of ore, competed for space with the miners’ sweaty bodies.
As soon as the miners stepped out of the elevator, completely ignoring Charlotte and , we were left standing before the empty but thoroughly filthy cabin.
Charlotte adjusted the steampunk goggles resting on her head, sliding them over her eyes before stepping into the elevator in front of .
—Those guys who just left, they’re students too. Everyone you’ll et here is a student.
I stood there for a mont before stepping in, letting the elevator doors slowly close behind .
I leaned against the tal wall, crossing my arms casually.
I felt my arm muscles press against the fabric of my robe, highlighting the muscles I had worked so hard to build through breathing-technique training.
Ignoring , Charlotte turned and began pressing the elevator buttons.
—I think I understand the school’s situation, but... common tals and ores like steel, iron, and bronze —the kind of thing my father could easily obtain— shouldn’t be so valuable that people would work themselves to death in these mines. Unless these mines are full of...
Charlotte interrupted , finishing the thought as the elevator began descending with a slight jolt.
—Different materials.
—Those common tals, like steel, you can buy in bulk in the comrcial district here in the Tower.
—But magical materials? That’s a whole different story. They’re used in practically every field of the magical world.
She pushed the glasses up from her face with her index finger, as if emphasizing her next point.
—There are tals here that conduct magical energy, like mithral, for example, or rare alloys that react to enchantnts. Without even ntioning the crystals. So are used as pure energy sources, whether for chanical contraptions or to be refined and turned into runes or enchanted items.
—The jewelers here are quite famous for working with these materials.
I listened carefully as I absorbed the information.
—I see... And where can I learn more about these items?
The elevator trembled slightly, signaling that we were approaching our destination.
Charlotte shrugged, as if the answer were obvious.
—Well, you can learn in public classes or spend hours in the library.
—Of course, there’s always the option of buying knowledge directly from other students. As long as you have money, of course, you’ll find what you’re looking for around here.
Money... that was exactly what I didn’t have.
I was practically broke, and the idea of buying knowledge felt as distant as the rare ore Charlotte had been talking about.
Before leaving the cabin, she shook her boot, knocking off the dirt that had accumulated inside the elevator, then cast a sidelong glance.
—Before trying to do anything, beco magically literate.
—Take public classes on the language of magic and study in your free ti.
—Once you can read and understand it, you’ll have access to everything.
—After all, almost everything in this Tower, without exception, is written in the language of magic.
Hearing that, I simply nodded and stepped out of the cabin as it opened.
When I looked at the ravine, I was stunned by the sight before .
It was an imnse, deep abyss, its walls filled with acolytes scattered everywhere, working like ants in search of ore.
"Pick~~"
"Pick~~"
"Pick~~"
"Pick~~"
The constant sound of pickaxes echoed, reverberating against the rocks like a distant drum.
So miners were tied at the waist with ropes, hanging in precarious positions, while others, more daring or desperate, balanced themselves on improvised planks that creaked with every movent.
In certain areas, torches mounted on the stone walls cast a flickering yellow light, indicating that those acolytes had not yet learned light spells.
In other spots, much rarer ones, magical light orbs floated, illuminating small groups working tirelessly.
The contrast between the soft glow of the orbs and the imnse darkness of the ravine made the scene even more surreal.
—Holy shit! This place is huge!
...
1305 Words
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Power Stones Campaign.
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