"Do you think they can work together?" Karl leaned down, his voice dropping low. He stole a glance at the two working men again before turning back to Iora. "I mean, in the long run, I think they will be great together, right?"
Iora leaned against the wall, her shoulder brushing Karl's. The workspace buzzed with the low hum of tech and the sharper edge of Ryn and Ryker's voices clashing.
No, this wasn't working for now. But Karl's faith was admirable.
IORA tilted her head, her dark hair spilling over one shoulder. "They're like oil and water," she said. "But they're trying, and that's something."
Karl watched them again. Ryn fiddled with a sleek device with dangling wires, while Ryker hammered a clunky gadget into place. Tools and half-built contraptions littered the tables around them.
Karl gave a small nod. "Barely. They've been at it for ten minutes and still arguing over which bolt's better."
Iora shrugged. "At least it's progress. They're sealing this place up for you."
Across the room, Ryn and Ryker moved along the walls, planting devices every twenty inches. Small green lights blinked on each one. Ryn snapped a cover shut, muttering under his breath, while Ryker drove a spike into the wall with more force than needed.
"How do those things work?" Iora called out. Her tone cut through their bickering.
The silent argument subsided.
Ryn looked up and adjusted his goggles. "They're dampeners," he said. "They push back energy surges and keep whatever Karl throws out from leaking past these walls."
Ryker did not bother pausing his work. "More like a net," he added. "Catches the wild stuff and bounces it back in. Simple."
Iora raised an eyebrow. "So if he goes off, it won't ping the underbelly?"
"Exactly," Ryn said. "No more crazy signals drawing every scavenger with a grudge."
Ryker smirked faintly, a teasing edge creeping into his voice. "Assuming your fancy toys don't fry first."
Ryn glared at him. "They're tested. Unlike your hammer-and-pray method."
"Tested my ass," Ryker shot back. "That last one sparked when I touched it."
Iora rolled her eyes and nudged Karl. "See? Oil and water."
Karl managed a faint smile. "As long as it holds."
The men finished the grid and then stepped back to survey their work. The walls now bristled with devices, a patchwork of Ryn's sleek designs and Ryker's rugged fixes. Ryn wiped his hands on his pants, turning to Karl.
"Alright, Karl," Ryn said. "Try shifting. Let's see if this holds."
Ryker's head snapped up. "Whoa, hold on. He's not stable enough. You saw what happened last time."
Ryn crossed his arms. "I didn't see anything. I wasn't even here. But that's the point. We need data. He's got to push it."
"He's not a lab rat," Ryker growled. "One slip, and he's sparking again."
Karl stepped forward, cutting them off. "I'll do it," he said. His voice stayed firm despite the flicker of doubt in his chest. "I need to know too."
Ryker's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "Fine. Just keep it light."
Iora squeezed Karl's hand briefly. "You've got this," she murmured.
Karl took a deep breath. He closed his eyes. His body tensed, then shuddered. Antlers pushed from his skull. His legs stretched into hooves, his frame morphing into a deer. The shift held steady for a heartbeat—five seconds… ten.
The room stayed quiet, the dampeners glowing green as they worked to absorb all the energy Karl was releasing.
Then his form cracked.
"Ah, fuck!" A jolt ran through him. He snapped back to human, stumbling slightly.
A shimmer flared beside him. It was a hologram of Iora, perfect in detail, her green eyes wide. It flickered out fast as he caught his balance, breathing hard. The outburst faded, and despite his failure, Ryker was happy. This was not a wild storm like before.
Ryker let out a low whistle. "Well, damn," he said. "You reined it in. That's new."
Ryn adjusted his goggles, peering at a handheld scanner. "Not long enough," he said. "A few more seconds, and we'd see if it keeps jumping or levels out."
Karl frowned, tugging the blinking device off his wrist. "It's something," he said. "But I need a break." He set it on a table, the metal clinking softly. "Give me a minute."
He turned toward the inner space, a curtained nook off the main room. Iora followed him immediately. The muffled sound of Ryn and Ryker's voices trailed after them: Ryn insisting on more tests and Ryker grumbling about rushing it.
Karl stopped inside, the tarp falling shut. The space was tight, with just a cot and a crate, but it felt like a shield from the chaos outside. Iora faced him, her hands reaching up to cup his face gently.
"You okay?" she asked. Her thumbs brushed his cheeks.
He leaned into her touch, exhaling. "Yeah. Just… a lot."
"I was so scared leaving you that night to go get you food," she said. "But seeing you pull that back there? I can see that you are getting stronger."
He gave a small, tired laugh. "Doesn't feel like it. I still feel shaky."
"You stopped it," she said firmly. "That's what matters."
Karl's hands settled on her waist. "I'm sorry I doubted you," he murmured. "Back then, I didn't know what to think."
She shook her head. "It's fine. We were strangers. You're stuck with me now."
He smiled faintly. "Good."
Her lips found his, soft at first, then pressing harder. He pulled her into himself, finding solace in her touch. For a moment, the weight of his Core and the arguments slipped away. When they parted, her forehead rested against his.
"Ryn and Ryker working together," Iora said. "Are you sure you're okay with that?"
Karl shrugged, stepping back slightly. "They're a mess, but they know their stuff. If they can figure this out, I'll deal with the noise."
She grinned. "They'll drive you crazy first."
"Already halfway there," he said, matching her grin.
They stepped out, the tarp rustling as they emerged. Ryn and Ryker looked up mid-argument. Ryn clutched a scanner and Ryker gestured at a sparking dampener. The room stilled for a beat.
Karl rubbed his neck. "Are you two done yet?"
"Not even close," Ryker snorted.
Ryn smirked. "We're just warming up."
Iora crossed her arms as she watched them. Karl's gaze drifted off for a moment. He thought of the shift, the hologram, and the constant pull inside him.
"Did you guys see that hologram I created back there?" He asked, looking at both men.
"It's normal for illusionists to display images of something they have been thinking of for some time." Ryker paused and sighed. "I guess Iora has been on your mind."
Karl cleared his throat noisily and looked around again. Ryn and Ryker went back to work, while he turned to Iora, his voice dropping low, almost a whisper.
"Maybe they should just rip out all the fractured shards from inside me."
Iora's fingers, which were moving toward his arm, froze mid-air. She gasped, her eyes widening.