A New Opportunity.
I slowly open my eyes, enveloped in a rejuvenating sensation. The library is shrouded in darkness, offering me a peaceful place to rest. Only a soft light illuminates the space.
Last night, Beatrice forced me to sleep against my will. Although I'm a little annoyed, I understand she did it with good intentions.
I feel my body at ease, as if for the first time since I arrived here, I've managed to sleep pleasantly. I had no nightmares; in fact, I don't recall dreaming at all.
It's amazing how a good night's sleep can make me feel so good.
I look around and direct my gaze to the weight I feel on my chest. It's a light weight, almost like a book. When I realize it, my arms are wrapped around her. Beatrice is resting on my chest, unconsciously using her healing magic on me.
I feel a bit embarrassed for not letting her go all this time, but at the same time, I'm glad she didn't reject it.
I take out my pocket watch to check that it's barely the early morning hour. I haven't slept for long, about eight hours; I guess it's fine as long as my body feels rested.
Carefully, I gently shake Beatrice's back to wake her up. She's been using her magic on me all this time; it must be exhausting for her. I wonder if, as a spirit, she can dream. I shake her again and whisper:
"Princess Beatrice, it's already daytime. We need to build the steam engine."
The moment I mention the steam engine, her hand reacts with a slight twitch. She leans on my chest to sit up slightly and looks at me, but without showing any harshness.
"You're a fool, I suppose," Beatrice responds before dropping back down, embracing me gently. "You were so tired that you didn't even realize you slept a whole day, in fact."
A whole day? I didn't even notice it; all this time she's been by my side. Surprised, I can only say:
"Thank you, Beatrice," I hug her again as I sit on the bed. "I needed this rest, and I'm happy you allowed me to be with you."
Beatrice nods, probably embarrassed. I can't see clearly due to the darkness, but she seems to be calm.
"Don't worry Betty again, or she won't forgive you, in fact," says Beatrice, not letting go of the embrace.
I realize how much I worried her. All this time, I focused on strengthening our relationship without relying too much on her, treating her almost like a younger sister. Someday I'll take her out of here, but I won't make her fight; I dare not.
"I can't promise that, but I'll try."
At that moment, the library's light shines brightly again, making my eyes hurt as they receive the rays of light. I try to move my arms, but Beatrice holds them, preventing me from doing so. I can only close my eyes and wait for them to adjust.
When I finally get used to the light, Beatrice gets up and looks at me with a mischievous look.
"That's my revenge for worrying, I suppose. If you do it again, I'll be stricter, in fact" says Beatrice, winking at me.
"How wicked..." I respond, jokingly.
I get up and leave the library, agreeing to meet once I'm ready. As I exit, I realize I'm in the bathroom. Beatrice knew what I was going to do and left me alone. After freshening up, I leave my room, which has been moved to the third floor.
When I turn around, I see Emilia approaching me. Our eyes meet, and she gives me a beautiful smile that brightens the day.
She runs towards me and hugs me tightly, but not in sadness. I can feel her happiness. Her momentum makes me spin in the air with her for a few seconds before she stands up.
"You're a fool, Marco," Emilia says.
"Now everyone wants to call me a fool," I smile, receiving the same words I've heard before.
She separates from me, puts her arms behind her back, and leans slightly.
"I'm glad to see you slept well," Emilia says with a smile. Along with the newly dawned sun rays, her smile becomes the brightest thing this morning.
"Yes, I slept well."
After breakfast, we both go our separate ways. I head to the courtyard with Beatrice. There, three wagons loaded with the materials needed to build the steam engine are waiting, including the lamicta crystals and all the mechanical components.
"I haven't seen Rem all morning; I guess she's decided to resign," I think to myself, respecting her choice.
"Beatrice, this is too heavy, so I entrust you to reduce the weight of the objects," I tell her as we start preparing everything.
Unfortunately, Beatrice's magic doesn't have a permanent effect. If it did, we could increase efficiency even more by reducing sizes and speeding up the process. Just as Beatrice is about to lift the objects, I hear a shout.
"Wait!" echoes from a distance, making us turn.
When I look in that direction, I see Rem running towards us, wearing her maid outfit. In a few seconds, she's in front of us with a slight smile.
This time, her expression doesn't seem fake; her eyes convey determination, and her joy infects us.
"I looked for you in your room, but since you were ahead of me, I came running," says Rem, taking my hands. "I'm glad to see you slept well. Now I'm ready to work."
Rem smiles, and her smile not only looks at me but seems to light up everything around her. Then, she looks at her outfit, carefully adjusting her skirt.
"I haven't worn this in a long time."
"I thought you wouldn't wear it again," I comment, accepting that she always looks good in that outfit.
She pouts slightly, posing flirtatiously.
"I'm not going to dirty my precious clothes with grease and dirt. Besides, do I look bad in it?" Rem asks, tilting her head slightly and looking into my eyes.
I can't help but be captivated by her transformation. It's impressive how a person can change. I sincerely hope it's not just a facade and that she continues to progress little by little.
I place my hand carefully on her head and gently stroke it.
"You look beautiful. Anyway, anything you wear suits you," I smile, proud of her evolution.
"I know," she responds, getting closer to me while slightly leaning her body. "You told me to say it to accept it, so I hope you don't mind if I'm a little arrogant," she shows a mischievous look, trying to embarrass me.
"There's beauty in arrogance, as long as you balance it with respect. It's okay to be arrogant," I reply. "Being arrogant isn't bad if you know how to handle it. It simply means that, no matter what others think, you trust in your own qualities. It doesn't matter if someone is better than you; you accept that you're valuable and talented too."
Right at that moment, Beatrice interrupts, annoyed.
"Enough of this unnecessary chatter, I suppose. We have work to do, in fact, and we can't waste any more time, I suppose. I don't want to stay here all morning waiting for you two to compliment each other, in fact " says Beatrice, crossing her arms impatiently.
Rem and I glance at each other, suppressing a laugh. Beatrice has always been pragmatic and direct, but deep down, I know she also appreciates these moments of camaraderie.
"You're right, Beatrice. Let's get to work," I reply, releasing Rem's hands and heading towards the wagons loaded with materials. "Rem, you'll be in charge of organizing and distributing the components. Make sure everything is in order and ready for use."
Rem nods with determination and gets to work. I watch as she takes control, moving with agility and efficiency. It's clear that she's enjoying this opportunity to work on something different and is determined to prove her worth.
For my part, alongside Beatrice, I start lifting the heaviest objects and placing them in their respective places. Even though Beatrice's magic isn't permanent, it's still a great help in lightening the load and facilitating the process.
As we work in silence, a sense of satisfaction washes over me. Seeing Rem so enthusiastic and self-assured, and having the company and support of Beatrice, gives me the confidence to face the challenges that await us.
Together, we are building something extraordinary, something that will change the course of our lives and perhaps even the world.
The sun shines upon us, illuminating the courtyard and giving us energy. As we progress in the construction of the steam engine, I can feel how our hopes and dreams intertwine with each assembled piece.
We are creating our own destiny, overcoming obstacles, and forging a future filled with possibilities.
No matter how arduous the path, no matter how many times we become frustrated or tired, we keep moving forward, driven by the desire to achieve our goals and leave our mark on the world.
And so, amidst the sound of tools, the smell of metal, and determination in our hearts, we continue to build our dream, step by step, together.
Day after day, my routine of building, teaching, and taking notes on my phone seemed endless. To build the machine, we had to conduct numerous tests, as the mechanical components we replaced could interfere with the magical elements.
To generate steam, we decided to use a lamicta of water and another of fire to heat it. We decided to discard the option of using wind, as we couldn't control its intensity and temperature properly. To carry out this task, we would need to build a specific device, something Beatrice and I began working on using the library's books.
Echidna, it seemed, had built numerous devices of this kind. Her notes detailed the construction processes, providing us with clearer ideas on how to proceed.
Regarding Puck's excess mana, we developed a destructive spell that I plan to use against the cult. I easily recall the details of this spell.
I will continue to work diligently on each of these tasks, hoping that all our effort and planning will lead us to success in our mission.
While the steam engine was under construction, Puck and Emilia focused on creating a new type of weapon. With my guidance and Beatrice's ability to absorb magic with her curses, we were able to make modifications to the spell, making it more complex and powerful.
Puck generated dozens of copies of himself while I laughed, almost like the villain in a movie.
"HAHAHA! Keep it up! We'll destroy the world!"
Puck, with a smile, joined my game, causing concern for Emilia.
"I'll freeze everything!"
Emilia tried to stop us, but unable to do so, she sighed and gave up. In the end, Puck had created a hundred and seventy-two of these weapons, giving us a truly significant advantage. This reassured me because having significant firepower was something we needed.
With our preparations underway and the equipment ready, we were closer to facing the cult and putting an end to their evil plans. Now, we had to act with caution and determination to ensure that our efforts bore fruit.
For three weeks, we worked tirelessly to build the steam engine. We increased the pressure and improved its efficiency compared to conventional machines.
We used pyroxene crystals to create a kind of mana storage, allowing the machine to operate actively without depending on a user, like a sort of magical battery.
Finally, we reached the final construction stage, where we would conduct tests. Admiring the result, I can't help but hold back tears of excitement.
"It's... beautiful," I say as I take Beatrice's hand.
She nods and shares my pride in our creation. It's the fruit of our hard work and what has brought us even closer together. With joy, we watch together the first magical steam engine we've built.
Rem, however, seems a bit uncomfortable witnessing our reaction.
"It's amazing to see how coordinated you are in this," Rem comments, smiling slightly uncomfortably.
Rem has helped us with the construction, although she may not fully understand its operation; I know she also wants to see the result of her hard work.
"Rem, we grant you the honor of starting the machine, you just need to infuse a bit of mana," I say, with seriousness.
She nods and positions herself at the control point, where the pyroxene crystal is located. Rem infuses a bit of mana, causing a lamicta crystal to light up, initiating the process of heating the water.
Beatrice and I grip each other's hands tightly, filled with anticipation for the operation of our creation.
With metallic sounds, the gears begin to move, gradually triggering in a chain reaction. The main mechanism is a sliding crankshaft, with a wide range of uses.
The crank moves, activating a piston at its end. It moves in a single quadrant, performing a vertical downward motion. Its speed constantly increases, and it could be used perfectly to crush stones in construction.
The crank moves, activating a piston at its end. It moves in a single quadrant, performing a vertical downward motion. Its speed constantly increases and could be perfectly used to crush stones in construction.
Rem, impressed by what she witnesses, can't help but be awestruck.
"Rem!" I exclaim excitedly. "Go get Roswaal and Ram! If you see Emilia, tell her to join as well! Tonight, we'll celebrate the success of phase two, both in the village and at the mansion. Since it's almost noon, everyone should be at the mansion right now."
"Yes!" Rem responds, running towards the mansion.
Taking Beatrice in my arms, I lift her up immediately. Her initial surprise turns into an embarrassed expression as she asks me to put her down.
Despite Beatrice's attempts to free herself from my arms, I hold her firmly while looking into her eyes. I laugh because I can finally see genuine progress.
This machine will be the foundation of everything we build in the future; it will be my strength, and I owe it all to this little girl in my arms.
"Put me down! In fact" Beatrice insists, waving her arms and feeling embarrassed by the situation.
Suddenly, I let her go, which surprises her as she falls to the ground. However, before she touches the ground, I wrap my arms around her and hold her close, expressing my gratitude for everything she has done for me.
"Thank you, Beatrice, thank you for being here," I say sincerely.
Beatrice, with an equally cheerful tone, responds.
"You say sudden things, I suppose!" She accepts my embrace and wraps her arms around me. "You too... Betty appreciates it, in fact."
I don't say anything, just nod and continue hugging her, happy to share these moments of happiness together. Achieving this, making the village progress, and everything coming together.
Then, I lower Beatrice and kneel in front of her, putting myself at her eye level. I look at her as she lowers her head in embarrassment.
To me, Beatrice is like a poorly created spirit. If we consider spirits to be something similar to artificial intelligences or simply programs capable of simulating a personality, they should be as close to that as possible.
Spirits don't change their personality from one moment to another, and their emotions are different from ours due to their longevity. I can see Puck, who always maintains his facade of being cheerful no matter what.
The only thing capable of changing that is Emilia, but I can sense that Puck sees all of us as simple ants.
He doesn't care about us, and that won't change no matter how much we interact with him. As long as it's not related to Emilia, Puck doesn't care. If I were to die, the only thing that would affect him would be Emilia's reaction.
But on the other hand...
Gently stroking her cheek, I lift her face to see her better. This girl, who hides her personality due to her trauma of abandonment. She just wants to be happy being herself. She's capable of suffering for others and forming emotional bonds that go beyond her initial programming.
It's a mistake that resulted in something beautiful, I suppose.
"I just wish for you to be happy," I tell her, as she looks at me with surprise in her eyes.
While Beatrice and I are in our intimate moment, and her trembling lips seek unspoken words, we are interrupted by Roswaal's enthusiastic voice.
"Wow! You two get along very weeeell," Roswaal exclaims, clapping with joy.
I sigh, looking at Roswaal with some annoyance for interrupting our moment. Emilia, who is a little further back, watches us with surprise.
"You two do get along well!" Emilia says, smiling at both Beatrice and me.
"Hmph, he's someone a bit interesting, that's all, I suppose," Beatrice comments, turning her head to hide her face.
"Just a bit?" I ask, trying to tease her.
Beatrice doesn't respond with words; instead, she sends a gust of wind my way, to which I respond with an opposing gust, just as she taught me.
At that moment, Ram intervenes with a stern tone, saying, "And why did you bring us here?"
SS-Beatrice
An unexpected person.
Today, I woke up with a warm feeling, as if their heartbeats had been the lullaby that cradled me in my sleep. Even as a spirit, I find peace in slumber. However, I am also plagued by constant nightmares.
He gently shakes me, but strangely, I feel at ease in his presence. Though I'm not sure if this person is truly "him" or not, I can't deny that something in me is drawn to him.
"Princess Beatrice, it's already dawn. We must build the steam engine," he says softly.
When he mentions the steam engine, my hand moves instinctively. I feel anger welling up from the depths of my being for being made to move, but somehow, this human seems to understand me, as if he wants to prevent those thoughts from surfacing.
"You're a fool, I suppose," I reply, despite the fear that invades me. This person has intruded into my life. Before I know it, I'm gently embracing him. "You were so exhausted that you didn't even realize you slept a whole day, in fact."
I don't know what's happening to me. Lately, I've been losing control. He appeared out of nowhere and has been by my side ever since. I've always wished to have someone like Puck does, but I still fear this person.
I fear that he's not "him."
I fear continuing to live.
I fear this feeling of happiness trying to emerge.
"Thank you, Beatrice," he says, enveloping me in a hug. "I needed this rest, and I'm glad you allowed me to be with you."
I nod, unable to articulate a word. In the blink of an eye, I find myself saying things I've never expressed before.
"Don't worry Betty ever again, or she won't forgive you, in fact," I say, refusing to release him from the embrace.
"Why can't I control myself?" Many people have tried to possess me, looking at me with curiosity and desire.
However, this person, from the very beginning, has tried to ensnare me. I doubted him, but when I saw those blueprints, I discovered a new world.
I fell into his trap in an instant.
But since then, this person has done nothing but seek ways to make me happy.
I rest my head on his back, hoping he'll stop playing with me, hoping he'll come and free me once and for all from this suffering by ending my life. I'm willing to give him everything I have so he gets bored and leaves me in peace.