29 Fyrva, 350BFD, 12 Ur
13 Ur 30: The Charging Field
Southgate, Ground Level, City of Shevezz
While the medical water crystal he had been issued with was preventing a slow fall to dehydration, Kanda had been grateful for the apples that stopped his mouth from feeling like he had been dragged through the desert face down. The Charging Field, an area of sand-dusted stone at the southern gate of Shevezz was a buzz of workers tending the manufactured crystals, with various military soldiers defending the area from the wildlife.
"It's a normal cycle," an off-duty worker explained as he gave them a tour, "the smell of hard work attracts insects that we try and gas, and the extra heat generated by the light build-up draws lizards and tortoises of various shapes and sizes. In Spring, we even have to guide mothering lizard-types back to Sablesand to lay their eggs."
"Because they believe your charging field is the warmest place for them?" Kanda asked.
"And they would likely be correct, at least in Spring," the worker admitted, "we have not yet discovered a way to either reduce the heat generation, or channel it elsewhere. There's a solution out there somewhere, but we do not have the research funds to find it."
"That's not to say people don't do research without remuneration, Kanda," Vazkyr explained, "but, let's say, it doesn't attract the more, ah,
career-driven researchers."
"I see," Kanda nodded, having experienced such tensions in the academic institution where he used to teach, "so, these are the so-called 'light crystals' that I saw in the passageways and by my bed in the medical wing?" he asked as he finished an apple and secreted the seeds once again into his pocket.
"They are," the worker affirmed, "blank crystals, or 'shells' as we call them, are either made of various compressed salts or sands and then refined and polished. The Alchemists' Guild work their magic, metaphorically-speaking of course, allowing the shell to absorb light, and further strengthening the physical exterior. A shell is full if it appears to be glowing on its own while under broad daylight. A second coat is then applied to lock it in. These crystals are then used in hand-held
Crystal Lamps, wall-torches and occasionally as weapons – of the 'scare your foe away or blind them' kind, anyway."
"So how do you control when the light comes out?" Kanda asked, intrigued.
"Pretty easily. The way these shells work is that, after the second coat of Alchemists' metaphorical magic, it only radiates light when the light inside the crystal is brighter than outside, and it does it in equivalent proportions."
"Meaning that as it gradually becomes night time, the light gradually, how might you explain it,
leaks out?"
"Terminology-aside, your description is fairly accurate," the worker agreed, "but it's a big operation, and constant too. We know our city-wide lighting needs something more efficient, but I think you'll understand why we are, let's say, averse to burning torches in the southern heatwaves."
Kanda laughed, "it's a fair point, but one that also needs more research."
"Which is a phrase you'll hear all too often in Shevezz," Vazkyr interjected, "while progress often feels slow, we nevertheless progress."
"Oh, the other side of light control," their guide remembered, "is how to ensure light is not emitted when it is not desired, despite it being dark."
"As an example, invent a...venomous, dragon-sized moth," Vazkyr offered, to the worker's surprise.
"Not one I would have come up with, Madam, but it works, at least if you don't mean the Parvadraconii, dragonlets if you will, rumoured to be the far west. Anyway," the guide brought his thoughts back to the purposes of the explanation, "if there is a situation where something or someone undesirable might be attracted to light, then the automatic lighting of the crystals needs to be suppressed. For that we have 'dampeners'. I am not allowed to tell you how they are made, but if I say they are a cover for the crystal, and you apply that to other insights I was permitted to share, you will find your answer."
Kanda considered that and realised he could solve one of his own challenges.
"Sair, if I may? Presuming 'shells' are not available to purchase, how might I procure one for my own research?"
The man was taken aback and then berated himself for failing to hide it, blushing red in shame.
"I apologise if that was presumptuous," Kanda apologised, "you have already been very generous with your time and knowledge. I was not expecting handouts."
"N-no, that's not what surprised me," their guide explained, "I was not exaggerating how little interest there is in the crystal lamps, which is a system too expensive to run and too expensive to change. Wall lamps are…well, they just are, aren't they? You don't think about them, until they don't work."
Kanda nodded, "which is why you have to keep the operation going. A minor glitch could, in fact, cause widespread panic."
"Exactly. I'll tell you that if we get three storm days in a row, people get exceedingly nervous with their dimming lights. Sair-Kor, might I be the presumptuous one, and ask about your research?"
Only that which you are permitted to know, the mage reminded himself, while also noticing a touch of the Shevezzi mindset was already creeping into his way of thinking.
"You may," he affirmed, "I have an experiment to run and have researched the first part of that test - heat or fire cycles. But for my research to be viable, I will need a source of light, the natural type, but in a condensed form. I did not know how to even approach that part, until that problem appeared to be at least partially solved by, well, a wall-lamp."
"So, you're into heat veins. I am too, superficially. The Charging Field had to be positioned as close to the city as possible, but as far from a natural source of underground heat as possible too, so I know the nearby veins. But that's as far as my knowledge goes," the worker admitted, "and you want condensed light, interesting."
While he seemed distracted by his own thoughts, Vazkyr turned to Kanda and motioned for him to turn his ear to her.
"Shevezzi etiquette thing – we hate giving away things without some form of barter," she explained in a whisper, "your apple trader wasn't native Shevezzi. But if you are about to receive something for free, or for information, the giver usually makes a show of thinking about it first."
"Even if they don't understand why you want it?" Kanda whispered, to which Vazkyr winked.
Their guide stretched and nodded, as though coming to a decision.
"Very well, I will make a trade. A full
and an empty shell, on the condition that should you discover any efficiencies at all, you make them known to me. I cannot give, nor sell, dampeners, however. You will have the usual amount of light a wall-lamp has before it fades. Lastly, I will dictate the instructions on how to make shells. It's a common trainee alchemist exercise, so not exactly under the Sovereign Secrecy Act."
"Because it's just fancy glass until alchemy works its magic… 'metaphorically-speaking'?" Kanda smirked.
Coming Soon: Poison Ginger, Springing Bear →
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