"By the way, Barou, where is Riku?" Rennan asked.
"He was working at the fields. However, he should be here soon."
Eventually, Riku stepped into view, wiping sweat from his forehead, and extended a hand.
"Hello, Mr Rennan. You brought what I asked for previously?"
Rennan whistled and tugged a canvas open.
"Hah, if I hadn't, I'd be too ashamed to show my face 'round here," Rennan said, tugging open a canvas with a grin. "Wheat and bean seeds, garlic bulbs, coffee berries, copper wire, iron sheets, salt, sugar… oh, and some sprigs of onion that still think they're fresh."
"Perfect," Riku said, nodding.
He beckoned Rennan and Barou toward a nearby table under the shade of the well's canopy. "Would you mind checking out some more of Elowen's recent specialties?"
Rennan followed without hesitation, his boots crunching over the dirt path. "Alright, what kind of miracle is it this time? Is it something that can make an invisible spring under the fields?"
Rennan followed without further question, curiosity lighting up his face. "Alright. What kind of miracle is it this time?"
Soon, Riku and Rennan arrived at Gnord's blacksmith.
"I've been working on something," Riku said as they neared. "Something small. Simple. But it might change the way people live."
Rennan raised an eyebrow. "That's a bold claim."
"Then I guess I'd better back it up," Riku replied.
The forge smelled faintly of old soot and hot metal, but the cleaner tang of oiled wood and fresh polish lingered beneath it.
A low hum of spinning gears filled the space as Gnord adjusted a crankshaft on the newly finished wind turbine outside. Inside the workshop, where soot usually clung to every surface, today it was brushed clean. The stone table had been wiped down, and a cloth had been draped over a pile of hammers in the corner.
Riku leaned over a simple wooden crate, gently setting down two metal casings — one shaped like a mushroom-topped lantern, the other like a tiny desk fan with curved blades carved out of hollow copper.
"These are the prototypes," he said, gesturing to the fan and the lamp. "Run entirely on wind."
Rennan raised an eyebrow, brushing off his hands as he stepped in from the doorway. "What are these trinkets? I have never seen them before. If I did not know better, I might even call these things scrap."
"It's not about looks," Riku replied. "It's about what's inside."
Gnord ambled over from the side wall, wiping grease off his beard. "He's not kidding. Watch this."
With a small flick of a lever, Riku triggered a hidden rune etched onto the base of the lamp. The moment the wind spun the external turbine outside — a soft glow surged through the copper wire that trailed into the workshop.
A golden light bloomed inside the lantern. Steady. Gentle. Unwavering.
Rennan blinked.
"That's… not mana," he said slowly, eyes narrowing. "That's—what is that?"
"Electrical energy," Riku explained. "First, we capture electricity mechanically, and then route it through copper wire, and stabilize it through an embedded rune-matrix. Then we run the electricity through a light bulb like this and voila, we have light."
Rennan scratched his head. "Elec-what-now? Is that a new kind of spirit?"
"Not really, but close. It is just a form of mana, which is also found in lightning."
Rennan rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, this looks really good and produces clearer light than lanterns. However, the state does have magic lights where mana is stored and used in conjunction with a light spell."
Riku laughed. "That is the best part! There is no magic involved here at any point! There is no requirement to have a mage operate this device or use mana cores to power it. Anyways, take a look at this as well."
He then moved to the second device — the desk fan.
A small switch rotated the head slightly. Wind blew outside. The fan blades stirred.
Soft, even air rippled out across the table, lifting the edge of Rennan's ledger.
"…No heat," Rennan muttered. "No flicker. Just clean air."
"This is a desk fan
Gnord looked on proudly. "We've made two turbines so far. I'm working on the third. Took me a while to get the casing smooth."
"I thought you said this kind of thing already existed," Riku said, glancing at Rennan.
"Yeah. Magic lamps. Crystal fans. But those things cost more than a year's rent, and only the noble quarter ever uses them." Rennan circled around the table, squinting at the wiring. "This… this could be everywhere. You're saying you can build these cheap?"
"Cheap and clean," Riku confirmed. "Only major cost is the copper. And you've already got some on hand."
Rennan leaned back, thoughtful. "You really think you can power an entire home off wind?"
"Not just a home, we could power entire cities off of this.."
There was a long pause. Rennan glanced between the turbine, the lamp, and the fan again.
"But what if the wind stops?" he asked quietly. "You said it yourself — this needs flow. What if there's no wind for weeks?"
Riku tapped his knuckles gently on the crate.
"Well, I am still working on that. We'll build something called batteries, just like mana stones, which we will use to store electricity and use it when the wind's gone quiet. But it will still take some time."
"Sounds like sorcery," Rennan muttered.
He turned to Gnord, then back to Riku.
"You know I can't promise trade yet — not with the guilds in Luxia still bound in their old ways. But if these work like you say…"
Riku smiled. "Take the prototypes and show them around to potential buyers. Gather their first reactions."
Rennan nodded. "If I can convince just one quartermaster or guild officer, this thing could snowball fast."
"Well, I also have something else as well."
"Ohh? Do you have more of these magical trinkets?"
Riku's eyes glinted mischievously.
"Well. If you thought light and wind were impressive..." He paused, letting the suspense hang in the air.
"Wait until you taste what Elowen can truly offer."