Star Four:

In a nursery of stars, Sotha Sil rocked his son to a tale of a brave little scrib, and listened as he cooed softly to the sound of his voice.

It was a large room – a disused workshop, in which some of his more mundane projects had taken shape. The ceiling was domed, and he had filled it with stars of his fondest memories, so that Aem'uvus could watch them over and over as he laid in his crib. Their soft blue sparkles were a nightlight above them, stretching into every corner, murmuring of times long past and all but forgotten.

"…and then Brave Little Scrib wandered back to the egg chamber, looking for another adventure."

Seht eased Aem'uvus into his hands, cradling his head in his mechanical palm so he could gaze on his face. The child's features wrinkled, and a small gurgle escaped his lips as he squirmed in his father's grasp. It sounded as though he were about to cry, until the architect hushed him softly.

"My, haven't we eaten enough?" He murmured as he carried him to his cradle. "It's time you were asleep, my little lord."

He had built a platform for the cradle to sit upon; a small pedestal, with bands of metal that formed intricate patterns, and a factotum on each side that appeared deactivated to the untrained eye. It was as he drew near that both of them came to life, their backs ramrod straight and their watch unending. Setting him down on the mattress, Seht stroked his son's soft tufts of hair until they sat almost flatly against his head.

"Beautiful," he said, his voice quiet, as if he feared someone might hear him. "You remind me…well, of a time long ago. But hush now, my son. Let my memories carry you to your dreams. I will be here when you wake."

Aem'uvus had gurgled, his arms flailing, but at his father's comforts his eyes started to inch closed. He let out one final coo as Sotha Sil straightened, and for a while the architect watched him, listening as his breath evened and he made no sound other than a slight whistle from his nose.

"Aios," he said. In the corner, one relic of his workshop remained, and the partition came alive with that familiar golden glow. The architect began to circle around the crib as the hologram faded into view. "Record this."

"Of course, Your Grace."

"Aem'uvus has shown very little evidence of his true heritage thus far," he observed. "In my earlier notes I theorised that he would retain some Daedric behavioural traits; however, in light of recent developments, it may take some time for these traits emerge – if they do at all. Until then, I will continue to care for him, and assess as needed."

He came to a slow halt at the crib's side. Peering down, he saw that small creature dressed in his white gown, his arms stretched upwards, not a care marring his delicate, golden face. A smile rose on his lips, and Seht's head tilted to the side.

"I remain cautiously optimistic of his future in the Clockwork City."


I tried to repair one of the factotums earlier. It…didn't work, exactly. It just repeated the same warning, then shut down. 'Hostile force detected.' That's probably the least comforting thing I could have heard right now. This place is so creepy, and all these voices set me on edge. I spent an hour trying to write a journal entry earlier, but my mind kept drifting and all I ended up with were sentences jumbled up between memory quotes.

Well, my knee feels a lot better, at least. It still took me some time to catch this star. Imagine – I'm one of the only people in all of Nirn to see the inside of the Cogitum. And U-vee's nursery! It was so beautiful! All those stars and memories, the metalwork, the guardians! Lord Seht must have spent—well, not much time at all, I suppose, but still! He built it! My nursery just had tapestries of the Three!

I suppose I've sat around long enough. Better get myself up and back to work. It's tough to be a trusted collector!


Star Five:

Sotha Sil had constructed his classroom in the Basilica, replete with his conveyer-belt bookshelves and tables that would hold vital equipment and alchemical reagents. A small desk had been placed in front of a platform from which lectures would be delivered, while a map of Tamriel dominated a wall to the left. Even the door had been engineered to include a special lock, and keys were distributed to those chosen few who knew of Aem'uvus' existence. He had fitted the lift that led to the Cogitum. For a time, that classroom would be his son's sole contact with the city that surrounded him.

Seht had called for his chosen to attend him once his work was complete. Heem-Tei, Avonase, and Braya all arrived promptly, but word was sent that Luciana had a 'vital security concern' that needed her attention. He would not insist her presence. Her small rebellions could be forgiven, not least because they were expected. Instead, he welcomed those who came with a dip of the head, Aem'uvus bundled in blankets and nestled in his arm.

"My friends," he said. "Welcome. I thank you for listening to my instructions so closely. The keys you used to enter this room shall be your only copies. Please, make sure they're kept secure and close to hand in the future."

Seht noticed that their eyes were drawn to the precious child that grizzled in his arm. Such a queer moment for them, he thought distantly, to be witness to such drastic change. In the Clockwork City, 'change' was not quite unordinary, but it was certainly notable.

"This shall be Aem'uvus' classroom," he continued, denoting the room with a nod of his head. "As you can see, it's fitted with all of the necessary components for your disciplines. These will be kept up-to-date, and, in the event my son destroys equipment, requests for new copies can be made via a specialised factotum, which I will place at a later time. Do you have any questions so far?"

He was met with silence, but a pregnant, nervous silence that gave him pause. Avonase in particular looked up at him, and Seht had the distinct impression that she could not will her tongue to move.

"Avonase?" he prompted. All eyes fell on her, and she was unusually demure under the weight of them.

"Your Grace, I mean no offence, but why…" she shook her head, centred herself. "Why would he listen to us? We're only mortals, and he's…"

She did not finish her sentence. Instead the inference hung heavy in the air, a weight, misguided and crippling.

"Do not fear, Avonase," the architect assured her. "Any issues can be referred to the factotum, where I will deal with them. Oh—" Aem'uvus wriggled in his blankets, cooing, and Seht looked down at him with a fond smile. "Do we have an opinion, my little lord?"

The child's arms had come free and his little legs kicked, the noises he made a language that only he could understand. Bouncing his mechanical limb, Sotha Sil stroked his nose with his free hand and returned his attention to those gathered before him.

"Heem-Tei, would you take him for a moment?" He asked the Argonian. The request took him by surprise, and Heem-Tei's head almost recoiled as his heart jolted in his chest.

"Take him? You mean…hold him, my lord? Me?"

"There are some prototypes you may be unfamiliar with. I need both of my hands to demonstrate," he explained, drawing near to offer the child to him. "Please, there's no need to fret. He's far more durable than he appears."

Despite his lord's assurances, Heem-Tei still hesitated. He held out his clawed hands reluctantly, and Seht deposited Aem'uvus within them. When the crafter's yellow eyes fell upon him, he was immobilised by his simple, childish beauty, the alienness of his Chimer visage. Both Braya and Avonase could not help but lean in to gaze at his face. The child returned Heem-Tei's stare, cautious, still – and then he kicked and flailed, his lips and cheeks rising in a smile.

"Look, he's smiling!" Avonase murmured, an almost disbelieving chuckle on her voice. It caused Seht to pause, and he turned from where he had walked to see for himself.

"Hm?" The architect looked at his son, whose gaze was transfixed on the Argonian that held him. The smile on his face was unpracticed, instinctual, and its source was most definitely rooted in Heem-Tei. To see it softened Sotha Sil's own mouth, his head tilting, his hands slipping to rest behind his back. "How peculiar. I believe he likes your feathers."

A smile was a curious sight on an Argonian, but the crafter could not help it as he dipped his head down, showing more clearly the blue feathers that dusted his scales. Aem'uvus kicked more fervently, and his hands flailed as if he meant to reach up and pull at them. From his lips more coos fell, and large eyes blinked in wonderment. Seht thought, distantly in the back of his mind, how very mortal the scene was before him, and what an honour for Heem-Tei it must have felt.

"Yes," he said softly, "it seems he does. Well, I must show you how to use a new alchemical device. Please, memorise how I handle it. This machine can be quite temperamental."