Star Six:
Sotha Sil had arrived at the nursery late, but when the door opened and he stepped inside, he did not meet with a huff of breath or irritated roll of the eyes. No – that was not in his dear Aem'uvus' nature.
"Father!" welcomed that little voice that had become so familiar to him. His son hurried towards him, followed dutifully by a fabricant beetle that clicked and whistled, and Seht smiled as he reached his side. Aem'uvus had grown even more beautiful, more precocious, than he had remembered him to be.
"Uvus," he said. "Avonase is waiting in the classroom. Have you cleaned up your toys?"
The child nodded. It was curious, Seht thought, how soft his skin appeared under the hue of the stars, how innocent and large his eyes when reflecting their blue glow. Even his hair, which was a deep chestnut, and his slim, long ears appeared ethereal underneath them. The architect looked to see his 'toys' packed neatly into their crates – mechanical parts, metal once shaped to fit factotums, well-worn tools that would need replacement soon – and he rested his hand on his son's head.
"Then we should make haste," he told him. "We are late, my little lord."
Seht left the room with his son in tow, and in turn the fabricant followed them through the metal paths that ran like veins through the Cogitum. Aem'uvus scampered beside the architect, three of his steps equal to one of his father's, pointing at the automata that shunted the City's operations into existence.
"Nalli's slow," he said when the pair passed a factotum that was stiff in the joints. Its brass covering was tarnished, its voice crackling, and it reminded Seht of old mer in his youth, enjoying the peace of the waterside before their twilight years came to an end. "Can I fix her later, Father?"
"There is no need, Uvus. Nalli will be decommissioned soon. The new models are almost prepared for mass production."
"What?" Aem'uvus balked as he hurried to keep pace. "But Nalli's my favourite! Can I keep her, Father? Please?"
"You should be careful not to become so attached to the factotums. Saying farewell is an inevitable part of life, my son. As much a part of the cycle as the sunset, or a flower wilting before the embrace of winter."
As he said it, Seht felt a certain deflation in the child's aura, and his footsteps clanked more heavily against the metal floor. When he glanced down, Aem'uvus' head had lowered and his shoulders were hunched, and if he could see his face he imagined a sad expression would be etched upon it.
"But, I suppose, since Nalli is your favourite…" he ventured. His son looked up; he saw him in the periphery of his vision, his brow furrowed, confused. "Perhaps some lessons can wait. I can see the benefit in allowing you an older model to tinker with. Provided that it doesn't distract you from your studies, of course."
"She won't! I promise!"
"Then it will be yours," his smile was soft, fond, and his hands were clasped within the sleeves of his robe so that he appeared regal amongst his brass creations. Aem'uvus looked at him with such awe and admiration as he walked by his side. The love of a child, so innocent and uncomplicated. It fascinated Seht endlessly.
The pair soon passed the main lift on their route to the classroom. Aem'uvus paused when he saw it, as he so often did, and his eyes were inscrutable as he gazed, his thoughts perhaps a mystery to those unfamiliar with him. The architect realised he did not follow, and when he turned to look at him he saw him, standing silently in the artificial light, peering at the lift that he had never used. He turned and came to his side, his head dipped forwards in knowing.
"It will be soon, Uvus."
The child looked up with his head tilted.
"How did you know?"
"You are my son," he replied. "Our connection is strong. When you are in pain, I feel it as keenly as I would my own. When you are upset, I sense your sadness. But even a blind mer could see what troubles you. You must be patient, my little lord. It's not yet time for you to see the realm that waits beyond us."
"But I'm bored of waiting," complained Aem'uvus. "I want to see the Clockwork City! The Basilica and the inn and all the people!"
"My, aren't we eager to fly the nest?" Seht teased, laying a hand on his chest. "Not yet. Soon. For now, your alchemy lesson awaits."
His reminder received a sigh from the child, but he followed as his father continued towards the classroom. "I hate alchemy."
"It's a crucial discipline. I've an exam scheduled to ensure you have at least attempted to listen to myself and Avonase. Let us not have a repeat of the stamina potion-sleep draught incident."
Aem'uvus giggle was soft enough that Sotha Sil realised he was not meant to hear it.
Ah, U-vee's infamous dislike of alchemy. I remember that. He used to tell us, "If you have questions about the alchemical processes behind my experiments, please, refer to my notes. The less I'm made to speak about them, the happier I am." It became an inside joke around the Basilica. Still, he must have listened to Mother and Lord Seht, since he never had an issue at the stations.
I mentioned before that some of these memories belong to Aem'uvus, and it seems the next on the list is one of them. I'll mark it and all others with his name for clarity, to make it easier when I'm preparing the final transcription for Lord Seht. Can't very well hand him this jumble of notes, can I?
Still haven't found a viable power source for the lifts. I really want to avoid that staircase, so I may head up soon and ask the Astronomer what she knows. I mean, no one's been down here in centuries, but she's the best chance I have, right?
Star Seven: (Aem'uvus)
His father helped him clamber on the lift to the classroom, his fabricant in one arm and his free hand clutched in Seht's. The metal was sturdy underneath his feet, comforting, even, and as he placed his pet down at his side Aem'uvus looked up at the architect that towered over him. His dark complexion and ever-calm expression had always comforted the young lord.
"Can you come with me?" he asked. "I built a senche-tiger from the pictures in my books."
"Much as I would like to, Uvus, I have other business to tend to," his father replied. The child tried to hide the disappointment on his face, but Seht rested his hand on his head. "I will return to walk you to your room once Avonase's lecture ends. We will speak more of this senche-tiger then, my little lord."
Aem'uvus' features brightened, and he nodded eagerly. Sotha Sil reached forward to touch the lever, and, with a look to confirm his son was prepared, he pulled it down.
There was a clunk, and the platform jolted. Gears turned and crunched against each other, and chains rattled inside the walls. It was such a familiar sound, so natural to him, but in the stars and books he had learnt of birdsong, of wind rustling through tall grass, and instead of steel and oil the air smelt sweet, like the flowers Avonase sometimes stocked the classroom shelves with. He watched his father's face as the lift rose, until it passed the threshold and he faded from sight. Then for ten long seconds, he and his fabricant stood alone in the lift-shaft, lit at intervals by warm blue lights, where he prepared himself to suffer the torture of reagent identification.
But when he crossed the final threshold and the shaft widened into a room, it was not Avonase that waited for him.
"Heem-Tei!" he exclaimed when he saw the crafter, inspecting the senche-tiger model that sat in the corner of the room. It was placed beside a smaller, stationary factotum with a telecom built into the faceplate. Heem-Tei looked up, and welcomed him with that lipless smile and respectful dip of the head as Aem'uvus rushed to meet him.
"Lord Uvus," he welcomed. "I'd hoped Lord Seht would be with you. No matter."
"I'm so happy you're here! Look! I made that model!" The child pointed wildly to his creation, so intricate in its design. When Heem-Tei looked at it, he could almost imagine the metal plates rippling as muscles when it moved, and that its polished teeth would part to reveal a wet tongue hidden behind them.
"Yes, I saw. Very excellent work, U-vee. I suspect His Grace will be most pleased when he sees it."
"He said, when he picks me up after the lesson, we'll talk about it—but wait—" Aem'uvus paused and fixed the crafter with a bewildered stare. "Where's Avonase? Father said she'd be waiting for me."
"Avonase was called away last minute," Heem-Tei approached one of the tables, where he had set down a stack of papers riddled with the Dunmer's distinctive scrawl. "Her daughter's ill, and since her husband's accident—well, no need for specifics, I suppose. She's sent me a list of topics to cover for today's lesson."
The child could not help but sigh as he reluctantly left his creation's side to climb into his desk chair. He flopped on the tabletop, his chin resting on his folded arms, his brow low and disapproving while Heem-Tei prepared Avonase's notes. His fabricant's legs clicked against the floor when it scuttled to rest near his feet. "Can't we just do another construction class? Alchemy's so boring."
"You've already had your exam for construction and design," the crafter pointed out. "Perfect scores, if I recall. It's only fair to Avonase that you put the same effort into alchemy."
Aem'uvus paused. Despite his dislike of her discipline, he saw the Dunmer as his friend; and his father had told him the importance of kindness, even if it meant personal sacrifice. So, even though he sighed and huffed, the child straightened in his seat. He looked at Heem-Tei and, with a roll of his shoulders, he nodded.
"Okay," he said. "I will."
"Then we should begin right away," Heem-Tei set the notes down on the boy's desk before he took to the lecture stage. As Aem'uvus sifted through the papers, the crafter held the first chapter before him and cleared his throat.
"In mixing a potion of invisibility, the ingredients one uses must be of only the best quality – no older than a day, and from reputable sources. Such ingredients in the Clockwork City are difficult to find, but just as Lord Seht has provided us this sanctuary of logic and reason, so too has he—"
Urgh, I've heard this lecture a thousand times over. I tell you, though, this Heem-Tei was no Avonase Sathler when it came to delivering it! She had such love for her craft. She used to tell me it was how she met my father. I always loved the story of her spilling nirnroot extract on his robes when they were apprentices.
But there's no real point in recording this part. Lord Seht no doubt knows all about invisibility potions, and if I change my mind, I can just fill it in later. Vehk knows I've heard it enough. On to the next!
Star Eight:
The Throne Aligned was the sole place in the Cogitum in which Aem'uvus had not set foot.
It was Sotha Sil's sanctum; the seat of his power, the heart and soul of his fair city. There would come a time when his son would see it, in all of its mechanical glory. He would see the spheres and circles that wound around his father's creation, and the amber light that poured within and appeared, at least at a glance, to set the air aflame. But that would be a difficult day, and challenge all that he had nurtured within him.
That was the future. For now, Seht had other concerns.
Vivec's recent troubles had not passed unnoticed. He had watched it from afar, longing to send his aid, but aware that it would do little more than complicate matters further. Too much input and the mortals would bicker on the path forward, until his brother's waning power failed and Baar Dau came crashing down upon them. That it was his device that had caused such trouble, however, gave him cause to monitor the situation closely. Sunna'rah as a tool was complex, and as a weapon, devastating.
The architect approached his throne. As he did, however, he felt a queer disturbance in the air; a beat of magicka both alien and perverse. He paused and looked towards the entrance, his brow low.
Then it hit him, all at once.
It was such power, such evil, malicious intent, that he knew in an instant that it could be no mortal creature. All the force behind it was that of chaos. Were he a lesser mer, Seht may have staggered under its crushing weight. But instead he moved quickly towards the door, and Aios' voice came over the room.
"Master Sil," it trilled, "Daedric interference has been detected in the Maintenance Junction. An unknown mortal agent is currently in pursuit. All functions await your command."
"Cease all maintenance work," he replied as the door opened and he entered the main hall of his Cogitum. "Set all active factotums to defensive protocols, and activate all dormant defences in that section. It will not stop the creature, but it will slow its path."
"Your will be done, my lord."
"And inform Aem'uvus that he's to leave his lecture immediately and return to the Cogitum," he added. "I'm en route to collect him. Do not tell him of the intruder. He must remain unaware of what's happening."
"Yes, Master Sil. A message has been dispatched via the classroom factotum, and all non-defensive operations in the Maintenance Junction ceased."
"Excellent. Continue to watch after this mortal agent. I will require an update once I've returned to the Throne."
Sotha Sil hurried through the halls, his pace not a run, but a brisk walk that carried him quickly down the paths and through the machines that now were still and silent, poised for an assault. In his mind, he knew that this creature would meet its match in the mortal that pursued it. But that it had entered at all was enough; and he feared it a prelude for more dark horizons. He needed to ensure Aem'uvus was kept safe, out-of-reach. His role in what was to come was vital.
Seht would mourn in private for the coming loss of his son's innocence.
