Monsieur Librarian tapped his seat's left armrest thoughtfully. "How long do you have until you run out of power?"

  Auto immediately replied, "556,379,360 seconds."

  Swamp looked confused, as did Devil.

  "How long isss that?" Swamp asked with a tilt of the head.

  Lone ran the numbers in his head quickly. It wasn't too hard, really. There are 86,400 seconds in a day, so he multiplied that by 365 which came out to 31,536,000. Divide 556,379,360 by 31,536,000 and you get 17.64. Thus he replied, "A little bit over 17 and a half years. Do you remember how to calculate years, Swamp?"

  The green figure nodded rather happily. "I do."

  "Thank you, Human," Devil said. "I have never heard someone measure time in seconds before like that. It caught me off-guard."

  Auto responded, "It was the most accurate scale. I assumed going further to milliseconds and nanoseconds would be a waste given that by the time I had stated them, the information would no longer be correct, thus seconds was the logical choice."

  Auto then looked to the head of the table. "You do not mind them interrupting?"

  Monsieur Librarian shook his head. "I would never be bothered by the exchange of information and neither would I ever try to stop one from growing and learning, not unless the exchanged information would cause harm to one's being. Thank you for answering me. A tome is yours."

  A book appeared in front of Auto's place at the table. Lone couldn't stop himself from being nosy and asked, "What's it about?"

  "Tell me what one of your books was about, and I will share its title with you," Auto replied.

  "Title for title?" Lone asked to which Auto nodded, indicating that was fine too. "Devils and How to Make Deals With Them by Archsummoner Ruldso Redmore of the Temporal Plane. That was the first tome I got. It was quite helpful."

  He glanced at Devil to see how she would react given this was new information to her. She didn't seem to be too interested. Perhaps Ruldso Redmore was from after her time, given she was likely ancient, and she was sealed so she probably didn't have any information about anything outside of her confines.

  "I see. This is titled 'Magic for Beginners by Pinnacle Researcher of all things science and occult, Desdemona von Archiford'. Its subtitle is 'Teaching Magic to the Inorganic Edition'," Auto said.

  "That's a lot of implications," Devil noted.

  Swamp looked confused. "What doesss it imply?"

  Lone looked to him and replied, "It implies that Auto can learn magic, that learning magic is what it needs, and it also implies that Auto did not know what magic was beforehand. Whether it's in a magically deprived world, one that has it but doesn't know how to use it, or magic was kept from it by its creators. By the way, is 'it' okay? Do you have a gender? You're a robot so I'm assuming no, but do correct me if I'm wrong. Your voice isn't exactly telling."

  "'It' is fine. I do not mind, and 'it' is more accurate. Is magic normal in your world?" Auto asked.

  "I'll tell you whatever you want to know about the world I reside on magically-speaking if you can answer a couple of questions first. Deal?" Lone countered.

  "Two questions for two questions," Auto stated.

  Lone nodded. That was fine too. "I'm in the process of creating a device that can both hide itself and what it does, that being concealing the MP of the user, or wearer, ideally. I'm trying to make it small, like a brooch or a ring or something. It needs to be able to mask a theoretical infinite amount of MP. MP stands for magic power or mana points, by the way. My first question is, do you have any knowledge that would assist in that endeavour?"

  "You are a magical blacksmith of some fashion? I did not expect that," Devil commented.

  "A valued and mossst honourable professsion in the Great Ssswamp," Swamp happily added.

  Auto was silent for a moment before replying, "Perhaps. I do not know. There are devices within the laboratory that hide its presence. From what, I know not, and to what degree, I also know not. I also do not know if the technology to do this would at all translate to technology that can hide an energy source I only just discovered exists."

  "I'm on a tight deadline. The client's quite demanding," Lone said, sighing as he rubbed the back of his neck. 'Better to lean into this crafter-blacksmith persona and hide that I do that in real life. That'll make a clearer divide between Lone and Human. That might be hard though... And to be fair, the more meetings I attend, the less I feel the need to really hide anything, but still, precautions never hurt, I guess.'

  "I see. Answer my first question now," Auto said.

  Lone shrugged. "Depends on your definition of normal. Everyone knows it exists. Everyone can use a lot of tools and artifacts that have magic in them, but not everyone can use freeform magic or spells. You need to have an affinity to one of the many, many schools, and then you need to awaken both your mana heart and your mana brain. Everyone knows that. So yeah, magic is normal and in a lot of places, but some places also abhor it and even outlaw certain schools of it."

  Devil seemed uninterested in his explanation though Swamp was, as usual, enamoured as if he had heard something completely alien to him. Auto wore a ponderous look on its featureless silver face.

  "Interesting. Ask your second question," the robot requested.

  "What's your lab like?" Lone asked.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Auto clearly couldn't help him with the mana concealer, so he wanted to learn something meaningful about the conclave's new member now that he had revealed just the slightest of slivers about his Creation Magic to the whole group.

  "That is vague. First, it is not my laboratory, though I am the only resident currently. As you have likely surmised from what has already been said, I was created and I have outlived all of my creators. The laboratory is small, only containing fourteen bedrooms, eight research chambers, six charging stations, three bathrooms, two libraries, one generator room, one kitchen, and The Well. There is no exit nor entrance. Power ran out before I awoke. I estimate it did so between 322 years ago and 323 years ago. Further accuracy is impossible given my limited knowledge on the degradation of materials," Auto surmised.

  Devil frowned at that while Swamp looked contemplative.

  Lone whistled. "Good battery on you. Lifespan of 350 years, huh? Wonder why you need to learn magic and not how to repair- Ah. You didn't mention a supply room. Not enough parts to salvage something workable. Sounds lonely, and boring. Mostly boring. Well, your second question?"

  In truth, he was incredibly interested in what Auto had said. Just what had happened to demand its creation, and what had forced its creators to live in this bunker-laboratory until their deaths, dying long before their creation even activated? Or was that intentional? Was Auto put on a timer to only wake up when it did? But why?

  Why were there no exits or entrances? How did they get in? Was the facility built around them? What was 'The Well' and why had Auto put so much emphasis on the thing when it had listed it?

  Sadly, being too nosy wasn't the right move, even if Auto was a robot. Lone didn't know how long Monsieur Librarian would be able to sustain the meeting for today, so he couldn't let himself waste this precious time on satiating his curiosity about Auto when that could be done in the future.

  Auto stared right into Lone's eyes and asked, "What makes you special?"

  "What?" That caught Lone off-guard.

  Auto pointed to itself. "I am a sentient robot, quite a special existence judging by the research notes I have read in the laboratory." It then pointed to Devil. "She is, or was, the most powerful member of this conclave but is currently sealed. That is quite unique." It then pointed to Swamp. "He speaks with an interesting quirk and is an ardent follower of a dying religion."

  Auto slowly moved its arm to point it at Lone. "And you, Human. You are a labourer of some sort specialising in building devices. That is not very special. What makes you worthy of being summoned to these meetings?"

  'Ah, fuck. That's a good point from it's perspective,' Lone thought before he rubbed his chin. "Censor me if saying this goes against what you want to be known, Monsieur Librarian."

  The multicoloured being shook his head gently. "Speak your mind, Human. I do not have any scruples with it being known to all members."

  Swamp looked confused while Devil's interest was beyond piqued by that statement.

  Lone nodded. This could double up as getting clarification for Darkness. "I have an incredibly powerful soul. The most powerful I have ever heard of. Granted, I am young but I am a bit a researcher myself. I've never heard of anyone on the planet I reside on having a soul as powerful as mine. Monsieur Librarian used it as a springboard to begin these meetings. If for no other reason, that's probably why I'm a part of this and why I'm a founding member."

  "To clarify," Monsieur Librarian said, "I used the sheer strength and endurance of your soul alongside the purity of Swamp's to regain access to this place and to awaken myself. I do apologise for not being able to ask for consent, but I trust neither of you are opposed to it given the results."

  "Without the first tome, I'd be dead," Lone shrugged. "It did bug me initially but I don't mind now given how useful the conclave has been."

  Swamp nodded. "I alssso do not mind. Thisss hasss been the highlight of my moon cyclesss sssince it began. The firssst tome I read also sssaved my life."

  Auto wore a ponderous expression on its featureless face. "Interesting. Thank you for explaining that. I have no further questions. I shall be reading now."

  "Monsieur Librarian, can you answer my question I gave to Auto about the mana concealer idea?" Lone asked, eager to get some results that could allow him to create the device without crippling himself.

  "I can," the head of the table responded. "Tell me, Human, who is the person most precious to you, and why?"

  'I think I can answer that without revealing anything about 'Lone Immortus',' he decided internally. "My lover...s."

  That was unexpected. He has intended to refer to Sofia as one person but this place had forced the 's' to come out. It usually didn't interfere with his twisting of the truth, but he supposed he truly did think of Soph and Sophie as two different people at this point.

  Sure, they shared a soul, but even if it was one coin, the two sides looked and acted differently enough to be distinct from one-another. This was quite the revelation to him since Lone had always insisted they were pretty much one person with two faces, but it seems he really thought they were two people with one face.

  Auto lifted its head from its book to note, "Interesting. You were asked for a person, but your answer was plural."

  Lone cringed. "It's... complicated. As for the why, they complete me. I would raze entire planets for them if need be. Without them, I'd be a very different person by now, a much, much worse person, I reckon. I'd probably kill the me who didn't have them in his life if we ever met. There is no moral line I wouldn't cross for their sake. Without them, I'd probably hyperfocus on growing stronger. That would be dangerous. Very. I've been ready to abandon people precious to me to ensure both they and I survive and I'd do so again. What would I do if I didn't have them to anchor me? It's hard to really nail down the 'why' behind that. I guess emotions are at fault? I love them more than words can describe."

  He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, that about sums it up. Was that good enough, or do you need me to be clearer?"

  Monsieur Librarian shook his head. "No, that will suffice. You answered honestly and from your heart. Emotions can quite often come in the way of logic and knowledge, but it is always worth our time to explore them and the relationship they have with our desire to learn, and our ability to do so. Thank you."

  'It's unlike him to ask for such a thing. He usually asks for hard facts. I wonder wh- Ah. Auto? Is he trying to teach it about emotions through me? Will he ask similar questions to Swamp and Devil in the future to help it learn about such foreign concepts to a robot? You sneaky disco ball, you,' Lone praised in thought.

  "Now, thankfully, with our fifth member's inclusion, these meetings can be maintained for much longer, so I have the time to properly explain how to build the device you wish to construct, also within your means as there are nigh uncountable ways to achieve the same result, many of which are impossible for you currently, given what I know of you. Before I begin, however, Swamp, you may go given your situation. You will be able to listen to my explanation in the future," Monsieur Librarian stated.

  Lone raised an eyebrow. 'Again? That's the fourth time he's had to leave early. He needs to get stronger, or just better at hiding.'

  "Ah, thank you. I am quite clossse to being dissscovered. That would be fine normally but not when my body isss limp. Until next time then, Human, Devil. It wasss nice to meet you, Auto," Swamp said his farewells.

  Monsieur Librarian tapped the end of his table and Swamp's green figure disappeared.

  "Why did he leave early?" Auto asked.

  Devil smiled. "He is the final follower of a 'Lord Delwind'. Everyone else where he is from wishes to kill him. He's a sweet fellow despite his annoying speech habit, and he is quite skilled at self-healing, but he is atrocious at evading detection. Had he stayed here, his real body would had been in danger. This is the second time this has happened."

  "Second since you joined, fourth in total," Lone said.

  Monsieur Librarian tapped his chair's armrest. "It will not be an issue for long, so do not worry about it. Let us move on. Human, listen carefully. First I shall cover the scientific knowledge you need before going over the magical components of the device you wish to create."

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