Evening settled over Exiastgardsun in a curtain of gold and purple, casting long shadows between the trees as Yuuna stood beneath the mana tree with a sketchbook in hand. Her latest design glowed softly on the page: a small, floating lantern that could adjust its brightness automatically depending on the surrounding light. A smart light source. Simple. Efficient. Travel-friendly. Ideally, non-lethal.
"We need a stable light source for cave expeditions," Yuuna muttered to herself. "No torches. No mana-drain crystals. Just reliable illumination."
Next to her, Gigih's eyes sparkled with the enthusiasm of someone absolutely not considering the consequences. "Want me to help enchant it? I've been practicing tier II fire spells!"
Yuuna didn't look up. "You're volunteering as the next test sacrifice, aren't you."
"Yes!" Gigih said, nodding eagerly. He stepped forward with a hopeful smile, clearly excited to contribute. "I've been working hard on controlling the flame."
Yuuna sighed. "Fine. No explosions this time."
The prototype lantern sat on the bench. A delicate orb of crystal and brass, suspended in a rune-inscribed ring, humming quietly as Gigih began the enchantment. He chanted in low tones, fingers twitching with barely-contained excitement.
Yuuna narrowed her eyes. "Tier I fire only. I will literally slap you with a wet sponge if you try tier II."
"Got it. Tier I." Gigih lied.
The lantern flickered. A small flame bloomed inside, like a petal unfurling in twilight. It shimmered gently, casting a warm golden hue that danced across the workbench with the grace of a candle cradled in a breathless breeze. For one beautiful moment, it held the quiet promise of invention fulfilled, fragile, radiant, and still.
Stable.
Then the flame pulsed. Flared. Warped into an angry red, like it had just remembered a personal grudge from a past life. It flickered ominously, casting shadows that danced like panicked goblins on the walls. The brass casing trembled as if reconsidering its life choices, while the crystal orb vibrated with the energy of someone about to yell 'surprise', but in arson.
Yuuna's eyes widened. "Gigih, what tier did you actually, "
The lantern shrieked.
Yes. Shrieked. Like a kettle possessed by a fire elemental.
A second later, it went nova.
A brilliant explosion of flame and light roared from the lantern, engulfing the workshop's ceiling in a bloom of fire. The rune-lined beams groaned in protest as smoke poured upward and soot rained like volcanic snow. Orchid screamed from somewhere behind a curtain. Gigih flew backward, landing in a puff of ash and shame.
Yuuna stood, perfectly still, covered in soot. Her notebook floated down beside her, lightly singed at the edges.
"Magic Lantern I: Failure," she muttered, voice flat. "Cause: Gigih."
From the floor, Gigih coughed. "Tier II has better glow properties."
Yuuna turned slowly, picking up the wet sponge prepared in advance.
"Let me demonstrate the glow properties of vengeance."
Outside, a few young elves peered into the smoke-filled workshop.
"Did the lantern work?" one of them asked.
"It lit up the night," another said. "And the roof."
Yuuna made a note: Stability - none. Aesthetic - unintentional fireworks. Morale impact - medium high. Recommend structural repairs before next test.
They would try again. Eventually. Once the ceiling stopped smoldering.
Magic Lantern II began with ceremony. A new brass ring, polished until it gleamed like the morning sun, cradled a fresh crystal orb enchanted with layered safety glyphs and triple-checked mana stabilizers. Yuuna took no chances this time. She personally tuned the runes, inspected the fire-thread core, and posted a sign over the bench that read: "Tier I Only. No Heroics."
Gigih stood beside her again, slightly singed but undeterred. "This time, I swear, I'll follow the rules."
"The fact that you had to swear is already a red flag," Yuuna muttered.
With precise focus, Gigih summoned the flame. The lantern glowed. Warm, controlled, and steady. For a few precious seconds, all was calm. The light dimmed as Yuuna held her hand over it, then brightened when she stepped back. Auto-adjustment, successful.
Yuuna allowed herself a small smile. "It works. Finally."
Then, from the side, a faint sizzle.
"Why is it... hissing?" Gigih asked.
The lantern vibrated. The crystal flickered.
"I added a minor flourish," he admitted quickly. "Aesthetic flicker spell. Tier I. I think. Maybe."
The lantern pulsed.
Yuuna's smile vanished. "Back away. Now."
The lantern vibrated harder, spinning slightly, runes flashing like an angry rainbow. Then, without further warning,
Boom.
The explosion rocked the workshop. A column of fire and confetti (where had the confetti come from?!) burst through the roof, launching the lantern's remnants sky-high. Gigih was thrown backward into a stack of folded towels, which softened the impact but did nothing for his pride.
Yuuna stood once again in a familiar pose: perfectly upright, expression blank, hair slightly smoking.
"Magic Lantern II: Failure," she muttered. "Cause: Gigih. Again."
Gigih groaned from the pile. "It was tier one! I think... tier one point five, maybe?"
Yuuna reached for her wet sponge of justice.
Orchid peeked in again, eyes wide. "It was prettier than the first one!"
Yuuna scribbled: Stability - firework-tier. Functionality - none. Gigih privilege suspended until further notice.
The lantern may have failed. But the towel stack was remarkably fire-resistant. Progress? Yes. Progress. Probably.
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