Tactical Embarrassment

The workshop buzzed with a cacophony of sounds that had become the soundtrack of our lives over the past week: metal clanging against metal, the hissing of cooling runes, the rhythmic tapping of enchantment sequences, and above it all, the passionate debates of Earth students and Voluptarian locals working together. I wiped sweat from my brow as I leaned over the massive V12 engine block, carefully etching the final fire rune into the combustion chamber of the twelfth cylinder.

"Hold the resonance steady," I instructed Kurenai, who stood opposite me with her hands hovering over the engine, a faint crimson glow emanating from her palms. "If the pattern shifts before I complete the circuit, we'll have to start over."

"Got it," she replied, her brow furrowed in concentration. The red light intensified as she channelled more magical energy into the stabilisation field. "Just... hurry up. This isn't as easy as it looks."

Seven days had passed since Ruri had finally awakened from her shadow-corrupted coma. The sanctuary hummed with renewed energy as everyone threw themselves into the vehicle construction project, perhaps with even more fervour than before. Near-death experiences had a way of clarifying priorities. Nothing like a brush with the reaper to motivate everyone to build magical cars and get the hell out of dodge.

With a final flourish of my etching tool, I completed the complex sigil. The rune flared to life, pulsing with inner fire that synchronised perfectly with the eleven others I'd already inscribed. The entire engine block resonated with a low, powerful hum that I could feel in my bones.

"That's it," I announced, straightening up and stretching my back. "Fire rune matrix is complete."

A cheer went up from the assembled team. Hitomi clapped her hands together in excitement, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Let's get this beast mounted on the test stand," she said, already gesturing for Ryota and Masato to bring over the heavy steel frame we'd constructed specifically for engine testing. "I want to see what she can do."

"You just want to hear it roar," Hina teased, though her own expression betrayed similar eagerness.

"Of course I do," Hitomi replied unapologetically. "When was the last time anyone in Voluptaria saw a V12 with this kind of output?"

"Probably never," Viktora interjected, her fox ears twitching with analytical interest. "My research suggests nothing like this has been attempted before. The magical resonance patterns alone are unprecedented."

Masato and Ryota carefully manoeuvred the engine onto the test stand, securing it with heavy bolts. Kazuki approached with the control crystal, a complex matrix of enchanted quartz that would serve as our makeshift RCU—Rune Control Unit—during the initial tests.

"Remember," I cautioned as they made the final connections, "we're starting with minimal power flow. Twenty percent output max until we confirm stable resonance across all systems."

"Yeah, yeah," Hitomi waved dismissively. "We've been over this a dozen times."

"And we'll go over it a dozen more if that's what it takes to keep this engine from exploding in our faces," Miyako added firmly, giving Hitomi a pointed look that brooked no argument. "This isn't like tuning your dad's race car back home."

Hitomi sighed but nodded in acknowledgment. "Fair enough. Twenty percent it is."

"Safety protocols exist for a reason, Hitomi-chan," Amakata-sensei added gently but firmly. "Even in another world, some principles remain constant."

Kazuki finished connecting the control crystal and stepped back, glancing around the workshop. "Clear the test area, everyone. Three-metre safety perimeter, please."

As the team moved back to a safer distance, I performed one final visual inspection of the setup. The V12 engine gleamed with a mixture of silver and gold hues, the rune-etched aluminium-steel alloy catching the late morning sunlight streaming through the workshop's open sides. The twelve cylinders were arranged in a perfect 60-degree V configuration, with the intake manifold running along the centre. Fire runes glowed faintly at each combustion chamber, while wind runes adorned the air intake system and water runes traced intricate patterns along the cooling channels.

"RCU calibration?" I asked.

"Set for balanced mode," Kazuki confirmed, adjusting something on the crystal matrix. "We can try the speed and heavy-duty configurations once we've established a baseline."

I nodded, satisfied. "Alright. Let's light this up."

Kazuki placed his hand on the activation rune of the control crystal. It glowed briefly, and then the engine came to life with a deep, rumbling growl that quickly settled into a smooth, powerful purr. The sound was unlike anything I'd heard before, not quite the mechanical roar of an Earth engine, but something more organic, almost alive. It was like hearing a dragon purr contentedly while thinking about eating you later.

"Fire runes stable," Kurenai reported, watching the magical feedback indicators we'd installed. "Operating at 22% capacity."

"Wind system nominal," Yuna added from her position monitoring the air intake. "Pressure cycling as expected."

"Water runes... holding steady," Mochi confirmed, her eyes fixed on the cooling system readouts. "Temperature within optimal parameters."

Hitomi was practically bouncing with excitement. "Can we give it more juice? Please?"

I exchanged a glance with Kazuki, who nodded slightly. "Let's try thirty percent."

As Kazuki adjusted the control crystal, the engine's purr deepened, gaining intensity without losing its smoothness. The fire runes glowed brighter, and I could feel the increased heat radiating from the block.

"Torque reading?" I called.

"About 600 Nm at this output level," Sora replied, checking the magical measuring device we'd constructed. "That scales to 2,000 Nm at full power, just as designed."

Vinera, who had been observing silently from the edge of the workshop, stepped closer to examine the engine. Her cat ears twitched forward with interest as she circled the test stand.

"The stability is impressive," she noted, her amber eyes reflecting the glow of the runes. "Most magical constructs this powerful show resonance fluctuations, but your engineering has minimised that."

"Earth engineering meets Voluptarian magic," I explained. "We're using principles from our world's internal combustion engines, but replacing fuel with fire runes, air pumps with wind runes, and radiators with water runes."

"The synergy is remarkable," Noel commented from where she stood beside Ruri. "Particularly the turbine system that captures waste heat to generate additional torque."

Ruri, looking fully recovered from her ordeal, nodded in agreement. "Quite clever. Though I wonder if you've considered the implications of creating something this powerful?"

Her question brought a momentary pause to the excitement.

"What do you mean?" I asked, though I had a feeling I knew where she was going.

"This engine produces more power than anything currently available in Crossroads," she explained, her rabbit ears swivelling thoughtfully. "If you were to share this design, or even just demonstrate its capabilities, you might inadvertently trigger a technological revolution."

"Would that be so bad?" Hitomi asked. "Better transportation could improve life for everyone."

"Or lead to weapons that make the current balance of power obsolete," Vinera countered softly. "Innovations rarely remain peaceful for long."

An uncomfortable silence fell over the workshop as we contemplated this. It wasn't something we'd given much thought to, focused as we were on solving our immediate transportation needs. Classic isekai protagonist shortsightedness, I suppose; create world-changing technology without considering the socio-political ramifications.

Miyako was the first to break the silence. "We're not planning to mass-produce these or hand out blueprints. We need vehicles to find Naomi-san and navigate this world safely. That's our priority."

"And we're building them with enough safeguards that they can't be easily replicated," Kazuki added. "The RCU crystal matrix alone requires specific enchantment sequences that only a few of us know."

Noel nodded, seemingly satisfied with these assurances. "A prudent approach. Though I suggest maintaining discretion regardless."

"Let's continue the test," I suggested, eager to move past the momentary tension. "Kazuki, take it to forty percent."

As Kazuki adjusted the controls, the engine's output increased again, its purr becoming a controlled roar. The test stand vibrated slightly with the power being generated.

"Torque now at 800 Nm," Sora called out. "All systems stable."

We continued the testing, gradually increasing the output to sixty percent before deciding to call it a success for the first run. As the engine powered down, the team broke into spontaneous applause.

"That's one engine down," Hina announced, consulting her clipboard. "Two more to go."

"And then we need to get them installed in the chassis," I added, glancing toward the far side of the workshop where another team was working on the vehicle frames.

"Speaking of chassis," Viktora interjected, her analytical mind already moving to the next challenge, "we need to finalise our vehicle configuration decisions."

"Right," I agreed. "Let's gather everyone for that discussion once we've cleaned up here."

An hour later, with the engine secured and the test area tidied, we convened a larger meeting in the central area of the workshop. Nearly everyone had gathered, Earth students and Voluptarian locals alike, forming a loose circle around the three chassis blueprints spread out on a large table.

"As we've discussed previously," I began, "the shadow battle taught us an important lesson about vulnerability. Putting everyone in a single vehicle would make us an easy target."

"One bad ambush and we're all toast," Ryota agreed grimly.

"Which is why we're proposing a three-vehicle convoy," Miyako continued, pointing to the blueprints. "Each specialised for different functions but able to operate independently if necessary."

Mediena, her golden cat ears perked with interest, leaned forward to examine the designs. "What roles do you envision for each?"

Hitomi stepped up, clearly in her element. "First, we have the Vanguard." She tapped the smallest of the three blueprints. "Lightweight, fast, manoeuvrable. RCU tuned for speed focus rather than maximum torque but settings can be changed on the fly. It'll run point, identify threats, find optimal routes."

"How many passengers?" Fryevia asked, her teal-highlighted ears twitching thoughtfully.

"We're looking at 10 to 15 persons maximum," Hina replied. "All seated in luxury recliners for comfort during rough terrain navigation."

"Luxury recliners?" Vinera questioned, one eyebrow raised. "For a vehicle meant to handle rough terrain?"

"Comfort doesn't have to sacrifice functionality," Haruka interjected. "I've designed the recliners with magical shock absorption and stabilisation runes. The occupants will remain comfortable even when the vehicle is handling difficult terrain."

"Plus," Hitomi added, "the Scout will have a few special features." She flipped to another page of the blueprint. "A powerful wind-rune powered horn for clearing obstacles, gel blaster gun ports along the sides, and even a ball turret mount on the top for 360-degree coverage if needed."

"A turret?" Noel asked, her cream-coloured ears twitching with concern.

"For defensive purposes only," I quickly clarified. "Non-lethal gel blasters, just like the side ports."

"The Scout's also going to have a unique suspension system," Hitomi continued enthusiastically. "We're incorporating enhanced wind runes in the leaf springs to give it limited jumping capability, enough to clear small obstacles or gaps in the road."

"Jumping?" Viktora's fox ears perked up with interest. "That's an innovative application of wind rune dynamics."

Amakata-sensei studied the blueprints with a critical eye. "I'm concerned about the safety implications of a jumping vehicle. What fail-safes are in place if the wind runes misfire or become unbalanced?"

"We've thought of that," Kazuki assured her. "The system includes multiple redundancies and will automatically disable if any component shows instability. Additionally, the maximum jump height is limited to prevent dangerous situations."

This seemed to satisfy Amakata-sensei, who nodded and made a note in her journal.

"Next is the Bus-kun," Hitomi continued, moving to the middle blueprint. "Our main personnel carrier. RCU balanced between speed and torque for optimal versatility but settings can be changed on the fly as well. Seating for 20 to 25 passengers, all in luxury recliners similar to the Scout's design but optimised for longer journeys. Basic defensive features including gel blaster gun ports."

"And finally, the Truck-kun," I finished, indicating the largest design. "Heavy-duty chassis, RCU tuned for torque over speed but settings can be changed on the fly as needed as well. This will carry all the male members of our expedition plus our cargo. Again, with luxury recliners for comfort, plus a specialised area at the rear designed to eventually house a mobile tele-portal setup."

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"We plan to let Truck-kun to also feature a foldable bridge module," Kazuki added, pointing to a detailed section of the blueprint. "In case we encounter rivers or chasms that the Scout can jump across but the other two vehicles can't cross."

"All three vehicles will share the same chassis width and a maximum height of 2.5 metres," Hina explained. "Though the Scout will have a more aerodynamic profile for better speed and efficiency. The standardised chassis dimensions will make maintenance and parts interchangeability simpler."

Vinera studied the designs with a professional eye. "The defensive considerations beyond the weapon mounts?"

"Multiple layers," Miyako explained. "Physical reinforcement of the chassis and body panels. Magical warding inscribed directly into the frame. Protected driver compartments."

This prompted a mix of reactions, some nodding in approval, others looking concerned at the militaristic implication.

"Not that we expect to need heavy defences," I quickly clarified. "But after what happened at the burial site, we're not taking chances."

"A prudent decision," Noel acknowledged diplomatically. "Though I hope such measures prove unnecessary."

"What about other comfort features?" Haruka asked, eyeing the interior layouts. "If we're travelling long distances, we need to consider quality of life."

"Beside the recliner seats," Kurenai assured her. "Climate control via air-regulating runes, storage for personal items."

"But we're balancing comfort against practicality," I added. "Every luxury item means less space for spare parts, supplies, or defensive measures."

"What about a wardrobe space?" Aoi suggested. "We can't arrive in Takejin territory looking like we've been camping for weeks."

"And a library corner?" Riko added hopefully. "For research materials and those ancient texts we found."

Hitomi looked like she was about to object to these "non-essential" additions, but Hina placed a restraining hand on her arm.

"Both good suggestions," Hina said smoothly. "We'll see how we can incorporate modest versions of each in the vehicles design."

"What about navigation?" Airi asked. "We're heading into unfamiliar territory."

"We've been discussing that," Kazuki replied. "We're developing a runic equivalent to GPS."

Viktora's fox ears perked up with interest. "GPS?"

"Geomantic... Proximity... er... Scrying," I improvised, trying to translate the concept into something that would make sense in Voluptaria. Not my best acronym work, I'll admit.

The Earth students stifled laughs while our Voluptarian companions looked skeptical.

"It's a system that helps determine location and optimal routes," Kazuki explained more accurately. "We're combining map runes with detection spells to create a real-time navigation interface on the dashboard."

"Fascinating," Noel murmured, clearly intrigued despite her uncertainty about the concept.

"What about maintenance?" Masato asked, ever practical. "These engines are complex magical constructs. Who's going to fix them if something breaks down in the middle of nowhere?"

"That's why we're all learning basic maintenance procedures," I explained. "Fire, wind, and water rune replacement. Resonance rebalancing. Basic troubleshooting."

"And we're bringing comprehensive repair kits and spare parts," Miyako added. "Plus, between all of us, we have enough magical and technical expertise to handle most problems."

Amakata-sensei raised her hand. "I'd like to suggest that we compile a maintenance manual that everyone can study. My Bookbinder abilities can create enchanted texts that highlight relevant sections based on specific problems that arise, essentially a magical troubleshooting guide."

"That's an excellent idea, Sensei," Hina said, adding it to her clipboard. "We'll work with you to document all the systems and maintenance procedures."

The discussion continued, delving into specifics of construction priorities, material allocation, and task assignments. After nearly an hour of debate and planning, we finally had a consensus and clear direction for the next phase of work.

"Alright," I announced, standing up from where I'd been leaning over the blueprints. "We've got three teams: Engine, Chassis, and Bodywork. Hitomi and Hina will co-lead Engine, Naoki will coordinate Chassis, Shohei will oversee Bodywork."

"Our fabricators are Masato the blacksmith, Haruka the tailor, Kurenai the enchanter, Yuna the runesmith," I continued.

"What about you?" Miyuki asked, noting my absence from the leadership assignments.

"I'll be floating between teams, helping where needed," I explained. "Yui can coordinate the overall integration, Mei will handle resource allocation and scheduling. Amakata-sensei will oversee documentation and safety protocols."

With roles assigned and plans agreed upon, the group dispersed back to their work areas, energised by the clear path forward. I watched them go with a mixture of pride and optimism. Despite everything we'd been through, their resilience and ingenuity never ceased to amaze me. Not bad for a bunch of high schoolers who were supposed to be worrying about entrance exams rather than magical engine optimization.

Twelve days passed in a blur of hammering, chanting, laughter, and teamwork, the workshop hummed with productive energy as all three vehicles began taking shape simultaneously. The engines were fully assembled and undergoing final tuning, the chassis frames were nearly complete, and bodywork was progressing steadily.

I moved between the different teams, observing their progress and lending a hand where needed. Currently, I was with the Chassis team, helping to install the leaf spring suspension system on the Transport vehicle.

"Pass me that wind rune cartridge," Kenta requested, his hand extended from beneath the chassis where he was working on the dampening system.

I selected the appropriate cartridge from the nearby tray and placed it in his waiting palm. "Remember to set the resonance frequency before sealing the housing."

"I know, I know," came his muffled reply. "This isn't my first suspension installation."

Nearby, Masato was working with Vinera to install the reinforced drivetrain components. The Nyxashi Felinari's exceptional precision and attention to detail made her an ideal partner for the blacksmith's methodical approach.

"The torque vectoring system is fascinating," Vinera commented as they positioned the central differential. "It's similar to how we distribute force in shadow-stepping, but applied mechanically."

"Earth engineering principles adapted to magical implementation," Masato explained, tightening a crucial bolt. "The wind runes allow us to dynamically adjust power distribution between wheels, giving better traction in difficult terrain."

"Fifty-fifty split is standard," Kazuki added from where he was calibrating the control system. "But we can shift to forty-sixty or even thirty-seventy if needed for specific conditions."

"Try engaging the vectoring system now," Masato called to Kazuki. "I want to check the response time."

Kazuki activated the control rune, and the differential hummed to life, magical energy flowing through the newly installed components.

"Responsive," Vinera noted approvingly, her amber eyes tracking the energy flow patterns. "Though there's a slight lag in the rear actuator."

"Good catch," Masato acknowledged, already reaching for his adjustment tools. "Probably just needs a minor realignment."

I left them to their work and moved to where Tatsuya and Fryevia were working on the Scout vehicle's unique suspension system. The extra wind runes required for the jumping capability made this the most complex of the three vehicles' undercarriages.

"How's the jump system coming along?" I asked, crouching down to observe their progress.

"Just finished calibrating the primary wind runes," Tatsuya replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "We're about to test the vertical thrust capacity."

"The resonance balancing is delicate," Fryevia noted, her teal-highlighted ears twitching with concentration as she adjusted the magical flow between the runes. "Too much power in the front springs and the vehicle will flip backward on activation."

"Want me to help with the calibration?" I offered, noting the complex runic array they were working with.

"Actually, yes," Tatsuya replied, moving aside to make room for me. "We need someone to monitor the power distribution while we trigger a test cycle."

I positioned myself next to the control interface, a crystalline panel etched with monitoring runes. "Ready when you are."

Fryevia nodded and placed her hand on the activation rune. "Initiating test at twenty percent capacity."

The wind runes embedded in the suspension system glowed a soft blue, and the entire chassis lifted smoothly about ten centimetres off the ground before settling back down gently.

"Perfect balance," I confirmed, watching the power distribution readouts. "All four corners received equal thrust."

"Let's try forty percent," Tatsuya suggested. At Fryevia's nod, she adjusted the control setting.

This time, the chassis rose about thirty centimetres, hovering momentarily before descending.

"Still balanced," I reported, though I noticed a slight fluctuation in the rear right corner. "There's a minor power variance in the rear right spring, about three percent lower than the others."

"I see it," Fryevia confirmed, already making adjustments to the runic alignment. "The etching pattern is slightly irregular there. I'll correct it."

After several more tests and fine-tuning, the system was performing flawlessly, lifting the chassis evenly to a height of nearly seventy centimetres at maximum test output.

"This should be enough to clear most small obstacles," Tatsuya noted with satisfaction. "Combined with the enhanced suspension travel, the Scout will handle rough terrain better than anything else in Voluptaria."

"Just remember it's designed for scouting, not racing," I cautioned, already imagining Hitomi's likely desire to push the vehicle to its limits.

"Tell that to Hitomi," Tatsuya replied with a knowing smile. "She's already talking about organising a race once all three vehicles are complete."

I shook my head, but couldn't help smiling. Some things never changed, even in another world.

Across the workshop, I spotted Amakata-sensei working with several students to document the vehicles' systems. Her Bookbinder abilities allowed her to create magical texts that organised information in intuitive ways, making complex technical details accessible to everyone.

"Sensei has been incredible," Mochi commented, following my gaze. "Her maintenance manuals practically guide your hands through the repair process."

"Her experience as a teacher is really showing," I agreed. "She's finding ways to make all this complexity manageable for everyone."

In the far corner of the workshop, Naoki was leading a group that included Ruri, Mediena, and several of our classmates in constructing the vehicle exteriors. The melding of Earth automotive design with Voluptarian aesthetic sensibilities was creating something uniquely beautiful.

"We've integrated sound-dampening enchantments into the wall panels," Naoki explained as I approached. "They'll absorb road noise and external sounds for a quieter ride."

"And these protective wardmarks will help deflect minor magical attacks," Ruri added, demonstrating an elegant sigil pattern she was inscribing along the door frames. "Not enough to stop a direct assault, but sufficient for glancing blows or ambient hostile magic."

"What about the windows?" I asked, examining the transparent material they were preparing to install.

"Enchanted crystal," Mediena explained proudly. "Clearer than glass, stronger than steel, and capable of filtering harmful light wavelengths. My tribe uses similar material for performance spaces."

"It's also self-cleaning," Airi added with a grin. "No more bug splatter problems!"

The integration of Earth knowledge with Voluptarian magic continued to yield impressive results. Our classmates were teaching the locals about aerodynamics, ergonomics, and practical interior layouts, while the Voluptarians contributed magical solutions that made the seemingly impossible achievable.

"Hey, Andie!" Ryota called from the engine testing area. "Come check this out!"

I made my way over to find Hitomi, Ryota, and Viktora gathered around the Truck-kun engine, which was mounted on the test stand and running at what sounded like full power. The massive V12 roared with authority, vibrating the air itself with its power.

"We've got it tuned for maximum torque," Hitomi explained excitedly over the engine's rumble. "Almost 2,300 Newton-metres with the turbine assist!"

"That's more than we calculated," I noted, impressed but slightly concerned. "Is the containment holding?"

"Perfectly," Viktora confirmed, her fox ears swivelling to catch every nuance of the engine's sound. "The reinforced housing and additional stability runes are maintaining structural integrity even at 105% rated output."

"We could probably push it to 110%, maybe even 115%," Hitomi suggested eagerly.

"Let's not," I advised, placing a cautionary hand on her shoulder. "There's a difference between what's possible and what's prudent."

Ryota laughed. "Told you he'd say that."

"Fine," Hitomi conceded with a dramatic sigh. "But admit it, this is the most powerful engine ever built in Voluptaria."

"Probably," I acknowledged with a smile. "Just remember why we're building it. This isn't about breaking speed records; it's about finding Naomi-san safely."

"Speaking of safety," Viktora interjected, her analytical mind always focused on practical considerations, "have you finalised the driver training protocol? These vehicles will require significantly different handling techniques than traditional Voluptarian transports."

"We're developing a training programme," I confirmed. "Once the vehicles are operational, we'll run everyone through basic operation and emergency procedures before departing."

"Who gets to drive the Scout?" Ryota asked with poorly concealed eagerness.

"We'll rotate drivers based on terrain and circumstances," I replied diplomatically, having anticipated this question. "Everyone who wants to learn will get the chance."

This seemed to satisfy him, though Hitomi still looked like she wanted to claim first rights to the high-performance vehicle.

As the day progressed, I continued my rounds, helping to solve minor problems, offering suggestions, and occasionally mediating disagreements about design choices or resource allocation. By late afternoon, fatigue was beginning to set in for many, but progress remained steady.

I was helping install airless tyres on the Transport, another Earth concept adapted to Voluptarian magic, with flexible rubber-like material reinforced by durability enchantments, when Miyako approached.

"How's it going?" she asked, surveying the nearly completed chassis with evident satisfaction.

"Better than expected," I replied, tightening the last lug nut. "At this rate, we might be ready for initial testing in another week."

"The group is working well together," she observed. "Better than any group project we ever had back in school."

I laughed at the comparison. "Amazing what you can accomplish when the stakes involve actual survival instead of just grades."

"True." She hesitated, then added more quietly, "You've been going non-stop for days. Maybe take a break?"

I straightened up, suddenly aware of the ache in my back and the fatigue in my arms. "I'm fine. There's still so much to do."

"Everyone else takes breaks," she pointed out reasonably. "And you're not indispensable anymore, you know."

I glanced around the workshop, taking in the scene properly for the first time in hours. She was right; the teams were functioning smoothly, problems were being solved without my intervention, and leadership was distributed effectively among multiple people. They didn't actually need me hovering over every detail.

"When did that happen?" I wondered aloud. "When did they all become so... capable?"

Miyako smiled. "They always were. They just needed time and opportunity to show it." She nudged me gently. "That's what good leadership does, creates more leaders, not more followers."

I felt a strange mix of pride and melancholy at her observation. Pride in what our group had accomplished, and a touch of melancholy at the realisation that they were outgrowing their need for my constant guidance. It was like watching your carefully constructed protagonist harem develop actual independence and agency. Wait, that came out wrong.

"You're right," I conceded. "Maybe I should take a step back for a bit."

The constant noise, the perpetual demands for decisions, the need to be present for everyone, it was all taking a toll I hadn't fully recognised until this moment. I needed some quiet, some space to breathe and think without a dozen voices calling my name.

"I think I need to clear my head," I said, more to myself than to Miyako. "Find some quiet for a while."

She squeezed my shoulder gently. "That's perfectly fine, you know. Nobody expects you to be everywhere at once."

I nodded, decision made. "I'm going to use Transform to carve out a small space for myself somewhere in the sanctuary. Nothing fancy, just... somewhere quiet."

"I think that's a great idea," she replied with an understanding smile. "Everyone needs their own space sometimes."

I looked around at the busy workshop once more, watching my classmates and our Voluptarian allies working together with purpose and confidence. They had things well in hand. For once, I could step away without everything falling apart.

As the evening shift began to take over, I approached Hina's team, who were finishing up their work on the Bus-kun's chassis.

"I'm going to take a break from the workshop for a bit," I announced, trying to sound casual. "Need to clear my head, maybe work on a small personal project in the sanctuary."

"About time," Hina replied without looking up from her clipboard. "You've been running yourself ragged."

"Anything we should know about while you're gone?" Masato asked, wiping grease from his hands.

I shook my head. "Nothing urgent. You all have things under control here."

"We'll send someone if anything critical comes up," Hina assured me. "Otherwise, take all the time you need."

The easy acceptance of my departure was both a relief and a subtle confirmation of what Miyako had said; they didn't need me hovering anymore. I was both pleased and slightly melancholy at the realisation.

With a final nod to the team, I headed back toward the sanctuary proper. The noise of the workshop gradually faded behind me as I walked deeper into the cave system, eventually reaching a secluded section that we rarely used. It was the perfect spot for what I had in mind, close enough to be accessible if needed, but far enough to provide genuine solitude.

I placed my palm against the cool stone wall, feeling the familiar texture beneath my fingers. With a deep breath, I activated my Transform ability, channelling my magic into the rock. The stone warmed under my touch, becoming malleable, responsive to my will as I began to shape a simple space for myself, nothing elaborate, just a quiet room where I could think, meditate, perhaps process everything that had happened since our arrival in this world.

As the stone shifted and flowed according to my design, I felt some of the tension leaving my shoulders. This was what I needed, not just rest, but a moment of creative solitude, a chance to use my abilities for myself rather than for the collective need.

"No rest for the Aspects' favourite general contractors," I murmured with a wry smile as the outline of my personal sanctuary began to take shape in the living stone.