Mikhail followed his mother, and Klara as they slunk across the steel girders holding the roof up.

  Now and then he risked a glance down at the incredible pieces of Alchemtek Klara had called tanks. At five yards long and two wide, with their tracks and oblong shape, it looked like little could stand in their way. That combined with the Mark VI cannons mounted on each.

  Mikhail had heard rumours of a new cannon, one that used a lead slug instead of a harpoon. If they worked, that would change warfare forever. The amount of damage a chunk of lead would do compared to a steel plated wooden shaft? Mikhail shuddered. They had already used those weapons against Serovnyan citizens…

  They reached the corner opposite the lifts. Elana had taken the lead after sighting the Sila storage tanks beyond the back wall. From what Elana had said, it was all dormant. Though she said she could still bond with it.

  Elana reached out and, placing a hand on the western wall, shut her eyes.

  They waited for several minutes, silent, watching her.

  Eventually, she withdrew her hand, opened her eyes and said, “The concrete wall is about twelve inches thick.”

  “So how do we get through?” Mikhail asked.

  “Like this.” Elana pointed to the wall and with a soft rumble, lost amidst the cacophony rising from the factory below, a three foot round hole of concrete disintegrated. No, not disintegrated, pulled itself out of the wall.

  Klara stared, aghast, as the small lump of concrete formed into a roughly humanoid figure.

  Of course, Mikhail thought, Sila bonded with it just like at the gate.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  No sooner had it appeared, then it turned to dust, showering to the floor.

  “We should keep moving,” Elana said, squeezing through the hole. Mikhail followed, glancing back at the disintegrating golem. Klara brought up the rear, also distracted by the golem.

  The room beyond was roughly half the size of the airship hangar. Along the northern wall, dozens of dull grey tanks sat. To the left, easily two hundred Alchemists moved amongst half assembled tanks with a sense of urgency.

  On the southern, nearest to Mikhail, was a row of eight large steel doors. As he watched, one door opened and several Alchemists hurried inside. A moment later they emerged carrying pieces of glossy black uzhasgart. Parts for Mark VI cannons, steam engines and more. Eventually a wizened old woman limped out of the chamber as well.

  “What the depths is that place? Klara asked.

  “That,” Elana said, her voice hard, “is the murder of Sila. Those are sculpting bays. Alchemist sculptors go in, Sila goes in, uzhasgart comes out.”

  “So where is the Sila being stored?” Mikhail asked.

  “Behind the sculpting chambers,” Elana said, pointing. “I can get access through the chambers.”

  Mikhail winced. Somehow they had to get down there. Without being seen. While they were wearing Alchemist soldier coats, they’d be spotted in an instant if they descended from the ceiling.

  “If I can get into one chamber,” Elana said, “then I’ll be able to bond with the Sila in at least one of the storage tanks.”

  “So we wait for the airship to blow and then Mother drops us down in the ensuing panic?” Mikhail asked, glancing at Elana, who nodded.

  “That’s about our only option,” Klara said. “So for now, we wait.”

  They were hidden behind one of the steel girders, which kept their corner of the room in shadow. So they hunkered down in the shadows, watching the mass production of weapons below.

  Klara handed Mikhail three phials. “Last dose of Trinity,” she said. “We need to make the most of this.”

  “No,” Mikhail said, pushing her hand back. “You’ll be able to use it more than me.”

  Klara hesitated, looking uncertain.

  “Look, if it makes you feel better, why don’t we split it?” Mikhail said. “I’ll take reflex, you take speed and strength. That way, if you have to fight at least you’ll have the strength and power, your reflexes are already good. I’ll take reflex because that will help me stay alive a little longer.”

  After a brief pause, Klara handed Mikhail the phial of the reflex extract. They drank, and Mikhail shuddered as the bitter extract twitched through his nerves.

  Booooom!

  The girders shook as a massive explosion ripped through the hanger. That was their cue.