A break

-The bustling city of Aurelia

Frustration crackles through my veins, my heart pounding against my chest. My mind feels like it's about to split apart. I'm stuck, caught in the endless loop of failure and rejection. For the umpteenth time, I crumple the paper I've been working on, tossing it aside in a fit of rage.

"No, no, no!" I growl, the worn-out machinery around me echoing my wrath. I swipe everything off the table, bits and pieces of failed projects flying across the room. "Why can't I get it right!?"

With a sigh, I run a hand through my hair, pulling at the disheveled strands in frustration. This isn't me. I'm not someone who gets beaten. Especially not by a goddamn blueprint.

My hand clenches on the table, the cold steel creaking under the force. In a moment of pure fury, I slam my hand down, the solid metal bending under strength. "Shit," I curse, looking at the newly formed dent on the table with wide eyes. I just ruined my baby, tsk, why is steel so weak? Damn it, I loved this table. Now it's just another reminder of my failure.

A cunning plan begins to form in my mind as I inspect the damage. I'll just take it out of Kael's earnings. He won't even notice it's gone. With a smirk, I lean back in my oversized chair, momentarily distracted from my troubles.

Returning to the matter at hand, I pull out a fresh sheet of paper, trying to keep my frustration in check. My hand moves on its own accord, sketching out designs and calculations. "What am I missing?" I mutter to myself, my eyes scanning over the proportions and the runes. Everything seems to be in order. But then why can't I perfect the damn gun?

"Maybe I should ask Kael," I think aloud. No, scratch that. I can figure this out myself. He's off doing who knows what, while I'm stuck here with an impossible task. Typical.

Frustrated tears prick at the corner of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I'm Eira, the motherfucking best creator, the top-notch genius out there. I don't need help. Not from Kael, not from anyone.

My mind stumbles upon the question that's been haunting me. Just how do I make a gun that can shoot high caliber explosives? As an inventor, I've always sought to push the boundaries, to create things that defy the limits of this world. But this... this feels like an insurmountable wall. Tsk, is it really not possible to make it? All I want is for it to shoot explosives capable of blowing castles out in one go, is it too much to ask for such a simple thing?

"No," I tell myself, my voice echoing in the quiet workshop. "I won't be defeated. Not by this."

I pull on the frayed edges of my baggy sweater, the loose threads dancing against the wind of the overhead fan. Its worn texture feels comforting against my skin, a soothing contrast against the cold hardness of the machinery surrounding me. My baggy sweater hang loose, the cuffs brushing against the metal floor.

Suddenly, I find myself chuckling. It's a dry, hollow sound, bouncing off the walls of the workshop. Look at me, laughing like a madwoman in the midst of a crisis. Anyone would think I've lost my mind. And maybe I have. Who knows?

"Damn it all," I curse, throwing my pencil down. The impact sends it rolling across the table, falling onto the floor with a soft thud. "Damn Kael. Damn Zeke. Damn this entire world."

With a sigh, I push myself away from the table, my chair squeaking in protest. The room is shrouded in shadows, the only source of light coming from the desk lamp illuminating my workstation. Papers, tools, and abandoned parts clutter the space, a stark reflection of the chaos in my mind.

I'm surrounded by machines, creations of my genius. This workshop is my world, my fortress. The only place I've ever truly belonged to. Yet, at this moment, I feel so utterly alone. But so what? I'm always alone, such a typical experience.

"Fuck!" The words explode from my lips, echoing through the silence of the workshop. "You know what, forget this!" I yell at the blueprint, tossing the sheets of paper to the side. They flutter to the ground, forgotten casualties of a raging war.

I let out a groan, the sound raw and unfiltered. The echo resonates with the bitterness welling up inside me. Shaking my head, I push myself up from my chair, making my way to another, larger table, my frustration following me like a stubborn shadow.

My gaze falls upon the blueprint spread out across the table. The Dragon's Eye Sniper, a beast of a weapon that even I, its creator, find unnerving. A national-grade weapon, designed with Kael's help. Though, really, all he did was throw around ideas and describe features it needed to have. As if that idiot could ever create something this complicated.

"Goddammit, Kael!" I growl. The Dragon's Eye Sniper. Even the name sounds absurdly extravagant. "I swear to all that's holy, if I have to spend another minute scratching my head over this..." My voice trails off as I look at the blueprint once again. It's not like I can back out now. Not with that sum of money on the table.

A smirk tugs at the corners of my lips. The budget for this ridiculous project is nothing short of obscene. Hundreds of thousands of platinum coins. Just the thought makes my heart flutter in my chest. Kael might be a pain in my ass, but the man knows how to fund a project.

The alleged supplier of the materials is another story altogether. "Darius, Darius..." I mutter, tapping my fingers against the table. The name has a familiar ring to it, but for the life of me, I can't remember where I've heard it. Not that it matters. As long as he delivers on his promise, he can go to hell for all I care.

With a heavy sigh, I push the blueprint aside and walk over to my rune safe. As much as I love creating things, dealing with runes is a pain in the ass. It's not so much the process that bothers me, it's just... tedious. But, alas, without the runes, the weapon wouldn't work.

My fingers bleed as I carefully draw out the patterns. I wince at the sting, cursing under my breath. "Just another reason to hate runes," I grumble.

Now for the glasses. They're my pride and joy, a creation that allows me to view the blueprint in all its holographic glory. Without them, the whole thing would be a chaotic mess of lines and numbers.

"Alright, time for the seventieth round of 'What the hell is wrong with this picture'," I mutter, placing the glasses on and activating the 3D hologram. The blueprint springs to life, spinning in the air before me.

I can't help but admire the sheer scale of it. Six feet of destructive power. It's a marvel, really. As I rotate the hologram, examining it from every angle, a solution suddenly clicks into place.

"The rebound repulsers..." I say aloud, my voice echoing around the empty workshop. "They need to be shifted back. And if I move the shock absorbers to the sides..." A satisfied grin spreads across my face. "The trajectory changes."

As I continue my revisions, a sense of pride swells within me. This is my creation. Mine and Kael's. And as infuriating as it is, it's a testament to our combined genius....No it's my genius mind, Kael did nothing.

I let out a dry chuckle. "Zeke would kill for something like this, literally," I muse. The thought of his face when he realizes what we've accomplished brings a wicked smile to my face. "That sick bastard can go screw himself."

Taking a step back, I gaze at the blueprint, the harsh glow of the hologram painting everything in a blue hue. It's grand, powerful, terrifying even. But it's mine. And no matter how frustrating or tiring it is, it's a once in a lifetime project.

As I stare at the hologram, a sigh of contentment escapes my lips. I can't help but be in awe of this beast of a weapon. It's maddening, it's terrifying, it's... beautiful.

But that's enough for now.

I can't rush something like this. The finest masterpieces are crafted with patience, with precision, and with an unhurried hand. Kael may be breathing down my neck, but he can go screw himself if he thinks I'm going to rush this for his sake.

Clicking my tongue, I shut down the hologram and remove the glasses, handling them with as much care as if they were made of the finest crystal. I walk over to the safe and lock them away tightly, the solid metallic door shutting with a satisfying thud. The security measures in place are top-tier, of course. The second someone tries to break in, they're in for a nasty surprise. The blueprint would self-destruct, taking out anyone foolish enough to try and steal it. Not that it would be a complete loss. I have most of it memorized anyway.

Striding across the room, I head to my favorite desk. The one nestled in the corner, away from the prying eyes of the occasional visitor. Setting up the traps around the desk takes only a few minutes. I've done it so many times, I could probably do it in my sleep. My workshop, my sanctuary - no one sets foot here when I'm not around. Not unless they have a death wish.

Reaching the second floor, I let out a sigh. I had promised Kael I'd keep an eye on Des. I still don't know why he decided to take in a little girl. But to hire that sick bastard, Zeke, to train her? Now that's just crazy.

Entering the main room, I see Des sitting on the ground, her chaotic mana swirling around her in a mesmerizing dance. Kael had been right about her, her mana was a ticking time bomb. But why the hell did he lie about it? Why not tell me straight up instead of spinning some cheap-ass tale?

Unseen by the others, I watch from the shadows. Zeke grins his sinister grin, leaning over Des as he instructs her. His words are soft, almost caring, but I see the glint in his eyes. He's enjoying this.

Suddenly, he starts to laugh, a high, eerie sound that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "Hey, don't rush it. Your core is a mess, I have no idea how your body has fucked it up when you're so young."

I frown, my fingers clenching into a fist. The audacity of this man...

Before I can react, Zeke continues with his psychotic tirade. "Hmhmhmhmhahaha, look another one of your friends is here, hey Des please tell me, do you know why you attract so many of them? You see, I'm just so curious~ oh look it's getting closer to you~ isn't it weird how it completely ignores me~"

This time, Des responds. Her voice is small, shaky, as she stutters out, "I..I-I really don't know".

Enough is enough. I've had it with this bullshit.

With a flick of my wrist, I pull out a nail from my pocket. Channeling my mana into it, I flick it at the demonic beast lurking in the shadows. It drops to the ground, dead before it even hits the floor. "Oi! You crazy fucker. Kael is paying to kill those bastards as well," I call out, stepping out of the shadows.

Zeke turns to me, surprise flickering in his eyes before it's replaced with his usual, insufferable smirk. I ignore him, turning to Des instead. The little girl is staring at me, her eyes wide and filled with awe.

"Remember, Des," I say, a smile playing on my lips. "This fucker won't hurt you, talk back as much as you want and make his life a living hell, he can't do shit to you until Kael pays him."