Chapter 957: I Must Leave

Dylan’s expression changed.

Only slightly.

But Liam noticed.

The blond student looked toward the reservoir.

Then toward the materials waiting beside the workstation.

Then toward Ariana, who was already discussing assignments with two other Alchemy students.

His earlier excitement began giving way to a deeply unpleasant realization.

’Wait,’ Dylan thought. ’There’s more.’

He had solved the problem.

He had identified the missing mechanism.

He had exposed the ancient designers’ ridiculous circular dependency and provided the entire team with a practical way forward.

Surely that deserved something.

A celebration.

A meal.

Possibly a statue.

At the very least, several hours of uninterrupted rest.

Instead, everyone appeared to be preparing for another round of work.

’This is an abuse of genius.’

Dylan straightened and clasped his hands together.

"Well!"

Ariana glanced toward him.

He smiled with extraordinary politeness.

"Now that our brilliant Ariana has fully grasped the restoration procedure, I must say I’m incredibly proud of everyone."

She narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Dylan."

"The teamwork. The dedication. The intellectual excellence. Truly inspiring."

"Where are you going with this?"

"Which is why," Dylan continued smoothly, "I believe it’s time for me to gracefully withdraw and allow the next generation of brilliant minds to complete what I’ve started."

Ariana stared at him.

There was a brief pause.

Then she asked, "Where exactly do you think you’re going?"

Dylan pressed a hand against his chest.

"To preserve what’s left of my brain."

Liam lowered his gaze slightly.

’There he is.’

Dylan looked around the workstation with tragic sincerity.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have spent eleven hours staring at formulas, damaged mechanisms, and numbers that have personally offended me. My mind has endured things no human mind should endure."

Ariana folded her arms.

"We still need you."

"Ah, but do you?"

"Yes."

"Are you certain?"

"Very."

Dylan sighed deeply.

"Ariana, you have far more practical experience with this stabilization process than I do. You are intelligent, capable, beautiful, and blessed with a mind that makes the rest of us look underdeveloped."

"Thank you."

"Therefore, I have complete confidence that you can finish without me."

He began edging away from the table.

Ariana smiled.

"Dylan."

He stopped.

"You discovered the bypass."

"Indeed. One of my finest moments."

"Which makes you the person best suited to help us prepare and verify its engineering components."

His smile faltered.

"A deeply unfortunate interpretation of my achievement."

Sheila looked between them with faint amusement.

"Dylan, the work isn’t finished."

He turned toward her immediately.

"Commander, with the greatest possible respect, my brain is beginning to file formal complaints against my skull."

"Then perhaps you should sit down for a few minutes."

His eyes brightened.

"An excellent suggestion!"

"Before continuing."

His expression collapsed.

"Sheila."

"Yes?"

"You’re a cruel woman."

Edith continued reviewing the supply list without looking up.

"That assessment will not be entered into the Command Log."

Dylan turned toward her.

"Edith, surely you understand. I’ve been working so long that the numbers are beginning to look like attractive women. Earlier, I nearly complimented a formula’s curves."

One of the nearby Alchemy students covered her mouth.

Another laughed outright.

Ariana adjusted her glasses.

"That explains why you kept staring at the third column."

"It was exceptionally well arranged."

"Dylan."

"I’m exhausted!"

Liam watched the exchange with mild interest.

There was something almost impressive about Dylan’s ability to transition from extraordinary technical competence to shameless nonsense without any intermediate stage.

’Competence has consequences. He’s discovering them in real time.’

Dylan made one last attempt.

"Think of Veyrhold’s future. If I continue working under these conditions, my priceless intellectual abilities may suffer permanent damage."

"You were just insulting the ancient designers at the top of your lungs," Sheila observed.

"That was the last magnificent act of a dying genius."

Ariana sighed.

Edith finally lowered her notes.

"Dylan."

He turned.

"Yes, my wonderfully reasonable vice commander?"

"If you remain and help Ariana complete the restoration, I’ll ensure you receive an additional serving at dinner."

Silence.

Dylan stopped moving.

His expression became completely neutral.

He looked at Edith.

"An actual extra serving?"

"Yes."

He straightened slightly.

"Not a symbolic serving?"

"No."

"Not an extra spoonful of vegetables?"

Edith looked him directly in the eyes.

"A proper additional portion."

Dylan considered this with the seriousness of a diplomat negotiating the fate of nations.

"Meat?"

"Yes, Dylan. Meat."

His eyes sharpened.

"From the hunting party?"

"From the evening meal being prepared, yes."

"You’re certain?"

Edith’s expression remained perfectly calm.

"I will personally see to it."

For a moment, Dylan simply stood there.

Then he inhaled deeply.

His shoulders straightened.

The exhaustion vanished from his face with such suddenness that Ariana blinked.

Dylan clapped his hands together.

"RIGHT!"

Several students jumped.

He turned toward the chamber with renewed enthusiasm.

"What are we all standing around for? We’ve got a reservoir to restore!"

Ariana stared.

"Dylan."

He pointed toward the central crystal.

"Veyrhold’s future depends on us! Every second we waste is another second this beautiful structure remains powerless!"

"You were begging to leave ten seconds ago."

Dylan looked at her with profound disappointment.

"Ariana, please. People grow."

Sheila pressed her lips together, suppressing a smile.

Edith returned to her notes as though nothing unusual had occurred.

Dylan continued, undeterred.

"Priorities change. Perspectives evolve. Sometimes a man experiences a profound personal transformation."

"Because of dinner?" Ariana asked.

"Because of purpose."

"Meat," Liam corrected quietly.

Dylan pointed at him.

"Purpose can be delicious, you miserable corpse."

A few students laughed.

Liam regarded him with complete indifference.

’Apparently, food restores more than Myst.’

Dylan rolled his shoulders and looked around the workstation.

"Alright, Ariana. Let’s get moving. What do you need me to do?"

She smiled sweetly.

"Well, since you’re feeling so motivated..."

"Immensely."

"Start by bringing those prepared containers over to the eastern workstation. Then check the replacement fittings beside them and help the Forgemastery students prepare the bypass housing."

Dylan followed her gesture.

There were quite a few containers.

And several heavy-looking components.

He stared at them.

Then slowly looked back at Ariana.

"All of those?"

"Every single one."

His renewed enthusiasm suffered a visible injury.

Ariana maintained her pleasant smile.

"You’re the one who understands the bypass best."

Dylan glanced toward Edith.

She raised one eyebrow.

"Extra serving," she reminded him.

He closed his eyes briefly.

Then opened them with renewed determination.

"Fine."

He marched toward the equipment, muttering under his breath.

"Eleven hours of mental torture, an engineering breakthrough worthy of historical recognition, and now I’m transporting containers. This is how civilizations mistreat their greatest minds."

"Careful with the glass ones," Ariana called after him.

"I KNOW!"

"And don’t mix up the stabilizing compounds."

"I KNOW!"

"And Dylan?"

He stopped.

"What?"

"Thank you."

That made him pause.

Ariana smiled warmly.

"You really did find something important."

For once, Dylan’s response came without an immediate joke.

He glanced back at the diagram, then at the ancient reservoir.

A small, satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"Yeah," he said. "I suppose I did."

Then he lifted the first container.

A moment later, his usual personality returned.

"But if this thing works, I want everyone to remember who saved the day!"

"Carry the equipment," Edith replied.

"Yes, ma’am."

Laughter spread through the chamber as the students began reorganizing their work.

Ariana returned to her calculations, now with a clear procedure to prepare. Several Alchemy students gathered the previous test results while others arranged the necessary stabilizing materials. The Forgemastery students moved toward the maintenance assembly, ready to inspect and reinforce the bypass before any Myst was introduced.

Sheila watched the teams fall into their assignments with quiet satisfaction.

They were not finished.

The reservoir remained inactive, and the success of the new procedure was still uncertain.

But the students finally understood what they needed to attempt, and each group had a meaningful role in making it possible.

Liam stood beside her, observing Dylan struggle to balance his second container without disturbing the contents.

’Eleven hours of suffering,’ he thought. ’Apparently cured by the possibility of extra venison.’

Dylan noticed him watching.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Then stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like I’m an idiot."

Liam considered the request.

"That might require a convincing argument."

Dylan opened his mouth to retaliate.

"DYLAN!" Ariana called.

He flinched.

"COMING!"

Liam watched him hurry toward the workstation.

’Remarkable.’

For all his complaining, the blond clown had discovered something none of them had recognized. Ariana had turned that discovery into a practical restoration plan, and the students around them were already preparing to carry it out.