Sael stood in front of a workstation laden with materials from their recent expeditions: iron and steel bars from the mines, crystal shards from the elemental hunt, and the massive mana shard from the mana behemoth.

  "This is going to take a while," Sael muttered, staring at the assortment.

  Rhea leaned on the edge of the table, her wolf-like tail flicking. "What exactly are you making, anyway?"

  "A vehicle," Sael replied, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Something that'll make our travels faster and safer. I've been thinking about it since we got all this metal from the mines."

  Lyra, perched on a nearby stool, tilted her head. "A vehicle? Like... a carriage?"

  "Sort of," Sael said, sorting through the steel bars. "Except this won't need horses or beasts. It’ll be powered by mana, using the leftover crystal shards and the mana behemoth core as a main source. It'll take a while, but we can at least get the frame and main components done today."

  Rhea raised an eyebrow. "Sounds ambitious. Where do we start?"

  Sael pointed to the steel bars. "The frame. I'll need the smelters here to help shape them into what I need."

  Sael approached the guild’s smelters and showed them his rough sketches of the vehicle's frame—a sturdy rectangular base with reinforced corners to handle rough terrain. The smelters, intrigued by the project, agreed to shape the bars for a modest fee.

  While they worked, Sael returned to his table and began preparing other components.

  "You know," Rhea said, leaning over his sketches, "you're really good at this crafting stuff. But what about the rest of us? What’s our role in this grand plan of yours?"

  Sael chuckled. "You’re already helping just by keeping me focused. Besides, we’ve got a lot coming up. Once this is done, we’ll be ready for bigger challenges—like the ruins and that guardian beast."

  Lyra’s ears perked up. "I still want to visit the college. I need to find someone to teach me how to control my magic better. It’s been fine so far, but I know I’m barely scratching the surface."

  Sael nodded, glancing at her. "The college is a good idea. I’ll need to swing by anyway to see if they have any texts on rune engineering. Maybe we can all go together after the ruins."

  "What about you, Rhea?" Lyra asked.

  Rhea tapped her claws on the table, her expression thoughtful. "I’ve been thinking... I want to help beastkin like us. Not just individually, but as a group. We’re scattered all over, and it’s hard to find places where we belong. If we could build something—a community or even just better representation—I’d feel like I’m doing something worthwhile."

  Sael paused, setting down a glow stone he’d been shaping for the headlights. "That’s a good goal, Rhea. And you’ve got the drive for it."

  She smiled faintly. "Thanks. Now, let’s see if you’ve got the drive to finish this thing."

  By the time the smelters finished the steel frame, Sael had started working on several smaller components.

  Using glowstones as a base, Sael mounted them into steel casings, embedding runes into the surface with Lyra's guidance to amplify and focus the light. With a twist of a mana shard, the stones glowed brightly, illuminating the workshop.

  System Note:

  GlowStone Headlights Crafted

  Description: Bright, rune-enhanced lights powered by mana shards. Adjustable for intensity.

  Rifling through leftover materials, Sael repurposed some high-quality leather they had purchased for crafting armor. Using wooden frames scavenged from the guild’s scrap pile, he fashioned two padded seats. Rhea helped stretch and secure the leather while Lyra carved simple patterns into the wood for a touch of style.

  System Note:

  Leather-Crafted Vehicle Seats

  Description: Comfortable, durable seats designed for a mana-powered vehicle. Slight resistance to wear and tear.

  Rather than wheels, Sael decided on treads, inspired by machines he’d seen in his previous life. Using flexible steel plates connected by enchanted links, he created a continuous loop system. The design would allow the vehicle to traverse uneven terrain with ease.

  Kaelen passed by during this process, raising an eyebrow at the project. "Ambitious as always, Sael. You’re really leaning into this, aren’t you?"

  Sael grinned. "No point doing it halfway."

  Despite their progress, there were still items Sael couldn’t fabricate himself. He made a quick trip to the guild’s stores, picking up rivets, bolts, and a sturdy, pre-made steering wheel. He also found a few odd parts—springs and hinges—that he thought might come in handy.

  The most critical part was designing a secure housing for the mana behemoth’s core shard. Using steel reinforced with enchanted runes, Sael created a containment box that would protect the core while allowing controlled mana flow to power the vehicle.

  System Note:

  Mana Core Housing Crafted

  Description: A rune-etched steel container designed to regulate and protect a high-energy mana source.

  "That thing’s going to pack a punch," Rhea said, watching him slot the shard into the housing.

  "Which is why it needs to be stable," Sael replied. "The last thing we need is this thing exploding."

  By the end of the day, the frame and components were ready, laid out neatly across the workstation.

  "Not bad for one day," Sael said, wiping sweat from his brow.

  Lyra looked over the glowing headlights, the sturdy frame, and the intricate treads. "It’s really coming together."

  Rhea crossed her arms, her tail swishing. "So what’s next?"

  "Next, we assemble everything," Sael said, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. "And then we make it better."

  At the College

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  The cobbled streets of Darathyr stretched out before them as they made their way to the college. The tall spires of the academic institution loomed in the distance, casting long shadows over the bustling city.

  "You’ve been pretty quiet, Lyra," Sael said, adjusting the pack slung over his shoulder. "What’s on your mind?"

  She hesitated for a moment before answering, her wings fluttering slightly. "I was thinking about how much I still don’t know. The ruins are going to be dangerous, and I... I don’t want to hold us back."

  "You’ve never been a liability," Rhea said firmly, walking beside her. "If anything, you’ve saved our hides more than once. But if it’s more power you’re after, the college is the right place to get it."

  Lyra smiled faintly. "Thanks, Rhea. I just need to make sure I’m prepared."

  "How about you, Rhea?" Sael asked, glancing at her. "You’ve been mentioning helping beastkin a lot lately."

  Rhea’s tail flicked, her expression softening. "It’s not just about helping. It’s about proving we’re more than people think. Growing up, it always felt like we were second-class citizens. I want to change that. I don’t know how yet, but I’ll figure it out."

  Sael nodded, impressed by her determination. "You’ll figure it out," he said with confidence. "And I’ll help however I can."

  The group reached the towering gates of the college. Students in robes bustled about, some carrying stacks of books, others trailing enchanted items floating in the air.

  Meeting Professor Alden

  Inside the west wing, room 314 was just as chaotic as Sael remembered. The faint hum of magic filled the air, and the professor was hunched over a partially restored artifact, muttering to himself.

  “Professor Alden,” Sael said, stepping inside.

  The older man looked up, his glasses perched precariously on his nose. His feline ears flicked, and he offered a wide grin. "Sael! And friends, I see. What brings you here? Another artifact restoration?"

  "Not quite," Sael replied, setting down his sketches. "I’m working on something new—a vehicle powered by mana. I need guidance on connecting all the components to the core, and I was hoping you’d have some advice."

  Alden’s golden eyes lit up with curiosity as he examined the plans. "Hmm, ambitious. I like it. You’ll need to make sure the mana flow is balanced, or you’ll burn out the components—or worse, the core itself. There are rune circuits that can act as regulators, but you’ll need to etch them carefully."

  He rummaged through a nearby stack of books and pulled out a leather-bound tome. "This should help. It’s an advanced guide on rune-based mana integration. And here—" he grabbed another book, this one thinner but brimming with diagrams—"this has examples of mana-powered vehicles from ancient times. Might give you some ideas."

  "Thanks, Professor," Sael said, taking the books.

  Lyra’s Spellbooks

  While Sael consulted with Alden, Lyra wandered to the library. She browsed the towering shelves, running her fingers over the spines of dusty tomes. Her wings fluttered slightly as she pulled out a book titled Illuminating Shadows: Advanced Techniques for Light Mages.

  "That one’s good," a student nearby said. "I used it in my third year. It’s tricky, but worth it."

  Lyra thanked him and grabbed another book on earth magic. By the time she returned to the group, her arms were full of spellbooks, her determination shining in her eyes.

  Back to the Guild

  As they walked back to the crafting guild, the group’s conversation shifted to the upcoming ruins expedition.

  "You think the guardian will be tough?" Rhea asked, adjusting the incubator carrying the thunder drake egg.

  Sael shrugged. "I’d bet on it. Guardians are usually there for a reason, and this one’s been undisturbed for who knows how long. We’ll need to be at the top of our game."

  Rhea smirked. "Good thing we’ll have a tank by then."

  "With you driving, we’ll be unstoppable," Sael teased, earning a playful swat from her tail.

  Lyra, balancing a book on her wings, chimed in. "Don’t forget we’ll need strategy too. Raw power won’t be enough if it has traps or defenses we don’t expect."

  Sael grinned. "That’s why we’ve got you, Lyra. Between your spells and Rhea’s claws, we’ll handle whatever’s in there."

  Assembly Preparation

  Back at the guild, Sael spread the books out on his workstation and began reading through the sections on mana circuits and ancient vehicles. He carefully etched runes into the vehicle’s components, referencing the diagrams in the book to ensure the mana flow would be stable.

  Sael glanced at the partially assembled frame, his mind already racing with ideas for the next steps.

  The guild's crafting hall was growing quiet as night fell and the work continued. Many gathered around to watch and listen the clatter of tools and the low hum of enchantments as Sael laid out the components he’d prepared. The vehicle’s steel frame, now fully welded and reinforced, dominated the workspace. Torches and hearths cast a warm light over the organized chaos of runes, blueprints, and scattered parts.

  Sael exhaled deeply, spreading one of the books from Professor Alden across the bench. The section on integrating a mana core into complex machinery was dense, its diagrams littered with notes about mana flow stabilization and conduit mapping.

  “Okay, let’s start with the power system,” he muttered, flipping the book open to the schematics he needed.

  The massive behemoth core mana shard glimmered faintly as Sael carefully secured it into the central compartment he had designed. It fit snugly into a rune-inscribed housing that Lyra helped stabilize with precision light magic.

  “Make sure those runes are aligned,” Lyra said, leaning over to double-check his work.

  “They are,” Sael replied, tightening the final bolts around the core housing. “I’ve got this.”

  Once the core was in place, he connected mana conduits to the vehicle’s systems: the radar scanner, the glowstone headlights, and the drive mechanism. Using the books Alden had loaned him, Sael etched intricate rune circuits along the conduits to ensure the mana flow remained balanced.

  The glowstone headlights were mounted at the front of the vehicle, their enchanted crystals calibrated to emit a focused beam of light. The radar scanner was installed next the dashboard. Sael connected it to the mana core through a series of enchanted wires, using runes to stabilize its interface with the other systems.

  As he finished etching the runes for the last connection, the radar scanner emitted its familiar hum, projecting a faint map of the guild hall.

  “Still works perfectly,” Sael said, grinning.

  “Good thing, too,” Rhea added, inspecting the dashboard. “This thing’s going to be our eyes in the wild.”

  The books provided detailed diagrams on how to channel mana into the gear system, which allowed Sael to create a smooth transfer of energy from the core to the treads. Once completed, the treads rotated smoothly, their movement powered entirely by the core’s steady mana flow.

  Inside the vehicle, Sael installed the leather-covered seats he crafted. The interior was sparse but functional, with enough space for Rhea and Lyra to sit comfortably. Sael left a portion of the roof open above the back section, ensuring there would be enough space for him to mount his exo-suit cannon in the future.

  “This spot will work,” Sael said, patting the exposed frame at the back. “Once I get the exo-suit integrated, this will be the turret.”

  Rhea smirked. “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

  Sael shrugged. “I try.”

  Final Testing and Activation

  With all components in place, Sael stood back to admire his work. The tank-like vehicle gleamed in the light, its compact yet rugged design radiating power and practicality.

  “All right,” Sael said, wiping his hands on a rag. “Moment of truth.”

  He climbed into the driver’s seat, placing his hands on the mana-linked steering mechanism. He flipped the switch to turn it on, and the mana core pulsed, with the vehicle roaring to life, the treads whirring softly as the glowstone headlights flickered on.

  System Message

  Crafting Complete!

  Ancient Vehicle Crafted

  Description: A mana-powered tank-like vehicle combining advanced rune crafting and monster crafting. Equipped with a radar scanner, glowstone headlights, and modular upgrades.

  Radar Scanner: Detects movement and magical anomalies. Includes Map functionality, and highlights nearby life.

  Glowstone Headlights: Provides enhanced visibility.

  Modular Design: Includes a mount for future exo-suit cannon integration.

  Skill Progression:

  Journeyman Crafting → [Lv.4]: Increased proficiency in crafting complex multi-component items.

  Rune Crafting → [Lv.4]: Enhanced understanding and application of advanced rune circuits.

  “Not bad,” Sael said, stepping back as the vehicle settled into a low, steady hum.

  “Not bad?” Lyra echoed, hands on her hips. “It’s incredible.”

  Rhea leaned against the tank, her tail swishing in approval. “This thing’s a beast. I can’t wait to take it for a spin.”

  Sael grinned, already running through ideas for upgrades. “We’ll test it tomorrow. For now, let’s get some rest. We’ve got a lot to prepare for.”