For several seconds, the underground reservoir chamber fell into an unusually complete silence.
The Alchemy students stopped comparing their formulas. A Forgemastery student holding a metal fitting slowly lowered his tools, while another turned away from the conduit housing he had been inspecting. Even the two students transporting materials near the eastern support pillars paused to look toward the blond boy standing beside the central workstation.
Dylan Wellington was grinning.
Not his usual mischievous grin, either. This was something considerably more concerning. His green eyes were bright with satisfaction, one hand rested triumphantly against his hip, and he looked as though he had just won an argument against every engineer who had ever lived.
A girl near the Alchemy tables leaned toward her classmate.
"Did he just insult the people who built this place?"
"I think so."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
Another student lowered his voice. "He's been working for over ten hours."
