The Mech Touch

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”Loving a mech design.. ”

”It ’s not as absurd as you think.
This plays into the artistic side of mech design.
Have you ever witnessed art created by AIs? ”

Ketis shook her head.

”Well, they ’re pretty but shallow.
Either they are pale imitations of existing masterpieces, or mathematically-oriented nonsense that is completely meaningless to humans.
The point is that certain mech designers are so caught up in the technical aspects of their designs that they lose sight of more holistic concerns.
I don ’t want you to fall into the same trap. ”

The analogy really shed a light in Ketis.
”Ah, so I have to act less like an AI and more like a human when I design a mech? ”

”Exactly! Designing a mech is like raising a child.
You don ’t want them to put them in school all day and have them learn all the basic subjects.
You want them to live out a full life full of joy and meaning as they grow up.
Only then will your children grow up to be great individuals.
It ’s the same with mechs.
The heart you shaped for them plays a very important role in tying all of the tangible and intangible elements of the mech together. ”

Ves only started with these basic points but Ketis already looked overwhelmed.
He decided this should be enough for her to chew on for the moment.

”Think over my words and see if you can apply them in your own work.
I think your subsequent designs will be a lot more remarkable if they possess hearts! ”

Naturally, Ves did not refer to literal hearts.
He didn ’t wish Ketis to do something gruesome in the mistaken belief that she needed to integrate her mechs with actual organs! That sounded way too much like the extreme behavior of a very deviant fugitive mech designer!

Ketis looked down at the mech miniature she made and let out a frustrated grunt.
”This mech has no heart at all.
It ’s nothing like the original Blackbeak! ”

She angrily picked up the mech miniature and moved over to the trash chute to chuck the useless object away.
Far from impressing someone, Ketis only managed to display her shortcomings in a physical form!

As Ketis wrapped up her work in his private lab, Ves turned to Lucky who had finished his sumptuous meal of minerals.
The cat currently lazed about in the air.

Ves grabbed his gem cat.
”As for you, Lucky.
Don ’t think I ’ve forgotten about your transgression. ”

”Meow? ”

”Don ’t you meow at me.
You know exactly what you ’ve done.
My lab is off-limits to anyone except for us! Heck, the only reason why I gave you permission to enter is because you ’d phase through the walls and floor anyway if I refused to clear your entry.
That doesn ’t mean it ’s okay to bring people over who aren ’t authorized to enter this place! ”

Lucky knew he was in trouble this time.
The cat did as he had always done in response to earning the ire of his owner and attempted to turn intangible and phase through the floor.

Not this time!

Ves exerted his full concentration and attempted to lock Lucky ’s spirituality in place!

Different from last time, Ves was now a Journeyman! His Spirituality had grown significantly stronger ever since his loose design philosophy compacted into a solid design seed!

It worked! Lucky was far weaker when it came to spirituality and could never beat Ves in this regard! Not only that, but Ves also became much more adept at controlling his Spirituality.

All of these changes made it so that Ves had finally gained to power to prevent Lucky from slipping out of his grasp!

”Meow! Meow! Meow! ”

Lucky yowled with panic as he desperately tried to slip away, but no matter how much he squirmed, his body simply refused to shift into an incorporeal state!

Ves grinned at his wayward pet in a devious manner.
”You won ’t escape your punishment this time, Lucky.
What should I do with you? Should I dump you in a bath and wash you? Should I lock you in a box and deprive you of minerals for a month? ”

Lucky ’s yowling grew twice as loud!

”Hahaha! I ’m just kidding. ” Ves said in a teasing manner.
”While I ’m still pissed at you, you ’re simply too cute to be punished. ”

”Meow? ”

”I forgive you. ”

Lucky seemed to relax at that moment and sank into Ves ’ arms.

”Meow! ”

”Yeah, I love you too.
Even if you are naughty every now and then, you ’re still my companion. ”

After Ketis wrapped up the equipment she used and put them into their places, they left the lab floor.

The next day, Ves met with Gavin again who returned with various reports on the situation at the Ylvaine Protectorate.
Although inserting himself and his company into the Protectorate ’s contentious political battles seemed unwise, the reward was simply too good to pass up!

”This offer won ’t be on the table forever, I think. ” Gavin noted as Ves speed-read his way through dozens of detailed reports on a data pad.
”Madame Cecily might be a bit fond of your work, but every day that passes is another day her life is under threat. ”

”I understand, Gavin.
I know I have to make a quick decision on whether to accept this commission.
I think I ’m almost getting around to the idea.
The only issue here is the odd conditions she supplied with her request. ”

”Madame Cecily is really insistent on her demands. ” Gavin helplessly shrugged.
”She doesn ’t want you to design and fabricate the hero mechs she requested from home and export them to the Protectorate.
There are too many opportunities for bad actors to intercept the shipment or to tamper with them along the way. ”

The commission called for Ves to visit the Ylvaine Protectorate in person and use the component licenses and production equipment that Madame Cecily prepared beforehand!

The client really wanted to meet Ves in the flesh to discuss the details of the design in person!

”It seems I ’ll be going on vacation for a couple of months. ”

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