"Obviously not for a Lyctor!" Dulcinea responds. "The field isn't touching the walls or the floor, it's set back a couple micrometers."

"And I'm guessing they've already accounted for someone going around..."

"It's all solid steel, I'm afraid. No way to get through."

Unfortunately she did not pack the heavy machinery and they don't have comms so she can't just order some delivered. Oversight.

"There must be a trick to it, though - you said you think you know the solution?"

"Well, yes. It's obvious when you think about it a little. You need to maintain a ward against the senescence, but the entropy field will drain out any thanergy within it. So, you just take your thanergy from a source outside the field." Cough. "Simple, right?"

She's familiar with conversion of thanergy to thalergy - and she's studied large scale energy transfers plenty - 

"Siphoning," she says, flatly, "Or some other trick with the same underlying principles."

"Not exactly as the Eighth practices it, I shouldn't think. No need to displace your cav's soul. But yes."

She considers the distance, considers what she knows of energy transferal - 

Even running, siphoning a single person would be potentially deadly - would cause brain damage even if they survive - even if she somehow siphons both Naberia and Phoe, it'd be so risky - 

Her lips thin. "Unless you're volunteering your own cavalier, I'll have to decline."

Septimus smiles. It doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Aw. I'm afraid I can't give Pro up like that. I'd do it myself, you know, it's just that it's an awful far way and I can't get there unsupported."

Is that really her first concern? 

Phae shakes her head. "Thank you for the information - but we're not going to try this one, at least not today."

"Neither of you?" she inquires.

"I'm with Phae. We're a team."

"How delightful." Her smile is more real this time.

What is with her. "If you need advice on a different trial - let us know," she says at length, voice neutral. 

"I will do so!" she says happily. "You seem to really know your stuff."

"You as well."

And with that, the Seventh takes their leave from the lab.

"...She's not like her reputation."

"She's dangerous," is Naberia's assessment. "And her cavalier- something's off with his stances."

"Next library group meeting - I want to veto her participation." And see how the others react to that.

"Fair and reasonable."

Well.

Onwards to the other labs? They can give the rose trial a good try...

Might as well try. Not like it can be any worse than this one.

Hopefully not.