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They said that they will put him in the box again, if he isn't able to do what they want him to. Being in the box makes him feel terrible. You can't move, and it feels really bad when he can't move.
He chooses not to say anything when he sees the technician incorrectly set the wards surrounding the testing chamber.
The proctor says it's time to test Firecalling. A full force test. He doesn't see who it is – he just hears the voice. He complies, and puts out as much Fire as he can. His fire is black, rimmed and flecked with red.
An alarm sounds. The proctor says to stop.
He does not stop.
The proctor says to stop, now more urgently.
He does not stop.
The proctor says that if he doesn't stop, they'll bring out the ball.
He does not stop. And now, he uses his Metallurgy and and Windkeeping too.
The proctor stops, because the testing chamber has exploded. In fact, the whole of Alphazon's base on Mars has exploded.
He realizes what's happening and creates a bubble of air around him, even though he doesn't need air. Not anymore.
Is there anything left of the base? Is there anyone left?
"Alpha…zon? Now where have I heard that name before? An eidetic memory certainly sounds useful, young man, if I had one I'd know!"
If Conrad doesn't explain she's going to poke through a notebook.
"I don't know much about Alphazon either, but I do know they're a very big business. They created me, but I ran away from them. I didn't get to learn much about how they worked outside of the place I was kept, on Mars. That's one of the reasons I've been looking for matrons."
"Oh, you poor thing! No wonder you're looking for a matron, indeed! Saffron's got a strong household, if she accepts you that should help."
Wonderful. Honestly, he might just accept if she gives him an offer, because he's already feeling kind of leery about Hawthorne, and Cumin seems nice. Although niceness is not transitive. But if Cumin decided to work for Saffron, then that is not nothing.
"Do you know when Madam Saffron might be interested in meeting with me to watch demonstrations or write a contract?"
"I'll ask her."
«Saffron, new potential client visited, name of 'Conrad'. He's a very polite young man who recently ran away from Alphazon and is looking for protection, and he's downright eager to learn all the fancy Firecalling tricks you're willing to teach. Do you think you could take him?»
«Oh, I know, I know. But he crafted a little engine on the spot just as a demonstration, from nothing! Surely that's of interest to you?»
«You do have a point, bleeding-heart though we know you are. Sure. Invite him to dinner and I'll talk to him.»
The air around her darkens and crackles a bit. "Why, if I didn't have other obligations, I'd want to give those folks at Alphazon a piece of my mind!"
"But I shouldn't, wouldn't be wise. Dinner, young man, is the main meal of the day! Ah, a meal is a time for eating food. At Saffron's estate it's in the evening, and she makes a production of it. We dine together in the grand hall, and there'll be wine and multiple courses and someone will be directing the instruments to play music. You'll want to eat properly, I can give you instructions with Sending."
"Oh. I've eaten food before, but I haven't had an experience similar to this. I know that other people need to eat food regularly, but I don't. I don't know what wine is. I will eat properly with the instructions Sent to me." He knows how to eat, but presumably Dinner™ is different from merely eating.
He will follow wherever Cumin leads him.
She'll lead him on her broomstick to a mildly isolated bubble with a large, stately house in it surrounded by gardens.
He will look at All The Things.
"May I know what your role is in Madam Saffron's estate? What work do you do? Do you do domain maintenance?"
"Oh, bits of this and that. Some domain maintenance, some potions work, I'm on call if the estate is attacked, that's the main bits I suppose. I'd like to say I play guitar for her but that'd be lying, she doesn't think I'm very good and so I have to practice away from the main estate or in a soundproof room. Maybe someday."
Oh yeah. He would probably be called to defend the estate if he signs on with her. He can't just run away. He should learn how to use his powers defensively, like putting up traps or something. He has no idea how to approach that whole new field of Defensive Magic.
"That sounds sad," Conrad says. "I like dancing. And moving around. Do you think Madam Saffron will permit that?" The gardens have So Much Space.
They can land on a tiled area in the back garden.
"Oh, definitely. The thing with playing music is that it's hard for people to ignore it if they don't like it, because they can't close their ears! But dancing and running around aren't like that, and as you can tell from where you met me I do spend time off the estate."
"Really? Other people can't close their ears? I'm surprised.
Oh. You don't have to be on the estate all the time? How big is Madam Saffron's estate? Is it this whole bubble?"
"Yes, young man, most people can't close their ears. They can cover them or put insulation in but it's inconvenient. Saffron's estate is this whole bubble, and I don't have to be on the estate all the time. You likely won't either, though for defensive support it'll be best if you don't get too far away."
Conrad will walk alongside her.
"I didn't know that. And I can travel very quickly on my motorcycle and with Metallurgy and Windkeeping. But I understand why it would be better if I was closer."
"Good, good. Now, if you can't clean yourself magically I'll show you to the baths, and you should refresh your garments, and then I'll show you to the hall."
"I can clean myself magically. I don't know what a bath is. Do you want me to change my clothes?"
He will breathe out nanites and they will swarm his body and remove dirt.
"A bath is when you clean yourself with water and soaps. Or sometimes you just relax in the water, I'm a fan of it, but now's not the time. If you're wearing your innate clothing it'd be rude to ask you to change, and it just needs to be clean, but if it isn't I'd recommend you summon and put on your robe, or borrow one from the house."