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?
That is SO UNSETTLING but also the opposite of unsettling at the same time. Conrad is un-unsettled by the knowledge that Saffron has not violated her contract with him.
Conrad will read carefully and sign.
The notary will hand a copy to Saffron and Conrad each, then say farewell and start putting away the camera.
Saffron will smile at Conrad and start leading him out once he's had time to put his copy away. "Welcome to the household! Let's head home."
Conrad will enclose his copy in a rectangular case of metal and put it into his hat.
"Yes, Lady Saffron," he will say, before following Saffron back into her domain.
(Saffron's also put hers in a wooden box in her hat, along with some Kisses she got back at the desk.)
The route back to Saffron's domain goes through the same hall they arrived through. The guard watches them a lot more carefully, this time. Saffron goes to the cubby she arrived with her hand inside and takes Conrad's hand. There isn't a token in the cubby yet, so she watches until there is, then grabs it.
Soon enough after that, the same sort of force as last time attempts to move Conrad.
Saffron is grabbing his hand, so he assumes it works identically to the portkey from before, or is indeed a portkey. So he will not resist.
And Saffron will gesture expansively. "Welcome home, Conrad. Do you want to get into the swing of things now, or shall I show you to your room and let you rest up some?"
There is the temptation to see his room and do Room Stuff now, but he isn't tired.
"The former."
He will follow. He is very excited at the prospect of working with glass!! It shows on his face.
He may be disappointed to learn that, at least for now, things are less focused on him making his own glass, and more on him doing somewhat trivial work in a very, very hot room while Saffron does various things with glass, some of which she even explains. There is some glass he can experiment with in here when he's in between tasks, though.
It's less good but still good! He likes that it's warm. The room he had in Alphazon was usually cold. He will listen attentively when Saffron talks about glass!
He wants to try working with the glass, but he prefers to have the time uninterrupted, so he will not experiment with it for now.
Well, whatever works for him, but glass hot enough to be malleable should stay in here, in his hat, or outside her domain. (She can go over the rules for the glass workshop while she works, in case he wants to stop in while she's out.)
He's mildly upset that he can't work with heated glass in his room. Oh well.
He will listen to the rules for the glass workshop because he'll probably want to go here in his free time.
Once she's confident he can avoid burning things or starting fires, the policy can be revised, but right now the room has wooden furniture in it and such and she doesn't know his skills very well.
He expresses surprise that his room is furnished!! He was totally expecting to furnish the room himself with his own metal, or buy or bargain to get other things. Already he was very happy to be able to do that.
Well, most of Saffron's guests and clients can't make their own furniture. If he cares more about molten glass privileges than about furnishings and a window, he could set up in a basement room instead, but she does recommend the furnishings, a lot of people like having beds even if they don't need to sleep.
Conrad is attached to the window and so will not ask for a basement room. He will ask what a 'bed' is.
Conrad doesn't know what a bed is? Right, raised in a barn. …no, a barn tends to at least have piles of straw around, bad comparison.
"It's a soft surface for lying on. Lots of people who sleep do it in beds. Some people also sit on theirs. …I'm going to ask Cumin to give you a much more detailed tour once we're done here."
Conrad has never seen straw ever!
"Oh. When I was tired I would lie down on the floor, or sit on the floor with my back against the wall."
Detailed tour! Conrad will continue doing menial Firecalling and mundane tasks for Saffron as he directs her.