"Its parts — I want them forged with essence too."
Anastasia's voice rang out through the wide, crowded workshop, seeming to bounce off every surface before crashing into Christian.
He paused mid-motion. And with an appearance even more disheveled than the day before, he turned his head toward her mechanically.
His eyes — shadowed with exhaustion — locked onto her smiling face. For a moment, only despair flickered behind them. But then, frustration crept in, and his gaze sharpened with irritation. At last, he narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth.
"That's impossible."
Anastasia's smile faltered at his flat reply. But Christian, now far removed from the concept of fear, continued with a dry and firm voice.
"That android you saw is still incomplete. And you want a functioning one, right? Then you'll have to be satisfied with the one I'm currently building."
