After rummaging the house for a possible items to be used for a prototype. Selina returned to the short hall outside of the second floor, bedroom.
Holding materials consisting of a box of matches she picked from the fireplace and a bottle of powdered black-rimmed sunflower. Along with tools like knife, cloth and a few empty can and metal-lid small bottles.
With her hands filled, she proceeded towards the room at the end of the corridor and placed the materials on the nearby desk.
The room features a two considerably large windows, with three sofas in the corner facing a tea table across each other.
It containes an empty bookshelf and a waist level desk appearing to be drawer as well, where she occupied a seat infront.
Her hand withdrew to her personally crafted gun-holster, strapped around her thigh, concealed by her corset dress and took out her revolver.
She first unload the chamber of the gun, then proceeded to turn some of the bullet's head open.
The first attempt, she couldn't make the lib move with just her bare hands. So instead, she opted to use the knife in removing the bullet's lid.
But again, she wasn't able to make any movement from the lib.
With a short sigh, Selina thought for a moment before deciding to retry and proceed with a different approach.
This time, she placed her fingers near the tip of the knife and at its back.
Just as she exerted force to her fingers. The lid popped open—and with it, a sudden, sharp pain shot from her thumb.
Ouch! Selina hissed under her breath.
Drops of crimson liquid began to form a line from the tip of her finger, coursing all the way to her palm before dripping onto the floor.
Selina... Be more careful... She emphasized to herself before wiping the mild wound from her fingertips with a cloth and covering it.
Afterwards, her hand poured the gunpowder contents of the headless bullets to a small, squarish teared cloth, forming a small mound.
Upon seeing the materials laid before her. She began to revise and recall her concept of a grenade.
Combustion is the core concept of a grenade. It adheres to a molecular reaction that produces violent explosion which is the grenade's intended result.
From her general idea garnered from occasional terrorist news in websites and tvs. She concluded that the grenade had shrapnels that brings lethal injuries when came into contact at a radius of explosion.
But such a conventional material doesn't exist in this world and Selina wasn't completely fond of its potential effects.
It might even retaliate when used!
Because of this, she only plan to produce an explosion which should only cover the whole premises of a room. As such, her decision to remain in her residence during the night when attacked proves to be the most acceptable option.
Then, a thought suddenly formed in her mind. Also, to lure them, I would need to know where the churches are and the nearest one.
After a moment, she settled. Then first thing tomorrow, I'll familiarize myself with the city's layouts.
Starting from here in Daffodil Street and to a nearby cathedral.
Whichever orthodox church is acceptable, as they all share a common goal of eliminating any potential beyonder threats.
With all this in mind. Selina began to craft a crude grenade.
She first poured a few grams of gunpowder in an empty glass container. Her reason for choosing a glass container specifically is because of its fragile appearance that can easily burst with enough force.
I guess... the glass can also be considered as shrapnels when exploded. Selina was still antagonistic about the thought.
Regardless, she decided to brush it aside for now. It was still going to be a prototype. I'm not entirely certain if it could produce the intended results. But if proven, I'll change its container.
Selina then refocused her attention to the task.
After the container was given a considerable amount of gunpowder. She masked the powder with a cloth.
Upon inspection, she sighed inwardly again and emptied the container once more. This time, she first poured the powder of a Black-rimmed Sunflower to the bottle, then layered it with a cloth before adding the gunpowder.
After doing this, she casted her gaze towards the bottle's lid and contemplated on what to do in order for the gunpowder to come into contact with fire
Maybe I can mimic a molotov? It would only take a cloth and oil in order for the fire to remain, right? She muttered silently, thoughts stirring for solutions.
From the dim light being emitted by gas lamps. She suddenly recalled that the world was still using horse carriages in contrast to the modern vehicles that a certain individual should have already introduced during his reign.
That's strange... That senior of mine should've invented, probably an old fashioned vehicle even in his early days.
Considering his constant utilization of his past knowledge. A simple fuel engine vehicles shouldn't have slipped his mind... Selina's right hand almost reached her chin subconsciously.
Is this another case of diverted attention in life?
Then, after a pause, she said silently. Maybe... there's no oil in this world?
This would explain why people are still using horse carriages in spite of the innovative ideas, Mr. Gustav had in mind...
Selina shook her head and proceeded to return her attention to the bottle. Deciding to set those thoughts aside and conclude for now that there are no oil present in this world.
Upon consideration, she picked the lid of the container and punched a hole through the metal lid using a knife.
This time, she carefully exerted force to the knife with both her hands wrapped around the knife's handle.
After producing a hole, she forced a clean cloth into the small crevice, sliding its half out of the lid.
Then, she used it to close the bottle, containing the gunpowder, Black-rimmed Sunflower and a layer of another cloth separating the two powder.
The reason why she used a powder of a Black-rimmed Sunflower was to enhance the effectiveness of the smoke. Possibly adding an effect of irritation to the people within its radius.
This should do... I hope it works. Selina let out a sigh before her creation.
I'm not really knowledgeable at such things. I don't even know if my visualization of a grenade from movies aligns with real life versions...
Sigh... Let's just see for now and adjust accordingly. Selina muttered briefly under her breath.
She then diverted her thoughts to a location where she can test its functionality.
Firstly, the location should be isolated and wouldn't bring any harm to people passing by.
Also, it should be far enough to not cause the officials to be alerted. The sound of the explosion and terrain should also be considered.
Racking her mind for possible testing grounds. She suddenly muttered to herself in contemplation. The outskirts of Tingen...
Then, at that moment. Selina felt her eyes grew sluggish.
Mmm... Is it past midnight already? She murmured. Hands caressjng the bottle filled with gunpowder.
Under the light of the gas lamps and the crimson moon. She began inspecting the bottle once more.
With a flick of her hand, coming into contact with the bottle, she muttered. The bottle is quite durable...
Let's see... In order for something to explode, there should be a reactive combustion happening within an object.
Not only that, but the air inside should be sealed in order for the combustion to reach its limit and break out of the container.
Then, she emphasized. The bottle can be made of fragile glass. But I'm not entirely sure about the range the powder can reach, it might not even cover a whole room...
Suddenly, Selina tilts her head and supports it using her right hand on the desk.
The gunpowder doesn't seem to be enough... I'll buy more bullets in the underground market once I'm there. Hopefully I can find a gun dealer...
With a pause, she turned her gaze onto the nearby window on her left and sighed heavily.
Sigh... I'm tired...
But I need to make sure this prototype would work...
A simple explosion won't be able to disperse clouds of dust around an area. They're two separate functions!
Then, her eyes showed a glint as she exclaimed inwardly. Oh! I got it!
Following her line of thought. Selina said under her breath. Since I'll be staying here, I could use the familiarity of the terrain and place a bag of powder in a corner!
It will become the target of the explosion instead. Effectively dispersing the powder!
Immediately after, Selina slumped to the desk and grumbled. But then It would need to have a destructive effect...
Just as she began to revise her idea of a grenade. A stray high-pitched sound echoed from the room.
Meow~
Subconsciously, Selina turned to where the sound came. To her surprise, she saw the familiar black cat standing at the railing of an open window.
Falacy?
The familiarity made her perform a gesture to call the black cat. Though it slightly eludes her how the cat managed to find her place. She decided to dismiss it off as a guest paying his friend a visit.
The feline responded and leaped off from the railings and approach the drowsy Selina.
It leaped from the floor and onto the desk and began to examining the contents about it as though it had piqued its interest.
With a turn, the cat looked at Selina with a slight curious look.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" She asked in a slow and languid voice.
The cat then retracted his gaze onto the glass bottle, knife, gunpowder, and cloths.
Because of this, Selina quickly understood what the cat is attempting to convey. "You mean these?
"Well, I'm trying to make a gre—"
Just as she utter the word "grenade. She immediately thought that the world haven't discovered the concept of grenade yet. At least, to her knowledge so far.
So instead, after a slight pause, she resumed. "A much bigger bullet...
"One that doesn't fire off shells but instead disperses clouds of dust."
The cat then tilt its head, expressing a more prominent curiosity for Selina.
"It's umm... For when the cult finds me... " She responded, pursing her lips and tightening her grasp of the bottle.
Moments later, she sighed and mocked to herself. "I know... How would a simple and crude explosion do anything against literal beyonders?"
With a pause, she resumed. "But it's not to fend them off... it's to aid me in escaping them if they ever arrived too soon."
The cat moved its tails slightly and made its head upright, still looking at Selina.
Seeing this, Selina assumed the cat's action and said. "Where did I get that idea?"
Feeling as if she's straying further into insanity because of her excessive self-conversing, she gave a self-deprecating laugh and replied to herself. "Well... It's because of a rumor from the drunkards that people had been going to Tingen more frequently."
"It made me thought that maybe among them, are the cult members tasked to retrieve me." She added.
The cat maintained its quiet demeanor.
"I know... Maybe I'm just being paranoid..." She said, her voice tinged with melancholy.
"But to relief myself of worries. I had to this..."
Then, Selina paused. She first observed the cat's expression before sighing softly. "Falacy... Can you accompany me in for a bit?"
After hearing Selina's request. The cat slumped on the desk with its tummy on the wooden board. Seemingly intending to stay beside her as she work.
Seeing this, Selina's expression softened as she retracted her attention back to the glass bottle.
Let's see if there's anything I can substitute the bottle with...
One that can limit the firepower but maintains its standard air release. If there aren't any, then we'll just have to stick with this and pay for any property damage done to the house... Selina muttered inwardly as she began to remove the contents of the bottle.
For the past few hours. Doubting her grenade's functionality. Selina had been entering and exiting the room and rummaging the house of any materials she could use. Reassembling her concept of a grenade and applying it to the available resources she currently have.
Having failed to find other materials that could possibly add to the grenade. She finally settled with her previous prototype, but now with slight adjustments.
On her hand was a bottle filled with gunpowder and black-rimmed sunflower powder separated by a cloth.
The bottle's neck all the way to the gunpowder was covered with another cloth, densely packed and mixed with phosphorus scraped from the match heads, with the cloth's thin end standing out of the bottle's mouth.
After finishing the crude grenade. Selina sighed in relief. "Finally... Now all that's need is to test its functionality."
Then, she revealed a self-deprecating smile and said to herself. "Most of the time was invested in overthinking the concept of the grenade...
"If I didn't wasted it on thinking too much. I might even have enough to time to test it..."
With a sigh, she added. "I should calm myself in these things..."
Seeing this, the cat stood from its seated posture and stretched its body.
As if due to fatigue, Selina's eyes suddenly began to close subconsciously.
Much to her will, she couldn't help but let it happen as she intercept her arms to form a makeshift pillow and lie to its embrace.
Selina suddenly fell asleep.
The black cat, standing on the desk and next to the sleeping Selina, walked towards her face and seated before it.
It watched Selina for a bit. Before it jumped down from the desk and leaped out of the open window that it entered.