Natali Lonskaïa :
The remains of his ship were now piled in one corner of the room, and beside them stood something resembling a massive school bus stripped of its bodywork.
But what surprised me the most was the machinery installed at the center of the room.
A metallic ring, roughly the size of a refrigerator and shimmering with countless shades of color, floated weightlessly above a structure, slowly rotating on its axis.
The two energy sources Jérémy called "Celestial Rings," the ones he now possessed, faced this new ring, each suspended by a metal arm.
The entire complex structure was connected to a round platform equipped with several control levers.
Two consoles stood on either side, each protected by tinted glass. Behind those glass panels, I could see Daniel and Jérémy intensely focused on their work.
I had to admit — it wasn't something you saw every day.
But I was reassured to find that he had actually made considerable progress.
The warehouse, once immaculate, was now laced with electrical cables running along the walls and ceiling, all converging toward a central control station set up in another corner.
On one of the screens, an avatar appeared, giving the impression of organized chaos in what used to be a sparse workspace.
"Told you you'd be surprised," Séraphina whispered, clearly amused by the expression on my face.
I composed myself just as Jérémy lifted his head upon noticing us.
"Hello, it's been a while. What do you think of all this?" he asked, pausing his work, while Daniel greeted me with a sharp military salute.
"Hello to you," I replied, carefully scanning the room. "You've certainly managed to make this space your own."
At that moment, a rolling robot approached me, carrying a vertical screen on which the avatar I'd seen earlier was displayed.
I instantly recognized the entity Jérémy called his daughter — the one who handled his livestream during his trip.
Thanks to a report from Séraphina, I had learned she was among the things he had retrieved in France.
On the screen stood a young woman in a finely embroidered gown, almost regal in elegance, who bowed gracefully.
"Hello, my name is Iris. You must be Madam Natali Lonskaïa. My father and Séraphina have spoken of you often," she said with a refined curtsey.
I shot a brief glance toward Jérémy, wondering if she could truly be his creation — her manners and presence were astonishingly sophisticated.
"Pleasure to meet you, Iris. I followed your livestream performance, as well as Séraphina's reports," I replied, observing this entity that, surprisingly, bore none of the traits of an ordinary AI.
Every facial expression, every gesture, every movement was so human it only deepened my curiosity.
Jérémy approached us in his work clothes, stained and worn, pulling off his blue gloves with a light smile.
"You know, you could come visit us more often instead of just reading those reports," he teased.
He wasn't entirely wrong — since our last discussion, I had never come to check his progress in person.
But frankly, it was partly his fault, with all the administrative chaos caused by his presence here.
"I'll remind you that I have a job that takes up most of my time — not to mention the extra workload caused by your activities," I replied, sharper than intended.
"What do you mean?" he asked, genuinely confused, raising his hands defensively.
"Several countries are trying to retrieve you, for your information. And we still need to schedule your meeting with various ambassadors — starting with France.
Not to mention the spies and all the matters that directly concern you," I said bitterly.
Honestly, it felt like talking to a child locked in his room with his toys…
"And why should I meet them? I have nothing to do with politics," he protested, his displeasure visible on his face.
"In case you're unaware, many people are asking for news about you and accusing us of holding you here against your will.
Congratulations — you've become someone important, and you're going to have to make a public appearance.
The president is constantly traveling to calm tensions with other countries because of you."
Ever since he'd returned from France, President Atlas had been almost perpetually abroad meeting other leaders — to the point that I hadn't even seen him once since then.
"She's right, unfortunately," Iris added, to my surprise. "On social media, many people believe you're being held here. It's putting growing pressure on the country."
Her intervention surprised me, but I was relieved that at least someone understood the situation.
Jérémy lowered his head, visibly troubled.
"I'm really sorry for all the extra work I'm causing you. But you'll soon understand why all this is necessary.
Do you have the gold bar with you?"
Séraphina, who had been quiet until then, stepped forward and handed it to him.
"That was the last ingredient you needed?" she asked.
"I'll remind you that everything in this room was provided on credit," I added, making it clear that I expected a return on investment.
I noticed Iris's expression tighten ever so slightly upon hearing my remark.
"Yes, I'm quite aware, don't worry," he replied in a surprisingly dry tone — very unlike his usual cheerful demeanor.
He paused before continuing:
"If you have a moment to spare, Natali, stay and let me show you how a Celestial Ring is made… and the return on your investment."
He added a provocative smirk.
Even though I wasn't eager to return to my mountain of paperwork, my curiosity won — and I stayed.
I watched him break down the gold bar into a fine powder, from which he took only a heaping spoonful.
Standing beside his daughter Iris and Séraphina, I found myself face-to-face with the enormous metallic ring.
Upon closer inspection, I realized it was literally floating in midair, undoubtedly thanks to an electromagnetic system.
Jérémy, assisted by Daniel, approached the ring and began spinning it manually while sprinkling the gold powder with precision.
The variations in color I had noticed earlier were likely the result of the different materials he was applying to the surface.
"Please follow me — the ignition phase can be quite dazzling," Iris warned.
She guided us to one of the consoles protected by tinted glass, while Daniel and Séraphina took their positions.
Jérémy moved to the round platform between the consoles, wearing heavy tinted goggles.
He grasped two overhead handles and pulled them down as his feet locked automatically into the platform.
Each of his movements was echoed by the mechanical systems linked to the ring, producing metallic groans that echoed throughout the entire room.
"You're not planning to blow everything up, are you?" I asked, half-sarcastic but truly worried by the complexity of the machinery coming to life.
"Hopefully not," he replied with a faint grin before announcing:
"Starting the procedure."
The ring began spinning faster and faster, almost frantically.
As its speed increased, the metal arms shifted, applying precise pressure to the surface.
A soft hum grew louder, and the air vibrated as a faint burning smell filled the room.
"— Rotation at 2,000 revolutions per minute," announced Séraphina.
"— Flux stable, temperature rising," added Daniel.
The scene was growing increasingly electric — literally and figuratively.
The ring reached an astonishing speed, its metallic shades melting into a single hypnotic glow.
The humming noise reverberated throughout the warehouse like a distant thunder.
Jérémy, fully focused, guided the mechanical arms with almost military precision.
His feet remained locked to the platform.
Everyone seemed to know exactly what they had to do…
except Iris, whose avatar watched me quietly from the side of the screen, without participating in the procedure.
Even silent, she appeared to observe me closely — too closely.
I recalled Séraphina's warnings, and a shiver ran down my spine.
Daniel and Séraphina continued calling out rising values.
"— Temperature at 850 degrees Celsius," said Séraphina, a hint of worry in her voice.
"— Energy flux stabilizing in 3… 2… 1…" declared Daniel.
Suddenly — to everyone's astonishment — Jérémy began reciting a deep, solemn chant, like an ancient prayer.
A palpable tension filled the air.
The central ring glowed red, then white-hot, as massive electric arcs burst around it.
"I, Jérémy Chapi, dream-walker, speak to echoes of another time. Wandering souls, imprints of a fading light…
You who still drift in the breath of the world… hear my call."
His voice carried a gravity I had never heard from him.
The walls trembled with the intensity of his words.
The ring brightened, shifting from incandescent red to blinding white.
We stood frozen, unable to comprehend what he was trying to accomplish, as he adjusted the handles above him.
A strange energy filled the room.
The electric arcs formed something like a luminous cage, and a vortex began swirling at the center of the ring — as if something invisible was attempting to cross a boundary.
"Come to us… you who accept. Embrace the light, find your destiny.
Join the eternal circle. Enter the Celestial Ring… and let yourself be guided."
I glanced at Séraphina and Daniel; they were just as bewildered as I was.
The room vibrated under the force unleashed, and Jérémy's chant took on an almost mystical resonance.
"Spirit bound to oblivion, scattered shadow of bygone days, grant us a fragment of your essence.
Embrace this eternal circle and let your being transcend flesh.
You, man of the oceans, who fought social injustice… you who brought a spark of light into our world…
Victor!"
His voice, half-prayer, half-incantation, echoed with something ancient and indescribable.
The very air felt heavy with an invisible force, an energy that defied comprehension.
Jérémy paused briefly.
"This is my purpose. I will make sure this world shines, and that no one is ever forgotten."
These words broke the solemn rhythm of his chant.
The ring suddenly flared with a brightness so intense it seemed to devour the surrounding light.
Even behind the tinted windows, we had to shield our eyes.
Then — silence.
A deep, resonating silence broken only by the low rumble of machinery and the crackling of dissipating electricity.
As the glow faded, an eerie calm filled the room.
Séraphina and Daniel stood speechless.
Jérémy, standing in the center of the platform, was drenched in sweat, exposing a large old scar across his abdomen.
Breathless, he struggled to catch his breath, yet an unusual gleam shone in his eyes.
He flashed me a proud, almost triumphant smile — though none of us understood what had just happened.
Jérémy stepped down from the platform, staggering slightly, and hurried toward the ring.
His ragged breathing betrayed his exhaustion.
"Thank you again for being here, Victor… and well done, both of you," he murmured as he placed his hand on the structure with almost delicate affection.
Despite the ringing in my ears, I heard him clearly.
He shifted aside the two smaller rings on either side of the main one — and I noticed at once that their glow had changed.
They flickered weakly, like dying embers.
The second one, particularly, looked close to extinguishing.
"Everything went well, thank you again. You were wonderful. Rest now."
He was speaking to them as though they were living beings — which did nothing to alleviate my growing doubts about his mental stability…
But I set that thought aside for the moment.
He carefully detached the two small rings, placing them gently on the floor with something akin to reverence, before reconnecting the brightest one to a stand.
"Well then," he said, turning toward me, "this is part of the promise we made."
He gestured toward the enormous ring still floating in midair — imposing, otherworldly, almost unreal.
"I can see that," I replied, stepping closer.
"We could link the base to the ring to run a test," suggested Daniel, already excited.
"Not yet," Jérémy said, shaking his head. "I'll need him to make three more rings of this size."
"Three more? But… how many would it take to power a whole country?" Daniel asked, astonished.
"Oh, normally just this one could power four countries the size of France.
But I want to create an even larger one — powerful enough to supply an entire continent.
With that, I hope to calm down certain nations if we offer them such a solution.
What do you think, Natali?"
I took a moment to reflect.
"I think many countries will be interested.
But how do you plan to prevent this energy from being diverted for military use?"
Jérémy crossed his arms.
"We've thought about that at length, my daughter and I.
The best solution would be to found our own country — a principality where we would directly control the embassies that serve as power stations.
That way, we maintain control of the energy… while sparing you the political fallout."
Iris suddenly projected complex diagrams, calculations, and simulations across the screen.
Her precision was impressive.
The project was ambitious — colossal — yet surprisingly plausible.
But the ethical questions were equally massive.
"It's not an easy request," I admitted, "but it's not impossible if you present it before the UN.
It would resolve the constant demands, separate your responsibilities from ours… and may stabilize the geopolitical situation.
I'll speak with the president, but it shouldn't be an issue."
Iris abruptly cut me off.
"Except… we have a slight problem."
I looked at Jérémy — puzzled.
He rubbed his hands together nervously.
"Uh… how can I put this…
I'm not really used to speaking in front of crowds.
Let alone politicians.
What if Iris went instead…?"
I nearly choked.
No. Not again.
"No. This time, you don't have a choice.
You will go yourself — even if it means taking an accelerated socio-political course."
Jérémy tried another excuse.
"But… who will make the rings while I'm gone?"
I sighed.
"Daniel and Séraphina are perfectly capable.
They watched everything from start to finish."
Jérémy shook his head.
"Sorry… but it's not that simple.
If you didn't hear anything, you won't be able to do it."
We stared at him, confused.
Iris looked away, deliberately avoiding our eyes.
"Try it, you'll see," he added cryptically.
"They'll do what they can during your training.
I refuse to relive another fiasco like the journalist incident," I said — perhaps a bit too sharply.
"You should do it, Dad. You need it. And I'll be here to help them," Iris added.
"…All right," Jérémy conceded. "I'll rely on you."
"Perfect.
I'll expect you in my office tomorrow at dawn.
And you will wear the outfit we provide you," I concluded, leaving no room for discussion.