Chapter 116 — Turning Curiosity Into Sparks
S.C. 1511 — Late January
Foosha Village — Underground Lab (Workbench Corner)
Ren sat at a newly cleaned section of his underground workbench—one he had specifically cleared for "strange ideas that might explode."
Zemo sat across from him, paws tucked neatly under his body, eyes full of judgment and mild concern.
On the table lay:
a metal rod
a wooden wheel
a strip of cloth
some leftover zinc from past experiments
a tiny KEA nail
and a coil of copper wire he salvaged from a broken lantern
Ren tapped the copper coil with his pencil.
"So, today… we try electricity."
Zemo tilted his head, instantly confused.
Ren clarified.
"Not lightning. Not thunder. Mini-electricity."
Zemo's confusion deepened.
Ren sighed.
"Okay, fine. Just… sparks. Very tiny sparks."
---
Why Electricity?
Ren unfolded a rough parchment sketch titled:
Hand-Crank Dynamo Concept (Tiny Version)
He whispered:
"If we can generate even a little bit of power… we could run lanterns longer… or small tools… or maybe future signal devices."
Zemo blinked.
Ren continued:
"I'm not trying to invent anything big. Just a small rotating magnet near a coil… basic principle."
He drew simple arrows circling around a crude magnet doodle.
Zemo sniffed the drawing.
Ren nodded.
"Yes, that's the whole idea: spin something → make a faint spark → don't blow up the lab."
---
Step 1 — Making the Crank
Ren picked up the small wooden wheel and the metal rod.
The plan was simple:
Attach wheel > attach rod > rotate rod > rod spins internal mechanism
He hammered a tiny KEA nail through the center of the wheel and into the rod.
Tap. Tap.
Zemo perked up at the sound.
Ren spun it gently.
The wheel turned smoothly.
"Good! One part correct."
Zemo looked impressed.
---
Step 2 — The Coil Test
Ren took the copper coil and wrapped it tighter around a wooden spool.
The goal wasn't a full coil:
Just a few loops
Enough to react
But not enough to burn him
He dipped the ends into the zinc powder mixture he'd prepared earlier.
Zemo sniffed the mixture.
Ren pulled him back.
"No eating metal. Bad Zemo."
Zemo sneezed, offended.
---
Step 3 — Improvised Magnet
Ren didn't have real magnets.
But he remembered something:
Rubbing certain metals with static or friction could align tiny particles.
He wrapped cloth around the metal rod… then rubbed it furiously.
Rub rub rub rub—
Zemo stared in disbelief.
Ren kept rubbing.
Rub rub rub rub rub—
Finally, he tested it with a tiny iron flake.
It clung.
Barely.
But it clung.
Ren pumped his fist.
"Yes! Weak magnet! Still counts!"
Zemo barked, celebrating the microscopic victory.
---
Step 4 — Assembly Time
Ren placed the improvised magnet near the copper coil.
He attached the crank rod so spinning it would make the magnet rotate in small circles.
He tightened everything with rope and tiny nails.
It looked… fragile.
Very fragile.
Zemo stared at the device like it might explode at any moment.
Ren wiped sweat from his forehead.
"…Okay. If this catches fire, don't inhale the smoke."
Zemo nodded gravely.
---
Step 5 — The Test
Ren held the tiny coil ends close to a scrap of thin metal.
Zemo leaned in.
Ren slowly cranked the wheel.
Spin… spin… spin… spin…
Nothing.
Dead silence.
Zemo blinked.
Ren sighed, turning faster.
Spin—spin—spin—spin—
zzzt
A faint spark danced across the metal.
Tiny. Weak. Barely visible.
But real.
Ren froze.
Zemo froze.
Ren whispered:
"…Did you see that?"
Zemo barked once, loudly.
Ren spun faster.
zzzt—zzzt—zzzt
Little sparks flickered like shy fireflies.
Not enough to light a lantern. Not enough to power anything meaningful.
But enough to prove the concept.
---
Ren's Excitement
Ren grabbed his notebook and scribbled furiously:
Hand Dynamo Test 1 — Success!
Spark generated
No overheating
No fire
Weak magnetic rotation works
Copper coil acceptable
Needs larger coil, better metal, stronger magnet
He circled the words:
"This is possible."
Zemo wagged his tail so hard he nearly fell off the stool.
---
Step 6 — The Future
Ren placed the device gently into a wooden box marked:
"Electrics — Do Not Shake"
He sat back, smiling.
"Zemo… someday… we might build a lantern that never needs oil."
Zemo blinked.
"Or maybe a machine that helps us grind herbs."
Zemo blinked again.
"…Fine. Something shiny."
Zemo barked, satisfied.
---
End-of-Day Calm
Ren leaned back against the stone wall.
He wasn't trying to recreate modern technology. Just the basics. Just enough to understand.
Just enough to build tools that would make life easier for his future workers.
He whispered:
"One spark at a time… we're getting there."
Zemo curled beside him, warm and proud.
And in the dim underground chamber, the faint smell of copper and friction lingered like the scent of possibility.
---
End of Chapter 116