The workshop had become a second skin.
Kaelen woke before dawn, the beast curled against his side, the smell of sawdust and charcoal clinging to his clothes, his hair, the inside of his nose. He had slept at the table again, his back stiff, his neck crooked, his fingers still stained with the marks of yesterday's work. The fire had burned out hours ago, leaving the room cold and dim, and his breath misted in the air as he sat up.
The twins had gone home at midnight, their arms full of sketches, their eyes bright with the particular exhaustion of minds that had been stretched too far and were still hungry for more. They would return at dawn, as they always did, and the cycle would begin again.
Kaelen pushed back from the table. Spike stretched, yawned, and hopped off his lap.
[System: Good morning, Host.]
[Current point Balance: 840]
[Daily Mission: Test Wave Dampening Nodes – 0/12 Complete]
[Reward: 120 points upon completion]
