Chapter 16: Midnight

...

First things first, all you need to know is that there is a connection in every single moment of existence. I repeat, IN EVERY SINGLE THING! No matter how absurd, laughable, or simple it is. You must believe that there is a relationship between two things that is either far-flung or painfully obvious. There IS a common factor, distant or near, between them. Who knows? This book you are currently reading might lead to your lifelong partner.

-the first paragraph of 'Introduction to Soul Studies'.

...

Machines are both complex and simple. Either they operate simple mechanics like an up-down zipper or transmute sophisticated theorems and applications, like the star engine of a small fighter class ship, installed inside a fifty million luxury car.

Simple or not, they still follow a fundamental outline based on their purpose. Using mechanical, electrical, galactic physics, and other knowledge to build machines that will faithfully accomplish what they are tasked to do.

A similar design with Lon's invention.

This system has five core components that have identical functions the others have. Each has an array of secondary processes and an integral purpose that further makes them necessary parts.

The regulators check if there is excessive input that will enter the system, blockage in certain areas, or destroyed wire lines. In the advent it happened, they only have a job to do. Termination of defective parts, overhauling useless additions, and simply restraining the incoming flow of energy. A simple repertoire of their skills.

On the other end of the spectrum is the amplifier. Whenever a small quantity of energy enters, it will come out with the same amount but with a higher power level for each molecule. This guy the reason occasional defects kept generated in the internal regions. A headache for the mister regulator.

On the sidelines are our poor transport lines. Its name says it all. Transferring the required substance to the respective destinations is the only thing she does right. Being abandoned at first signs of trouble made her develop a sinister personality. Don't loom over the innocent face because staring at her blueprint picture will wake you up. Who says no one would get confused at the sight of her tangled hair.

Next up is the sire engine. He's called in many names but this moniker is an infamous one. Develops corresponding energy the system activity needs. A loyal bachelor that will function until it dies when treated the right love and care.

Young miss function block has the same importance as the other parts. She's the only one responsible for the survival of the system. Rivals have always tried to usurp her position, only to die in the end.

Each one is made to ensure that all the components of the system are strictly abiding according to their line of codes. One malfunction and everything will crumble. They are more or less the textbook definition in some manuscripts.

Still, he's no engineer or scientist to have the confidence in bragging about the skills in his inventory. Wantonly lying without any basis is dangerous when things start to fall apart.

But that doesn't concern Lon whether they are a legendary text or garbage articles as he tinkered with a needle and a paper string. They are merely a fitting description of what he is currently doing.

The experience gained through the painstaking stitching helped him to fasten seamlessly a piece of paper on a blank page of the book.

Moving the pages, people would see torn pieces of rough paper vaguely describing how paper charm is manufactured.

Three paper sheets slashed in three different orientations when the next page is turned. In those shredded areas are some scribbles that don't make any sense.

Or a carbon copy of a short satisfying report of neurological study attached below picture of a rotting brain organelle.

These examples don't resemble a 'gift' for a human. What kind of a book that has unsystematic ways of writings, horrible layouts, and inconsistency in words and information?

That's the things publishing detest the most.

Yet, these are precisely a common sight in a Jirhen. So common that strange reactions because of them are considered an abnormality in the society's behavioral standards.

In fact, it isn't new to have creepy titles like 'Darling, I am H E R E', 'Hehehe, Pika Boo: True Physiology Of Criminals', 'Home Sweet Death', or 'Human Pork Chop: The Secret Way'. Combine it with a variety of designs and builds, everyone would become numb for seeing it their entire lives.

It wasn't even scary assuming that there are more disturbing titles and frightening appearances existing somewhere in the universe.

The hard truth is that some people couldn't simply accept it. Molecular tracing? Carbon decay? Chemical composition?

None of those experiments conducted by researchers has found a common point that will help them clarify which is a Jirhen and which is not.

It can be a botched up layouts filled with unethical practices recorded inside. On the other hand, it could also be a hard-bound professional book full of philosophical insights.

Of course, his original intent was not to create a cheap imitation of a Jirhen. That market is way saturated that no immediate profit is made in that field of business for novices.

Hidden in this Jirhen are new arrays made from the snippets of various book chapters he studied, age-old ones, and some are from the other Jirhen were also included for some logical deliberations.

Putting all the things he learned on it is the same as placing all of his hopes in one single object that has the chance of being a failure at the end of the day.

Hence, the reason some of the magic diagrams aren't included in these second Jirhen.

Making an imitation of any kind is hard because it will never be good as the original one. However, it is a great way to slowly grasp the unique characteristics of one's own style.

Intergalactic singer and songwriter Maria Stavel was once a poor daughter of a maid that practiced and polished her skills.

Or the accused novelist Nolmaw that sneakily copied a famous artwork that came from outside his galaxy cluster when the truth is that, his story was made from a world constructed by his imagination.

Outsiders will not have known but this Jirhen contains the quirk all the others have.

It was their totalitarian unpredictability.

The entirety might not resemble good-looking methodical mechanisms but as long as it performs its mission, all is good for him.

Sweat rolled down his forehead. Concentrating isn't easy especially if he is working around ten hours non-stop with ten minutes break per hour.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Someone knocked on the door. It wouldn't be a problem at all for anyone but from that knock alone, Lon realized something is wrong.

It has this muffled impression produced by that beat that it is not what it seems.

He looked at the 2nd-hand wall clock he purchased from a junkyard. This made him quietly free his hands and pick up a handgun placed in the far right side of the table.

49:99

This is a cursed timing. A minute before midnight, there is someone knocking on the door. That point alone is suspicious.

It isn't enough, that person waiting outside kept doing fast knocks three times every five seconds. What's more wicked is that he could hear those soft knocks even when he was inside his room and the door was closed.

Why would a person knock when there is a doorbell beside the front door?

Why could he hear that knocking when he is clearly more than 20 meters away from the door room and around 30 meters away from the main door?

He didn't believe that it was someone with good intentions. The worst possibility is that there is no one in front of the front door.

The mechanical corpse puppet didn't stay idle. It also moved towards the living room, accompanying Lon.

'What would happen if I waited till midnight?'

Another thought struck him as he saw the shorthand inching closer to number 20. The flow of time didn't halt this time because those knocks suddenly stopped midway.

The eerie silence is deafening as he opened the door and crossed the living room. The weaponry is pointed to the door. Closer to the front entrance is the corpse puppet that went ahead, ready to punch anyone that will try to force their way in.

Unknowingly, time passed faster than anyone could have thought.

Seconds passed and minutes fled away. For a whole ten minutes, there was no change that transpired. As if the person outside got bored and immediately left. Lon didn't believe that they will just leave like that.

The person might have left sneakily but he didn't hear any footsteps. Not even faint noises made by walking. And yet, he could hear the soft banging from his room.

Another ten minutes passed and he was getting tired of maintaining his position. He was busy doing his artifact project when this scene suddenly came to him.

Since there's nothing pouncing to him, he might as well see what was on the outside. However, the moment he lifted his right foot, the change he was waiting for happened.

"Mister, where are you going? Why don't you have a cup of tea?"