Kaivan read the words aloud in a low voice, almost like a whisper echoing through a silent cavern. His eyes reflected a new understanding—of just how fragile the world they lived in truly was.
Levan nodded and translated the message for Fabrizio. The boy listened in silence. As the words reached him, his expression changed. The light in his eyes faded, his lips tightened, and his breathing grew heavy. His fists clenched against his worn trousers, fingers trembling as he struggled to contain his emotions. He said nothing—only a long breath escaped him, like an effort to remain standing. His gaze fell to the floor, empty yet deep, as if searching for answers within the earth itself.
Kaivan watched him closely. He knew that feeling—the burden of carrying a world you never asked for, the pain of being trapped in a fate you cannot refuse. His eyes held both sympathy and helplessness. There were no words strong enough to comfort someone whose hope had just shattered.
Levan stepped closer. His gaze softened, like a father soothing his child. He placed a hand on Fabrizio's shoulder, offering a small warmth against the nearly unbearable pressure.
"There is still time," he said quietly, but firmly. "If we can redirect resources, or build new networks using the predictions of the Tome of Omnicent, we may be able to strengthen the outer layers of the wall without tearing it down."
Fabrizio did not reply. He only drew a heavy breath. But his head lifted slightly—a faint spark of hope slipping back into his heart.
Kaivan nodded. His voice was soft, yet resolute. "We'll try. As long as I'm here, I'll search for every possible path."
Levan turned and pulled a worn book from within his long coat—a Georgian language dictionary, used for many years. He handed it to Kaivan.
"You'll need to learn the language here. I won't always be your translator."
Kaivan accepted the book, stared at its cover with a tired expression, then sighed quietly. "Alright… if that's how it has to be."
Summer arrived.
The bunker, usually cold, now felt warmer, filled with the constant hum of machines and the sparks of welding—the everyday sounds of the laboratory where they worked. That night, Fabrizio entered Kaivan's room without knocking, his face bright with excitement, like a child who had just discovered a new toy.
"Kaivan, there are no tests today, right? I need your help," he said in Georgian—a language Kaivan could now understand without effort. He leaned against the doorframe, one foot tapping impatiently against the floor.
Kaivan closed his notebook and turned toward him. "Of course. I'll help you," he replied, his tone still a little formal, but calm and friendly. He knew that any request from Fabrizio would be complicated—but always fascinating.
They walked along a long corridor, lit by neon lights that cast stretched shadows across the walls. Their footsteps echoed through the quiet of the night. When they reached the main laboratory, Fabrizio went straight to his desk, cluttered with blueprints, sketches, and advanced technological tools.
"I want to show you something," he said as he unrolled a large blueprint and spread it across the worktable. A humanoid robot design filled the page, rendered in astonishing detail. "I want to build this. They need to look human—using organic materials that resemble our bodies. But still… robots."
The underground space was dim, illuminated by yellow lights hanging from rusted metal ceilings. Steam from overheated machines formed a thin haze, and the air was thick with the scent of burnt metal and aged lubricant. The laboratory hummed—a fusion of brilliance and madness.
Kaivan stood still, his eyes tracing the blueprint. The sketch looked like a god's design—a mechanical body that seemed almost alive. He narrowed his eyes, recalculating its logic. Slowly, he placed his hand above the Tome Omnicent. As if answering his call, the ancient book opened on its own. Glowing letters appeared, forming sentences in a modern tongue.
"Creating humanoid robots with sensors that replicate the five human senses requires several key components…"
Kaivan's voice was calm yet authoritative, echoing through the metal chamber like a chant. Fabrizio straightened, his eyes sparkling. "Wait! I need to write this down!" he exclaimed.
He grabbed his notebook and began writing rapidly. His fingers danced across the pages, copying Kaivan's words with infectious enthusiasm. When he finished, Fabrizio raised the Tome Omnicraft before him. Both hands extended, guiding the flow of energy that began to vibrate in the air. Dim light gathered above the table, condensing into gleaming metal that seemed to breathe. Slowly, a robotic hand frame took shape—slender and precise, as if carved by a god of machines.
Kaivan watched closely, impressed yet cautious. "That's incredible," he said softly. "But once the form is complete, you'll still need to program it. And that… won't be easy, even with the Tome Omnicraft."
His tone was steady, but tension lingered beneath it—as if he understood this was more than creation. It was a gamble between life and ruin.
Fabrizio stopped. The cheer faded from his face, and he nodded slowly. "I know. Instead of writing a program, I was thinking… maybe I should design an AI. Something that can hold consciousness."
Before the words could settle, the steel door behind them creaked open. A young man stepped in, his white lab coat wrinkled, dark circles heavy beneath his eyes—Thomas.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said quietly, looking at Kaivan with exhaustion and sincerity. "You're needed in the main examination room. They want to run another brain scan."
Kaivan took a long breath. His body tensed for a moment, then relaxed. He closed the Tome Omnicent and placed it gently on the table.
"This is the third scan this month…" he murmured, his voice nearly swallowed by the hum of machines.
Fabrizio stepped forward halfway, blinking rapidly as guilt surfaced in his eyes. "I know this isn't easy. But maybe this scan will help us understand the Tome Omnicent better."
Kaivan looked at him—without anger, without pity. Only the hollow gaze of someone who had been turned into an experiment too many times.
He turned away and walked down the corridor with Thomas. The flickering lights cast their silhouettes like wandering spirits. Their footsteps echoed emptily against the metal walls.