"Twelve minutes to one day," Marco mused, his voice cutting through the silence. "A ratio of approximately 1:12."

  Eli sat with his back against the cool stone wall, Starling's dark core resting across his lap. The chamber felt smaller somehow, the air heavier with the lingering energy from the portal. Twenty-seven minutes of his promised thirty had passed, and already Marco was pacing—if a holographic projection could pace.

  "With proper application, this time dilation effect presents a significant tactical advantage," Marco continued, his eyes gleaming with calculation. "A few minutes here could translate to hours of accelerated training within the grotto."

  Eli exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing against his eyelids. "I just got back," he murmured. "Can we take a moment before diving into training schedules?"

  Marco's form flickered, data streams scrolling rapidly around his projection. "Time is our scarcest resource," he replied, voice clipped. "The corruption spreads while we deliberate. The Krev gather strength while we hesitate."

  The binding spell pulsed warmly at Eli's neck, not painful but present—a reminder of what he'd learned, of what he carried within. Aura hovered nearby, her light dimmed to a soft glow, wings occasionally fluttering with nervous energy.

  "Fine," Eli conceded, pushing himself to his feet. His muscles ached with phantom fatigue—a day's worth of exertion compressed into twelve minutes of real time. "What's your plan?"

  Marco's projection expanded, holographic displays materializing in the air around them. Maps, calculations, energy readings—all scrolling faster than Eli could track.

  "The grotto offers three distinct advantages," Marco explained, his voice taking on that lecturing tone that made Eli's teeth clench. "First, accelerated combat training. Your current efficiency with the silver threads is 36% below optimal levels. Hours of practice within the grotto would translate to minutes outside."

  Eli's eyebrows rose. "And the second?"

  "Energy experimentation," Marco continued. "The binding spell's interaction with corruption requires extended observation—which the grotto's time dilation conveniently provides."

  "And the third?" Eli pressed, his curiosity piqued despite his fatigue.

  Marco's gaze shifted to Aura, who immediately drifted behind Eli's shoulder. "Extended observation of your... companion. Her nature, capabilities, and connection to the grotto remain largely unknown variables."

  A protective instinct flared in Eli's chest. "She's not a specimen to be studied," he bit out.

  "She emerged from a fractured core that previously contained corruption," Marco countered smoothly. "Understanding her is critical to our survival."

  Aura's wings fluttered nervously, her light dimming further. Waves of emotion radiated from her—wariness, concern, and beneath it all, a faint thread of determination.

  "However," Marco continued, "these theories require verification. For precise application, we need data—which brings us to the automaton."

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  The holographic displays shifted, converging into the image of the insect-like machine Eli had glimpsed earlier. Its crystalline eyes seemed to glint with an intelligence that made him distinctly uncomfortable.

  "Your thirty minutes have elapsed," Marco announced. "It's time to test our theory."

  The automaton was heavier than it looked.

  Eli turned the device over in his hands, studying its segmented limbs and crystalline components. It was beautiful in a disturbing way—like a spider crafted from precious stones and ancient technology. Its legs were currently folded tight against its body, dormant but somehow watchful.

  "The operation is simple," Marco explained, his voice carrying that insufferable tone of calm logic. "Enter the grotto, place the automaton on level ground, then exit immediately. After fifteen minutes of external time—approximately three hours within the grotto—you will retrieve it."

  Eli stood at the portal's edge, the shimmering surface reflecting fractured light across his face. "And what exactly will this thing be doing in there for three hours?"

  "Observing. Recording. Gathering data on environmental conditions, energy fluctuations, and temporal mechanics." Marco's eyes narrowed slightly. "It is programmed to remain stationary and non-interactive."

  "Right," Eli muttered, not bothering to hide his skepticism.

  Marco's gaze shifted to Aura, who hovered close to Eli's shoulder. "The fae entity should remain here. I need to study her reactions to the portal's energy signature while you're inside."

  Aura's light flared sharply, wings beating with sudden agitation. A wave of emotion crashed over Eli—fear, refusal, a desperate need to stay close.

  "No," Eli said firmly, meeting Marco's gaze. "She comes with me."

  "Her presence may be a key factor in understanding this anomaly," Marco countered. "Her behavioral patterns when separated from you could provide—"

  "I said no," Eli interrupted. "If she doesn't want to stay, I'm not forcing her."

  For a moment, Marco's holographic form seemed to flicker with frustration. Then his expression smoothed, calculations running behind those cold eyes. "Very well," he conceded. "Take her with you. But minimize your time inside—place the automaton and return immediately."

  Eli nodded, clutching the automaton against his chest. Aura drifted closer, her tiny hand resting against his arm in a gesture that sent warmth spreading through his chest.

  "Remember," Marco added, "fifteen minutes external time. Not a second longer."

  With a deep breath, Eli stepped through the portal. The air inside the grotto was cooler, the silence more profound. The walls shimmered with a faint, ethereal glow, casting dappled light across the stone floor. Eli placed the automaton gently on the ground, its crystalline eyes flickering to life as it began its observations.

  Aura's light brightened, her wings fluttering with a mix of excitement and apprehension. This place is... different, her translation appeared, her voice echoing softly in Eli's mind.

  Eli nodded, feeling the same sense of wonder and unease. "It's the time dilation," he explained. "Everything inside here moves slower than outside."

  Time is a weapon, Aura replied, her light pulsing with a newfound understanding. A tool to be used.

  Eli smiled, a sense of camaraderie passing between them. "Exactly. Now let's get out of here before Marco starts pacing again."

  They stepped back through the portal, the shimmering surface rippling as they emerged into the chamber. Marco's holographic form flickered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned them for any signs of distress.

  "Automaton placed?" he asked, his voice sharp.

  Eli nodded. "Done. Now we wait."

  Marco's form flickered, data streams scrolling rapidly around his projection. "Very well. We will monitor the automaton's data feed and prepare for its retrieval. In the meantime, we should discuss your training regimen."

  Eli sighed, leaning back against the stone wall. "Can't we just rest for a bit?"

  Marco's gaze shifted to him, his eyes gleaming with calculation. "Rest is a luxury we cannot afford. The Krev grow stronger, and the corruption spreads. Every moment counts."

  Eli's jaw clenched, a mix of frustration and determination surging through him. He knew Marco was right, but the weight of responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.

  "Fine," he conceded. "Let's get to work."