The ink on Evelina's desk was the only thing moving in the quiet hall of the Valerius headquarters. Outside, the village of Oakhaven was a blur of grey mist and hushed whispers but inside, Evelina's mind was a battlefield of shimmering blue data.
"Lyra, cross-reference the mineral density of the northern mountains with the pressure-tolerance of 19th-century copper alloys," Evelina commanded silently.
"Scanning..." the AI's voice hummed in her mind. "Error. Current metallurgy in this era is insufficient for the high-pressure steam required for Stage 3 desalination. If you proceed with standard local materials, the boilers will detonate within forty-eight hours of activation."
