<div class="floatleft">(https://img00.deviantart.net/7315/i/2016/179/9/0/mechanical_mage_by_isis_blue_fire_3_by_isisbluefire-da81o13.jpg)<br/><div align="center"><strong>Felice</strong> (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=290166.msg14258283#msg14258283)</div></div>Felice was happy to savour each mouthful, not least because she suspected this might be their last home-cooked meal for some time. Her eyes widened a little, when the second dish was presented. Even as an apprentice she rarely dined quite so heavily.<br/><br/>"Well," she explained after quickly swallowing her last mouthful. "'tis said that if an item cannot be procured in the markets of Menji, in all probability it does not exist. And, don't get me wrong, my Master's teachings are second to none, but I don't just want to replicate, I want to invent! Some of these ancient artefacts use techniques and designs I couldn't even imagine and, as my Master was willing to fund the journey, where better to search for inspiration than the greatest trading city on the Emerald Sea?"<br/><br/>The tinkerer smiled at Carla, but there was a distant look in her eyes, as Felice contemplated the possibility of creating something entirely new and extraordinary.