Tess knelt beside the destroyed washing machine, running her fingers along the melted Aether pathways. The substrate was still warm, three days after the explosion. That wasn’t normal. Crystalline substrate dissipated heat within hours unless something was still drawing power.
After fixing several broken pathways, she activated [ANALYZE] again, focusing on the intact portions of the machine.
·········································
WASHING UNIT WU-8834
Designation: Laundry Processing and Sanitization
Loot Seed: 0x8834
Status: Offline
Hardware: Catastrophic Failure
Power: 0.3 / 8.0 AW — Parasitic Draw
Last Error: Cascading Overload
User Tech Skill: 4
·········································
Temperature Control …… Damaged [Tech 3]
Agitation ……………. Damaged [Tech 3]
Drain Protocol ……….. Damaged [Tech 2]
Stain Analysis ……….. Online [Tech 4]
Fabric Protection …….. Online [Tech 3]
·········································
Three skill crystals had shattered, and two more were cracked but potentially salvageable. The [STAIN_ANALYSIS] and [FABRIC_PROTECTION] crystals had somehow survived intact, probably because they were secondary systems that hadn’t been active during the overload.
Jeremy stood by the door, watching her work. “We have replacement crystals in storage. Not many—dungeon-tech components are difficult to source these days.”
“How many?”
“Two that might work.” He crossed to a wall panel and input a code. The door opened, revealing a small collection of skill crystals in foam padding. “This one should be a direct replacement for the temperature control crystal, though I’m not sure if that’s true.”
He handed it to her. The crystal was pristine, its faceted surface refracting the light. The dormant skill pattern waited inside, ready to be activated.
“And this one…” Jeremy pulled out another crystal, frowning. “Humidity control. Not sure why we have it. Probably from an environmental system that was decommissioned.”
Tess took both crystals, weighing them in her hands. The humidity control crystal was of the wrong configuration entirely, but that didn’t matter. She could work with it.
“Someone did this on purpose,” she said, setting the crystals aside. “The safety protocols were disabled. The power regulation was bypassed with surgical precision. This wasn’t an accident or a malfunction.”
Jeremy’s expression tightened. “You’re certain?”
“Look at the burn patterns.” Tess pointed to the scorched housing. “Three simultaneous detonations. That only happens if someone forces all three primary crystals to overload at exactly the same moment. It takes knowledge and intent.”
“I see.” Jeremy’s professional mask slipped for a moment, revealing genuine concern. “His Grace will want to know. I should check the security recordings. We have cameras throughout the service level.”
He hesitated at the door. “Can you proceed without me?”
“Yeah. This is going to take a while anyway.”
Jeremy nodded and left, his footsteps fading down the corridor.
BEE: Tess, your stress indicators have decreased. Are you alone now?
“Yeah, Bee. Just me and a murdered washing machine.”
BEE: Can you describe the damage?
Tess pulled out her tools and started removing the destroyed temperature control crystal. “Someone overloaded three skill crystals simultaneously. Professional work. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing.”
BEE: That suggests premeditation. Are you safe?
“I’m fixing a washing machine in the Duke’s basement. About as safe as I can be.” She pried the crystal free, fragments falling onto her work cloth. “The replacement crystal should work for temperature control. But I need to get creative with the others.”
The agitation cycle crystal was cracked, but the skill pattern was still partially intact. She could extract it, but she’d need somewhere to put it. The humidity control crystal Jeremy had given her would work, even if it wasn’t designed for this application.
She placed her hand on the damaged crystal and activated [INTERFACE].
·········································
INTERFACE — Active
Connected: Agitation (Damaged)
AP: 4/4
Tech Level: 4
Access: Full
·········································
> Extract Skill …….. 2 AP [Tech 4]
·········································
The skill flowed into her awareness. [AGITATION]—a complex weave of rotation speeds, directional changes, and timing sequences. She pulled.
·········································
EXTRACTION COMPLETE
AP: 2/4 (2 consumed)
Skill Extracted: Agitation
Interface Storage: 1/3
·········································
The damaged crystal went dark, its structure now empty. She picked up the humidity control crystal and activated [INTERFACE] again.
·········································
INTERFACE — Active
Connected: Humidity Control
AP: 2/4
Stored Skills: Agitation
·········································
> Replace with Agitation …. 0 AP
·········································
She pushed the pattern into the crystal. It flickered, resisted for a moment, then accepted the new configuration. [AGITATION] overwrote [HUMIDITY_CONTROL] completely, the pattern reshaping itself to fit its new home.
BEE: Tess, your AP expenditure suggests significant skill manipulation. Please be careful not to overtax yourself.
“I’m fine. Two crystals down, one to go.”
The drain protocol crystal was the problem. Cracked through the center, the pattern fragmented. She could extract what was left, but she didn’t have another undamaged crystal to put it in.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
She turned her attention to the substrate itself. The physical mounting points were melted; the power distribution channels fused. This was going to need actual hardware work, not just skill manipulation.
Tess pulled out a small plasma cutter she’d finally splurged on and started removing the damaged mounting brackets. Molten metal dripped onto the floor, leaving tiny craters in the stone. She’d need to fabricate new brackets from whatever the estate had on hand.
“I need mounting hardware,” she muttered, looking around the laundry room. There—an old drying unit in the corner, clearly decommissioned. Network-tech, not dungeon-tech, but the mounting brackets would work.
She crossed to it and started stripping parts. The brackets were different sizes, but she could modify them. As she cut, the plasma cutter sent sparks across the floor.
BEE: Tess, it has been 47 minutes since you began repairs. Your efficiency is admirable.
“Just doing my job, Bee.”
She was fitting the jerry-rigged brackets into place when the door opened.
A woman walked in. Not Jeremy’s measured steps or the Duke’s controlled presence. This was someone who moved like she owned the place because she absolutely did.
Tess pulled off the filter mask.
Late forties, silver threading through dark hair pulled back in a practical knot. She wore estate clothes but casual ones—expensive fabric but cut for comfort, not ceremony. She carried a tray with actual food—not nutrient paste or protein blocks, but something cooked by someone who knew what they were doing.
“You must be Tess.” The woman set the tray on a nearby work surface. “I’m Sara. My husband has a tendency to forget that repair technicians need to eat.”
Sara Tertian. Petra’s mother. Everyone knew she was the actual power behind House Tertian, if Marcus’s old stories were accurate.
“I’m not hungry,” Tess said automatically.
“Of course you’re not. You’re covered in crystalline substrate dust and metal shavings, inhaling ozone, and completely focused on your work.” Sara pulled over a stool and sat down, somehow making the simple metal seat look like a throne. “Eat anyway. The washing machine will still be broken in ten minutes.”
The food smelled incredible. Some kind of stew with real vegetables, not reconstituted protein. Fresh bread that was still warm. A glass of something that might have been juice but was probably worth a month’s wages.
“This is too much,” Tess said.
“Please. You’re doing emergency repairs on dungeon-tech equipment that you say someone deliberately destroyed. The least we can do is feed you actual food.” Sara’s eyes were sharp, taking in every detail of the repair. “Besides, watching someone competent work is surprisingly cathartic.”
Tess took a bite of the stew. It was perfect. Seasoned with things she couldn’t identify, rich and complex. Her stomach—used to nutrient paste, powdered eggs, and Tak’s questionable noodles—didn’t know what to do with it.
“Jeremy said it was sabotage.” Sara’s tone was light, probing. “One of the maids, he thinks.”
“Someone with technical knowledge. This wasn’t random vandalism.”
“No, I suppose it wasn’t.” Sara watched Tess work for a moment. “You’re replacing the crystals.”
“Two of them. The third is a problem.” Tess gestured to the cracked drain protocol crystal. “The pattern’s fragmented but salvageable. I just don’t have anywhere to put it.”
Sara reached into her pocket and pulled out something wrapped in a cloth. “Would this work?”
She unwrapped it to reveal a blank skill crystal. The surface was perfectly clear, no preset patterns, no manufacturer’s marks. Just pure crystalline substrate waiting to be shaped.
“Where did you get this?” Tess couldn’t keep the awe out of her voice.
“Oh, you know. Noble house privileges. We collect interesting things.” Sara’s smile was knowing. “Ever seen one like it before?”
“No. These are… these shouldn’t exist. Skill crystals come pre-formatted from dungeon spawns or salvage. You can’t just have a blank one.”
“And yet.” Sara set it on the work surface. “Will it work?”
Tess picked up the crystal. It felt lighter than it should have, the surface warm against her palm. [ANALYZE] revealed its structure—completely neutral, ready to accept any pattern imposed on it.
“Yeah. It’ll work.”
She placed her hand on the damaged drain crystal and activated [INTERFACE].
·········································
INTERFACE — Active
Connected: Drain Protocol (Fragmented)
AP: 2/4
Tech Level: 4
Access: Full
·········································
> Extract Skill …….. 2 AP [Tech 2]
·········································
She pulled the fragmented pattern free.
·········································
EXTRACTION COMPLETE
AP: 0/4 (2 consumed)
Skill Extracted: Drain Protocol (Fragmented)
Interface Storage: 2/3
·········································
The pattern was incomplete, missing chunks, but she could feel the shape of what it should be. She picked up the blank crystal and activated [INTERFACE] one more time.
·········································
INTERFACE — Active
Connected: Blank Substrate
AP: 0/4
Stored Skills: Drain Protocol (Fragmented)
·········································
> Add Drain Protocol …….. 0 AP
·········································
Zero AP. Because there was nothing to overwrite, nothing to replace. Just empty crystal waiting to be written on.
She pressed the pattern into the blank crystal.
The crystal’s surface rippled like water. The pattern sank in, spreading through the substrate, and suddenly the crystal blazed with light. [DRAIN_PROTOCOL] locked into place, the missing pieces somehow filled themselves in as the blank crystal adapted to the pattern’s needs.
“Almost done,” Tess said, fitting the new crystal into the repaired mounting. She connected the power channels, rebuilt the safety protocols that someone had destroyed, and restored the interface connections.
The washing machine hummed to life.
All the status lights turned green simultaneously. The primary display flickered on, showing SYSTEM RESTORED - RUNNING DIAGNOSTIC.
[ANALYZE] showed the patterns aligning:
·········································
WASHING UNIT WU-8834
Designation: Laundry Processing and Sanitization
Loot Seed: 0x8834FA2B
Status: Online
Hardware: Functional
Power: 8.0 / 8.0 AW — Standard
User Tech Skill: 4
·········································
Temperature Control …… Online [Tech 3]
Agitation ……………. Online [Tech 3]
Drain Protocol ……….. Online [Tech 2]
Stain Analysis ……….. Online [Tech 4]
Fabric Protection …….. Online [Tech 3]
·········································
Tess gasped as a familiar sensation washed over her. Energy flowed up from the floor, through her bones, settling into her interface with a soft chime.
{NULL} LEVEL UP!
LEVEL 4 → LEVEL 5
TECH: 4 → 5
AP: 4 → 5
Sara raised an eyebrow. “Did you just level up from fixing my washing machine?”
Tess froze. Leveling up from fixing dungeon tech was something normal Technician classes did as well as her.
“I… did, yeah,” Tess said.
“Congratulations. If what I’m told is true, that would make you a level 5 Technician. Truly an incredible pace,” Sara stood, brushing imaginary dust from her clothes. “Anyone who can fix dungeon-tech equipment that thoroughly sabotaged deserves whatever levels they get.” She paused at the door. “Jeremy’s in the security office, reviewing camera footage. When you’re done here, he’ll take you to my husband’s study. We should discuss compensation.”
“The machine’s fixed.”
“Yes, but we’re not done with you yet.” Sara’s smile was sharp. “After all, we have several more dungeon-tech systems that could use someone with your particular skills. And despite my husband’s attempt at subtlety, we both know this was never just about a washing machine.”
She left, taking the empty food tray but leaving the glass of probably-expensive juice.
BEE: Tess, is everything alright?
“Yeah,” Tess said, packing up her tools. “Now I get to see how much the Tertians pay for clean laundry. And I think… I might like Sara Tertian.”
She looked at the restored washing machine, humming contentedly. Someone had tried to send a message to House Tertian by destroying it. But Tess had fixed it in under two hours with jerry-rigged parts and a mysterious blank crystal.
BEE: Your increased TECH level should provide access to more complex systems. And your AP pool expansion will allow for more sophisticated skill manipulation.
“One problem at a time, Bee.”
She drained the juice—it was definitely worth at least a week’s wages—and headed for the door. Jeremy would be waiting to take her to the Duke’s study. There would be discussions of payment and future work. Proposals wrapped in politeness.
But first, she needed to know what the cameras had caught. Because whoever had destroyed this washing machine hadn’t been subtle.
