She tapped a chart on the page with her fingernail. "The method may be stupid, but the data is real."
Su Li leaned over for a look.
The industrial nation's understanding of aether was indeed primitive, but its experiments on the physical level were extraordinarily bold, utterly unconcerned with cost.
Elonore leaned over as well, squeezing her little head between Su Li and Talia.
She stared at the pressure-structure diagram in the report, then looked at the stabilizing ring on her wrist.
"What if... we combined the elves' Active Circuit with their pressure structure?" she said softly.
Talia and Su Li looked at her at the same time.
"The Active Circuit provides toughness, while the pressure structure provides strength." Elonore's eyes grew brighter as she spoke. "Like building a house—the elves' technology is flexible wooden beams, while Baris's technology is sturdy stone walls. If we put them together..."
"It'll work!" Talia slapped the table. "Theoretically, it's completely viable!"
Elonore immediately ran back to the woodshed, dug out her tools and sketches, and threw herself into a state of feverish excitement.
Two days later, the second version of the stabilizing ring was completed.
It was still ring-shaped, but its inner wall was no longer made of a single layer of mithril. Instead, it was a composite structure of interwoven mithril and an elastic metal.
The circuits upon it had also become more complex, carrying both the elves' flowing curves and the industrial nation's hard, straight lines.
"Who wants to try it?" Elonore placed it on the anvil, her face full of anticipation and nervousness.
Saina was the first to step forward. She picked up the stabilizing ring and slipped it onto her wrist.
"I will!"
After putting it on, she turned and went into the kitchen. Before long, a rich scent