"I call it the Sunlight Lamp!"
The inventor held forth in the Council Chamber, his fluffy hair like a bird's nest, his appearance unkempt and his clothes a mess.
He held an odd-looking oil lamp with a black metal plate over its top, seemingly to keep out the rain. He walked to the window and raised it.
"When there's plenty of sunlight, it lights up."
A few seconds later, the lamp, bathed in the midday sun, gave off a faint but unmistakable glow.
"And when there's no sunlight?" Mr. Fast asked.
The inventor stepped away from the window, and the Sunlight Lamp dimmed.
"It won't light up at all!"
The Black-Clad Cardinal cleared his throat. "Well, this..."
"I, Annan Reeves, will fund this project!"
A shout rang out from beyond the door. As the Black-Clad Cardinal's face darkened, Annan strode in and gripped the inventor's hand. "With talent like yours helping us, Free City's future is bright!"
He had only been passing by. He hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise.
"You've heard my story?" The inventor looked puzzled, and one of his eyes began to drift sideways.
"I haven't heard your story, but I can see it written in your eyes!"
Annan gazed at the inventor's unmistakable mark of genius, the same one Martin had: one eye watching the left, the other keeping lookout on the right. He sighed. "What did I, Annan Reeves, do to deserve two prodigies like you and Martin?"
The words were unfamiliar, but they had mentioned a dragon and a young phoenix. Surely that was praise.
Dunbelly and the other two struggled to hold back their laughter. Only the inventor looked moved. "Martin, the one who invented the Airship? I'd love to meet him."
"That's exactly what I was thinking! From now on, you two