You, Herta, and Ayane are at the Holy Sanctuary — Herta's Haven.

A circle of artifacts made by your hands glow with divine energy. They surround a fox-eared woman.

The Goddess of Artifice chanted directly outside the entrance. She wore the intricate garments befitting of a goddess, yet these struggled against the form of a woman soon to be a mother. Her voice could be heard echoing throughout the cave system.

"How're you holding up?" You asked Ayane, the both of you outside as Herta continued to pray and chant.

"I'm-" Ayane paused and took a breath. "I'd be lying if I denied how nervous I feel. Thank you for being here with me, Master. Despite how doubtlessly difficult and time consuming your work must be, I doubt I could go through with this without you."

"No problem." You'd begun automating a few parts for the aluminum production, and where now waiting for the results. The timing was such that you could spend time here with Ayane.

You passed the time by speaking to your fox merchant. Mostly about things like aluminum, a subject which interested you both for different reasons. Though she already knew about concepts like electrolysis, and of how much of a pain it was to use — considering non-magical electricity was already inefficient to produce, and magical electricity had its own weird properties, among slews of other issues — she would help with suggestions that, knowing your otherworldly origins, could help inspire you and grant a new perspective. You came to consider mana and crystals as a blessing, almost as great as machinery was. You already got used to steam a long time ago, adjusting your mindset (and even entertaining thoughts of diesel shenanigans). The price to pay for that steampunk — electricity — was something that you were beginning to overcome.

With your familiar presence a clear source of comfort for Ayane, the two of you continued to talk. Of merchants, materials, mechanisms, and other matters, until things fell into a peaceful lull. You took note of the blades of grass beyond the clearings and pathways, gently swaying in autumn's breeze almost like waves. And golden rays of yellow were reflected on them— both divine energy from the artifacts and beams of this afternoon's sunlight that managed to pierce through the canopy.

The plants and the water and the light between the leaves made you recall how Herta was able to create a small batch of blessed potions—mentioning how you all needed to get some more glowberries and soulsalt if you wanted to have more. It was enough to give to your entire kitsune family.

"Ah, Master." Said Ayane, "I think it's happening."

For a split second you think she was getting taller, but that thought was quickly rejected when you realized that levitation was the culprit.

She began to glow as well, and the Savant-made artifacts dimmed. Yet these objects gently raised themselves over the ground alongside, beginning to spin around her.