At the back of the underground workshop, in the laboratory, various containers rested on improvised shelves: river water samples, eroded stones, fungi, algae, and small crustaceans captured near the shore.
Ethan had spent a lot of time in this place, but everything remained the same. The river flowed with the same silent calm, and the distant fog made it impossible to measure its extent. Observing from the shore — surrounded by darkness in all directions — always left a strange feeling. As if the world were reduced to that unfathomable current.
For now, however, Ethan was focused on something else.
On the cold metal table, Ethan had spread out scribbled blueprints and electrical calculations with black ink annotations. In front of him, several parts were taking shape: copper discs, zinc sheets, coils of enamelled wire, and varnished wooden supports. His goal was simple in concept but revolutionary in execution: to build Astralis' first telegraph system.
He started with the power source.
He had perfected a rudimentary battery from common elements. In small glass containers, he placed alternating copper and zinc plates, submerged in an acidic solution obtained by distilling sulfuric acid from calcined sulfates. Hydrogen bubbles slowly ascended, and when connecting the terminals, the needle of the improvised galvanometer moved. Current confirmed. He grouped six of these cells in series, mounting them in a wooden box with padded compartments to resist movement.
Next, the transmission line, Ethan chose a completely hidden underground route.
He would dig a narrow trench. The wiring wouldn't be visible. Instead, he would bury it underground, surrounded by stones and mud, making it almost impossible to detect with the naked eye.
To protect the wires, Ethan decided to use a layer of linseed oil and resin mixed with earth. This mixture, applied to the wires to prevent moisture damage, formed a waterproof layer.
When the resin dried, the coating hardened, providing additional protection against the deterioration that direct contact with the damp soil would cause.
Next, he built the manual switch.
A lever mounted on a base acted as the telegraphic key. When pressed, a spring with a thin steel blade made it return to its starting position. Each click was a binary signal: dot or dash. Simple, effective, discreet.
For the receiver, he designed an electromagnet.
He wound hundreds of turns of copper wire around a polished iron core, forming a firm coil. When activated by current, the generated magnetic field pulled a small metal bar suspended above the core. The bar was connected to a hammer that struck a hollow cylinder, producing a clean, dry "tick." A long or short click, depending on the duration of the pulse. He mounted it all on a box.
Finally, the code. He would teach the Vespers the Morse system, as it was still unknown to them. However, he slightly modified the original code to adapt it to their needs and make it more effective for secret communications. He created an encrypted version, with variations in the duration of dots and dashes, and some substitutions that made decoding difficult for any intruder.
Only the Vespers would know this new code. Ethan would personally train them, and each station would receive a coded copy.
Hours later, with the pieces assembled and final adjustments made, Ethan stepped back for a moment to observe his creation, a mixture of satisfaction and anticipation on his face. The system was ready for the test that would mark its history.
He called a group of Vespers and Shen Bao outside the underground workshop. Shen Bao couldn't help but show a hint of curiosity upon hearing about the new device Ethan had mentioned in his report.
One of the Vespers, a young soldier, was in charge of the excavation. The earth around the base was dense and resistant, which made the process slower than expected. The tunnel had to be deep enough to hide the wiring and protect it from the elements, but without compromising the structure's stability. The trench would be at least two meters long and one meter deep, just enough to cover the wire securely.
Ethan observed every step, making sure the wire was laid precisely at the bottom of the trench, as if every millimeter counted.
"Now that the trench is ready, it's time to connect the system," Ethan said firmly, pointing to the Vespers to connect the terminals at both ends of the wire, first to the receiver, then to the transmitter.
With the final adjustments made, Ethan tightened a couple of screws and prepared for the test. He moved the lever forward, and the sound of the activated switch resonated in the room. For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then, a soft "click" was heard from the receiver, several meters away.
"Hmm..." murmured Shen Bao, tilting his head, looking toward the receiver with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. His leader had told him about a device capable of transmitting information, but so far, all he had heard was a "click." Nothing more.
Ethan smiled calmly, knowing his companions would be confused. He was ready to show them the power of what he had created. He turned toward the Vespers, who were looking at him expectantly.
"Listen," said Ethan, adjusting the lever once more. This time, the "click" was louder, followed by another. The Vespers' eyes widened as they heard the successive sounds, still not fully understanding.
"This is just the beginning. Now, I want you to understand how we can communicate with this," he continued, his tone showing pride and determination.
With a gesture toward Shen Bao and the others, Ethan began to explain the system he had adapted from the traditional Morse code. However, his version had a variation that made it nearly impossible to decode from the outside. He showed them how, with this device, communication would no longer depend on the old methods and would open a new path for transmitting information.