“It isn’t alive exactly. But it will judge your magic before allowing you inside. It takes more than the right key to access Master Torren’s life’s work, otherwise someone would’ve borrowed the key and broken in years ago.”
“I have a map. If I bring it here, will you be able to point out the workshop’s location,” Oss offered.
“I can, thank you, Your Highness,” Buster said.
“I’ve told you to call me Oss. Try to remember.” Oss left the room to fetch his map.
“I was hoping by calling him by his title, he would warm up to the idea,” Buster explained.
I snorted. “Oss is an ex-street kid. Going from Key Keeper to King is a bit of a jump.” I completely empathized with Oss. I had doubts of becoming the Gear Master, whether my magic proclaimed me one or not. That much responsibility sat poorly on either of our shoulders.
“He’ll have to adapt soon enough. We’ve gone too long without a king.”
“Don’t push him. He might warm up to the idea on his own, but forcing him never ends up well for anyone.”
“The king isn’t the only one who has problems accepting responsibility. You also need to step up.”
I balked at Buster’s stern tone. “What do I need to do?”
“Find the others that might be partially mechanical.”
“I thought everyone had already transformed and you were the last?”
“There are always a few recessives that show up from time to time. The ones in the City of Magic transformed because Torren’s residual magic helped power the change. I don’t know what happened to the ones up here. With the influx of your magic, if they are partially mechanical, it could kill them.”
Great. Just what I needed, responsibility for more people.
